Oz govt. extends hospitality aid for Indian students

Canberra, July 3 (ANI): In a bid to make Indian students, who have been at the receiving end of several recent racial attacks, feel welcome, the Australian Government has decided to give a 50,000 dollar hospitality grant to the Darebin City Council.

On Thursday, the Council of Australian Government discussed the problems that Indian students have faced and agreed on the importance of extending Australian hospitality to young people who come here to study, The Age reports.

One of the ways recommended to achieve this goal was through supporting greater contact between students and local communities.

The money for Darebin will be used to fund social and sporting events for international students.

It will also publish a guide to help institutions with international students enhance their social interaction.

According to the Australian Government, the Darebin initiative will be used as a model for action elsewhere.

Prime Minister Kevin Rudd called on all governments, education and training providers and student unions to support greater levels of contact with local communities.

An Australian delegation will visit India next week to meet with ministers and key officials in Delhi and travel to other major cities where it will talk with state governments, parents and others, listen to concerns and provide reassurance that Australia is safe for foreign students.

The delegation will comprise of officials from the Commonwealth, NSW and Victorian governments, Victoria Police, and representatives of the higher education and vocational sectors.

An international student roundtable is also planned for September 14-15 in Canberra. (ANI)