Oz Premier writes to Indian overseas students

Adelaide, Aug 29: South Australia Premier Mike Rann wrote to each of the 4,787 Indian overseas students enrolled in his state ensuring them a safe and a comfortable studying experience in Australia.

The recent attacks on Indian overseas students largely in Melbourne and Sydney was destabilizing the country's second largest education export market.

"I was pleasantly surprised to receive the premier's letter. It was good to know that the state government has taken a serious note of security of international students in South Australia," said Rengarajan Ramasamy, a Master of Environmental Management from Flinders University, Adelaide.

The premier's letter states that an Office of the Training Advocate is introduced, which provides individual support and advice of living and studying in Adelaide including employment, training, education and independent complaint handling process.

"The 'Training Advocate' initiative, only one of its kind, is new and sounds like a good one," says Ramasamy from Tamil Nadu.

The year 2008-2009 recorded a 79.4 Indian students growth.

The premier's letter emphasises: "Your safety is of the highest importance and the police and other authorities are committed to protecting you and your rights ....I can assure you that any form of discrimination or violence against international students will not be tolerated."

OneIndia News