Indian students demand welfare measures from Oz Govt

Sydney, Sep. 6 (ANI): The Federation of Indian Students of Australia (FISA) on Sunday urged the Australian Government to take steps for the welfare of students who are stranded after the closure of private colleges.

The FISA blamed Deputy Prime Minister Julia Gillard for failing to stop "the spin on the state of affairs" within her portfolio of Education.

"It is unfortunate that someone in the position of Deputy Prime Minister will lie in public. Her actions are causing great despair amongst students and eliminating their faith in the institutional robustness of Australian governance," Hardeep Kaur student of an affected college (Sterling College) and a FISA Representative, said.

The FISA is providing support to students of the collapsed Australian educational institute that has left hundreds of students stranded.

According to the organization representing Indian students, the Australian Council of Private Education and Training (ACPET) and the NSW government authorities had repeatedly assured the students of organising alternate arrangement within 28 days, but nothing had happened.

Kaur said ACPET CEO Andrew Smith had told them that the case of 300 Community Welfare students of Sterling College is now being dealt by the Education Services for Overseas Students Act.

She said FISA sent an email to DEEWR authorities but they were still waiting for any response.

"The level of frustration amongst student is high. Many students are facing double jeopardy in that their visas and medical insurance have expired," she said.

Kaur also called on the government to consider human rights as a vital component of society.

"Any student death will be the direct responsibility of the negligence of the Deputy PM and her ineffective structures such as DEEWR and ACPET. All deaths that are avoidable must be avoided or they should be treated as killings," she said. (ANI)