Date:04/07/2009 URL: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2009/07/04/stories/2009070451841700.htm

Back Australia move to ensure student safety

Our Bureau

New Delhi, July 3 The Australian Prime Minister, Mr Kevin Rudd, has announced that the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) had agreed to adopt a number of measures to enhance the well-being and safety of international students.

The COAG strongly supported high profile, visible police initiatives, when required to respond to attacks on international students. It pointed out that metropolitan transit hubs and other priority areas need to be targeted specifically to ensure the general safety of students and the travelling public that frequent the areas. The COAG also agreed to develop a comprehensive national International Student Strategy.

Apart from this, Mr Rudd also announced a grant of $50,000 for Darebin City Council, in the north of Melbourne, to engage international students with the community of Darebin through social and sporting events. The Commonwealth will use the Darebin initiative as a model for further initiatives and will also publish a guide, based on successful activities and programmes run by education institutions, so that all institutions with international students can enhance social interaction between communities and international students.