Support for international students - video

Description: Monash University logo

Caption: Melissa King

Description: Students walking around campus

Narration: Each year thousands of the world's leading students come to study at Monash University but it's sometimes a challenge for international students to come to grips with university life and Australian culture.

Melissa King: Monash has put a series of innovative programs in place to ease that transition and enhance the international student experience.

We're going to take a look at three of these programs starting with one that links students with members of the local community.

Patrick: You are allowed to go for seconds, so don't feel like you have to fill it all on the one plate.

Simon: I know.

Caption: The International Student Support Program

Description: Patrick, Simon, family and friends chatting in dining room.

Narration: Patrick is a retired businessman whose desire to put something back into the community led him to join the university's International Student Friendship Program. After an extensive screening process he was matched with Simon, an I.T. student from Beijing .

Title: Patrick

Patrick: It's a fascinating way to sort of get to learn about other cultures and most of the students are from Asia and a lot of them are from China and we've had some joint dinners with the program and we've met other people there so that's been good.

Title: Simon

Simon: I think the program can help the international students to feel a part of the community and can make more local friends from the program.

Description: Group having dinner

Narration: The benefits of the program are many and varied, from establishing rewarding friendships to gaining an experience of the Australian business and social environments.

Patrick: Here's to our friend Simon to my right who's going to return to Beijing , didn't like Australia (laughter). He's heading off to China and he's got a job already which is fantastic.

Melissa King: For a first year student, particularly an international one, university life could seem a little daunting. Having someone to talk to on a regular basis is of a great benefit.

Caption: The Peer Mentor Program

Jacqueline: And a place called the Grampians, a really nice place, if you get a chance you should go there, it's like a lot of nice rocks and waterfalls and other things like that and I was talking to a guy that lives down there

Description: Jacqueline and Maria-Emmanuelle walking through university

Narration: The Peer Mentor Program brings together a volunteer senior student with a first year student to guide and support them through the first six weeks of semester. Jacqueline on the right is an art student and she's been paired with French student Maria-Emmanuelle.

Maria-Emmanuelle: Trying to study and goes to my head all these thoughts and I cried a little, just a little, I promise I cried a little.

Jacqueline: It's ok.

Caption: Maria-Emmanuelle: When you're in a new country it's hard to know everything at first sight so I needed someone to guide me and to give me some explanations about the functionality of the university, the main services and also to have a kind of friendly acquaintance with a local person.

Description: Jacqueline and Maria-Emmanuelle sitting on bench next to pond.

Narration: For the mentor it's an opportunity to give something back to the university community

Jacqueline: I know what it's like to be an international student and to go to a country where it's not your first language, where the culture is completely different and then try and adapt to it basically and you really do need support.

Description: Guarav and Anthony walking through campus

Narration: But it's not only local's who volunteer to act as mentors. Students from many different cultures offer their hand in support. Guarav is an Indian student studying a Master of Business Systems Information and he has taken under his wing Anthony from China who is also studying I.T.

Guarav: Australia is in fact a multi-cultural society, you see a lot of students from different countries come here, study, it's such a beautiful place, a beautiful country, you'll enjoy it out here.

Description: Guarav and Anthony sitting on bench

Narration: Apart from making new friends, the confidence gained from learning about the services and facilities available at the university is a major plus.

Guarav: Some people get into a shell, they feel a little bit, quite a way from the society so we need to get the confidence out in them and really help them and really make a good atmosphere for them so that's what the whole purpose is. The whole journey should be wonderful, enjoyable and they should enjoy the whole thing.

Melissa King: Now for a change of pace but not of the slow kind. The event happening behind me is called Fast and Furious and it's all about making new friends.

Caption: Making Friends

Description: International Students sitting on the floor talking to each other.

Narration: In 30 minutes or so students will get to talk to six other students. It's one of a series of Campus Connect events held during semester and these provide both international and local students a chance to meet in a safe, relaxed and fun atmosphere.

Caption: Liz-Student Volunteer

Liz: I feel that it's a great way for students to meet each other, get involved, get inter active, not just on the participants behalf but on the volunteers as well. I've met heaps of people just by joining this program which has been really good.

Caption: Nawshaba

Nawshaba: It would have been very confusing in the sense that I wouldn't know where to go and like who to speak and all that. It's a good way of creating a ground for everybody. I've just heard that it's a regular thing, it's happening every single week, like you know when I don't have the class and I'm feeling like meeting some people or just having some fun so it's a good opportunity.

Description: Montage of all the students involved in the programs

Narration: Monash University values both its international and local students and places great value on enhancing their experiences, providing support and responding to their personal, social and cultural needs