International student futures in Australia: A human rights perspective on moving forward to real action

International students have become a major political, social and economic issue in Australia. This paper, while prepared under the aegis of the Australian Human Rights Commission, the Academy of Social Sciences in Australia, and Universities Australia, remains the sole responsibility of its authors. The paper reviews the background and proposes a number of steps that may help ameliorate the current situation. It argues that policy in the area has been poorly developed, and has not had a strong evidence base or the underpinning of appropriate research. Furthermore it presents evidence that broader social policies necessary to reduce racism and ensure wider human rights, if international students are included, would serve to ensure that students would feel welcome, and that social cohesion would be more attainable. With international students now comprising a significant part of Australia’s immigration intake, and making a major contribution to Australia’s economic survival during the global financial crisis, the current uncoordinated and at times counter-productive policy responses to their presence require systematic review. The way forward necessitates collaboration between the education sector, human rights institutions, all levels of government, student organisations and civil society, on issues far wider than those addressed in the October 2010 National International Students Strategy Research Plan.