Wellbeing of International Students in the City of Sydney

 

 

The City of Sydney recognises the important contribution of the international student community to the diversity of the City with the wellbeing of international students being identified as a key priority area both culturally and economically. The City of Sydney engaged the University of Technology Sydney Institute for Public Policy and Governance (UTS:IPPG) to undertake explorative research into the wellbeing of international students living and studying within the Local Government Area.

The central aim of this research was the investigation of how international students living and/or studying in the City area perceive their wellbeing and what does and does not contribute towards their wellbeing. 

A review of key literature identified the following key focus areas that contributed to the wellbeing of international students. 

• Housing and housing exploitation
• Safety and security
• Financial resources and exploitation in the work-place
• Discrimination
• Social integration.

A further related aim of the research was the exploration of whether international students perceive that the City of Sydney is enhancing their wellbeing and what further initiatives they think the City of Sydney should be pursuing.

The research report provides an evidence-based understanding of the wellbeing of international students in the City of Sydney through a review of key literature and analysis of engagement methods including interviews, an online survey that reached over 600 international students and focus groups undertaken with stakeholders and international students.   

The following highlights some of the implications and related considerations from the research. Further detail can be found within the downloadable report below.

• The research shows that the demographic profile of international students can impact on their challenges and needs. Demographic characteristics were shown to differ between students that lived within the City and those that lived in surrounding LGAs. 
• Satisfaction with housing and accommodation was dependent on a number of factors including the demographic profile of international students, the access of information, duration of time living in Sydney, type of education provider and accommodation.  These findings could assist the City in future strategies regarding the distribution of information on housing and a different accommodation types.
• Large proportions of students depend on part-time work to support accommodation and living costs and therefore could be at risk of exploitation. Our research shows the relationship between different international student profiles and their work place experiences and satisfaction. Research has shown that this is a significant factor on students’ wellbeing and negative experiences correlate with low levels of physical and emotional health. 
• The safety of a city is a key consideration for students that seek to study overseas. Students consider Sydney a safe city. Student’s inexperience of Sydney and their foreign status makes them potentially vulnerable targets. The research indicates that the longer students are studying in Sydney the more likely they are to report feeling unsafe. 
• International students face a number of wellbeing and health challenges in the early stages of arriving in Sydney. Finding adequate accommodation and an area to settle in and integrating and connecting with other international and local students were seen as positive contributors to increased physical and emotional health. 

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Download the report