Welcome desk set up at Melbourne airport for Indian students

MELBOURNE - A welcome desk has been established for Indian and other international students at the airport here to “help settle” them, a minister said Wednesday.

Victorian Minister for Skills and Workforce Participation Bronwyn Pike said that students will receive a warm welcome at the International Student Welcome Desk located in the arrivals hall at Melbourne International Airport.

The government “knows international students need support to help settle in to a new country, said Pike.

A team of local volunteers will now be at the desk during peak arrival times to hand out welcome packs to international students arriving in Melbourne, with information on living, working and studying in Victoria.

Information and advice about housing and consumer rights will also be provided to international students upon their arrival at Melbourne airport, a statement quoted Pike as saying.

Australia was trying to woo international students after its image was battered following a string of attacks on Indian students in Melbourne and Sydney. The assaults strained relations between New Delhi and Canberra.

Pike said the government will provide an Aus$2.7 million support and information package over four years for international students as part of the Aus$14 million `Thinking Global: Victoria’s Action Plan for International Education’.

The government was “committed to ensuring international students feel welcome and informed, whether they’re studying in Melbourne or one of our regional cities, she was quoted as saying.

The airport welcome desk is open during a four week period when most international students arrive in Victoria to prepare for the start of the education year.

This year it will operate till Feb 21.