International Students - A Police Resource

About this resource

This resource has been developed in conjunction with police jurisdictions across Australia as part of COAG’s International Students Strategy for Australia 2010-2014.


Australian Police Commissioners agreed that, through the Australian and New Zealand Policing Advisory Agency (ANZPAA), police will share best-practice safety initiatives for international students.


ANZPAA will also work with stakeholders to share this information as appropriate and continue to support the wellbeing of international students in Australia.


Introduction

The crime victimisation experience of international students in Australia has been a topic of significant discussion over the past few years. Media coverage of a series of crimes against Indian students in 2009 and 2010 led to growing concern over the safety of international students in Australia and subsequently prompted a call for further research.


In response to the need for an accurate estimate of the extent to which international students are victims of crime in Australia, Australian Police Commissioners agreed that, through the Australian and New Zealand Policing Advisory Agency (ANZPAA), police will share best-practice safety initiatives for international students (COAG’s International Students Strategy for Australia 2010-2014).


Police agencies undertake a wide range of activities and initiatives to reinforce important safety messages for international students who live, work and study in Australia.


These safety and awareness initiatives strongly align to the strategic objectives of ANZPAA, ANZPAA Board, the Australia and New Zealand Police Commissioners Forum (ANZPCF) and the Council of Australian Governments (COAG).

Best Practice Safety Initiatives

Listed below are some of the initiatives being carried out across Australia.


ACT Policing/AFP

• ACT/AFP produced and delivered a presentation to International students (PowerPoint presentation link).


South Australia Police

SAPOL participates in a number of initiatives in collaboration with other agencies to increase the level of interaction between international students and the police.

  • Study Adelaide coordinate an annual cricket match between a team of international students and a team of police officers. The last match was played in February 2011. This provides SAPOL with an opportunity to engage with the players, their friends and family and the broader international student community in a friendly and relaxed environment. Media release.
  • The ‘ThinkBefore’ national safety initiative developed by the Victoria Police and implemented nationally. This initiative was launched in South Australia on 6 August 2010. This initiative promotes personal safety of international students through a ‘SMS’ service.
  • In 2010, SAPOL in partnership with Study Adelaide and the Training Advocacy developed an international students card. The card contains emergency contact details and information about other services.
  • In March 2011, SAPOL participated in a multiagency roundtable for International Education to address issues raised by student representatives.

 

South Australia Attorney-General's Department and Department of Justice

The AGO, through its Business Units Consumer and Business Services (CBS) and
Multicultural SA (MSA) provides the following resources and supports services directly to international students:

 

Consumer and Business Services

  • Fact sheet on rental issues, specifically for international students:
    This service has been promoted through StudyAdelaide. The document is available in Traditional Chinese, Simplified Chinese, Korean, Japanese and Vietnamese, as well as English.
  • Using a "Frequently Asked Questions" format, the document deals with issues that may face international students who either take up a private rental tenancy or a rooming house agreement, explaining their legal rights and obligations. The document is available for downloading via  www.ocba.sa.gov.au/Languages/intrentlindex.html
  • The Tenancies Branch of CBS is available to deliver information sessions to international students and regularly presents these sessions through tertiary institutions.
  • General consumer advice is also available in various languages by visiting www.ocba.sa.gov.au/Languages/index.html. 
  • Topics include:
    • Your shopping rights.
    • Renting basics.
    • Buying or selling a home.

These documents are translated into 20 languages.

 

MulticulturalSA - Taxi Driver Safety

MulticulturalSA has established a working relationship with police in responding to incidents involving international students. Senior SA Police have participated in high level meetings to discuss the concerns of international students (mainly related to Indian taxi drivers).

 

South Australia Police have agreed that whenever there is an incident involving international students (including taxi drivers) they will inform the Director of Multicultural SA and the President of the Indian Australian Association of SA about what action is being taken in response to the incident. This information can then be rapidly distributed to the Indian international student community.

 

This strategy is designed to overcome the perception that Police do not take action when incidents are reported by international students or taxi drivers.

 

Discussions with the international students and MSA also drew attention to concerns that there was inadequate legal protection for the taxi drivers. In response, South Australia Police announced to the community that South Australia provides legislative protection for victims against assaults and other offences against the persons. This was communicated to the international student community.

 

Multicultural SA continues to work with SAPOl, international students, Education Adelaide and many community organisations to foster positive and open relationships between police and students.

 

MSA have supported the following initiatives:

  • A cricket match was organised by Education Adelaide in 2011.
  • Multicultural SA is supporting community organisations which are organising an international student cricket match in 2012.
  • Multicultural SA has also provided a grant to Port Adelaide Football Club to extend its continuing work with international students.

 

Websites:


Victoria Police

  • ThinkBefore’ is a student safety initiative that launched in 2010 in response to a spate of attacks and robberies against international students. This initiative aims to improve situational awareness about travel on public transport late at night using digital platforms. ‘ThinkBefore’ was also launched in each state in early August 2010. 
  • Victoria Police has produced a 'Student Safety in Victoria' brochure which is available in English, Hindi, Chinese and Malay. 
  • Victoria Police regularly presents to international students on safety at the request of universities and other institutions.
  • Operation Guardian is a Victoria Police initiative designed to improve safety and reduce crime against international students. Operation Guardian activities are designed to be highly visible and resources are deployed in four phases of activity (public transport, public order, road policing and community engagement) in and around identified areas, particularly public transport corridors.

WA Police

  • WA Police had input into the Perth Education City website, in particular its section on safety and security. 
  • WA Police also consulted on a Council for International Students of Western Australia (CISWA) handbook which contains a great deal of information for international students. 
  • The (WA Police) Office of Crime Prevention is also producing a DVD and resource information on safety and security (work in progress).