PD SESSIONS

ORIENTATIONS COME AND GO BUT GOOD IDEAS ARE ALWAYS NEEDED

ISANA Victoria PD session, Wednesday 18 April 2012

Panel presenters:

Ms Vinny Bachtiar            Coordinator International Student Services, La Trobe University

Ms Imren Bayram             Youth Development Officer, City of Stonnington

Mrs Emilia Fields              Director - International Student Program, Whitefriars College

Ms Sanam Torab Tarki      Recent Graduate & Former International Student, Victoria University

Vinny Bachtiar 

I coordinate the Welcome Festival Orientation and other specialised orientation programs for newly arrived international students.  Other than the Welcome Festival, I’m coordinating the orientation program to those courses that have different intake throughout the semester.

The heirarchy of needs below is the basis for orientation planning. 

WELCOME FESTIVAL – LATROBE UNIVERSITY

The Welcome Festival has been well received by newly arrived international students and agents, in terms of assisting international students with their transition to life in Australia and at La Trobe University.  The Welcome Festival sessions covered academic, cultural and practical issues. The program was held for 4 days, two weeks prior to the first week of semester.

The week includes many activities, and several essential sessions designed to make adjustment to Australia, university life, and study at La Trobe University as successful as possible. Information regarding subject selection and enrolment is provided during the International Welcome Festival Orientation.

Sessions include a faculty or school-based information session as well as discussions with course advisors. Other sessions include information relating to accommodation, Australian culture, a visit to the local shopping mall, part-time work, travel, how to find your way around campus, safety, and your rights and responsibilities as an international student in Australia.


The La Trobe Award and International Students

The International Student Barometer shows us consistently that international students rate their experience of studying in Australia as a positive one, but of connecting with the community as disappointing if not nonexistent. La Trobe University has forged innovative partnerships with local Councils to link students with volunteering opportunities to enable positive community engagement experiences.

International students are provided with community engagement projects to work on in return for credits towards a university based volunteer recognition scheme. Local Councils get a multicultural, multilingual workforce for local community events, and international students get training, practical experience, networks, and intense exposure to Australian culture and community in action.

The initiative has seen students gain valuable experience, use multilingual skills, connect with expatriate communities and local Australian groups, practice their English, and share their culture and knowledge widely. Communities have gained an insight into the experiences and contexts international students represent, and had eager and willing helpers on a range of projects from Blue Light Discos, to old people’s homes, multicultural festivals and arts events.

In partnership with the career development and leadership team at La Trobe University students active participation in the volunteer program means their time is rewarded with professional development and training modules designed to develop and enhance their communication, leadership and mentoring skills. At completion of volunteering hours students log into an online portal and claim their volunteering hours, substantiated by a volunteering supervisor and the international office, towards an award on their official university transcript.

The program has the potential for far reaching benefits in building a more resilient international student community, building confidence in the community, and showcasing the valuable contribution of international students to our community thus breaking down barriers of misunderstanding and generating partnerships, trust, reciprocity and mutual benefit.

Imren Bayram 

Imren has worked in various roles for the City of Stonnington over an eight year period.  Her current role of Youth Development Officer comprises strategic sector direction for local young people, schools, services and the broader community.  This is achieved through fostering collaborative partnerships, facilitating networking opportuinities, responding to local indentified needs and reporting youth specific research and information to management and Council representatives.

STONNINGTON YOUTH SERVICES

Located in Melbourne's inner east, the City of Stonnington has an economically and culturally diverse population of 89,883.  It is also home to major tertiary institutes including Swinburne and Holmesglen TAFE, with Monash University located in close proximity. Many independent secondary schools also host International Student programs, attracting many to study within the municipality. Council acknowledges the value in providing support structures for International Students who are living and/or studying within the municipality.

The social and wellbeing needs of International Students have been a key focal point across a number of departments within Council including Youth, Cultural Diversity and Recreation.  Through this work, linkages and bridging partnerships have been developed with key stakeholders including secondary and tertiary institutes, Department of Immigration & Citizenship and Consumer Affairs. Council is open to working with experts within the area to identify key areas of concern in order to support appropriate responses. 

The City of Stonnington has delivered the following project initiatives:  

·         Pocket size Service guide for International Students

·         Education Breakfast Forum- Discussion on issues related to homestay and accommodation  

·         Information stalls on enrolment day for International Students at Monash University

Emilia Fields

Emilia is the Director of Whitefriars College International Student Program and has been in this role for 8 years. She has been at the current College for 14 years in other roles both teaching and administration. She has also been in other teaching and administrative roles at Primary, Secondary and Tertiary level throughout her long education career. Emilia was an international student herself as she came to Australia at the age of 14 and without a word of English which motivated her to do a Master’s Thesis on “International student’s perception of home and school”. Her passion is 'Students'.

ORIENTATION PROGRAM FEATURES AT WHITEFRIARS

AIMS:

·         To make students feel welcome and accepted as a member of the school community and to integrate them with local students in all aspects of life.

·         To give students a lifelong learning by embracing their own Australian journey and nurturing their native cultural heritage.

PRE DEPARTURE INFORMATION:

·         Extensive network with accredited agents from the enquiry stage to completion of enrolment and a close/trusting relationship with the agents

·         Getting to know students on a personal level during the enrolment period and through agent, parents and family friends

·         Pre departure package sent and explained to the students via agent or myself (if overseas or via a phone interview)

·         Writing up a personal profile by students before arrival

·         Working with agents and parents on a suitable homestay family to suit personality of student (Homestay chosen by the Director via a school accredited pool of families)  collects each student individually at the airport and takes him to the homestay where a 2/3 hour session is held

HOW STUDENTS ARE INVOLVED IN THE ORIENTATION PROGRAM

Hands on approach with students upon arrival and continued at least for the first 4 weeks including:

·         completion of an orientation booklet and an Immigration 4 week guideline booklet,

·         explanation of the official Whitefriars folder and student diary and organising the uniform,

·         buying text books and visiting the bank to set up bank accounts,

·         receiving a Whitefriars show bag  

Director of ISP personally collects each student individually at the airport and takes him to the homestay where a 2/3 hour session is held.

Students enter a full orientation program for the first 2 to 5 school days and before academic classes begin.

Introduction to key people within the school (Principal, Deputy Principals, Curriculum Heads, international team, counsellors, student leaders, international support staff, after school support classes, school chaplains, canteen manageress etc.

Other items include: An English exam of a 2 hour duration (school has its own Language course), introduction of student buddy (local student within same house colour) and a homestay kit with list of subsequent visits to the home (done by the Director)

Sanam Torab Tarki

My name is Sanam and I'm from Iran. I studied Master of Business (Tourism and Event Management) and Master of Accounting in Victoria University from 2010-12. My first contact with orientation hosts was on my Orientation Day (22 Feb 2010) while being in Melbourne for only three days and being completely overwhelmed by the new environment and my new life. 

I really enjoyed the day but had second thoughts about coming to Melbourne at all in the days leading to the course commencement. Then I decided not to give up and see how things would work. During the first semester, I learnt more about volunteering activities in Australia and how important they are to the community and I decided to give it a go. So I contacted Sue and got the job in the second orientation round in 2010, aiming to learn more about the tasks and helping university to improve their programs. From then on, I was involved in four more orientations for the university, AFIS information day and other volunteering activities. 

The main attraction of these involvements for me is the fact that I can contribute to the progress of programs and would have opportunity to be heard as a student and host. Also, it was a good opportunity for me to build up my inter-personal skills and be recognised. In these regards, I look forward to be involved in other university orientation days as Alumni.

ORIENTATION HOST PROGRAM AT VICTORIA UNIVERSITY

The International Orientation Host Program provides opportunities for local and international students to become involved in the International Orientation program, welcoming and orienting new international higher education students to Victoria University (VU) and Melbourne.

Training undertaken and experience gained as part of the program contributes to participants’ professional and personal development.  Team Leaders and Orientation Hosts develop networks and friendships, learn new skills and provide valuable guidance and information to new students.  The International Orientation Host Program is affiliated with the VU Student Leadership Development Program and is facilitated by the International Student Support team at Victoria University.

International HE Hosts work in teams of 4 or 5 people. Each team has a team leader who is a student who has previously hosted at international HE orientation. Each team has different duties on orientation day and more information and a detailed schedule for each team is provided at training. Whatever activity hosts are involved in the most important thing is talking with new students and helping them feel welcome and at ease.

Hosting is voluntary so there is no payment for involvement, but provides the chance to help new students, work with and get to know other VU students and staff and have a great experience to add to a resume. The Host training session includes lunch and an opportunity to get to know team members and other hosts, find out what to expect on the day and ask any questions. 

ISANA RESOURCES

Advice for Parents/Carers of International Students Studying in Australia

The Parents/Primary Carers Guide contains information on the whole student experience from what happens once a student arrives in Australia through to preparations for returning home.

Pre-Departure Advice for International Postgraduate, Research & Student with Families

The Postgraduate Students Guide provides advice and information specific to postgraduate research and mature age students, or those who bring family with the to Australia.

Good Practice Guide

This report identifies good practice principles including Pre-Arrival Information and Advice and Arrival and Orientation.

Share your suggestions...

How do you encourage your current students to become involved as volunteers or leaders at orientation?  How do you recruit students?

How do you reward them for their involvement? 

Leave a comment and share your good ideas!