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At Risk

Tuesday, 21 Jul 09

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What’s behind the attacks on Indian students?

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In July 2009, Insight investigated whether attacks against overases students were racially based.  The attacks have continued with the murder of graduate Nitin Garg in Melbourne and a separate incident involving a further two Indian students being violently attacked by a group.

Revisit our episode as Australians continue to ask what's behind the attacks on Indian students.

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Recent attacks on Indian students in particular has focused attention on the broader experiences of international students who have enrolled in Australian universities, TAFE's and private colleges.
 
Stories of exploitation, poor accommodation and sub-standard colleges reveal a disturbing picture of what life is like for some of our international students.
 
Some students are reluctant to register complaints for fear that they may jeopardise completion of their study and any chance of gaining permanent residency in Australia.
 
Join us as we bring together international students, community leaders and the education sector and examine what's behind the attacks, why they're drawn to Australia for study and whether they're getting what they are paying for.


Meet the Guests

  • Sourabh Sharma

    Indian student Sourabh Sharma, 21, came to Australia a year ago to study hospitality management in Melbourne. In May this year he was bashed and robbed by a gang of young people on a train home. He was left with a fractured cheek and broken teeth.

  • Harry Singh

    Harry Singh, 21, is from Chandigarh, North India. He has been studying in Australia for the last two years and recently completed a cookery course at a private college in Sydney. Since he arrived in Australia he has struggled to find accommodation has moved house 12 times. He now lives in a four bedroom house with 11 other students. One day he hopes to work in a five star hotel.

  • Andrew Smith

    Andrew Smith is the National Executive Officer for the Australian Council for Private Education and Training. There are 1200 of theses private colleges and training institutions. Three quarters of all Indian students are enrolled in the private sector.

  • Amit Dasgupta

    Amit Dasgupta has been the Consul General of India in Sydney since February this year.

  • Gail Baker

    Gail Baker is the director of Southern Cross Student Services’ Indian office, in Chandigarh, North India. She advises Indian students on their best options for study in Australia and what they can realistically expect when they arrive here.

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