'4-hour commute weekly’: How this international student balances city study with regional work

Every week, international student Analie Malore endures a one-way train journey of over four to five hours—from Wagga Wagga City, where she lives and works, all the way to Melbourne just to attend her classes. Credit: Analie Malore

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International student Analie Malore says that by 2 a.m. every Wednesday, she’s already waiting at the train station for her trip to Melbourne, just to make it to class on time. She spends the night at a classmate’s place, attends her classes the next day, and by evening, she’s back on the train headed to Wagga Wagga City to report for work.

Key Points

Analie Malore, originally from Digos City, Davao del Sur, is completing her Certificate III in Commercial Cookery, Certificate IV in Kitchen Management, and Diploma in Hospitality in Melbourne. Among her 12 co-workers are fellow Filipinos Airen Lacson, Yvonne Ryss Mende, and Keith Adrian Deliva.
In 2024, international student enrolments in Australia surpassed one million for the first time.
In 2023, there were approximately 786,891 international students, with only around 4% studying in regional areas.

In search of a better future, international students Yvonne Ryss Mende, Keith Adrian Deliva, and Airen Lacson chose to stay in Wagga Wagga City—drawn by work opportunities, the hope of sponsorship, and the peace they found there. Every week, they make the long journey to Melbourne just to pursue their studies. Credit: Yvonne Ryss Mende/Keith Adrian Deliva/Airen Lacson