Two Indonesian students share their experiences of studying and living in Australia at the International Student Summit 2026 in Melbourne.
The International Student Summit 2026 was held at Melbourne Town Hall on 25 July. The annual event, also attended by Melbourne Lord Mayor Nicholas Reece, connected international students with organisations offering education, migration and employment services across Australia.
SBS had a booth at the event, and SBS Indonesian spoke with two Indonesian students there: Syahlafa Khairunisa, a Master's student in Business Information Systems at Monash University, and Franklin Utomo, a Bachelor of Commerce student at the University of Melbourne. Both have been in Australia for two years and are self-funded.
Khairunisa, who came to the summit looking for information on transitioning from university to the workforce, said she was drawn to Australia by the desire to gain new experiences outside Indonesia.
Australia has one of the highest employment rates globally, she said, which makes studying and working here a valuable stepping stone for her career. She does plan to return to Indonesia eventually, though, Khairunisa said, and she sees her time in Australia as a chance to build experience before heading home.
Khairunisa said she was also struck by the cultural differences. Australians tend to be very rule-abiding, she said, and things that can be done on the spot in Indonesia need to be planned well in advance here.
On the cost of living, Khairunisa, who works part-time as an assistant store manager alongside her studies, said the weakening rupiah makes expenses feel steep when converted back to Indonesian currency. Still, she said the experience she has gained in Australia makes it worth the cost.
Franklin Utomo said he enjoys studying and living in Australia. Balancing academic work with a social life is important, Utomo said, because it makes the overall university experience more meaningful.
The presence of international students in Australia, however, remains a politically charged issue.
One Nation Senator Pauline Hanson has claimed a number of international students are exploiting the visa system through course-hopping. When asked about this, Khairunisa said such claims are a generalisation that doesn't accurately reflect all international students. Many come to Australia to study in fields that are simply not available back home, she said.
Regarding Hanson's idea that students who drop out or finish their studies should be required to leave Australia before applying for a new student visa, Khairunisa said requiring students to leave before reapplying is unfair because having to return home first could disrupt their education and make it harder to resume their studies.
Despite this, the international student quota in Australia has increased.
In 2026, Australia's international student quota rose to 295,000, up from 270,000 in 2025, though still below the post-COVID peak of around 600,000. Students from Southeast Asia continue to be prioritised.
Khairunisa said she welcomed the increase and is confident that students with a genuine desire to learn will still be able to get in.
Listen to the full interview on the SBS Indonesian podcast.
