After iron ore and coal, education makes up Australia’s largest export industry.
In the last financial year, international students were worth a record $28 billion to the economy - an increase of 16 per cent - as the number of foreign students grew nationwide.
Between January and August this year, China again made up the biggest contingent with 169,261 students enrolled in Australia, a 29.4 per cent share of the overall total of 577, 353.
India came in second, with 64,917 Indian students in Australia, followed by Nepal, Malaysia, Vietnam, Brazil, South Korea, Thailand, Indonesia and Hong Kong.
But while the education sector is a lucrative one, international students can also be among the most vulnerable new arrivals in the country.
International students enrolled in Australia (top 20 countries) January - August 2017. Source: SBS
'Enhanced student experience'
While New South Wales has the largest share of the international intake, at 37 per cent, Victoria is close behind with 32 per cent.
Victorian Education Department Deputy Secretary Tim Ada said enhanced student experience was a priority for the government, which has pledged $337,000 to its International Student Welfare Program.
“More than 175,000 international students are studying here in Victoria, it makes the sector the largest export sector for the Victorian economy, worth more than $7 billion and accounting for more than 30,000 jobs,” Mr Ada said.
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