[Greens-Media] Hanson-Young: Greens propose Education Commission as international student senate inquiry holds hearings

[Clark, Gemma (Sen S. Hanson-Young)]

Monday 31 August 2009

Greens propose Education Commission as international student senate
inquiry holds hearings

Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young will raise the idea of an Education
Commission at this week's hearings for the Senate Inquiry into the
welfare of international students.

The Senate Education, Employment and Workplace Relations Committee's
inquiry into the welfare of international students, established by
Senator Hanson-Young in May, will hold hearings in Melbourne tomorrow
and Sydney on Wednesday.

"The Greens have been concerned for some time about the struggles of
overseas students in this country, which have also tarnished the
reputation of Australia's international education sector," said Senator
Hanson-Young, Greens spokesperson for Education.

"The accessible, transparent process of a Senate Inquiry will allow
students, educators and experts to put evidence on the public record
about the complex issues involved, and start getting our international
education sector back on track as world-class."
Senator Hanson-Young said the creation of an independent Education
Commission could be of assistance to the welfare of both domestic and
international students, as well as restoring the  quality and integrity
of Australia's education sector.

"The Greens propose an independent Education Commission as a one-stop
national authority for resolving individual student complaints,
providing a further avenue for academic decisions, monitoring and
enforcing compliance of education institutions, facilitating
communication between state and federal governments and educational
organisations, and generally safeguarding the quality of and access to
education in Australia," she said.

"I will be putting the idea of an Education Commission to the witnesses
appearing at this week's inquiry hearings, to gauge what these experts
in the education sector think."

Today Senator Hanson-Young also backed calls from student organisations
including the Council of Australian Postgraduate Associations (CAPA) for
consistent public transport concessions to be put in place nationally,
to accommodate international students.

"The Greens support calls from student organisations for all students,
whether they are Australian or from overseas, to be granted concession
fares on public transport in all states and territories," she said.

"Students have particular financial constraints on them - including
international students who have work restrictions as part of their visas
- and should be supported in accessing public transport."

Witnesses at Tuesday's hearing in Melbourne include: Council of
Australian Postgraduate Associations (CAPA), IDP Education, TAFE
Directors Australia, Federation of Indian Students, National Union of
Students, Australian Council for Private Education and Training (ACPET),
Australian Federation of International Students, ISANA International
Education.

More information on the Inquiry:
http://www.aph.gov.au/Senate/committee/eet_ctte/international_students/i
ndex.htm

Media contact: Gemma Clark on 0427 604 760