By IANS,
Melbourne: A new 24-hour support and welfare service that will "make a real difference" for international students studying in Australia's Victoria state has been started, Premier John Brumby said Thursday.
At the opening of the Victoria government's new International Student Care Service (ISCC) in Carlton, Brumby said students from overseas would now have greater access to a range of accommodation, counselling, legal, emergency and welfare assistance.
"We understand that our visiting international students can feel isolated from family and friends, especially without a strong social network and they can find themselves disoriented in a new community where they might struggle with the language," said a state government press release quoting Brumby.
"This International Student Care Service - the first of its kind in Australia - is going to make a real difference to all those young people from all over the world who come to Victoria to live, work and study.
"The service is a one-stop shop where international students can get the help and support they need, 24 hours a day, seven days a week."
The development comes following a string of attacks on Indians, causing an outrage in India. The assaults have strained relations between Canberra and New Delhi. There has also been a drop in the number of students from India seeking admissions in Australian colleges.
The services provides a single point of contact for students in an emergency such as those needing of counselling, crisis accommodation and food aid, as well as contact with other welfare services. Students can call a 24-hour phone line for advice and support or access the drop-in service in Carlton during business hours.
Brumby said: "Last year there were more than 190,000 international students enrolled in Victorian education institutions. International students make a significant contribution to Victoria's diverse, multicultural society and enhance our community in many ways."
"We understand there are student concerns about well-being and safety and that is why we invested $14 million in our Action Plan for International Education, Thinking Global which included the international student's service care centre."
Minister for Skills and Workforce Participation Bronwyn Pike said: "The Indian International Student Advisory Centre would also receive $20,000 to support volunteer efforts within the Indian community."
Thursday, January 28, 2010
Asom Gana Parishad hints at snapping pre-poll ties with BJP
By Syed Zarir Hussain, IANS,
Guwahati: Former Assam chief minister and Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) founder Prafulla Kumar Mahanta has indicated discontinuing the pre-poll understanding with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
"We must maintain our secular image and also our regional character. We must understand the desire of the people of Assam in so far as political alignments or re-alignments (are concerned)," Mahanta told IANS.
The AGP-BJP alliance suffered a humiliating defeat at the hands of the Congress party during the 2001 assembly elections and also in the 2009 parliamentary polls with the AGP winning just one seat and the BJP in four of the 14 seats in Assam.
He said the party would win the 2011 assembly elections only if internal squabbles are stopped and the leadership is able to put up a united fight to topple the ruling Congress.
"First of all, we have to unite and put up a spirited fight focussing on the main problems in the state, besides resolving any infighting or differences within the party," Mahanta said.
The AGP is desperately seeking power after being in political wilderness since the party lost the 2001 assembly elections to the Congress. The party again lost the 2006 state elections, miserably failed to make any mark in the 2004 and 2009 parliamentary polls and the local council elections last year.
"When a party remains out of power for a long period, obviously it becomes more difficult to bounce back. But I still believe the AGP would be able to win the support of the people of Assam if we are focussed," he said.
Mahanta, twice chief minister of the state, re-joined the party in 2008, four years after he was unceremoniously expelled on charges of anti-party activities.
He formed a splinter group called the AGP-Progressive after he was replaced as party president in 2001 on an alleged bigamy charge. Mahanta denied the charge.
There are indications that Mahanta is trying to claw back with a number of AGP leaders backing him for the president's post.
"I am ready to take up any position or responsibilities as desired by the party," he said.
Guwahati: Former Assam chief minister and Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) founder Prafulla Kumar Mahanta has indicated discontinuing the pre-poll understanding with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
"We must maintain our secular image and also our regional character. We must understand the desire of the people of Assam in so far as political alignments or re-alignments (are concerned)," Mahanta told IANS.
The AGP-BJP alliance suffered a humiliating defeat at the hands of the Congress party during the 2001 assembly elections and also in the 2009 parliamentary polls with the AGP winning just one seat and the BJP in four of the 14 seats in Assam.
He said the party would win the 2011 assembly elections only if internal squabbles are stopped and the leadership is able to put up a united fight to topple the ruling Congress.
"First of all, we have to unite and put up a spirited fight focussing on the main problems in the state, besides resolving any infighting or differences within the party," Mahanta said.
The AGP is desperately seeking power after being in political wilderness since the party lost the 2001 assembly elections to the Congress. The party again lost the 2006 state elections, miserably failed to make any mark in the 2004 and 2009 parliamentary polls and the local council elections last year.
"When a party remains out of power for a long period, obviously it becomes more difficult to bounce back. But I still believe the AGP would be able to win the support of the people of Assam if we are focussed," he said.
Mahanta, twice chief minister of the state, re-joined the party in 2008, four years after he was unceremoniously expelled on charges of anti-party activities.
He formed a splinter group called the AGP-Progressive after he was replaced as party president in 2001 on an alleged bigamy charge. Mahanta denied the charge.
There are indications that Mahanta is trying to claw back with a number of AGP leaders backing him for the president's post.
"I am ready to take up any position or responsibilities as desired by the party," he said.
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