Northern Territory’s investment in student well-being is aimed at attracting more international students, as their positive experiences contribute to the growth of the education and training sector.
Northern Territory’s investment in student well-being is aimed at attracting more international students, as their positive experiences contribute to the growth of the education and training sector.
Australia’s Territory Labor Government has allocated funds to prioritize the well-being of international students and position the Northern Territory as a desirable educational destination.
Through the International Student Wellbeing Grants, 19 events and activities will be organized to enhance student well-being, connections, and employability.
Minister for International Education Ngaree Ah Kit emphasized the importance of international students’ quality education and support.
“Ensuring that international students receive a quality education and are supported means more prospective students will choose the Northern Territory. These grants are an investment in our plan to continue to grow our international student numbers,” he said.
The grants, with amounts of up to AUD10,000 ($6,816), were awarded to organizations and groups, including the Australian Red Cross Society, the Australia-China Friendship Society, the Bangladeshi Student Association of Charles Darwin University, Engineers Australia, NT Legal Aid Commission, and Kindness Shake.
Kindness Shake, a recipient of the grants, has been successfully running the Skill Up 2 Scale Up Employability Program for three years, providing numerous international students with professional development and employment opportunities.
“The grants will enable us to deliver two very important programs – Skill Up 2 Scale Up that aims to get students into meaningful employment and the Cultural Immersion Program that showcases the local First Nations culture and Darwin’s iconic landmarks,” Ben Poveda-Alfonso, co-founder and chair of Kindness Shake.
He said both programs play a crucial role in their objective of not only engaging students but also inspiring them to remain involved and make valuable social, cultural, and economic contributions to the Territory.
NEC NT Regional Manager Damien Charles highlighted the positive impact of international students in the ICT industry.
“International students coming to the NT to study and then find jobs have greatly assisted the ICT Industry as we deal with the national skills shortage,” he said.
The Northern Territory’s investment in student well-being is aimed at attracting more international students, as their positive experiences contribute to the growth of the education and training sector.
The government has already provided AUD 800,000 ($544,450) for activities and events through the International Student Wellbeing Grants Program since 2018.
