The safety of international students in a regional area of Australia: Perceptions and experiences

In Australia, international students have not only made an enormous economic contribution to the educational sector, but also enriched the cultural diversity of Australian institutions and societies. When international students become a part of the Australian community, issues related to their personal safety are significant, not only to relevant authorities but also to the broader community. This study aimed to investigate the safety of international students at a regional campus and surrounding environment. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 25 international students aimed at exploring the current concerns and needs regarding their safety on and off campus. In addition, a focus group discussion was conducted with five stakeholders to investigate ways to improve the safety of international students in the current context. Four main themes emerged from the data, including safety concerns, safety risks, preventative safety strategies, and safety needs. One of the most frequent suggestions was to increase the reach of surveillance, greater support from the responsible authorities, particularly as related to environments beyond the confines of the university campus. The findings of this study have offered practical implications associated with the enhancement of the safety of international students in regional Australia.