In June 2017, the Government released the International Student Wellbeing Strategy designed to protect and enhance New Zealand’s reputation as a safe and welcoming destination for international students to study.
Ahead of the game, ISANA NZ - International Education Association New Zealand has been supporting international student wellbeing since 2001 and has become a leader in the implementation of the Strategy in Aotearoa. This year they are taking a new approach to helping our international students integrate into our communities. ISANA NZ has facilitated Community Engagement Training Day workshops across the country.
“The workshops are designed to assist community groups in creating pastoral support for international students and their families. To do this, we want our communities to connect with international students, the student support services and the local community.
“It’s been exciting to see the wider community attend these workshops. We’ve had attendees from NZ Police, District Health Boards, education institutions, religious organisations and ethnic, multi-cultural societies,” says Terry McGrath, ISANA NZ President.
“The workshops encourage the sharing of stories of our international students and the engagement by communities,” says Chris Beard, workshop facilitator.
“The workshop held in Tauranga was informative, interactive and validating for those of us who have been working with our international students for some years. I encourage our ethnic communities across the country to get to a workshop nearby,” says Kurt Cordice, Multicultural Tauranga.