International Students

The Hon. T.T. NGO (16:24): I rise today to speak about our international students. As all honourable members would know, higher education is an important export economy for our state and for others as well. However, I do not want to focus on the billions of dollars international students contribute to the Australian economy. Instead, I want to talk about the flow-on effects of international education. I was inspired to speak on this today as I recently attended an event to celebrate the achievements of one of Adelaide's former international students, Mr James Guo.

It was a pleasure to meet James, who founded Adelaide company Auta Group, and his colleagues at the company 10^th anniversary celebration. James came to Adelaide as an international student from Hebei province in northern China. He studied civil engineering at the University of South Australia and, whilst studying, James and a couple of his uni friends decided to start up a construction business. They started out building a few homes, and today they have a hugely successful company, recently securing building contracts for the construction of the $200 million Victoria Tower on Grote Street.

In contrast to this company's humble beginnings, Adelaide Auta Group expects to turn over half a billion dollars this year and proudly employs 50 staff. James' story is one of many successful stories about international students contributing to our state while they also create international connections and implement new ways of doing things. Over the years, I have had many conversations with students who have told me that part-time work has helped them to meet new people and learn more about Australian culture.

The study and work connections international students make help produce a bilingual workforce, paving the way for greater collaboration between different cultures. James Guo represents a small portion of international students who meet stringent requirements for permanent residency and take up limited work rights after graduation. It has been reported in the past decade that approximately 84 per cent of international students return to their country of origin, but even when former international students return home they continue to contribute to our nation.

Large numbers of our international students have become important long-term advocates for Australia. Indonesia's former foreign minister is just one example. Dr Marty Natalegawa was Australian educated and improved the bilateral relationship between our nations. There are many more highly successful and influential international officials and delegates who were Australian educated.

Graduates who return to their home country often keep in touch with their Australian peers, university academics and other teaching staff, as well as with their employers. I have heard stories of these connections facilitating access to overseas markets for Australian businesses and providing opportunities for industries to expand their footprint overseas. Australian educated international student graduates, whether or not they remain in Australia, facilitate industry links, diplomacy and national security alliances, economic partnerships and a bilingual workforce.

As Australia learns to live with COVID and opens up our universities, South Australia needs to continue to advocate for international students to choose Adelaide as the place to study because the reciprocal benefits are enormous.