An insight into home while they're away
by Michele Nardelli
Travelling many thousands of kilometres from home to go to university
is a fairly daunting concept.
Most uni students here never leave their home city. So for the thousands of students who come to study at UniSA it can be a little harder than people realise to get a close-up cultural experience of Australia.
Recent research has shown that many students who come here from overseas only live with other international students and rarely get to see inside an average Australian home – some don’t even head out past Adelaide and its inner suburbs.
A new host family project at UniSA is looking to redress that shortfall by matching UniSA staff and families with international students so that the students get an entrée into everyday Australian activities.
The project was launched last month at the Adelaide Zoo and already students matched with locals have been busy experiencing Australia – from bushwalking and a drive in the country, to the movies, barbecues and the football or a home-cooked Sunday roast.
About 45 students from 17 different countries are part of the pilot program. They are postgraduates and undergraduates, and come from all four divisions of the University.
Launching the project, UniSA Chancellor David Klingberg said the aim was to give students a closer insight into local culture and attitudes, and provide a safe and friendly environment in which to share ideas and world views.
And all the feedback so far is showing signs of success with matched-up families and students arranging to meet again after their first adventure. Regular email contact has been established in many cases, helping to build a “family” style network for our international students.
For more information about the Host Family project call Nimi Ashok on (08) 8302 2759.