The Australian Federation of International Students (AFIS) applauds the Victorian Government for commissioning the International Student Care Service, a one-stop, 24-hours available service for international students.

The International Student Care Service will provide advice, counselling and support services to international students, including those who are victims of crime or facing personal crisis. The Service will complement existing services that are required of education providers.

It will be one in a number of initiatives by various government and non-profit bodies in Victoria aimed at improving the experiences of international students. Today's commissioning of the International Student Care Service vindicates AFIS' dedicated work in advocating for international students.

Since its inception in 2002, it has been AFIS’ vision for the establishment of a one-stop international student services. Echoing the voices of various organisations in recommendations to the Victorian Government Overseas Students Experience Taskforce in 2008, the opportunity for such a service was established to be the cornerstone in addressing issues from the ground-level up, while nationally consistent policy change supporting a positive environment is engaged in a two-pronged approach.

AFIS believes that the International Student Care Service represents a good model for adoption by other State governments and will work with relevant bodies in other States to ensure that its benefits will be extended to international students beyond Victoria.