Students Express Concerns at Youth Forum

International students and job security were the main issues discussed at a youth forum at Monash University this week (April 2011).

The Your Community youth forum was held as part of the One World Week. This is a multicultural festival that began at a university in England but is now also held at Monash University.

The theme for the forum was “The Young Mind and What Plagues It”. Topics discussed included Employment, University, Health, Culture and Personal Security.

The forum was run by the Golden Key Monash University Chapter (GKMU).

The event was hosted by Lloyd England, Student Experience Manager and law tutor at Monash University.

GKMU Executive Community Service Officer Matt Malishev said the event was not a standard question-answer format, “There was good discussion going, that’s what we wanted”.

Dr Holt, Director of International Education and Research at Monash University, said that most youth issues are the same regardless of culture.

Student Jason raised the issue of cultural clusters. Opinions varied between the generations.

While an older lady said that her parents would not let her play with people from other cultures, a female student said that her mother forced to play with others in order to improve her language skills.

One female student said she saw everyone as being Aussie and had enough of people referring to a person’s nationality.

International students also voiced the concern that it was getting harder to find work because employers preferred workers that had permanent residency.

Mr Guimaraes, Founder of the Asia-Pacific Youth Organisation, said that it was important to start searching for work as soon as you arrive in Australia.

Dr Holt added that it was important to let employers know what makes you unique.

Mr Malishev was pleased that one question could start a whole discussion, “The aim was to integrate international students with local students and I think we achieved that”.

Student Andy Hwang was concerned about the expectations being placed by family, friends and society to perform. He wanted to know if there was really a need to fulfil these commitments.

Mr Lester, Senior Counselor for Health and Wellbeing at Monash University said that the pressure to meet expectations was a social construct that you can choose not to buy into.

“Learning is done over a lifetime and not all of it has to be done now” he said.

GKMU president Nicola Giarratana rebutted, saying that lectures expected students to have read everything before class.

She also said that it was part of Monash University expectations that students complete 40 hours of study a week and 20 hours of paid work plus community service.

The event has been declared a success.

Mr Malishev would definitely hold the event again, “We are going to expand it, it going to be bigger and better”.

Golden Key is an international honour society that invites students to become members when they achieve certain academic standing. They have chapters worldwide that hold events and rise money for charity.