The safety and security of all members of our campus community is a top priority for the University, and we welcome input from all parts of the community to support our students and staff.
We note today a survey comprising 163 responses from international students, received across a year, highlighting a number of areas where the University has been actively working with the community, police and students.
The University has a comprehensive security and safety program, which includes specially designed arrangements to meet the particular needs of international students. For example, we provide pre-arrival, arrival and post-arrival support for international students. The University also provides an after-hours assistance line that international students can call 24 hours a day. The University regularly runs safety and security information sessions specifically for international students. The sessions feature presentations from the NSW Police, Fire Brigade, University security, Ambulance and Surf Life Saving Australia.
In addition to these initiatives, the University’s safety and security arrangements include: security campus patrols on foot and by bike, patrols by security vehicles 24 hours a day/seven days a week, a security shuttle bus to move people around campus, priority lit pathways and security escorts after dark. The University works particularly closely with the NSW Police on safety and security arrangements on campus and in the community generally.
The safety and security of international students is a particularly important issue for the Newcastle community as a whole. The University works closely with the community to promote a culture of acceptance and tolerance through a range of initiatives including:
- Harmony Day celebrations
- Cultural awareness training for clubs and societies
- Community cultural festival
- Home-Start program for African Refugees
- Cultural Connections
- Homestay Program
While the survey of 3,500 international students resulted in 163 responses across a year the university and the Newcastle community remain strongly committed to a positive experience for international students and we will continue to work with a range of student bodies representing the interests of international students across the campus to improve safety and security.
