Statement on Safety in Australia for Students of Indian Descent

The Institute for Study Abroad is closely monitoring reports about acts of violence against students from India studying in Australia. The Australian government is taking these incidents very seriously and Prime Minister Rudd has released statements promising to deal with the perpetrators in a swift manner. This troubling problem is being addressed by universities in Australia, as well.

Because IFSA-Butler has staff in all locations where it has students, we have been working jointly to prepare special advice for students of Indian descent. We believe students can be safer if they:

• Travel in groups
• Avoid traveling by public transportation late at night
• Report harassment to IFSA-Butler and university staff
• Avoid part-time work that requires working at night and travel by public transportation

IFSA-Butler will keep students and parents updated on the latest developments in Australia via announcements here and via e-mail communication to departing students and their parents. We also encourage you to contact our staff with questions by calling 800-858-0229 or e-mailing our program advisors. In addition, we will address this issue during on-site orientation in Australia.