The community safety of international students in Melbourne: a scoping study

Concern about the increasing incidence of violence against international students, particularly those of Indian background, and the polarised and often heated public debate about whether the violence was racially or opportunistically motivated led to this research. The aims of the project were to investigate: the perceived causes of violence against international students; the actual experiences of international students regarding their safety; the impacts of violence; and what can be done to ensure the safety of international students. More than 1,000 students responded to an online survey and interviews were held with students and stakeholders. A media analysis was undertaken. Surveys and interviews found differences in perceptions of crime against international students and experiences or perceived threats of crime among students. One conclusion was that racism is often an element in violent crimes and reflects a society with racial and ethnic tensions in some sectors and that to ignore its role is to risks identifying a key element in improving community safety.