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Article by Cameron Spink
For a “multicultural society” we certainly know to appeal to the international student. In the first instance, the Australian government imposes rigorous, and some would say harsh, requirements before a student is granted a visa. While this cannot be described as “multiculturalism” at work this policy is not necessarily a bad objective. After all, in some ways it is the only thing stopping us from degrading to the foreign strategies of the motherland.
However, once cleared past the government paperwork the international student is faced with other domestic oppressions. Take for instance the fact that they are only allowed to work 20 hours a week. Or, for some reason, their employers are allowed to pay them cash-in-hand and below the required income.
Then there are the few instances of extreme exploitation. Like last weeks news of a Perth lecturer who approached at least four Chinese women for sex in exchange for higher grades. This sort of news makes me sick to the stomach. For so many foreign students there is such a pressure to receive good marks as their parents are paying their full tuition upfront. This leads to scenarios like the one mentioned above where international students feel they must do more than being judged on their merits to succeed. Shame on those who would utilise this weakness to their own ends.
There are also those largely publicized instances of actual abuse against foreign students. Any and all violence should not be tolerated. But when some red-neck beats up an Indian student this has ramifications at an international level.
While I will not be held to be endorsing equality specifically, sometimes there are instances where Australia does not offer a system that encourages diversity. This promotes the good kind of “multiculturalism” as it boosts our work force, particularly in the business and accounting sectors, and maintains influx into our universities. Unfortunately, statistics would suggest that the number of international students seeking to study on our soil has u-turned and is now on the decrease.
Having foreign brothers and sisters in Christ brings many great blessings beyond the economic. They bring an enthusiasm for the gospel that many of us have lost. They can share stories from the forefront of Christian work. Somebody once remarked that one day the Asian countries will be sending missionaries over to Australia to save the lost. Let us not disregard our international brethren nor the abundant opportunities this gives us, as Christians, to impact the aliens in our lands with the gospel!
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