New Melbourne Centre for Victoria's 107,000 International Students
Released 26 March 2007
IDP Education, Australia’s largest provider of services to
international students, is opening a centre in the middle of
Melbourne to assist the 107,000 students from overseas countries
who are studying in Victoria.
Ideally situated at 410 Lonsdale Street, the IDP Student
Services Centre is operating from a smart and contemporary
shopfront in the centre of Melbourne’s student precinct – close to
Taylors College, Melbourne Institute of Technology, RMIT
University, the University of Melbourne and also the Department of
Immigration and Citizenship. Students can drop in or contact the
new centre simply by dialling 1300 STUDENT (or 1300 788 3368) for
the cost of a local call.
IDP’s Melbourne Student Services Centre will support
international students with:
- Free course counselling, applications processing and
placement
- Free advice on visa issues, including assistance with visa
applications and extensions
- City orientation services
- IDP Welcome Bags for new students including free phone cards,
discount vouchers, city maps and information, pens, stationery and
other useful items
- Free internet access for students who come to Australia with
IDP
IDP Chief Executive Anthony Pollock said that IDP’s new
Melbourne office would make IDP’s services available to
international students in Victoria.
“We know that international students are looking for more
information and support when they come to Australia, particularly
in the period immediately after they arrive. IDP’s new Melbourne
centre is here to fill that gap. It will support students with
everyday issues as well as help them reach their long-term goals,”
he said.
Future services offered by IDP’s Melbourne office will include
careers counselling and job search assistance. IDP also has Student
Services Centres in Sydney, Brisbane and Perth which perform the
same role as the new Melbourne centre.
IDP places 20,000 international students a year in Australian
universities, colleges, schools and English language courses – more
than any other organisation – using its global network of over 65
offices in nearly 30 countries. IDP is 50 per cent owned by 38
Australian universities and 50 per cent owned by Australia’s
largest online recruitment and training company, SEEK Ltd.
The new IDP centre will support international education in
Victoria, an industry which brings in an estimated $2.8 billion of
export revenue to the state each year. It has major economic
spin-off effects in other industries, including tourism, retailing
and rental accommodation.
Media are invited to attend a cocktail reception to
celebrate the opening of the IDP Melbourne Student Services
Centre.
When: Thursday March 29, 5pm
Where: IDP Melbourne Student Services
Centre
410 Lonsdale St, Melbourne
Followed by: Cocktails at Shamiana,
5.30pm-7pm
420 Lonsdale Street, Melbourne
Melbourne City Councillor Catherine Ng will officiate at the
opening of the centre. Representatives from a range of
international education providers are also attending, knowing that
international students in all of their programs will be supported
by the range of services that IDP can provide to their
international students already in Melbourne, or those who may be
thinking of coming to study in Melbourne.
Representatives from other key industry stakeholders who are
also attending the opening include Austrade, the Department of
Education and Training (Victoria), and the Australian Universities
Quality Agency.
For further information:
Tim Dodd, Manager, Communications and Corporate Affairs, 0407
440160
tim.dodd@idp.com
