On Tuesday, April 30th, Study Melbourne and SEEK facilitated an insightful online session designed for employers in regional Victoria. This event was designed to assist employers in tapping into fresh talent pools and understanding the significant advantages of recruiting international students, while also providing practical guidance on seamlessly integrating them into the workforce. It also showcased a notable panel comprising industry luminaries and experienced professionals, such as Helen Ryan (the Director for Cooperative Experiential Learning & Careers Fed Uni), Steven Nield representing GHD, and Samantha Taylor from Grampians Health, among other esteemed speakers. Together, they offer a diverse range of perspectives and rich experiences. One of the panellists, Sarbjeet Singh, recognised as the Victorian International Student of the Year 2023 and currently employed as a Stormwater Planning Engineer at the City of Geelong, offered insights into his journey from student life to professional accomplishment. Above: Sarbjeet Singh receiving his Victorian International Student of the Year 2023 Award Can you tell us about your journey as an international student in Victoria and how it led to your job as a Stormwater Planning Engineer in Geelong? My journey as an international student in Australia was both challenging and rewarding. Arriving in Victoria in 2020, I quickly realized the importance of resilience and adaptability. While I focused on my studies, I also found time to engage with the local community through volunteering. Whether it was delivering meals to those in need or starting a study support group for fellow international students, these experiences helped me connect with my new home on a deeper level. Outside of volunteering, I actively pursued networking opportunities. Platforms like LinkedIn and attending events allowed me to expand my horizons and learn from professionals in various fields. I remember that one of the people I met at an event gave me some great tips on my resume and directed me to some job boards. All of this helped me secure a student internship at the City of Greater Geelong. This was a major milestone for my professional life. Despite the initial workplace challenges, I was fortunate to have a supportive team who helped me navigate the transition. Over time, I embraced a mindset of continuous learning and improvement. I would reach out to my supervisor on regular feedback and would seek feedback and ask for areas of improvement. This mindset of growth while learning new things led me to my current role as a Stormwater Planning Engineer at the City of Greater Geelong. I went every mile and proved to my team that I wanted to learn and grow. Reflecting on my journey, I am grateful for the opportunities and experiences that have shaped my path. Each hurdle has been met with resilience, each setback a lesson in disguise. As I embark on this chapter, I am fuelled by a sense of purpose and determination to make a meaningful impact in my role and beyond. Above: Sarbjeet Singh, with friends, at a Deakin University event What special skills or perspectives do international students bring, when working in Victoria? International students bring a diverse range of skills and overseas work experiences to their workplace. Growing up in a different country they bring a unique set of values and often think differently when problem solving. This helps the team to have a diverse pool of ideas. Importantly, international students contribute to fostering a culture of inclusivity and understanding within the workplace. Their exposure to diverse cultures instils empathy and promotes cross-cultural communication, enriching team dynamics and fostering a welcoming environment. International students form one of the most skilled people in Australia and are a great fit for a lot of professional roles. It is definitely not easy to leave your home country and migrate to an entirely new country where people don’t even speak your first language. A student who was courageous enough to leave family at a young age has enough ambition that they can achieve anything in life. Above: Sarbjeet Singh, with friends, celebrating Lunar New Year How do you think international students positively contribute to the economy and workforce of regional Victoria? International students play a pivotal role in enriching both the economy and workforce of regional Victoria in numerous ways. Beyond their tuition fees, which provides vital resources to the region, these students actively engage in part-time employment opportunities during their studies. Often finding positions in retail and fast-food industries, they become integral contributors to the regional workforce, supporting local employers and bolstering the economy. Drawing on my personal experiences, students like me also engage themselves in a range of volunteer activities and contribute to community life. Moreover, upon completing their studies, many international students choose to remain in the region, further enhancing its workforce by taking up more specialised roles within their respective fields. Their presence not only fills crucial gaps in the job market but also infuses the region with diverse perspectives and innovative ideas. Driven by a spirit of entrepreneurship, international students frequently seize upon new opportunities, fostering growth and creating additional avenues for employment. This not only benefits the local economy but also provides young Australians with expanded job prospects and fosters a culture of positive growth in regional Victoria. Indeed, the talent and ingenuity of international students contribute significantly to the success and development of regional Victoria, propelling local businesses to new heights and nurturing a vibrant and dynamic workforce. Lastly, what would you like to tell employers who are unsure about hiring international students and what benefits do you see in working together? I would highly encourage employers to give international students an opportunity to work. These students will bring their ambition and curiosity to the team and will contribute to the positive work environment. In addition to cross-cultural collaboration, international students at a workplace show the commitment of a workplace towards promoting inclusivity and respect towards global talent. Addressing concerns about visas, it's essential to recognize that many international students are eligible to work under their visa arrangements. Contrary to misconceptions, hiring individuals on visas isn't as complicated as it may seem. By embracing inclusivity in hiring practices, employers not only diversify their workforce but also cultivate an environment of understanding, tolerance, and cooperation among individuals from varied backgrounds. Ultimately, this inclusive approach not only enhances the workplace environment but also contributes to the broader cultural enrichment and social cohesion of society. So, to any hesitant employers, I urge you to embrace the opportunity to work alongside international students—you'll find it to be a rewarding and enriching experience for your team and organisation as a whole. Learn more about attending the event here and find out more about Study Melbourne here.
Photo by Carmen Zammit. Study Melbourne Future Founders Venture Scholarships for international student founders of a new or early-stage business awarded at State Library Victoria's StartSpace Study Melbourne announced the winners of the 2022 Future Founders Venture Scholarships, who will each receive $10,000 in scholarship funding and a six-week StartSpace Loft membership, which includes exclusive one-on-one coaching and mentoring opportunities. The Study Melbourne Future Founders Venture Scholarship program is the only international student-focused initiative that provides seed funding for entrepreneurship ventures. Meet the winning scholars and ventures Selected from a strong pool of applicants, these eight future founders stood out for their ambitious and sustainable ideas and a clear understanding of their target market, problems there are solving, and progress to date. They are; Phycoforms — a biodegradable range of architectural materials derived from the residues of harvested seaweed and other locally available waste resources.This innovative material was also designed to have a significantly lower embodied energy compared to the existing materials. Shimroth John Thomas (Shim) KIDO PAINT — a new framework/app combining artificial intelligence (AI) and augmented reality (AR) algorithms and techniques to َAUTOMATICALLY turn 2D drawings into entertaining 3D augmented reality animations that can be watched in real world. Safiollah Heidari (Safi) Deckle — a point-based mobile app to connect friends and allow users to join together to create ‘work groups’. Here, when a friend completes a task or starts a new course, their status will be updated on the group and in turn would allow other friends to give each other support. Li Ze Cheng Lexon (Lex) Untwine — a unique material/product/service/system solution aimed at eliminating single-use packaging waste in food and beverage industries, starting with the Australian wine industry. The Untwine bottle is 50% lighter and 25% smaller than regular glass bottles. They are sleek, modern, and refillable. Joseph Oliver Yap (Joseph) Matcha Bae — a modern premium ceremonial grade Japanese Matcha Tea and Accessories Brand. Our goal is to be the one stop shop for all premium quality organic matcha products globally whether it be drinks, snacks or skincare by 2024. Matcha is also an excellent alternative to coffee and is made with leaves of the Japanese Green Tea plant that is shade grown and granite stone ground resulting in excellent nutrient retention and 137 times more antioxidants than normal green tea. Aishwarya Kansakar (Ash) Jaideep Upadyay (Jai) Soyful — engages with the circular and creative economy by innovatively upcycling okara (soybean pulp) into flour. Soyful wants Australians to find joy in okara, a traditionally Asian ingredient, through familiar western pantry staples starting with okara flour and easy-to-bake brownie mixes. Shamira Aviella (Shamira) Xin Yong Tan (Michelle) Curatorial Collective (CC) — a social enterprise visioning to promote cultural inclusion by bringing in diverse artistic talents to contribute to the community through creative programs. We produce Asian culture-focused projects, e.g., exhibitions, workshops, festivals, for public institutions. Chun Wai Yeung ( Wilson) Hey Juny Yoon (Kelly) Wai Yee Lee (Katherine) Vimi — a fully integrated workflow platform that manages a client from scoping out their video brief, booking a shoot at their preferred location, editing services allowing customers to provide requests for editing in real-time on the video, to the successful delivery of the final product. Our product opens up a brand-new market allowing customers to get affordable agency-level videography quality for only $500. Jill E Tan (Jil) Daniel Wei Han Tei (Daniel) Nataneal Yan Setiwan (Nathan) Supporting international entrepreneurs in the CBD The Future Founders Program is part of the Study Melbourne Empowered Series. one of their free events and programs to build job readiness skills, discover new experiences, make new friends, and build international student networks. StartSpace is a startup community for people starting out on their business development journey. Operating across two spaces in the Ideas Quarter at State Library Victoria, in the centre of Melbourne. The ground floor has space for 125 members at a time, with the paid StartSpace Loft area available for up to 48 members. Find out more about how we can help you with StartSpace membership, as well as available facilities and opening hours of our spaces. PHOTO: Top row from left to right: Wai Yee Lee, Hye Jung Yoon, Li Ze Cheng Lexon, Xin Yong Tan, Shimroth Thomas, Joseph Oliver Yap, Jil E Tan, Daniel Wei Han Tan, Natanael Yan Setiawan. Bottom row from left to right: Safiollah Heidari, Shamira Aviella, Mr. Steve Dimopoulos MP, Sarah Slade, Chun Wai Yeung, Aishwarya Kansakar, Jaideep Upadhyay. Article originally published by Study Melbourne, March 2022