Australia has long built an image as a friendly, open and welcoming country to foreigners. But as international students increasingly feature in debates about immigration, housing and living costs, a question is being asked: Is the way Australia talks about international students affecting its image in the world?
The article is edited based on the commentary of Professor Simon Pawson, Dean of Blue Mountains International Hotel Management School of University Torrens Australia, posted on The Koala News on September 15, 2026.
Australia faces a national image problem
For decades, Australia has promoted its image to the world as a friendly, open and welcoming country for tourists and foreigners. From famous tourism campaigns of the past to the “Come and Say G’day” message, Australia’s image is built around positive experiences, friendly people and a livable society. But according to Professor Simon Pawson, a country’s brand lies not only in what is advertised, but also in the actual experiences of the people who go there. This is especially notable for international students.
Unlike tourists who only stay in Australia for a short time, international students can live here for many years. They rent houses, use public transportation, work part-time, study, make friends and participate in community life. In other words, they experience Australia at the level of everyday life.
International students don’t just come to Australia to study
According to the article, international students come to Australia from many countries such as China, India, Vietnam, Indonesia and many other places because they believe that Australia can provide:
- High quality education.
- Career opportunities.
- International living environment.
- Opportunity to experience Australian culture.
- Long-term personal and professional relationships.
While studying, many students also work part-time in fields such as hotels, restaurants and tourism. This creates a remarkable connection. International students not only experience Australia’s tourism and service industry, but also contribute to providing human resources for the industries that Australia is promoting to the world.
International students can become “ambassadors” of Australia
After graduating, a student carries more than just a degree. They also brought with them stories about life in Australia. They will tell their parents, friends, colleagues and professional networks about what they have experienced. Someone who studied in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane or other cities may continue to maintain ties to Australia for many years after returning home. According to the point of view stated in the article, this is a form of soft power for Australia. International students can become future managers, entrepreneurs, investors, employers or influential people in their communities. Therefore, their experiences in Australia may influence how they perceive and talk about the country after returning.
But increasingly, students feel unwelcome
This is one of the most notable contents in the commentary. Professor Simon Pawson said he had heard from some students that they felt increasingly unwelcome in Australia. According to these students, that feeling does not necessarily come from school or the learning environment. It stems from the broader political and social debate about international students. In discussions about:
- Population pressures.
- Housing.
- Living expenses.
- Immigration policy.
- Infrastructure.
- Number of immigrants.
International students are sometimes mentioned as part of the problem. Some students said they felt they were being targeted. Others said they began to feel unsafe or unwelcome. However, the article also highlights an important point:
Australia can have serious debates about housing, immigration, infrastructure and international education policies without turning international students into “the problem”. These are two different issues.
Debating policy is not the same as blaming students
Australia is dealing with many real problems related to housing, population, infrastructure and cost of living. Government and society debate about the scale of immigration or policies for international students is part of the policy-making process. But as the author argues, how these issues are communicated is as important as the policy itself. If international students continually hear that they are the cause of the pressures facing Australian society, they may ask: “If Australia wants us to come here, why when we arrive does it make us feel like we are part of the problem?” This is not just a story about students’ emotions. It is also related to Australia’s image in the international market.
What can a student returning to Vietnam tell about Australia?
Let’s try to look at the problem from a very simple perspective. A Vietnamese student went to Australia to study for several years.
During that time, they:
- Study at school.
- Work more.
- Rent a house.
- Travel by public transportation.
- Get to know Australians.
- Make friends with international students.
- Cultural experience.
- Travel.
- Join the community.
After graduating, they returned to Vietnam. When a friend asked: “What is Australia really like?” Their answer won’t come from a travel commercial. It comes from what they have experienced firsthand. And that’s why the international student experience can be such an important part of Australia’s image around the world.
“Brand Australia” is not just about advertising
A country can spend a lot of money to promote tourism and education. But if the actual experiences of those who have lived there are completely different from the promotional messages, the gap between “promise” and “reality” can become a credibility problem. This is also the question that the author poses to Tourism Australia. If its mission is to build and protect Australia’s image in the international marketplace, what will its role be when the experiences of hundreds of thousands of international students threaten to impact the very values Australia promotes? Because “Australia is friendly” cannot just be a message before a person sets foot in Australia. It must also be reflected in how they are treated after arrival.
What stories will international students bring back home?
This is perhaps the most important question raised in the article. After completing their studies, international students will leave Australia. They carry:
- Diploma.
- Experience.
- Relationships.
- Memories.
- And the story of Australia.
That story could be about a country that welcomed them, helped them grow and become part of a community. But it could also be the story of a nation that felt it was only welcome as long as it had economic benefits. According to Professor Simon Pawson, which stories are told about Australia in the future will depend partly on how this country treats international students today.
The debate about studying abroad in Australia, immigration, housing and population will certainly continue to arise. These are complex policy issues and there are no simple answers. But besides the numbers about the number of students, visas or population, there is still a factor that is easy to ignore:
- The experiences of people living in Australia themselves.
- International students will eventually leave.
But what they say about Australia after they return could continue to influence how the next generation views the country.
And the question is:
How does Australia want international students to remember themselves after they graduate and return home?
An Australia that welcomes, creates opportunities and helps them become part of the community? Or an Australia where they once felt welcomed, but which has since become the subject of debate about social issues? The stories these students bring home will also become part of Australia’s story around the world.
Source: The Koala News
