Back in 2001, I arrived in Australia as an international student, hopeful, determined, and ready to make a difference. I still remember stepping off the plane in Sydney with two suitcases and a head full of dreams. I juggled part-time jobs, navigated a new education system, and leaned on the kindness of strangers who became lifelong friends. That experience shaped not only my personal journey but my professional purpose. Over the past 20 years, I have seen countless international students thrive and contribute meaningfully to this country. Australia has also flourished because of their energy, ambition, and global perspectives.
Now, Australia’s international education industry is at a crossroads. This moment feels so personal and so urgent.
A recent article from The AFR reported a drop of 300,000 international students since late 2024 and the latest visa statistics showed a 30 per cent decline in offshore student visa application lodgements for Australia. While recent policy changes may explain part of this shift, the deeper concern is what it signals for our future, that Australia will lose the bright, ambitious people who choose to call Australia home for a formative chapter in their lives.
It is easy to talk in big, round numbers, but behind these numbers are students with their own ambitions and dreams, just like I had when I first stepped off the plane onto Australian shores.
We cannot afford to treat this as a short-term policy issue. International students contribute much more than just tuition fees. They bring cultural richness and future-focused skills, and they become part of our workplaces, our communities, and our shared future.
We’ve seen what happens when policy shifts too quickly and drastically without thoroughly considering its broader impact. The current situation in Canada is just one example of why we can’t afford to turn away international students in one big movement. Recent reports show they were 28 per cent under their 2024 international student cap targets due to a range of factors, including shifts in perception, changes to their Student Direct Stream (SDS) program and delays in visa processing. The sudden changes left students stranded and pathways disrupted, and now Canadian institutions and communities are feeling the gap of not having international students there to contribute socially, culturally, and economically.
That’s why it’s essential for us to work together as a sector to help influence smarter policy outcomes and create a stronger industry.
But it’s not just about getting students here, it’s about what happens next. Our sector must play an active role in ensuring students feel welcomed and connected when they arrive. Initiatives like IDP’s comprehensive onshore support program, Arrive & Thrive, and countless other community-led efforts, help students build friendships, feel safe, and gain the skills and support they need to thrive beyond the classroom. Without ongoing support and guidance, there’s nothing keeping international students here.
This is a critical time for Australia. We need to listen more and respond with clarity, compassion, and urgency – before we lose what has made Australia such a strong and respected global education leader.
At IDP, we will continue to champion our students, not only by finding the right course and support system that sets them up for success, but also by sharing their voices with policy makers through our data so decisions are made with their concerns and futures in mind.
If I am sure of one thing, it is that the international education sector is overwhelmingly made up of people who care and believe in the transformative power of international education.
Jane Li is Regional Operations Director, Australasia at IDP Education.
