On Friday 14th March, StudyPerth had the pleasure of hosting our International Student Welcome Day, an event designed to warmly welcome our newly arrived international students to Perth, Western Australia. It was a day of cultural exchange, connection, and celebration that brought over 300 students together in a vibrant and welcoming atmosphere.
The event featured a variety of stalls representing countries and cultures from around the world. These stalls were hosted by our international student ambassadors, who represented their home countries:
- Ayesha representing Bangladesh
- Diana and Gabriel representing Colombia
- Eddie representing Myanmar
- Himasha representing Sri Lanka
- Joshua representing China
- Kenneth representing the Philippines
- Natty representing Vietnam
- Rency representing Kenya
- Samphelma representing Bhutan
- Shapagat representing Kazakhstan
- Usman representing Pakistan
At each stall, students had the opportunity to immerse themselves in the amazing cultures represented. They could explore the information boards created by our ambassadors, have a chat with them, sample traditional foods and snacks, play games, win exciting prizes, and discover more about the unique customs and traditions of each country. Throughout the event, students enjoyed live performances of traditional music and dance, creating an authentic, immersive multicultural experience.
One of the highlights of the day was our information session, where our ambassadors presented the various free support services available to international students through StudyPerth - including careers advice, legal advice, mental health and wellbeing support, and access to our International Student Hub - ensuring newly arrived students are up-to-date on what is available to them so they can thrive during their time in Perth.
The crowd favourite, however, was the much-loved Passport competition! Students received a StudyPerth Passport and had the chance to collect a stamp from each stall. Those who completed their passports were entered into a prize draw. This engaging activity was a fun way to encourage students to visit each stall, interact with others, and celebrate the incredible diversity of cultures from around the world.
Aaliyah Nestoridis, founder of Kaarla Koort Boodja, delivered the welcome to country for the event. We spoke with her about the experience for international students.
"An event like this is really great for international students because they have the opportunity to connect with people and learn more about the city that they're stepping into. This gives them a great opportunity to meet, mingle, learn more, and learn about other people's countries as well."
We also spoke with international student Marcel, and asked her to share her advice for international students who are new to Perth.
"Don't be afraid to get outside your comfort zone, it's really good to meet other peolpe from different backgrounds and cultures. You might meet someone who is just like you!"
With the stunning Perth Town Hall as our venue, the event's energy was incredible. It was the perfect space for students to connect, share experiences, and learn about their fellow students' home countries.
A heartfelt thank you to everyone involved in making the event a success - our dedicated staff, event committee, our passionate international student ambassadors, the Government of Western Australia, and our members. We look forward to continuing to support and celebrate our international student community as they embark on their study journeys in Perth.
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