Mr Kay Marssena1
1Study Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
In the 2023-23 financial year, international education(IE) was worth $36.4 billion to the Australian economy. Then, what is the government’s role in supporting the IE industry to ensure students have the best ROI?
Among other reasons, the government designs grant programs to promote economic activity, generate job opportunities, and grow export activities. Therefore, providing grants to organisations in the IE sector to promote the wellbeing of international students(IS) should be an essential investment in the country’s largest service export.
Using the Study Melbourne grant program (Study Melbourne Inclusion Program) as an example, the presenter will share the challenges of securing grant funding for IS-related activity and the importance of this funding to address priority topics for international students, including mental and physical health, resilience, community engagement and cultural competency. They will also share some tips on where to apply for those grants and how to increase the chances of being successful.
Biography:
Kay Marssena, Student Programs Manager at Study Melbourne, has over 10 years of experience in the international Education Sector within both the private and public domains. Throughout his career, Kay has mentored numerous international students across Australia, the United States, and Canada. In his current role, Kay manages various programs to increase the employability and wellbeing of international students in Victoria.