International students embrace local communities

Southern Cross University's international students are getting the chance to do volunteer work in communities throughout the North Coast region, giving them a first-hand look at the local culture and the chance to mix with residents.

The Caring for Kuntri SCU International Student Volunteer Program is a collaboration between the SCU International Office, School of Arts and the Office of Regional Engagement.

Co-ordinator Mr Justin St Vincent Welch said the program was designed to provide community based learning opportunities for international and Australian students.

"For international students voluntary work is a way to meet with and learn about their host community and also repay the community for its hospitality," Mr St Vincent Welch said.

He said the students could be involved in a diverse range of projects including rehabilitation and reforestation of land, and regional events and festivals which were run with the help of volunteers.

During September 11 students and their academic superviser, Dr Linzi Murrie, took part in a regeneration project in Coraki, working with the local Enviro-Carers Group.

After successfully weeding, planting and mulching the Coraki site, the group was taken on a short tour of "the Bungawalbin", an area of forests, wetlands and vast tea tree plantations. They also visited Codrington to see tree harvesting and distilling operations and the Whyralla Aboriginal Bora Ring.

The students were shown the locally popular Nielly's Lagoon and Bungawalbin Creek swimming hole where some students experienced the thrills of a traditional "tyre swing". They were also given a history of the district by local historian Noel Flaherty.

In 2006, the students will be involved in a range of projects including the North Coast National Show in Lismore and Wilsons River Landcare.

The students will also have the chance to assist with the Koala Food Forest, a project to establish a wooded area of food trees for the local koala population on the Lismore campus. They will also be assisting members of the Muli Muli Aboriginal Community (Woodenbong) in landscape and reafforestation work.

Mr St Vincent Welch said any non-profit community organisations that needed the assistance of volunteers could become involved in the program by contacting him at Southern Cross University on 66269250.

Photo caption: International students Bernadette Helmberger, of Austria, (left) and Hella Barth, of Germany, take part in the regeneration work at Coraki. The students are studying at Southern Cross University as part of the study abroad program.