Safety in the City for international students

The council promotes Safety in the City to international students

International student safety DVD, Safety in the City, was launched yesterday at a special event at the Auckland Town Hall.

The DVD provides international students with information on how to stay safe and avoid breaking the law during their stay in Auckland. It also highlights organisations students can contact for help and services that are available to them.

Teaching resources, which can be used in conjunction with the DVD, accompany the 15-minute film that is intended to be used by private language schools, training establishments and other organisations working with international students.

Cr Paul Goldsmith, Chairperson of the Community Services Committee thinks the DVD will be a useful tool for international students coming to Auckland.

“Last year we welcomed more than 50,000 international students to Auckland. These students make a positive contribution to the local economy and the vibrancy of the city.

“We're mindful of our responsibility as hosts to so many young people. With this DVD and other safety initiatives, Auckland City Council is working constructively with the police to help make their visit a safe one,” he says.

Produced with the help of volunteers from the international student community, the DVD features seven different scenes re-enacting situations that international students could encounter while living in Auckland. Throughout the film, there are cues to pause and discuss what is happening in the DVD.

Auckland City Council worked in collaboration with a number of organisations including Study Auckland, the New Zealand Police and the Asian International Student Safety Issues Focus Group to produce the DVD and accompanying teaching resources.

The first cut of the DVD was shown to focus groups of international students who provided feedback that was incorporated into the final version.

Additional input and advice was received from the Ministry of Education and several private language schools.

Inspector Andrew Coster, Auckland City Central Area Commander and Chair of the Asian International Students Safety Issues Focus Group thinks the DVD will make an excellent contribution to the safety of international students in the city.

"We are aware that international students could be considered a vulnerable community for a whole range of reasons, hence the special attention that is being given to ensuring their safety whilst they enjoy the high quality education offered in this country.

"Police have been receiving very positive feedback from international students who say that they feel safe in our city. This is an encouraging indication that our efforts are being directed in the right ways.

"The DVD will be a great resource for education providers and the international student community. We trust it will be used to good effect."

Copies of the DVD with accompanying teaching resources can be ordered through Study Auckland. Email study@aucklandnz.com or visit www.studyauckland.com.

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