Covid-19 has shown that the Australian federal government does not value international students despite their monetary and cultural contributions to the country. Victoria University’s Mitchell Institute reported education was Australia’s third largest export industry in 2019, adding $11 billion to the economy in property, retail and hospitality, and $25 billion in general spending.
Singaporean Bachelor of Communications student Vaasanthi Palepu is part of the declining number of international students that remain in Victoria.
Unlike many others she “rode out the pandemic in this … little room,” she said, referring to her studio apartment residence on Monash Clayton campus.
Miss Palepu shows her mother Meena Kashyp through Facetime the garlic she is frying for her creamy tomato-based pasta dish on 24 May.
She is over 6000 kilometres away from her family located in Singapore. She has used food to stay connected to her family and Indian culture during the pandemic.
“I know how to do the basic pasta stuff, but certain meals that I really like that my mum knows how to cook well … we will specifically do a Facetime call and she’ll teach me how to cook a dish,” she said.
"That's how my mum and I bond."
The plated pasta contains garlic, Dolmio tomato sauce, cream, cheese and a coriander garnish. The “typical” pasta dish for a university student and Miss Palepu's favourite on a "lazy" day.
Miss Palepu considers herself lucky because she made friends during the limited orientation events Monash offered before Victoria’s first lockdown in March 2020. This meant she could have visitors during the lockdowns.
“I know other people didn’t have anyone, so they felt very isolated,” she said.
Strict border closures meant Monash had a 32 percent reduction in international student commencements. Significantly reducing Clayton’s previous population that was 34 percent international students.
The pasta lunch was paired with an alcoholic mocha.
As a residential advisor (RA) for her residence hall Miss Palepu has heard many stories of struggling international families.
“They’ve lost their homes, they’ve lost their jobs, they’ve lost so many family members, and for them to keep paying $33,000 is absurd.”
To "get people out of their rooms and boost some morale," the RA's cook different cuisines every Sunday. This shared dinner gives the international students a sense of community.
The Council of International Students Australia has reported an increase in racism towards international students showing the need for community spirit.
Miss Palepu fell in love with Australia's "deep-seated sense of family and culture ... and the laid back style of living," she said.
These values contradict Australia's harsh border policies that do not allow international students to return to the country.
"[The government is] protecting their citizens, fair enough, but take care of us also," she said.
While these policies trap Miss Palepu in Australia she stays in touch with her heritage by cooking Indian dishes create the “aroma” from home. Her mum's Biryani, Miss Palepu's favourite home-cooked meal, will have to wait until after the federal government announces a plan to allow international students into the country.
Sri Lankan Biomedical Science Deakin graduate Bulani Wijetilleke graduated over six months late due to the practical units in her degree being delayed by Covid-19, forcing her to stay in Australia.
“All of my friends just decided to leave because there was no place for international students here," she said.
“I wanted to leave as well, but if I left there was no chance of me coming back.”
Miss Wijetilleke disagrees with Australia’s approach to international students.
“We pay massive amounts of money and for [Scott Morrison] to say ‘go home’, I don’t think that was fair,” she said.
Sri Lankan street food kottu reminds Miss Wijetilleke of going clubbing with friends as it was the food they always bought at the end of the night.
To make the kottu Miss Wijetilleke bought the roti from a Sri Lankan store and cut it using kitchen scissors rather than the traditional mincing knife on 25 May. Other kottu ingredients include onion, garlic, carrot and spring onion.
Both Miss Wijetilleke and Miss Palepu agree that cooking traditional dishes connects them to their cultures.
"You know you’re Sri Lankan when you add tons of chilli and pepper,“ Miss Wijetilleke said.
"From small days I ate chilli."
All ingredients for the kottu are fried and mixed together, with roti replacing rice or noodles.
When making Sri Lankan food away from home Miss Wijetilleke calls her mum for help if she gets stuck.
"She'll fix it over the phone," she said
“I don’t know how she does it."
Miss Wijetilleke said her mum does not need exact measurements, she just eyeballs it and it is always “yum”. Cooking Sri Lankan food reminds Miss Wijetilleke of her childhood meals.
“My mum used to make four curries for lunch, and it was always different … I do miss lunch at home,” she said.
The roti is the final ingredient to be added to the kottu. It is warmed, then the meal is ready to be served.
Miss Wijetilleke’s ability to remain in Australia after graduating is uncertain. She was unable to find a placement during her final year of her degree.
“Which has left a big gap on my resume which I am quite worried about, because to get employed in Australia you need onshore experience,” she said.
Applying for her temporary residency visa has also been disrupted by Victoria’s fourth lockdown due to her mandatory English test being delayed.
Cultural events including the Sri Lankan new year celebrations Miss Wijetilleke attended at Deakin every year will begin to decline
with a predicted 50 percent reduction in Australia's international students by July 2021.
Neither Monash University nor Deakin reduced their university fees, despite all students conducting units online during 2020, with many offshore international students doing the same in 2021.
Those who remain in Australia are going years without seeing family members.
“I don’t know when I’ll see them again,” Miss Wijetilleke said.
Even after graduation a "very competitive" residency application process remains in Australia, forcing many international graduates out of the country.
