International Café: A Collaborative Approach to International Student Wellbeing and Support

Abstract

Prior to 2020, ongoing discourse in the higher education sector underscored the increasingly complex mental health and wellbeing challenges faced by students. The “post-COVID-19” period witnessed a resurgence of international students arriving in Western Australia. Emerging cost of living pressures, accommodation shortages, and changing visa work hours have amplified the distinct challenges international students encounter, prompting renewed discussions surrounding a need for effective support interventions. Drawing inspiration from successful initiatives at Edith Cowan University, Murdoch University introduced the Murdoch International Café—a program focused on providing distinct spaces of support for international students. This supportive environment enables social connection, effective information sharing, and normalised student challenges and support seeking behaviour. Additionally, Murdoch University's Virtual International Student Hub (VISH) extends this support online. In this paper, collaborative autoethnographic methods offer insights into the efficacy of these initiatives and further explore how these proactive, student-centric mental health interventions potentially cater to the evolving needs of international students. ... International Café: A Collaborative Approach to International Student Wellbeing and Support by Yohann Devezy, Braden Hill, Liz Beresford, Rose Williams, Shirley Farr, Em Readman & Clair Mermejo is licensed under CC BY 4.0