Flying the flag for international students

The English language sector is notoriously volatile and unions are vital for protecting pay and conditions, but Australian Pacific College Teacher and IEU Rep Louise Newey would like to see students get a better deal too.

Like most people teaching English as a second language, Louise says it was not part of her original career plan.

“So many of us have trained in other areas, have travelled extensively or lived overseas and we come from a wide variety of backgrounds,” she says.

Louise was an actor before her husband’s journalism career took them to Moscow when the Berlin Wall collapsed, then later to Brussels.

During much of this time she taught English, but while in Russia she also landed a job in advertising.

“I had no advertising experience but neither did anyone else at that stage,” she says of the heady days when the nation was starting anew.

Two kids and seven winters later, Louise and her family returned to Australia. Soon after, she started teaching at Australian Pacific College.

“I really enjoy my job, especially the teaching. It’s endlessly creative, my colleagues are an infinitely interesting bunch and the students are lovely,” she says.

Louise was voted IEU Rep two years ago and is now involved in negotiations for a new agreement.

“At first I was terrified but in fact the negotiations have been civilised and polite, with plenty of good will on both sides,” Louise says.

But while her own workplace is harmonious, with a number of long-term employees, Louise says the industry itself is volatile.

“The main issue for the industry is that it is so casualised and nobody is indispensible,” she says. “We’re expected to have a degree plus a higher qualification and that’s a big ask for an industry that pays so poorly and offers almost no job security.

“It’s like an export industry – like retail or tourism – where everything depends on the Australian dollar, the weather, or what’s happening in the students’ countries. We’re a disposable asset.”

While Louise would like to see more security for English language teachers, she would also like to see the Federal Government improve conditions for international students.

“I’d like the see international students treated the same as Australian students, and to have access to the same services,” she says.

“International students are being used as cash cows to prop up universities yet they can’t get travel passes or accommodation assistance.

“The majority do not come from wealthy families. Many live in appalling conditions and are deeply exploited by employers. They can legally work a maximum 40 hours a fortnight and if they are paid below award wages, after accommodation costs it’s not a lot to live on.”

It can be “heartbreaking” to see what they go through “and yet they’re so excited to be in Australia”, Louise says.

“With so much international competition for international students, if the Federal Government offered better conditions we would be a more attractive proposition.”