ADELAIDE SAFE PLACE FOR OVERSEAS STUDENTS, SAYS SPECIALIST

BY NEVILLE D'CRUZ

MELBOURNE, Dec 28 (Bernama) -- Despite recent attacks on Indian students in
Australia, Adelaide is still a safe place to study, a specialist in
accommodation for international students said.

Adelaide International Village managing director Hassan Salleh said a "few
isolated incidents" had been blown out of proportion by the media.

"In my mind they were isolated incidents, and if the circumstances are
investigated you will find there is another side of the story," Johore-born
Hassan told Bernama.

He said his view was backed up by a senior community member who represented
India at a recent seminar in Adelaide.

"We spoke about the reported bashing of one Indian student. He said to me
the matter reported in the media was all out of proportion," Hassan said.

"It was a common street brawl. To his knowledge the student and others were
walking in a shopping precinct in Adelaide and it seems that the Indian student
gave a group of local louts some cheek. The louts retaliated by bashing him."

Hassan said he regularly spoke to the residents of the Adelaide hostels he
operates, Bradford Lodge and Highgate Lodge, about safety issues, and had also
arranged for police representatives to advise students.

"I take pride that our two hostels are safe and secure places for
international students to live," he said.

He said it was important too, for families to talk to students about
personal safety before they left to study overseas.

"If you had a son or daughter studying in Adelaide, wouldn't you have taught
them to be streetwise. By this I mean if there are signs of a disturbance
brewing, walk away from it, or keep your distance while observing," Hassan said.

"We can only do so much for these students in the short time they will be
with us, especially upon arrival, but parents would have had many more years
than us to teach their children to fend for themselves.

"They can teach them such things as the safekeeping of documents, especially
passports; not cashing out more money than their requirements for, say, two
days; taking care of who they keep company and mix with; and being considerate
towards other residents."

-- BERNAMA