Social support to international tertiary students in an Australian regional context

Cultural transition can lead to acculturative stress which has a huge impact on the academic and emotional life of international students. A study was conducted in an Australian university context to examine the problems facing Asianbackground international students in their acculturation into an new cultural and environment. In this study, a total of 20 international students and 5 university staff were recruited in the semi-structured interviews to give their understanding of social support system in a regional area in Australia. Four vital sources of social support were identified: family, friend, university and community. Depending on different factors, each source of social support plays distinct roles in assisting international students. Evaluation to these sources of social support was also discussed in this study. In order to release their pressure and enhance their psychological and social wellbeing, a system of social support should be established to help these students to adjust to the new discourse.