Learning Across Continents: Current Challenges, Future Opportunities
Contributions by Latin Stories Australia
Image Credit: Luján de Felice
On 18 September 2024, over fifty students, academics, young entrepreneurs, professionals and members of the Latin American community in Victoria attended a panel discussion and networking event, Learning Across Continents: Current Challenges, Future Opportunities.
The event highlighted the value of strengthening Australian-Latin America connections in education and migration and was a proud collaboration between the Australia Latam Emerging Leaders Dialogue (ALELD), Latin Stories Australia (LSA), and La Trobe University, generously sponsored by Gamba Migration.
Moderator:
Dr Victor del Rio - Adjunct Senior Industry Fellow, RMIT University
Panellists:
Lorena Rios - International Development Expert and Community Advocate
Constanza Velasquez - Project Assistant, Latin Stories Australia
Angel Calderon - Director, Strategic Insights, RMIT University
Daniel Escobar - Chief Operations Officer, Gamba Migration
Image Credit: Luján de Felice
Event Overview
The event took place at the Kathleen Syme Library in Carlton, Melbourne, beginning with a networking session that featured light refreshments, including Argentinian empanadas and alfajores provided by Argies. Attendees were greeted by ALELD’s Director of Events, Matilda Gall, and LSA’s Director and Founder, Trini Abascal, followed by a video message from Jorge Gamba, Founder of Gamba Migration.
The panel discussion delved into the current challenges faced by international students, and explored opportunities for fostering stronger and more equitable relationships between Australia and Latin America through education.
Key Themes of the Discussion
The evening's discourse revolved around three key themes:
Current Trends in Education and Migration
Social and Policy Challenges
Opportunities for Future Collaboration
Current Trends in Education and Migration
In Australia, education and migration are intrinsically linked. Education is one of the country’s largest exports and attracting international students has long been intertwined with economic development. Historically, most of Australia’s international student population has originated from Asian countries. However, recent trends indicate that Colombia and Brazil have emerged as prominent origins, now ranking among the top six countries of origin for international students in Australia (Department of Home Affairs, 2023, p. 23).
Despite this, the relationship between education and migration is complex and presents several challenges.
Identified Challenges
The panellists highlighted several key challenges faced by Latin American students and migrants in Australia:
Language Barriers: Lorena emphasised the importance of patience and cultural adjustment for overcoming language challenges. Building a sense of belonging is crucial in this context.
Networking Difficulties: Migrants often leave behind established social networks. Panellists encouraged attendees to be curious, identify their interests, and engage with platforms like ALELD and LSA to build new connections.
Academic Differences: The differences between education systems can be daunting. Panellists urged students to utilise academic resources available to them.
Financial Constraints: Unlike their Asian counterparts, students from Latin America often face difficulties in accessing and securing scholarships and financial support.
Opportunities for Strengthening Relationships
From left to right: Sam Bissett (CEO ALELD), Matilda Gall (Events Director ALELD), and Daniel Escobar (COO Gamba Migration). Image Credit: Gamba Migration
The discussion also illuminated several opportunities to enhance the education-migration nexus:
International Education: Daniel suggested that education can serve as a pathway for migration, with English courses being particularly appealing to Latin American students. Closer communication between educational institutions and government is essential for attracting talent.
Social Mobility: Angel pointed out that while education promotes social mobility, institutions often lack the resources to expand scholarship offerings - particularly since the COVID-19 pandemic. With recent caps on international students, panellists urged students to use their power as paying customers of Australian education institutions to ensure that these institutions are supporting them. However, Lorena and Angel highlighted that the funds generated by international students can help support domestic initiatives and not take for granted opportunities in Australia.
Exploring New Sectors: Panellists discussed the potential for collaboration in sectors like climate change, bushfire management, and renewable energy, where both regions face similar challenges and can benefit from shared expertise.
Collective Voice: Angel emphasised the need for a unified approach to advocate for common goals, such as creating awareness among policymakers. Daniel and Lorena echoed this sentiment, stressing the importance of collaboration across various sectors of society, including government, industry, and civil society.
Contributions of Latin American Migrants
The panel also explored the unique contributions that Latin American students and migrants offer to Australia:
Cultural Exchange: Lorena highlighted the collaborative and supportive nature of Latin American culture, which can act as a bridge between diverse communities in Australia.
Skilled Workforce: Daniel noted that an increasing number of migrants from Latin America arrive in Australia with degrees and skills, holding the potential to enhance the local labour market.
Community Enrichment: Constanza observed that the growing visibility of Latin American communities through cultural events and establishments contributes to the richness of Melbourne’s multicultural landscape.
Mental Health and Wellbeing
Daniel and Victor stressed the importance of expressing emotions rather than suppressing them, emphasising that migration fosters resilience. The panel concluded with advice for attendees:
Networking: Constanza encouraged participants to be proactive in making connections and seizing opportunities.
Authenticity: Lorena urged attendees to embrace their uniqueness and leverage their diverse perspectives and passions to build meaningful connections.
Learning Across Continents provided a valuable opportunity to discuss the challenges and opportunities in the Australian-Latin American education and migration landscape. By fostering collaboration, encouraging social mobility, and enhancing cultural exchanges, both regions stand to benefit from a strengthened relationship. The event demonstrated how the collective voices of students and migrants can lead to meaningful change, and the importance of continuing to strengthen educational and migratory ties between Australia and Latin America.
Further Reading
Calderon A et al. 2016, Australian-Latin American Relations: New Links in A Changing Global Landscape, (Kath E ed), Palgrave Macmillan, doi:https://doi.org/10.1057/9781137501929
Carr B and Minns J, 2014, Australia and Latin America Challenges and Opportunities in the New Millennium, ANU Press, doi: http://doi.org/10.22459/ALA.08.2014
Parliamentary Inquiries:
June 1992 – Australia and Latin America Senate Standing Committee on FA, Defence and Trade
August 2011 – Inquiry into Australia’s Trade and Investment Relations with Asia, the Pacific and Latin America by the Joint Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade
December 2015 Inquiry into Australia’s relationship with Mexico
About the Sponsor
This event was proudly sponsored by Gamba Migration, a group of expert advisors in Migration and International Education founded in Melbourne during 2020. With offices in Adelaide, Melbourne and Bogota (Colombia), their mission is to provide the tools and support necessary for their clients to fulfil their dreams in Australia, whether to study, work temporarily, or settle permanently.
About the Organisers
The Australia Latam Emerging Leaders Dialogue (ALELD) is dedicated to nurturing the next generation of leaders by promoting sustainable cooperation between Australia and Latin America. Since its inception in 2018, ALELD has facilitated numerous dialogues and networking events, expanding its reach across 10 countries with over 150 members.
Latin Stories Australia (LSA) is a leading organisation committed to celebrating the voices and contributions of Latin American migrant communities in Australia. Over the past decade, LSA has organised around 100 workshops, events, and talks, advocating for multiculturalism and social cohesion while raising awareness of Latin America’s rich cultural contributions to Australia.
La Trobe University has been one of Australia's pioneering universities for more than 50 years. The third university to open in Victoria, it has grown to accommodate over 28,000 students at our Melbourne Campus and over 7,500 at our campuses in Albury-Wodonga, Bendigo, Mildura, Melbourne City (Collins Street), Shepparton and Sydney. La Trobe’s engagement with Latin America has a long history and remains vibrant today in research,teaching, and learning.
With Thanks
A sincere thank you to everyone who made this event possible, including but not limited to Matilda Gall, Sam Bissett, Emma Troughton, Riley Maddeford, Lujan de Felice, Carmen Holman, Hannah Hains and Johan Malaver from ALELD; Monica Espinosa and Trini Abascal from LSA; Dr Raul Sanchez-Urribarri from La Trobe University; Argies Empanadas, the City of Melbourne, and Gamba Migration for sponsoring the event.
Acknowledgement of Country (Written by Latin Stories Australia)
The event was held on the land of the Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung people. We acknowledge their long and continuing relationship with their land and thank them for caring for Country for thousands of generations. We pay our respects to Elders past and present and stand in solidarity with First Nations communities.
We would like to also acknowledge our own ancestors and all the diverse places they were born in and journeyed to. We honour the courage it takes to make a new life in a new place and to welcome newcomers. We particularly recognise all of those whose love of this land has made this a place we treasure and seek to nurture.
Content Disclaimer
The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views or opinions of the Australia Latam Emerging Leaders Dialogue.