“Sorry, I am Concentrating on my Study”: The Lived Experience of International Social Work Students in Shared Accommodation in South Australia

Authors

Keywords:

International students, Social work, Shared accommodation, Rooming houses, Study, Australia

Abstract

Having international students is beneficial to Australian social work education; benefits include creating learning opportunities about cultural diversity and improving Australian universities’ status on the global stage. Understanding social work students’ overall experience on campus and their lived experience in accommodation outside the campus is important to maintain students’ retention in social work education. However, in the Australian literature of social work education, knowledge of international students’ experience in their accommodation is inadequate. Therefore, to fill the research gap, this study focused on the livedexperience of international social work students living in rooming houses in South Australia. Three international social work students participated in this study. They were interviewed once using a semi-structured interview to share their descriptive lived experiences. An interpretative phenomenological approach was used to analyse the qualitative data. Five themes emerged from the data analysis: struggling to share space with housemates; struggling to interact and maintain relationships with housemates; feeling powerless as a tenant; lack of control over the noisy environment; and similarities among housemates helped to build positive relationships and enhance studying. The findings showed that living in rooming houses impacted students’ study time and caused distress, affecting learning. This research suggests that educators need to understand international students’ off-campus experiences, and plan off-campus support services to assist their study.

Author Biographies

Tsang Pak Kit, University of South Australia

University of South Australia, 111, Whyalla Norrie, Whyalla Campus, South Australia, 5608, Australia

Kalpana Goel, University of South Australia

University of South Australia, 111, Whyalla Norrie, Whyalla Campus, South Australia, 5608, Australia 

References

Agllias, K., Howard, A., Cliff, K., Dodds, J., & Field, A. (2016). Students’ experiences of university and an Australian social work program: Coming, going, staying. Australian Social Work, 69(4), 468–480.

Anderson, P., Hume, A., Rogers, N., & Stephenson, T. (2003). It’s no palace; boarding houses: The sector, its clientele and its future. Department of Human Services, Adelaide City Council.

Arkoudis, S., & Baik, C. (2014). Crossing the interaction divide between international and domestic students. HERDSA Review

of Higher Education, 1, 1–16.

Arkoudis, S., Dollinger, M., Baik, C., & Patience, A. (2018). International students’ experience in Australian higher education:

Can we do better? Higher Education, 1–15.

Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS). (2015). Family characteristics and transitions: Glossary. http://www.abs.gov.au/AUSSTATS/abs@.nsf/Latestproducts/4442.0Glossary12012-13?opendocument&tabname=Notes&prodno=4442.0&issue=2012-13&num=&view=

Australian Education International. (2013). International student survey 2012: Overview report. https://internationaleducation.gov.au/research/Publications/Documents/2012%20ISS%20Overview%20Report_PDF_Web%20version_FINAL.pdf

Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW). (2013). Dwelling—boarding house unit indicator. https://meteor.aihw.gov.au/content/index.phtml/itemId/464178

Avery, D., & Steingard, D. (2008). Achieving political trans-correctness: Integrating sensitivity and authenticity in diversity management education. Journal of Management Education, 32(3), 269–293.

Baglow, L., & Gair, S. (2019). Mature-aged social work students: Challenges, study realities, and experiences of poverty. Australian Social Work, 72(1), 91–104.

Banjong, D. N. (2015). International students’ enhanced academic performance: Effects of campus resources. Journal of International Students, 5(2), 132–142.

Battaglia, L., Flynn, C., & Brown, G. (2018). International students engaged in Australian social work study: An exploratory study. Advances in Social Work and Welfare Education, 20(2), 47–62.

Bista, K., & Foster, C. (2016). Exploring the social and academic experiences of international students in higher education institutions. IGI Global/Hershey.

Brydon, K., & Liddell, M. (2012). Supporting international students undertaking Australian university studies. Social Work Education, 31(8), 995–1011.

Buchanan, B. (2014). Improving international students’ understanding of local culture and financial institutions: A service learning application. Journal of International Education in Business, 7(2), 108–120.

Chamberlain, C. (2012). Are boarding houses disappearing? RMIT University, Centre for Applied Social Research. http://www.nwhn.net.au/admin/file/content101/c6/FOR-PUBLISHING-Are-Boarding-Houses-Disappearing_.pdf

Chong, J., & Razek, N. (2014). Feeling welcome with no “buts”: Chinese student engagement in residence life. Academy of Educational Leadership Journal, 18(3), 137–149.

Cole, J. S., Korkmaz, A., & Seifert, T. A. (2010). Using longitudinal data to improve the experiences and engagement of first‐year students. New Directions for Institutional Research, 2010(S2), 43–51.

Crawford, I., & Wang, Z. (2014). The impact of placements on the academic performance of UK and international students in higher education. Studies in Higher Education, 41(4), 712–733.

Deloitte Access Economics. (2016). The value of international education to Australia. Australian Government. https://internationaleducation.gov.au/research/research-papers/Documents/ValueInternationalEd.pdf

Department of Education and Training (DET). (2018). International student enrolments in Australia 1994–2017. https://internationaleducation.gov.au/research/International-Student-Data/Pages/InternationalStudentData2017.aspx#Annual_Series

Department of Education and Training (DET). (2019). International student data monthly summary. https://internationaleducation.gov.au/research/International-Student-Data/Documents/MONTHLY%20SUMMARIES/2018/Dec%202018%20MonthlyInfographic.pdf

Department for Trade, Tourism and Investment (DTTI). (2018). International education in South Australia. https://dtti.sa.gov.au/upload/education/Deloitte-Access-Economics_International-education_Web.pdf?t=1553676212190

Deygers, B. (2018). How institutional and interpersonal variables impact international L2 students’ language gains at university. System, 76, 91–102.

Diamandi, S., Hudson, C., & Zuchowski, I. (2018). Field education for international students in Australia: Preparing students and the sector. Advances in Social Work and Welfare Education, 20(1), 80–92.

Duangpracha, K. (2012). The accommodation challenges of international students [Unpublished doctoral dissertation]. RMIT University. https://researchbank.rmit.edu.au/eserv/rmit:161345/Duangpracha.pdf

Dusselier, L., Dunn, B., Wang, Y., Shelley, M. C., & Whalen, D. F. (2005). Personal, health, academic, and environmental predictors of stress for residence hall students. Journal of American College Health, 54(1), 15–24.

Evans, G. W., Wells, N. M., Chan, H-YE., & Saltzman, H. (2000). Housing quality and mental health. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 68(3), 526–530.

Finchilescul, G., Tredoux, C., Mynhardt, J., Pillay, J., & Muianga, L. (2007). Accounting for lack of interracial mixing amongst South African university students. South African Journal of Psychology, 37(4), 720–737.

Finlay, L. (2009). Debating phenomenological research methods. Phenomenology & Practice, 3(1), 6–25.

Fox, M., & Hugman, R. (2019). International field placements: The models Australian social work programmes are currently using. International Social Work, 62(5), 1371–1383.

Fu, Y., Machado, C., & Weng, Z. (2018). Factors influencing Chinese international students’ strategic language learning at ten universities in the U.S.: A mixed-method study. Journal of International Students, 8(4), 1891–1913.

Gair, S., & Baglow, L. (2018). “We barely survived”: Social work students’ mental health vulnerabilities and implications for educators, universities and the workforce. Aotearoa New Zealand Social Work, 30(1), 32–44.

GML Social Research. (2011). International student accommodation in New South Wales. https://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/ladocs/submissions/50003/sub%20no%2022%20city%20of%20ryde.pdf

Goldingay, S. (2012). Getting it right in the mix: Teaching social work practice skills inclusively to diverse student groups. Journal

of Social Inclusion, 3(1), 101–116.

Grace, M., Townsend, R., Testa, D., Fox, J., O’Maley, P., Custance, J., & Daddow, A. (2013). Student diversity as grass roots internationalisation in social work education. Advances in Social Work and Welfare Education, 15(1), 121–135.

Harrison, G., & Ip, R. (2013). Extending the terrain of inclusive education in the classroom to the field: International students on placement. Social Work Education, 32(2), 230–243.

Hendrickson, B., Rosen, D., & Aune, R. K. (2011). An analysis of friendship networks, social connectedness, homesickness, and satisfaction levels of international students. International Journal of Intercultural Relations, 35(3), 281–295.

Holton, M. (2016). Living together in student accommodation: Performances, boundaries and homemaking. Area, 48(1), 57–63.

Hunter, D., McCallum, J., & Howes, D. (2019). Defining exploratory-descriptive qualitative (EDQ) research and considering its application to healthcare. Journal of Nursing and Health Care, 4(1).DOI: 10.5176/2345-7198_4.1.202

Hyde, C. A., & Ruth, B. J. (2002). Multicultural content and class participation: Do students self-censor? Journal of Social Work Education, 38(2), 241–256.

Irizarry, C., & Marlowe, J. (2010). Beyond mere presence—making diversity work. Social Work Education, 29(1), 96–107.

Legal Service Commission. (2018). Rooming houses. https://lawhandbook.sa.gov.au/ch23s02.php

McNamara, S., & Connell, J. (2007). Homeward bound? Searching for home in inner Sydney’s share houses. Australian Geographer, 38(1), 71–91.

Naghdi, B. M. (2015). International student retention in the Australian higher education setting: The role of internationalisation

of the curriculum. RMIT University School of Education. https://researchbank.rmit.edu.au/eserv/rmit:161390/Naghdi.pdf

National Union of Students (NUS) & Anglicare Australia. (2017). Student housing survey. https://melbourne-systems.s3.amazonaws.com/asset/file/5a1dee7569702d4e0fb71d00/Anglicare-NUS_Report.pdf

Neri, F., & Ville, S. (2008). Social capital renewal and the academic performance of international students in Australia. Journal of Socio-Economics, 37(4), 1515–1538.

Novelli, D., Drury, J., & Reicher, S. (2010). Come together: Two studies concerning the impact of group relations on personal space. British Journal of Social Psychology, 49(2), 223–236.

Obeng-Odoom, F. (2012). Far away from home: The housing question and international students in Australia. Journal of Higher Education Policy and Management, 34(2), 201–216.

Presbitero, A. (2016). Culture shock and reverse culture shock: The moderating role of cultural intelligence in international students’ adaptation. International Journal of Intercultural Relations, 53, 28–38.

Rickwood, D., Telford, N., O’Sullivan, S., Crisp, D., & Magyar, R. (2016). National tertiary student wellbeing survey 2016. National Youth Mental Health Foundation: Headspace. https://headspace.org.au/assets/Uploads/headspace-NUS-Publication-Digital.pdf

Rienties, B., Beausaert, S., Grohnert, T., Niemantsverdriet, S., & Kommers, P. (2012). Understanding academic performance of international students: The role of ethnicity, academic and social integration. Higher Education, 63(6), 685–700.

Rosenman, L. (2007). Social work education, the university, and the state. Australian Social Work, 60(1), 5–17.

Ross, B., Ta, B., & Grieve, A. (2019). Placement educators’ experiences and perspectives of supervising international social work students in Australia. Australian Social Work, 72(2), 188–205.

Ryan, R., Dowler, B., Bruce, S., Gamage, S., & Morris, A. (2016). The wellbeing of international students in the city of Sydney. University of Technology Sydney Institute for Public Policy and Governance. https://www.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0005/277682/Research-into-the-Wellbeing-of-International-Students-in-the-City-of-Sydney_Final_27-July-2016.pdf

South Australia Government. (2020). Rooming houses. https://www.sa.gov.au/topics/housing/renting-and-letting/rooming-lodging-and-boarding-in-private-rental/living-in-a-rooming-house

Shelter South Australia. (2017). The end of the road: Rooming housing in South Australia. https://www.sheltersa.asn.au/wp-content/uploads/170315-Shelter-SA-The-End-of-the-Road-Final.pdf

Smith, J. A., Flowers, P., & Larkin, M. (2009). Interpretative phenomenological analysis, theory, method, and research. Sage Publications.

Smith, J. A., & Osborn, M. (2015). Interpretative phenomenological analysis. In J. A. Smith (Ed.), Qualitative psychology (3rd ed.) (pp. 25–52). SAGE Publications.

Taylor, C. (1985). Philosophical Papers 1: Human agency and language. Cambridge University Press.

Taylor, S., Craft, C., Murray, D., & Rowley, D. (2000). International students in bachelor of social work programs across Australia:

A case for special educational consideration? Australian Social Work, 53(2), 29–36.

Testa, D., & Egan, R. (2014). Finding voice: The higher education experiences of students from diverse backgrounds. Teaching in Higher Education, 19(3), 1–13.

Tian, X. (2019). Space and personal contacts: Cross-group interaction between mainland and local university students in Hong Kong. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 36(1), 63–82.

Van Manen, M. (2016). Researching lived experience : Human science for an action sensitive pedagogy (2nd ed.). Routledge.

Varghese, M., & Brett, K. (2011). International student barometer project 2010: National report. Australian Education International.

Wild, N., & Snoswell, D. (2016). Adelaide student accommodation demand and supply analysis. Prepared for the Government of South Australia. Department of State Development. Jones Lang Lasalle Ip.

Wong, M. L., Lau, E. Y. Y., Wan, J. H. Y., Cheung, S. F., Hui, C. H., & Mok, D. S. Y. (2012). The interplay between sleep and mood in predicting academic functioning, physical health and psychological health: A longitudinal study. Journal of Psychosomatic Research, 74(4), 271–277.

Yao, C. W. (2016). Unfulfilled expectations: Influence of Chinese international students’ roommate relationships on sense of belonging. Journal of International Students, 6(3), 762–778.

Yue, Y., Le, Q., & Terry, D. R. (2014). Transition to an unfamiliar environment: International students’ living experiences in an Australian regional area. Journal of the Australia New Zealand Student Services Association, 43, 10–20.

Downloads

Published

2021-11-15