Assignment Sample- The experiences of international tertiary students regarding bullying/racial discrimination or harassment in Australia

Introduction

In recent times it has been seen that foreign or tertiary students have faced segregation, racial discrimination and victimization to the extent of assault and even murder in certain cases. The situation is painful and shameful and is not condoned by any public policy or arrangements of any institution, and yet it has become commonplace. There are approx. 630,000 full fee paying students who have come from overseas and the number is possibly the highest in the world in relation to the total population of the country (Baak, 2019). This paper aims to find out the affects of such discrimination not only on the student but onthe Australian society in general. These students are valuable assets and the country is lucky that they seek education here (Forrest, Lean & Dunn, 2016). By discriminating against them, it is the country that will face the negative results as this situation has already created a negative reputation for the country in the world. The paper aims to find out exactly how and what the ramifications are and how they can be handled with care.

Research Questions and Knowledge

The research questions that will be used in this case are formed in order to identify the extent and effect of discrimination that tertiary students face while studying in the country (Lentin, 2017). The current knowledge is limited to social effect of this issue, but research is scarce on th emotional and psychological outcomes of such bullying and discrimination on the student personally (Dovchin, 2019). The questions have been framed in order to identify the extent to which such situations impact a person's well being.

Methodology

The study uses the phenomenological method in which the focus remains of the subjective experience of the person (Gair, 2017). The interviews conducted revolve around in depth questions that are focused on a group size that is appropriate for the research.

• Sample size: a number of 4 volunteers will be interviewed for the purpose of this research and the data collected will be analysed in order to identify how these instances have affected these people personally.
• Interview method: the interviews will be constructed in a semi structured way. Audio will be recorded with consent and the data kept for future analysis and research.

Interview

The interview conducted for the purpose of this research will be semi structured. Conducting a structured interview in this case will not provide with the desired outcomes as structured questions do not give the opportunity of redirection and. The open ended questions will provide the opportunity to follow upon questions that might require more focus based on the answers that have been provided (Nelson, Hynes, Sharpe, Paradies & Dunn, 2018)). The semi structured interview will allow an open discussion on the subject providing valuable insight that would increase the efficiency of the research and bring out aspects of the issue that were previously undisclosed. 8 questions have been selected for this research upon which the rest of the interview will be structured.

Coding and Theme

Coding of the data that has been gathered refers to indexing and categorizing the transcript in order to establish a thematic framework by identifying data items and concepts that are related to each other (Halse, 2017). These codes when applied will enable the organising of data in a manner that can be analysed and explained objectively in a structured way thus providing subjective conclusions in applied research.

Coding Data in a Table

Sr no.	Raw data	Preliminary codes	Final codes
1	How long have you been in this Country. Participant A: I’ve been here for 1 year Participant B: I’ve been here for 4 years Participant C:I’ve been here for 3 years Participant D:I’ve also been here for 3 years.	Living here for the last 1,4 and 3 years respectively	Ranges from 1 to 4 years of living in Australia
2	Which countries are you from Participant A: I’m from India Participant B: I’m from Singapore Participant C: I’m from South Africa Participant D: I’m from Greece	Different continental backgrounds	Asia Europe and Africa
3	Have you faced any form of bullying or racial discrimination because of your background while living in the country Participant A: I was once not allowed to enter a class by local students as they told me I was stealing that place from another Australian student Participant B: I couldn’t stay in the hostel and had to find other living arrangements due continuous harassment Participant C: I wasn’t allowed to attend certain study groups as they threatened to physically assault me if I did Participant D: I haven’t faced any such situation yet, but I consider myself lucky since a number of my friends who came here with me have	Discrimination Harassment Physical abuse Use of brute force Continuous verbal assault	3 out of the four students have faced some form of discrimination ranging from harassment to physical threats
4	What was your immediate psychological reaction to the situation Participant A: I felt harassed and alone. It felt like I had no one who would come to my support Participant B: i felt a sense of alienation. It felt like i was in a place i did not belong Participant C: I was traumatised, could not attend any classes for week because of the fear of getting beaten up Participant D: I consider myself lucky that I haven't been in such a situation yet but it stresses me out that I might sometime in the future.	Abandonment Nervous breakdown Mental trauma Uncertainty for the future Unable to concentrate on studies	Varied negative emotional responses that led to stressful outcomes
5	Did you take any steps to counter the situation Participant A: I thought about lodging a complaint but feared that they might find out and make good on their threat for assaulting me physically if I did so Participant B: I lodged an official complaint but it didn't have any effect Participant C: I was far too traumatised to do anything about it Participant D: I had encouraged a friend of mine who had gone through a similar situation to take official steps but he told me it would have no effect	Did not take any steps out of fear for larger consequences Took steps but did not yield any results It has become common knowledge that official channels don’t actually work	Institutional policies to handle the problem of discrimination have failed
6	How do you plan on handling situations like this that may arise in the future? Participant A: I have decided to keep a low profile and stick to my studies until my course is over. Then i plan on getting out of this country Participant B: I will take legal steps and launch official complaints. If the institutional authorities do not take any steps I will go to the police Participant C: I plan to leave this country as soon as possible Participant D: if I do face such situations in the future I will rely on the official channels to seek justice	Plan on leaving this country as soon as possible Take legal action and not rely on institutional authorities Rely on institutional bodies.	Most of the interviewees have lost confidence on the country’s ability to provide justice to them
7	What do you feel about the policy changes and steps taken by the government to handle this situation? Participant A: my experience has been too harsh to believe that any kind of actions taken by the goverment will have any effect in reality Participant B: i think it is step taken in the right direction but a lot of work needs to be done Participant C: the real problems lie with the mentality of the people. Id that is not changed, no new policies can bring about a positive outcome Participant D: I believe that the situation has become highlighted and change will take place, but it will be a tedious process	Hopeless Situation might change in the distant future No relief as of yet Belief in the system	Majority of the interviewee have no hope in the system as the trauma has been too much
8	What would your recommendations be in order to handle the situation satisfactorily Participant A: their need to be stern and radical legal action. Perpetrators need to go to jail Participant B: awareness needs to be spread regarding the matter, workshops and campaigns need to be launched that will make people acquainted with the problem Participant C: stern legal action Participant D: better channels of communication	Stern legal action Better awareness programs better communication channels	Majority believes that stren legal action can change the situation

Reflection

After a conversation with the participants it can be concluded that they have face massive psychological trauma due to instances of bullying and racial discrimination (Auld, 2018). Majority of them do not believe that the country's justice system can provide them relief and are planning on leaving the country (Aquino, 2017). The country has achieved a negative reputation and its image has been darkened in the international community

Conclusion

To conclude it can be said that though the administrative system has made ammends and taken steps to curb the situation, those who have faced blatant discrimination have no hope as the system has failed them too many tome. They see this country in a negative light and are planning on leaving as soon as possible. They have faced a varied amount of stress and developed multiple negative coping mechanisms that will affect them throughout their future.

References

Aquino, K. (2017). Racism and resistance among the filipino diaspora: Everyday anti-racism in Australia. Routledge.

Auld, G. (2018). Is There a Case for Mandatory Reporting of Racism in Schools?. The Australian Journal of Indigenous Education, 47(2), 146-157.

Baak, M. (2019). Racism and Othering for South Sudanese heritage students in Australian schools: is inclusion possible?. International Journal of Inclusive Education, 23(2), 125-141.

Dovchin, S. (2019). Language crossing and linguistic racism: Mongolian immigrant women in Australia. Journal of Multicultural Discourses, 14(4), 334-351.

Forrest, J., Lean, G., & Dunn, K. (2016). Challenging racism through schools: teacher attitudes to cultural diversity and multicultural education in Sydney, Australia. Race Ethnicity and Education, 19(3), 618-638.

Gair, S. (2017). Pondering the colour of empathy: Social work students’ reasoning on activism, empathy and racism. The British Journal of Social Work, 47(1), 162-180.

Halse, C. (2017). Responsibility for racism in the everyday talk of secondary students. Discourse: Studies in the Cultural Politics of Education, 38(1), 2-15.

Lentin, A. (2017). (Not) doing race:‘casual racism’,‘bystander antiracism’and ‘ordinariness’ in Australian racism studies. Critical reflections on migration,‘race’and multiculturalism: Australia in a global context, 125-142.

Nelson, J. K., Hynes, M., Sharpe, S., Paradies, Y., & Dunn, K. (2018). Witnessing anti-white ‘racism’: white victimhood and ‘reverse racism’in Australia. Journal of Intercultural Studies, 39(3), 339-358.

Appendix

Evidence and Interpretation of interview

Results

1. Students psychological reaction on being bullied

Analysis from interview

It is alarming to feel the pain that the student from tertiary countries facing bullying in the educational institution of Australia. The pain in the words that came out from the mouth clearly define a sense of isolation and discrimination charged upon them. Athazagoraphobia seems to be creeping in the mind of the discriminated, alienated and bullied. It seems that there may be a situation when the confidences of the students being bullied are discriminated will get minimised and will certainly have a negative impact on their personal to have a better future. From the very view of participants C, it is quite concerning as he is slowly growing enough year and greater anxiety disorder of getting beaten up anytime. Agoraphobia when an adult can also creep into such a bullied person.

References as evidence

Participant A: “I felt harassed and alone. It felt like I had no one who would come to my support”

Participant B: “I felt a sense of alienation. It felt like I was in a place I did not belong”

Participant C: “I was traumatised, could not attend any classes for a week because of the fear of getting beaten up”

2 Thoughts on dealing with bullying

Analysis from interview

From the analysis of the interview conducted it is quite saddening to know that unethical practices like bullying still very much common in an educational institution. The primary thought that a person who is bullied has is quite properly visible, though not literally but through their sad stories that have been portrayed in the interview. It can be evaluated that a strange feeling is instilled in some of the students who are being bullied and is quite visible in one of the participants of the interview. Profiles of helplessness and thought that local authority is ignorant about the fact is quite depressing and alarming. Alienation and discrimination have led to some anger issues in some of the students like one of the participants in the interview. Taking steps without thinking of pros and cons out of desperation is another negative impact that can be associated with bullying from the victim point of view. 

References as evidence

Participant A: “I thought about lodging a complaint but feared that they might find out and make good on their threat for assaulting me physically if I did so. I have decided to keep a low profile and stick to my studies until my course is over. Then I plan on getting out of this country”  

Participant B: “I lodged an official complaint but it didn't have any effect. I will take legal steps and launch official complaints. If the institutional authorities do not take any steps I’ll go to the police”

Participant C: “I was far too traumatised to do anything about it. I plan to leave this country as soon as possible

Participant D: “If I do face such situations in the future I will rely on the official channels to seek justice”

3 Thoughts on policy by the government in eradicating bullying

            Analysis from interview

From the analysis of the interview, it is evident that the field that has been installed in the victim of bully has resulted in not believing in the system anymore. One of the participants even expressed his sense of helplessness by saying the sense of fear has overpowered the faith in the government. However, there still lies an opportunity in the hands of the anti-bullying agency to take steps as some of the participants believe the situation is in LimeLight due to the intervention of media. The mentality of the people also needs to be also changed from view bullying as a simple taunt but to psychological torture.

References as evidence

Participant A: “My experience has been too harsh to believe that any kind of actions taken by the government will have any effect in reality”

Participant B: “I think it is a step taken in the right direction but a lot of work needs to be done”

Participant C: “The real problems lie with the mentality of the people. Id that is not changed, no new policies can bring about a positive outcome”

Participant D: “I believe that the situation has become highlighted and change will take place, but it will be a tedious process”