In order to further strengthen ties with Taiwanese students in New South Wales and in light of the recent leadership transitions within various Taiwanese student associations across universities, we held the second “Taiwanese Student Associations in New South Wales Exchange Forum” on September 12. Newly elected presidents and committee members from four Taiwanese student associations in the Sydney area, along with students from Western Sydney University, were invited to participate.
Director General David Cheng-Wei Wu explained the purpose of holding this forum and encouraged students to study hard, broaden their international perspectives, and wished all Taiwanese students a pleasant and safe experience in Australia. DG Wu also reminded them to make good use of the TECO BELL communication platform established by the office to receive timely and important information, remain vigilant about personal safety, and, if necessary, use the platform to report the status of Taiwanese students at their respective universities so that the office can provide appropriate assistance.
TECO also arranged for colleagues from various divisions—including the OCAC Center, Consular, Immigration, and Education sections—to brief students on services relevant to their needs. In addition, at the office’s invitation, the Sydney City Police Area Command dispatched a senior officer and a multicultural liaison officer to deliver a safety briefing for Taiwanese students. Their presentation covered emergency contact channels, the New South Wales Police Emergency Plus app, Crime Stoppers, Scam Alert, ID Support, and other crime prevention mechanisms. They also provided detailed explanations on the growing number of scams and engaged in interactive discussions with students about real-life cases.
Given the recent increase in community protests across Australia and the ever-changing tactics of telecommunications scams, TECO hopes that through information sharing and strengthened communication, Taiwanese students can enjoy peace of mind while pursuing their studies in Australia.
