Mayor Tom Tate: Why international students are so valuable to the Gold Coast

Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate has called for leaders to stop using international students as a ‘bargaining tool’ and to leave them out of the immigration debate. Read why

I once read a quote which said: learn today, lead tomorrow. To me, that simple quote epitomises the value of education to both the individual, and society.

Education is the gateway to a better life and on the Gold Coast, we are blessed with incredible choices in public and private education, tertiary education campuses and three world-class universities.

All three universities are breeding grounds for excellence – and key drivers for young Gold Coasters continuing their post high school studies right here, close to family and friends.

As mayor, I am a strong advocate for keeping families together and we have achieved that by diversifying our economy over the past 13 years.

In 2012, our city economy was around $30 billion. Today, it is $45 billion (50 per cent increase) thanks to massive investment in industries such as marine, screen, construction, sports science, tourism and medical research. This means young Gold Coasters are securing new careers just kilometres down the road from their home, not thousands of kilometres away in Sydney or Melbourne.

Griffith University Gold Coast campus.

Our education and training sector now contributes $2.4 billion to the local economy, with 1,300 businesses employing 31,000 locals. The Gold Coast is now a sophisticated educational hub, offering a diverse range of opportunities including research, innovation, and workforce development across various industries.

Today, the health and knowledge industry is now the biggest employer on the coast.

Spearheading this growth is the 200-hectare GC Health and Knowledge Precinct at Southport.

The precinct was a legacy project of the GC2018 Commonwealth Games and while it took some time to gain momentum, we are now seeing incredible partnerships forming within the precinct between Griffith University, private investors, research facilities and the public sector.

More than 14,000 Gold Coasters work at the precinct including 1000 researchers. It is home to more than 20,000 students and when fully developed, GCHKP will inject $2.9 billion into the local economy and employ 25,000 people.

Artist's impression of Proxima at the Gold Coast Health and Knowledge precinct.

The latest news from GCHKP is the $80 million Proxima project, nearing completion. Proxima is part of the state government’s broader Lumina development, a 9.5-hectare zone within the Southport precinct dedicated to growing the life sciences, health and technology businesses.

Griffith University has been a key partner in driving success not only within the precinct but globally.

For years, the university has been consistently ranked in the top two per cent of universities globally. Griffith has 45,000 students across five SEQ campuses as well as a digital campus, with 21,000 studying here on the Gold Coast.

The Gold Coast also boasts Bond University with 5,700 students and Southern Cross University with 5,600 students, both setting global standards for not only coast students but our much-loved international students.

Experience Gold Coast, a council entity, has been working tirelessly to attract and retain students from across the world.

The global student market is highly competitive and subject to ever-changing economic and political conditions in various regions.

Through Experience Gold Coast, we have learned that long-term success in attracting student numbers is all about being authentic and engaging with target markets.

The Gold Coast is increasingly recognised for its education opportunities, attracting students from Latin America, India, the Philippines, China, Japan, and more.

Griffith University, Gold Coast, Queensland. Picture: NCA NewsWire/ Richard Gosling

Today, our city has 22,000 international students, an impressive rebound since Covid shut down world travel and commerce. The coast is home to students from over 130 different countries, adding to our cultural tapestry and helping students, including locals, to secure a multitude of career possibilities.

The Experience Gold Coast team is a powerhouse with seminars, podcasts, career festivals and expos all designed to help all students find work while studying, maximise their skills, find accommodation, buddy-up with other students and relish their time in our city.

Some students stay for several years and we encourage their families to visit and enjoy the Gold Coast in that time.

In my eyes, students are “tourists who happen to stay a few years”. I welcome them all.

I recently visited Vietnam and our sister friendship city Da Nang.

This is my second visit to Da Nang and I am confident we will see an increase in Vietnamese students currently studying across the Coast.

Our key student markets currently are Brazil, India, Philippines, Colombia, China, Japan, Spain, South Korea, Chile, Thailand.

Each time I visit the Southport Gold Coast Student Hub, it is brimming with energy, ideas and cultures as thousands of students mingle there throughout the year.

With the Federal election imminent, I’m concerned that all sides of politics seem to be using international students as a “bargaining tool” for changes to federal immigration policies.

Students aren’t pawns in a political game and should be left out of the immigration debate.

With an April federal election likely, all parties need to make their position clear on student visa rules.

I firmly believe our nation is richer, more cultural aware and more unified through the influx of 260,000 students annually.

Their contribution to our universities and training colleges can be measured in dollars.

But the value they bring to our society as a whole is immeasurable.

Originally published as Mayor Tom Tate: Why international students are so valuable to the Gold Coast