Hello there!

My name is Aanchal. I am so excited and honored to serve you as the newly elected GSA International Officer. I look forward to making this a year that brings us all closer together and makes Uni feel a little closer to home.

A bit about myself:

As the International Officer, I wish to extend my support to the international graduate student community who have been affected by the new age restrictions and changes to length of stay for the Temporary Graduate Visa (Subclass 485), effective from 1st July, 2024. We recognise that these changes have severely impacted academic and professional plans for many students. GSA has been working closely with the University to ensure students receive their degrees on time,while simultaneously advocating for international graduate students at the government level.

We suggest keeping an eye on the Australian Government Department of Home Affairs websitefor any developments regarding the Temporary Graduate Visa (Subclass 485) and reaching out to UMSU Legal for legal support.

Please feel free to contact me (international@gsa.unimelb.edu.au) or the GSA Policy &Advocacy team (policy_advocacy@gsa.unimelb.edu.au) with your concerns and suggestions.

Wishing everyone a relaxing winter break.

Best regards,
Aanchal Balse
GSA International Officer