From helping students to battle rental scams and solve disputes with professors to influencing national visa and transport policies — international students face challenges most don’t see.

In this episode, we speak with Weihong Liang, Sociology PhD candidate at the University of Sydney and a leading advocate for international students. He shares real stories of student struggles, his journey from campus initiatives to national advocacy, and why building strong student communities matters. Weihong currently serves as the International Student Officer for the Council of Australian Postgraduate Associations and is the founding Chair of the NSW International Student Representative Committee.

He shares:

• The most common — and sometimes shocking — problems international students bring to him, from signing contracts for apartments that don’t exist to unfair academic disputes.
• How everyday student frustrations like food prices, printing fees, and housing access can evolve into campaigns that improve campus life for everyone.
• His role in leading the Fair Fares petition for public transport discounts, and the campaign to extend the 485 visa age limit for Higher Degree by Research graduates.
• Why building community and refusing to see yourself as an “outsider” is key to both survival and success as an international student.

Interested in joining the International Student Representative Comittee (ISRC)? Get in touch at: [email protected]

Whether you’re a student, educator, policymaker, or simply curious about the real experiences of international students, this conversation will give you a behind-the-scenes look at the challenges — and the power — of student voices in shaping a fairer system.