Brisbane's Green Heart Silent: International Students Grapple with Isolation After Victoria Park Closure

A growing unease is palpable among Brisbane's international student community following the closure of Victoria Park. This cherished urban green space, once a vital hub for connection and solace, has been repurposed for the construction of the city's new Olympic stadium, sparking fears of heightened loneliness and disengagement among global scholars.

Numerous students have conveyed their profound reliance on the park as an accessible sanctuary where they felt welcomed amidst solitude—a crucial haven for fostering connections with other community members and mitigating homesickness. 'It's incomparable,' remarked Indonesian PhD candidate Yesika Maya Ocktarani, adding, 'I think it [was] a good place for us to heal ourselves, really.'

Public access to the majority of the expansive parkland, situated on the northern perimeter of the CBD, has been restricted since May, coinciding with the commencement of the A$3.6 billion stadium project. This colossal 63,000-seat venue, earmarked as the iconic centrepiece for the Brisbane Olympic Games in 2032, has already become a point of contention, with Indigenous groups highlighting its profound cultural significance.

Mrs Ocktarani, a resident in close proximity to the park and a student at the Queensland University of Technology (QUT), routinely sought out Victoria Park for both personal tranquility and communal gatherings. She shared her initial struggles with isolation upon her arrival in Brisbane in February 2023 for her studies, but found solace and support within the Indonesian student cohorts who convened at the park. She described these interactions as a way 'to fill the emptiness and loneliness [of] becoming PHD student,' further explaining, 'If we meet other Indonesian students, and then we talk about that [the challenges of PhD life], it's like catharsis … like healing as well, it's good for our mental wellbeing.'

As a participant in both the Indonesian Higher Degree Research (HDR) student group and the broader international HDR community, Mrs Ocktarani underscored the park's diverse areas suitable for various social interactions. She noted that relocating these gatherings to alternative nearby parks was impractical due to their insufficient size and lack of essential amenities such as barbecue facilities and playgrounds.

Vietnamese QUT master's student Micky Mai echoed these sentiments, emphasising the park's instrumental role in helping international students forge friendships and cultivate a sense of belonging within the wider community. 'To me, Victoria Park is much more than a public park,' Mr Mai articulated. 'It represents friendship, belonging, and some of my happiest memories as an international student.' He recounted a particularly cherished memory of attending the Mid-Autumn Festival at the park with friends, where they crafted traditional Vietnamese lanterns and shared cultural practices, an experience that made him 'feel closer to home.'

Alifina Izza, president of the Indonesian student association at the University of Queensland (UQ) and a master of public health student, corroborated the perspectives of Mr Mai and Mrs Ocktarani. She asserted that international students' engagement in such associations is crucial for both personal and professional development, and that convenient access to meeting points like the park greatly aided her and others in their acclimatisation to life in Australia. 'It makes me never [feel] homesick to be honest,' Ms Izza confessed.

Since the extensive public areas of Victoria Park became inaccessible, Ms Izza confirmed that the UQ Public Health Association (UQPHA), of which she is a member, has been compelled to relocate its meetings from the park to university campus rooms and corridors. Securing appropriate spaces now involves a considerable 'fight,' she lamented.

A Drawcard for Global Talent

The implications of the park's closure could extend to future international enrolments, according to American PhD student Aidan Estes. He highlighted that accessible parkland was a significant factor in his decision-making process when selecting a study destination. He frequently commuted through Victoria Park from his residence in Herston to QUT's Kelvin Grove campus. 'One of the main things I look for when I'm trying to move to a city is if they have a lot of green spaces,' he explained. 'So having those kinds of green spaces, it was nice … and kind of reminded me of home a little bit.'

Weihong Liang, president of the International Students Representative Council of Australia (ISRC), cautioned that the protracted disruption of such a pivotal community space could have ramifications beyond merely losing a physical meeting point. He posited that it could also diminish international students' 'sense of connection' to the city and impede their capacity to engage with community life beyond academic confines. 'More broadly, the attractiveness of a study destination is not determined only by university rankings, employment opportunities or visa settings,' he elaborated. 'It is also shaped by quality of life, safety, affordability, public transport, access to open space, and whether students feel included in the wider community.'

While Mr Liang acknowledged the importance of significant public infrastructure and the magnitude of the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games, he underscored the necessity of recognising international students as integral members of the community affected when major public spaces near student populations undergo redevelopment. 'Successful urban redevelopment should strengthen, rather than weaken, the social infrastructure that supports students and local communities,' he affirmed.

The Vitality of Green Spaces

Dr. Mark Limb, a QUT urban planning lecturer, stressed the indispensable nature of parkland access not only for the wellbeing of the city's international students but for all residents residing in apartments or accommodation with limited private green areas. 'Especially so for students because students are typically trying to save some money,' he observed, reiterating that parks serve as invaluable, free communal spaces.

Evelynd, a QUT PhD student who uses a single name, articulated the profound value of nearby green spaces like Victoria Park, given her living situation with two housemates and access to only a small balcony. 'What stood out for me the first time I visited here is actually how big it is and then how open and relaxed the space felt,' she recalled. 'It's like Brisbane's lungs.'

Dr. Limb further explained that beyond fostering community ties, the wellbeing derived from utilising parklands stems from a confluence of factors: the availability of a tranquil setting, the opportunity to connect with nature through observing wildlife and trees, and simply having room to breathe. Gilang Maulana, another QUT master's student, frequented Victoria Park 'almost every day' to decompress and experienced a profound sense of belonging there, even when visiting alone. He recalled, 'There used to be signs around the park near areas with trees on 'how to slow down,' and 'One of the methods was to breathe and look at the fractal patterns in trees, and I found myself still doing that before the access closed.' Mr Maulana reflected, 'I think it's just the fresh air or sunlight or looking at trees and birds or actually touching grass. The quietness, or a combination of all of those, made the park really nice to go to.'

Diaswati Mardiasmo, a member of the Brisbane Olympics and Paralympics 2032 Legacy Committee and a prominent figure in Brisbane's Indonesian diaspora, affirmed that the international students' feeling of loss over Victoria Park was both 'valid' and 'understandable.' However, Dr. Mardiasmo added that the perception of Victoria Park as more than just a park was 'not exclusive to international students.'