AN INDIAN student living in the West might just have the answers to stop escalating attacks on international students.

Margrati Susairaj says her fear for her safety in the Western suburbs and that of her fellow Indian peers prompted her to conduct an eight-week project targeted at educating newcomers to the country.

Ms Susairaj said the project had seen more than 500 Indian students spoken to via fun and interactive activities to help raise awareness about safe conduct living in the West including warning against travelling alone, especially at night, hiding valuable goods and how to report incidences of crime.

Additionally, Ms Susairaj has been working with Maribyrnong Multicultural Liason Officer Leading Senior Constable Craig Spicer to help curb street violence in the West, largely against the Indian community.

Ms Susairaj said she didn’t believe the rising attacks on students were racially motivated but rather were conducted on an opportunistic basis.

Leading Sen Const Spicer agreed and said Indian students often came to the country with little money and no car and had to walk to and from university and work, often late at night, leaving them vulnerable to attackers.

He said working with Ms Susairaj had been beneficial and said Victoria Police would look at taking on board some of her recommendations.

“It’s been good for cultural awareness and hopefully I can relay what I have learnt to some of the younger members,” he said.