Student exchange organisation speaks out after Chinese teenager allegedly murdered in NSW’s Edgeworth

A student exchange organisation has spoken out after a teenage girl visiting Australia on a cultural program from China was allegedly murdered by a fellow pupil.

Two girls, aged 13 and 14, were staying with a host family in Edgeworth, in Newcastle’s west, when the older teenager was allegedly stabbed in the torso about 10.20pm on Monday.

WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Tragedy strikes Chinese exchange students in Newcastle home.

She was rushed to John Hunter Hospital in a critical condition, but later died from her injuries.

The 13-year-old was arrested at the scene and charged with murder on Tuesday.

Council of Australian Student Exchange Organisations (CASEO) issued a statement on Wednesday expressing its “heartfelt condolences” to the family, friends and community affected by the incident.

CASEO also revealed the two teenage girls were not participating in a student exchange program, but rather a “study abroad program”.

“While both involve international students studying overseas, there are important legal and operational distinctions in NSW,” CASEO said.

“Under NSW Guidelines, a secondary student exchange program is a reciprocal arrangement between registered non-profit exchange organisations. These programs require placement in a host family and school enrolment for between three months (one school term) and one year, and participation is strictly regulated via the AASES and subclass visa process.

“In contrast, study abroad programs generally involve full-fee paying students enrolled for short-term study (3-12 months) without the reciprocal or formal exchange structure.”

CASEO said the NSW Government only regulates student exchange programs for more than 12 weeks duration or more than 10 weeks in school, while study abroad programs fall outside this regulatory remit.

“CASEO deeply values the safety and welfare of all young people engaging in student exchange programs or any type of cultural programs,” the organisation’s statement continued.

“Although the affected students were not under an exchange arrangement governed by CASEO’s member organisation, we offer our deepest sympathies at this difficult time.”

The new details come as the 13-year-old’s matter was heard in Broadmeadow Children’s Court on Wednesday.

She was not required to appear, but the court heard the girl was “severely unwell’ and on an “extraordinary number of medications” for someone her age, the Newcastle Herald reports.

Magistrate Andrew Eckhold noted the case had a “clear mental health nexus” but it was a “very serious charge”.

The girl did not apply for bail and it was refused.

The teen will remain in the juvenile justice system, which the court heard is well-resourced and highly sensitive to mental health issues.

NSW Police on Tuesday said both girls were part of the same cultural exchange program from China and staying with the same host family.

It is understood the pair had retired to their separate rooms when the host mother heard a commotion and went to check, finding the injured girl.

Police seized a kitchen knife from the scene, believed to have been taken from a drawer.

Both girls were meant to attend a local school and visit sites around the Hunter area, Superintendent Tracy Chapman told reporters on Tuesday.

They arrived in Australia eight days ago and were expected to leave on August 16.

Police believe the girls did not know each other before arriving and only became acquainted through the program.

They were staying with a host family consisting of a man and a woman in their 50s.

No other people were in the house that night.

Police are still trying to determine the nature of the relationship between the two girls.

“Obviously extensive inquiries with other students, teachers, parents and the hosts, of course, to establish what the relationship was prior to last night,” Chapman said.

She added that the investigation may take longer due to language barriers and the girls not being Australian residents.

“Investigation with young girls involved language barriers, working through the consulate, (and) they’re not Australian residents, obviously,” she said.

“So there are obvious complications and complexities with that, which is why it’s taken us some time to work through.”

The 13-year-old girl is due to face court again in October with a Mandarin interpreter.

Anyone with any information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers.