Notwithstanding the growing concern over the safety and security of international students in Australia, the country's education market has witnessed record intake from India and China, which account for over one-third of the enrolments.

According to an AAP report that quoted a snapshot from the Australian Bureau of Statistics, China and India were the two biggest source countries for students, contributing US $5.1 billion to the sector in 2007-08.

ABS said while 1,21,000 Indian students have enrolled in June, up an annual average 46 per cent over the past six years, the number of enrolments from Chinese students stood at 146,000, up an average annual 16 per cent.

International education sector overall stood at US $13.7 billion in the period.

The report said that the government was working overtime to improve the reputation of Australia's international education services - the nation's third biggest export sector - after a spate of attacks on Indian students and revelations about dodgy operators exploiting foreign students.