Tara Murray
International students are likely to start returning to Victoria by the end of the year.
The Victorian state government announced on Friday it submitted its student arrivals plan to the federal government.
The plan provides a graduated, safe return to study in Victoria for international students, and a pipeline for continued arrivals through 2022.
Students arriving under the plan will be in addition to Victoria’s existing international arrivals cap,
Under the first stage of the plan, 120 places will be available each week for Victorian university students, prioritising those who need to undertake practical work to continue or complete their degrees, such as health and medical degree students, as well as postgraduate research students.
Universities will provide funding towards the extra quarantine places for student visa holders, with students required to cover the cost of their flight to Melbourne.
Students will be quarantined in dedicated accommodation.
The second stage will enable more places with larger-scale international student arrivals from across the sector, including those enrolled in TAFEs, english-language courses, private education providers and secondary schools.
While more than 75,000 international students from 100 countries are currently studying in Victoria, about 47,000 more remain offshore while Australia’s international borders are closed.
Deakin Vice-Chancellor Professor Iain Martin said the staged approach was a safe and strong signal that Victoria, and Australia, was ready to reopen to the rest of the world.
“Deakin’s international students are a valued part of our community and have made immeasurable contributions to the University. This is something we have never taken for granted,” Professor Martin said.
“Throughout the pandemic, Deakin has supported our international students who have been impacted by the rapid closure of borders, and other changes, across the world.
“Deakin strongly supports the state government’s proposal to welcome international students back to Victoria because it is essential to show the rest of the world that Victoria, and Australia, are once again open.
“Australia has very successfully minimised illness and death from COVID-19, but many of our international partners do not understand the path we have taken. So this proposal is a crucial signal to our partners and global communities that we are opening up, which is incredibly important.
“Deakin stands ready to welcome and support returning international students. In the meantime, we will continue to do everything we can to ensure their safety and wellbeing.”
Trade Minister Martin Pakula said this was a sensible plan that will progressively get students who are enrolled at Victorian universities, TAFEs and colleges back to Victoria.
“A gradual return of international students means we can keep Victorians safe and not affect places for returning Australians.”
