Australian Universities Announce Relief Funds Worth +$110 Million for International Students

Deakin, RMIT, Monash and others announce relief funds worth +$110 million for International Students. But is it too little and too late? Learn More.

The Chief Executive of IEAA – International Education Association of Australia, Phil Honeywood informed that around 1,00,000 international students are at the verge of becoming penniless.

He said, “A national hardship fund receiving funding from the federal government would go a long way to proving to the rest of the world that Australia does care about these young people.”

While the pandemic has created upheavel in all global societies, some of the worst affected groups is the international student community in Australia; especially the youth who joined the universities and colleges in the last six months. The corona effect has resulted in job losses, restriction of movement in most cities and some of them even being evited out of their rented accomodations.

Hey Mate ! I did not sign up for this.

All universirt classes are now online, students are deprived of faculty interactions and of the provision of resources such as University libraries and labs. The entire dream of studying abroad and experiencing student life on a foreign campus has gone sour and even the seasoned students; the ones who have savings, have no clue about their furture in this promised land.

Is Australian Government worried?

Australia has a hard-earned title of one of the best international study destination that the country won’t let go easily.

The revenue yield from international students, who enrol in large number in the Australian universities each year is the third largest export sector for Australian Economy. Around 570000 international students enrol in the Australian universities every year and endow more than $39 billion to the nation’s economy.

Will things go better from here on?

It is a testing time for the federal government and Australian universities that don’t want international students to feel stranded in a foreign land. Several relief packages are being announced by the federal government and different universities to help international students sustain this toilsome period.

Phil Honeywood was one of the first prominent figure to appeal to the Education Minister of Australia; Dan Tehan. He said, “A national hardship fund receiving funding from the federal government would go a long way to proving to the rest of the world that Australia does care about these young people.”

Let’s look at the relief packages announced by the Australian government and universities for Indian international students in Australia.

Relief Packages Announced By Australian Government and Universities:

Steps taken by Australian Government for the benefit of Inetrnational Students:

1. The government has imposed a ban on the eviction of residential and commercial tenants for six months during the Coronavirus pandemic.
2. Students who are studying there for more than a year now are eligible to avail their Australian superannuation.
3. Flexibility is added to several regulations making it easier for the international students to study and survive.
4. It will be easier for international students to meet the visa conditions for cases affected due to COVID-19.
5. Students who work as nurses or in aged-care have their working hours extended to support the critical situation.

Till date, the Australian universities have announced a fund of $110 million to provide relief to international students. They have established the Independent Emergency Monetary Fund (IEMF) and food banks to address their daily requirements. Apart from these, several universities have announced their relief funds to provide additional support for fighting the situation and keeping their students’ spirit high.

These are:

• Deakin University – Announced an additional relief fund of $25 million for international students.
• Monash University – Additional package of $15million with up to $7500 for each student and $500 emergency grant.
• Flinders University – Offering packages of nearly $21milllion and $12.5million with support in several fields including cash payments, fees-waiver, etc.
• RMIT University – Giving $10million relief package.
• Curtin University – Announced a package of $8million.
• Western Sydney University – WSU is offering a 10% fee deduction for international students.
• Australian National University – ANU granted $21million relief package.
• The Queensland University of Technology – Introduced an emergency student fund that gives up to $1000 to the students facing a financial crisis.
• Charles Sturt University – It is considering applications for students to support grant
• The University of Melbourne – Also set-up an emergency relief fund.
• Murdoch University – Announced a relief fund of $2million and a depository to reduce food bills worth $25 a week.
• Macquarie University – The university is offering loans of up to $1000 and a scheme that grants up to $2000.
• James Cook University – The university has established a food pantry to feed the broke international students.

Inspite of these relief packages in place, international students are still coping hard with the situation as their jobs are gone and they can’t fly back to their home countries because of current travel bans.

Thousands of dreams have shattered, and careers are at stake. Last year, over 7,00,000 international students have enrolled in Australian institutions and now a amajority are stuck with no food and family.

All is not Lost; We will overcome this too.

Australia is known for her fairdinkum attitude towards international student which is significantly better than most countries int eh developed world. The country has also managed to keep the virus in control when compared to Europe and America. We hope that situation will soon improve and till then Please stay safe and wherever you are. Practising conscious social distancing is only vaccination against Novel Corona virus till today.

Here’s a handy list of Covid Helpline Numbers For International Students in Australia.

1. The Australian community is showing support to international students by ensuring their mental well-being. For this support, international students can call the helpline numbers at:

• Lifeline Australia – 13 11 14
• Youth Beyond Blue – 1300 224 636
• Headspace – 1800 650 890

2. For resolving any doubt regarding enrolment, fees, or any other issue, either contact the university or the helpline number (+61) 1300 981 621on working days from 9 am to 5 pm. For email inquiry, send your message to students@dese.gov.au.

Source: https://www.studyinaustralia.gov.au/

3. To manage emergency call the national security hotline number at 1800 123 400.

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