The return plan for overseas students will be rolled out in a phased manner in NSW after being approved by the federal government.
Education partners that have signed up for the plan include Australian Catholic University, Macquarie University, University of Newcastle, University of Sydney, UNSW, UTS, University of Wollongong, and Western Sydney University. It also includes independent providers like International College of Management Sydney, Kaplan, Navitas, RedHill, and Study Group.
Highlights:
- Fully vaccinated international students will be welcomed back to NSW under the pilot plan
- First batch of 500 international students is expected to arrive by the end of this year
- State government says 57,000 overseas students are currently trying to get into NSW
The state's Deputy Premier John Barilaro said the staggered return of students was stage one of a pilot that would slowly expand and evolve, as vaccination rates continue to rise in NSW and internationally.
"The international education sector sustains thousands of jobs across NSW, and I’m proud that NSW is leading the way with the return of international students to our shores," Mr Barilaro said.
Citing that the safety of the people was paramount, Mr Barilaro said, "All participating students will be required to be fully vaccinated with a TGA-recognised COVID-19 vaccine, and strict quarantine protocols will be in place."
This would mean that those overseas students who have been vaccinated by the Therapeutic Goods Administration approved jabs, which include Pfizer, AstraZeneca, and Moderna will be allowed to return.
Both Macquarie University and the University of Sydney have released the list of approved vaccines which are Moderna's Spikevax, Astrazenca's Vaxzevria including those manufactured outside such as Covishield, Pfizer's Comirnaty, and Johnson and Johnson's Janssen. Macquarie University has also said that discussions were on with the government regarding other COVID-19 vaccines.
Not-for-profits like the Australian-Indian Sports Educational and Cultural Society (AISECS) that have been working with state and federal governments to help international students navigate the challenges posed by the pandemic have welcomed the latest announcement.
Commending the plan, AISECS founder Gurnam Singh said it was positive news for those international students who were forced to put their lives "on hold" due to ongoing border restrictions.
Mr Gurnam Singh, Australian Indian Sports Educational and Cultural Society founder, welcomes the return plan by NSW for international students. Source: Supplied by Gurnam Singh
However, there are still several lingering questions to be answered with more clarity, he told SBS Hindi.
"There were many students stranded in India desperately waiting to return to finish final semesters of their course as well, what about those students," Mr Singh asked. He added that students should be prioritized based on their study-related situation.
Imran Paliza, an IT student enrolled in the Sydney campus of Central Queensland University, is disappointed as he remains stranded in India.
Imran Paliza, who is enrolled in the Sydney campus of Central Queensland University. Source: Supplied by Imran Paliza
Fully vaccinated with Covishield, Mr Paliza told SBS Hindi that the long wait to return was taking a toll on his mental health.
"My future is still in limbo," Mr Paliza said adding, "we too are international students, so what about us?"
Meanwhile, the state government has said that participating education providers would be contacting the students to progress an expression of interest for the pilot plan.
Confirming the plan, the Minister for Jobs, Investment and Tourism Stuart Ayres said that there were over 57,000 students currently overseas and many were desperate to return.
NSW government has said that accommodation provider Scape would be housing the returning students for a 14-day quarantine in a Redfern facility.
