Sadman Oshan, an international student from Bangladesh, was living an ordinary and independent life before coronavirus hit.
After three and a half years in Australia, the bachelor of IT student at Southern Cross University suddenly found his work shifts had dried up and he had no way to pay rent or buy food.
“It’s very hard, Sydney is one of the most expensive cities in the world. Hard for the students to manage personal expenses such as accommodation, but all the students are in the same situation,” he told SBS News.
But thanks to the Australian Homestay Network and the International Students Support Network, Mr Oshan has now been placed in free accommodation with a host family.
“It’s been excellent, it’s been awesome. I was in a very confusing situation, what is going to happen in the next few months,” he said.
Mr Oshan is now living with a host in central Sydney and he said the experience has been warm and welcoming.
“I really want to thank them because they gave us the opportunity to stay and feel like a home,” he said.
There are believed to be 565,000 international students in Australia.
Sadman said the homestay program has been a much needed lifeline. Source: Supplied
Many of these students are, like Mr Oshan, ineligible for the JobKeeper or JobSeeker government support payments.
Earlier this month the NSW government announced a $20 million package to place students in temporary crisis accommodation through established homestay providers.
The cost of housing students like Mr Oshan - around $160 per week - was covered in part by the government and in part by university hardship funds.
Students in other states such as Victoria have received more generous government support packages including cash handouts of up to $1,100 per student who has lost work.
Mr Oshan said he is just relieved to have a place to stay for free and to be able to continue to focus on his studies.
“It really help me, if I can stay one or two months with the help of network, at least I will have some money to spend in the next couple of months,” he said.
“Without this more than 80 per cent of students will be in trouble, but because of this we feel more relaxed than before and more happy,” he added.
