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Summary
- International students and temporary visa holders were not eligible for any government subsidies during the pandemic.
- Around 70 per cent of overall international students reported losing a job or being underemployed in recent months.
- Students believe that Australia will suffer a significant loss of upcoming scholars due to not taking care of the enrolled students.
When the pandemic hit the world earlier this year, international students in Australia could have never imagined the struggle they would experience in the following months.
Suddenly, many international scholars started losing their part-time jobs or having their working hours cut drastically. New circumstances did not allow most of them to pay for rent, let alone food.
When these unprecedented events were taking place, students thought they would receive a government subsidy for some time before the circumstances become favourable again. However, the Scott Morrison government excluded students and temporary visa holders from receiving JobKeeper.
ALSO READ: All you need to know about JobKeeper Payment scheme
Image Source: Shutterstock
Half a million students in Australia were left in despair and with raised anxiety levels due to the financial hardships they were experiencing. Those same academics bring A$9 billion to the Australian economy by paying student fees.
In total, tertiary education receives almost A$40 billion from international students, which makes it the third-largest export industry for Australia.
In comparison to Australia, other countries which are known for their prestigious universities; the UK, Canada, and New Zealand supported their students financially by extending government benefits to each affected person.
Moreover, the Australian government has still not lifted travel restrictions, so many students who enrolled to study down under are left stranded overseas, with no rock-solid information about the possibility of reaching back to Australia.
However, Canberra allowed a pilot project of bringing 63 international students from China, Indonesia, and other nations to conceive undergrad, masters, and PhD studies in Darwin, Northern Territory. More flights are in the books for next year, but the authorities did not inform how many students would be allowed to come.
Image Source: Kalkine Image 2020
DID YOU READ: Northern Territory welcomes first international students in eight months
What are the experts saying?
Even though Canberra eventually decided to bring a few dozen students onshore, critics warn that international students might hold a grudge against Australia.
As the country failed to lend proper support to the foreign students, some fear that the country could halve the overall number of students to 290,000 by July, in case the government does not ease the travel restrictions.
Recent escalations in a trade war with China could be another attack to the tertiary education. Chinese scholars form a third of overall international students at the Australian universities, but that situation could change due to the Chinese tariffs on Australian imports.
Earlier this year, Chinese authorities warned that Australia is a “racist” country, urging students not to enrol for further studies.
Some professors at NSW universities believe that Australia will lose its glorious position in worldwide education, as the government did not treat international students well unlike many other rival countries.
RELATED: Why is Australia losing international students?
How many international students were genuinely struggling?
According to a report published in September, approximately 70 per cent of all temporary visa holders experienced unemployment or underemployment during the pandemic. The respondents said that the employers put the locals first so their businesses could be eligible for JobKeeper.
One in seven international students testified of being homeless at some stage since the pandemic started. Another third said they could not afford food and other necessities, as their parents could not afford them.
The Uniting Church started a food campaign which provided two-week food supplies to the affected academics. Reportedly, the Church issued more than 350 relief packages for everyone in need.
Some students who experienced the worst of the pandemic while residing in Australia are not confident that many will be interested in continuing their studies in the continent.
On the contrary, the Australian government is optimistic that international students will recognise millions of dollars invested in emergency relief packages for them.
Experts also believe that Australia will be a preferable studying destination due to low COVID-19 cases.
