Page 6 - StudyTravel Magazine July/August 2021 Issue

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Visa rule anger in Australia, as Vaccine impacts on student
states push plans for student return sentiments
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he Australian government has announced relaxations of work wo surveys of prospective interna-
rules for international students to support the tourism and tional higher education students have
Thospitality sectors. Tshown attitudes towards quarantine and
The limit of 40 hours part-time work per fortnight was lifted for Covid-19 vaccinations.
students working in those sectors, and student visa holders can The 2021 QS International Student Survey
switch to the 408 Covid-19 Pandemic Event visa for 12 months to was completed by 105,083 prospective stu-
work full-time in tourism and hospitality. dents in 191 countries and found that 68 per
Ian Pratt, Managing Director of Lexis Education www. cent would take the vaccine when offered,
lexisenglish.com, said the changes could devastate an industry while a quarter were unsure.
whose sole income is currently from onshore extensions. “The Nearly half (47 per cent) said that the UK
rapidly shrinking pool of existing students has been a lifeline for had become more attractive as a destination
English schools who were prepared to take government advice and because of its vaccination efforts.
‘pivot’ into vocational training. You can imagine how, after taking Meanwhile, a survey of 6,068 current
on all the expenses associated with that, it feels to then have the clients by agency group IDP Education www.
rug pulled out from under us again.” idp-connect.com found that 55 per cent
Simon Costain, General Manager of Go Study Australia www. would get vaccinated as soon as possible if it
gostudy.com.au agency, said the whole concept of ‘genuine stu- became a requirement to travel for study, and
dent’ has been compromised, and that colleges were immediately nine per cent were already vaccinated.
reporting student cancellations. The sector called on government QS asked a series of binary questions and
to reconsider the move. bit.ly/3fxM0dN found that 56 per cent would prefer to study
Meanwhile, New South Wales has submitted plans to welcome now than wait for a preferred destination that
students, using a converted student accommodation residence as is currently closed; while 71 per cent said they
a quarantine facility and chartered flights. STM understands the would rather quarantine in their destination
plan is for a few hundred higher education students to prove the than study online at home. bit.ly/3yv7lwT
model. See: bit.ly/3whidfS
Victoria’s government,
meanwhile, has submitted
a proposal to welcome 120
students per week through a
dedicated quarantine hotel,
bit.ly/3hHBxiv. At the time
of writing, the government
has acknowledged receipt
of the proposals but had not
approved either.

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