Ms Patten: My adjournment matter tonight is for the Minister for Higher Education in this place and the action I seek is for the Minster to investigate the state government support options for international students.
The international education sector has warned that Australia is putting at risk one of its largest industries if it does not do more to help foreign students through the Covid19 crisis.
The International Education Association of Australia has called for a hardship fund for foreign students, many who have lost their jobs as the pandemic ravages the retail and hospitality sectors.
Given the industry is worth 39 billion dollars annually to the country, some 13.5 billion of that spent in Victoria, it would therefore follow that we owe these students who contribute so much to our state, some form of help during the Covid19 crisis.
As the IEAA has noted, not only do these students pay expensive tuition fees, as well as spending on things such as rent, food, entertainment and alike, many also have low-skilled and part time jobs
Currently these international students and other temporary visa holders have been told to return to their home countries if they were unable to support themselves.
With universities and private colleges already reeling from a collapse in revenue, the situation is likely to worsen later in the year when international students traditionally enroll in big numbers.
International students are not eligible for federal government welfare or for the new JobSeeker and JobKeeper schemes. Many have lost their jobs and their homes, or live in fear of both.
Education Minister Dan Tehan has said that the government would work with universities and the international education sector to find “innovative ways to support international students” – which is about as clear as mud.
I ask the Minister for Higher Education to urgently review what state government support options for she can make available International Students as soon as is possible.
Fiona Patten MP
Leader of Reason
Member for Northern Metropolitan Region
Adjournment 23/4/20
Answer
Ms TIERNEY (Western Victoria—Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education):
Support for international students sits within the portfolio of the Minister for Trade. I am informed as follows:
International students are an important part of our State’s rich multicultural society and the contribution of international students from around the world is a success story for our state. There are currently around 120,000 international students in Victoria from around 100 different countries. Many of these students have been working in casualised industries that have been impacted by shut downs and are now financially vulnerable.
On 29 April, the Victorian Government announced the $45 million International Student Emergency Relief Fund (ISESRF). The Fund provides payments of up to $1,100 to international students experiencing lost or reduced employment and financial hardship as a result of COVID-19. Applications opened on 19 May and as at 11 November 2020, the Fund had provided support to 32,758 students.
Universities and TAFEs are critical delivery partners, co-contributing and administering the funds to their eligible students. The Government, through the Department of Jobs, Precincts and Regions, is administering funds to eligible students enrolled with private providers.
The Fund has also provided $1 million for food vouchers to 5,000 international students under the City of Melbourne’s ‘Our Shout’ program, as well as $1 million in total to Foodbank, Ozharvest and SecondBite to provide groceries and meals to international students including through a free Foodbank supermarket for international students in the CBD.
The Government has funded several other COVID-19 support programs, which international students are eligible to access:
- The Extreme Hardship Support Program Fund for Temporary Migrants (open to international students who have not received the ISERF)
- the $1500 Pandemic Leave Payment and $450 Test Isolation Payment
- Working for Victoria Program
- Rent relief grants up to $3000 and utility relief grants
- Free health care related to COVID-19 symptoms
- Mental health support for international students including an advice line for international student support staff, supported by Orygen through a $300,000 Victorian Government grant
- Enhanced services and supports through the Study Melbourne Student Centre including free legal advice on employment and accommodation matters, information and referrals, and crisis support such as emergency rent assistance, food vouchers and accommodation.
As set out in the 2020–2021 Budget announced on 24 November 2020, the Government is also investing $33.4 million in 2020–21 to support the short-term economic recovery of the international education sector, and to continue support to international students. This investment will confirm Victoria as a high-quality study destination, and Melbourne as Australia’s number one student city.
