Student accommodation

Ms PATTEN (Northern Metropolitan) (11:39): My question is to the Minister for Higher Education, Minister Tierney. There are approximately 20 000 student accommodation placement places in greater Melbourne, and we do not expect our international students to be coming back at the fulsome numbers that we had in the past. So I am wondering if you could tell me what percentage of international students Melbourne can expect back in our schools and in that student accommodation by, say, the end of next year.

Ms Tierney: On a point of order, President, international students per se are the responsibility of Minister Pakula, not me.

The PRESIDENT: Ms Patten, you can direct the minister to get an answer. Your question was directed to the Minister for Higher Education.

Ms PATTEN: It was, and it was specifically in regard to the student accommodation that is available at our universities in Victoria, obviously with the understanding that international students generally tenant those places.

The PRESIDENT: Minister Tierney, I am looking at Mr Pakula’s portfolios. Can you explain what it would fall under?

Ms Tierney: It is under the trade portfolio.

Ms PATTEN: I wonder if I could reword the question so it is specifically about the accommodation. Minister, I am specifically interested in that accommodation that is available in those universities.

The PRESIDENT: Order! Do you want to direct your question to Minister Pulford? She represents Mr Pakula.

Ms PATTEN: If it is just about the accommodation, is that with Minister Tierney or is that with Minister Pakula?

Ms Pulford: On a point of order, President, we are very happy to try and find the right person to answer the question. It is a little hard to do without having heard the question, so with your forbearance perhaps Ms Patten could ask her question and we could seek a response.

In a general sense, organisations like universities and their accommodation arrangements are not something the government has direct remit over, but we are happy to undertake to follow up or to inquire as best we can in that context. I am sort of guessing where you are going because we do not know where you are going.

The PRESIDENT: Ms Patten, can I ask you, please, to repeat your question? I believe it will be to Ms Pulford, but repeat your question.

Ms PATTEN: Thank you. As I mentioned earlier, there is going to be significant accommodation empty in our universities for the next probably 12 months to two years as more students choose to learn online but also because we will not have our international students.

So my question is: have there been any conversations with the universities about repurposing that accommodation?

Ms TIERNEY (Western Victoria—Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education) (11:44): The reason there is hesitation is that international students do fall under the domain of trade, and that is Minister Pakula.

In terms of general advocacy issues in relation to higher education, that is me. In terms of borders and foreign students or international students, obviously those decisions about the opening of borders are very much part and parcel of the federal government’s remit, and of course funding for higher education and general policy settings primarily are the commonwealth as well. But going to the point that you have asked—

Members interjecting.

The PRESIDENT: Order! I want to hear the minister.

Ms TIERNEY: Going to the question you have asked, Ms Patten, in terms of student accommodation, I meet with the vice-chancellors on a fairly regular basis. We also have a forum that I participate with.

There are also meetings with the department on a weekly basis with the vice-chancellors. At the moment they have predominantly been dealing with the immediate, immediate impacts of COVID and also of course issues around international students and advocacy around that.

In fact I have a meeting scheduled with Minister Tehan fairly soon. The actual specific issue of student accommodation and any possible repurposing has not been an issue that has been raised directly with me at this point in time, but I am happy to have a further conversation with you offline in terms of other things that are happening in the sector.

RESPONSE:

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