Gold Coast families impacted by Federal Government’s migration policy changes

Gold Coast home owners are revealing the extent of financial impacts from a major Federal Government policy - and how it’s exacerbating cost-of-living. SEE THE DETAILS

Gold Coast homestay parents say policy changes to reduce migration will hit many just trying to survive the cost-of-living crisis.

In December last year the federal government introduced new tougher restrictions on international students and slower student visa processing, as part of a 10-year strategy to reduce migration to pre-pandemic levels and battle the cost-of-living crisis.

But local homestay parents say the idea is “absurd” with many unsure how they will make ends meet.

Last month the Bulletin reported a 50 per cent drop in intake numbers at Southport English language school Inforum Education Australia.

Principal director and owner Simon Craft said claims international students were exacerbating cost-of-living’s crisis by taking up accommodation were untrue, with the majority actually going into homestays. He said his college had paid $536,000 in homestay fees so far this financial year.

Homestay mother Jodie Beck and Inforum Education Australia assistant homestay manager Marie Philp. Picture: John Gass

Experience Gold Coast education executive director Jennine Tax said all 90 of its education provider members are already feeling effects with a drastic reduction in international student numbers.

Now those reliant on the income homestay students provide are feeling the pinch.

Helen Dalziel of Labrador has been a homestay parent on and off for seven years.

“My circumstances have changed after working full time to entering the pension age,” she said.

“It’s nice to have that extra to pay your bills – everything’s gone up.”

Ms Dalziel said the money from homestay students was “nothing” compared to the economic injection the international students provide to the city.

“These students spend on transport, a lot of them work part time doing a lot of jobs with many of them working in the restaurants, the cafes. It’s not just me it will be impacting.”

Homestay parent for four years Jodie Beck said she and her husband take in students for three months of the year when business is slow.

“That helps us cash wise for those few months,” Mrs Beck said.

“My husband and I are in our 60s, our kids are gone and we’re enjoying being on our own, every now and then we have students to help with the cost-of-living.”

The Sorrento resident said she had no idea how her and her husband would financially work around those three months without students.

“The majority of homestay parents I’ve come across are of an older generation who feel comfortable and safe hosting students through reputable institutions – this is going to impact a lot of them,” she said.

Assistant Homestay manager Marie Philp and Home stay mother Jodie Beck. Picture: John Gass

Stacey Bolton has been a homestay parent for five years.

She said international students had been a “welcome addition” to her income but played an integral part in her son’s upbringing, bringing a gap between cultures.

“My son loves having students in the house,” she said.

“We’ve started slowly learning Japanese ourselves – these students become part of out family.”

Ms Bolton said while she understands many people rely on the financial boost hosting provides them – she was also concerned for the economic impact the changes would have on the city.

“Students come here and spend money – they don’t stay at home doing nothing,” she said.

“They’re out at the theme parks, they’re out of the shops, they’re out at the restaurants – so it is going to have an impact on the local economy.”

Member for Moncrieff Angie Bell said last month the visa crackdown threatened the city’s $1.7 billion international education sector.

Originally published as Gold Coast families impacted by Federal Government’s migration policy changes