Study Gold Coast asks state to open borders at 85 per cent vax rate for overseas students, without need to quarantine, to help embattled international education
Study Gold Coast is making a bold request of the state government, saying it needs a “competitive boost” as southern states are likely poaching overseas students meant for Queensland.
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THE peak body for the Gold Coast’s embattled international education sector is calling on the state government to throw its support behind the industry and commit to opening sooner for students and long stay visa holders.
It follows the federal government’s $37 million cash splash and targeted policy changes announced early this month, aimed at supporting the sector to bounce back as international borders reopen.
On December 15, Australia reopened its borders to overseas students after a two-week “pause” to allow authorities to assess the threat posed by the new Omicron variant.
Minister for Education and Youth Alan Tudge said the plan provided clear incentives for institutions and students and ensured students were not disadvantaged from being prevented from coming to Australia earlier.
He said in addition to extended regulatory fee waivers, changes to visa settings would provide much needed flexibility for international students as they return to Australia.
The new settings will extend measures to protect the post-study work rights of international students as well as extend the temporary graduate visa from two to three years for masters by coursework graduates.
“The extension of the innovation grants will help English language providers who have been hit particularly hard by Covid,” he said.
While the latest data (as at August 2021) shows international student enrolments are down 17 per cent overall compared to August 2019, the English language sector experienced the greatest decline in enrolments at 71 per cent.
Study Gold Coast chief executive Alfred Slogrove welcome the government’s support in continuing to provide financial and regulatory relief to the embattled sector.
“The fact that the federal government has acknowledged the impact and the major contributions the sector makes both to the economy and to industry sectors is a major step in the right direction,” he said.
“We would love to see the state government follow suit with welcoming and proactive student return plans and policy updates.
“As of today, major parts of Australia opened to the world. A great step for the recovery of our economy, aviation sector, tourism and international education.
“Given the rest of the country is opening, it would be supportive and proactive to see the state government revisit the 90 per cent benchmark even if they reduced it to 85 per cent for students and long stay visa holders.
“That would be outstanding and give us a competitive boost and not that much of an unrealistic of a change, in my view.
“Making it easy and conducive to welcoming people is the key to a bold economic recovery in 2022 and beyond.”
Currently Study Queensland advises that once the state reaches 90 per cent double dose rate, there’ll be no requirement for fully vaccinated students to quarantine on arrival.
Federal Government package includes:
* Regulatory fee relief for 2022 for Australian Skills Quality Authority, Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency, Commonwealth Register of Institutions and Courses for Overseas Students registrations, and the Tuition Protection Service (TPS) Levy.
* Extension of the current FEE-HELP loan fee exemption until 31 December 2022.
* An extra $9.4 million to help private English Language Intensive Courses for Overseas Students providers diversify education into online and offshore delivery.
The new visa settings mean:
* Temporary Graduate (subclass 485) visa holders stuck overseas can apply for a replacement visa if theirs expired on or after 1 February 2020.
* Government will increase the length of stay on the temporary graduate visa from two to three years for Masters by coursework graduates
* Vocational Education and Training sector graduates will also receive a two year Temporary Graduate visa.
The new visa settings will also extend existing measures for students and temporary graduates to recognise time spent offshore studying online to count towards qualifying for a temporary graduate visa.
Originally published as Study Gold Coast asks state to open borders at 85 per cent vax rate for overseas students, without need to quarantine, to help embattled international education
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