International students return to NSW within weeks with chartered flights, special quarantine

Universities will foot the bill for international students to return to NSW within weeks, with 250 students to arrive each fortnight on charter flights before quarantining in special accommodation.

NSW Treasurer Dominic Perrottet announced the long-awaited rescue plan for the $14 billion international education sector on Thursday, with final Commonwealth approval expected in days.

NSW Treasurer Dominic Perrottet says the return of international students to the state is critical for the economy.Credit: James Brickwood

Mr Perrottet said the plan had been signed off by NSW Health and NSW Police and would operate in the same way as the existing quarantine system but the state would not pick up any of the costs.

Students from a range of countries, determined by the universities, will quarantine in purpose-built student accommodation once they arrive in Sydney, likely to be close to the city.

The pilot program is expected to start within six weeks and will be scaled up by the end of the year to 500 students each fortnight.

Mr Perrottet said it was a small but important start in reviving the struggling education sector.

He said the international student allocation would be in addition to the current number of returning Australians allowed into NSW each week.

“This won’t be at the expense of returning Aussies. We will continue to bring back 3000 people per week, well more than any other state,” Mr Perrottet said.

Professor Barney Glover, who is on the NSW Vice-Chancellors’ Committee, welcomed the state’s approval of the program, which he said had been several months in the making.

“As at May this year, there were many higher education students diligently studying offshore- many of whom expect to return to our campuses to finish their studies, Professor Glover said.

“This program has carefully considered the personal, social and academic aspects of our students to ensure they successfully resume their studies and rejoin NSW’s vibrant multicultural community as soon as possible.”

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