Universities Australia (UA) has welcomed the South Australian Government’s $13.8 million plan to assist the State’s international students facing hardship.
The International Student Support package provides $10 million for international students affected by COVID-19 restrictions and who are not eligible for either JobSeeker or JobKeeper payments.
The money will be distributed via schemes run by the University of Adelaide, Flinders University and the University of South Australia.
Applications will be determined against a careful set of rules to assess need.
The package also includes cash grants worth $500 for international students and $200 for those living with homestay families.
Universities Australia Chief Executive Catriona Jackson welcomed the support package.
“I commend the South Australian Government for taking action to help the many international students who, just like their Australian friends, have seen their part time jobs disappear overnight through no fault of their own,” Ms Jackson said.
“International education is Australia’s fourth biggest export but in South Australia it is their largest. This support package is a sensible and compassionate investment in helping individual students, as well as the State’s wider education sector.”
“There are thousands of South Australian jobs that are linked to the international education sector, including those working in the accommodation, grocery, retail, tourism and related industries.”
The South Australian support package comes a day after the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) Government announced a $20 million ‘Jobs for Canberrans’ fund that will provide employment opportunities with the ACT Public Service. It will give priority to those ineligible for existing Federal Government support.
Every Australian university is offering hardship support for international students. The three South Australian universities have already announced their own support packages which include emergency financial grants, accommodation, food vouchers and academic support.
“It is heartening to see more State and Territory Governments supporting international students that add so much culturally and economically wherever they study,” Ms Jackson said.
“There are around 267,000 international students still living and studying at Australian universities. Universities Australia continues to discuss with Federal, State and Territory Governments the need to support those students who are facing hardships as a result of this global pandemic.”
