The McGowan Government has launched the International Education COVID-19 Industry Support Fund to help Western Australian small and medium international education providers sustain their businesses with support of up to $50,000.
The fund is an initiative within the Western Australian International Education Recovery and Renewal Plan being developed by the WA International Education Advisory Group, established earlier this year to foster a more strategic and co-ordinated approach to international education.
The support funding aims to assist high quality local international education providers to remain viable until it is safe for WA to welcome the return of international students.
To be eligible, international education providers must be legitimate WA-based businesses with a current registered Australian Business Number and must have experienced a significant reduction in turnover because of COVID-19.
Applications for the support funding opens next month.
The Small Business Development Corporation will contact all eligible international education providers in WA directly next week with information on how to apply.
This support fund is in addition to the McGowan Government’s COVID-19 support measures for small businesses, such as commercial tenancy laws to protect small businesses from the impacts of the pandemic and the recently announced Online Capability Fund to help international education providers improve their online offering.
For more information, visit the Small Business Development Corporation website at https://www.smallbusiness.wa.gov.au
As stated by the Premier Mark McGowan:
“The international border controls in response to COVID-19, which we support, have impacted the usual flow of international students into WA.
“Many of our international education providers have been significantly impacted with many experiencing a large decline in new student enrolments and a substantial loss of revenue.
“The International Education COVID-19 Industry Support Fund will help these providers to meet their ongoing business expenses.
“This will ensure WA’s high quality international education providers can stay viable while travel restrictions remain in place.”
As stated by the Education and Training Minister Sue Ellery:
“In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, there is a need to support small to medium private providers that deliver shorter courses and rely on a continual flow of onshore students.
“Our Government will support WA international education providers with direct financial assistance to cover their ongoing business expenses.
“With international borders still closed, we need to do what we can to maintain confidence in the sector, and we aim to do just that through this support fund.
“I encourage affected international education providers to apply for support funding so they can remain viable until it is safe to welcome the return of international students back to WA.”
As stated by Small Business Minister Paul Papalia:
“The international education sector has been one of the industries most impacted by COVID-19, with most of their income drawn from students studying onshore in Western Australia.
“The Federal Government’s international border closures will continue to severely impact these businesses for some time to come.
“This support fund is designed to provide some assistance to providers to maintain their operations until the international borders reopen.”
Premier’s office – 6552 5000
Education and Training Minister’s office – 6552 5700
Small Business Minister’s office – 6552 5600
