The听Prime Minister听also announced听new travel听bubbles with听Japan and听South听Korea.听The听decisions听follow听the opening of a two-way travel bubble with Singapore听on Sunday,听allowing students,听families and听migrants听to return听to Sydney and Melbourne.听Returning visa holders must be double听vaccinated听and听have听proof of a negative听COVID-19听test before travelling.
黑料老司机 Chief Executive Catriona Jackson said: 鈥淭his is great news which will give heart to more than 130,000 international students with visas waiting to return to Australia. They want nothing more than to re-join their classmates in Australia.鈥
鈥We look forward to further detail听so we can work quickly听to get students back for first semester next year.鈥听
Currently New South Wales, the ACT, Victoria and South Australia have pilot plans approved by the Commonwealth Government for the return of international students.听The Queensland Government has also lodged a pilot plan to the Commonwealth Government for approval.听The first of these special flights, organised by New South Wales and ACT universities,听arrives in Sydney on 6听December.
Returning students听have to adhere to听state听and听territory听quarantine rules, but we are seeing an increasing trend towards no quarantine for fully vaccinated students.
鈥淯niversities continue to work to ensure the safety of all students as they slowly return to campus,鈥澨齅s Jackson said.
Commencements in the higher education sector have declined by more than 40 per cent since the peak recorded in August 2019, with new starters now falling to just above the level recorded in August 2013.
鈥淭he value of international students to Australia is more than just the impact they have on the economy and employment, though their $31 billion annual economic contribution and support for 250,000 jobs is important,鈥 Ms Jackson added.
鈥淭hese students are the future corporate and political leaders of our nearest trading partners. They make an enormous contribution to Australia鈥檚 influence in the world.鈥
