We are finally beginning to see some light at the end of the tunnel with the NSW Government announced last week, where they present a new plan to welcome back International Students from as early as July-2021

The New South Wales Treasurer Dominic Perrottet had said his government plans to bring back 250 international students per fortnight from overseas to Sydney quarantined in specifically approved student accommodation, and then rise the figure to 500 by the end of the year.

The pilot program had been approved by NSW Health and NSW Police and now is awaiting the Federal Government’s approval, after which it may take another eight weeks before the first international students can come back.

There are about 50,000 overseas students who were currently trying to get into NSW and these students would provide vital job for 100,000 workers in the sector. Mr Perrottet said, “Importantly not one returning Australian will not get a seat on a plane as a result of this plan.”

The idea of this program is first prioritising the return of continuing higher education students and five large independent education providers, on chartered flights. Other sectors and providers will follow as soon as possible. Accordantly to one of the private education providers “initially, passport holders from China, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Singapore, South Korea, and Vietnam will be eligible for the NSW Student Arrivals Plan”.

South Australia is another state that has submitted its student return plan to the federal government for approval. Returning students will be required to quarantine for two weeks at Parafield Airport in Adelaide’s north. However South Australia Premier Steven Marshall said that more work is still to be done with the Commonwealth to bring the plan to life.

Let’s cross our fingers and hope that Queensland is next on the agenda!

See the full speech from New South Wales Treasurer Dominic Perrottet here:
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