International students registered at Australian universities, who remain stuck abroad for some 19 months now due to the COVID-19 pandemic, are finally getting more confident for their return, following the latest announcement of the government to start allowing international students to enter Sydney International Borders, Australia by December 2021.
Students have been keen to return to their universities and in-person learning since March 20 last year, when the country decided to close its boundaries to most foreign nationals.
According to the department of home affairs, Australia’s territory and state governments, in consultation with the Australian government and education associations, are working on International Student Arrival Plans to allow a number of students to return to the country until current travel limitations are lifted.
200+ Students to Return to New South Wales from Early December
After more than 19 months of learning online, the first group of international students is expected to return to Sydney International borders in December this year.
Under the plan, a limited number of 200+ international students enrolled at education institutions in New South Wales will return to the state each fortnight, starting from early December 2021.
Students who return to Sydney, Australia should be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 with a Therapeutic Goods Administration recognized vaccine before entering Sydney.
“In partnership with industry, we are enduring with our plans to return up to 500+ students to the state by the end of the year and will deliver any update as soon as possible,” the Sydney international borders government noted.
International students are likely to quarantine in purpose-built student accommodation in Sydney and comply with the same health and quarantine measures that the government has set for the returning Australians.
Costs for returning to Sydney International Borders will be covered by contributing education providers and the returning students. The latter will be capable to continue on-campus learning with COVID-19 safe arrangements.
On September 2021, more than 50,000+ enrolled students were stranded abroad, being unable to return to Sydney International Borders to pursue their studies.
Also, the Australian Capital Territory administration has announced recently that it will welcome the return of international students to the state for the 2022 academic year. It further said that if the latter are vaccinated with any TGA vaccine, they will not be mandatory to quarantine but to follow vaccination and testing requirements after landing in Sydney, Australia.
Similarly, from January next year, international students who are completely vaccinated will also be able to return to Queensland. The state will allow 200+ international students to return each fortnight, prioritizing students studying in medicine or in the health field.
Despite the government stating that Australia’s decision to close boundaries has been essential to curb the spread of the virus, leaders were criticized in this regard.
Generation Network Scholar in Education at the University of Sydney, Andrew Deucha, said that Australia lacked the political will to return international students. According to Andrew, the government should have permitted entering the country at least students who are enrolled in a course at a recognized provider, who are completely vaccinated and able to complete two weeks of quarantine.
