Those looking for international students in Australia news will be heartened to hear that the state government has removed a hurdle for those travelling to NSW. The NSW government announced on Friday that students fully vaccinated with a TGA-recognised vaccine will be able to return to NSW without quarantining from December.
Current TGA-approved vaccines include Pfizer, AstraZeneca, Moderna, Johnson & Johnson, Sinovac and Covishield.
The first chartered plane of returning international students under the NSW International Student Arrivals Pilot Plan is scheduled to land in Sydney on December 6. The first flight will carry some 250 students from over 15 nations, including Indonesia, Singapore, Vietnam, South Korea, China and Canada.
A second flight to bring in students travelling to NSW from South Asia and India are also scheduled, but no date has been released yet.
There’s no date when the second flight that will bring in international students to NSW. Source: Peter Parks/AFP
International students in Australia news: What to know about travelling to NSW
NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet said international education plays a vital role in connecting NSW to the world, with almost 290,000 students studying here before the pandemic, supporting more than 95,000 full-time jobs.
“This is a significant milestone in our roadmap to recovery and I can’t wait to welcome back such an important part of our community,” Perrottet said. “They don’t just make a significant contribution to our economy, but international students play a role in our culture and contribute to our community and lifestyle.”
Minister for Jobs, Investment, Tourism and Western Sydney and Minister for Trade and Industry Stuart Ayres said students will require Commonwealth Government approval to travel to Australia.
“I welcome continued collaboration with the Commonwealth Government in supporting international students as they return to NSW,” Ayres said. “This sends a clear message about how much NSW values our international students.”
Travelling to NSW for students will be done through the pilot plan’s phased approach. Scape Redfern will continue as the accommodation partner supporting international students as they return.
On Twitter, International Education Association of Australia (IEAA) CEO Phil Honeywood tweeted: “If one state in Australia (NSW) is now promising NO quarantine for international students then every other state should do the same NOW! We are after all one country NOT 8 different countries!”
