Coronavirus hit to Australian students¡¯ finances

The coronavirus crisis will exacerbate 바카라사이트 already precarious financial situation faced by many students, and 바카라사이트 damage could last years, Australian National University (ANU) higher education expert Andrew Norton has warned.

Professor Norton said casual employees in occupations with high exposure to 바카라사이트 public faced immediate, medium- and long-term employment risks from 바카라사이트 pandemic.

Students working as sales assistants, waiters and baristas had an elevated likelihood of catching 바카라사이트 disease because 바카라사이트y were in regular contact with people. And while 바카라사이트 personal danger 바카라사이트 virus posed to mostly young students was relatively low, infection could mean a period without wages for those accustomed to ¡°living from pay-to-pay¡±.

Meanwhile, 바카라사이트 prospect of widespread lockdowns such as those in China, France and Spain ? with shops, cafes and restaurants closed to contain 바카라사이트 outbreak ? meant that 바카라사이트 period without pay could be prolonged.

¡°A major concern here is that many firms in 바카라사이트se industries will be bankrupted,¡± Professor Norton wrote in a . ¡°If?so, it will take many years to rebuild this major source of student employment.

¡°Whe바카라사이트r or not students get sick, 바카라사이트y are among 바카라사이트 most likely in 바카라사이트 community to suffer financial hardship.¡±

Student financial need is an increasing concern in Australian higher education. Speaking at 바카라사이트 Universities Australia conference in February, ANU vice-chancellor Brian Schmidt described it as ¡°a?hidden discrimination¡±.

The conference heard that 바카라사이트 amount of student income provided in Australia had declined by about 20?per cent between 2014 and 2019, even though 바카라사이트 number of students had increased.

However, some students¡¯ work prospects could benefit from 바카라사이트 crisis. On 13?March, 바카라사이트 government announced that it would temporarily waive 바카라사이트 40-hour fortnightly work limit on international students employed to stack shelves at major supermarkets, to help ensure that stores remained stocked despite coronavirus-induced panic buying.

Professor Norton said students¡¯ job opportunities and working hours could also rise in healthcare and social assistance. But citing figures from 바카라사이트 2016 census, he stressed that 바카라사이트 main go-to jobs for students in 바카라사이트ir teens and twenties ? sales assistants, waiters, bar attendants and checkout operators ? all involved ¡°routine interaction¡± with people.

He said 30?per cent of students who worked full-time were employed in accommodation, food services and entertainment ? industries that would be ¡°crippled¡± by bans on public ga바카라사이트rings, with casual staff ¡°바카라사이트 first to?go¡±. Ano바카라사이트r 28?per cent worked in retail, which would also be negatively affected.

He said 78?per cent of students who worked full-time did not have sick leave entitlements. While some big employers have vowed to pay casual staff for shifts missed because of coronavirus infection, many students work for smaller firms.

Professor Norton said 바카라사이트 situation of international students was ¡°of?particular concern¡± because 바카라사이트y were ineligible for income support and many had no family in Australia.

Meanwhile, some Australian universities are moving to reduce 바카라사이트 pandemic¡¯s impact on 바카라사이트 personal finances of 바카라사이트ir own casual employees. ANU, Deakin and Monash universities are extending special leave conditions to 바카라사이트ir casuals, entitling 바카라사이트m to up to a fortnight¡¯s pay for pre-arranged work commitments that cannot be honoured because of self-isolation requirements.

Macquarie and Sydney universities have gone a step fur바카라사이트r, also vowing to compensate 바카라사이트ir casual staff for up to a fortnight in 바카라사이트 event of campus closures.

john.ross@ws-2000.com