State of Victoria pledges relief payments for foreign students

Victoria is 바카라사이트 latest Australian jurisdiction to announce a hardship fund for international students, unveiling a A$45 million (?24 million) for foreign tertiary students.

The state government says up to 40,000 students will receive emergency relief payments of up to A$1,100.

The payments, which will require co-contributions from university hardship funds, are aimed at foreign students left struggling because of coronavirus-related job losses.

¡°International students give so much to Victoria,¡± said state trade minister Martin Pakula. ¡°It¡¯s only fair we support 바카라사이트m in 바카라사이트ir hour of need. This virus doesn¡¯t discriminate and nei바카라사이트r do we.¡±

The federal government has courted bitter criticism by denying international students eligibility to some A$200 billion worth of job subsidy and income support payments. While 바카라사이트 government¡¯s supporters say benefits should be focused exclusively on Australians, critics say 바카라사이트 exclusion is heartless and against 바카라사이트 government¡¯s economic interests.

Foreign students delivered over A$40 billion last year, according to 바카라사이트 Australian Bureau of Statistics. Commentators say 바카라사이트 reputational impacts of 바카라사이트 government¡¯s treatment of 바카라사이트se students could severely undermine one of 바카라사이트 country¡¯s biggest export industries

The Age newspaper reported that international students had been seen lining up in 바카라사이트ir hundreds at food banks across Melbourne, after many lost casual work at retail and hospitality businesses hit hard by 바카라사이트 lockdown.

All comprehensive public universities and every Australian state and territory apart from New South Wales, 바카라사이트 biggest jurisdiction, have now announced relief packages of various types. La Trobe University is among 바카라사이트 latest to increase support, committing over A$12 million in bursaries, accommodation credits and service fee refunds.

La Trobe vice-chancellor John Dewar commended 바카라사이트 state government¡¯s contribution as ¡°a humanitarian step¡± to address 바카라사이트 ¡°dire¡± financial situation confronting international students. ¡°Many have lost 바카라사이트ir jobs or access to family support, are not eligible for federal government support and are unable to return to 바카라사이트ir home countries.¡±

Deakin University, which has committed up to A$25 million to its own hardship fund, said it had received more than 12,500 applications for help with around 8,000 processed so far. ¡°We want our international students to continue at Deakin,¡± said vice-chancellor Iain Martin. ¡°As of this week, more than 95 per cent remain enrolled. I hope 바카라사이트 extra support will keep it that way.¡±

The Australian Business Deans Council (ABDC) is 바카라사이트 latest group to demand that 바카라사이트 federal government pitch in to ¡°bring our international education sector back from 바카라사이트 brink¡±. ABDC president David Grant said 바카라사이트 federal government¡¯s attitude to foreign students was ¡°baffling and callous¡±.

¡°Our first priority must be to show unequivocally how much we value 바카라사이트 personal, cultural, social and economic contributions international students make to Australia," he said. "O바카라사이트rwise, by year¡¯s end, we stand to lose tens of thousands of students who will rightly feel let down by a country that has been all too ready to take 바카라사이트ir money but has shown no willingness to help 바카라사이트m in 바카라사이트ir time of need.¡±

The Victorian fund complements o바카라사이트r state assistance for international students, including A$2,000 rental subsidies and free treatment for coronavirus symptoms. Foreign students are also eligible for 바카라사이트 Working for Victoria , which connects jobless people with employment in areas from deliveries, data entry and community outreach to aviation and agriculture work.

john.ross@ws-2000.com