The latest updates from the Morrison Government are helpful and full of positivity for the international education sector and the international students. The government will bring in additional targeted steps to aid the international education sector in coming back strong as the overseas borders reopen.
International education providers who were significantly affected by COVID-19 will get help from the available fund of more than $37 million. This aid fund will comprise elements like additional grants and extended regulatory fee waivers.
Moreover, international students will get the much-needed flexibility from the changes in visa settings. These new settings will implement further measures to safeguard the post-study working rights of the students. The new settings also extend the temporary graduate visa 485 from two to three years for post-graduation (masters) by the coursework graduates.
Alan Tudge, minister of education and youth, claimed the declaration to be highly effective in boosting the COVID-19 recovery process for the upcoming academic year of 2022.
“This will ensure the quick return of international students. The announcement ensures transparent incentives for students and institutions. The Innovation Grants extension will explicitly help the English language providers, who were hit hard during COVID.”
The latest stats (as of Aug’ 2021) shows a 17% decline in the international student enrolments compared to the stats of Aug’ 2019. Meanwhile, a rapid decline in enrolments by 71% has been experienced by the ELICOS sector.
Alex Hawke, minister of immigration, migrant services, and multicultural affairs, shared that changes to visa settings for the international education sector in Australia enabled the students with some much-needed pardon as the Australian borders were all set to reopen.
“These changes are not only focused to support international students but also a significant part of our economic revival and will ensure us to retain and attract skilled employees.” Hawke said.
Also Read: What Are The Visa 485 Document Checklist in Australia?
The International Aid Package Comprises:
- The package ensures about $27.8 million in funds for regulatory fee relief in 2022. It includes specific fees for Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency (TEQSA), Tuition Protection Services (TPS) Levy, Australian Skills Quality Authority (ASQA), and Commonwealth Register of Institutions and Courses for Overseas Students (CRICOS).
- Recent FEE-HELP loan fee exemption extension until 31 December 2022, ensuring benefits to about 30,000 undergraduate students enrolling at public universities and institutes of higher education.
- Extension of the Innovation Development Fund with an additional $9.4 million, ensuring further short-term-focused aid to private ELICOS providers or English Language Intensive Courses for Overseas Students.
The New Visa Settings after Changes Imply:
- Temporary graduate visa holders (subclass 485) who could not come to Australia for COVID-19 restrictions and Whose visas expired on or after 1 February 2020 will be able to get visas back will become eligible to apply for a replacement visa.
- The Morrison Government has strong intentions, along with a plan to boost the stay length of students on the Temporary Graduate visa from two to three years for post-graduation by coursework graduates.
- Graduates from the Vocational Education and Training (VET) sector will also become entitled to a two-year temporary graduate visa.
- Existing measures for students and temporary graduates will extend to determine the time spent studying offshore online to count as an eligible mark for a temporary graduate visa.
For more information and expert guidance on such matters, Consult to Registered Migration Agent Perth, they will always be there to help.
