Hundreds of international students set to return to Victoria by the end of the year

Overseas students could return to Victoria by the end of the year after the state government approved a plan to revive the $14 billion international education sector that has been decimated by the COVID-19 pandemic.

In the first instance, 120 international students a week will be permitted to arrive in Victoria and universities will cover the hotel quarantine costs of at least $5000

The state government will initially welcome university students, with TAFE and school students to follow. They will be housed in hotel quarantine at a fee of at least $5000.        The senior government source said universities would make individual decisions on whether to recoup or absorb the fees.

Before the pandemic, Victoria had more international school students than any other state or territory. A major hurdle to accepting international students was lifted on Friday after Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced the ban on international travel for Australians would be lifted from next month. The Commonwealth had required states to hatch a plan approved by their chief health officers and include quarantine beds above those reserved for returning Australians.

A Victorian government spokesman said: “We will present our Student Arrivals Plan to the Commonwealth shortly. The plan will provide for the stages and safe return of international students.”

This appeared in THE AGE newspaper on 6 October 2021