A lot of international students have been affected by the global Covid-19 pandemic in more than one ways. Most international students would agree that studying in a foreign country for their college or university is quite challenging. The college tuition fees, the cost of living and travel expenses add up to a huge sum of money. 

The International students support package in Australia is less and on top of that due to the lockdown, the global markets have taken a serious hit and the people have been losing jobs, and taking pay cuts. Students need International Student Support Package in Australia as many international students who live in Australia, are very much affected by it as they work part time and earn the money which helps them with their daily expenses. In addition their conditions back home has worsened as well and financial hardships are making it very difficult for them to follow up with their studies in Australia.

In this article we will talk about the different International Students Support Package in Australia which can be availed by students facing financial hardship. They can avail them in order to get some help with their current situation. We will look at how various state governments, universities and private organisation in Australia have taken initiatives to help the international students who are facing financial troubles due to the CoVID-19 lockdown.

Australia has one of the most stable educational frameworks in the world. This is why students from all over the world look towards Australia to complete their higher education. International students contribute to about $40 Million annually to the Australian economy and support more than 250,000 jobs.

This is why the government acknowledges their importance and makes effort to make their stay in Australia as pleasant as possible. The Australian government recently made some crucial changes to their international student visa, aimed at helping the students whose studies had been affected due to the pandemic.

You can check out our detailed article explaining the 5 Important Student Visa Changes Australia 2020.

The government and many other private organisations have also made efforts to help students with their financial difficulties due to the pandemic. Let us now look at the different International Students Support Package in Australia.

Government Support
The national government has not made any press release regarding international student support package in Australia. Instead they have made some amendments to make early access to student’s superannuation. This would enable them to get some financial support, but it will also deplete their future savings.  

In addition to this, the government has also allowed internal students who are stuck in Australia, due to the lockdown on international travel, to earn money by working. In order to facilitate this, the Australian government has made changes to the allowed weekly working hours for international student’s visa holders. Previously student visa holders were only allowed to work for 20 hours a week, but with the temporary relaxation they cannot get additional working to help ease their stay in Australia during the pandemic.

Apart from this the federal government hasn’t made any new announcements regarding any support packages for international students in Australia.

However, many state governments in Australia realise the importance and the financial hardships faced by international students and have stepped up to help them by announcing International Students Support Package in Australia.  So let us have a look at each of them individually:

South Australia
The South Australian region is home to some of the finest universities and colleges in the country, and is therefore home to a large population of international students. The government of South Australia has declared international student support package in Australia, for students staying in Southern Australian region.

Below are some of its main features:

1. The total amount of this support package is $13.8 Million, which will be distributed among the state’s three most important public universities, which are:

• University of Adelaide
• Flinders University
• University of South Australia

2. An additional $500 emergency cash grant will also be provided to students enrolled in VET, ELICOS and higher education institutes, apart from the public universities mentioned above. This cash grant will only be available to international students living in Adelaide and facing financial hardships.
3. In order to help the students who are staying with Australian families and homestays, a onetime COVID-19 support payment of $200 shall be provided to ease their stay.
4. These support packages are separate from any other relief initiative taken by the universities and other private organisations or community groups and shall not affect their status.

You can check out the eligibility and the application process to the above international student support package in Australia’s southern region from the official website of Study Adelaide.

Tasmania
The state government of Tasmania has also announced International Students Support Package in Australia, not only for international students but for temporary visa holders as well.

• On 22^nd April 2020, the Tasmanian government made a press release announcing a support package of $3 Million AUD.
• There are over 26,000 temporary and student visa holders in Tasmania alone, and is an integral part of their economy. This includes international students and working individuals as well.
• The state has announced a $250 grant for individuals and a $1000 grant for families facing financial hardships due to the pandemic.

This relief package is on top of the existing Pandemic Isolation Assistance Grants available in Tasmania.

Northern Territory
The state government of the northern territory have announced a $20 Million support package for the business operating in those regions.

This package will be provided to small and medium businesses, to help them keep their business running in the pandemic.

This package doesn’t directly affect the international student studying in Australia. However students who are employed at these small and medium businesses will receive some relief from their employers.

Victoria
The state government of Victoria is yet to announce any international students support package in Australia. They have not made any financial relief packages specifically for international students.

However, the government of Victoria has announced a %500 million package for their Working for Victoria Initiative for individuals for has been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Under this initiative the government has partnered with various other job seeking platforms to enable students to work in Victoria and get employment benefits from the state.

Western Australia
Though there has been no news of a dedicated international student support package in Australia in the regions of Western Australia. There are however, various other relief and support initiatives for organisations to help ease the difficulties faced by international students in these regions.

Study Perth is an organisation operating in Western Australia, which has launched a crisis relief package to help international students who are facing hardships due to the pandemic. International students in need of shelter, food or medical services can get support from the organisation through this initiative.

University Sponsored Support Packages
Universities have committed to helping students by providing different International Students Support Package in Australia who are facing financial hardships. Let us look at some of the initiatives taken by major universities in Australia to help international students facing financial issues due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Monash University
Monash University is one of the top universities in the countries and has a large number of international students. The university has announced a $15 Million package for students facing financial hardship due to COVID-19 lockdown.

As per the package students studying in Monash University can apply for up to $7500 relief payment if they are eligible. This includes an emergency payment of up to $500 and payments of up to $7000 for student who are unable to support their accommodation, living costs and other essential services.

La Trobe University 
Another major university of Australia is the La Trobe University. The university has announced a total of 550,000 COVID-19 Financial Assistance Program to help students who are facing financial hardship due to the pandemic.

Students can avail one-off payments of up to $3000, if they are facing critical financial troubles and are unable to support themselves in Australia. The university has also made efforts to help students by providing them essential tools and equipment to continue their studies.

University of Melbourne
University of Melbourne has also announced support packages of up to $7500 for students facing financial hardships. This amount will be given after taking into consideration, any previous grants or International Students Support Package in Australia that you may have been awarded. 

RMIT University
Students studying in RMIT University can get relief funds from their Student Hardship Assistance programs and other initiatives. The total amount of support package at RMIT is $10Million through different programs and grants for students affected due to COVID-19.

Students can get relief, if they have lost their jobs, unable to find accommodation and other essential services due to the pandemic.

International students who are unable to continue their studies back home, due to lack of access to technological equipment, can get support of up to $1000 to get hardware, software, internet and other IT facilities to continue their studies.

Victoria University
Victoria University has made announcements for providing financial relief to students affected by the COVID-19 by giving one off payments.

Students facing financial hardship due to loss of job, and are unable to support their living costs can avail a onetime payment of up to $100. Students who are unable to continue their students online or from remote places due to lack of digital equipment can avail $100 support to continue their studies.

In addition a $500 rental assistance grant is set up for helping students who are unable to sustain their housing and rent.

Federation University
The federation university has made special support and relief initiatives dedicated to helping students facing financial hardships due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

• The university has allowed relaxation in the deadline for paying the tuition fee as per their Coronavirus Special Assistance Scheme.
• In addition to this the university has taken initiative through tier Fed Living program, to help students who cannot get housing solutions to find accommodations.
• Students facing financial hardships due to COVID-19 can get weekly assistance of up to $300 for 5 weeks, to support their stay in Australia.
• Students who are facing difficulties in setting up the digital hardware and other requirements to continue their studies and also get financial help from the university.

Apart from the universities mentioned above, there are various other colleges and educational institutes that may have not made any public release any dedicated International Students Support Package in Australia. However, if you are facing financial hardships due to CoVID-19, you can get in touch with your colleges directly and explain them your situations.

Most established will provide you some ease and relaxation with your situation for example: by enabling you to get extension on your deadlines, or by providing some reduction in tuition etc. or advice you regarding any organisations they are associated with that can help you.

Support Programs from Private and Charitable Organisations
In addition to getting International Students Support Package in Australia, from government and universities, there are various other private and non-profit organisations that are dedicated to helping students and other individuals who are affected due to the COVID pandemic. You can approach these organisations to get some assistance with your financial hardships

Let us have a look at some of the most popular initiative from private organisations that provide international students support packages in Australia:

Ask Izzy

Ask Izzy is the first place that you should approach if you seek assistance with your financial hardships or any other difficulties. Mainly because Ask Izzy has a one stop program which can help you with all kinds of services, such as food, shelter, legal advice, mental health counselling, medical support, and much more. They have a lot of categories and can help you in finding some relief with your particular situation.

You can get in touch with their official website and even the mobile to find their nearest establishment near your residence.

Food

Food and groceries can cost a lot and as the financial conditions of students gets worse due to COVID-19 many students are unable to support themselves due to lack of funds as they are have to stay indoors and not working at their part time jobs.

There are various organisations that can help you by providing your food such as:

• Food Bank Australia: it is one of Australia’s largest organisations that provide international students support packages in Australia related to food services.
• Salvation Army: Salvation Army associated and volunteers also known as Salvos, is helping the community by offering emergency services including food and accommodations in many regions of Australia.
• Khalsa Aid Australia: Khalsa Aid is another organisation that helps individual by providing them groceries and food kits delivered right to their homes, so that they don’t have to go out of their homes and expose themselves to the virus.

Accommodation
When the whole world is advised to stay inside their homes, people who are unable to pay rent or find accommodation due to covid-19 are at high risk of getting exposed to the virus. There are various organisations which can help you in finding safe and sanitised shelters so that you can stay safe. These organisations are:

Salvation Army: As mentioned above, Salvation Army has a wide network that can help provide International Students Support Package in Australia and help them find accommodation as well.

Find a Bed: This is an initiative started by a group of volunteer that helps people in dire need of accommodation find temporary and permanent stay and connect them with people who are willing to provide shelter or are looking for one.

Australian Homestay Network: The Australian Homestay network has launched their International Students Support Package in Australia, to help international with their accommodation and housing situation.

Red Cross: The Australian Red Cross is an organisation that had helped during the Bushfire emergency earlier this year as well. The Australian Red Cross can help international students find medical aid and accommodation if they are facing financial hardship.

Summary
People all over the world have faced a lot of issue and financial troubles due to the COVID-19 pandemic and its related effects. It is such difficult times that in addition to our physical wellbeing we must also look after our mental wellbeing as well.

While staying quarantined, a lot of people who are already facing mental health issues face added problems which can increase their issues. In addition, people who are not under any medication also become vulnerable to various psychological issues due to self-isolation and the stress from other difficulties, such as anxiety, stress, panic attacks, psychosis and other serious mental health issues.

It is important that we take care of our mental health as well as our physical wellbeing. In case you or any of your loved one is facing issues, you they can seek assistance form the below mentioned organisations, apart from the International Students Support Package in Australia.

• Headspace
• Reach out
• Lifeline Australia
• Youth Beyond Blue
• my Compass
• Kids Helpline

You can approach the above organisations to get help for yourself or your families for your mental health.

We hope the information in this article helped you to find the best answer to finding international students support package in Australia. If you or any of your associates are in need of help, kindly support them by telling them about the packages and relief services mentioned in this article!

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