Western Australia Offers Travel, Finance, Visa Support To Foreign Students

• The Western Australia government has launched a dedicated portal to cater to the needs of foreign students planning their travel to universities
• Students who were not in the country for study purposes anytime in 2021 are eligible for an accommodation-assisting subsidy of $1,500
• Overall, the WA government has allocated A$16 million to its international education sector

Through this portal, students can also acquaint themselves with the government travel and health rules, besides booking their flights. This is great news for students willing to study in Australia. 

Earlier in another initiative, students who arrived before March 3 were given a one-time payment of A$2,000 to include expenses incurred during quarantine. This was part of an A$8 million support programme. 

For international students enrolled in a course of one year duration or longer beginning in semester one in 2022 and those who have arrived in WA after a long gap, there is support available too. Students who were not in the country for study purposes anytime in 2021 are eligible for an accommodation-assisting subsidy of $1,500.

The government is focused on reviving the international education sector after the losses due to COVID-19 earlier variants and most recently, the Omicron variant. Overall, the WA government has allocated A$16 million to the international education sector.

StudyPerth, an organization which has six of WA’s universities as its members, has welcomed these initiatives. Tara Colyer-Long, Interim CEO of StudyPerth, has said that foreign students are crucial to the “social and cultural fabric of WA, the economy and international relationships with the countries from which students come.” The organization is working with the WA Government to support students with welcome pack delivery services, virtual drop-in sessions and free counselling support.

Known for engineering, technology and management-related courses, universities in the region include The University of WA; The University of Notre Dame Australia; Curtin University; and Murdoch University. 

Elaborating on why it is an attractive destination among pre-applicants, Deepa Sankar, counsellor for the WA region, Yocket, says: “Post study work rights are a major draw among aspirants. Recently, the Australian government increased the post study work visa for master’s students for up to four years after their two-year full-time study. This will give students ample time to look for jobs and eventually be eligible for permanent residency in the country.”

Also Read: Australia Preps Up For International Students With Visa Fee Refund

The WA International Education Recovery and Renewal Plan also aims to build on this momentum and support the international education sector to promote a diversified economy and a multicultural community.

The state’s international education plan, Where Bright Futures Begin: International Education in Perth, Western Australia 2018-2025, provides a framework to support growth in student numbers by highlighting the unique learning experiences and environments WA has to offer.

With a renewed focus on international education, the results proved promising for the administration in terms of the number of enrolments from international students. In the first quarter of 2020, enrolments increased by 6%, from 35,175 to 37,326. This success was complemented with significant impact financially, with international education generating $2.1 billion for the state in 2019. 

With such measures in place, the region is expected to see an increase in the number of Indian and international students gradually. “Considering Australia is the third largest destination for international students, and WA is among the most popular states among foreign students, besides Victoria and New South Wales, WA universities have been chosen for higher studies by students from nearly 140 countries. This offers a great multicultural study environment and in-country experience,” adds Sankar.