COVID-19 and Australian universities

26 June 2020

Covid-19 and Australian universities – An update on reopening the country and campus and what this means for international students

What’s happening in Australia regarding COVID-19?

It’s been a lot of quickly changing info in the last few months, but here’s a bit of an update on what we do know so far for some of the questions floating around your mind right now.

When can I return to Australia?

It’s a question we’ve been getting a lot lately. For those that came home from Australia in March, when can you go back? For those who are applying or accepting offers for programs starting in the fall or the start of 2021, will you be able to move or will your courses be online?

The short answer, and one that we really don’t want to say, is that we don’t fully know yet.

Currently, Australian borders are still closed. However, as of June 16, the Australian Capital Territory and South Australia are launching pilot programs that will let international students come back to these specific areas. There will be a cap on the number of students that are allowed back into these areas though, and for OzTREKK students, the only university currently listed in this plan is Flinders University. And all incoming travellers will have to complete a mandatory 14-day quarantine once they arrive.

What happens with my student visa?

If you are currently outside of Australia and studying online with an Australian university, you do not need a visa. For the most up-to-date information on this, please refer to the Department of Home Affairs or contact the Australian High Commission in Ottawa.

The Australian government is also taking a flexible approach to student visa conditions for the time being. These temporary changes predominately apply to students currently in Australia, addressing such matters as total work hour limitations. In “key sectors” such as supermarkets and aged care, for example, the cap of 40 hours of work for every two weeks has been relaxed. For more details on these changes, you can consult the Australian Home Affairs COVID-19 FAQs.

When will my campus reopen?

Good news! Restrictions are easing in Australia and with that, many campuses will be reopening soon. However, in many cases, courses will continue to be delivered online until further notice.

To get a better idea of Australia’s full plans for reopening, take a look at their 3 Step Framework.

Where can I find the most up-to date info from OzTREKK?

All of our COVID-19 related news can be found on our COVID-19 updates page. Still looking for answers after that? Contact us directly! That’s what we’re here for.

Send us an email at info@oztrekk.com or call us toll free in Canada at 1-866-698-7355.

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