In a bid to welcome back international students already enrolled in Australian education institutions across different levels, i.e. primary, secondary, university, college and technical college, the state of Western Australia has announced a new pathway, to help students enter the state.
According to Xinhua news agency, students have been given the option to either fly into the state under Australias arrival cap or travel through another state or territory.
As part of the re-entry procedure, international students must provide a negative Rapid Antigen Test report, taken within 24 hours of departure. Additionally, they will also be required to isolate themselves at a suitable premise approved by the WA Police or Department of Health upon arrival.
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Further, all international students arriving in the state must be fully vaccinated, i.e. two doses or booster doses, as applicable in their home country. After arriving in the state, if the students do not possess a RAT/PCR test on arrival, they must self-quarantine and take either a PCR test on day 6 of their quarantine or RAT on day 7.
While the country, along with some of its states are gearing up to welcome back their international student cohorts, WA authorities took a different approach by denying international students their permission to enter, citing Covid-19 precaution health advice.
The pathway is expected to see 6,000 international students return to their respective institutions in the state. In its statement, the state government stated that the international student cohort, according to updated health advice, presents a low risk to the community, citing several factors that provide confidence in quarantine arrangements.
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Mark McGowan, WA Premier, stated that international students are crucial to the Western Australia community, contributing to its diversity, vibrancy while economically supporting local jobs across different industries. He added that the pathway is an element of the ongoing border control reviews being undertaken this month.
To help cover the costs of self-quarantine, the Australian government will be paying eligible returning international students, report the Economic Times.
Source: The Economic Times
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