by DIRK MULDER

There’s financial support for individuals and institutions

Students and HE providers expected state borders would open on February 5, until WA Premier McGowan cancelled that. And then to keep everybody guessing the state government made three further announcements that shaped when students could enter. The last one allowed them just days to arrive, before a February 5 close down (CMM February 2).

And then on Friday there was a fourth, part of the government’s Safe Transition Industry Support Package.

An email from the office of International Education minister David Templeman, seen by CMM, sets out details of an assistance package, including,

* an $8m Student Quarantine Support Programme to support all international students who have had to self-quarantine as part of their return to Western Australia, with a one-off payment of $2,000 per student (working out at 4000 individuals)

* $2m for universities to provide pastoral care and support provided to self-quarantining students, capped at $500 a head

* $6m Industry Support Program for small and medium sized private international education providers which had invested money in preparation for the re-opening on 5 February, with $50,000 for small and $100,000 for medium sized providers.

But with the ban on arrivals after February 5 how many students qualify now and will those yet to arrive be eligible for quarantine support?

CMM expects another announcement.