by DIRK MULDER

How the Sydney pilot will fly

On the back of the federal minister for Education and Youth’s optimistic comments at the English Australia conference two weeks back (CMM 20/9/21) NSW is the first state to announce the latest iteration of a planned return for Internationals.

The NSW International Student Arrival Plan will start before year-end

Key points as outlined by Study NSW are:

* funded by industry, with the support of NSW Government and endorsement of the Australian Government, 250 international students are set to return each fortnight to study in NSW. ​

* all international students who return to Australia must be fully vaccinated with a Therapeutic Goods Administration-recognised COVID-19 vaccination, and will quarantine in purpose-built student accommodation in Sydney. ​

CMM understands the scheme has 14 Universities signed up. Ten NSW unis, two ACT unis and two multi state / national universities – ACU and UNDA.

Furthermore, the initial Pilot will constitute two chartered flights of 250 students. Flights will be via Singapore with 14-day quarantine in student accommodation in Redfern.

Who pays? Students pay airfare, unis pay quarantine which will be run by NSW Police and NSW Health.

An evaluation will be worked through in December 2021 and with all going well a plan for full programme from early 2022.

CMM applauds the NSW government for their boldness and asks one question. With only TGA recognised COVID vaccinations being allowed, what about China (and Nepal)?

Dirk Mulder advises education and business clients on trends in international education. He writes regularly for CMM