UTAS foreign enrolments fall

themercury.com.au

FOREIGN student enrolments at the University of Tasmania are falling as the facility waits to learn when international students can return, while those stranded in the state are turning to charities for food and help with rent.

The decision to allow overseas students into Australia rests with the national cabinet while Tasmania’s borders are

SUBSCRIPTIONS 1300 696 397 firmly closed until December 1.

UTAS deputy vice-chancellor (International) Rob Wilson said he did not foresee them returning to Tasmanian campuses until next year at the earliest.

Already the number of foreign students enrolled at UTAS has fallen by 700.

“At the end of 2019, we had 8786 international students studying with us. As of this week, we have 8062,” Mr Wilson

said. He said the “incredible” response of staff to move quickly to provide high-quality online study meant most international students continued their studies with UTAS.

“A small number have withdrawn, however we have been clear that the greater challenge will be in the number of students who cannot enrol in the future.”

Meanwhile St Vincent de Paul says it and other charities are feeding, clothing and helping to house stranded temporary visa holders, including foreign students and fruit pickers.

St Vincent de Paul Society state president Mark Gaetani, said the society distributed hundreds of blankets and warm clothes in winter to seasonal workers who could not return to their home countries at the end of the picking season.

“There are around 26,000 temporary visa holders living in Tasmania, some of whom have had to call on Vinnies for support,” Mr Gaetani said.

“From the beginning of April to the end of August we have assisted 459 temporary visa holders, with the significant number of these being international students and their families.”

Most of that assistance has been provided in Hobart.

“While the Tasmanian government’s April announcement of $3m to support temporary visa holders was both generous and welcome, realistically a one-off payment of $250, or up to $1000 for families, did not go very far.”

He said a growing number of international students had asked for help with rent arrears, food vouchers and clothing because their jobs, mostly in hospitality, had disappeared.