Hopes Qld will open door for foreign study at 90 per cent vaxxed

THE Gold Coast’s billion-dollar international education sector is still on tenterhooks – despite rosy forecasts from Study Gold Coast – after the easing of international border restrictions were deferred because of new Covid variant Omicron.

Queensland’s Covid-19 Vaccine Plan to Unite Families promises to let fully vaccinated overseas students arrive without quarantine once 90 per cent of the eligible population aged 16 and over is fully vaccinated. But the Australian government deferred the easing of border restrictions for international students from December 1 until 15 December – though the first international student arrivals hit Sydney on Monday under a special pilot program organised by the NSW state government.

In its latest update late last month, Study Gold Coast said Queensland was still looking forward to welcoming international students back without quarantining at 90 per cent, but that: “This may be subject to change based on further advice from Queensland Health.”

Study Queensland is working with the state and federal governments, QH and the international education and training sector to start returning students following the closure of borders.

Study Gold Coast’s head of partnerships and trade Jennine Tax said the industry was anticipating the state would reach 90 per cent in early January.

“We are hopeful the Premier will soon announce that once we reach the 90 per cent mark that we will then fall into line with the other eastern states, who are already at 90 per cent, and be able to welcome returning and new international students without quarantining,” she said.

Ms Tax said while Queensland was worse off than other states already at 90 per cent, it was better off than it was prior to announcements the sector would open to all students, not just a cap of returning medical and health students. “The announcement means that our providers can now confidently spend their marketing budgets to drive international student enrolments for early next year,” she said.

“It would be fabulous to have more details regarding a specific date and quarantine arrangements and we are hoping to get this clarity soon.

“We are continuing to work with government to reinforce the need for clarity to ensure we can continue to compete with the other states.”