10th April 2020, Brisbane - Australia,

 

Scott Morrison MP
Prime Minister

State Parliamentarians
Parliament House
CANBERRA ACT 2600

Dear Hon Scott Morrison and Parliamentarians,

On this day we, the International students residing in Australia, have decided to bring to your attention our concerns about the impacts that the current COVID-19 crisis is having upon our community. We write to you and your colleagues in regards to the statements made by you on the 3rd of April 2020, about the position of International Students currently stranded in Australia. We are concerned about them due to the following:

1.    As you are aware students whom are currently in Australia have been deemed eligible to stay and reside in Australia to undertake study as they comply with all stringent legal and behavioural criteria and outlined visa requirements established by the government. This process is inclusive but not limited to, presentation of required visa documentation, compliance and full fulfillment of educational requirements, antecedents as well as the payment of taxes amongst other things[1]. 

2.    It is worth noting that we, International Students, have the status of “immigrants”, immigrants who have contributed significantly to the economic growth and prosperity of Australia, either through economic labour and at other times contributing to scientific research. We comprise 29.99% of the entire Australian population[2]. 

3.    International Students also contribute and have given Australia its positive international reputation which has inspired and motivated others from various countries to pursue and materialize their dreams of educational training in Australia[3]. However, it is with great clarity we can observe that most of the students that come to study here must make significant financial efforts, hoping to fulfil our personal and educational dreams. In order to give context to what is being stated we exhibit the following:  (images attached in the original letter)

4.    International students in this country make a significant economic investment to study in Australia under the premise that we will receive quality educational training. Therefore, we are expecting to receive such excellent services from educational institutions under the terms and conditions outlined and enforced upon us when payments and enrolments are made. The average monthly payment per international student[4] for VET vocational courses ranges from $1500 to $1200 AUD per term. English courses are $1000 or more and for other courses and studies to specialize or post-graduate study degrees can cost up to $12,000 to 30,000 per semester or trimester.

These payments and costs include face-to-face classes, access to and use of facilities such as classrooms and campuses, as well as complementary activities, study rooms, libraries, study cubicles, extra classes, academic and recreational events and spaces and in some cases sports facilities.

Nevertheless, at this moment, classes are being carried out virtually, without them being under any surveillance, regulation or supervision on your government’s behalf. We mean to call your attention upon the numerous instances where classes are of poor quality and do not meet the expectations or excellence agreed upon on the service contract. In many cases educational institutions are not complying with the hourly intensity that was agreed upon between parties from the beginning or prior to commencing classes. There have been cases where delivery of classes of 4 hours a day, 5 days a week has been replaced by half-hour classes, twice a week.

Adding to these arguments it is important to note that the very reason why international students find themselves in Australia (under all of the current struggles) is because this contract required us to physically be in the country and sit face to face classes in order to obtain our titles.

By virtue of the foregoing, we mean to state that the current rates being charged by educational institutions should be adjusted to the material reality that we are experiencing. In other words, we are of the position that it is irrational for an educational institution to charge the same price for virtual classes as for face-to-face lessons.

5.    The Australian Government has stated that if International Students have been in the country for less than a year and “If they are not in a position to sustain themselves, then there is the alternative of returning to their countries of origin”. However, what was unclear and overlooked was exactly how international students are going to return to their countries of origin, since many countries are still in quarantine and countries that are necessary stopovers to reach respective destinations have closed their boarders not permitting entry or stopovers and thus making this advice difficult to put into action.

Moreover, what is making the current situation more demanding for many International Students is the fact that the COVID-19 pandemic has become a global humanitarian crisis and has affected everyone around the world[5].  This is inclusive of our families back in our respective homelands, which in many cases have also found themselves in distressing positions, thus having to utilise the money presented by us as mode of economic support in our visa application, situation which we deem completely justifiable. Many of our relatives have also lost their jobs, resulting in a reduction in income and an inability for us to receive assistance from them to sustain ourselves to live here or purchase return flights home where it is still viable.

In light of the aforementioned it is evident that, for many international students like ourselves, it is impossible to rely on the financial support of our families to cover our monthly expenses and general living costs for the time being.

6.    On the other hand, in terms of medical coverage, it is well known that it is private in nature, meaning that it is the student’s responsibility to cover any medical expenses whenever medical aid is required. Nevertheless, there are instances where International Students have been affected by COVID-19, and have lost their employment or stopped earning an income due to complying with compulsory quarantine requirements. This leaves students without support to have their basic needs met during obligatory isolation.

7.    We want to make it clear that we are NOT asking for money nor seeking financial assistance, but instead looking for guarantees, support and endorsement from the Australian Government. We do NOT wish to be labelled as a burden since we are well aware of our present migration situation, and would also like to remind the Government that for at least the past decade, migrants and International students have been Australia’s third largest export, contributing to the financial prosperity of the country.

We would also like to take this opportunity to highlight Immigration agent Miguel Mudbidri’s assertions about the crisis: Instructing students to return home makes the Morrison administration appear to be “a government that is only interested in your money in good times and when things get tough…they just take shape…”. In addition to this he stated that overlooking the needs and failing to consider the requests of International students will have long-term economic and diplomatic consequences.

For all the above concerns mentioned, we suggest that the government regards the following request[6]:

Ensure that all educational institutions that offer and provide services to International students are regulated, supervised and controlled with the goal of having fees adjusted to suit the reality of the service they are currently providing, as well as yielding refunds to students whom are undertaking English classes from various institutions, including Tafe, since the contracts subscribed between students and institutions indicate face to face classes, condition which is not being upheld and which carries a breach in the contract on the part of educational entities. It is important that we point out that English courses, as well as VET ones, have been paid in full for the initial term of the student visa. 

We are fully aware and conscious of the fact that the educational institutions are not complying with the terms initially agreed upon and outlined in the contracts due to the present ongoing COVID-19 pandemic crisis. However, it is not logical or fair to have international students assume the greatest economic burden of the crisis in all cases that have been indicated in this letter, especially since these circumstances have been beyond our control and are not a consequence of our actions.

To further illustrate and highlight this point, we provide the following example that is not too distant from current reality for many students.

If an International Student paid $200 a week for an English course and the duration of the course is 6 months, the logical concession, and a great relief, would be to refund the student with $100 per week based on what has been asserted above in this letter.

              I.         As stated in point 4 of this paper if, by the end of April 2020, life in Australia has not normalised from the COVID-19 crisis and continues with current isolation measures, classes should be suspended without any further charges to students until regularity returns to the country and a quality educational service that is representative of the fees paid, is guaranteed.

             II.         That these same institutions be regulated in case a student is bound to abandon classes and return to their country of origin. Educational Institutions should not continue to charge any fees or obligate the student to attend extra classes, or turn in assessments under the excuse that it is a VISA requirement, thus ceasing to add extra charges to those who are managing to make their way back home.

           III.         We recommend that the necessary steps be taken to achieve a flexibility in leasing contract cancellations for both Real Estate agencies and individuals renting rooms or any other living space, so that, Students are not subject to economic or legal sanctions if they manage to return home, and that the full value of bond is reimbursed[7].

           IV.         In order to remain in the national territory legally, we recommend that the Australian Government arranges a special visa that is free and humanitarian in character. This visa allows international students to settle our immigration status for equally humanitarian reasons and allows us to work until normalcy is restored and or when the conditions of international transit to our countries of origin are reopened.  Moreover, we would advise that public immigration processes be provided at no cost in order to be able to acquire the humanitarian visa efficiently, effectively and expeditiously.

These recommendations are the bare minimum required to ensure we are able to continue to meet and fulfill our ongoing obligations[8], otherwise we will have no way to pay schools or universities because as dictated by laws of logic and survival, students will prioritize meeting basic human needs (as are shelter and food), over school obligations. Many of us are already in this situation and have painfully decided to use our financial resources in food and paying for our rent instead of paying fees at institutions which are not delivering what they offer. Those of us who have not yet gotten to said situation, declare that from this day forth, we will not be able to continue to make these payments unless these recommended measures have been implemented, helping us endure the uncertainty ahead in the same way that we have assisted the economy of this nation which we admire and appreciate so much.

Sincerely, 

International Students Australia.

 

"Migrants are not only workers, they are also human beings”[9]

 

[1] Requirements vary from country to country
[2] https://datosmacro.expansion.com/demografia/migracion/inmigracion/australia
[3] https://theconversation.com/without-international-students-australias-universities-will-downsize-and-some-might-collapse-altogether-132869
[4] https://saltaexperience.com/cuanto-cuesta-estudiar-y-trabajar-en-australia/
[5] https://www.sbs.com.au/language/spanish/coronavirus-estudiantes-internacionales-desesperados-son-acogidos-gratis-en-una-casa-particular?fbclid=IwAR3DoRfHhrRym3LjpOayxfbBIgkF9XeKKzYwI0zZJB3_MYhH1LEkoNvTgCI
[6] https://theconversation.com/why-temporary-migrants-need-jobkeeper-135688
[7] The flexibility of these contracts would be supported by the fact that Australian companies are receiving support from the state to maintain their employees with the usual salaries, so as not to generate more problems, so facilitating the mode of operation of these we would not be severely affecting the economy since that we are looking for resources to stay afloat during this crisis.
[8] https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/melbourne-city-council-pledges-financial-support-for-foreign-students-20200408-p54i63.html
[9] The United Nations Convention on the Rights of Migrants