Covid-19 support now available for international students in Australia

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Student Visa Fee Waiver announced 19/01/2022

Today 19/01/2022, The Australian Government has announced an incentive for Student visa holders to return to Australia as soon as possible to help address current workforce shortages caused by COVID-19. 

Any Student visa holder who is currently OFFSHORE and travels to Australia between 19 January and 19 March 2022, will be eligible for a refund of their visa application charge. Students will be able to apply for a refund up until 31 December 2022. Details of how to apply for a refund will be available shortly on the Department of Home Affairs website. 

For information about travelling to Australia, refer here. 

If you want to be exempt from the visa fee application then hurry! We're ready to assist with your enrolment & student visa inquiries. 

The Study Online Australia team, Pavla

The current lockdown situation in Australia has greatly impacted the lives of many international students across the country with many unable to work or attend class. 

During this time, it’s more important than ever before to keep your mental health and wellbeing in check. That’s why Study Online Australia wants to make sure that you have the help, information and support you need.

Below, we’ve rounded up the Covid-19 support currently available from the Australian government from free food hampers to financial aid.

Covid-19 Disaster Payment

If you are subject to a restricted movement order for more than 7 days in New South Wales, then you may be eligible to receive the Covid-19 Disaster Payment. You can claim for parts of Sydney from July 1 and Greater Sydney from July 4.

This is a one-off lump sum payment to help international students unable to earn an income due to a Covid-19 lockdown, hotspot or period of restricted movement that lasts more than 7 days. The amount of money you can receive will depend upon your personal situation.

If you are eligible for Covid-19 Disaster Payment, then you will receive the below:

• If you lost less than 20 hours of work then you will receive $325 for each recognised event.
  
  
• If you lost 20 hours or more of work then you will receive $500 for each recognised event.

The Covid-19 Disaster Payment is a taxable payment which means you’ll need to include it in your income tax return. For further information on how to lodge your tax return, visit our expert guide. 

Can I apply for Covid-19 Disaster Payment?

Not everyone is eligible to receive Covid-19 Disaster Payment and it is crucial that the information you provide is true and correct.

You may be eligible to receive Covid-19 Disaster Payment if you meet all of the following criteria:

• You can’t attend work and lost income on or after day 8 of a Covid-19 restriction of movement event
• You don’t have access to appropriate paid leave entitlements through your employer
• You’re not receiving an income support payment, a state or territory pandemic payment, Pandemic Leave Disaster Payment or state small business payment during the same period

How do I apply for Covid-19 Disaster Payment?

International students need to call 180 22 66 in order to make a claim. Phone lines are open Monday to Friday between 8am to 5pm. There is also the option to call the multilingual phone service on 131 202 if you would like to make a claim in your own language. 

Pandemic Leave Disaster Payment

Pandemic Leave Disaster Payment is designed to support international students who can’t earn an income because they must self-isolate, quarantine or care for someone with Covid-19. 

This package is currently available for eligible students in New South Wales, Australian Capital Territory, Queensland and South Australia. If you meet the criteria and are accepted, you will be paid $1,500 for each 14 day period in which you have been told to self-isolate, quarantine or are caring for someone with Covid-19.

Image by Chris Montgomery for Unsplash

How do I claim my Pandemic Leave Disaster Payment?

If you would like to apply for Pandemic Leave Disaster Payment, you can either call 180 22 66 to make a claim or print and complete the Claim for Pandemic Leave Disaster Payment form and fax it to 1300 727 760. This can be found on the official Australian Government website.

You must make sure the information you give is true and correct.

Who is eligible for Pandemic Leave Disaster Payment in New South Wales?

You may be eligible if NSW Health has told you to self-isolate or quarantine.  

In order to be eligible to receive payment, you need to meet the below criteria:

• You have Covid-19
• You’ve been in close contact with a person who has Covid-19
• You care for a child, 16 years or under, who has Covid-19
• You care for a child, 16 years or under, who’s been in close contact with a person who has Covid-19.
  
  

You must also meet all of the following criteria:

• You’re at least 17-years-old and live in New South Wales
• You hold a visa that gives you the right to work in Australia
• You're unable to go to work and earn an income
• You have no appropriate leave entitlements, including pandemic sick leave, personal leave or leave to care for another person
• Your period of quarantine is after September 17, 2020.
  
  

If you’re a member of a couple, you can both claim this payment but you and your partner will need to complete separate claims.

Who is eligible for Pandemic Leave Disaster Payment in Australian Capital Territory?

You may be eligible if ACT Health has told you to self-isolate or quarantine. 

In order to be eligible to receive payment, you need to meet the below criteria:
​

• You have Covid-19
• You’ve been in close contact with a person who has Covid-19
• You care for a child, 16 years or under, who has Covid-19
• You care for a child, 16 years or under, who’s been in close contact with a person who has Covid-19

You must also meet all of the following criteria:

• You’re at least 17-years-old and live in the Australian Capital Territory
• You hold a visa that gives you the right to work in Australia
• You're unable to go to work and earn an income
• You have no sick leave entitlements, including pandemic sick leave, personal leave or leave to care for another person

Who is eligible for Pandemic Leave Disaster Payment in Queensland?

You may be eligible if a health official, from Queensland Health or a state/regional department of health, has told you to self-isolate or quarantine. 

In order to be eligible to receive payment, you need to meet the below criteria:

• You have Covid-19
• You’ve been in close contact with a person who has Covid-19
• You care for a child, 16 years or under, who has Covid-19
• You care for a child, 16 years or under, who’s been in close contact with a person who has Covid-19
  
  

You must also meet all of the following criteria:

• You’re at least 17-years-old and live in Queensland
• You hold a visa that gives you the right to work in Australia
• You're unable to go to work and earn an income
• You have no appropriate leave entitlements, including pandemic sick leave, personal leave or leave to care for another person
• Your period of quarantine is after October 7, 2020​

Who is eligible for Pandemic Leave Disaster Payment in South Australia?

You may be eligible if a health official has told you to self-isolate or quarantine. They need to give you these directions for any of the following reasons:
​

• You have Covid-19
• You’ve been in close contact with a person who has Covid-19
• You care for a child, 16 years or under, who has Covid-19
• You care for a child, 16 years or under, who’s been in close contact with a person who has Covid-19

The Pandemic Leave Disaster Payment replaces the South Australian Paid Pandemic Leave Scheme in the above circumstances.

You must also meet all of the following criteria:

• You’re at least 17-years-old and live in South Australia
• You hold a visa that gives you the right to work in Australia
• You're unable to go to work and earn an income
• You have no appropriate leave entitlements, including pandemic sick leave, personal leave or leave to care for another person
• Your period of quarantine is after September 10, 2020

Who is eligible for Pandemic Leave Disaster Payment in Melbourne? 

You may be eligible if the Victorian Department of Health and Human Services or one of their agents has told you to self-isolate or quarantine. 

They need to have told you to self-isolate or quarantine for one of the following reasons:

• You have Covid-19
• You’ve been in close contact with a person who has Covid-19, including being at a Tier 1 exposure site
• You care for a child, 16 years or younger, who has Covid-19
• You care for a child, 16 years or younger, who’s been in close contact with a person who has Covid-19, including being at a Tier 1 exposure site
  
  

You must also meet the following criteria:

• You’re at least 17-years-old
• You hold a visa that gives you the right to work in Australia
• You're unable to go to work and earn an income
• Your quarantine period or caring is on or after July 5, 2020
• You have no appropriate leave entitlements, including pandemic sick leave, personal leave or leave to care for another person.

Who is eligible for Pandemic Leave Disaster Payment in Western Australia? 

You may be eligible if WA Health has told you to self-isolate or quarantine. They need to give you these directions for any of the following reasons:

• You have Covid-19
• You’ve been in close contact with a person who has Covid-19
• You care for a child, 16 years or under, who has Covid-19
• You care for a child, 16 years or under, who’s been in close contact with a person who has Covid-19
  ​

You must also meet the following criteria:

• You’re at least 17-years-old and live in Western Australia
• You hold a visa that gives you the right to work in Australia
• You're unable to go to work and earn an income
• You have no appropriate leave entitlements, including pandemic sick leave, personal leave or leave to care for another person.
• Your period of quarantine is after September 11, 2020

Visit the official Australian government website to learn more about the Pandemic Leave Disaster Payment.

Free 15kg food hampers for international students in New South Wales

Study NSW has partnered with Foodbank NSW & ACT to provide free food hampers to international students in New South Wales.

The hampers will be distributed at locations in Sydney, Newcastle, Wollongong, Armidale, Lismore, Port Macquarie and Coffs Harbour. The hampers will include a variety of foods such as cereal, milk, fruit and vegetables.

To access your hamper, follow the below steps:

1. Call Food Bank on (02) 9756 3099 or complete the Foodbank form
   
   
2. State that you are an international student and provide your suburb, then ask for the distribution point closest to you
   
   
3. Make sure to have a copy of your student visa and student card with you when you collect the hamper

You can find further emergency food assistance support on the official New South Wales government website.

Image by Mira Kireeva via Unsplash

Free legal advice

Understanding your legal rights is especially important during Covid-19. The My Legal Mate App offers international students in New South Wales access to free and confidential legal information.

The app covers the four biggest legal areas for international students: employment, housing, disputes with education providers and sexual assault. The aim is to help students with urgent legal problems such as underpayment at work or accommodation issues. 

My Legal Mate is available to international students in English and six other languages including Korean, Portuguese, Thai and Vietnamese.  

How do I download My Legal Mate?

• Complete the Study NSW sign up form
  
  

• Practera will send you a ‘Welcome & Register’ email within 24 hours with a link to access the app

Learn more about My Legal Mate on the official New South Wales government website.

Image by @kellysikkema

Covid-19: Essential mental health resources  

It’s a difficult time for international students but there are organisations, services and resources available to help support you during this time. 

Below, find a list of recommended mental health and wellbeing apps, helplines and websites which you can pass along to your friends.

Headspace

There are lots of tips on looking after your mental health during this time on the Headspace website.  

Beyond Blue

Counsellors are available 24 hours a day at Beyond Blue. You can find further information on looking after your mental health during Covid-19 on their website. 

National Coronavirus Helpline

You can find a handy list of Covid-19 resources in other languages on the Australian Government Department of Health website.

Visit the International Student Welfare Services Hub for further information on where to find free mental health resources in Australia.