International students arriving in Melbourne won’t be required to quarantine provided they demonstrate they meet vaccination conditions, under the Victorian Government’s Student Arrivals Plan.
Minister for Trade Martin Pakula said the Commonwealth has been formally advised that the Plan has been updated to reflect standard entry requirements for fully-vaccinated international travellers, including international students, in place since 1 November.
International arrivals will need to demonstrate their vaccination status to the Commonwealth with a vaccine registered or recognised by the Australian Therapeutic Goods Administration. Arrivals must also comply with all relevant Commonwealth entry requirements, including visas and travel exemptions.
In order to enter Victoria without quarantine, international arrivals must comply with the Victorian Government’s testing requirements, including testing negative to COVID-19 within 72 hours of their departure.
Victoria’s vaccination conditions echo New South Wales, which recently announced international students will not be required to quarantine if they are fully vaccinated with a TGA recognised vaccine.
Victoria’s plan was endorsed by the Commonwealth Government last month, with the first group of international students planned to arrive in December.
Under the plan, priority has been given to students who need to return to Victoria to do practical work, including research, health and medical students.
The plan provides for the safe return to study in Victoria for international students, and a pipeline for continued arrivals through 2022. Around 49,000 international students enrolled with Victorian education providers remain offshore due to border closures while about 70,000 are currently in Victoria.
A Victorian Government media release said international education was a critical services export and jobs provider for Victoria, contributing a peak of $13.7 billion to the state’s economy and supporting around 79,000 Victorian jobs prior to the pandemic.
To remain connected to offshore students, the Victorian Government has established Study Melbourne Hubs in Shanghai, Kuala Lumpur and Ho Chi Minh City, and virtually in India and Latin America. The hubs provide offshore international students with support and study facilities and promote Victoria as a study destination.
“The amazing vaccination effort of Victorians means fully-vaccinated international arrivals, including students enrolled at our universities and colleges, will not have to serve a period of hotel quarantine,” Mr Pakula said.
“International students add to the cultural richness and diversity of our state. They are valuable members of our community and we look forward to welcoming them back soon.”
For more information, visit coronavirus.vic.gov.au/
