“I am alone. We are social creatures but with the lock-down I have no one to interact with”.

International students in Australia have faced difficult times during the pandemic. Their studies have been disrupted, some have lost valuable part-time work, they face real stress. For those living in Victoria there is the new difficulty of dealing with Stage 4 restrictions and a curfew.

At times Bintang feels alone and she needs other people to be with not just with her dog. She wants to understand more about Australia and make friends. Source: Supplied - Benedicta Bintang Zefanya at her place, Melb 9 Aug 2020.

During the pandemic, the isolation that people can feel when they are away from home has been exacerbated for international students.  Shintia D.W. Randell, a Masters of Marketing Communications student at Melbourne University, Charin Rona Lumban Batu, a Masters in Public Policy student at Melbourne University and Benedicta (Bintang) Zefanya, a Marketing and Media student at Monash University compare their feelings and experiences.    

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The pandemic has made Shintia D.W.Randell anxious and worried about her financial situation since she cannot work part-time. She wishes it all over soon. Source: Supplied - Shintia D.W.Randell / Melb. 7 Aug 2020.