International students and COVID-19

While some students travelled back to their home countries in the early days of the pandemic, it seems that international students will return to Canberra as early as July. With the pandemic likely to continue to have a significant impact on the education sector going forward, it’s more important than ever to ensure that international students have access to key information.

That’s why the SBS Learn Guide for International Students exists. Resources are available in seven different languages including;

• Mandarin (Simplified Chinese)
• Portuguese
• Nepali
• Hindi
• Malay
• Vietnamese
• English

The guide provides important information about finding housing, work rights, employment rights, health and safety and advice from other international students. Resources are available in multiple formats with both fact sheets and videos to help students easily access the information they need.

Videos featuring a group of international students provide first-hand accounts of what living and studying in Australia is like. Arslan, a student from Pakistan advises international students to, “Know your plan, why you want to go to Australia” and “make sure you know all the rules and regulations.”

With rapidly changing rules during the pandemic, it’s crucial to ensure that international students have access to the information they need.

People in Australia must stay at least 1.5 metres away from others. Check your state’s restrictions on gathering limits.

Testing for coronavirus is now widely available across Australia. If you are experiencing cold or flu symptoms, arrange a test by calling your doctor or contact the Coronavirus Health Information Hotline on 1800 020 080. The federal government’s coronavirus tracing app COVIDSafe is available for download from your phone’s app store.

SBS is committed to informing Australia’s diverse communities about the latest COVID-19 developments. News and information is available in 63 languages at sbs.com.au/coronavirus