A national survey of more than 5000 international students and 1000 other temporary migrants conducted in July found 70 per cent had lost all or most of their work.
Thousands of international visa holders said they were unable to pay for food and rent and unable to qualify for social security. More than a third have relied on emergency support including charity to meet essential needs.
In the report As if we weren't humans: The abandonment of temporary migrants in Australia during COVID-19, authors University of NSW law Associate Professor Bassina Farbenblum and University of Technology Sydney law Associate Professor Laurie Berg said one in five surveyed said they were not able to return to their home countries because flights were unavailable or unaffordable or because international borders were closed.
Redfern Legal Centre's international student solicitor, Sean Stimson, said the legal centre has seen a growing number of international students "in extremely precarious situations". "In addition to legal advice, many of our clients require immediate referral to crisis accommodation and emergency food relief services,” he said.
"We welcome state government's recent introduction of COVID-19 support packages for international students and temporary migrants, including the international student COVID-19 crisis accommodation scheme."
Read the full article here (Sydney Morning Herald, 17 September 2020)
