Academia International in Melbourne and Brisbane
Our response to COVID-19!

International students who are studying and working in Australia may be able to access financial assistance if they are:

1. Required to self-isolate or are caring for someone with COVID-19 (Pandemic Leave Disaster Payment) or
2. Adversely affected by state public health order and are required to be in lockdown for more than seven days (COVID-19 Disaster Payment)

Current Brisbane students might be eligible to apply https://www.servicesaustralia.gov.au/individuals/services/centrelink/covid-19-disaster-payment-queensland

Current Melbourne students might be eligible to apply https://www.servicesaustralia.gov.au/individuals/services/centrelink/covid-19-disaster-payment/who-can-get-it/victoria-eligibility-rules

The Victorian Government is making sure international students are not left behind, providing a dedicated boost to hardship payments and emergency food relief for our state’s most vulnerable.

More support will be delivered to help international students access the food and groceries they need for free with a $4.5 million boost to expand food relief. With support from Study Melbourne, FoodBank will continue to provide food aid through the International Student Pop-Up Supermarket and other channels until the end of December 2021.

The Victorian Government has also extended the Red Cross Extreme Hardship Support Program to the end of October 2021. Students who are experiencing hardship may be eligible for financial assistance through this program, which is available to international students in Victoria, including those who have previously received a payment from the International Student Emergency Relief Fund.

Study Melbourne continues to provide help and support through our dedicated COVID-19 support hub. We encourage you to share this resource with your students.

International students in Victoria can access other support, including:

1. utility relief grants to help pay overdue bills
2. help to find work through the Jobs Victoria online hub
3. a directory of community support and food relief
4. access to free legal advice on accommodation and employment matters
5. confidential support and practical help through the Study Melbourne Student Centre

Free COVID-19 vaccines are available to everyone in Australia, including to all Australian visa holders living in the community.

This will include:

1. all permanent and temporary visa holders
2. refugees
3. asylum seekers
4. temporary protection visa holders, and
5. bridging visa holders.
6. People living in detention facilities will also be eligible.
7. bridging visa holders.

For more information about the COVID-19 vaccine program, see the Department of Health website: https://covid19.homeaffairs.gov.au/health-and-vaccine

1. If you are concerned you may have COVID-19, use the symptom checker on healthdirect

1. Good hygiene including:
1. covering your coughs and sneezes with your elbow or a tissue
2. disposing of tissues properly
3. washing your hands often with soap and water, including before and after eating and after going to the toilet
4. using alcohol-based hand sanitisers
5. cleaning and disinfecting surfaces
6. if you are sick, avoiding contact with others and staying more than 1.5 metres away from people
7. cleaning and sanitising frequently used objects such as mobiles, keys and wallets
2. Social distancing:
1. Households
2. Practice good hand and cough/sneeze hygiene
3. Avoid handshaking and other physical greetings
4. Regularly clean shared high-touch surfaces, such as tables, kitchen benches and doorknobs
5. Increase the amount of fresh air by opening windows or adjusting air conditioning
6. Buy more goods and services online so you limit visits to the shop
7. Consider what travel and outings are necessary, both individual and family, and go to open places such as parks
2. Social distancing in the workplace
1. Stay at home if you are sick
2. Consider if large gatherings can be rescheduled, staggered or cancelled
3. Stop handshaking and other physical greetings
4. Hold meetings via video conferencing or phone call
5. Reconsider non-essential business travel
6. Defer large face-to-face meetings
7. Hold essential meetings outside in the open air if possible
8. Promote good hand and cough/sneeze hygiene and provide hand sanitisers for all staff and workers
9. Take lunch outside rather than in the lunch room
10. Clean and disinfect shared high-touch surfaces regularly
11. Consider opening windows and adjusting air conditioning for more fresh air
12. Limit food handling and shared food in the workplace
13. Promote strictest hygiene among food preparation (canteen) staff and their close contacts

1. For questions about testing or patient welfare, call the Coronavirus Health Information Line on 1800 020 080.

1. Yes, we have launched online study utilising our proven Academia Learning Management System that we have been operating since 2015 and how have extended to include live lecture streaming that is also recorded for later playback

1. Academia has transitioned to online to minimise the need for students to come to campus during the pandemic. However, you are still welcome on campus, except in the following circumstances:
1. You are subject to any of the travel or quarantine restrictions imposed by the Australian Government, as outlined here.
2. You have come in close contact with a confirmed case of the COVID-19 virus within the last 14 days.
3. You are experiencing flu-like symptoms.

1. Yes - contact our Academia Services team AcademicServices@academia21.com to find out how

1. Academia will provide the mandatory hours of placement arrangement next in the future, we will place you as soon as we can.
2. This may be reduced contact hours due to limitation at the time of availability. We will update and discuss with you at that stage.
3. If it affects your study duration you may need to extend it. The Australian Government is considering waving visa extension fees. We will inform our students if and when this takes place.

1. Academia’s academic services team has contacted every student with their revised timetable deferring your practical class.
2. The majority of students who were to study practical classes will be scheduled to attend theory studies brought forward from a later component of your course.
3. Once Government allows us to return to practical studies you will be contacted with your new training schedule now encompassing your practical units of study.
4. Contact AcademicServices@academia21.com if you require further information

1. Online delivery will continue as well as facilitated through live and interactive lectures and tutorials
2. Academia International will follow the advice from the relevant authorities (e.g. Department of Health) in when to return to class room studies.

1. Academia International cannot support your internet connection, please contact your internet service provider for that support
2. For Learning Management System (LMS) support, please call 03 9671 4755 or email ithelpdesk@academia21.com
3. For device support (e.g. Academia laptops), please call 03 9671 4755 or email ithelpdesk@academia21.com

1. Yes, you can apply your student visa extension as normal case, as long as you have active enrolment and COE(s).

1. If you want to withdraw please complete this form
2. International students, please leave Australia within 28 days from the withdrawal date.

1. Yes, simply complete the enquiry form

1. Yes you can for later intakes where we expect Australia will reopen its borders for international travel. For our 2021 and 2022 intake dates see: https://www.academia21.com/future-students/VET-and-english-courses-start-dates

1. Due to the Coronavirus Pandemic Australia has closed its borders for the time being. For updates see https://covid19.homeaffairs.gov.au/travel-restrictions
2. Even so you can commence part of your studies online - To find out more contact our Academia Services team AcademicServices@academia21.com to find out how
3. Note - By commencing part of your studies online to continue studies in Australia once our borders reopen, you still need to meet the student visa requirements as per the Australian Student visa eligibility requirements see https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/getting-a-visa/visa-listing/student-500. If you cannot continue studies in Australia you only pay for the delivered online studies on a prorata basis.

1. You can also call us on (03) 9671 4755 or email info@academia21.com

1. We are offering MORE flexible payment plans if required. Please contact our Accounts Department – accounts@academia21.com

1. Complete the Australian Government Department of Health COVID-19 Infection Control Training at https://covid-19training.gov.au/ and receive a certificate to show prospective employers
2. Obtain a self-declaration form from Academia International to show your employer

1. Coles https://www.colescareers.com.au/
2. Woolworths https://www.wowcareers.com.au/
3. Telstra https://careers.telstra.com/home
4. BHP https://careers.bhp.com/careers/SearchJobs
5. Cleaners
6. Nurses
7. Call Centre operators
8. Aged Care workers
9. Delivery drivers
10. https://joboutlook.gov.au/ a resource to see industries currently hiring

1. Yes, student visa holder still restricted to working 40 hours fortnight except meet the following 2 special arrangements:
1. Australia’s major supermarkets will temporarily be able to offer more hours to international student employees to help keep shelves stocked.
2. International students ready to fill critical staff shortages in aged care.

https://www.studyinaustralia.gov.au/english/covid-19-resource-hub/student-workplace-rights/workplace-rights