Griffith University asks for clarification on when international students can return to Queensland without quarantine

A Griffith University executive called on the Queensland government to set a deadline to end the mandatory COVID quarantine for fully vaccinated international students.

Griffith’s (Global) Vice President Sarah Todd said she was concerned Queensland was losing students to interstate universities, with NSW and Victoria already abolishing the quarantine for double-vaccinated foreign travelers.

The concern comes after Australia lost international students “en masse” this year, to Canada and the UK.

Professor Todd said Queensland needs to give vaccinated students certainty of when they can fly into the state without needing to quarantine.

“If we could tell the students now, ‘Yes, you can definitely get to Queensland on that date and quarantine won’t be necessary.” That would be great, ”she said.

“Obviously, we are very aware of the health implications.

“But we are also keenly aware of the value of international students to Queensland and the need to be as welcoming as other states.”

Professor Todd and his colleagues at other Queensland universities will meet with state government officials today to discuss the state’s student arrival plan.

The differences between state and federal lines must be “clarified”

The federal government announced this week that international students would be allowed to enter Australia from December 1 without a travel exemption, provided they have received two doses of an approved COVID-19 vaccine and return a negative test not more than 72 hours before their flight. They will still need a student visa.

Fragmented quarantine arrangements across the country for overseas arrivals have confused some international students.

In Queensland, fully vaccinated international arrivals will not be required to self-quarantine once 90% of residents over 16 receive a double dose, which is expected to be by mid-January.

However, the Queensland government has not set a deadline to end the quarantine requirement for overseas arrivals, regardless of the state’s vaccination rate, as it has with relaxation of border requirements between states.

Fully vaccinated interstate travelers will be able to enter Queensland by road or air after 80% of Queenslanders aged 16 and over have received a double dose, or by December 17 at the latest.

Professor Todd said the Queensland-approved student arrival plan was based on a mandatory 14-day quarantine at Wellcamp, near Toowoomba, and a cap of 250 students arriving every fortnight from the start of the day. next year, preference being given to graduates in health.

She said she hoped for an update and “clarification” from today’s meeting, given this week’s federal government announcement.

Besides the fact that international students are a “major source of export income for Queensland,” Professor Todd said they have also brought wealth to the state as a multicultural community.

She said that even if Queensland lifted quarantine requirements, the return of international students would take some time due to the number of seats available on planes.

Griffith University Vice Chancellor Carolyn Evans said the federal government’s announcement would be welcomed by international students.

“This is an opportune time for us to work with the Queensland government to ensure that Queensland maximizes the economic and social benefits of the announcement,” said Professor Evans.

Asked about the possibility of relaxing the quarantine for international students, a spokeswoman for Queensland Health said the risks associated with overseas travelers had not changed.

“We understand that border restrictions and quarantine requirements are tough, but it only takes one person with COVID-19 to trigger a cluster in our community,” the spokesperson said.

“When 90% of the eligible Queensland population is fully vaccinated, an international traveler will have no restrictions placed on entering Queensland and no quarantine will be required if fully vaccinated.”