The International Student Hub has been formed by grassroots collaboration between more than 50 organisations including civic groups, non-profits, community associations and education industry representatives. The idea for the hub came to life in response to the humanitarian crisis caused by the Federal Government’s response to Coronavirus, which left hundreds of thousands of students without work, income or means to support themselves.

The Sydney Hub aims to support students suffering from issues such as wage exploitation, low accommodation standards and social isolation; while empowering students to have transformational experiences during their studies in Australia. Unlike other hubs in Australia, the Sydney International Student Hub is entirely driven and powered by students and volunteer members of the Australian civic societies.

While other states have been running Support Hubs for International Students via government led initiatives, NSW surprisingly has not had a student hub, despite benefiting from hosting the highest number (approx. 37%) of international students in Australia.

Diana Olmos, a former international student from Colombia, and International Student Community Organiser from Sydney Alliance has been pivotal in the formation of the Hub.

“It’s more important than ever that we give students a voice and a space in this city to help ensure their experience in Australia is positive and life-changing. The Hub is not just a place for students to share their problems, but a place where we can engage in capacity building, social cohesion between people on visas and citizens, leadership workshops and meaningful projects to enhance the student experience in this city”.

Following a thorough and independent review of Pfizer’s submission, the TGA has decided that this vaccine meets the high safety, efficacy and quality standards required for use in Australia.

COMIRNATY is provisionally approved and included in the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods (ARTG) for active immunisation to prevent coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), caused by SARS-CoV-2, in individuals 16 years of age and older.

Provisional approval of this vaccine is valid for two years and means it can now be legally supplied in Australia. The approval is subject to certain strict conditions, such as the requirement for Pfizer to continue providing information to the TGA on longer term efficacy and safety from ongoing clinical trials and post-market assessment. COMIRNATY has been shown to prevent COVID-19 however it is not yet known whether it prevents transmission or asymptomatic disease.

Australians can be confident that the TGA’s review process of this vaccine was rigorous and of the highest standard. The decision to provisionally approve the vaccine was also informed by expert advice from the Advisory Committee on Vaccines (ACV), an independent committee with expertise in scientific, medical and clinical fields including consumer representation.

The TGA will continue to actively monitor the safety of the Pfizer vaccine both in Australia and overseas and will not hesitate to take action if safety concerns are identified. As an extra check, the TGA laboratories will undertake batch assessment of each batch of the vaccine before it can be supplied in Australia.

The TGA has published a series of regulatory documents that relate to this decision, including the Australian Public Assessment Report (AusPAR) and the decision summary, which provide details about the evidence that the TGA reviewed to support the provisional approval of the vaccine. The Product Information, FAQs and information on labelling and batch testing are also available on the COVID-19 vaccines hub.

Further information on the COVID-19 vaccine rollout is available on the Department of Health website(link is external).

Australia Day marks the date of the arrival of the first British fleet in Australia in 1788. The fleet arrived at Port Jackson – now Circular Quay in Sydney. Governor Arthur Philip raised the British flag and a penal colony was founded.

January 26th is the day Australia was officially recognised as British, not the date of its discovery. It is widely claimed that Australia was “discovered” eighteen years earlier, in 1770, by Lieutenant James Cook but in actual fact there is evidence of other explorers many hundreds of years earlier. 

Australia Day has been named differently through history: Anniversary Day, Foundation Day, ANA Day… Australia Day grew in popularity in the late 1980s and it was (only) in 1994 that all Australian states and territories embraced January 26th as a national holiday.

These changes are designed to encourage people to study and live in Australia’s many regional areas.  Go Study loves regional areas, there are plenty of job opportunities and that’s where you will get the ‘real’ Aussie experience.  Talk to us today to discuss your study options.

Once you leave Australia, you’re eligible to claim back your superannuation refund.

Superannuation funds, sometimes referred to as ‘super funds’, are a type of long-term savings plan designed to help Australian people in retirement.

It’s a legal obligation for the employer of anyone earning more than $450 dollars a month to pay the equivalent of 9.5% of their salary into a super fund every month. This does not come out of your wages but is an additional cost paid by your employer. The good news is that once you leave Australia, you’re entitled to claim this money back.

If you don’t plan on retiring in Australia and have every intention of leaving, you can still claim some of it back after you’ve left the country. Superannuation refunds can be a hefty sum, with Taxback.com super refunds averaging at AU$1908.

COVID-19 and Early Superannuation release – are temporary residents eligible?

The COVID-19 early release of super program allows eligible applicants to access some of their super early, to help them deal with the adverse economic effects of COVID-19.

Eligible individuals are able to access up to $10,000 of their superannuation in the 2019-20 financial year and a further $10,000 in 2020-21 financial year.

Unfortunately temporary resident visa holders are not eligible to apply for COVID-19 early release of super after 30 June 2020 or if they have left Australia.

How do I claim it back?

Once you’ve left Australia and your visa has expired, you can apply to the Australian Tax Office (ATO) for your super. Taxback.com can help you get your super back and even help get your visa cancelled for you if it hasn’t expired!

It’s important to note that if you are a working holidaymaker on either a 417 or 462 visa, and your Departing Australia Superannuation Payment is processed on or after 1 July 2017, your superannuation refund will be taxed at a rate of 65%, meaning you would only get 35% of your total super benefit back. If you are on any other visa, your super refund will still be taxed at 35% and you would be entitled to 65% of your benefit. 

Yes, paying tax on your refund is a pain but you’ll still get a substantial amount and average super refund is AUD 1908!

I left Australia years ago and never claimed my super. Is it too late to get it back?

No! You can still claim it!

Generally if you haven’t claimed it for 6 months after you depart Australia, your super fund will request for it to be transferred to the ATO who will hold it for you until you claim it. So as long as you’ve left the country and your visa has ceased to be in effect, you can apply for it back.

How much will I get back?

It depends on the type of fund, how long you worked in Australia, and what contributions your employer made. The average super Taxback.com get back for their clients is AU$1908! You can get a free estimate here.

How much do I need to pay and how long does it take?

Time-wise process may take 2-3 months or less depending on the superannuation fund you are with! Taxback.com charge 20% + handling fee of the amount processed by the relevant tax office. Refunds below AUD$1000 will be subject to a minimum fee of AUD 124 + handling fee. Good news is that you can have your refund deposited into any bank account of your choice and you don’t have to worry about cashing cheques!

CLAIM YOUR SUPERANNUATION REFUND TODAY!

Along with online delivery, the RSA program will also be nationally recognised allowing for greater employment flexibility in licensed venues when borders reopen.

Minister for Gaming and Liquor Regulation, Melissa Horne today announced the change will begin from 12 October as part of an ongoing Victorian Government commitment to cut red tape and help Victorians find work in the hospitality sector.

The online training module will make RSA training more accessible, particularly for those who require flexible arrangements due to coronavirus restrictions, work commitments, or who live in rural areas.

When the interstate borders open again, Victorians who have undertaken the nationally accredited course will have their RSA certificate more easily recognised in other states and territories. 

Similarly, anyone with an RSA certificate issued in another state or territory will have their qualifications recognised in Victoria, provided they complete a free online refresher course to ensure they are familiar with Victorian liquor laws.

RSA training is mandatory for anyone who works in the hospitality industry and intends to sell or serve alcohol with general, on-premises, late night, and packaged liquor licenses.

Those who hold a current Victorian RSA certificate will not be required to complete the nationally recognised certificate to continue working in Victorian licensed venues. 

For more information on the changes to RSA training visit vcglr.vic.gov.au. 

Quotes attributable to Minister for Gaming and Liquor Regulation Melissa Horne 

“Moving to new online, nationally recognised RSA training will give Victorians more ability to upskill from home while planning to return to work, in a steady and sustainable way.”

“The difficulty of relying solely on face-to-face learning has been highlighted during the coronavirus pandemic – this change will make it easier for training organisations to deliver the course, and those in the hospitality industry to complete their RSA training.”

In order to have access to the service you must meet the following conditions:

New rules for Australia student visa 2020 were announced while the closure of our international borders has been critical to our success in slowing the spread of the coronavirus, and Australia has been a leader in this regard, it has presented challenges to the education sector and students, both here and offshore.

These five visa changes will ensure international students are not worse off due to the coronavirus pandemic and that Australia remains competitive with other countries. 

The changes include:

“We are a welcoming nation with a world-class education system and some of the lowest rates of COVID-19 in the world. Students want to study here and we want to welcome them back in a safe and measured way when it is safe to do so.

Ben Bagshaw , Global Sales and Marketing Director at Greenwich English College , outlined some of the measures that Go Study Australia has taken to support clients during Covid-19, including: a series of videos about visa rules in partnership with a migration agent; regular e-books with updated blogs in multiple languages; engagement with the International Student Education Agents’ Association (ISEAA); guidance to school partners on strategy; and webinars still promoting Australia as a destination.

“They have contacted accommodation partners to arrange free temporary accommodation for students who have been unable to support themselves,” he said. “They have actively worked with colleges to create flexible packages with exceptionally favourable cancellation terms so students can enrol in courses with full knowledge that if they need to cancel or defer they can do so without penalty.”

He added, “I guess you can say they are being very proactive and leading the charge in supporting students and supporting industry partners. It’s been a rough six months for education in Australia, but agencies like Go Study Australia showcase that, more than ever, our industry needs innovative education agents committed to supporting students and colleges.”

Simon Costain , General Manager at Go Study Australia, said in response that the school has managed the situation very well and had been very flexible and understanding in supporting students.

It is wonderful to see the efforts of Go study’s global team recognised by the wider education industry. We will continue to support all students and travellers in need during this time.