The COVID-19 vaccination are going to be free for all Medicare-eligible Australians and every one visa-holders, including student visa holders (subclass 500). (As on January 27, 2021; source: Australian COVID-19 vaccination policy)
The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) has granted provisional approval to Pfizer Australia Pty Ltd for its COVID-19 vaccine- Comirnaty, making it the primary COVID-19 vaccine to receive regulatory approval in Australia. (As on January 25; source: Australian Government)
As per the announcement by Prime Minister Scott Morrison, a COVID-19 vaccine rollout is being brought forward to mid to late February. (As on Jan 7; source: The Canberra Times)
As per the announcement, the Victorian Government is functioning closely with the federal and therefore the sector to welcome international students back to Victoria from early 2021. (Source: International education short-term recovery plan 2020-21 report)
The Australian Government has invested quite $3.3 billion in five separate agreements to strengthen the country’s healthcare position and supply access to safe and effective vaccines once they become available. (As on November 26; source: Australian Government)
The five agreements include investments within the vaccines developed by the University of Oxford/AstraZeneca, University of Queensland/CSL, Novavax, Pfizer/BioNTech and for the setup of COVAX Facility. (As on November 26; source: Australian Government)
Up till now a world student needed to be present onshore for 16 months to be eligible for PSW. However, now authorities have permitted online studies, as long because the student holds a student visa and meeting other conditions. *
The government has provided a Visa Application Charges (VAC) free visa for those that already hold a student visa and will not complete their current study in time. a zero VAC is out there to students who held a student visa on or after 1 February 2020 but couldn’t complete their course within their original visa validity thanks to the impacts of COVID-19.*
For studies to be counted towards Post Study Work visa eligibility, the Australian Study requirements (ASR) requires a student to review a CRICOS-registered course. International students must successfully complete all course requirements as a results of a minimum of two academic years (92 weeks) study to be eligible for a visa.*
The Government will recommence granting student visas altogether locations lodged outside Australia. this suggests when borders re-open, students will have already got visas and be ready to make arrangements to travel. (As on July 23)