More than 2100 Federation University students have sought financial assistance from the university after their finances were impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Last month, Federation University established a support fund for domestic and international university students offering up to $300 a week for an initial five weeks as well as grants for computers and home internet to help with online study, fee extensions, student accommodation relief, free counselling services and help in accessing government support services.
Now there is extra assistance from the state government, who this week announced a new $45 million International Student Emergency Relief Fund for overseas students impacted by the pandemic.
There are almost 900 international students enrolled at Federation University in Ballarat. The Mount Helen campus is home to 107 international students, and the rest live in homes around the city.
With the university year starting the first week of March, most international students enrolled in Fed Uni courses were here before Australia's borders closed on March 20, and now face an unknown length of time before they can return to their home countries in addition to the stress of losing jobs they worked to support the cost of their studies.
"Federation University has already provided more than $1.3 million in financial assistance to both our domestic and international students, as well as free counselling services and grants for computers and home internet so they can continue studying from home," said Federation University vice chancellor Professor Helen Bartlett.
The state government relief package for international students, which covers up to 40,000 international students enrolled at Victorian universities, TAFEs, private vocational education and training providers and English language colleges, will provide one-off relief payments of up to $1100 to offset demonstrated lost income.
The payments will also require co-contributions from university hardship funds.
"The new Victorian Government hardship fund for international students will build on the support we're already providing our students and we look forward to working with the government to ensure our students can get the help they need," Professor Bartlett said.
Federation University has also established a special International Student Hardship Fund through the Federation University Australia Foundation, which raises funds to provide scholarships to students most in need.
The university's executive team has agreed to contribute 10 per cent of their salary to the Foundation's student support fund, with staff across the organisation also making contributions.
More than 150,000 international students in Victoria are also eligible for subsidies of up to $2000 from the state government's rent relief program, and those legally allowed to work are eligible for the Working for Victoria initiative to help people who have lost their jobs to find new employment.
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