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\nInternational students are returning to Australia after almost two years of closed borders.<\/p>\n
\nInternational students are returning to Australia after almost two years of closed borders.<\/p>\n
The number of international students in Australia\u00a0increased by 29,856<\/a>\u00a0in the first six weeks after the Australian government\u00a0opened the border to them<\/a>\u00a0in mid-December.<\/p>\n But there are still about 300,000 fewer international students in Australia than before the pandemic. Around 147,000 current student visa holders\u00a0remain outside Australia<\/a>.<\/p>\n It\u2019s not just education institutions that will be anxiously watching the rate at which these students return.<\/p>\n International students are a vital part of the workforce in many industries. In particular, many work in hospitality and carer roles. The Australian government is trying to\u00a0entice international students to return<\/a>\u00a0by offering visa refunds and\u00a0easing limits<\/a>\u00a0on their access to the workforce.<\/p>\n These temporary arrangements highlight the sometimes uneasy relationship between international education, migration and the workforce.<\/p>\n The loosening of border restrictions in December 2021 has reversed the steady decline in international students.<\/p>\n At its lowest point, there were 248,750 international students in Australia. This was a fall of about 57% compared to before the pandemic, and the\u00a0lowest level<\/a>\u00a0since 2007.<\/p>\nWhat has changed since the borders opened?<\/strong><\/h4>\n