English Australia has ramped up its campaign in response to the government’s visa mess. Now dubbed the “Member Voices” campaign, English Australia is encouraging its members and other industry stakeholders to write to their local members to explain the issues currently faced in the ELICOS and international education sector.
An email from English Australia sent earlier today states, “English Australia continues to hear member colleges’ comments regarding the damage being done by the student visa delays, refusal rates, ‘cut-and-paste’ refusal justifications, and errors in refusals. The data from DHA in January and February this year shows that the situation is worsening – ELICOS Only grants have been cut by 50% and VET (inc. ELICOS+VET) by 70%.”
CEO of English Australia, Ian Aird spoke the Koala saying, “the situation has now become dire.”
“An extraordinary meeting of the English Australia board took place last week to discuss the issues and agree on the actions we take to try and turn this situation around. Our members are reporting indiscriminate visa rejections and it all appears to be in the name of reducing the Net Overseas Migration figure. ELICOS Only students shouldn’t even be a part of that figure as they stay in the country for less than 12 months. The argument that these students are taking houses from citizens shows a lack of understanding of the sector – most of the students are in homestay accommodation or in high-density shared houses. If this continues it poses a significant risk to our sector and the wider economy.”
“We’re already seeing people losing jobs in increasing numbers and global markets shifting away from considering Australia as a study destination. If the government doesn’t work to better target its efforts, they’re going to be heading into the next election with a recession and tens of thousands of unemployed, angry voters.” He said.
The call to action?
English Australia encourages members to reach out to MPs and to encourage their stakeholders to do the same. It provides guidance on how to contact parliamentarians, a template letter, and key points on which to voice their concerns.
It also encourages members to share those concerns with other stakeholders, such as homestay organisations, travel and tourism partners, aligned business associations, etc. to have a significant impact on government.
“It is important that as a wider sector, we join our voices together to maximum impact. English Australia’s members are the best ELICOS colleges in the country and often play a key part in the economic and social communities they operate in,” said Aird.
“We’ve already written to Minister O’Neil and to Prime Minister Albanese to voice our concerns. We’re also in the process of contacting all the tourism associations. People often forget that international education is the source of nearly 40% of tourism earnings through the visiting friends and family of students, not to mention those students who come to Australia as tourists before and after they study. We’re also contacting the various business associations and chambers of commerce around the country. It was only 18 months ago when the country was starved of international students and those bodies advocated for their members with the previous government to encourage the students back to help restart the economy, to work in our supermarkets, our shops, our cafes and restaurants, our aged-care facilities. Now, at the time English Australia argued that unlimited work rights for international students were not sustainable and might attract non-genuine students but the reality is that without international students we would still be struggling to come out of the COVID economic hangover. And now they are being treated so poorly yet again. The ethics of taking the $710 application fee where there appears to be no intention of granting a visa is not lost on the applicants – we’re already hearing it from agents that there is increasing distrust and resentment toward Australia as a destination because of the way this is happening.”
The guide to voicing member concerns can be found here.
English Australia’s analysis of January market data (TKN 17/4/24) outlines key points that demonstrate the market’s decline, which has been major since Minister O’Neil issued Ministerial Direction 107 in December.
These key points are:
- In January, immigration severely cut grant volumes for ELICOS Only and for VET including ELICOS + VET. ELICOS Only grants were down 47% versus 2023 and 27% versus 2020. VET (inc ELICOS + VET) were down 68% versus January last year and 61% versus Jan 2020.
- Visa grant numbers were still very high where the primary course was in higher education (inc ELICOS + HE) with this sector segment down 12% on 2023, but still 24% higher than the pre-COVID figure (Jan 2020).
- The number of visa applications lodged from all sectors in Jan was up on Jan 2023, but this was purely for HE destined students.
- Applications for ELICOS Only from offshore, ever the canary in the coal mine, were down 38% versus Jan 2023 and already lower than pre-COVID-19 numbers.
- Applications for VET study (inc ELICOS+VET) have also responded to the high refusals in December, as well as the removal of unlimited work rights and COVID 408 visas in July 2023 – the offshore applications were down by 35%.
- Enrolments and Commencements in January were strong versus 2023 and pre-COVID for all sectors as the decision to reduce the Net Overseas Migration number by refusing student visas didn’t start until Dec 2023.
- NSW and VIC saw good ELICOS commencements in January while QLD was down and WA was flat.
- ELICOS Commencements were very strong for China and Vietnam – students going on to university study – while Thailand and Brazil – very often ELICOS only markets – have seen declines versus last January.
The Koala wishes English Australia and other peak bodies well in the running of their campaigns.
