COVID-19: Victoria offering relief payments of up to $1100 for international students
/Hot off the heels of Tasmania announcing their own relief package for temporary residents, the Premier of Victoria announced yesterday that international students can receive a once-off $1100 payment as part of the state’s emergency support package.
Taking a swipe at the Federal Government’s lack of support for temporary visa holders, the Victoria Government expect some 40,000 of the current 150,000 or so Subclass 500 - Student visa holders living in Victoria and enrolled at Victorian universities, TAFEs, and private education providers including English language colleges could benefit from this relief payment.
To qualify, international students will need to demonstrate lost wages of up to $1100 to be entitled to the expanded emergency funds. Unlike Tasmania’s support package, this excludes all other temporary visa holders.
Other support provided by the Victorian government is also available to temporary visa holders including rental relief and the Working for Victoria initiative for those with work rights which aims to match residents looking for employment with businesses looking for workers.