Questions have been raised over whether the NSW government's $20 million support package for international students struggling in the state due to coronavirus goes far enough.
The package includes the funding of temporary housing for students to be delivered through homestay and student accommodation providers.
It also includes the establishment of a 24/7 hotline international students can ring for advice on rental, medical, legal and mental health support issues.
Prior to the announcement, NSW was the only state not to have a dedicated package of support measures for international students during the pandemic.
The state's package is less generous than other states, like Victoria for example, where a $45 million package has been announced, including cash payments of up to $1,100 for students who have lost work.
Olena Nguyen from the Australian Federation of International Students said she welcomed the announcement by the NSW government but said students were in need of immediate financial support like what had been provided in Victoria.
"I'm not sure if it (this announcement) goes far enough," she told SBS News.
“It is not just housing, but food and surviving, a lot of international students are really struggling right now,” she said.
“But housing is a very important area,” she added.
There are believed to be 565,000 international students in Australia, many of whom have lost work and are ineligible for the JobKeeper or JobSeeker government support payments.
Legal Service NSW will provide free legal advice to students under the plan announced by Minister for Skills and Tertiary Education Geoff Lee.
"Many have lost their part-time jobs, are unable to return to their home countries and do not qualify for Commonwealth Government support programs," Mr Lee said.
Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison has said international students first and foremost have a responsibility to support themselves during the crisis.
The package announced by NSW is less generous than states such as Victoria. Source: AAP
He has also urged those who are unable to support themselves to consider returning home.
While other states have committed significantly lower sums of money overall, Tasmania for example has also included a cash handout of $250 per international students and $1,000 per family.
Labor’s opposition tertiary education spokesperson Clayton Barr said the NSW Government “could have done so much better” than the support package being offered up. He also criticised why it took the government so long to act.
"If your child was at an international university right now and they weren't allowed to fly home because the borders are shut, you would want that country to do their best to look after their kids,” he said.
