Studying in Australia during Covid-19

What happened to the Indian students in Australia when the Covid-19 pandemic hit the world? Are our children safe in another country while the world is in a lockdown and they can’t come home?

Through this pandemic, which has affected the whole world, people’s lives have been altered in diverse ways. Each country has handled the situation in the way it felt was best for the people living there. Some countries like India enforced stringent measures and shut everything down. Some countries like the US and UK put out new social laws for people to follow help and prevent the spread of the virus.

The Australian government has to be commended for the way they have handled the situation. The country and its people have been able to continue with regular life without much interruption. The government laid down certain rules and regulations for the people in the country to follow, which would allow them to live a pretty normal life. Sealing its borders was done at the onset and made a huge difference in containing the virus.

India also took a wise decision and sealed its borders to China and some other Asian countries. However, the borders were not sealed for all countries especially Europe and America. The first cases of the corona virus made its way in through people from Italy. Then there were others from the US and other European countries that managed to carry the virus in. By the time India completely sealed its borders there were several virus carriers who were spreading it around.

Australia’s strict restrictions on travel, social gatherings and rampant testing have helped to identify Covid-19 positive people and contain its spread. Australia is one of the few countries which kept schools and colleges open, eliminating any disruption to the education system. The government felt that if people obeyed the rules everyone would be safe.

Plight of International Students in Australia

International students who are in Australia to pursue their graduation or post-graduation degrees can be called fortunate. They have been safer there than they would be back in their own home countries. The Covid-19 virus attack has been well contained and general day to day life has continued as usual with a few restrictions pertaining to the Corona virus.

Parents had some questions about sending their children abroad for graduation during this pandemic. Among the top questions were concerns regarding the safety of their children. Wide spread testing help to identify victims and isolate them before the virus spread out of hand. Australia has probably conducted the highest number of tests as compared to any other country.

Is Australia a safe place to study?

It is no secret that Australia has handled the Covid-19 attack much better than even the US and UK. Many Indian students in Australia, Europe and various Asian countries returned home when the Corona outbreak occurred in China. Little later India sealed its borders leaving many Indians stranded in different parts of the world.

Safety of people was the primary motive of the Australian government and this has been achieved with much success. Banning activities with high risk and closing populated areas like beaches and entertainment zones etc. has played a huge role in limiting the spread of the virus.

Conclusion

Australia made no move to send back students and people from other countries. The government has taken care of each person in the country whether they are a citizen or a visitor. Studying in Australia is probably the safest bet in the near future. Student planning to pursue graduation or post-graduation courses abroad for coming year should give priority to Australia rather than US, UK or other European countries.