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No way forward: Int'l students, workers struggle with Australia's border closure
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Missing home: Natasha Marianne Setiabakti is a doctoral medical student on a full scholarship who has only seen her family via video call for the past two years. (Courtesy of Natasha Marianne Setiabakti) (Personal collection/Courtesy of Natasha Marianne Setiabakti)
W
ith Australia again closing its borders amid the uncertainty over the Omicron variant, Indonesian students and workers must navigate extra challenges in pursuit of their dreams.
While hope remains that Australia might open its borders for international students and skilled workers from Dec. 1, 2021, the policy has been delayed for two weeks due to uncertainty over the new Omicron variant.
The Australian government announced on March 19, 2020 that its would close its international borders to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
That seems like it was just yesterday but 21 months later, the future of Indonesian students and skilled workers is still in doubt as they wait for borders to reopen permanently.
No new international students or skilled workers will be allowed entry to Australia, and those who have chosen to stay there are confronted with the dilemma of being unable to reenter the country if they leave.
Shattered plans
The renewed border closure has caused many international students to defer their university admission. According to The Conversation, around 145.000 international students are currently pursuing their Australian programs offshore.
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