Australia risks a ¡°fragmented reopening¡± to international students, as states and territories impose different rules and requirements for up to two years.

Taliessin Reaburn, international education and tourism director with South Australia¡¯s Department for Trade and Investment, warned that the different Covid infection rates and health challenges across the nation would foster an uneven policy environment that could affect overseas learners.

¡°Until we have a very consistent vaccination rate across the country, I expect we will still see differences across states and territories,¡± he told the?.

StudyPerth chief executive Phil Payne said a fragmented approach would benefit nobody. ¡°Without further coordination and intervention from the federal government, and without more cooperation from the states and territories, things are inevitably going to be a bit of a mess. But I¡¯m confident that the collegiate approach taken so far by states and territories will prevail,¡± he added.

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States are taking different approaches to students¡¯ return, with many at rudimentary stages. New South Wales plans to jet in?250 students a fortnight?in a pilot programme commencing in December, while the Northern Territory accepted a planeload of 63 students last November.

But the territory¡¯s international student arrivals working group is still planning the next flight. ¡°We will be working with providers to finalise source countries and dates in the coming days,¡± said StudyNT director Larnie Batten. ¡°We¡¯re really close hopefully to having a bit more of an update for students.¡±

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Victoria has signed off on a proposal to jet in?120 students a week?by Christmas. But the plan still requires federal government approval and has attracted criticism over quarantine costs of at least A$5,000 (?2,666) per student.

And while Tasmania¡¯s isolation has helped keep it relatively Covid-free, it also poses logistical ¡°challenges¡± such as requirements for incoming passengers to quarantine twice. ¡°We¡¯re really excited to see our students come back,¡± said Harpreet Gill, global education manager with Study Tasmania. ¡°Work is currently under way investigating options around this.¡±

Queensland plans to quarantine students in a purpose-built facility at Toowoomba, 120 kilometres west of Brisbane. ¡°Our Department of State Development is leading that programme,¡± said Shannon Willoughby, executive director of Trade and Investment Queensland. ¡°We anticipate early next year.¡±

In Western Australia, a proposal for the ¡°safe return¡± of students received provisional approval from the state¡¯s chief health officer last November but ¡°has been undergoing constant revisions¡±, said Mr Payne.

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¡°Given the Western Australian government¡¯s very cautious approach to border control, our motto has been ¡®be prepared but be patient¡¯,¡± he said. The government has now announced a dedicated quarantine facility in Perth¡¯s eastern suburbs and the formation of a working group. ¡°We aim to be ready to go as soon as conditions permit.¡±

South Australia first proposed to fly in students more than a year ago, but the plan has been repeatedly shelved because of coronavirus outbreaks. ¡°It was approved by the commonwealth, but the conditions under which we operate changed significantly such that it was no longer able to be implemented,¡± Mr Reaburn said.

The conference heard that the obstacles had fostered institutional camaraderie. ¡°Dealing with a group of universities and trying to get alignment and common cause, quite often you¡¯re on a hiding to nothing,¡± Mr Payne said. ¡°However, in this matter¡­it¡¯s been a very rewarding experience.¡±

Panellists warned that states may?need to prepare for a sudden ¡°influx¡± of international students, with?recent developments?suggesting that restrictions could be eased unexpectedly quickly. ¡°Rather than looking at small pilots or gradual reintroduction, things might be moving along quite speedily,¡± said Edith Cowan University deputy vice-chancellor Simon Ridings.

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Study NSW director Toshi Kawaguchi said he was ¡°open to that possibility. It¡¯s front of mind for all of us as we progress our various plans.¡±

john.ross@timeshighereducation.com