Over 37,000 Int’l Students Leaving Queensland Strip Local Businesses of Casual Workforce

Since the COVID-19 pandemic, 37,595 international students have left Queensland, reducing the number of casual workers available to local businesses.

Sunnybank, on Brisbane’s southside, is one of the city’s most diverse neighborhoods, with eateries serving a diverse range of international cuisines. With a university close and a local food scene, international students are one of the important populations in the area.

Key Takeaways:

• Since the COVID-19 outbreak, 37,595 international students have departed Queensland, reducing the amount of casual labor available to local businesses.
• According to a local industry representative, it was common for students to work part-time in the area while studying.
• Following the lockdowns, restaurants and cafes in Sunnybank have reopened, and numerous outlets have reported being busier than before the outbreak.

According to Sunnybank Chamber of Commerce’s Freya Ostopovich, it was usual for students to work part-time jobs in the area while studying.

Restaurants and cafes in Sunnybank have reopened following the lockdowns, and several establishments have reported being busier than before the outbreak.

When the borders opened, international students still had to complete two weeks of quarantine at the Wellcamp Regional Quarantine Facility in Toowoomba.

The state government has also stated that a portion of the initial batch of students returning must attend universities outside of Brisbane, with medical and health students receiving preference.

It can be recalled that while Queensland will welcome fully vaccinated travelers from interstate hotspots, it is still unclear what will happen to stranded international students.

Australia’s health minister, Greg Hunt, had warned that he could not guarantee that the border would reopen to international students and visa holders by mid-December.

The government said on Nov. 29 that it would postpone the reopening of its borders from Dec. 1 to 15 because of concerns about the omicron strain.

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