COVID-19: Assistance for International Students in NSW
Support for International Students
The Australian Government is providing support for international students in NSW who are impacted by the current lockdown. For more information, please visit: http://www.study.sydney/programs/covid-19-help-hub
1. COVID-19 Disaster Payment
Eligibility |
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How much and when to claim | Dependent on the Local Government Area (LGA) you live in or work in – Find your council here if unsure https://www.olg.nsw.gov.au/public/find-my-council/ and refer to tables below. |
How to claim | Australian Residents (Australian Citizen, Permanent Residence Visa Holder, Protected Special Category Visa Holder) · Apply though MyGov (https://my.gov.au/LoginServices/main/login?execution=e2s1) Eligible Working Visa Holder (visa that gives you the right to work in Australia) · Call Emergency Information Hotline Monday to Friday 8am to 5pm (180 22 66) [English] · Multilingual Phone Service Monday to Friday 8am to 5pm (131 202) |
Parts of Sydney – Bayside, City of Sydney, Canada Bay, Inner West, Randwick, Waverley, Woollahra LGAs
Period | Claim Submission Dates | Payment Received |
1 July – 7 July 2021 | 1 July 2021 – 28 July 2021 | Only eligible if you have liquid assets of less than $10,000. Lost less than 20 hours work in the week – $325 Lost more than 20 hours work in the week – $500 |
8 July – 14 July 2021 | 8 July 2021 – 4 August 2021 | Lost less than 20 hours work in the week – $325 Lost more than 20 hours work in the week – $500 |
15 July – 21 July 2021 | 15 July 2021 – 11 August 2021 | $375 per relevant period if you’ve lost: · between 8 and less than 20 hours of work per week · a full day of your usual work hours per week* Lost more than 20 hours work in the week – $600 |
22 July – 28 July 2021 | 22 July 2021 – 25 August 2021 | |
29 July – 30 July 2021 | 29 July 2021 – 25 August 2021 |
Greater Sydney (Blacktown, Blue Mountains, Burwood, Camden, Campbelltown, Canterbury-Bankstown, Central Coast, Cumberland, Fairfield, Georges River, Hawkesbury, Hornsby, Hunters Hill, Ku-ring-gai, Lane Cove, Liverpool, Mosman, North Sydney, Northern Beaches, Parramatta, Penrith, Ryde, Shellharbour, Strathfield, Sutherland, The Hills, Willoughby, Wollondilly, Wollongong LGAs)
Period | Claim Submission Dates | Payment Received |
4 July – 10 July 2021 | 4 July 2021 – 31 July 2021 | Only eligible if you have liquid assets of less than $10,000. Lost less than 20 hours work in the week – $325 Lost more than 20 hours work in the week – $500 |
11 July – 17 July 2021 | 11 July 2021 – 7 August 2021 | Lost less than 20 hours work in the week – $325 Lost more than 20 hours work in the week – $500 |
18 July – 24 July 2021 | 18 July 2021 – 14 August 2021 | $375 per relevant period if you’ve lost: · between 8 and less than 20 hours of work per week · a full day of your usual work hours per week* Lost more than 20 hours work in the week – $600 |
25 July – 30 July 2021 | 25 July 2021 – 21 August 2021 |
All other areas of NSW (where you meet general eligibility rules, live or work in any area of New South Wales and were unable to earn your usual income of 8 hours or more or a full day’s work because of the restricted movement order in parts of Sydney and Greater Sydney)
Period | Claim Submission Dates | Payment Received |
18 July – 30 July 2021 | 18 July 2021 – 21 August 2021 | $375 per relevant period if you’ve lost: · between 8 and less than 20 hours of work per week · a full day of your usual work hours per week* Lost more than 20 hours work in the week – $600 |
* A full day of your usual work is what you were scheduled to work but could not because of a restricted movement order. This includes not being able to attend a full time, part time or casual shift of less than 8 hours.
For more information, please refer to: https://www.servicesaustralia.gov.au/individuals/services/centrelink/covid-19-disaster-payment
2. Pandemic Leave Disaster Payment
Eligibility | You may be eligible if NSW Health has told you to self-isolate or quarantine. They need to give you these directions for any of the following reasons:
You may also be eligible if you’re caring for someone who has COVID-19. You must also meet all of the following:
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How much you can get | $1500 for each 14-day period you’ve been told to self-isolate or quarantine |
How to claim | · Call Emergency Information Hotline Monday to Friday 8am to 5pm (180 22 66) · Print and complete the Claim for Pandemic Leave Disaster Payment – New South Wales form and fax it to 1300 727 760. |
For more information, please refer to: https://www.servicesaustralia.gov.au/individuals/services/centrelink/pandemic-leave-disaster-payment-new-south-wales
3. Food Assistance
Study NSW has partnered with Foodbank NSW & ACT to provide free food hampers to international students in NSW.
The hampers will be distributed at locations in Sydney, Newcastle, Wollongong, Armidale, Lismore, Port Macquarie and Coffs Harbour.
Delivery locations and/or access to the food hampers might be different in the event of a lockdown, or when there are under stay-at-home orders in specific areas.
Order your hamper by following these steps:
- Call Food Bank on (02) 9756 3099 or complete this Foodbank form for international students
- State that you are an international student and your suburb, then ask for the distribution point closest to you
- Have your student visa and student card with you when you collect the hamper
For more information, please visit: www.study.sydney/programs/food-assistance
4. Mental Health and Wellbeing Resources
Study NSW has a list of resources to assist international students during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Please visit: http://www.study.sydney/student-welfare/mental-health-and-wellbeing