Page 26 - Tropic Magazine Issue 28

TROPIC • EDUCATION

Curtailed
education sector

INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS
Janine Bowmaker, Study
Cairns President, explains why
international students play an
integral part in Cairns’ post-
COVID recovery. Cross-sector
collaboration
There’s no industry left unaffected by the
year past. Cook University repatriated eighteen Study Cairns also manages the
But a usually resistant international students back to their studies, who were Student Hub, which offers local
education and training sector – worth quarantined without any problems. businesses an opportunity to
over $130 million to our region – is still Fourteen of these students were engage international students
bracing itself for further impacts from the dentistry students in Cairns, without on internships. The three-week
ongoing pandemic. whom the community dentistry clinic CONNECTS projects allow
Alongside local universities, Study on the Smithfield campus could students to develop workplace
Cairns had been heavily advocating for not operate. skills and expand their social
international students to be able to return Study Cairns, along with Tropical and professional networks, while
to Queensland to resume or commence Tourism North Queensland, Tourism employers receive real outputs
their studies – as they have done in the & Events Queensland and Study by having culturally-diverse,
Northern Territory, and soon will in Queensland, has recently campaigned to multidisciplinary teams work on
South Australia. attract onshore international students key business challenges. Cairns
Unfortunately, to date this has been from Brisbane to assist in filling Regional Council’s Economic
unsuccessful. What does this mean for hospitality and agricultural jobs. Development team recently
our region? The feedback has been exceptional, with participated in the CONNECTS
In 2019, the Cairns region had the third all students showing brilliant work ethic program, utilising the skills of four
highest number of international student and many spending their hard-earned experienced international students.
visa enrolments across the country. money and days off doing To register your interest in
The gap left by these students in local tourism activities. the February cohort, contact
employment and school closures is However, who will fill these employment [email protected]
significant and long-lasting, and flows needs after the students return?
on to impact other sectors including Our enquiry rate has increased and our
tourism, student accommodation country’s positive management of the
providers, food and hospitality, retail. pandemic has created a perspective that
Not having international students Australia, and in particular Queensland
is not only continuing to impact our and Cairns, is a safe destination.
economy, but we’re missing out on the Furthermore, students are considering
skills and talent they provide to our local the balanced lifestyle Cairns can offer,
community and businesses within. and our proximity to two World
In the earlier stages of COVID-19, James Heritage Areas.

26 • Tropic • Issue 28