Temporary visa holders – including international students, backpackers and holiday workers – contribute a great deal to Australian society.
They study, work and travel here. They volunteer and offer new and exciting perspectives on all aspects of society. They are our family, friends and colleagues.
Despite this, in early April as Australia headed into coronavirus lockdown for the first time, Prime Minister Scott Morrison sent a message to international students that many interpreted as unwelcoming.
“As much as it’s lovely to have visitors to Australia in good times, at times like this, if you are a visitor in this country, it is time … to make your way home.”
Research suggests that temporary visa holders have felt abandoned and experienced feelings of worthlessness as a result of this rhetoric, and being left out of the government’s economic support schemes during the COVID-19 crisis. Many have described feeling like ‘aliens who do not belong here’, ‘inanimate objects’ and ‘cash-cows’.
Many are also in dire financial straits because of COVID.
But temporary visa holders are more than dollar signs for our universities, cheap workers on farms, or political scapegoats.
Contributors to the economy
While international students are the economic backbone for the Australian university sector, they contribute to the economy in other, arguably more meaningful ways:
- As consumers: for the duration of their time living or studying here, international students make Australia their home. They are renting, paying bills, using public transport, and going out to eat, drink and purchase from local businesses. This supports jobs in both metropolitan and regional areas.
- As workers: Many find work while living and studying here – temporary visa holders may comprise up to 10% of Australia’s workforce.
- As travellers: If you speak to anyone who has been lucky enough to experience international exchange or living overseas, many will tell you one of the best parts is getting to explore and travel around your host country. Many, many individuals living and working in Australia take up this opportunity. The Sydney Opera House, Great Barrier Reef or Uluru are bucket list items. Similarly, many of them will have family and friends come to visit, further contributing to the tourism industry (unique circumstances due to COVID notwithstanding).
Cultural exchange
As a country we often pride ourselves on our multiculturalism. Temporary visa holders are major players in contributing to that. Interacting with, learning from and befriending individuals from all around the world has benefits on both personal and societal levels.
On a personal level, Australians are exposed to new ways of thought, cultural practices and life experiences. This opens up opportunities for intercultural exchange, broadened understanding of the world, and the development of lifelong friendships and networks.
On a societal level, these individuals can play a vital role in Australia’s global diplomatic relationships. Many, international students in particular, become great ambassadors for Australia as future leaders and advocates for trade, diplomacy and research links.
Giving back to the community
Volunteering is an essential service. Over 5.8 million people in Australia volunteer with around 600,000 (mostly small) not-for-profits and charities. These include food banks, education services, emergency services and arts organisations, which keep Australian society functioning and connected.
Many temporary visa holders choose to volunteer as a way to not only give back to the community, but to further develop their skills and to make new friends and networks in their host country.
Temporary migrants contribute greatly to Australia. It’s time we recognised their true value, and treated them in a way consistent with that value.