While hope remains that Australia might open its borders for international students and skilled workers from Dec. 1, 2021, the policy has been delayed for two weeks due to uncertainty over the new Omicron variant.

The Australian government announced on March 19, 2020 that its would close its international borders to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

That seems like it was just yesterday but 21 months later, the future of Indonesian students and skilled workers is still in doubt as they wait for borders to reopen permanently.

No new international students or skilled workers will be allowed entry to Australia, and those who have chosen to stay there are confronted with the dilemma of being unable to reenter the country if they leave.

Shattered plans

The renewed border closure has caused many international students to defer their university admission. According to The Conversation, around 145.000 international students are currently pursuing their Australian programs offshore.

With the uncertainty surrounding Australia’s border policy and the possibility of being stranded from friends and family, international students like 20-year-old Vanessa Lorensia Atmodjo are rethinking their plans to study in person at an Australian university in 2022.

"Honestly, with the Omicron variant, I am not too sure if I can go to Australia to pursue my animation studies," said Vanessa, who was planning to study animation at Griffith University in Brisbane next year. Now, however, she is rethinking her plans after the Australian government postponed its plans to reopen the country’s borders.

Different route: Vanessa Lorensia Atmodjo planned to take an animation major in Australia next year. But with the current situation, she is considering another option to Canada. (Courtesy of Vanessa Lorensia) (Personal collection/Courtesy of Vanessa Lorensia)

If she cannot study in person on an Australian campus, Vanessa is considering heading to Canada instead, as she believes that she won’t get the full experience by studying online at home.

"I think it's going to be challenging if I have to take an animation major from home, as we might not have all the necessary equipment,” she added.

Her hesitation is understandable, according to student advisor Yuli Istiana of the Loekito Education Group.

Yuli explained that the border closure had devastated some Indonesian students studying data and computer science, which were difficult to study online, as well as other students in music and film programs that didn’t offer online courses and only have a new student intake for semester one.

"Because there are some majors that offer a single intake per year, they are very disappointed that they have to defer to next year," she said.

Postponed dreams

But the border closure hasn’t affected just students. Seasonal workers like Vera Widya Wanti, 31, who planned to work as a fruit picker in Australia last year, also had to change her plans.

Working in Australia was to be a fresh start for Vera, who would have earned around Rp 50 million (US$3,485) per month before taxes as a fruit picker on an agriculture visa. This would have been around Rp 46 million (US$3,166) more than she was earning from her monthly wage in Pekanbaru, Riau.

"I had this huge dream of going to Australia and I had planned to go to Adelaide last year. My visa was granted on March 13, 2020, but the border was closed a week later. I was so devastated by this," Vera told The Jakarta Post.

No fruits for today: Vera Widya Wanti planned to go to Adelaide in 2020 and work as a fruit picker. However, she had to postpone right after Australia closed its border on March 19, 2020. (Courtesy of Vera Widya Wanti) (Personal collection/Courtesy of Vera Widya Wanti)

Staying behind

The border closure has also affected the people who have decided to stay in Australia.

One person who has taken this path is Natasha Marianne Setiabakti, who is battling burnout while pursuing her doctoral in medicine at Monash University.

The 28-year-old has not been able to return home since before the pandemic. Natasha is on a full scholarship, and she is afraid she might not be allowed back into the country if she leaves and therefore lose her scholarship.

Meanwhile, most other international students and even her academic supervisor returned to their own countries because of financial difficulties and because they missed their families.

The pandemic has affected Natasha both mentally and academically, as her only contact with family and friends for the past two years has been by video call.

"All my flatmates decided to go back to their own countries because they were struggling financially, and I ended up with this two-bedroom apartment that I have to pay for with my scholarship money, which is not a lot,” Natasha shared. "I just want to finish this degree, whatever happens."

Support from fellow Indonesians

In light of the current situation, the Consulate General of the Republic of Indonesia in Melbourne has connected with Indonesians in the city through community meetings since restrictions were eased.

"We support Indonesians living in Melbourne and Tasmania through logistical support for those who are affected by COVID-19. We also support the activities of the Indonesian Student Association in Australia (PPIA) so Indonesians who are currently in Melbourne or away from Australia can stay connected," said consular official I Made Oka Wardhana.

In Australia, each PPIA branch has an established network for connecting with other Indonesians, both in Australia and Indonesia. This way, whether they choose to stay or go home, members still maintain a sense of belonging through events like movie nights.

Gabriella Karen Hartanto, 21, a member of PPIA Swinburne, said that students could broaden their knowledge and connect through the association’s events.

"We have several online and offline events where we have the chance to get to know new people from other PPIAs, so we don’t live in our own bubble,” she said.