Over the last four years, Australia has made several adjustments to its immigration policies to tackle labor shortages exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic and to manage the surge in immigration in its aftermath. These modifications have had a notable impact on the student population in the country.
In the year 2022-23, Australia granted nearly 500,000 student visas to primary applicants, marking a 40% increase from the levels seen in 2018-19, and nearly double the figures from ten years prior. However, due to a gradual tightening of policies, the number of student visas issued declined to 332,000 in 2023-24 and is anticipated to drop further with the introduction of new restrictions.
Students hailing from the Pacific region and Timor-Leste have felt similar effects. Historically, scholarships from the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and the Department of Defence have played a vital role in attracting students from the Pacific, aiding the growth of this demographic before the pandemic. During the pandemic, the easing of restrictions on work hours created significant economic advantages for Pacific students studying in vocational education and training. This incentive was withdrawn in July 2023, and while its effects lingered for a few months, visa approvals have begun to wane due to new financial and other constraints.
Yet, despite these general trends, Fiji stands out as the primary benefactor among Pacific nations, seizing opportunities that arose during the pandemic. The number of student visas awarded to Fijian applicants soared more than five times from 2018-19 to 2022-23, and the figures remained relatively high in 2023-24. Most of this increase occurred within the vocational education sector, although enrollments in higher education also more than doubled, signifying positive growth.
In contrast, Papua New Guinea and other Pacific countries, along with Timor-Leste, saw much smaller increases during this immigration boom. The proportion of student visas granted to PNG relative to the overall total dwindled from an average of 0.36% over the ten years prior to the pandemic to just 0.23% in 2022-23. Likewise, the share for other Pacific nations and Timor-Leste decreased from 0.25% to 0.18%.
Moreover, this uptick in volume was short-lived. In 2023-24, the number of student visas issued to PNG fell below the levels seen in 2018-19 and was significantly lower than in 2014-15. Other Pacific nations and Timor-Leste are heavily reliant on support from the Australian government, and when excluding visas backed by DFAT and Defence, the total number of student visas issued in 2023-24 is less than what was granted in 2018-19.
For many individuals from the Pacific and Timor-Leste, studying in Australia poses economic challenges. This has led to a situation where, aside from Fiji, other Pacific nations have encountered difficulties in capitalizing on Australia’s favorable student policies during the pandemic and are now under heightened pressure following the tightening of immigration regulations.
While Australian government scholarships have historically provided solid educational opportunities for students from the Pacific, and the new Pacific Engagement Visa enables recipients to access Australian student loans and enjoy domestic tuition rates, these advantages are limited and conditional. Consequently, an increasing number of Pacific individuals are turning to alternative study destinations, largely driven by economic factors.
Educational exchange plays a crucial role in enhancing connections between people and cultures, acting as a powerful instrument for extending soft power. Australia must carefully consider the impact of its student policy changes on neighboring countries and take proactive measures to mitigate harm to those already underrepresented and seeking greater opportunities.