Allianz Worldwide Partners (AWP), a global leader in consumer specialty insurance, has forged an exclusive partnership with student support Sonder Australia to help ensure the safety of international students in Australia.
The deal brings the Sonder Australia App to international students who purchase their Allianz Global Assistance Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) insurance through an eligible Allianz Global Assistance education partner, to provide them with 24/7 access to advice and support via Sonder Support and its network of local professionals and multilingual specialists.
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“The partnership with Sonder Australia will allow us to extend local support and care to students studying in Australia, providing an end-to-end health, safety, and security offering that is a one-of-its-kind in [the] market,” AWP CEO Craig Dalzell said. “Expanding our Allianz Global Assistance OSHC offering to include complimentary student access to the Sonder Australia app will not only give students the reassurance they need when in a new country but also their parents, who are often at home and powerless to help should their child ever need assistance.”
The Sonder Essentials package has the following key features:
- Distress function: By simply pressing the red button in the app, users can send a priority alert to the Sonder Support Centre, which can mobilise a local crisis professional and/or local emergency services to the location to provide in-person assistance;
- Check In/Out: When activated, this function allows Sonder to monitor the user's location and send regular alerts to make sure they are well. The app will contact a local crisis professional if it doesn't receive a response from the user;
- Walk with Me: When activated, this function allows Sonder to monitor the user's location and route; send alerts if it finds problems along the way to make sure the user's okay; and if the user doesn't respond or requests assistance, will send for a local crisis professional and/or local emergency services; and
- I'm Safe: In the event of a natural disaster or security incident, Sonder will activate its geographic alert system to ensure all affected students are safe and secure. It will also provide timely updates to the student's parents.
Craig Cowdrey, Sonder Australia managing director, said having AWP as the firm's exclusive insurance partner allows the firm to extend their support to more international students.
“Australia is a fantastic place to live, but being an international student presents unique challenges for young people as they confront a foreign environment with a different language, laws, and expectations,” he said. “AGA has the credibility, trust, and network to help us reach more international students and their parents with our unique student support app.”
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