Deakin University’s international students across its Burwood, Geelong, and Warrnambool campuses will have access to $200,000 worth of Woolworths vouchers, thanks to health insurance giant Bupa.
Designed to further assist foreign students experiencing coronavirus-related financial difficulties, the partnership adds to the significant support already provided by the university through its $25 million international student hardship fund.
The move comes as Bupa recognises that the decrease in available working hours in hospitality and retail businesses due to social distancing restrictions may have placed financial pressures on students who rely on casual and part-time work to pay for their basic needs.
“International students, living thousands of kilometres away from their family support systems, have been extremely vulnerable to the adverse financial and emotional effects of COVID-19 with unemployment or underemployment a widespread concern,” said Sarah Thorne, general manager of educational partnerships at Bupa.
“As a health and care company it’s important that we are able to support our customers through this pandemic regardless of whether or not they are Australian citizens.”
The food aid is also in addition to the Deakin Health & Well-being programme, which is backed by an investment from Bupa. The programme covers the cost of flu vaccinations for all international students of the university regardless of their overseas health cover provider.
