1 00:00:00,120 --> 00:00:05,280 Speaker 1: This morning. Actually around sixty international students bound for Charles 2 00:00:05,360 --> 00:00:08,720 Speaker 1: Darwin University arrived in Darwin and joining us on the 3 00:00:08,760 --> 00:00:11,720 Speaker 1: line to tell us more about the situation. Vice Chancellor 4 00:00:12,039 --> 00:00:14,680 Speaker 1: Professor Simon Maddox, Good morning. 5 00:00:15,320 --> 00:00:17,200 Speaker 2: Good morning Cody, Professor. 6 00:00:17,360 --> 00:00:20,120 Speaker 1: How many students did indeed arrive this morning? 7 00:00:21,440 --> 00:00:24,080 Speaker 2: So sixty three students have arrived this morning in. 8 00:00:24,079 --> 00:00:28,160 Speaker 1: Darwin and it is all part of I guess you'd say, well, 9 00:00:28,160 --> 00:00:30,720 Speaker 1: we're sort of the first in the country, aren't we 10 00:00:30,760 --> 00:00:33,800 Speaker 1: to see international students return to their studies. 11 00:00:34,680 --> 00:00:38,519 Speaker 2: Yes. Indeed, we've been negotiating with the Australian government and 12 00:00:38,560 --> 00:00:41,320 Speaker 2: the Northern Territory government for the last seven months. I 13 00:00:41,360 --> 00:00:43,720 Speaker 2: guess since we went into COVID lockdown really back in 14 00:00:43,800 --> 00:00:48,760 Speaker 2: March to understand what and when the opportunity might arise. 15 00:00:48,840 --> 00:00:51,960 Speaker 2: And we were the first university in Australia to be 16 00:00:51,960 --> 00:00:58,000 Speaker 2: given permissioned by the Prime Minister to facilitate this pilot flight. 17 00:00:58,200 --> 00:01:00,720 Speaker 2: So I guess this is a a flight that has 18 00:01:00,760 --> 00:01:03,320 Speaker 2: been used to explore the opportunities and what else Australia 19 00:01:03,400 --> 00:01:05,360 Speaker 2: might need to do to ramp up the return of 20 00:01:05,440 --> 00:01:08,360 Speaker 2: greater numbers of international students earlier next year. But this 21 00:01:08,400 --> 00:01:10,000 Speaker 2: is the first and we've done it here in Darwen. 22 00:01:10,120 --> 00:01:11,679 Speaker 1: And so where are they coming from? 23 00:01:13,000 --> 00:01:16,800 Speaker 2: So, look, they've come from five sources of origin for 24 00:01:16,840 --> 00:01:20,880 Speaker 2: this group, some from mainland China, some from Hong Kong, Japan, Vietnam, 25 00:01:20,920 --> 00:01:21,960 Speaker 2: and Indonesia. 26 00:01:22,240 --> 00:01:23,280 Speaker 1: And what's the process. 27 00:01:23,280 --> 00:01:25,120 Speaker 2: We all came through Singapore. 28 00:01:24,760 --> 00:01:27,760 Speaker 1: Okay, And so what's the process going to be a 29 00:01:27,959 --> 00:01:31,000 Speaker 1: professor in terms of, you know, making sure that they 30 00:01:31,120 --> 00:01:32,959 Speaker 1: quarantine and all that kind of stuff. 31 00:01:33,959 --> 00:01:36,360 Speaker 2: Yes, so that's all part of the deal. So they 32 00:01:37,160 --> 00:01:41,000 Speaker 2: all had to meet pre arranged flights that all arrived 33 00:01:41,040 --> 00:01:44,880 Speaker 2: in Singapore within a window to all be able to 34 00:01:44,920 --> 00:01:47,920 Speaker 2: be processed for the one charter flight that brought them 35 00:01:47,920 --> 00:01:50,680 Speaker 2: here to Darwin. They will then spend two weeks in 36 00:01:50,760 --> 00:01:54,800 Speaker 2: quarantine and how it springs and assuming all goes well there, 37 00:01:54,840 --> 00:01:57,800 Speaker 2: then we look forward to seeing them out and after 38 00:01:57,880 --> 00:02:00,920 Speaker 2: about the fifteenth of December, I think. So they all 39 00:02:00,920 --> 00:02:03,760 Speaker 2: had to go through they all had to present with 40 00:02:03,880 --> 00:02:08,040 Speaker 2: a COVID negative test within seventy two hours of departing Singapore. Yeah, 41 00:02:08,880 --> 00:02:11,200 Speaker 2: and some other health questionnaires that they had to deal 42 00:02:11,280 --> 00:02:14,320 Speaker 2: with with the health professionals that monitor all this. And 43 00:02:14,360 --> 00:02:16,280 Speaker 2: they will then go through the same level of testing 44 00:02:16,320 --> 00:02:19,000 Speaker 2: and management that all other visitors and how It Springs 45 00:02:19,000 --> 00:02:20,240 Speaker 2: have to comply with. 46 00:02:20,560 --> 00:02:24,120 Speaker 1: And so when will they start their courses then. 47 00:02:25,560 --> 00:02:28,519 Speaker 2: So we have the ability to start to engage with 48 00:02:28,560 --> 00:02:31,960 Speaker 2: them online now through the how It's Bring's facilities. But 49 00:02:32,160 --> 00:02:34,680 Speaker 2: we start our some a semester and some of them 50 00:02:34,680 --> 00:02:36,840 Speaker 2: will do that. Some of them will start some pre 51 00:02:37,760 --> 00:02:40,480 Speaker 2: semester study for English preparation and stuff like that, with 52 00:02:40,880 --> 00:02:43,360 Speaker 2: a view two starting in the early first semester next year. 53 00:02:43,680 --> 00:02:45,920 Speaker 2: So there's a range of programs. Some of them are 54 00:02:45,919 --> 00:02:47,519 Speaker 2: coming to do bed courses, some of them are coming 55 00:02:47,520 --> 00:02:48,240 Speaker 2: to do higher eds. 56 00:02:49,120 --> 00:02:51,560 Speaker 1: And there was some concern from the community or some 57 00:02:51,720 --> 00:02:55,120 Speaker 1: in the community saying, you know, why is the university 58 00:02:55,200 --> 00:02:58,880 Speaker 1: footing the bill for the international students to come to 59 00:02:58,960 --> 00:03:01,400 Speaker 1: the territory? Is the case? Are you still footing the 60 00:03:01,400 --> 00:03:03,480 Speaker 1: bill for them to be out there at hard Springs. 61 00:03:04,480 --> 00:03:07,040 Speaker 2: So the students have had to pay their own airfares 62 00:03:07,080 --> 00:03:09,640 Speaker 2: to be part of this opportunity. We have agreed to 63 00:03:09,680 --> 00:03:12,400 Speaker 2: cover the quarantine costs for this cohort of students as 64 00:03:12,440 --> 00:03:15,040 Speaker 2: part of our commitment to the pilot to make sure 65 00:03:15,080 --> 00:03:17,519 Speaker 2: that we all understand what is required going forward and 66 00:03:17,600 --> 00:03:20,040 Speaker 2: that's a relatively small cost compared to what they will 67 00:03:20,040 --> 00:03:22,840 Speaker 2: otherwise contribute in terms of the fees they pay and 68 00:03:22,880 --> 00:03:26,920 Speaker 2: there spend they contribute to the broader community. So that's 69 00:03:27,040 --> 00:03:28,400 Speaker 2: how that agreement was struck. 70 00:03:28,680 --> 00:03:31,000 Speaker 1: Yeah, and it is being reported that they bring an 71 00:03:31,120 --> 00:03:35,720 Speaker 1: enormous amount to the Northern Territory in terms of boosting 72 00:03:35,760 --> 00:03:36,400 Speaker 1: the economy. 73 00:03:37,680 --> 00:03:40,440 Speaker 2: Yes, we were given the very strong support by the 74 00:03:41,520 --> 00:03:44,360 Speaker 2: business groups in Darwen to see students return. They were 75 00:03:44,400 --> 00:03:47,920 Speaker 2: significant part of the community. They certainly contribute to both 76 00:03:47,920 --> 00:03:53,200 Speaker 2: employment and customer patronage of many many venues in Darwen 77 00:03:53,240 --> 00:03:56,160 Speaker 2: and in Aloe Springs that matter, and I think we 78 00:03:56,200 --> 00:03:58,640 Speaker 2: all look very much forward to having them back amongst us. 79 00:03:59,000 --> 00:04:01,920 Speaker 1: And so sixty three arriving today, is there going to 80 00:04:01,920 --> 00:04:02,560 Speaker 1: be more to come? 81 00:04:04,000 --> 00:04:07,400 Speaker 2: Oh yes, we're already working on assuming that this goes well. 82 00:04:07,440 --> 00:04:09,920 Speaker 2: And they arrived at seven twenty nine this morning and 83 00:04:10,600 --> 00:04:12,560 Speaker 2: it was great to see that plane touchdown. I tell 84 00:04:12,600 --> 00:04:15,120 Speaker 2: you there's been hours and hours of work gone into that. 85 00:04:15,600 --> 00:04:19,640 Speaker 2: So we are already planning with the government additional flights 86 00:04:19,680 --> 00:04:23,599 Speaker 2: to beginning January and keep going through early part of 87 00:04:23,640 --> 00:04:24,719 Speaker 2: next year, all being well. 88 00:04:24,920 --> 00:04:27,480 Speaker 1: Okay, Oh well, so it sounds as though it's the 89 00:04:27,480 --> 00:04:30,400 Speaker 1: first of many and we're here in the territory a 90 00:04:30,480 --> 00:04:30,920 Speaker 1: leading the. 91 00:04:30,839 --> 00:04:34,320 Speaker 2: Way absolutely, and I just have to say it's been 92 00:04:34,360 --> 00:04:40,560 Speaker 2: a fantastic Team and Tea and Team Australia cooperation to 93 00:04:40,600 --> 00:04:44,680 Speaker 2: get this facilitated and we very much hope that it 94 00:04:44,720 --> 00:04:47,480 Speaker 2: has demonstrated that there's both the ability and it can 95 00:04:47,520 --> 00:04:50,279 Speaker 2: be done safely with no risk to the broader community. 96 00:04:50,360 --> 00:04:52,200 Speaker 2: And we very much look forward to seeing these students 97 00:04:52,240 --> 00:04:52,840 Speaker 2: back in the mix. 98 00:04:53,040 --> 00:04:55,560 Speaker 1: Yeah, and Professor Maddix, I know that you wouldn't have 99 00:04:55,560 --> 00:04:57,760 Speaker 1: been in a situation where you've probably been able to 100 00:04:57,800 --> 00:04:59,480 Speaker 1: go out there and talk to them or anything, because 101 00:04:59,480 --> 00:05:03,160 Speaker 1: they're nice. But any word as to how those students 102 00:05:03,200 --> 00:05:06,360 Speaker 1: are feeling to have touched down in the territory. 103 00:05:06,640 --> 00:05:10,200 Speaker 2: Hi, they are absolutely thrilled. I was at the airport 104 00:05:10,240 --> 00:05:13,040 Speaker 2: this morning with a small group to welcome the students 105 00:05:13,040 --> 00:05:15,080 Speaker 2: as they stepped off the plane. Obviously we had to 106 00:05:15,120 --> 00:05:19,440 Speaker 2: all keep separated by barricades and stuff that we were 107 00:05:19,600 --> 00:05:22,719 Speaker 2: able to shout greetings across the fence and the barricades, 108 00:05:22,720 --> 00:05:25,080 Speaker 2: and they're all very excited to be here and very 109 00:05:25,120 --> 00:05:26,680 Speaker 2: much looking forward to the time they're going to have 110 00:05:26,760 --> 00:05:28,039 Speaker 2: in Daie Well. 111 00:05:28,160 --> 00:05:32,039 Speaker 1: Charles Dalwin University Vice Chancellor Simon Maddox, good to speak 112 00:05:32,080 --> 00:05:36,040 Speaker 1: with you this morning. I really appreciate your time, my pleasure, Katie. 113 00:05:36,080 --> 00:05:38,120 Speaker 2: Thanks very much for everybody else's support. 114 00:05:38,440 --> 00:05:42,200 Speaker 1: Thank you and will there go. Sixty three of the 115 00:05:42,240 --> 00:05:44,960 Speaker 1: international students have arrived. I know, like I said to 116 00:05:45,000 --> 00:05:47,640 Speaker 1: the professor, I know that at different times some of 117 00:05:47,680 --> 00:05:50,359 Speaker 1: you have been quite concerned or you know, I'm not 118 00:05:50,440 --> 00:05:53,560 Speaker 1: overly happy about the fact that Charles Dalwin University is 119 00:05:53,600 --> 00:05:56,159 Speaker 1: paying for their quarantine. But as you've just heard there 120 00:05:56,200 --> 00:05:59,720 Speaker 1: from the professor, obviously we've got a situation where those 121 00:05:59,720 --> 00:06:03,000 Speaker 1: student have had to pay for their own flights. Now 122 00:06:03,400 --> 00:06:05,880 Speaker 1: it works out, or certainly the figure that is being 123 00:06:05,920 --> 00:06:10,400 Speaker 1: spouted is that Northern Territory International Education Minister Nicole Madison 124 00:06:10,680 --> 00:06:13,800 Speaker 1: has told the paper that each student contributes an average 125 00:06:13,800 --> 00:06:18,039 Speaker 1: of forty thousand dollars each year to the Northern Territory economy. 126 00:06:18,320 --> 00:06:20,479 Speaker 1: So when you look at it that way, I know 127 00:06:20,600 --> 00:06:23,480 Speaker 1: that the argument would be it's well worth putting them 128 00:06:23,480 --> 00:06:26,279 Speaker 1: through quarantine so that then they're able to be here 129 00:06:26,279 --> 00:06:29,839 Speaker 1: in the territory. They're able to obviously contribute to the 130 00:06:29,839 --> 00:06:33,080 Speaker 1: Northern territory's economy. You might have a different perspective. You 131 00:06:33,120 --> 00:06:34,840 Speaker 1: can feel free to text that through to us if 132 00:06:34,880 --> 00:06:35,960 Speaker 1: you like, or give us a call.