Australia's High Commissioner to India Barry O'Farrell says Indian students in Australia will be "protected and kept safe" throughout the course of the coronavirus crisis.
Speaking to Indian television network CNBC-TV18 on Friday, Mr O'Farrell said Indian students were "clearly important to Australia" and would be looked after.
"The education sector is massive and our prime minister has made the point to Mr [Indian Prime Minister Narendra] Modi that Indian students are welcome and will be protected and kept safe in Australia because of the significant contributions they make to the Australian community," he said.
Mr O'Farrell also told the network some Australian universities were taking it upon themselves to support international students.
The ambassador pointed to , where he said "many Indian students attend", and that it would spend up to $25 million in the next six months on international students experiencing financial hardship as a result of COVID-19.
In response to the economic fallout from COVID-19, the federal government has permitted and extended the number of hours international students can work per fortnight.
Many international students in Australia have been hit hard, with many now unemployed and ineligible for the federal government's $130 billion JobKeeper scheme.
A Sydney-based lawyer told SBS News this week he's spoken to some international students who say they are .
People in Australia must stay at least 1.5 metres away from others and gatherings are limited to two people unless you are with your family or household.
If you believe you may have contracted the virus, call your doctor (don’t visit) or contact the national Coronavirus Health Information Hotline on 1800 020 080. If you are struggling to breathe or experiencing a medical emergency, call 000.
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