Tom Hanks and wife hospitalised in Australia for coronavirus
	Australian man raises 10,605 USD to support newborn care in Yen Bai
	Vietnamese-Australian man starts cooking school for street kids in Vietnam

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison (Source: AFP/VNA)

The Vietnamese Embassy in Australia has provided updated information about the Australian government’s adjustment of its policies for foreigners amid the rapid spread of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Right after receiving information about Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison’s April 3 recommendation that international tourists and students who are not financially secure should leave Australia, the embassy actively contacted with local authorised offices to clarify the leader’s statement.

Accordingly, in the context of complicated developments of the pandemic, the Australian government encourages foreign backpackers to return home if they can not support themselves.

For nearly 600,000 foreign students, the government encourages them to rely on family support, part-time work where available and their own savings to sustain themselves.

Those who have lived in Australia for more than one year are advised to withdraw up to 10,000 AUD (6,000 USD) of their Australian superannuation this financial year to help them through the crisis.

The Vietnamese embassy has popularised these policies to the Vietnamese students’ association in Australia, and coordinated with the overseas Vietnamese association in the country to encourage Vietnamese people there to help them feel secure.

On April 1, Vietnamese Ambassador Ngo Huong Nam and ambassadors of other ASEAN members states sent a letter expressing wish that Australia would offer appropriate physical and material support to international students from ASEAN nations, amid the complicated developments of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The letter was sent to the Minister for Education, the Minister for Foreign Affairs, the Australia-ASEAN Joint Cooperation Committee, and the ministers for education, skills and employment of six states and two territories of Australia.

Opening the letter, the ambassadors expressed their solidarity with Australia and believed that working together, all will weather the existing difficulties.

They hoped that the Australian government, ministries and agencies concerned will consider several flexible regulations to not only meet important demands but also offer suitable measures to international students coming from the ASEAN countries after the crisis.

To implement the direction of Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Vietnamese Embassy in Australia shall continue to monitor the situation, regularly update the modification of Australian government’s towards foreigners and health condition of Vietnamese citizens in Australia. The Embassy also stands ready to conduct the necessary citizens protection, to guarantee legitimate rights and interests of Vietnamese citizens in Australia.

Australian PM tells visitors and international students "it's time to go home" A video on mobile.abc.net.au yesterday April 3 reported the speech by Prime Minister Scott Morrison to tell visitor visa holders and international students the time ...

Australian scientists test potential Covid-19 vaccines on ferrets Researchers of Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) in Australia have tested two potential coronavirus vaccines on ferrets to determine whether the vaccines may ...

Three F1 team members placed quarantined over coronavirus fears at Australian GP Three Formula One team members have been placed into isolation, as a precaution amid COVID-19 fears ahead of Sunday's season-opening Australian Grand Prix.