Following the continued guidance from the Australian Government concerning COVID-19, the ANU has had to cancel all learning abroad programs since the onset of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, with the exception of some exchange opportunities to New Zealand. Thus far, the ANU has cancelled all learning abroad programs for Semester 1 2022, with the exception of opportunities to go on exchange to New Zealand for domestic ANU students. However, on 1st November, the Australian Government’s ban on departing the country without an exemption was lifted for fully vaccinated Australian citizens and Permanent Residents, and this has raised hopes that the University’s learning abroad programs will return for Semester 2 2022.
When approached by Woroni regarding this, an ANU spokesperson advised that currently, “[i]t is a little too early to know what exchange for Semester 2 2022” looks like, and that the University is closely monitoring Australia’s border reopening. They continued that, as soon as the ACT and “our community, both here and further afield”, are able to fully recommence travel, the ANU will pursue “safely and sensibly” resuming all learning abroad operations.
In agreement with Australia’s reopening, Smart Traveller, the Australian Government’s travel advice, removed its global ‘Do Not Travel’ advisory and updated its travel advice levels for 177 destinations in accordance with the most up to date COVID-19 risk assessments and other dangers to safety and security. Moreover, as COVID-19 remains an ongoing global health risk, border settings are complicated and can be altered at short notice. Thus, it is unknown if all of the ANU’s usual destinations for learning abroad programs will be available for Semester 2 2022. Information given to students in sessions with ANU Global Programs, is that learning abroad program destinations will comply with Smart Traveller’s advice.
In addition to being fully vaccinated, at this stage the Australian Government has advised that to voyage abroad sans an exemption, travellers are required to show their International COVID-19 Vaccination Certificate as well as evidence of a negative COVID-19 (PRC) molecular test provided by a laboratory to be done no more than 72 hours before the scheduled departure of the first leg of your return flight. What the requirements will be to travel abroad by Semester 2 2022 is unknown.
An ANU spokesperson advised that any student interested in partaking in an exchange in 2022 should seek further advice from ANU Global Programs.
We acknowledge the Ngunnawal and Ngambri people, who are the Traditional Custodians of the land on which Woroni, Woroni Radio and Woroni TV are created, edited, published, printed and distributed. We pay our respects to Elders past and present. We acknowledge that the name Woroni was taken from the Wadi Wadi Nation without permission, and we are striving to do better for future reconciliation.