Easier travel, more study options for Singaporeans heading to Australia

SINGAPORE: Travelling to Australia, whether for work or study, will be easier as a result of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between Singapore and Australia, with talks concluding on Friday (May 6).

According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, one of the four pillars of the CSP was strengthening people-to-people ties by facilitating tourism, cultural exchanges and educational opportunities. 

In this area, both countries have agreed in principle on a tailored multi-year visa agreement to facilitate travel and entry of Singaporeans who have been pre-vetted by the Government. 

An overarching memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the Singapore Tourism Board and Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) will establish strategic directions for further collaboration, including sharing research, data and market insights. 

According to Foreign Affairs Minister Vivian Balakrishnan, there are 50,000 Singaporeans who live in Australia, while 20,000 Australians live here. Every year, 400,000 Singaporeans visit Down Under while a million would make a trip in the other direction.

OVERSEAS STUDY OPPORTUNITIES TO GROW

There will also be more opportunities for students here to head to Australia for study and cultural exchanges, as part of the CSP. 

For instance, there will be a pilot internship programme that will aim to give 100 Singaporeans studying in Australia more internship opportunities with leading Australian companies, said MFA. 

A programme called the Building Relations through Intercultural Dialogue and Growing Engagement (BRIDGE) will also promote cultural exchange between schools from both countries using online learning and teacher exchanges. 

Up to eight Singaporean schools will be selected to participate and will be partnered with up to eight Australian schools, MFA said. 

Additionally, the Work and Holiday Maker Programme will start with up to 500 on each country's end. The programme aims to promote cultural exchange by allowing young people from Australia and Singapore to experience each other's country and undertake short-term work to supplement their holiday and cultural experience, it said. 

"With the new arrangements, these would make it more convenient and accessible for Singaporean and Australian tourists, business people, students and young people to travel," Dr Balakrishnan told reporters on Thursday.