As COVID-19 continues to impact all aspects of our lives, the Consular State of Play 2020-21 details how DFAT’s consular officers around the globe have continued to help keep Australians safe overseas while providing high-quality consular services throughout the pandemic.
This includes support for over 38,700 cases of assistance for Australians in difficulty overseas.
Serving as DFAT’s annual statistic snapshot of consular services, Consular State of Play 2020–21 reveals the unprecedented level of Australian Government support for Australians overseas. The report shows the increased scale and complexity of the Government’s support to Australians abroad during the past financial year and offers insight into the largest and most significant consular response in Australian history.
During 2020-21, with the support of government and industry partners, DFAT assisted more than 23,300 Australians and permanent residents to return to Australia, including 11,700 on 80 government facilitated commercial flights. DFAT also provided more than $34 million of financial support through the Special Overseas Hardship Program.
In addition, more than 15,000 Australians were provided with consular services, with a focus on the most vulnerable. This included welfare support for over 4,300 Australians in difficulty, assistance for over 1,300 families who had a loved one die overseas as well as for hundreds of Australians who were hospitalised, assaulted, arrested or detained.
As international travel resumes, the Australian Government remains focused on keeping Australians safe overseas and delivering continued high-quality consular services. COVID-19 remains a global health risk and will continue to affect international travel for some time. In this complex travel environment, Australian Government support will focus on preparing Australians for the new challenges of travel and continuing to support those most in need.
Australia provides one of the most comprehensive consular services in the world. However, there are limits to the assistance the Government can provide. In reading the Consular State of Play 2020-21, Australians who choose to travel overseas are reminded to understand the risks and be prepared. Travel insurance is essential.
Australians planning international travel should visit the Smartraveller for the latest travel advice for their destination, and familiarise themselves with the Consular Services Charter to understand the extent of Australian Government support for Australians overseas.
More information
- View the Minister of Foreign Affairs Consular State of Play 2020-21 video message
- Read the full Consular State of Play 2020-21 (PDF 11.6MB)
- Read the Consular State of Play 2020-21 Snapshot (PDF 2.28MB)