210,000 international students will have access to 24/7 support amid rising safety and wellbeing concerns

Leading health, wellbeing and safety company Sonder has today announced a renewed partnership with Allianz Partners Australia that will see 210,000 international students have access to its platform.

International students who are the primary policyholder of an Allianz Care Australia Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) policy will gain access to Sonder’s advanced digital platform, offering 24/7 confidential support for safety, medical and mental health needs via chat or phone, at no extra cost.

The extended partnership comes following the recent establishment of the National Student Ombudsman by the Australian Government in response to concerning levels of gender-based violence uncovered in the 2021 Universities Australia National Student Safety Survey.

In 2024, Sonder provided personalised app-based safety and wellbeing alerts, journey monitoring and safety checks for thousands of international students, as well as conducting thousands of active clinical and sub-clinical cases via 24/7 chat, phone, and immediate in-person response.

Anxiety was the most prevalent outcome from support cases making up 50 per cent of those with concerning outcomes. Allianz Partners Australia’s upcoming 2024 State of Student Healthcare report sheds light on the pressing issues facing international students more generally. More than a quarter of students (26.4%) struggle with their mental health, and 22.4% admitted to feeling like their lives lacked meaning.

The most popular Sonder help articles viewed in 2024 included ‘Cheap student food staples’ and ‘Snake season in Australia’. Alarmingly, Allianz Partners Australia and Foodbank Australia’s soon to be released report identified that 80% of international students worry about having enough food, with 79% skipping meals due to cost.

Allianz Partners Executive Head of Health, Miranda Fennell, endorsed the partnership. “Allianz Partners Australia is committed to supporting our customers in the moments that matter. The soon to be released 2024 State of Student Healthcare Report revealed that 60% of students are concerned about out-of-pocket healthcare costs, a major barrier to seeking medical treatment. Through our partnership with Sonder, OSHC policyholders will have access to 24/7 support to help navigate challenging situations and the complex health and wellbeing landscape in Australia, all at no additional cost.”

Griffith University Director, Student Health, Counselling and Wellbeing, Emma Morgan expressed the benefits of the Sonder partnership for student wellbeing.

“We are grateful to have Sonder as a vital support resource for our international students at Griffith University. It’s reassuring to know that Sonder is available 24/7 to provide comprehensive assistance in health, medical, safety, and wellbeing matters.

Sonder’s app offers immediate access to professionally curated resources and connects students with qualified care professionals in seconds, ensuring timely and tailored support. It’s also a good option for our Mental Health Nurses and Counselling and Wellbeing team to refer students to, should they need this level of care.

This partnership enhances our commitment to student welfare, providing an additional layer of support that complements the services we offer,” said Emma.

Sonder CEO Craig Cowdrey said the ongoing partnership with Allianz Partners has delivered excellent outcomes for international students in Australia and peace of mind for their families and friends back home.

“It is daunting for international students to integrate into unfamiliar surroundings without the right support. There are tangible safety challenges navigating their way to and from class late at night, they may be suffering from home sickness, or stress related anxiety, which is why it is more important than ever to access immediate, 24/7, safety, medical, and mental health care.

Sonder is proud to continue our work with Allianz Partners Australia to support a vulnerable and vital community attending education institutions in Australia. We look forward to helping more students live and study safely, and be in the best physical and mental health possible,” he said.

Now in its seventh year, the partnership supported over 36,000 students in 2024, including those at Monash University, Griffith University, the University of Queensland, and many other educational institutions across Australia.

About Sonder

Sonder is a leading safety, medical, and mental health support platform that helps organisations protect their people and mitigate risk. Available 24/7, Sonder’s proactive and on-demand support connects employees and students to expert guidance, real-time safety monitoring, and immediate assistance when they need it most.