On 15th May 2024 the Department of Foreign Affairs and Travel (DFAT) updated their travel advice for travellers to reconsider their need to travel to Noumea, due to civil unrest, travel disruptions and limited essential services.
The University understands that travel to Noumea may be necessary, however the health and safety of all UQ travellers is a priority. To enable us to continue to protect the health, safety and wellbeing of our people, effective immediately:
- Travellers and travel approvers must re-assess whether travel to Noumea approved prior to 16 May 2024 is necessary and should be undertaken.
- UniTask approvals will be rescinded by UQ Travel and travellers will need to resubmit for High risk destination approval.
- If the planned travel is not going ahead, Withdraw the UniTask request.
- Any travel yet to be approved and / or booked should be deferred until further notice.
Travellers are advised to:
- Refer to Smartraveller for specific country advice
- Subscribe to Smartraveller updates
- Ensure travel details are registered with International SOS (ISOS)
- Download the International SOS (ISOS) mobile app to receive updates and alerts.
Travel Insurance
Travellers with confirmed bookings for travel to Noumea should continue to monitor the situation and investigate their options now for changing or cancelling their travel arrangements. Travellers should be aware of cost implications and time restrictions (e.g. cancellation window). If existing travel bookings to Noumea which were part of previously approved UQ travel are altered or cancelled, please be aware that:
- Where possible, costs should be recovered from the travel supplier, including airline, travel agent, accommodation, or other transport provider, before making an insurance claim.
- Travellers who will not be entitled to a full refund or credit, and therefore will need to make an insurance claim under UQ’s travel insurance, will be required to demonstrate that it was necessary to alter or cancel their journey. Cover for cancellation will therefore depend on the date of travel, the date on which you change your travel arrangements, and the situation in Noumea at the time of making that change.
- It is therefore recommended that, unless taking advantage of a full refund/credit window, you delay cancelling your travel until as close as reasonably practicable to your travel date, in case the position on travel improves. Cover may not be available for cancellation of travel arrangements that are several weeks away, unless cancellation is necessary for other reasons (e.g. where the purpose for travel no longer exists because it has been cancelled by a third party).
Contacts and further information
For more information regarding UQ’s travel insurance, please contact UQ Insurance Services.
UQ travellers with travel booked to Noumea can contact FCM Travel Solutions for assistance with changing travel plans if required. Bookings not made by FCM Travel Solutions, please contact the travel provider.
All approved travel should be registered with International SOS (ISOS), for more information please refer to UQ Travel.
Refer to the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) for more information on Noumea (New Caledonia):
DFAT Smart Traveller – New Caledonia
Travel emergency 24/7 contact
International SOS (ISOS) Assistance is the University’s 24/7 emergency contact.
Phone +61 2 9372 2468 (reverse charge available). If you do not have telephone access, email sydney@internationalsos.com.
Quote UQ membership number 12AYCA778031
The situation will continue to be monitored.
