Friends and teachers of the daughter of an expelled Syrian diplomat are trying to bring her back to Australia to complete her education, after she was thrown out of the country last night.

The 17-year-old has spent the past four years at Canberra schools and was just months from completing her year 12 certificate and International Baccalaureate.

The family of the Syrian charge d'affaires, Jawdat Ali, whose visas were based on his, were also expelled when a 72-hour ultimatum for him to leave Australia ran out at 5pm. They flew out of Canberra just on the deadline, then left Sydney later last night.

The Australian government expelled Mr Ali and another Syrian diplomat after the massacre at Houla.

Mr Ali's daughter spent most of the day saying goodbye to friends at Canberra College, where she was a popular student.

Her friends' parents, with the support of the school, have been trying to help her get a student visa, allowing her to complete her studies and several have offered to host her until the end of the year.

The college principal, John Stenhouse, said the girl was ''someone who we thought was worthy of some special consideration'', while one of her teachers, Judy Talberg, described her as ''collateral damage'' and appealed to the Foreign Affairs Minister, Bob Carr, to allow her to stay.

''The majority of her education has been done in Australia … It's absolutely tragic that she will not be able to continue on her education,'' Ms Talberg said.

''I don't see how this collateral damage of an extra young woman's future is going to make any difference to [the Syrian President, Bashar] al-Assad.''

A spokesman for Senator Carr said the expulsion applied to all members of Mr Ali's family because their visas were dependent on his visa.

Pleas Over Expulsion Of Envoy's Daughter