Services

Role of the Guardian/Care-Giver

The Guardian/Care Giver is an independent person whom the student can rely upon for guidance, advice and support on a range of issues, including academic progress, coaching, personal welfare, social and emotional issues, financial guidance, general safety and security. We recommend the guardian is totally independent from the education provider and accommodation provider. An essential component is establishing a trusting relationship with the student. This can only be achieved through regular and sustained personal visits and telephone contact. We provide the following services to students, parents and education providers:

• We visit and independently inspect the student's accommodation, giving parents, education providers and accommodation companies a totally independent opinion. Mediate disputes h3|between the student and home stay host should they arise.
• We offer a full security and safety orientation of the city and suburbs, including topics such as transport, entertainment venues, how to call for emergency assistance, police, ambulance, and medical emergencies.
• Liaise with the student concerning any grievances of the student in relation to the student's accommodation facility.
• Notify the educational institution of any unresolved grievances the student may have regarding home stay or other accommodation facility.
• Represent the student in liaising with the educational institution at which the student attends, including assisting the student lodge any grievance on behalf of the student to the principal or director of the educational institution at which the student attends.
• Provide twenty-four (24) hour, seven days a week telephone advice and emergency assistance if required.
• We send school reports home to the parents (if supplied by the education provider). We also regularly update parents on the students general well being and progress. These reports can be translated.
• Maintain regular contact with the student.
• Liaise with the educational Institution on behalf of the parent, including signing documents with the educational institution on behalf of the parents.
• Referral and assistance on personal problems.
• We assist the student open bank accounts and organise their finances.
• Explain local laws and visa regulations to the students to ensure compliance
• Attend parent teacher interviews when requested
• Attend school orientation days if possible
• Assist students book airplane tickets to travel home during holiday periods if required
• Assist students purchase a mobile phone or sim cards if required. Show the students where to buy phone cards, where the good student shops and restaurants are.
• Assist students make appointments and use medical services

General VISA Requirements & Regulations for Students.

The below information is intended as a guide only, for full visa conditions/requirements please visit the The Department of Immigration and Citizenship website at http://www.immi.gov.au/students/students/570-1/eligibility-student-18.htm

WARNING: IF FOR ANY REASON AFTER ARRIVING IN AUSTRALIA YOUR VISA IS TO BE CANCELLED OR A RENEWAL APPLICATION IS REFUSED, PLEASE SEEK THE IMMEDIATE ADVICE OF YOUR GUARDIAN AND/OR EDUCATION PROVIDER. INDEPENDENT ADVICE SHOULD BE SOUGHT BEFORE DECIDING TO APPEAL A DECISION, RE-LODGE AN APPLICATION OR ENGAGE THE SERVICES OF A REGISTERED MIGRATION AGENT.

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Accommodation & General Welfare Arrangements for Students Under 18 Years of Age

If you are under 18 years of age, you must have acceptable arrangements for your accommodation, support and general welfare. You must show that you will either:

• live in Australia with your parent or legal custodian
• live in Australia with a relative over 21 years of age nominated by your parent or legal custodian

or

• go into care that has been approved by your education provider.

You must provide one of the following:

• a signed statement from your education provider confirming arrangements have been made for your accommodation, support and general welfare in Australia
• the Student Welfare Declaration Form completed by your parents or your legal custodian.

See: Student Welfare Declaration form (28KB PDF file) http://www.immi.gov.au/students/_pdf/student-welfare-declaration.pdf

From 1 July 2007 students under the age of 18 will be required to show evidence of adequate arrangements for welfare when they lodge a student visa application in Australia. See: Welfare arrangements for student visa applications lodged in Australia http://www.immi.gov.au/students/students/welfare-arrange.htm

Welfare arrangements approved by the education provider

If your welfare arrangements are approved by the education provider, you must submit evidence of the following with your student visa application: 1 Confirmation of Appropriate Accommodation and Welfare (CAAW) letter 2 Commencement date of welfare arrangements must start:

• Prior to the date of lodgement

or

• Date of lodgement

or

• Day after end of current student visa.

Note: Student visa holders under the age of 18 and in Australia will only be able to lodge their application online, if their welfare arrangements are approved by their education provider. Students whose welfare arrangements are provided by a parent, legal custodian or suitable relative will only be able to lodge a paper application.

Living with a relative

If you will be living with a relative, your nominated relative must:

• be one of the following
• brother or sister
• step-brother or step-sister
• step-parent
• grandparent
• step-grandparent
• aunt or uncle
• step-aunt or step-uncle
• niece or nephew
• step-niece or step-nephew
• be aged over 21 years of age
• be eligible to remain in Australia until your visa expires or you turn 18 (whichever happens first)
• show that they are of good character, by providing a police clearance from the countries in which they have lived for more than 12 months in the past 10 years after the age of 16.

See: Form 47P Character requirement: police certificates (130KB PDF file) http://www.immi.gov.au/allforms/pdf/47p.pdf

Student Obligations

You must uphold your visa conditions while studying and living in Australia or your visa may be canceled and you may have to leave Australia.

Students Under 18 Years of Age

If your education provider approved your accommodation, support and general welfare arrangements, you must have the education provider's written approval provider to change these arrangements.

Course enrollment and attendance

You must remain enrolled in a full-time registered course. Important: You must attend at least 80 percent of the contact hours for each term or semester of your course. If the course is shorter than a term or semester, you must attend 80 percent of the contact hours for the duration of the course.

Academic results

You must have satisfactory academic results for each term or semester of your course. If your course is shorter than a term or semester, you must have satisfactory academic results for the duration of the course. Your education provider will advise the department if your results are not satisfactory. The definition of 'satisfactory' is determined by your education provider.

Health Insurance

You must maintain health insurance for you and your family members while in Australia. Health insurance can be provided by obtaining Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) which provides medical and hospital insurance.

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Changing provider within first 12 months

You must stay with your education provider for the first 12 months of your course. If the course is less than 12 months, you must stay for the duration of the course. If you are doing a pre-requisite course, you must stay with that education provider for the length of the course, and then with the education provider of your main course for the first 12 months. Under the conditions described above, you can only change your education provider in exceptional circumstances. If you are changing your education provider, you must tell your current education provider within seven days of receiving an electronic Confirmation of Enrolment from the new education provider. You must complete Form 157C. See: Form 157C Application for a student visa with permission to change education provider (100KB PDF file) http://www.immi.gov.au/allforms/pdf/157c.pdf

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