- What is this policy about?
- This policy outlines the care, accommodation and welfare arrangements for overseas fee-paying students enrolled in ACT public schools, with specific focus on those under 18 years.
- Policy Statement
- As a registered CRICOS provider, the ACT Education Directorate (Directorate) complies with the legislative framework of the Education Services for Overseas Students Act (Clth) 2000 (ESOS Act) and the National Code of Practice 2018 (National Code).
- Standard 5 of the National Code references responsibilities of the registered CRICOS provider regarding accommodation, support and general welfare arrangements for younger overseas students (under 18 years).
- Who does this policy apply to?
- This policy applies to overseas students who hold visa subclass 500 (school sector) and are enrolled in ACT public schools.
- Context
- under 18 years a visa subclass 500 (school sector), it must be demonstrated that they have adequate arrangements in place for their accommodation, support and general welfare for the duration of their stay in Australia or until they turn 18 years.
- Visa 500 students in the Directorate’s international education program may:
- live with a parent, legal guardian or nominated relative who satisfies the DHA eligibility criteria;
- reside with a family friend who is over 21 years and registered in the Directorate’s Family, Friends and Relatives Program (FFaRP), noting that the student must be at least 16 years;
- request a placement in the Directorate’s Homestay Program, for which the minimum age is 16 years;
- apply to live independently if 18 years or older, fulfils Directorate criteria (listed in the application form) and has been in approved Homestay arrangements for at least six months.
- The Directorate holds care, accommodation and welfare (CAaW) responsibility for those overseas students in Homestay or the FFaRP. All persons over 18 years in these households (excluding the overseas student) must acquire, and maintain, a current Working with Vulnerable People registration.
- In managing emergency situations and when welfare arrangements are disrupted for students under 18 years, depending on context and capacity, the Directorate may:
- negotiate an alternative Homestay;
- identify extended family members or other trusted, approved (under the DHA guidelines) adults willing to accept temporary care;
- arrange overnight or short term motel booking for the overseas student and a responsible adult (eg a Youth Worker to support out of hours duty of care);
- re-purpose or setup a shared facility (eg. Birrigai) for a limited period, noting there are implications for interagency co-operation.
- Responsibilities
- International Education Unit (IEU):The IEU is responsible for:
- providing clarity to the DHA of the dates for which CAaW applies and notifying changes promptly (eg registered provider unexpectedly unable to continue or parent circumstances change such that they become available to offer care);
- immediately informing the student’s parents or guardian if the Directorate is no longer able to approve the welfare arrangements of the student and working with them to ensure student well-being is maintained;
- making all reasonable efforts to locate, and account for the safety of, any overseas student not responding to contact (including notifying the police or other relevant agencies);
- initial approval for, and on-going monitoring of, suitability of the living environments and conditions in Homestay or FFaRP arrangements;
- revising accommodation arrangements, without break in continuity, if issues arise that are not successfully mediated;
- ensuring overseas students receive timely, age- and culturally-appropriate information to support their orientation to, and on-going participation in, the international education program;
- regularly communicating with host and overseas families to inform and reassure in relation to social, cultural integration, well-being and academic aspects of the student’s transition;
- negotiating the transfer date of welfare arrangements with a releasing registered provider to ensure no gap, if relevant to an enrolment;
- informing students and parents of their visa obligation to maintain welfare arrangements until transfer date or have alternative arrangements approved or return to their home country temporarily;
- continuing to provide welfare for students if enrolment is suspended or cancelled, until:
- another registered provider approves welfare arrangements; or
- the DHA approves care by a parent or nominated relative; or
- the student leaves Australia; or
- the Directorate notifies the DHA it is no longer able to approve the student’s welfare arrangements or has taken required action after not being able to contact the student.
- Accommodation Host: Hosts in Homestay or FFaRP are responsible for:
- their ability, potential and career aspirations;
- maintaining currency of Working with Vulnerable People registration;
- attending at least one information forum annually, facilitated by the IEU;
- providing a suitably furnished room, bathroom and laundry access as well as daily meals;
- offering to students a family experience in a safe and nurturing environment that supports English language and cultural immersion;
- contributing constructively to solutions focused, home-based roundtable mediation, as needed;
- giving adequate notice, if temporarily unable to host, so that other options can be sourced.
- Overseas Students: Students are responsible for:
- observing the conditions of their visa, respecting household rules and engaging positively in their cultural experience;
- participating in mediated roundtables to clarify and resolve issues that may arise at their accommodation (eg conflict about lifestyle or dietary choices across cultures);
- notifying any changes to contact details and being responsive to calls or texts from their families, hosts and the IEU team.
- Policy Owner: The Executive Branch Manager Universal School Support is responsible for this policy.
- International Education Unit (IEU):The IEU is responsible for:
- Monitoring and Review
- The Policy Owner monitors the policy. This includes an annual scan of operation and review. A full review of the policy will be conducted within a three year period.
- Contact
- For support, contact the IEU on (02) 6205 9178 or via email at ieu@act.gov.au.
- Complaints
- Any concerns about the application of this policy or the policy itself, should be raised with:
- the IEU via email at ieu@act.gov.au or by phone on (02) 6205 9178 in the first instance;
- contact the Directorate’s Families and Students, Complaints and Feedback Unit on (02) 6205 5429.
- online at http://www.education.act.gov.au/contact_us.
- see also the Complaints Policy on the Directorate’s website.
- Any concerns about the application of this policy or the policy itself, should be raised with:
- References
- Legislation
- Implementation Documents
- Overseas Students: Homestay Procedure
- Overseas Students: Guidelines for Students Holding Visa Subclass 500 (School Sector)
- Overseas Students: Accommodation Inspection Report
- Overseas Students: Homestay Registration and Placement Flowchart
- Overseas Students: Resolving Homestay Concerns Flowchart
- Related Policies and Information
- IEU Operations Plan
- IEU Risk Matrix
is the unique identifier of this document. It is the responsibility of the user to verify that this is the current and complete version of the document, available on the Directorate’s website at http://www.education.act.gov.au/publications_and_policies/school_and_corporate_policies/A-Z/.
Policy Identifier: 00096
Published: June 2020
Policy is current until: June 2023
Implementation Documents:
Related Policies and Information:
- IEU Operations Plan
- IEU Risk Matrix