International Student Program

ACCOMMODATION

1. The Department Home Affairs requires any IPS student who is under 18 years of age to reside with a guardian, nominated family friend or a relative or homestay host. Failure to comply with this visa condition will result in the cancellation of your enrollment.

2. Students over the age of 18 must stay in an approved homestay accommodation or with an approved family friend or relative for a minimum period of six months after arrival.

   1. You may apply to move into independent accommodation once you turn 18 years of age.

   2. You must complete the Application for Independent Living form and hand it in to the IPS Coordinator to approve and process.

COURSE PROGRESS

1. The Department of Home Affairs requires you to demonstrate satisfactory course progress during the period of your enrollment at the college.

2. Where you fail a unit of study/V grade, you will be referred to the IEU and written intervention strategies will be put in place.

3. Where you fail/V grade two units of study a report to both the Commonwealth Department of Education and Training and Department of Home Affairs will be made for non-compliance with visa conditions.

ATTENDANCE

1. You are expected to attend all scheduled course contact hours. You must attend a minimum 90% of scheduled course contact hours.

2. All absences including those explained or accompanied by a medical certificate are included in this overall attendance calculation.

3. Should attendance fall below 95%, you will be referred to IEU and written intervention strategies will be put in place.

4. Should attendance fall below 90% a report to the Commonwealth Department of Education and Training and the Department of Home Affairs and will be made for non-compliance with visa conditions.

STUDENT BEHAVIOR

1. You are required to comply with the relevant ACT Public School’s Code of Conduct, and these guidelines.

2. You must comply with all visa conditions. Involvement in any activity that may endanger your own safety, or the safety of any other person, or behavior that could lead to police criminal charges, will result in the termination of enrollment.

3. Misbehavior also includes breaches of the Guidelines for Participants in the Homestay Program for IPS Students and includes formal suspension from school.

4. If unacceptable student behavior is identified or occurs, a report to the Commonwealth Department of Education and Training and the Department of Home Affairs and will be made for non-compliance with visa conditions.

STUDENT TRAVEL

1. You must adhere to student travel requirements as outlined in the Travel for International Fee Paying Students policy.

2. Any interstate or overseas travel needs to be approved by the IEU. You must submit your completed travel forms to your IPS Coordinator prior to Week 7 of each term to approve and process.

PART-TIME WORK

1. The Education Directorate permits international students enrolled in an ACT public school to work a maximum of 10 hours per week during the academic school year. There is no limit to the hours a student may work during school holiday periods.

2. The primary objective of part-time work is to assist students in their English language proficiency. It is not designed to supplement the student’s regular income provided by parents.

3. Voluntary, unpaid work is not included in the 10 hours per week limit if it is of benefit to the community or is for a non-for-profit organisation.

4. Before commencing paid employment, all students must apply for a Tax File Number. Application can be made to the Australian Taxation Office. Their website contains more information and clear instructions on what you need to do to apply for a Tax File Number.

5. All workers in Australia (including visa holders with permission to work) have rights under Australian workplace law. The Fair Work Ombudsman website provides information on pay rates, shift calculations, leave arrangement and other information.