WELFARE & ACCOMMODATION POLICY

All Firbank students who are on a Confirmation of Appropriate Accommodation and Welfare (CAAW) letter are the responsibility of Firbank.

Students are not permitted to live independently or without supervision. If a student is in Australia on their own, Firbank Grammar is mandated by law to undertake responsibility to make arrangements in regard to accommodation.

ACCOMMODATION

Firbank Grammar School has an obligation under the ESOS Act and the National Code of Practice 2018 to ensure all overseas students have appropriate accommodation and welfare arrangements in place for the entire period the student is enrolled at the school.

Students under the Age of 13

For students under the age of 13 seeking entry to the School, the School, under VRQA guidelines, will only accept the student if they are accommodated in the Boarding House or will be living with a parent. The following procedures will apply:

1.

2. A member of the Firbank International Operations Team will visit the student at their place of residence to confirm that the student is living with a parent. A copy of the parent’s passport and visa must be provided and will be placed in the students file. 3.

4. A signed letter stating that the student is residing with a parent must be provided to the International Student Co-Ordinator and will be placed in the student’s file. If the parent returns to their country of origin, then, in order for the student to remain in the School, they would need to transfer their accommodation arrangements to the Boarding House.

Students aged 13 and above

Students under the age of 18 must have acceptable arrangements for their accommodation, support and general welfare for the duration of their student visa. Students have three options. They may either: 1. live with a parent or legal custodian 2. live with a relative as approved by the

Department of Home Affairs (DHA) 3. or live in Australia under a welfare arrangement that has been approved by Firbank Grammar School

Option 1

If a student’s parent or legal custodian is providing welfare for the student during their stay in Australia, the student’s family will need to provide proof of the relationship to DHA for the purposes of visa application and the family is fully responsible for the welfare of the child.

In this instance the school does not issue a Confirmation of Accommodation and Welfare (CAAW) letter and is not 29

responsible for approving the student’s accommodation, support and welfare arrangements for the duration of the student’s visa

Option 2

If a DHA approved relative is providing the welfare and accommodation for the student during their stay in Australia, the student’s parents and/or legal custodians will need to give their permission for this arrangement and the relative must be

nominated on the School Application for Enrolment form and the visa application form and be one of the following:

Brother or sister, stepbrother or stepsister, step-parent, grandparent, stepgrandparent, aunt or uncle, step-aunt or step-uncle, niece or nephew, step-niece or step-nephew, spouse; and also be aged over 21 years of age, be eligible to remain in Australia until the student’s visa expires and be of good character.

In this instance the school does not issue a Confirmation of Accommodation and Welfare (CAAW) letter and is not responsible for approving the student’s accommodation, support and welfare arrangements for the duration of the student’s visa.

Option 3

If the school is responsible for approving the student’s welfare and accommodation arrangements, the school issues a CAAW letter, which gives an undertaking to approve appropriate accommodation, support and welfare arrangements for the student for the duration of the student’s visa. Approved appropriate accommodation is: • Firbank Grammar School Boarding

House • Home stay arranged by Firbank

Grammar School

THE BOARDING HOUSE

Firbank is proud of its long tradition of providing an excellent and well-balanced education. Firbank is one of the few Independent girls’ schools in Victoria to offer boarding facilities. The School is located in the bayside suburb of Brighton providing easy access to the Central Business District of Melbourne, major cultural and sporting venues, and interstate and overseas transport terminals.

The Boarding House has been an important part of the School since its foundation in 1909. Set in extensive gardens on the Senior School Campus at Brighton, the Boarding House is home to students from overseas, Victoria and interstate.

The Head of the Boarding House and her staff are experienced carers who look after the safety and well-being of boarders. They are supported by the Health Centre Manager who is on duty during school days. A medical clinic is located close to the School should the students require a doctor’s attention. On weekends, Boarders have supervised access to School facilities including a 25 metre heated indoor pool, gymnasium, tennis courts and playing fields.

In order to ensure an environment conducive to study, Boarders have supervised study times, their own desks and access to computer facilities. Accommodation is mostly twin-share in light, well-appointed rooms.

Within limits set by Boarding House staff and parents or guardians, girls are given the opportunity to leave the School for recreational purposes or to spend weekends with approved hosts. Suitable notice must be given to the Head of Boarding and host families and their accommodation will be assessed according to Firbank’s Younger Overseas Students Accommodation Arrangements Policy before permission for the stay is given. Host families will be required for long weekends (one per term) and for Term holidays when the Boarding House is closed.

Under the guidance of experienced Boarders, girls quickly develop self-reliance and become involved in the co-curricular program, where they have traditionally made a significant contribution.

HOME STAY/HOST FAMILIES ARRANGED BY FIRBANK GRAMMAR SCHOOL

Satisfactory accommodation is vital to a student’s happiness and progress at the School. Accommodations should provide the security and stability of a properly regulated home life and these arrangements must be approved by the School.

Homestay arrangements will be facilitated through Firbank’s International Student Coordinator. Prospective homestay providers are visited to ensure the accommodation is suitable. Our expectations of homestay parents are explained and Working With Children checks are required. A member of the International Operations Department then regularly visits all students in current homestay to monitor living conditions and supervision and to discuss any concerns either party may have.

The host family is a vital point of contact with the Australian way of life and plays an important role in assisting overseas students to understand Australian culture. A host assists the parents and the School by providing a comfortable and secure environment for an overseas student. Hosts must be treated with respect and courtesy at all times.

Any change of homestay accommodation during an overseas student’s time at Firbank must be approved by the School and recorded on an appropriate form.

The School will not approve overseas students living alone in rooms or flats or sharing flats or houses with other students.

The school requires written notice from parents of any changes to welfare and accommodation arrangements and these changes must be approved by the school. The student is obliged to notify the school immediately of any change of address 32 while enrolled at the school. This is to ensure that any notification sent to the student advising of visa breaches are sent to the student’s current address.

LOCAL SUPPORT PERSON

As an enhancement to Firbank’s internal welfare program, an approved Local Support Person is arranged by Firbank Grammar School through its contracted student support and counselling agency ISA Guardian & Welfare Services, which provides paid additional support, counselling and translation services to assist with communication to students, school staff, parents and legal guardians.

SUSPENSION AND CANCELLATION POLICY IN RELATION TO ACCOMMODATION

If the School suspends or cancels the enrolment of a student, the School will continue to monitor the suitability of arrangements for that student until: • the student is accepted by another registered provider • the student leaves Australia • other arrangements are made that comply with the migration regulations • the School reports to Department of Home Affairs that it no longer approves the arrangements for the student

APPOINTING AN EDUCATION AGENT

Firbank Grammar has signed agreements with educational agents in a number of countries. You can check our website to see a current list of agents we recommend.

Education agents promote various Australian education programs and institutions internationally and are a good way for students to apply to study in Australia. Agents are experienced in assisting with international student applications and applying for visas. Most speak both English and the local language so this makes the application process a lot simpler and generally hassle free for students and parents. Most do not charge for their service as they collect a commission from the School you choose to attend. However, some agents do charge small amounts or offer additional services for which they charge.