Government requirements

The following section provides information on requirements for international students set by the Australian Government and the state government of New South Wales (NSW).

Student visa requirements

To study in Australia as an international student, you need to apply for a student visa. To be eligible for a student visa, you need to meet the conditions set by the Australian Government Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC). To find out more about student visa requirements, visit the DIAC website at www.immi.gov.au/students.

Students under 18 years of age

Before you are granted a student visa, the Australian Government must be satisfied that you have appropriate accommodation, support and general welfare arrangements in place for the period that you will be under 18 years of age while in Australia.

It is up to each institution to decide whether they will accept responsibility for welfare arrangements for international students who are under 18 years of age. The following institutions accept this responsibility:
• Australian Maritime College (check www.international.utas.edu.au/index.php)
• The Australian National University* (check http://info.anu.edu.au/StudyAt/International_Office/student_life/Under18.asp)
• Macquarie University (check www.international.mq.edu.au/study/apply/Studentsunder18yearsofage)
• Southern Cross University (check www.scu.edu.au/international)
• University of Newcastle (check www.newcastle.edu.au/internationalstudents/commencing/visa.html).

*The Australian National University only accepts responsibility for students who turn 18 within the first six weeks of semester.

For more information on accommodation, support and general welfare arrangements and any restrictions that may apply, check each institution’s entry.

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Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC)

The Australian Government requires all international students on a student visa and their dependants to purchase an approved Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) policy from a registered health benefits organisation (usually referred to as a health fund) for the duration of their visas.

What is OSHC?

OSHC is insurance that provides cover on the costs for medical and hospital care which international students may need while in Australia. OSHC will also pay for most prescription drugs and emergency ambulance transport.

OSHC ensures that international students have adequate health care arrangements during their stay in Australia without undue financial hardship.

Who provides OSHC and what does it cover?

The Australian Government's Department of Health and Ageing Care has a website with detailed information. Visit www.health.gov.au/internet/main/Publishing.nsf/Content/privatehealth-consumers-overseascover.htm and read the FAQs for information on:
• who needs OSHC
• registered OSHC providers
• details of what is covered
• OSHC eligibility.

OSHC does not cover dental treatment. As dental services in Australia are expensive you should have your teeth checked and any necessary dental work completed before you leave home.

When and how do I organise OSHC?

OSHC is compulsory and is not included in your tuition fees. If you are coming to Australia for the first time on a student visa, you must pay for your OSHC before you leave home. You will be required to pay your OSHC charge at the same time that you pay your tuition fee deposit.

Your institution will help you to organise your initial OSHC membership – check each institution’s entry for its preferred OSHC provider and payment details. Note that you can choose your own OSHC provider from the list of registered OSHC providers.

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Education Services for Overseas Students (ESOS) framework

Institutions that process their applications through UAC International conduct their activities within the ESOS framework.

There are five pieces of law that make up the ESOS legislative framework:
• Education Services for Overseas Students (ESOS) Act 2000
• Education Services for Overseas Students (ESOS) Regulations 2001
• National Code of Practice for Registration Authorities and Providers of Education and Training to Overseas Students (National Code)
• Education Services for Overseas Students (Registration Charges) Act 1997
• ESOS Assurance Fund Act.

For more information and to download these documents, visit www.aei.dest.gov.au/AEI/ESOS/default.htm.

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Working while studying

As an international student, you can work in paid employment for up to 20 hours a week, and unlimited hours during vacation periods at your institution. You can apply for permission to work once your course has started. You must apply to DIAC for permission to work. You should not rely on working to fund your tuition or living expenses while in Australia as work cannot be guaranteed and spending excessive amounts of time working may adversely affect your studies. For more information visit www.immi.gov.au/students/students/working_while_studying/index.htm.

Some institutions provide guidance about local employment opportunities – check each institution’s entry for more information.

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Special NSW government policies

The following information relates to specific policies of the NSW government. While most of the courses available through UAC are for institutions in NSW, UAC also processes courses for institutions in the ACT, Queensland, Victoria and Tasmania. Similar policies to those described below may also apply in those states.

The NSW Government has special requirements and policies for students in both health-related and teacher education courses.

These requirements relate to:
• clinical/internship placements which must be undertaken as part of your course and
• procedures for employment after you have completed the course.
  
  Note: Policies in this area are subject to regular review.

Note: From 1 January 2009 there will be changes to the English and Mathematics requirements for teachers - see below.

Health-related courses

Criminal record checks
The NSW Department of Health requires all students in health-related courses to undergo a criminal record check. The criminal record check must be completed before a student can attend any clinical placement in a Public Health facility.

Students must give their consent to the check by submitting a signed consent form as well as providing to the institution identification of themselves (via 100 point ID) through their institution. Consent forms are available from institutions and the checks are co-ordinated by the Department of Health. There may be a cost to the student and/or institution to conduct this check.

When the check is completed the student will be issued with a student Clinical Placement Authority through their institution. The original Authority must be produced whenever they attend a clinical placement and must not be photocopied or duplicated in any way. If it is damaged, lost or misplaced, or a student has an enquiry regarding the Clinical Placement Authority, they should contact their clinical co-ordinator. A Clinical Placement Authority may be replaced on application from the student and on payment of a fee. This information can be found at www.health.nsw.gov.au/audit/students/index.html.

If a check reveals offences it does not necessarily exclude a student from a clinical placement. Each circumstance is assessed in a confidential consultation between the student and a representative of the Department of Health.

Child Protection legislation also imposes a requirement to declare serious sexual offences. The institution will require a student to complete a Prohibited Employment Declaration prior to any clinical placement. A student shall sign the Declaration and return it to their institution which will retain it for its records. The Health Department does not issue or administer this Declaration.

Infectious diseases
Students required to complete clinical training in the NSW hospital system will be subject to various guidelines and procedures laid down for health workers by the NSW Department of Health, including guidelines regarding infectious diseases.

In the hospital system you will be exposed to a large number and variety of individuals, and this may place you at risk of acquiring one of these diseases. In other cases, if you have a communicable disease you may place your clients at risk. Therefore, you are required to be protected against a range of vaccine-preventable infectious diseases and screened for tuberculosis.

Information about the specified infectious diseases and the requirements of the NSW Health policy can be found at www.health.nsw.gov.au/ohs_vaccination/.

If you do not have the required documentary evidence of protection against the specified diseases you will not be accepted for clinical placement in the NSW health system and your progress in the course will be affected.

Some categories of health care workers – nurses, doctors, dentists, dental technicians, podiatrists and physiotherapists – also have regulated individual responsibility with regard to infection control. You should familiarise yourself with these responsibilities.

Health care workers who are either HIV antibody positive or Hepatitis B e-antigen or Hepatitis B DNA positive or Hepatitis C PCR positive must not perform exposure prone procedures. Expert medical advice should be obtained by infected people on their infectious status and the extent to which this may limit their clinical practice.

Teacher education courses

Working with children check
The NSW Government is committed to providing a safe and caring environment for children. Under the Commission for Children and Young People Act 1998 and the Commission for Children and Young People Amendment Act 2005, employers are required to implement what is referred to as the Working with Children Check. These Acts also establish employment screening requirements for child-related employment in NSW.

All teacher education students must complete a Prohibited Employment Declaration before commencing their initial practicum or internship placement in a NSW school. In signing the Declaration a student is declaring that they have not been convicted of any prohibited or registrable offence that would preclude them from working in child-related employment in NSW.

Teacher education students will be unable to undertake practical course requirements in NSW government schools if they are prohibited persons.

It is an offence for a prohibited person to apply for, remain in or undertake child-related employment. It is also an offence to make a false declaration.

In addition, a national criminal records check is undertaken once the student completes a Consent to Employment Screening and involves:
• a Working with Children Check
• an Australia-wide check for relevant criminal records
• a check for relevant apprehended violence orders and
• a check of relevant employment proceedings.

A national criminal records check is required before a student teacher or associate teacher is approved to commence an internship placement. This check assists organisations to select suitable staff to work with children.

For further details contact the course co-ordinator/s at the institutions.

NSW Institute of Teachers
Teachers who were first employed to teach in a NSW school after 1 October 2004, or who have returned to teaching in a NSW school after 1 October 2004 after an absence of five years or more, are defined as new scheme teachers by the Institute of Teachers Act 2004. In order to be employed as a teacher in NSW, new scheme teachers must meet the accreditation requirements of the NSW Institute of Teachers, including payment of an annual fee. Information on the NSW Institute of Teachers is available at www.nswteachers.nsw.edu.au or 1300 739 338.

English and Mathematics requirements for teachers*
*new requirements as advised by the NSW Institute of Teachers – effective 1 January 2009

Primary teachers in NSW schools
Teacher education students seeking employment as primary teachers in NSW schools must have achieved a Higher School Certificate minimum Band 4 in English Advanced, Standard English or English as a Second Language, and Band 4 in General Mathematics, or completion of Mathematics or Extension Mathematics to an equivalent standard.

Where you do not meet these entry requirements, a tertiary institution may offer concurrent study or appropriate bridging units and/or require satisfactory performance in approved tests in literacy and numeracy before graduation.

For further details contact the course co-ordinator/s at the institutions and read institutions' course descriptions in the course search.

Secondary teachers in NSW schools
Teacher education students seeking employment as secondary teachers in NSW schools must have achieved a Higher School Certificate minimum Band 4 in English Advanced, Standard English or English as a Second Language.

Where you do not meet these entry requirements, a tertiary institution may offer concurrent study or appropriate bridging units and/or require satisfactory performance in an approved test in literacy before graduation.

For further details contact the course co-ordinator/s at the institutions and read institutions' course descriptions in the course search.

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