The Department of Home Affairs requires students under the age of 18 to have appropriate accommodation and welfare arrangements while studying in Australia. It is a condition of a Student Visa that these arrangements be maintained. Failure to do so can result in visa cancellation. ACE has responsibilities to make sure arrangements are in place for students under 18. Please refer to our Handbook (hyper link to our handbook) for more information. Students who will be under 18 when they begin studying at Australian College of Excellence have two options for their accommodation and welfare arrangements.

1. Students stay in an accommodation and welfare arrangement approved by the Department of Home Affairs

Under Option 1, Australian College of Excellence does not issue the ‘Confirmation of Appropriate Accommodation and Welfare’ letter (CAAW), as the accommodation and welfare arrangements are approved directly by the Department of Home Affairs.

Typically, this means the student will be living in Australia with a parent or adult relative. Refer to the Department of Home Affairs for more information on Student Guardian Visas and other visa options.

For the College records, where students and their families select Option1, they must supply the following documents to the College Evidence that an applicant under 18 can be granted a visa (Signature Verifiable Document of Parents)

• • Personal Particulars for character assessment _ Online Form 80 (Of the Nominated Relative).
  • Certified copy of your birth certificate
  • Welfare Arrangements – Evidence of relationship to nominated relative.
  • Welfare arrangements along with ID proof of the nominated relative.
  • Welfare arrangements – overseas penal clearance for nominated relative.
  • Nominated relative- Character Requirements-Australian Federal Police (AFP), National Police Check (Complete Disclosure).

2. Students stay in an accommodation and welfare arrangement approved by Australian College of Excellence

Under Option 2, the student must have an arrangement with an approved carer service and a confirmed place in an approved homestay. ACE will issue a ‘Confirmation of Appropriate Accommodation and Welfare’ letter (CAAW) which can be used for an application for a student visa. It is important that students who are under 18 do not arrive in Australia before the date nominated on their CAAW confirmation letter (unless accompanied by a parent), as this can result in their visa being cancelled.

Step 1. You, or your agent, should contact ACE Admissions, who will send you some forms and information for under 18 international students and communicate with you to set up and approve the accommodation and welfare services. ACE Admissions will be the continuing people who manage the accommodation and welfare arrangements for under 18’s at our college.

Step 2. You or your agent should contact ACE Admissions to arrange a confirmed accommodation place. Here is the website link for the approved accommodation provider: Australian Homestay Network AHN (homestay) (hyper link)

Step 3. When the approved accommodation and welfare arrangements are in place, we will issue the CAAW letter to you.

For additional information, please CONTACT US