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Australian parliament has recently set-up a commetee to recommend some amendments regarding overseas student and had taken following actions:
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Summary of Recommendations |
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Recommendation 1 |
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The committee recommends that international students be provided with personal safety information
including reporting requirements, prior to coming to Australia. This should be reinforced at the
orientation session provided by the relevant provider. |
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Recommendation 2 |
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The committee supports public transport concessions for international students. It recommends that the
Commonwealth again recommend to the states of Victoria and New South Wales that they introduce such travel
concessions for international students. |
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Recommendation 3 |
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The committee also recommends that all states undertake an audit of the travel
concessions given to international students with the aim of standardising them. |
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Recommendation 4 |
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The committee recommends that education and training providers should be required to provide up to
date information on their website regarding accommodation in Australia, including information
regarding tenancy rights and responsibilities. This may be via a link to the Study in Australia website,
however, it may also include more localised information. |
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Recommendation 5 |
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The committee recommends that DIAC undertake a review of the appropriateness of the 20-hour limit on
working hours for international students. |
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Recommendation 6 |
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The committee recommends that the issue of voluntary work not countingtowards employment hours be
clarified in material provided by DEEWR |
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Recommendation 7 |
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The committee recommends that DIAC undertake a review of the ability to use discretion or a
compassionate exemption for students with work rights who breach their visa conditions in relation
to work. |
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Recommendation 8 |
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The committee recommends that students receive information packs, based upon resources such as the
Study in Australia website and the Rainbow Guide, in hard copy and preferably in the language of the
country of departure at the time their visas are granted. The information packs should include
comprehensive information regarding tuition and extra fees; living costs including all relevant
expenses such as accommodation and health; employment opportunities; rights conferred by
law (including tenancy rights and employment rights); dispute resolution procedures and relevant
contact organisations; and support services and amenities. |
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• both the online manual and hard copies should include state-specific information, detailing the
various rules, laws and rights applicable in each state and territory. |
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Recommendation 9 |
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The committee recommends the jurisdiction of the Commonwealth Ombudsman be extended to cover the
international education sector. |
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Recommendation 10 |
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The committee recommends that TEQSA (Tertiary Education Quality and
Standards Agency) and the national body to be developed for the VET sector
adapt the registration process to develop a comparative information tool on
education providers. This information tool should differentiate between the
capacity of providers by comparing such things as the level and quality of
support services available to students. The information tool would be made
available on a relevant website. |
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Recommendation 11 |
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The committee recommends that, to improve enforcement, the National Code be reviewed by
the new national regulatory authorities for higher education and the VET sector, in
consultation with stakeholders, to provide clarity and specify details of minimum
standards upon which registration would be dependent. |
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Recommendation 12 |
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The committee recommends that clear and timely mechanisms must be developed by the regulatory
authorities and peak bodies to ensure that, if a provider closes, students are informed of their
rights and of either getting their money back or transferring to a new course. Students also need
to be made aware of the avenues they can use to ask questions or lodge complaints. |
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Recommendation 13 |
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The committee recommends that in engaging agents overseas, DEEWR ensures that agents and sub-agents
are able to access authoritative information regarding studying in Australia. |
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Recommendation 14 |
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The committee recommends DIAC continue to expand the eVisa system, as an effective tool to encourage
professional conduct of overseas agents. |
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Recommendation 15 |
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The committee recommends that providers deal exclusively with education agents who have successfully
completed an appropriate course such as the EATC and that this requirement be phased in over the next
three years. |
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Recommendation 16 |
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The committee recommends that as a matter of urgency the issue of medical internships receive priority
in workforce planning and that this be the subject of a special study by Health Workforce Australia. |
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