Guardianship

Studying abroad at an Australian College is an extraordinary opportunity for your child to receive an outstanding Australian education from a world-leading academic institution.

However, it is essential that your child’s safety and wellbeing are a priority at all times during their studies. It is therefore a legal requirement that all students under 18 years of age whose families live overseas have an appointed legal Welfare (Guardian) representative resident in Australia.

Our partner Sapin Welfare can become your child’s legal  Welfare representative upon arrival into Australia. They will support and take full responsibility for your child’s welfare at all times during their stay in Australia. In particular, they will provide a host family for your child to stay with and arrange necessary transport.

The host families can range from a man and wife with young children, to retired grandparents whose own children have grown up.

All host families:

• Are regularly visited and inspected by Sapin
• Formally undertake to protect and care for the students in their charge in accordance with Sapin guidelines

During the term, although the prime responsibility for your child’s welfare lies with the school, Sapin will act on your behalf when necessary in circumstances where you are unable to do so due to distance. This includes:

• Visiting your child at school to check on happiness and academic progress, and reporting this to you
• Being available for your child at all times, particularly when you or they are worried about work, school and friends
• Helping you and your child if things go wrong, for example:

If your child gets into trouble at school

If you have problems with immigration or passports

If your child gets very ill and needs to go to hospital

• Arranging your child’s travel within Australia – such as taxis, trains or buses – and flights back home
• Assisting you with the purchase of items your child may need – school uniform, sports equipment, phone cards, mobile phone, Australia mobile sim card, etc.
• Taking action when unexpected situations arise or in cases of emergency