Students under 18

Students who are under 18 years of age (an underage student) are required by the Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) to have appropriate welfare and accommodation arrangements in Australia. In order to acquire a Student Visa, underage students need to provide evidence that they will be living with either DIAC approved, or La Trobe University approved, welfare and accommodation arrangements.

Visa requirements

Condition 8532

  • If you are under 18 years of age, you must maintain accommodation, support and general welfare arrangements that have been approved by your education provider.
  • You must not change those arrangements without the written approval of your education provider.
  • You must not travel to Australia before the day your welfare arrangements commence.

Approved welfare and accommodation arrangement

When accepting an offer, all international students who are under the age of 18, must nominate one of the following welfare and accommodation arrangements with the University by completing the relevant form.

Option 1: welfare and accommodation arrangements approved by DIAC

Underage students must have their parents or legal custodian nominate a guardian who resides in Australia before the Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) will consider their student visa application.

Your parent, legal custodian, or nominated relative must provide welfare for you during your stay in Australia. According to DIAC, your nominated relative must be one of the following: brother, sister, stepbrother, stepsister, step-parent, grandparent, step-grandparent, aunt, uncle, step-aunt, step-uncle, niece, nephew, step-niece, step-nephew or spouse. DIAC requires this guardian to be over 21 years old, an eligible relative and of good character.

Parents must lodge the Nomination of a student guardian form (157N) available via the immigration office (Embassy) in your home country.

For more information please visit the DIAC website.

Option 2: welfare and accommodation arrangements approved by La Trobe University

If underage students do not have an eligible relative in Australia, the student will need to be supported by the services of a La Trobe University approved welfare and accommodation provider.

If you choose this option, you will need to submit a signed statement from the provider of welfare and accommodation that confirms the start and end dates of these arrangements with your Acceptance of Offer, before La Trobe University will issue a Confirmation of Enrolment (COE) and a Confirmation of appropriate accommodation and welfare (CAAW) form for your visa application purpose.

La Trobe University’s approved accommodation provider

Underage students must stay at a homestay that is organised by:
Australian Homestay Network (AHN)
28 Fairlie Avenue
MacLeod VIC 3085
T: (+61 3) 9435 6621
F: (+61 3) 9435 4078
E: tcn@homestaynetwork.org
homestaynetwork.org   

La Trobe University’s approved welfare agency

Care arrangements with a listed provider must be in place for the entire period until the student turns 18 years of age, including any period of non-enrolment, such as university holidays. The approved welfare agency is:

International Student Alliance (Guardian & Welfare Service)
National Office, Suite 20, Level 1, 108 Bourke Street, Melbourne 3000
T (+61 3)  9663 2887
F: (+61 3)  8678 1317
E: info@studentguardians.com
studentguardians.com

Note: if you choose a welfare and accommodation arrangement as approved by La Trobe University (Option 2) you cannot travel to Australia until the commencement date of welfare arrangements as identified in the CAAW form.

Changing welfare and accommodation arrangements 

It is a requirement of your visa (8532) that appropriate welfare arrangements be maintained during your stay in Australia. If you do not maintain adequate welfare arrangements during your stay in Australia, your student visa may be subject to cancellation.

If you intend to change your welfare arrangements at any time, you must meet with the International Student Services Coordinator (Underage program) and have written approval for this change. The University is obliged to notify DIAC of any changes of your welfare and accommodation arrangement.

Forms and information sheets

Contact

All students under 18 years of age will be required to attend the Under 18 Arrival Essentials at the University Orientation and also to meet the International Student Services Coordinator (Underage program) for special supervision and monitoring as scheduled.

International Student Services Coordinator (Underage program)
La Trobe International
Level 2, Peribolos East Building
La Trobe University Victoria 3086
Australia
E: underageprogram@latrobe.edu.au
T: (+61 3) 9479 1199       
F: (+61 3) 9479 3660