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Pre-departure Information
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	Students with Families
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	After Arrival

Future Students > Pre-departure Information > Students with Families

Students with Families

Are you sponsoring dependents (family members) to join you in Australia?

Members of your family unit are permitted to live with you in Australia if;

you are an applicant in Assessment Level 1 or 2; or
you are an applicant in Assessment Level 3, 4 or 5 and your proposed course of study is 12 months or more in duration; or
Your course of study will be paid, wholly or in part, by the Commonwealth, or the government of a State of Territory, or a government of a foreign country, or a multilateral agency.

Visit the Department of Immigration & Citizenship Website for information on policy and applications procedures.

SPOUSE STUDY AND WORK ENTITLEMENTS

Spouses on a dependent's visas can apply for full-time study in Australia as a full fee paying students but must change to a student visa status in their own right.

Spouses of postgraduate international students are entitled to work full time, while those of undergraduates are able to work only 20 hours per week.

Dependents can apply for the right to work, after their student partners have commenced studies. These regulations are set by the Department of Immigration and Citizenship.

CHILDREN EDUCATION IN AUSTRALIA

In New South Wales schooling is compulsory for all children from the ages of 5 to 15. For both primary and secondary education in NSW, there are essentially three choices:

State public schools (Dept. of Education and Training) charging the Temporary Visa Holders Education Fee;
Independent schools - most have non-Catholic religious affiliations, eg. Anglican, Presbyterian, Jewish, Islamic and French schools. Fees range from moderate to very expensive. Contact The Association of Independant Schools, NSW.

The Association of Independent Schools
Tel: 02 9299 2845
Fax: 02 9290 2274

Catholic schools - parish primary schools and "systemic" high schools with moderate fees. Contact the Catholic Education Office.

The Catholic Education Office
Tel: 02 9569 6111
Fax: 02 9550 0052

Any of these schooling options are available to you. Matters to consider are: the fees involved and your feelings about the religious ethos of the school. It is not necessary for your children to be of the same religion or denomination as the school.

Current Rates (2008) NSW Public Schools Education Fee for Holders of the Temporary Visa

Temporary residents (twelve months fee from the date of enrolment)	AUD$
Primary school Years K-6	4,500
Junior high school (or IEC) Years 7-10	4,500
Senior high school (or IEC) Years 11-12	5,500
PLUS Non-refundable application fee (inclusive of GST)	110

NSW Public Schools

As an international student studying in New South Wales you can enrol your dependent children in NSW government schools (Public Schools). Your dependent children can only be enrolled while you are studying full-time in New South Wales and your children's enrolment must not exceed the period stated on the visa.

If your dependent children are enrolled in a NSW Public School you will be liable to pay the Temporary Visa Holders Education Fee. The only exceptions are dependents of international students who have a full scholarship from the Australian Government or a publicly funded Australian higher education institution.

If you wish to enrol your child of school age in a NSW Public School you must contact the NSW Department of Education and Training regarding enrolment of Primary and Secondary school children.

International Student Centre
NSW Department of Education and Training
827-839 George Street,
Broadway NSW 2000 Australia
Phone: (+61 2) 9217 4801

Fax: (612) 9212 6721
Website: http://www.schools.nsw.edu.au/gotoschool/intnl_students/

For lodgement of applications and all correspondence, post to:

Temporary Visa Holders Unit
NSW Department of Education and Training
Locked Bag 4, Wollongong NSW 2520

Phone: (+61 2) 1300 300 229
Fax: (+61 2) 4224 9074

Email: tempvisa@det.nsw.edu.au

CHILD CARE

You may find that the system of child care is quite different in Australia compared to your home country. If your family usually helps you with child minding, then it will take some time for you and your child to adjust to a Childcare Centre. In Sydney, full-time child care places are difficult to find, particularly for children under two years old. Childcare Centre fees vary but generally range from $55 to $105 per day.

Most day long Childcare Centres (centres open from 8am-6pm,offering full time care) have long waiting lists, often one year or more, so it is important to put your name down as soon as possible.

Department of Family and Community Services

This Department of Family and Community Services can give you more information about:

Types of Child Care Services
Finding a Child Care Place
Child Care Access Hotline...

ON CAMPUS CHILDCARE CENTRES

There are three Childcare Centres located within minutes of the Kensington Campus.

House at Pooh Corner: A day-long care centre that gives priority to students' children (aged 6 weeks to 5 years old). The Student Guild and Postgraduate Board sponsor this service. For location and contact details see the website.

Honey Pot: Provides permanent part-time care for UNSW students' children (aged 3 months to 5 years old). The Student Guild and University Union fund this centre. For location and contact details see the website:

Kanga's House: A day-long care centre for children aged 3 months to 5 years old. This centre provides both permanent and occasional care 8am-6pm. For location and contact details see the website: