Information for students and parents/guardians

This FAQ for Department of Education, Victoria international students and their parents / legal guardians is updated regularly. Please ensure you return to this web page for the most up-to-date information.

Students travelling to Victoria

Students are required to check and comply with Australian, transit country and airline public health requirements, including changed COVID-19 testing requirements for travellers arriving from China, Hong Kong and Macau. For more information on requirements, see: Australian Government: Entering and leaving Australia.

There are also recommendations for travellers entering Victoria, see: Information for travellers.

Students travelling to their home countries

Travelling home has become a lot more accessible. However, there are still several factors to consider when planning travel home, including quarantine requirements in home countries.

Students travelling to their home countries during current coronavirus (COVID-19) restrictions

Students and parents / legal guardians must work closely with school staff as they make their travel plans.

Students may find travelling during this time different to earlier periods of pre-coronavirus (COVID-19) travel. Pre-existing health (physical and mental) issues that may impact their ability to safely return home. If such conditions do exist, the school must develop a relevant safety plan, in conjunction with the wellbeing team / medical practitioners and department regional offices (if relevant) for the student during their travel.

The student must have a copy of the safety plan with them during their travel home. In some cases, and when students have a history of suffering from a certain condition (for example, hay fever or asthma) they should visit their GP and request a letter which outlines the treatment they have been receiving for the condition. They should always carry this letter with them throughout their travel.

Coronavirus (COVID-19) testing

All students should determine if COVID-19 testing is required for entry into any transit stops or their final destination.

Health requirements

Students must ensure they have appropriate supplies of medication with them and take an adequate supply of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for their entire journey home (including spares). This includes masks and hand sanitiser. Students should wear masks as required, including during any overnight periods, and maintain social distancing requirements.

Home country re-entry requirements

Most countries have re-entry requirements in place. All students must check these details with the relevant Embassy and / or Consulate well in advance before booking tickets. Some of these re-entry requirements may include the need to undertake quarantine and / or other requirements. To access information about the main Embassies and Consulates for our students, see:

For a list of all overseas embassies and consulates in Australia, see: Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

Students should not attempt to embark on their homeward bound journey if they have not completed all their home country re-entry requirements. These students are strongly advised to re-book their flights as they risk being turned away by airline staff.

Additional travel documents or travel items

In addition to normal travel documents, students must always have their school student emergency / safety card with them throughout the journey. Students should always be contactable via telephone (call and/or other platforms such as WeChat) , particularly on the day of departure.

Travelling via Sydney or other domestic airports

Students must take direct international flights home from Melbourne. All students holding a Confirmation of Appropriate Accommodation and Welfare (CAAW) must have their proposed travel plans approved by their school well before travel is booked to ensure the student's safety and welfare.

The department may advise the Australian Department of Home Affairs (DHA) of any students travelling without approved care and welfare arrangements as the failure to maintain approved CAAW arrangements is a breach of their student visa and could jeopardise their ability to return to Australia in the future.

If there are no other alternatives and a student must depart from another Australian city, travel must not be road or rail (i.e. car / taxi / ride share / bus / train). Driving for long periods may expose students (particularly unaccompanied minors) to high risks.

Transit times

If transiting through another Australian city cannot be avoided, then it is recommended that the student's transit should be for a short period of time. Students and parents must not book flights with long transit periods or overnight stays. If this is the only flight option, please contact the department so that appropriate accommodation and welfare arrangements can be arranged for the student.

Cancelled international flights (departing from Sydney or other domestic airports)

Prior to departure, the student and parent should continually check airline websites for any change to departure times or dates prior to leaving Melbourne. Students should not embark on their homeward journey without checking all flights. Please advise the student and their parent / legal guardian verbally and in writing to limit opportunities for confusion.

If the student's travel plans are delayed for any reason, they should call their school international student coordinator as soon as they learn of any delay.

Welfare and wellbeing support services

Accessing physical and mental health, wellbeing and welfare support for international students

Students should access the welfare and support services available at their school as soon as they start to feel distressed.

Schools are providing students with information about how to access counselling or welfare services. These school services are confidential, provided at no extra charge. Students should not be reluctant to use these services for fear of cost or causing trouble.

If students feel anxious or have concerns out of school hours, please encourage them to contact their school's International Student Coordinator using the 24/7 emergency contact number provided to them on the student emergency / safety card.

Students can also contact their overseas health cover provider to understand health insurance cover for mental health.

Department mental health resources

Face-to-face or over the phone counselling is available to secondary school students through Headspace. There is no need for a Medicare card. For more information, see: Parent and carer factsheet.

Interpreted mental health resources

Alternatively, students, parents / legal guardians and homestay families can contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Beyond Blue on 1300 22 4636 if they have feelings of anxiety during this time. To access free interpreting services for these providers, see:

Lifeline
- Call Translating and Interpreting Service (TIS) on 131 450 and ask to talk to Lifeline on 13 11 14 in the language required. TIS will call 13 11 14 on behalf of the caller.
Beyond Blue
- A free interpreter service is available for Beyond Blue phone counselling, see: Beyond Blue.

Consular assistance

Students may also wish to contact their local consulate if they would like to connect with the consulate’s cultural activities and programs, or require more specific consular support or information. For a list of overseas embassies and consulates in Australia, see: Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

Counteracting discrimination

Schools must ensure that all students feel safe and supported and that bullying and discrimination are not tolerated. Contact the school for more information or support.

Medical assistance, testing and onshore student vaccinations

Coronavirus (COVID-19) symptoms

If a member of a homestay family has one of the symptoms of coronavirus (COVID-19), they should seek medical advice and get tested. For a list of symptoms, see: About COVID-19 or call the 24-hour coronavirus hotline 1800 675 398 or see your general practitioner.

Emergencies / severe symptoms

If the student or anyone in the household is experiencing severe symptoms, such as shortness of breath, follow the below steps:

Step 1: call 000 and request an ambulance
Step 2: inform the ambulance officers of the person’s symptoms
Step 3: follow the advice of the emergency professionals.

Getting tested

For the latest information about testing and what to expect, see:

Managing COVID-19

Managing COVID-19 in homestays

For information to provide to homestay families about look after someone with COVID-19 and how to isolate effectively, see: Managing COVID-19 at home.

If an international student is a confirmed case

If an international student is a confirmed case of COVID-19, the international student coordinator must be notified so they can advise next steps. In addition, the student will need your ongoing care and support. Students will need to isolate and meet all health directions. They should not be moving house when positive with COVID-19.

Medical attention for international students

Homestay students' medical attention, in response to their positive test result, can be initiated by the school principal, international student coordinator or homestay family. Students are required to be accompanied for any medical assessment (if they are not able to do so individually) and the homestay family is requested to maintain communication with school staff.

Vaccinations

COVID-19 vaccines are free for everyone living in Australia regardless of Medicare or visa status, including international students. Vaccination providers cannot charge international students for COVID-19 vaccines or for appointments to receive the vaccine. If students don't have a Medicare card, or are not eligible for Medicare, they can get their free vaccination at a:

Commonwealth Vaccination Clinic
state or territory vaccination clinic.

For more information about the COVID-19 vaccination, including eligibility, please see:

Deferring, temporarily suspending or withdrawing enrolment

Deferring, temporarily suspending enrolment and withdrawing

Students can choose to defer or temporarily suspend their enrolment or withdraw. For more information and how to apply, see: Brochures and Forms: Amendment to Enrolment Forms.

Tuition fees and refunds

Tuition fees for international students during remote and flexible learning

Normal tuition fees apply for all onshore international students during remote and flexible learning. There is no fee reduction in recognition that schools continue to provide ongoing educational, welfare and wellbeing services to all onshore international students.

Tuition fees for international students to learn online while remaining offshore

Normal tuition fees apply for offshore international students to learn online. There is no fee reduction in recognition that schools continue to provide the same curriculum and assessments for offshore international students as they do for onshore local and international students.

How to pay tuition fees

Students have a number of ways they can pay their invoice, including electronic funds / bank transfer or credit card. For more information refer to the tuition fee invoice, or see: How to pay.

Students need to pay their tuition fees in order to learn face-to-face (for onshore students) or online (for offshore students). To obtain another copy of the invoice, email: isfinance@education.vic.gov.au.

Tuition fee impact of deferring / temporarily suspending enrolment

Students who choose to change their start date or defer / temporarily suspend their enrolment, regardless of where they are from or their reason for deferring, will have the tuition fees already paid credited pro-rata towards their future study period as per normal policy and process.

Tuition fee impact of withdrawing

For more information, see: Refund Policy.

Last Update: 3/01/2023 3:20 PM