Audience
Temporary visa holders who wish to enrol or have enrolled in a Queensland state school or at an approved state-delivered kindergarten (SDK), Department of Education International (DEi) staff, Queensland state schools (including SDK staff, and principals).
Purpose
This policy outlines the Department of Education’s (the department) requirements for providing temporary residents holding dependant student, bridging, and visitor visas (temporary visas) access to the Queensland state education system, including how fees are charged.
Policy statement
The department is committed to providing temporary visa holders with access to state education while complying with relevant legislative and visa requirements.
Principles
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Principle
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What this means for the department
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Operational efficiency and effectiveness
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People, systems, and processes are in place to ensure effective service delivery and customer experience.
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Equitable access to education
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Provide opportunities for all eligible students to participate in quality education while residing in Queensland on a temporary visa.
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Reputational integrity
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Maintain accountability, transparency, and fairness in decision-making to uphold the department’s reputation.
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Requirements
A temporary resident is anyone holding a visa that allows them to stay in Australia for a specified period who is not an Australian citizen or permanent resident. On behalf of the department, DEi charges fees for the education of temporary residents at a state school or SDK under the provisions of section 51(3) of the
Education (General Provisions) Act 2006
(EGPA).
The DE International Schedule of visa subclasses and enrolment conditions outlines which temporary visa holders must register with DEi before enrolling in a Queensland state school as per the Temporary Residents Admissions (TRA) procedure. DEi will issue an Authority to Enrol (ATE) to temporary visa holders once the conditions of registration outlined in the TRA Terms and Conditions of Application have been met. Temporary residents agree to the TRA Terms and Conditions of Application upon registration with DEi.
Visa conditions
Temporary visa holders are responsible for maintaining any Department of Home Affairs (DHA) visa conditions attached to their visa where applicable, including visa condition 8517 (maintain adequate arrangements for the education of your school-age dependants) and visa condition 8201 (maximum 3 months study).
Parental linkage
Australian citizens or permanent residents who exercise parental responsibility for a temporary resident who is not their biological or legally adopted child, as outlined in section 10(1) of the
EGPA
, must submit evidence of parental responsibility to confirm that fees should not be charged. This evidence is assessed by DEi in accordance with the Guidelines for assessing parental linkage between a child and an Australian citizen or permanent resident.
Fees and payments
DEi publishes the fees charged by the department for the enrolment of temporary visa holders. TRA fees are determined in accordance with the department’s User charging procedure. The TRA Terms and Conditions of Application outlines DEi’s expectations regarding fees and payments. Payment processes and actions taken by DEi for the non-payment of fees are in accordance with the department’s Debt management procedure and the TRA procedure.
Fee waivers
Payment plans can be arranged for temporary resident visa holders experiencing financial hardship in accordance with the Debt management procedure. The Director-General (or delegate) has the discretion to grant fee waivers in response to financial or compassionate and compelling circumstances. This is assessed as per the Guidelines for assessing Temporary Residents Admissions financial hardship and fee relief applications.
Fee exemptions
Temporary residents who receive fee exemptions will not pay tuition fees for the education of their child at a Queensland state school. The Queensland State Government will cover the cost of providing instruction, administration and facilities for the education of the child at a state school. Fees administered at a school level are not exempt and may apply, for example, uniforms, textbooks, excursions and other resources. Categories of fee exemptions are outlined in the Temporary Residents Admissions categories of exemptions.
Refunds
Temporary visa holders who have paid tuition fees may be eligible for a refund from the department if their visa or residency status changes during their child’s enrolment, or if the student's enrolment changes. Refunds for fees paid by temporary visa holders are processed in accordance with the TRA Terms and Conditions of Application.
Complaints and appeals
Temporary residents have the right to appeal a decision or lodge a complaint. Complaints are handled as per the department's Customer complaints management framework.
Definitions
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Term
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Definition
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Authority to Enrol (ATE)
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A letter issued by DEi confirming the student named is eligible to apply to enrol at a Queensland state school and that the relevant fees have been paid.
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Bridging visa
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A bridging visa allows a person to stay in Australia after the previous substantive visa ceases and while a new visa application is being processed.
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Department of Education International (DEi)
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The international branch of the Department of Education and employees of DEi.
The Department of Education’s trading name is Education Queensland International (EQI).
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Dependant child or dependant
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A Kindergarten to Year 12 aged child who is named as a dependant on their parent’s student (subclass 500) visa.
NOTE: DHA may require a dependant who turns 18 during the course of their enrolment to apply for their own student visa.
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Department of Home Affairs (DHA)
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Australian Government department responsible for immigration.
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Financial hardship
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Where a temporary visa holder can provide documented evidence and be assessed to meet the criteria of financial hardship as outlined in the Guidelines for assessing Temporary Residents Admissions financial hardship and fee relief applications.
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Parent
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Refers to definition in s10
Education (General Provisions) Act 2006
. For a person who is not the father or mother of the child, parental responsibility will be assessed using the Guidelines for assessing parental linkage between a child and an Australian citizen or permanent resident.
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State delivered kindergarten (SDK)
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Kindergarten programs offered in Queensland state schools located at least 40 kilometres by road from the nearest approved kindergarten, in a selected, discrete Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community or other selected communities where there are barriers to accessing kindergarten.
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Temporary Residents Admissions (TRA)
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A process administered on behalf of the department by DEi which supports the application, enrolment and monitoring of temporary visa holders in Queensland state schools and state-delivered kindergartens, predominantly bridging visas, dependants of student visa holders and visitor visas.
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Temporary visa
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A visa which allows the holder to remain/reside temporarily in Australia until the expiry of the visa.
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Visitor visa (also referred to as tourist visa)
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A visitor visa is a temporary visa that allows the person visit Australia for business or personal purposes for up to 3, 6 or 12 months. There is a three-month (13 week) limitation on study for this visa.
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Legislation
Delegations/Authorisations
Other resources
Superseded versions
Previous seven years shown. Minor version updates not included.
1.0 Temporary Residents Admissions policy