News

In 2015 all providers in South Australia will be required to renew their CRICOS registration. The registration renewal process is expected to begin in late 2014.

The Federal Government has assigned responsibility to the Education and Early Childhood Services Registration Board (EECSRB) for ensuring South Australian schools are compliant and therefore eligible to have their CRICOS registration renewed.

As part of the registration renewal process each and every school can be audited by the EECSRB. As a minimum, schools must give written assurance to the EECSRB that they are complying with all elements of the 15 National Standards in the National Code 2007.

Following an increase in the value of a penalty unit (as defined in the Commonwealth Crimes Act 1914), breaches defined in Section 106 of the Education Services for Overseas Student Act 2000 now attract penalties of $3,400 per breach per student (previously $2,200 per breach per student). The maximum penalty a court can now impose is $10,200 per breach per student.

Austrade data analysis shows the second half of 2013 marked a return to growth for international student numbers in Australia. Early indications are that 2014 is further building on this 2013 result. In 2013 the schools sector experienced growth in commencements for the first time since 2008. Visit the Austrade website to read the full report.

Recent federal government changes to the visa assessment levels means Chinese students applying for a subclass 571 school visa can now seek Year 7 entry to Australian schools instead of being confined to Years 10, 11 or 12 entry. Schools that are CRICOS registered to offer “Primary Schools Studies” and “Junior Secondary Studies” are set to benefit. Demonstrating compliance with Standard 5 (Care for Younger Students) of the National Code will be particularly important and schools may need to consider what additional measures they implement to support younger overseas students studying with them, some of whom may come without their families.