International students under 18 years of age

International students under 18 years of age

Welfare requirements for international students under 18 years of age.

Welfare requirements for international students under 18 years of age.

Welfare requirements for international students under 18 years of age.

If you are an international student under 18 years old, you must have welfare arrangements in place to apply for your student visa. This is to ensure that you are living in a secure environment with adequate practical and emotional support to keep you safe before you turn 18. 

There are two options for welfare arrangements that the Department of Home Affairs consider appropriate for an under-18 student studying in Australia. 

Option 1

You will be living with an approved relative who lives in Australia, or an approved relative will travel to Australia and live with you.

Option 2

Option 2: You will not be staying with a relative, so RMIT can approve your welfare arrangements and issue a CAAW (Confirmation of Appropriate Accommodation and Welfare). RMIT provides welfare by ensuring that you use the services of an approved caregiver and ensuring you live in an RMIT approved accommodation option.

Note: The airport pickup service is compulsory for students under Option 2. All U18 arrival details must be provided in advance to confirm this service.

By issuing the CAAW, RMIT University is accepting responsibility for your welfare arrangement.

A Confirmation of Appropriate Accommodation and Welfare letter (RMIT approved welfare arrangements) is only available to Under 18 students on or intending to apply for a Subclass 500 Student Visa. RMIT will not accept welfare responsibility for U18 students on any other visa type.

Approval of a CAAW

For approval of a CAAW, you need:

  • A caregiver + arrange to live in an approved accommodation. 

Applying for a student visa

To apply for a student visa you need:

  • Option 1: Confirmation of enrolment (CoE) + Form 157N
  • Option 2: Confirmation of enrolment (CoE) + CAAW

If you select Option 2, you must be issued with a CAAW letter before you can arrive in Australia. Find out the earliest possible date for your arrival.

Advise us of your welfare option

When you accept your offer, you need to submit the Under-18 Welfare Approval Form to let us know which welfare option you have chosen. After your form has been assessed, your CoE can be issued.

Welfare Approval Process

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  1. Accept your offer to RMIT. Find out how to accept your offer.
  2. Submit U18 Welfare Approval form.

     

Before you begin, you will need:

  • A confirmation from your caregiver (.pdf or email screenshot)
  • A confirmation from your accommodation (.pdf or email screenshot)
  • Parent’s signed photo ID
  • A copy of your passport photo page

Steps to apply:

  1. Accept your offer to RMIT. 
  2. Choose your caregiver company and confirm directly with them.
  3. Choose your accommodation provider and confirm directly with them.
  4. Submit completed Under 18 Welfare Approval Form.
  5. Your request will be assessed, and you will be notified of the outcome via email
  6. When your arrangements are approved, your CoE (and CAAW) will be issued, and you can apply for a student visa with these documents.
  7. Book your compulsory airport pickup.

If you are travelling to Australia with your parents, please complete the Temporary Welfare Waive (Offshore).

 

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If a parent does not have a passport, an alternative photo ID card can be used.

  1. Parent signs a photocopy of valid photo ID 

  2. Agent certifies the copy: 
    “Signature witnessed by (staff member name & agency name) on dd/mm/yyyydate.”

  3. Include a scan of the verified document in the Welfare Approval Form. 

The name on the verified ID must match the parent's name on the Welfare Approval Form.

If the parent is not working with an agent, a public notary must certify the document.

Certified passport

If you need to change your arrangements after they have been approved, you must obtain approval from RMIT before the change happens.

For help with welfare arrangements and general enquiries for under-18 arrangements, contact:

Under 18 International Welfare team

Email: ISUnder18@rmit.edu.au

Accommodation options

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PBSA buildings are specially designed and built accommodation sites which cater to the needs of students. PBSA options are typically located close to universities and offer a range of room types and shared communal areas.

A homestay is a local family, couple or single person offering full board in their home. A homestay experience can be a great way to adjust to life in Melbourne and form relationships with a local family. 

RMIT has approved Australian Homestay Network (AHN) as the homestay provider for under-18 overseas students. Homestay accommodation is subject to availability and may not be available to all students.

A hostel is a house where multiple students live and usually share communal spaces. These hostels provide meals, a range of room types and are located close to RMIT city campus.

Caregivers

If you are an international student aged under 18, you must have a caregiver who will support you until you turn 18.

Your caregiver will meet with you at least every fortnight and can help you find medical or other support services in Melbourne, change your accommodation, act as your emergency contact.

For the list of approved caregiver companies that specialise in supporting RMIT international students aged under 18, see our list of approved accommodation and caregiver providers. 

Airport pick-up request for under 18 students

When to apply?

Airport pick-up requests can be submitted up to one month before your scheduled arrival date.

Important note

Conditions of CAAW & Maintaining RMIT CAAW Letter

RMIT curfew

While you are under-18 and under the RMIT CAAW letter, you must return to your approved accommodation each night by 10pm. Students in PBSA accommodation are required to sign the curfew register. The accommodation provider will contact RMIT & the caregiver if you do not return home by 10pm. Approval must be sought from RMIT for late curfew approval via the Curfew Extension Request form.

How to maintain your CAAW letter

To maintain your CAAW letter, you must:

  • Maintain the caregiver and accommodation arrangements approved 
  • Stay at your approved accommodation every night 
  • Seek approval from RMIT before taking holidays or making a change to accommodation 
  • Follow the nightly curfew of 10pm 
  • Not buy, consume or possess alcohol 
  • Not buy, consume or possess drugs 
  • Follow all ‘house rules’ in your approved accommodation as agreed in the tenancy agreement or equivalent document 
  • Pay your accommodation fees on time.

CAAW withdrawal process

If you are unable to meet the requirements to maintain your CAAW you will be issued three written warnings: 

  1. First Warning via email 
  2. Second Warning and required face to face meeting
  3. Third Warning (final) and required face to face meeting. 

If you continue to breach the requirements of the CAAW after the Third Warning - you will be issued a CAAW Cancellation Notice. Your parent(s) and caregiver will be included in each of these communications.

If your CAAW letter is cancelled, your parent will need to make arrangements to maintain your welfare while you are under-18. 

RMIT will notify the Department of Home Affairs if your CAAW letter is cancelled.


Forms for under 18 international students

Welfare Approval Form

Must be provided to RMIT to nominate where you will be staying and who your caregiver or guardian will be while you are in Australia.

Temporary Welfare Waive Form – Onshore

Allows a student currently in Australia to remain with a parent and/or relative, instead of approved long-term accommodation for a set period.

Temporary Welfare Waive Form – Offshore pre-arrival

Allows a student currently outside Australia to remain with a visiting parent(s) instead of approved long-term accommodation for a set period when they arrive in Australia.

Change of Accommodation Request Form

Must be provided to RMIT to nominate a change in approved accommodation.

Holiday Request Form

Must be provided to RMIT to request a holiday/visit to home country during semester breaks.

Curfew Extension Request Form

Use this form to apply for an extension to your curfew, up to 1am.

Please note: the above requests are subject to RMIT approval.


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