Every year hundreds of thousands of students from all over the world choose to study in Australia, many of them underage or below 18 years old. And every year these students went through their business of studying without any trouble. That’s good news, but as parents we still think about it anyhow. Thinking of our child’s safety and well-being will always be in our minds. However, taking proactive steps to enhance their safety and well-being is always better. In this article we’d be exploring five steps parents can follow or implement in order to have reasonable assurance that their child will be alright while studying and living in Australia on their own.
I. Choose school with strong program dedicated to international students’ well-being
Make no mistake about it, all CRICOS registered Australian schools catering to internationals students are vetted and qualified to do so under strict government regulations. All of them have programs and staff that are geared towards the international students’ studies and well-being. But just in any human endeavor, there will be always some who will do it better than others.
Traditionally, elite private schools have excellent reputation in taking care of their international students. These schools leverage their superior resources to provide high level of care such as staff who focus solely on their international students, and facilities that accommodate and develop student’s varied interests that contribute to making them constructively and productively preoccupied; something that’s particularly useful to international students to keep them from feeling homesick. Other factors going for private schools are their ability to select students and their strict disciplinary policies which enable them to weed out undesirables and troublesome influence, and maintain a high standard of academic performance or achievement from their student body.
State government run public schools are also known to have solid programs to help and care for international students. Public schools are able to take advantage of the vast resources of the state government to put in place programs and staff that focus solely on the needs of their international students. If you haven’t done so, please read our other article entitled “Australian private vs public school options for international students.” In it we explore the points of comparison and contrast between Australian public and private schools from the point of view of the interest of international students. In that article we mentioned how if a good private school is not an option, the selective (or semi-selective) public schools are strong alternatives. Like private schools, state-run selective (or semi-selective) public schools are, as their name suggests, selective in their admission, and they attract academically driven students and consequently enjoy a student body composed of motivated and achieving individuals.
II. Choose appropriate accommodation
In our article entitled “Complete guide to your accommodation options in Australia as an international student” we talked about the accommodation policies of public schools across Australia for underage students. We also mentioned how most private schools tend to mirror those policies. For example, international students studying in South Australian public schools who are below 13 years old must stay with parents or nominated relative. It’s only when they’re at least 13 years old that they’re allowed other accommodation arrangements like homestay. Private schools in Adelaide, such as the prestigious St Peters College for example, effectively mirror this South Australian government policy. It’s their admission policy that international students must reside in the College’s boarding house, and consequently they only accept enrolment by international students starting from Year 8; which is the approximate year level for a 13- year old student.
Generally speaking, accommodation options for underage international students who are still in primary and high school (or secondary school) are limited. This is because of Australian laws seeking to ensure their welfare are taken care of while they study in the country. We at Australian Study Option believe that if the option is available and you can afford it, the school boarding house offers the best peace-of-mind proposition. Their school studies and boarding house extra-curricular schedule and activities are coordinated, monitored, routine and predictable.
Homestay has its merits and is the next best thing. Most schools, public and private, offer homestay accommodation utilising their own homestay network. A few private schools don’t have their own network and refer their students to a 3rd-party homestay network provider. Our suggestion is to only avail of homestay accommodation organised by your school provider. Homestay household or family in a school-organised homestay network tend to be connected with the school in some ways, like they have kids who are going or used to go to the school. In short, the host family is known to the school, and the host family knows the school. And living in a homestay host already familiar with the school can provide many practical benefits to an internationals student who is just starting their Australian studies.
Underage students attending VET or university have more accommodation options available to them, but we believe a homestay accommodation is still the best option that can provide reasonable confidence to their parents that they’ll be OK. Living with a local family can facilitate the student’s adjustment in Australia, can lessen homesickness, and soften the impact of being on their own in a faraway land. After 1 or 2 years when they turn 18 and more adjusted to the life of international student, and more familiar with Australia, they are better prepared to move on to a more independent type of accommodation.
III. Find a helpful, reliable agent
Having a relationship with a responsible agent can make a huge positive difference to both the international student in Australia and their parents back home. Sometimes parents are intimidated to talk directly to the education providers in Australia (or other offices or institutions in Australia), this is where an agent can help. The agent can act as a go-between between the parents and the school (or other parties or institution). Parents can communicate to the agent any concern they might have regarding their child in a very casual and informal way, agents in turn can articulate these concerns to the school. Vice-versa, the agent can, as simply as possible, explain to the parents or carers any concern the school (or other parties) might want to communicate to the parents regarding their child.
When international students, especially underage international students, encounter an important issue in their studies or in their accommodation or with their school or with an Australian institution or in their personal affairs in Australia, a quick help is crucial. Again, an on-going relationship with their agent who is based in Australia can make a huge difference. A responsible and helpful agent can be that first line of help for the student in those critical times when they need it the most. A good agent can be a calming and reassuring voice or presence to an international student in stressful situation. A good agent can clarify the options available to the international student given their situation to help them make informed decisions. A good agent can advocate for the international student when dealing with the school and other parties like government or business offices, so they can avail or maximise all options available to them, including their rights.
IV. Financial discipline
In our article entitled “Budgeting hacks for Australian international students” we talked about the usual expense items that international students should budget for. Admittedly, because each person is unique (i.e., in terms of lifestyle, preference, etc.), not every expense that an international student could possibly need to budget for is there. Hence, if they so wish international students and their families can maintain a sort of pocket money for such discretionary expenses. However, given our context in this article re: underage international student living in either boarding school or homestay wherein they don’t need to worry about things like meals, etc., we believe in not allowing kids to have unnecessary amount of discretionary funds with them.
Like in anywhere else and to anyone else, excess idle money laying around can be a temptation. It can temp others to steal it. Or it can temp the child to try things that they should not be trying just because their parents or carers are not around and they have the funds to do it. Or it can also make the child irresponsible or extravagant with their purchases and attract people that are out to exploit or influence them to do inappropriate things. On the flipside, by letting your child to have just enough money you’re are teaching them valuable lessons in budgeting and being responsible with their money. You minimize the temptations that comes with having lots of idle money, thus you minimize your worry about their well-being while they study in Australia.
V. Communicate
You’ve put your child in a school that you know will take care of him or her. You’ve also put him or her in the school’s boarding house so everything will be taken cared of for him or her. You’ve an agent in Australia who’ll be like a family member that you can turn to if ever your child needs help. You don’t intend to give your child unnecessary excess money that can only temp him or her. You can relax now right? Almost there, but not yet.
As the last ingredient in enhancing your underage child’s welfare and well-being as they stay and live by themselves in Australia to study, constant communication with them is perhaps the most important. Fortunately, with today’s technology doing so is not only easy but rather cheap as well. Especially in their first year or first few months in Australia, away from home, the frequency of your communication with your child is very important. There’ll will be moments of doubts in their minds why they’re far from home, and you need to be there for them to reassure them that everything will be alright. As they start adjusting, you’ll need to sustain your communication. It may be the best time for reminders about their responsibility to their studies and the need for them to act responsibly, just as you’d tell them if they’re at home. Encouraging them to talk about how they are doing, who their friends are, and how they spend their free time and days are important. If there’s something bothering the child there’s a good chance that you can pick it up through this exercise. And once you’ve become aware of some cause for concern you can take proactive initiatives to remedy it, and, if needed involved others like your agent, the school, etc.
By maintaining and sustaining your communication with your child you maintain your presence in their life. You maintain your influence or ability to guide them. In the event an issue comes up, you will be able to react quickly to help them.
Like all great undertakings, studying and staying alone in Australia can be tough, at least at the beginning. Granted that nothing can take away a parent’s worry or concern for the well-being of their child who’s studying overseas alone, being proactive in choosing the right school and accommodation for them, establishing relationship with a reliable agent, disciplined approach to finances, and committing to constantly communicate with your child can effectively reduce to the barest minimum any real reason to worry.
