The ESOS Framework – Providing quality education and protecting your rights

The Australian Government wants overseas students in Australia to have a safe, enjoyable and rewarding place to study. Australia’s laws promote quality education and consumer protection for overseas students. These laws are known as the ESOS framework and they include the Education Services for Overseas (ESOS) Act 2000 and the National Code 2007.

Protection for overseas students

As an overseas student on a student visa, you must study with an education provider and in a course that can be found on the Commonwealth Register of Institutions and Courses for Overseas Students (CRICOS) at http://cricos.education.gov.au/ CRICOS registration guarantees that the course and the education provider at which you study meet the high standards necessary for overseas students. Please check carefully that the details of your course – including its location – match the information on CRICOS.

RTO obligations

Australian International College Pty Ltd is responsible for:

a) The quality of the training and assessment in compliance with the VET Quality Framework. More
details about the VET Quality Framework can be found on the ASQA website
http://www.asqa.gov.au/vet-registration/understand-the-requirements-for-registration/understand-therequirements-for-registration.html
b) For the issuance of the AQF certification documentation. More details about the AQF certification
standards can be found at http://www.aqf.edu.au
c) Advising students, in advance, of any changes to the services, including new subcontracting
arrangements or a change to existing subcontracting arrangements. This will be done by an
announcement on the College web site.
d) Advising students about their rights via the Code of Practice published on the College web site
e) Advising students about the complaints and appeals procedure published on the College web site
f) Advising students if the College, or a third party delivering services on behalf of the College,
closes or ceases to deliver a unit or units that the learner is enrolled in. This will be done by an
announcement on the College web site.
g) Advising students about any changes to services. This will be done by an announcement on the College web site.

Your Trainer Responsibilities

• Your Trainer will provide you with your learning and assessment resources required to
  complete your assessment activities.
• Your Trainer will provide clear instructions about what is expected from you during your training.
• Training may consist of group/action learning activities and projects, assignments, case
  studies, presentations, discussions, workbook activities, research and reports etc. Each unit of
  learning is clearly outlined and indicates what is expected of you during the learning phase.
• During assessment the student must be able to Show, Tell and Apply the evidence. The
  Trainer/Assessor records your evidence and/or skill demonstrations as “S” – Satisfactory or “UN” Unsatisfactory.
• Your Trainer will provide you with the opportunity to reassessment/resubmit any outstanding or “Not Yet Completed” work during the term.
• Your Trainer will determine if you Pass the subject. You will receive either a [C] – Competent or [NC] – Not Competent. Competencies are not scaled or marked.

Your rights

The ESOS framework protects your rights, including:

• Your right to receive, before enrolling, current and accurate information about the courses, fees,
  modes of study and other information from your provider and your provider’s agent.
• Your right to sign a written agreement with your provider before or as you pay fees, setting out
  the services to be provided, fees payable and information about refunds of course money. You
  should keep a copy of your written agreement.
• Your right to get the education you paid for. The ESOS Framework includes consumer.

Protection that will allow you to receive a refund or to be placed in another course if your provider is unable to teach your course. The ESOS framework sets out the standards Australian education providers offering education services to overseas students must obey. These standards cover a range of information you have a right to know and services that must be offered, including:

• Orientation and access to support services to help you study and adjust to life in Australia
• Who the contact officer or officers is for overseas students
• If you can apply for course credit
• When your enrolment can be deferred, suspended or cancelled
• What your provider’s requirements are for satisfactory progress in the courses you study and
  what support is available if you are not progressing well
• If attendance will be monitored for your course, and
• A complaints and appeals process.

  One of the standards does not allow another education provider to enrol a student who wants to transfer to another course, but has not completed six months of the final course of study you plan to undertake in Australia. If you want to transfer beforehand, you need your provider’s permission.

Your responsibilities

As an overseas student on a student visa, you have responsibilities to:

• To understanding and accepting of the enrolment conditions for the training program you undertake
• Maintain your Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) for the period of your study.
• Paying of all fees and charges associated with your training program and providing your own course requirements where notified.
• To security of your personal possessions whilst attending a training program.
• Regular and punctual attendance.
• Inform your provider if you change your address.
• Maintain satisfactory course progress.
• Respecting property the college and observing policy guideline and instructions for the use of
  equipment.

More information about the ESOS Act is at the following website:
ESOS Legislative Framework
Education Services for Overseas Students (ESOS) Act

If you need more information about your rights and responsibilities under the ESOS Act and the National Code, speak to one of the trainers or a student support officer.