What is Guardianship and why “under 18 international students” need this service?

 

Welcome to Asian Student Guardianship and Welfare Service (a branch of Asian Student Accommodation) and thank you if you decide to choose our company for your child's educational support and welfare needs. As parents, you will be aware, all international students under the age of 18 years old must, by Australian Law,( under visa condition 8532) have a reliable guardian to help them to manage their academic and non academic needs whilst studying in Australia. This requirement also meets the compliance of the Education Services for Overseas Students (ESOS) Act and ties in strongly with Standard 5 of the National Code. If this compliance is not met, it will be extremely difficult for the education provider to issue out an “Offer Letter” to your child for his/her studies in Australia. It will also have a significant impact on the completion and success of the Australian visa being issued by Department of Immigration and Citizenship.

 

 

    PASTORAL CARE AND ASA’S POLICY       

 

ASA is a Melbourne based organisation and we pride ourselves on our expertise, knowledge and the pastoral care that we provide to our international students for the last 17 years. We are an independent guardianship service provider and this enables us to focus primarily on the overall interests of our students.

 

Our policy is to work closely with the education provider (welfare departments), home stay host, teaching staff and parents to enable us to effectively resolve any problems that may arise in relation to the student. As well as being responsible for the welfare of the students our specialist caregivers ensure that each student is nurtured and cared for according to their individual needs and personality.

 

It is very clear that students studying overseas feel isolated from their love ones and they miss the normal social support that they receive from their family and friends in their homeland.  Being away from home for the first time, they are faced with all kinds of situations which they would usually not have to handle if they were still in their home.  Being new to the country, it is critical that these students have the special consideration and attention that a guardian can provide to help them overcome home-sickness, loneliness, language barriers and cultural changes.  ASA guardianship services aim to provide gentle guidance to the students and ensure that they feel safe, warm, and welcome in their new country and home that they are placed in.

 

ASA knows that students are at their best when they feel happy and secure; and caring nurturing relationships are the key to developing students self belief and self confidence. The role of the guardian is both reactive and proactive in order to provide support and guidance in all facets of the student life as they learn to take on increasing responsibility for the wellbeing of themselves. This distinctive care is the heart of our approach and it runs through every aspect of our involvement with the student.

 COMPLIANCE

 

Due to compliance, ASA consultants are alert to the fact that Police and Working with Children Checks are mandatory in Australia. All our staff have lodged and completed up to date checks and these documents are monitored and updated regularly.

 

 MULTILINGUAL CONSULTANTS

 

ASA staffs are multi lingual and languages spoken include Mandarin, Cantonese, English, Malaysian and Indonesian. The company also have access to Korean, Japanese and Vietnamese interpreters where required. We ensure that there are appropriate numbers of consultants per student ratio. As a guardianship agency, we firmly believe in not over extending our service that we cannot meet the needs of our students.

 

 

QUALIFICATIONS AND 24/7 AVAILABILITY 

 

The consultants are qualified in areas of: medicine, psychology, education, banking and finance. This extensive and varied skill base enables us to bring considerable talent and expertise when dealing with our international students needs. ASA’s trained staff is able to pick up on problems as soon they arise. When these difficulties do arise, we are available 24x7 to assist the students. Such caring support is paramount to the successful adjustment and psychological stability of these young students living in a new country.

 

 OUR ULTIMATE AIM IS TO PROVIDE :

·                     Peace of mind for parents and the education provider, knowing that there is a responsible person monitoring and caring for the well being of the student at all times

·                     Guidance for the student in all aspects of their academic, physical, social and emotional well being.

·                     A service for the education provider knowing that there is a point-of-contact for the student outside the institution, and that ASGW will take responsibility for the student especially after hours, week- ends and school holidays.

·                     A clear understanding that the student adheres to the criteria and LEGAL requirements set down by the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations (DEEWR), and that of the education provider that they are enrolled with.

"Every student’s education experience in Australia is unique and it should be informative, personalized, fun and safe. ASA will endeavour to facilitate this philosophy for every child under our care.”

Application Forms

Please download the Application forms and then send them to us via e-mail, fax or post. Our address, fax and phone information are on the letter heads or can be found on our homepage.

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ASA Guardianship Application form

Microsoft Word PDF

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ASA Guardianship Services & Information

Microsoft Word PDF

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ASA Guardianship Rates & Refund

Microsoft Word PDF

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Adobe Acrobat Reader is required to view the PDF format files, and is available free at the Adobe website