21. STUDENT VISAS / INTERNATIONAL LIFESAVERS

STUDENT VISAS

BACKGROUND
Surf Life Saving Queensland is not a registered CRICOS organisation and therefore we cannot train international visitors who hold certain visas, including study or student visas. It is a breach of the Education Services for Overseas Students Act 2000 (ESOS Act) for any provider to deliver courses to an overseas student on a student visa unless that course is registered on CRICOS or is on the exemption list. Clubs must ensure that they are checking that any new or renewing members they are signing up are not here on a student/study visa before advising them of which courses they may enrol into.

WHAT DOES THIS MEAN?
Members on student or study visas are unable to complete or gain accredited awards the Bronze Medallion/Certificate II, Surf Rescue Certificate, Radio, RWC) as SLSQ is unable to issue any qualifications or statement of attainments to these members since they are not on the exemption list. A member who is on a student/study visa is allowed to undertake First Aid, Resuscitation and Advanced Resuscitation (aligned to Health Training Package units which are allowed) and the Observers Award if they are looking for a way to be involved and patrol as a first aid and/or advanced resus member.

WHAT ARE THE IMPLICATIONS OF SUCH TRAINING?

• For our RTO – we (Surf Life Saving Queensland) can incur fines up to $125,000 or even loss of our RTO registration.
• For the member’s visa – failure to comply with the CRICOS requirements may lead to the student’s visa being cancelled and the student being removed from the course they received their student visa for.
  

WHAT HAPPENS IF A MEMBER COMPLETES THIS TRAINING? WHAT CAN WE OFFER A MEMBER ON A STUDENT/STUDY VISA?
While these members are not eligible to complete an accredited award, they may still complete non-accredited awards. With the release of the PUA20119 Public Safety Training Package (in July 2020), the Surf Rescue Certificate now has 4x units of competencies attached and the (standalone) Radio Operators Certificate one unit of competency. As such neither of these awards are now unable to be issued to International Students at this point in time.

HOW DO I KNOW IF A MEMBER IS HERE ON A STUDENT/STUDY VISA?
The simplest way to find out is to ask! Whether this is done when the member joins or during your course induction (or both), it is your choice.

Another place to look is on the member’s Student Enrolment Form (the question is under where they write their USI number). Avoiding or answering this question falsely may lead to issues for the student as their training may be cross-referenced on their academic record through the USI system.

WHAT IF I HAVE A MEMBER WHO IS HERE ON A VISA BUT I’M NOT SURE WHETHER IT IS A STUDENT/STUDY VISA?
We recommend that if you have a member here in Australia on any type of visa, that you request a copy of the visa and keep it with your course records. If you are unsure of the type of visa, please contact your Education team member to have it checked.

MEMBERS FROM INTERNATIONAL LIFE SAVING CLUBS

BACKGROUND
From time to time lifesavers from international life saving clubs move to Australia and join our clubs. Surf Life Saving Australia does not recognise any international awards relevant to participating as a member of an Australian Club.

WHAT DOES THIS MEAN?
This means that members who join but have international life saving qualifications will have to be trained and assessed for the SLSA Bronze Medallion/Certificate II (noting that they must not be on student/study visas).

TRAINING
To facilitate the training for members within this category – members must be trained in all requirements of the Surf Life Saving Awards.

As an option – Clubs/CTOs can look at the requirements of the International award that the member holds and carry out a Gap Analysis to determine the training options required.

Clubs should ensure they have copies of the members international qualifications for reference.

ASSESSMENT
Members must be assessed as per the requirements of Surf Life Saving Queensland.
All paperwork for this award is to be raised and completed as a new award.

CAN INTERNATIONAL AWARDS BE RPL’D?
No – SLSA members are required to be deemed competent in specific Units of Competency and the international awards do not match these.