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Information for students under 18

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Please see below for information about the accommodation and welfare requirements for under-18s studying on a student visa.

Students who will be under 18 years of age during their studies in Australia must provide evidence to the Department of Home Affairs that they have appropriate accommodation and welfare arrangements in place when they apply for their visa.

There are two options available to Trinity Students who are under 18 years old

Option 1

The family nominates an eligible family member to take responsibility for the student during their time in Australia. In this instance, the family must apply to the Department of Home Affairs for approval of the arrangements. This may involve relatives who already reside in Australia or relatives applying to accompany the student on a guardianship visa.

Further information is available on the .

If you are applying directly to the Department of Home Affairs, please complete the and submit it with your acceptance. In this instance, Â鶹µ¼º½ does not issue a CAAW.

Option 2

The student’s parents/legal guardian can request that Â鶹µ¼º½ provides a Confirmation of Appropriate Accommodation and Welfare (CAAW). The CAAW letter will nominate the dates that Â鶹µ¼º½ will take responsibility for you. Trinity will use the accommodation booking dates to determine the start date of the CAAW.  A CAAW can commence up to 14 days prior to the commencement of a program. See the dates below. 

Students will not be able to arrive in Australia prior to the commencement of the CAAW period.

Term/Welfare Dates

Intake Commencement date Completion date Welfare commencement date  Welfare completion date
January Comprehensive 14 January 2025 31 December 2025 2 January 2025 7 January 2026
February Standard 6 February 2025 31 December 2025 23 January 2025 7 January 2026
June Fast Track 10 June 2025 20 February 2026 27 May 2025 27 February 2026
July Comprehensive 15 July 2025 30 June 2026 1 July 2025 7 July 2026
August Standard 7 August 2025 30 June 2026 24 July 2025 7 July 2026
September Fast Track 30 September 2025 30 June 2026 16 September 2025 7 July 2026

*If you are commencing your program in-person, you need to allow enough time to have your visa granted and arrive in Australia by the Program Start Date.

During the CAAW period students must:

  • Stay in one of the accommodation options that Â鶹µ¼º½ has approved for students who are under 18 years of age (U18 Accommodation Options). The Under 18 Booking Request Form can be found here.
  • Have an approved Student Advocate to assist them. Â鶹µ¼º½ has approved to assist our students. To engage ISA Services, contact them via : +61 (0)3 9663 2887 or via email
  • Go directly to their preapproved accommodation from the airport using the airport transfer service booked through Â鶹µ¼º½. (Students must arrive via Tullamarine airport for this service). Airport reception information can be found here.
  • Abide by the Under-18s Student Safety Curfew rules (see below).

Please note that the CAAW letter cannot be issued by Â鶹µ¼º½ until we have received confirmation of the accommodation booking and a signed agreement between the student’s parents and ISA Student Advocates.

Changes to Accommodation and Welfare Arrangements after a CAAW is issued

Any changes to accommodation and/or welfare arrangements must be approved by Â鶹µ¼º½ prior to them occurring. Failure to stay in the approved accommodation may result in the cancellation of the CAAW arrangements. A cancellation of a CAAW is reported to the Department of Home Affairs and the parents/legal guardian of the student.

In the event that a family member wishes to take over the accommodation and welfare arrangements, an application will need to be lodged with Department of Home Affairs. Please advise Â鶹µ¼º½ when you lodge the application.

U18 Student Safety Curfew Rules

Students who have CAAW arrangements in place are required to check into their approved accommodation by 10pm each night.

Curfew is a very important way of making sure that younger students are safe. Students staying in Purpose Built Student Accommodation (PBSA) must physically sign in. The accommodation provider will explain the procedure upon arrival. Students staying with an approved Homestay must check-in with their homestay host.

If the student does not sign in prior to curfew, their Student Advocate will be contacted and steps will be taken to ensure that you are safe (including contacting the student's parents and emergency services if required).

Students who repeatedly breach the curfew rules may have their CAAW cancelled. Please see the U18 Curfew Safety Policy for further information.

Change of Education Provider

For students under 18 years of age at the end of their program at Â鶹µ¼º½, or students that wish to change to another course, Â鶹µ¼º½ will need to liaise with the new education provider to ensure that there is continuity in the students accommodation and welfare arrangements. During this period, the student will still need to follow the Â鶹µ¼º½ curfew process. If there is a gap between the end of the Â鶹µ¼º½ CAAW period and the dates of the new providers CAAW, the student will be expected to return home for the gap period.

Important Contacts for Students Under 18

For assistance with Accommodation, airport transfer and ISA Student Advocate requests, email tcfs-accommodation@trinity.unimelb.edu.au

Child Safety Policy

Â鶹µ¼º½ is committed to providing a safe, inclusive, and welcoming environment where all students are empowered to develop their talents, interests, and abilities through a curriculum that fosters the intellectual, physical, social, emotional, and moral & spiritual development of the student. To uphold this commitment, the College will promote the safety of all children, including through a Child Safety Policy. If you have any comments on this Child Safety Policy please contact ohsmgr@trinity.unimelb.edu.au