Migration Help
9th November 2009, 05:37 PM
Help for students affected by college closures
About the ACPET Tuition Assurance Scheme (TAS)
Did you know that in 1994 the Australian Council for Private Education and Training (ACPET) Board established an Overseas Student Tuition Assurance Scheme (OSTAS)?
The scheme is in compliance with the requirements of the Commonwealth's Education Services for Overseas Students (ESOS) Act 2000. The purpose of the ESOS Act is to protect the interests of students studying in Australia on student visas, by providing students whose college has closed a suitable alternative course.
The Scheme ensures that overseas students displaced from any course conducted by an ACPET member participating in OSTAS, due to the member's inability to continue the course, will be efficiently relocated with minimal disruption to studies in a comparable course with another ACPET member participating in OSTAS or other approved provider.
Students Affected by Meridian College collapse
Following taken from ACPET website: (http://www.acpet.edu.au/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=6307&Itemid=404)
ACPET was advised on 6th November of the closure of the Meridian Group so have activated the Tuition Assurance Scheme (TAS) process due to the inability of the college to continue delivering courses to students.
The TAS has been activated for the following entities:
* Meridian International School (High School)
* International Design School
* Meridian International Hotel School
It is important for creditors, students and other people affected by the closure of this college that:
ACPET is not the Meridian Group
ACPET is not the Administrator
ACPET does not have access to student fees, or other money from the Meridian Group.
However, ACPET does manage the TAS of which the Meridian International School, International Design School, Meridian College and Meridian International Hotel School, were members.
Shortly ACPET will be providing students with information on how they can be assisted via the ACPET TAS. Our priority is to assist students with a suitable alternative placement as soon as possible.
Two student meetings hsve been organised to inform students of their rights and responsibilities under the legislation. ACPET will also inform students of the ways ACPET can assist them.
* Meridian International School (High School) students
Note: These meetings are for only for students of Meridian International School (High School). Only students with current student identification will be admitted to the meeting. Students studying English may attend this meeting.
Student Meeting Details:
Meeting Date: Tuesday 10 November
Meeting Time: 2:30 pm
Registration Time: 2:00 pm
Venue Address: Steve Waugh Room, Sydney Cricket Ground
* Meeting for International Design School & Meridian International Hotel School students
Note: These meetings are for only for students of International Design School, Meridian College and Meridian International Hotel School. Only students with current student identification will be admitted to the meeting. Students studying English may attend this meeting.
Student Meeting Details:
Meeting Date: Wednesday 11 November
Meeting Time: 11:00 am
Registration Time: 10:30 am
Venue Address: Wesley Conference Centre, 220 Pitt Street, Sydney
Contacting ACPET
Students wishing to contact ACPET can find contact details on the ACPET website (http://www.acpet.edu.au/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=6307&Itemid=404)
Visa Issues
The Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) is aware of the Meridian International School, New South Wales situation and will respond to your enquiries. Please contact Immigration with your queries on visa issues on 13 18 81. A list of immigration offices can be found at: http://www.immi.gov.au/contacts/australia/index.htm
To download a DIAC fact sheet on this matter click on the following link http://www.immi.gov.au/students/_pdf/edu-provider-default.pdf
Advice from Migration Agent
If you would like to receive further advice about your situation from a registered migration agent and/or immigration lawyer please let us know and we will put you in touch with accredited specialists in this area.
MH
About the ACPET Tuition Assurance Scheme (TAS)
Did you know that in 1994 the Australian Council for Private Education and Training (ACPET) Board established an Overseas Student Tuition Assurance Scheme (OSTAS)?
The scheme is in compliance with the requirements of the Commonwealth's Education Services for Overseas Students (ESOS) Act 2000. The purpose of the ESOS Act is to protect the interests of students studying in Australia on student visas, by providing students whose college has closed a suitable alternative course.
The Scheme ensures that overseas students displaced from any course conducted by an ACPET member participating in OSTAS, due to the member's inability to continue the course, will be efficiently relocated with minimal disruption to studies in a comparable course with another ACPET member participating in OSTAS or other approved provider.
Students Affected by Meridian College collapse
Following taken from ACPET website: (http://www.acpet.edu.au/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=6307&Itemid=404)
ACPET was advised on 6th November of the closure of the Meridian Group so have activated the Tuition Assurance Scheme (TAS) process due to the inability of the college to continue delivering courses to students.
The TAS has been activated for the following entities:
* Meridian International School (High School)
* International Design School
* Meridian International Hotel School
It is important for creditors, students and other people affected by the closure of this college that:
ACPET is not the Meridian Group
ACPET is not the Administrator
ACPET does not have access to student fees, or other money from the Meridian Group.
However, ACPET does manage the TAS of which the Meridian International School, International Design School, Meridian College and Meridian International Hotel School, were members.
Shortly ACPET will be providing students with information on how they can be assisted via the ACPET TAS. Our priority is to assist students with a suitable alternative placement as soon as possible.
Two student meetings hsve been organised to inform students of their rights and responsibilities under the legislation. ACPET will also inform students of the ways ACPET can assist them.
* Meridian International School (High School) students
Note: These meetings are for only for students of Meridian International School (High School). Only students with current student identification will be admitted to the meeting. Students studying English may attend this meeting.
Student Meeting Details:
Meeting Date: Tuesday 10 November
Meeting Time: 2:30 pm
Registration Time: 2:00 pm
Venue Address: Steve Waugh Room, Sydney Cricket Ground
* Meeting for International Design School & Meridian International Hotel School students
Note: These meetings are for only for students of International Design School, Meridian College and Meridian International Hotel School. Only students with current student identification will be admitted to the meeting. Students studying English may attend this meeting.
Student Meeting Details:
Meeting Date: Wednesday 11 November
Meeting Time: 11:00 am
Registration Time: 10:30 am
Venue Address: Wesley Conference Centre, 220 Pitt Street, Sydney
Contacting ACPET
Students wishing to contact ACPET can find contact details on the ACPET website (http://www.acpet.edu.au/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=6307&Itemid=404)
Visa Issues
The Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) is aware of the Meridian International School, New South Wales situation and will respond to your enquiries. Please contact Immigration with your queries on visa issues on 13 18 81. A list of immigration offices can be found at: http://www.immi.gov.au/contacts/australia/index.htm
To download a DIAC fact sheet on this matter click on the following link http://www.immi.gov.au/students/_pdf/edu-provider-default.pdf
Advice from Migration Agent
If you would like to receive further advice about your situation from a registered migration agent and/or immigration lawyer please let us know and we will put you in touch with accredited specialists in this area.
MH