Why: As a registered CRICOS (Commonwealth Register of Institutions and Courses for Overseas Students) Provider providing education to international students (overseas students studying in Australia with a student visa), RMIT needs to ensure the quality of education and wellbeing of all students. RMIT must comply, at all times, with the ESOS Framework which includes the ESOS Act 2000 and the National Code 2018. As a RMIT staff member directly interacting with international students, it is required by the National Code 2018 that you are aware of our obligations under the ESOS framework and the potential implications for international students arising from the exercise of these obligations.
What: The National Code 2018 contains 11 standards. As a general guidance, below are the responsibilities that are relevant to you. Check with your program manager if you are unsure about anything below:
- Standards 1-4 set out the requirements for pre-enrolment and enrolment of international students. It requires that you do not provide misleading information to prospective and enrolled international students.
- Standard 5 lays out your responsibility for the welfare of any under 18 international students in your class. As a RMIT staff member you are required to provide support appropriate to a student’s age and physical needs and ensure that you have a current Working with Children Check (WWCC).
- Standard 6 requires you as an academic, to take all reasonable steps to provide a safe and secure environment on campus, to support the achievement of expected learning outcomes regardless of the location or mode of study, and to assist adjustment to study and life in Australia.
- Standards 7-9 – International students will need to meet their visa requirements throughout their entire study period so you must check that any proposed changes to their enrolment or to the delivery of your course will not adversely impact their visa conditions
- Standards 10-11 – Students must follow RMIT’s internal complaints and appeals policy and process first before accessing external complaints and appeals process.
How: RMIT has comprehensive policies, processes and systems that guide our compliant operations. Below are a few examples particularly relevant to your role.
- RMIT offers a broad range of International Student Support Services including (but not limited to) health, finance, legal and accommodation and so on. Where support is needed, please refer students to RMIT Connect to access the support services.
- RMIT identifies, monitors, assesses and notifies students who are ‘at risk’ of having unsatisfactory academic progress (and provides assistance). As an academic, you play an important role in monitoring students’ engagement and performance in learning and assessment and should provide a learning environment in which students are able to improve their academic performance.
