Policy

1) Deferment of commencement of study requested by student

a) PLC may defer the commencement of studies on the basis of compassionate or compelling circumstances. These include but are not limited to:

i) illness, where a medical certificate states that the student was unable to attend classes

ii) Bereavement of close family members such as parents or grandparents (where possible a death certificate should be provided)

iii) Major political upheaval or natural disaster in the home country requiring emergency travel that has impacted on studies

iv) A traumatic experience which has impacted on the student (these cases should be where possible supported by police or psychologists’ report)

b) The final decision for assessing and granting a deferment of commencement of studies will be determined by the Principal.

c) Deferment will be recorded on PRISMS depending on the students CoE status.

2) Suspension of study requested by student

a) Once the student has commenced the course, PLC may grant a suspension of study on the basis of compassionate or compelling circumstances. These include but are not limited to;

i) illness, where a medical certificate states that the student was unable to attend classes

ii) bereavement of close family members such as parents or grandparents (where possible a death certificate should be provided)

iii) major political upheaval or natural disaster in the home country

iv) a traumatic experience, which has impacted on the student (these cases should be where possible supported by police or psychologists’ reports)

b) Suspension will be recorded on PRISMS.

c) The period of suspension will not be included in attendance calculations.

d) The final decision for assessing and granting a suspension of studies will be determined by the Principal.

3) Assessing requests by students for deferment or suspension of studies

a) Applications will be assessed on merit by the Head of Senior School.

b) All applications for deferment or suspension will be considered within ten working days.

4) PLC initiated exclusion from class (1 – 28 days)

a) PLC may exclude a student from class studies on the grounds of misbehaviour by the student. Exclusion will occur as the result of any behaviour identified as resulting in exclusion in PLC’s Student Code of Conduct.

b) Excluded students must abide by the conditions of their exclusion from studies which will depend on the welfare and accommodation arrangements in place for each student and which will be determined by the Registrar.

c) Where the student is provided with homework or other studies for the period of the exclusion, the student must continue to meet the academic requirements of the course.

d) Exclusions from class will not be recorded on PRISMS.

e) Periods of ‘exclusion from class’ will not be included in attendance calculations.

5) PLC initiated suspension of studies (28 days +)

a) PLC may initiate a suspension of studies for a student on the grounds of misbehaviour by the student. Suspension will occur as the result of any behaviour identified as resulting in suspension in PLC’s Student Responsible Behaviour Policy. Should PLC initiate a suspension of overseas student enrolment, before imposing the suspension, PLC will:

– inform the overseas student, in writing, of that intention and the reason for doing so; and

– advise the overseas student of their right to appeal through PLC’s internal complaints and appeals process, within 20 working days.

A suspension of an overseas student’s enrolment will not take effect until the internal appeals process is completed, unless the overseas student’s health or wellbeing, or the wellbeing of others, is likely to be at risk. Where a suspension takes place, PLC will inform the overseas student of the need to seek advice from Immigration on the potential impact on her student visa and will report the change to the overseas student’s enrolment under section 19 of the ESOS Act.

PLC will continue to approve the welfare arrangements for the student until they have alternative welfare arrangements approved by another registered provider, are in the care of a parent or nominated relative as approved by Immigration or they leave Australia.

b) Suspended students must abide by the conditions of their suspension from studies which will depend on the welfare and accommodation arrangements in place for each student and which will be determined by the Registrar.

c) Students who have been suspended for more than 28 days should contact DIAC to see if their visa is affected by the suspension.

d) If special circumstances exist, the student must abide by the conditions of his or her suspension which will depend on the welfare and accommodation arrangements in place for each student and which will be determined by the Registrar.

e) Suspensions will be recorded on PRISMS.

f) The period of suspension will not be included in attendance calculations.

6) PLC initiated cancellation of enrolment

a) PLC may cancel the enrolment of a student under the following circumstances;

i) Failure to pay course fees as stated in the Written Agreement

ii) A breach of course progress or attendance as required by Standard 8 of the National Code of Practice for Providers of Education and Training to Overseas Students 2018 (Overseas Student Visa Requirements)

iii) Failure to maintain approved welfare and accommodation arrangements (visa condition 8532)

iv) Any behaviour identified in PLC’s Student Responsible Behaviour Policy as resulting in cancellation of enrolment

b) Should PLC initiate a cancellation of overseas student enrolment, before imposing the cancellation, PLC will:

– inform the overseas student, in writing, of that intention and the reason for doing so; and

– advise the overseas student of their right to appeal through PLC’s internal complaints and appeals process, within 20 working days.

A cancellation of an overseas student’s enrolment will not take effect until the internal appeals process is completed, unless the overseas student’s health or wellbeing, or the wellbeing of others, is likely to be at risk.

Where a cancellation takes place, PLC will inform the overseas student of the need to seek advice from Immigration on the potential impact on her student visa and will report the change to the overseas student’s enrolment under section 19 of the ESOS Act.

c) PLC is required to report failure to maintain satisfactory course progress and failure to maintain satisfactory attendance to DIAC which will result in automatic cancellation.

7) Complaints and Appeals

a) Student requested deferment and suspension are subject to PLC’s Complaints and Grievance Policy.

b) School initiated suspension, where the suspension is to be recorded in PRISMS, and cancellation are subject to PLC’s Complaints and Grievance Policy.

c) For the duration of the appeals process, the student is required to maintain her enrolment and attendance at all classes as normal. The Principal will determine if participation in studies will be in class or under a supervised arrangement outside of classes.

d) The use of extenuating circumstances by PLC to suspend or cancel a student’s enrolment prior to the completion of any complaints and appeals process will be supported by appropriate evidence.

e) The final decision for evaluating extenuating circumstances will be at the determination of the Principal.

8) Student Advice

a) Deferment, suspension and cancellation of enrolment can have an effect on a student’s visa as a result of changes to enrolment status. Students will be informed to contact the Department of Immigration for advice.

b) PLC will report any changes to the student’s enrolment under section 19 of the ESOS Act.