ACADEMIC & CAREERS COUNSELLING
At Stott’s Colleges all students have access to Academic Counselling. Teachers are freely available to assist students with their studies. Each student is interviewed by the Careers Counsellor to ensure their course is appropriate for their desired career path.
FIRST LANGUAGE COUNSELLING
Stott’s bilingual counsellors are dedicated to assisting international students manage the transition from overseas to the Australian study and living environment, and overcome any personal difficulties. Stott’s bilingual counsellors are qualified to provide services in Chinese, Japanese, Vietnamese, Indonesian, Thai, Italian, Polish, Portuguese and other languages. Stott’s students’ parents and guardians can speak directly to our bilingual counsellors over the phone or in person where students’ issues and needs are concerned.
HOMESTAY & GUARDIANSHIP SERVICES
Stott’s Colleges uses the Homestay program provided by Melbourne Language Centre (’MLC’) and guardianship services provided by Guardianship Australia.
Stott’s Colleges authorises the coordinator of MLC Homestay program to approve and monitor Homestay arrangements for international students under the age of 18. MLC can also arrange Homestay and provide accommodation advice for Stott’s Colleges’ students over 18 years old upon request. MLC Homestay program has robust procedures for the selection and monitoring of Homestay carers and Homestay residences, including, but not limited to: Australian Police vetting of all persons aged 18 or over resident in the household; assessment of the suitability of Homestay and residential facilities; and ongoing assessment to ensure the Homestay provides a safe physical and emotional environment. MLC Homestay coordinator meets with students in homestay accommodation at regular intervals to ensure that the accommodation remains suitable. MLC Homestay program also provides an Airport ‘meet and greet’ service with experienced MLC Airport Representatives.
Stott’s Colleges appoint Guardianship Australia as its preferred Guardianship service provider for overseas students under the age of 18. Guardianship Australia is also the preferred guardianship service provider for Melbourne Language Centre, Methodist Ladies College, and Fintona Girls School. Guardianship Australia provides the following services for students who Guardianship Australia acts as guardian for: General Student Support: including regular visits with students to ensure cultural acclimatisation, well-being and academic progress; Supervision and guidance in all matters financial. General assistance in matters relating to banking, insurance, appointments and memberships. Academic Care: Orientation programs to the education provider appropriate to the students’ requirements. Regular liaison with the education provider to ensure academic progress and comfort within the school environment. Collation of school reports and other relevant details for periodic submission to parents overseas; Representaton of Student and Parent interests and concerns to the education provider.
Emergency Assistance:
Guardianship Australia provides 24-hour on-call “Care Team” assistance, which includes emergency first aid treatment and first language counselling. Guardianship Australia contacts the parents of each international student and establishes communciation arrangements with parents that can be used in the event of any emergency. If an international student who is under 18 and chooses not to use Stott’s Colleges’ preferred Guardianship Australia Services, the student must stay either with MLC Homestay; or an accommodation nominated by the student’s parent(s) and checked and approved by the MLC Homestay Coordinator, the student’s parent(s) also need to nominate a responsible adult for the student while she / he is in Australia, and that the details of the responsible adult must be provide to the Stott’s Colleges’ registrar together with the following documents: 1) certified copies of passport or other valid identification documents; 2) police check; 3) written and signed authorisation from the student’s parent(s).