The Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) requires students under the age of 18 to have appropriate accommodation and welfare arrangements while studying in Australia.
It is a condition of a Student Visa that these arrangements be maintained, and failure to do so can result in visa cancellation.
Students who will be under 18 when they begin studying at UWA have two options for their accommodation and welfare arrangements.
- Option A
- Option B
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Option A - Students stay in an accommodation and welfare arrangement approved by The University of Western Australia
Under Option A, the student must have an arrangement with an approved carer service and a confirmed place in an approved college or homestay. The University will issue a 'Confirmation of Appropriate Accommodation and Welfare' letter (CAAW) which can be used for an application for a student visa. It is important that students who are under 18 do not arrive in Australia before the date nominated by the University on their CAAW confirmation letter (unless accompanied by a parent), as this can result in their visa being cancelled.
Step 1
You, or your agent, contacts a UWA-approved accommodation providers to arrange a confirmed accommodation place. The University's approved accommodation providers are:
- University Hall
- St Catherine's College
- St George's College
- St Thomas More College
- Trinity
- Nacel Australia (homestay)
- Talkabout Tours (homestay)
- WA Homestay Network (homestay)
Step 2
You, or your agent, should arrange welfare services with a UWA-approved carer service, and provide them with evidence that you have a confirmed place in UWA-approved accommodation.
The University's approved carer services are:
Step 3
Your carer service will inform the University that approved accommodation and welfare arrangements are in place, and we will issue the CAAW letter to you.
Option B - Students stay in an accommodation and welfare arrangement approved by the Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC)
Under Option B, the University does not issue the 'Confirmation of Appropriate Accommodation and Welfare' letter (CAAW), as the accommodation and welfare arrangements are approved directly by the Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC).
Typically, this means that the student will be living in Australia with a parent or adult relative. Refer to the Department of Immigration and Citizenship website for more information on Student Guardian Visas and other visa options.
Where students and their families select this option, they must supply contact details to the University using the form below:
