Overview
In Western Australia, primary schools enrol students from Kindergarten to Year 6. Overseas students can apply to enrol in a Western Australian primary school that has been approved to accept overseas fee-paying students.
Students from overseas fall into four categories:
CATEGORY 1: STUDENTS ON PERMANENT RESIDENCE VISAS
Students on permanent residence visas have an enrolment entitlement and do not pay tuition fees. These students have the same enrolment entitlements and access to specialist provision and support services as local students. They are eligible for student-centred funding. They are required to pay contributions, charges and fees payable by local students enrolled at the school.
CATEGORY 2: STUDENTS ON SPECIFIED TEMPORARY RESIDENCE VISAS WHO HAVE LOCAL ENROLMENT ENTITLEMENT AND DO NOT PAY TUITION FEES
Students on specified temporary residence visas who have a local enrolment entitlement and do not pay tuition fees are listed below.
These students have the same enrolment entitlements and access to specialist provision and support services as local students. They are eligible for student centred funding. They are required to pay contributions, charges and fees payable by local students enrolled at the school.
Students (or Dependants) on Specified Temporary Visas with local entitlement and exempt from the payment of tuition fees.
Visa Subclass
159 /163 / 164 / 188 / 300 / 309 / 401 / 402 / 403 / 407 / 444 / 445 / 461 / 475 / 476 / 485 / 487 / 489 / 496 / 497 / 785 / 786 / 790 / 820 / 995 / 998
CATEGORY 3: STUDENTS ON SPECIFIED TEMPORARY RESIDENCE VISAS WHO HAVE LOCAL ENROLMENT ENTITLEMENT AND PAY TUITION FEES
Students who are dependants of specified temporary residence visa holders who have a local enrolment entitlement and pay tuition fees are listed below.
These students have the same enrolment entitlements and access to specialist provision and support services as local students. They are eligible for student centred funding. They are also required to pay contributions, charges and fees payable by local students enrolled at the school.
Dependants of Temporary Visa holders – With local enrolment entitlement and pay tuition fees.
Visa Sub Class 482 (Previously 457) Temporary Work (Skilled)
Tuition fee
482 (Previously 457) Visa holders pay a family tuition fee of $4 000 per year for students enrolled in public primary and secondary schools from Pre-primary to Year 12. There is no tuition fee payable if the oldest child attends kindergarten. The family tuition fee will be paid to the State Government and TAFE International Western Australia (TIWA) is responsible for administration and collection of the fee. Contact TIWA for further information and payment.
CATEGORY 4: STUDENTS ON ALL OTHER TEMPORARY RESIDENCE VISAS (KNOWN AS OVERSEAS FEE-PAYING STUDENTS)
Students who are holders of, or dependants of, all other temporary residence visas are known as overseas fee-paying students. They have no local enrolment entitlement and are not guaranteed a place at their local school. This includes those students with fee-waivers. Overseas fee-paying students are not eligible to apply for, or to enrol in, selective Gifted and Talented programs. Overseas fee-paying students are not eligible for
student-centred funding. Students on temporary visas, other than those visas listed in Sections 3 and 4, are to contact TAFE International Western Australia (TIWA) prior to enrolment. TIWA will determine the current status of the visa and confirm if the student is an overseas fee-paying student.
Overseas fee-paying students are required to pay the following contributions, charges and fees which are collected by the school:
• other costs incurred by the school such as leasing or purchase of notebook computers and School Curriculum and Standards Authority fees; and
• contributions and charges payable by local students enrolled at the school.
Principals can exclude an overseas fee-paying student from participating in an education program for the non-payment of school fees and charges. Overseas fee-paying students are required to pay the following fees which are collected by TIWA:
• tuition fee for enrolment at a public school; and
• fees for specialist provision or support for students with English as an additional language or disability if required.
For any further information or clarification please contact TIWA.
