Finding a School Place in Melbourne
 

I have posted this over in the "Australia" Forum, but things seem pretty quiet ver there, so thought I'd do a duplicate here too - hope no-one minds :)

Please, emigrating people, has anyone managed to actually secure a school place for their kids BEFORE getting their visa through?

The reason I ask, is that I have sent lots of emails off to various schools I think would be good for the girls, but never have had a single reply! Not even a "Get back to us when you've got your visa"!

As some of you might know, we are having to go down the Court route to get to Oz & having a school place organised would go a long way to helping that process. Hell, even a letter from a school telling us we can't have a place until we have a visa would be better than nothing...

Maybe there's someone who knows a teacher out there who could help us with such a letter....:o

But failing a letter saying we can't have a place, please can anyone advise us what they did when they were trying to organise schools?

Many thanks

Re: Finding a School Place in Melbourne
 

I expect all the peeps in Oz are in bed now:unsure:
Am sure you will get some answers later on, don't despair... you should be good at patience by now;)

Re: Finding a School Place in Melbourne
 

Not sure that they would do it Jenny as you need to show your visa, you normally just rock up enrol and then they start.

Schools break up for two weeks today.

Re: Finding a School Place in Melbourne
 

Lol! I'm notoriously bad at patience....... always get the cards mixed up :rofl:

Re: Finding a School Place in Melbourne
 

Just a thought, but have you tried any of the private schools?

Re: Finding a School Place in Melbourne
 

Thanks for the reply fraser, that's the same as here then. Maybe someone might have a link that explains the situation, that I could use?

Re: Finding a School Place in Melbourne
 

I guess it's a thought, but we'll be going on a 175 so hoped the state schools would be more helpful.

Not sure if we can afford a private school, to be honest :unsure:

Re: Finding a School Place in Melbourne
 

Here's a link although not sure if what you need is there.

http://www.education.vic.gov.au/abou...ng/default.htm

If you still haven't found anything in the next couple of weeks I could ask at the school or you could just phone one today an try to get an answer.

Re: Finding a School Place in Melbourne
 

Sorry! was just thinking of you trying to get info for your case! Probably not a great suggestion:o

Re: Finding a School Place in Melbourne
 

If you have a permanent address here then you are more likely to get a positive response from the school in whose catchment area you live. Schools are obliged to offer places to children in their area whereas kids outside their area are a matter for negotiation.

The systemic Catholic schools might be worth a look - think they are only around the $3K mark so may be more manageable for you.

Re: Finding a School Place in Melbourne
 

I managed to secure a place in a catholic school for my 13 year old daughter before we came here - she doesn't actually go there now though...

I had to pay an enrollment fee of about $180 dollars and the school had reasonable term fees.

The school is Emmanuel College in Point Cook.

It is certainly worth you emailing the Catholic Schools even if you chose not to send your children there when you arrive.

Like you I had no response from the state schools however had no problem to get them enrolled once we got here - like Fraser said we went to school filled in application, they took a photocopy of passports with visa and they started the next day.

Hope that helps you - good luck with everything....

Lau xx

Re: Finding a School Place in Melbourne
 

Thanks sallyclaire & quoll - keep the ideas coming if possible :)

I know that I won't be able to register the girls in school until we have a permanent address in Oz, it's finding a verifiable bonafide source where this information is written down that is the problem.

I need to be able to show the Court that without the visa we cannot get a confirmed school place. I'm hoping that other families that have gone the Court route will come along soon & let us know how they achieved this.

I've located suitable schools, no problem, but getting a reply to my questions seems impossible. A letter from a school in Melbourne explaining the catchment zone would be ideal for this, or a printout from a website that explains it.

Thanks all for your time & trouble :)

Re: Finding a School Place in Melbourne
 

Sent you some K Lau!

Re: Finding a School Place in Melbourne
 

Thanks Lau, that's a great help :)

Can't do anything right now because I'm off to bed, but I'll have a look tomorrow.

There may be a way around this yet :o

Re: Finding a School Place in Melbourne
 

There are a whole lot of phone numbers here. I would head for the most likely education office and call them (dont forget the 9 hours difference) and ask them to put something in an email to you - the very least they can do is direct you to the enrolment policy document (which I couldnt immediately find on line). Dont go to schools, go up the office line and if you dont get any joy, ask to speak to the relevant director.