Help with student visa
 

Hi mates, nice to be here :regular_smile:

I'm researching about a student visa, I'm a bit confused right now so I'll be happy to get your help.

I come with a 3 years practical experience in my country as a youth and rehabilitation counselor, no formal education. only 12 years of high school.

I did a search on the official skilled occupation list and I've founds some diplomas/certificates I'm interested in:

1.Counsellors.

2. community services.

3. Family Support Worker.

4. Youth Worker.

My main goal is eventually to treat people 1 on 1, individually.

Now, I understand there are levels of certificates and diplomas and that's really got me confused.

I'm trying to understand which certificate/diploma I need to work in Australia and find a Job in treatment in one of one of these fields.

Secondly, I saw that these courses are mainly not open to international students and that they only occur in the mornings, because international students can't study part time. Is there any chance to find evening full time studies in the country?

Thank you very much !

Re: Help with student visa
 

Hi and welcome to BE.

If you haven't seen it already, this Home Affairs link gives you all the information you need re. a student visa
https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visa...t-500#Overview

To be eligible to apply for a student visa, you'll need to provide proof that you've enrolled in a full-time course that is registered on the Commonwealth Register of institutions and courses for overseas students https://cricos.education.gov.au/ So this is where you'll look for courses that will meet the student visa criteria.

Re: Help with student visa
 

Thank you for that.

it's still doesn't answer my questions :

1- it says a minimum 3 month course. It doesn't say how many hours per week.

2- If im getting this right - they don't care which level of course is that? no matter if it's a level 1 certificate or a doctorate? because I do understand from people that there's no way ro stay and work later on with another visa if it's not like a minimum diploma and more.

3 - So far I haven't found even 1 institute that offers an evening course full time and i've searched the whole country, do you have some info on that? Does it even exist in Australia for international students?

Thanks.

Re: Help with student visa
 

An evening course can’t be full time, by definition it is only evenings, so part time. A full time course involves all day study.

Your best bet would be a consultation with a registered migration agent, NOT just an agency set up to find student placements, you need someone qualified in visa rules and regs.
This will almost certainly cost you money, but you need to realise that studying in Australia is very expensive - course costs, accommodation, living expenses, and you will have limited working rights.

Re: Help with student visa
 

You're putting the cart before the horse. A student visa is solely for studying an approved course in Australia - what level of qualification you might need to apply for a work visa down the track doesn't come into this process.

Did you search for qualifying courses on the second link I provided? For example, I did a search for qualifying courses in New South Wales in Youth Work. No certificate 1, 2 or 3 courses are offered. There's a certificate 4 available at 3 institutions, length of course ranges between 52 - 74 weeks. All have a work experience component as part of the course, which means that to pass the course you need to work under supervision in order to gain the necessary experience. This work is unpaid. The course fees range between $12,000 - $18,000, and then you'd have your housing and living expenses on top of that. The covid-related increase of work hours allowed for students was 40 hours per week, but is going back to 20 hours a week.

Regarding working in Australia when your course has finished, you'd need to apply for a skilled occupation visa. Search the relevent Skilled Occupation Lists and if you find your occupation on the list (for example, Youth Worker), then research that occupation to see if you could pass the skills/qualifications assessment. What level of qualification is required varies greatly depending on the occupation, and whether the Skilled Occupation is on the long, medium or short term visa list. Not all work visas offer permanent residency.

I agree with Pollyanna that a consultation with a registered migration agent would be the best way forward for you. They will take into account all your personal circumstances and be able to advise you accordingly.

Re: Help with student visa
 

Yes I know and understand that and I already found a good agent a year ago and started to save money. The thing is that the service cost 1200 $. And without knowing first if it's even a possibility to study in the evenings - i wont apply for a visa and of course pay his commission.

The main issue remains one- not the costs and other aspects, but the simple issue I need to solve- if there's even a possibility somewhere to study one of these courses in the evening. if not - i'll need to give up on the Australian dream (Maybe try the same thing in the UK?). I have severe sleep disorder and functioning before 3PM is unfortenotly not relevet for me.

Re: Help with student visa
 

Thank you for that. I really need to solve the evening classes problem first, only after that I can proceed.

Re: Help with student visa
 

I don't want to sound doomy and gloomy Tom, but you're not going to get a student visa for Australia with an evening classes course.

Is the work/holiday visa an option for you? Age limit is 18 - 30 years old if you're a UK citizen, 18 - 35 if a ROI citizen. It's not a student visa, it's designed for young people to be able to have a holiday in Australia and allows them to work to help pay for it. But if I remember correctly it allows study of up to four months. The visa is for one year, but if you meet certain requirements you can get a 2nd and then a 3rd year. The visa fees are dead cheap compared with most others too.
https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visa...y-417#Overview

Re: Help with student visa
 

Its super hard for me to hear. I really thought there’s a good chance to find at least 1 institution that offers that. It’s huge country.

Yes, the working holiday visa was my first and preferred option, it was declined because I don’t have a full GED.

Maybe In the UK it’s possible to achieve my dream? I like this country also. And then when I finish studying, I can use it to work In Australia?

(I’m EU and Israeli citizen)

Re: Help with student visa
 

I think you're misunderstanding what Spouse of Scouse is saying - there will be evening courses, but she's saying you can't get a visa for an evening course, it would need to be a full-time course.

If you're an EU citizen then could you maybe finish your education in the EU and then apply for a working holiday visa for Oz?

Re: Help with student visa
 

I hate being the one to disappoint you Tom, sorry.
The thing that you're not going to be able to get around is that evening courses are always classed as part-time study, so this type of course would not be approved for a student visa.

My apologies, I assumed you were from the UK which is why I provided the link to the 417 working holiday visa. As you've obviously found out for yourself, an Israeli citizen would need a 462 work holiday visa, and the criteria for that includes attaining a certain level of education plus there's a military service criteria.

Which EU country do you derive your EU citizenship from? Citizens of many EU countries are eligible to apply for the 417 working holiday visa.

Re: Help with student visa
 

My situation is complex and a bit unlucky.

Supposedly - I can get free education, even a degree in EU countries and in Israel, but for starters I'm in this position because I have sleep disorder and dyscalculia, that is why I only have half GED and i didnt do a bachelor degree in Israel, years ago.

Now, at 32, I'm trying to find a creative global solution to my unique condition.

Portuguese passport.

Re: Help with student visa
 

Ah ok, you'd have already learned that citizens of Portugal need the 462 work holiday visa, and that comes with education level requirements.

I think it's great that you're trying to improve your life and your future. You sound very courageous and determined! I'm sorry that I can't give you any advice, as I don't know much about the migration requirements of other countries.

You've successfully worked in the youth/rehabilitation field already, maybe you could build on that experience where you're living now and progress that way?

Re: Help with student visa
 

Thank you for that kind words.

Unfortunately, in Israel there ain't such thing as certificates or diplomas in these fields. In order to get a license and treat people you need a master in social work or psychology.

Re: Help with student visa
 

Are there other ways aside from social work/counselling that you could work with and help young people/communities?

I don't know how this works in Israel or Portugal, but in Australia my last job was managing a team of 200 people in the community services fields. I had youth workers, disability support workers, community development workers, people who provided activities for children, community safety officers - very few of them had a degree. What they all had was a passion to improve the lives of others, and the personal values to back that up.

Re: Help with student visa
 

That sounds amazing and that is what drives me too. but in Australia it's super complicated because I can't work without some kind of visa.. I really wish I could, it would make things much easier and I'll be on the first flight to Melbourne tomorrow.

It seems that the only option currently for me to work in Australia is to study. If you have any creative ideas I'll be happy to hear.

Before all of that I've checked if 3 years practical experience can help with coming for work - and I understand that it isn't. I even willing to volunteer for Allowance in the first months.

Re: Help with student visa
 

I did:

1- Counselling - diploma and above.

2. Community service - Certificate 3 and above.

3.Youth worker - Certificate 4 and up.

from what i've seen and the number of institutes available and jops options - seems like Community service is the most common and "easy" course to start/find.

My favorite/suits me the most, is definitely counseling but it seems like it's really not simple to find a place for international students for some reason.

Re: Help with student visa
 

Counselling probably isnt worth your time. Counsellors are very much poor relations, the expectation is that you will have a psychology degree if you are going to venture into that field of work and expect to get a visa out of it. Counsellors are poorly regulated and anyone can set themselves up with a private practice but practice indemnity is difficult and not supported through medicare. NGOs do take on relatively untrained personnel in these roles but I wouldnt think a newly trained, inexperienced person would be a good candidate for a visa. Perhaps you need to look at studying psychology in your home country(s), it'd be a lot cheaper and it may set you up for a visa in the longer term. Student visas are for full time study so you are going to have to come to terms with studying in the day time - perhaps seek support for your sleep disorder if that is hindering you as it will certainly hinder you in the workplace eventually. You do realise that students are supposed to go home once they've finished studying?

Re: Help with student visa
 

Thank you for the detailed answer.

like I've said before- if I had the ability to do a degree - I would have done that for free, years ago, in Israel or in Europe.

But I have limitations I can't unfortunately break even though I've tried for about 15 years.

1. Severe DSPS - sleep disorder - I can't live in the mornings.

2. Dyscalculia - I can't learn math and statistics.

I want to study something that allows me to work and treat people in Australia, not a degree and not in the mornings. Are there any ideas and solutions?

I know I won't give up and I'll try every idea on earth until I find a solution.

In Israel it was super hard either, but I'm now working 3 years as a rehabilitation instructor (it's true that no education is needed here). I know I love and am good at this field of treatment, I just need to find a breach in order to upgrade and do that in Australia.

Re: Help with student visa
 

I'm certainly no expert but would say you'd be looking under Unit Group Counsellors, specifically 272114 REHABILITATION COUNSELLOR

• Assists physically, mentally and socially disadvantaged people to reintegrate into work and the community.Skill Level: 1
  

https://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs%...2?opendocument
So with no formal qualifications you'll need a fair few years experience behind you, probs more than 3 but it doesn't give a number required. Surely your medical issues will be an issue on the visa medical exam and also discussing all that with an employer (as in needing to start work after 3pm onwards plus youll need a job offer before gaining the required points for the visa). Good luck, seems very unlikely to me but luckily I'm not the one with the rubber stamp!

Re: Help with student visa
 

Thank you.

Actually I saw this before, but I don't want to study or work anymore in rehabilitation. This job consumes me and there's not enough therapy work in it, it's really sisyphean and I'm really fed up with it. That is what I want to learn and upgrade.

Re: Help with student visa
 

I think you may need to re-evaluate what your end goal is, and how you deal with your health / disability issues.

The link provided earlier in the thread by Spouse of Scouse will enable you to search for all courses that would enable you to apply for a student visa.

If you are saying these are not suitable because of your health / disability issues, and you are not going to attempt to work out how to make it work for you (split sleeping, forced change of sleep patterns, support for dyscalculia, etc) then you need to accept that studying in Australia is not going to happen.

I'm not trying to say that your issues are not real, nor that they do not have a major impact on you, just that if your long term goal is to study in Australia, and potentially work in Australia, then you may need to accept that you will need to work out how you do that without letting your disabilities stop you.

It is also possible that once you decide on what you want to study, and where, you may find that you can work with the course provider to find a schedule that works for you (or is at least more manageable).

Re: Help with student visa
 

Yes, actually in the last few days i'm starting to realize that. It's not easy for me, but it's starting to sink in. I'm trying to work on plan F now.. I understand the only country on earth I would probably study with all my issues is the US.

I've started my research on this lead. Hopefully it'll work out and maybe I can arrive in the future to Australia with education. I'm not totally giving up just yet.

Re: Help with student visa
 

Is there nothing you can do where you are - open university?

Re: Help with student visa
 

like i've said - unfortunately, no. There isn't even 1 institute in Israel that is totally suitable for people with health issues / learning disabilities.

I've googled it, it seems that the US is literally filled with this kind of special institutes, some are for free.

And I thought Australia is less capitalistic than the US...

Re: Help with student visa
 

Open university exists in the UK, and Australia - nothing to stop you being an international student with either.

Not sure if free in the US would extend to international students - nor if the would be eligible for a student visa. There is a US forum section though - https://britishexpats.com/forum/usa-57/ The folks there may be able to help

Re: Help with student visa
 

I personally didn't see (of course I probably didn't see them all) an education institution that meant for people with disabilities.

Thanks ! That is very helpful.

Re: Help with student visa
 

Hi dear friends,

Just giving an update - my luck is that I'm never giving up on achieving my goals. I'm in the process of looking for a place to study in London/US /Australia, and for now. I've managed to find an evening uni, also for internationals with student visas! it's called - Birkbeck.
I've probably managed to find more institutes that are similar to this in my 3 preferred countries - UK, Australia and US.
I'll keep you guys posted.

Thanks.