457 visa and mature student

[shez]

Hi all,
Wonder if anyone could help me please. If we were to go to Perth on a 457 visa and I myself was to go to college and study on the 457 visa do anyone know if I would pay the international student fees like I would if I was on a student visa or would I pay what the Aussies would pay. I am 40 years of age so would be a mature student. Any ideas of cost involved would be great fully received.

Thanks.

[Gollywobbler]

Hi Shez

Sorry, I am confused by your post.

Do you mean that your Hubby would be the sponsored worker on the 457 visa?

If so, it does seem that you would be able to study full-time if you wish. I would suggest that you ask the Education Department in the relevant State about the fees, though.

NSW and the ACT charge school fees of about $5,000 per child per year for the school-aged children of 457 visa holders, so in either of those States you would have to pay the full private-rate fees for a college course, I suspect.

The other States seem to treat the children of 457 visa holders in the same way as they treat the children of Citizens & PRs, meaning that the fees are about $300 per child per year just to cover stationery etc.

Each State has its own Education Department. Therefore in your shoes I would thrash this one out with both the Education Department and with the relevant collage that you may wish to attend. Make sure both are singing from the same hymn-sheet, I would suggest.

Best wishes

Gill

[shez]

Hi sorry for the confusion. My hubby will be the one who is sponsored but I want to study myself while I am there on his 457 visa. I wanted to know if my studying fees would be the same cost as if I went on a student visa or would I pay less to study with being on a 457 visa like we pay less for the children to go to school on a 457 visa. We are hoping to go to Perth.

Hope that is a little clearer.

Thanks for the reply

[Gollywobbler]

Hi Shez

Thanks for clarifying the question.

In your shoes, I would thrash it out with the Education Department in the relevent State and with the relevant college in advance of making a decision, as I have said.

Just tell Google Western Australia + Department of Education and then repeat that for any other States which might be relevant. They all have websites and even if the websites are not explicit, they all give contact details for both telephone and e-mail enquiries.

Best wishes

Gill

[Quoll]

If you look at tertiary institutions - and I am assuming you would be looking at either university or TAFE - they do seem to charge international fees for people who are not Australian citizens or permanent residents (some humanitarian visa holders are also exempt). As the 457 is a temporary resident visa although it doesnt exactly specify, it would appear that it doesnt fall into the category of domestic fee structure. Ball park for a university degree looks to be about $20+k pa.

Just checked out TAFE and the policy here Our Policies - WA Department of Education and Training seems to view temporary residents in the same light as international students except for some humanitarian visa classes. TAFE fees are less than uni fees - probably about $10k pa