Student Support Services
Student Orientation and Commencement of Your Course
Student services staff will organise your orientation. On your first day at our college the team will welcome you, answer any questions you may have and provide you important information about your course and provider, including:
- Your stay in Australia
- Accommodation, finances and further study
- Requirements to receive a qualification
- Certificates issued on successful completion of the course
- How your skills, knowledge, and attitudes will be assessed
- Recognition of prior learning or recognition of current competency
- How you can appeal if you don’t agree with your assessment outcome
- How you can complain if you are not satisfied with any part of the course
- How you can get extra help with your learning
- Course timetable and attendance
- Course content
- Emergency evacuation procedures
- Your obligations as a student at our College including requirements for achieving satisfactory course progress.
- You must attend an orientation session and sign off on this activity.
Facilities and Equipment
Southern Academy is maintained with lecture rooms. Facilities and equipment’s are set-up, checked and maintained regularly to ensure effective and efficient operation. Students have access to necessary instructional and assessment facilities, materials and equipment. Training facilities include:
- Fully resourced lecture rooms
- Fully resourced tutorial rooms
- Suitable training equipment set up safely and securely
- Adequate acoustics, ventilation and lighting
- Amenities for meal breaks
- Toilet facilities
- Accessible references and resources
- Computers with access to the Internet
- Wi-Fi access
- Quite study and Consultation Room
- Separate library
- Compute-lab access
- Access to Online Learning
In the event of a planned relocation of the College we will notify both ASQA and our students at least three weeks prior to the relocation taking place. This notification will provide details of our new address, a map of how to get there and other details relevant to the relocation and student studies during this transition period.
Overseas Student Health Cover
International students undertaking formal studies in Australia, and their dependents must obtain Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) for the duration of time they are in Australia.
Southern Academy has partnered with Bupa to provide OSHC services to international students. Bupa will reimburse some of your expenses in the conduct of doctor’s diagnoses and treatments.
Visit our reception if you need any help with regards to arrangement of a Bupa card. For more information, visit: Overseas Student Health Cover – SABT
Education support and Learner Support
The education support strategies used by trainers at Southern Academy include:
- Pre-teaching technical terminology.
- Demonstrating procedures.
- Providing opportunities for ‘hands-on’ experience and practice.
- Ensuring individual support and advice to students.
- Encouraging students to work at their own pace.
- We offer additional tutorial times for students to work in smaller groups with their trainer.
- We offer LLN services for student who want to improve their LLN skills
The academic year of Southern Academy is 40 weeks divided into 4 terms of 10 weeks for every term. Students have to study a minimum 14 hours On Campus and 6 hours Online per week. Students are only allowed to take breaks during the public holidays and nominated College holidays.
Timetables and room allocations are set in advance but may change each term. Timetables will be posted approximately 2 weeks prior to the commencement of the next term at the College noticeboard and on the website. New students will receive their timetable at orientation.
We aim at all times to provide a positive and rewarding learning experience for all students. Our enrolment form asks you to provide information regarding Language, Literacy and Numeracy (LLN) requirements or any other special learning needs. In the event of LLN becoming an issue, you can contact the Student Services Officer to discuss your requirements.
The Tuition Protection Service (TPS) is a placement and refund service for international students, which is activated in the event that your provider is unable to teach your course. Visit the TPS website for more information, at www.tps.gov.au.
In order to obtain a student card, you are required to give reception a passport sized photograph. You will then be issued with a student card within a week. The student card can be used as a concession card at museums, theatres, cinemas etc. They are not valid on public transport in Sydney, as international students must pay adult fares. There is a charge for replacement of a lost card.
SABT has a dedicated team to support students adjusting to study and life in Australia.
For general student queries, support and to contact your international student officer, email to StudentSupport@sabt.edu.au.
For learning support, speak to your trainer to discuss any support needs or contact our academic support team via email at AcademicSupport@sabt.edu.au.
Reading Writing Hotline
Telephone: 1300 655 506
Website: http://www.readingwritinghotline.edu.au/
The Hotline can provide you information about:
- Classes close to you
- Help by mail or computer
- Teachers and other people who can help
- Websites and books that can help you to learn
External assistance
Lifeline
[Telephone: 13 11 14]
Anyone can call Lifeline. The 13 11 14 service offers a counselling service that respects everyone’s right to be heard, understood and cared for. They also provide information about other support services that are available in communities around Australia. If you feel that you might need telephone counselling, you can call about anything that might be troubling you.
Reach Out
[Website: reachout.com.au]
Reach Out is a web-based service that inspires young people to help themselves through tough times and find ways to boost their own mental health and wellbeing. Their aim is to improve young people’s mental health and wellbeing by building skills and providing information, support and referrals in ways they know work for young people.
Redfern Legal Centre
[Website: http://rlc.org.au/our-services/international-students]
The Redfern Legal Centre gives free, confidential legal advice to international students living in New South Wales.
Beyond Blue
[Call 1300 224 636 or visit beyondblue.com.au]
Beyond Blue provides information and support to help everyone in Australia achieve their best possible mental health, whatever their age and wherever they live.