Standards and guidelines for student exchange organisations
Student exchange organisations (SEOs) must comply with:
- the Guidelines for student exchange programs
- relevant Child Safe Standards.
Access the guidelines:
Schools and non-school organisations can apply for SEO registration.
Non-school student exchange organisations partner with registered schools to offer student exchange programs. These schools are known as partner schools.
Partner schools
The principal of the partner school decides whether or not the school will accept an inbound exchange student.
A partner school does not need permission to accept the student if the student exchange organisation is VRQA-registered.
Partner schools are also responsible for inbound students' welfare.
Apply to become a student exchange organisation
How is my application assessed?
It can take between 4 and 6 months for us to assess your application.
After you have paid the application fee, we assess the evidence provided in your application and prepare a report.
We will notify you if we need further information.
How will I know the outcome of my application?
Applicants will receive formal advice about their application.
Email us if you need more information about the application process.
Update student exchange organisation details
You must notify us if there are changes to your student exchange organisation or program details.
Complete and submit the relevant form.
Change of student exchange organisation details:
Change of student exchange program details:
You must include a Fit and proper person declaration with the change of details form:
Email your completed forms to vrqa.schools@education.vic.gov.au(opens in a new window).
Re-registration
Student exchange organisations must apply for re-registration before the end of their registration period.
Complete the Approval to operate a student exchange program form to re-register.
Understand student exchange organisation reviews
We assess a student exchange organisation's compliance with the Guidelines for student exchange programs and other requirements.
We can register SEOs for a maximum of 6 years and may conduct mid-cycle reviews.
We may also conduct reviews when there are:
- concerns about compliance
- changes in the nature of the offered programs
- changes in the SEO’s ownership, management, control or operation.
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