The maximum age for enrolment and attendance at school is 18 years of age at any time in the year of enrolment[1]. If a young person wishes to enrol at school at an older age, then a maximum age exemption is required. This Exemption Application Form must be completed by the young person or parent/guardian/carer (Section 1) and principal (Section 2) and forwarded, with all supporting documentation, to the relevant regional director for approval.

The Department provides funding for interpreting services, within guidelines, to government schools and eligible early childhood services. Schools and services should book an interpreter for meetings with families and guardians who require interpreting assistance to enable them to fully understand the age exemption process. [2]

Section 1 (young person or parent/guardian to complete)

STUDENT INFORMATION

Full Name
Date of Birth
DD/MM/YYYY /
Please attach proof of date of birth, e.g. birth certificate, passport, Immicard, letter from Doctor attesting to young person’s age / Period of intended exemption
MM/YYYY- MM/YYYY
Home address / ATSI status / Aboriginal ☐
Torres Strait Islander ☐
Neither ☐
Gender / Female ☐
Male ☐ / Out of Home Care / Yes ☐
No ☐
Additional support needs
(Disability and/or Medical) / Yes ☐
No ☐
If yes, please provide details and attach relevant supporting documentation, e.g. medical assessments:

PARENT/GUARDIAN/CARER CONTACT DETAILS (young person to complete if living independently)

PARENT/GUARDIAN 1
Name
Telephone
Email
PARENT/GUARDIAN 2 (where applicable)
Name
Telephone
Email
Name
Telephone
Email

REASONS FOR MAXIMUM AGE EXEMPTION

Please complete the relevant section(s).

TEMPORARY INTERRUPTION TO SCHOOLING
Have lack of educational facilities or circumstances of a temporary nature prevented you/the student from completing year 10 before turning 18 years of age or from completing school before turning 20 years of age?
For example, pregnancy, illness, injury, detention, an accident or other event.
Yes ☐ No ☐
TRANSFER FROM ENGLISH LANGUAGE SCHOOL OR CENTRE
Are you/is the student transferring from an English language school or centre?
Yes ☐ No ☐
If yes, please attach a letter endorsing the transfer from the English Language School or Centre principal/coordinator and recent school reports or other documents providing observations and assessments of the student’s academic and social needs and details related to expected school completion and/or transition.
English Language School Name
English Language School Address
Date of initial enrolment at English Language School
DD/MM/YYYY
English Language School Principal/Coordinator’s Name
Contact phone number
OTHER CIRCUMSTANCES
Are there any other relevant circumstances that have prevented you from completing school prior to turning 18 years of age?
Yes ☐ No ☐
If yes, please provide details and attach any supporting documentation.

WHY DO YOU THINK THAT SCHOOL IS THE MOST APPROPRIATE SETTING FOR YOU/THE STUDENT?

How is maximum age exemption in your/ the student’s long-term educational interests? Why are other education or transition options, e.g. adult education settings, not available or appropriate?
Please provide details of the academic, social and emotional needs of the student, including any relevant information related to their abilities and aspirations. Please attach any supporting documentation such as a report or letter from a relevant school, or allied health professional that includes observations of the student’s academic and social needs.

WHAT WOULD BE THE IMPACT ON YOU/THE STUDENT IF AN EXEMPTION IS NOT GRANTED?

Please describe what the consequences would be for you/the student if an exemption is not granted.

DECLARATION (to be signed by young person or parent/guardian/carer)

I declare that the information that I have included in this form is true and correct and that all relevant supporting documentation is attached.
Signed / Date

Section 2 (principal to complete)

CHECKLIST

CONSIDERATIONS / YES / NO
Will the young person be younger than 21 years of age in the year of exemption? (proof of DOB is attached)
TEMPORARY INTERRUPTION TO SCHOOLING
Has the young person previously been enrolled at and attended your school in the past twelve months?
Is there evidence of circumstances of a temporary nature that have prevented the young person from completing year 10 prior to turning 18 years or from completing a senior secondary course prior to turning 20 years? (supporting evidence is attached)
TRANSFER FROM ENGLISH LANGUAGE SCHOOL OR CENTRE
Has satisfactory evidence of previous enrolment and recommendation to transfer from an English Language School or Centre been provided? (letter recommending transfer from principal/coordinator of English Language School or centre is attached)
Do you expect the young person to complete school in the exemption period based on current or proposed course information and assessment?
Yes ☐ No ☐
Please provide details and attach current course plan and recent assessment information. If no, please go to the next question.
If the young person is not expected to complete school in the exemption period, is there a clear transition plan that has been agreed to by the young person and their parent/guardian/family?
Yes ☐ No ☐
Please provide details and attach any related documentation such as Managed Individuals Pathways Plan (MIP), careers plan, etc.
Does the young person pose no or minimal risks to other students through their attendance at school?
Yes ☐ No ☐
Please provide details and attach any relevant documentation such as risk assessment document.
Are there no other age-appropriate settings or options available for an equivalent course of study, i.e. any other age-appropriate setting within 50 kilometres of the student’s home and online study is inappropriate?
Yes ☐ No ☐
Please provide details and attach any relevant documentation such as proof of address.

ENDORSEMENT

Do you endorse the young person receiving a maximum age exemption to allow enrolment and attendance at school?
Yes ☐ No ☐
Please provide reasons for your answer.
I declare that the information that I have included in this form is true and correct and that all relevant supporting documentation is attached.
Signed / Date
Principal name / School name
Contact number / School number

REGIONAL DIRECTOR APPROVAL

Approved ☐
Not Approved ☐
Regional Director comments:
Signed / Date
Regional Director name / Contact number


ATTACHMENT CHECKLIST

¨  Proof of date of birth, e.g. birth certificate, passport, Immicard, letter from Doctor attesting to young person’s age.

¨  Proof of address.

¨  Recent school reports or other documents providing observations and assessments of the student’s academic and social needs and details related to expected school completion and/or transition.

TEMPORARY INTERRUPTION TO SCHOOLING

¨  Details and evidence of pregnancy, illness, injury, detention, an accident or other event that has interrupted schooling, e.g. medical documents, court orders, etc.

TRANSFER FROM ENGLISH LANGUAGE SCHOOL OR CENTRE

¨  Letter endorsing the transfer from the English Language School or Centre principal/coordinator.

WHY DO YOU THINK THAT SCHOOL IS THE MOST APPROPRIATE SETTING FOR YOU/THE STUDENT?

¨  Details of the academic, social and emotional needs of the student, including any relevant information related to their abilities and aspirations. For example, report or letter from a relevant school, or allied health professional that includes observations of the student’s academic and social needs.

ANY OTHER SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION

¨  For example, medical assessments.

PRINCIPAL TO ATTACH

¨  Current course plan and recent assessment information.

¨  Any relevant transition planning documentation, e.g. Managed Individuals Pathways Plan (MIP), careers plan, etc.

¨  Any documentation related to the risks posed by student’s attendance at school, e.g. risk assessment document.

¨  Other age-appropriate setting documentation.

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[1] Note: A student can be 18 years of age, provided they are enrolled in a senior secondary course; 19 years of age provided they are completing a senior secondary course in that year; or 20 years of age if they are enrolled in a senior secondary course, outside a metropolitan area, and there is no other appropriate provider within 45 min travel time from the relevant school and online study is inappropriate. For more detail, please refer to http://www.education.vic.gov.au/school/principals/spag/participation/pages/admission.aspx#H2N1005B

[2] For more information, see:

http://www.education.vic.gov.au/childhood/providers/comms/Pages/interpreterservice.aspx

http://www.education.vic.gov.au/school/principals/management/Pages/translateservice.aspx