1. Important Issues Of Pregnancy While You Study In
Australia
The questions that arise when one considers the
possibility of a course of study in Australia are endless. There are a million apprehensions that
will run through the mind of a student who wants to earn her degree in Australia, one of the
most celebrated educational systems in the world. This is not your local Jr. College. Often, to
study in Australia is to go through months of paperwork and applications, travel thousands of
miles, and then face the most challenging course of study in Australia that the student will ever
face in their lifetime. As you study in Australia, there is one question that rarely comes to mind
and is usually not asked until it actually happens, which is relatively rare. What happens if I
become pregnant while I study in Australia? There are many things to consider if this happens
to you.
How will the pregnancy affect the student visa that allows me to study in Australia?
Is the pregnancy covered by OSHC, the health insurance that international students who
study in Australia are required to carry?
If I study in Australia and have a child, will the infant be considered an Australian citizen
or does it inherit the nationality of the mother?
Would the child be eligible for coverage under OSHC as a dependent child of the mother
while she continues to study in Australia?
If I study in Australia, is it possible to obtain a leave of absence for pregnancy from the
course attended?
Will I be able to get an extension on the student visa that allows me to study in
Australia?
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2. Study In Australia Visa Expiration
While this situation does not occur often, it does happen, whether it is planned or not. A
pregnancy that occurs while you study in Australia can affect your student visa. There is an
expiration date on student visas and that deadline must be met. In extenuating circumstances,
especially medical situations, it is possible to receive an extension on your student visa,
although it is not guaranteed that you will get an extension since every circumstance is different.
OSHC Does Not Cover Pregnancies While You Study In Australia
The OSHC rules clearly stipulate that pregnancy is not covered for students who study in
Australia with the exception of emergency medical problems that may arise. There are clinics
and other programs for which you can apply to receive pre-natal care if you cannot afford it or if
you are not covered by personal insurance coverage that you may or your parents possess
while you study in Australia. It is always a good idea to carry extra insurance if you can afford it,
or be added to parents insurance if applicable. Once the child is born, you may petition OSHC
for medical coverage for the child under a family plan that would cost more than you would pay
as an individual when you study in Australia. The child may also qualify for coverage if you are
on other insurance policies as a dependent.
The Child’s Citizenship As You Study In Australia
If you become pregnant while you study in Australia, and decide to stay under a leave of
absence from the educational institution and an extension of your visa, the question of the
child’s citizenship would then be decided by whichever county the mother is from and the rules
established by that government in cooperation with Australia. In most countries, the child would
fall under the English rule called “Right of Soil,” which states that the child would be a citizen of
the country of birth; however, some countries do not recognize this rule. Those students who
study in Australia and have children should check with their country’s embassy for instructions
as to how their rules apply, and to obtain the proper paperwork with which to comply. The longer
you wait, the more complicated it will become. To study in Australia is complicated enough as it
is.
Visa Extension While You Study In Australia
All of this is hinged upon two very important items. First, you must apply for and be accepted for
an extension from the institution that you attend while you study in Australia. Under the laws of
the Department of Immigration and Citizenship in Australia, you may apply for an extension of
your visa. You would do this at the education provider where you study in Australia under the
“Leave for compassionate or compelling circumstances” statute. This is also a compelling
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3. reason to keep your grades as high as possible while you study in Australia. The better student
you are, the higher your GPA and the more likely you are to be a recipient of this compassion.
Study In Australia After A Granted Leave Of Absence
If the leave of absence or suspension of your course of study in Australia is granted, the
education provider will contact the DIAC, (Department of Immigration and Citizenship) and the
DEEWR, (Department of Education, Employment, and Workplace Relations) for you. You will
then be able to resume your study in Australia after the child’s birth without leaving Australia.
Contact us now
We hope all of your questions have been answered, but feel free to ask more information in the
comment section related to pregnancy during your study in Australia.
Important Issues Of Pregnancy While You Study In Australia
pregnancy with a student visa
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Australia Updates Student Visa Assessment Policy
Taking Steps to Study, Work, and Live in Australia
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