I am looking for experiences of folks here who have taken their step-children (or child educated in Thailand) to Australia and how they went with their education, particularly the initial years.

I have a 13yo step daughter who has had no contact with her biological Thai farther who is doing ok at school, well Dux of her grade at a decent size private school but I am disappointed with her schooling.

It is still route learning, and she struggles with critical thinking etc.....

We plan in a couple of years to do the Perm Res thing for the family but I still have some things to do before getting entrenched into the "Aust system" career / biz wise. I am seriously thinking of sending her first on an Ed visa as I feel it is wasted time for her here as I want to give her the best opportunity in her life.

The so-called English Programs at her Thai school is a disaster IMHO, she can speak English to native English speakers ok in conversation, but written is weak, (route learning words the Thai way). Also what the are learning in science is simply pathetic.

Are there programs/schools in oz that take a year or 2 to get them ready for a Aust high school ?

Do they have to be "pre-approved" in order to get a Ed Visa as such ?

What are peoples experiences ?

She has relative's there she gets along well with and parents (us) expecting to doing regular trips to Oz.

Mods: I thought about the teaching section, but I am not after Thai info.

THe permanent resident visa will be cheaper than ed visas as you then can have her enroll. at Australian near free prices.

Good point Harry, how ever the near free you re referring to is a Gov school, which is ok, but what about when a child has had an (in my opinion) inferior foreign education. Well to put it better, has not least what she would be expected to know at that level and have issues with understanding many things and even writing an essay in a decent time.

Do Oz Gov school teachers have the resources and are they expected to hold the class up for one child ? I doubt it.

Does the Gov have special programs that actually work to integrate new Perm Residence into the system ? I read an article how some schools in Gov Sydney all the teachers can speak Lebanese so they can teach the majority of the students. (No comment from me on that)

I think the word that this thread is about is, "Integration". How do you integrate a child with a Thai education into the Aussie school system and cost and typical length of time it takes ?

Most Thais know nothing about the world, apparently, Hitler is a hero and cool dude, ......... ' what war ? ' for example.........

I am sure many people have successfully navigated this path before, I am looking for tips and the pit falls.

Even experience to other western English speaking countries is good.

I am assuming that a private education facility will be needed and am wondering if cost wise it makes any difference if the child is a Perm res or on a Ed visa anyway ?

Fire Away

Good point Harry, how ever the near free you re referring to is a Gov school, which is ok, but what about when a child has had an (in my opinion) inferior foreign education. Well to put it better, has not least what she would be expected to know at that level and have issues with understanding many things and even writing an essay in a decent time.

Do Oz Gov school teachers have the resources and are they expected to hold the class up for one child ? I doubt it.

Does the Gov have special programs that actually work to integrate new Perm Residence into the system ? I read an article how some schools in Gov Sydney all the teachers can speak Lebanese so they can teach the majority of the students. (No comment from me on that)

I think the word that this thread is about is, "Integration". How do you integrate a child with a Thai education into the Aussie school system and cost and typical length of time it takes ?

Most Thais know nothing about the world, apparently, Hitler is a hero and cool dude, ......... ' what war ? ' for example.........

I am sure many people have successfully navigated this path before, I am looking for tips and the pit falls.

Even experience to other western English speaking countries is good.

I am assuming that a private education facility will be needed and am wondering if cost wise it makes any difference if the child is a Perm res or on a Ed visa anyway ?

Fire Away

Private schools do not always have them but government schools have special ESL tachers to help the many migrants that come into australia. Migrants tto Australia were and I believe still are entitled to one year of free high quality English classes.

My daughter returned after a long period overseas including Thailand with ordinary schools and although she struggled a little in her first year or so is not a fully qualified Special needs teacher.

Up to everyone but private schools do not have all the resources.

An ED visa is not free. Check out the cost compared with the permanent Visa. I think you will find it is higher.

Education varies by state however in WA at least a couple of years ago the government has several special colleges which take people who want to do the final two years of school and have an ESL bacground. Canning College is one.

THe fee for these is the same for high school pupils in Australia but non australians pay a much higher fee.

Personally I think if you are thinking of getting residence later it may be better to do it now as it gives more options.

OP: As stated above government schools do provide ESL support, but not all. I would recommend that once you have decided the location in Australia contact the State Education Department to confirm which schools in the area provide ESL and for how many hours a week. My Thai stepson joined me and his mother in Sydney when he was nine years old with zero English skills. The government school I selected had a class specifically for migrant children, for the first year, with dedicated full time ESL support. We later moved away from Sydney and the governent school only provided ESL support for one day a week, but by that time he was reasonably proficient in English. The schools test the development of English proficiency and should provide remedial schooling & inform the parents if falling behind.

Good point Harry, how ever the near free you re referring to is a Gov school, which is ok, but what about when a child has had an (in my opinion) inferior foreign education. Well to put it better, has not least what she would be expected to know at that level and have issues with understanding many things and even writing an essay in a decent time.

Do Oz Gov school teachers have the resources and are they expected to hold the class up for one child ? I doubt it.

Does the Gov have special programs that actually work to integrate new Perm Residence into the system ? I read an article how some schools in Gov Sydney all the teachers can speak Lebanese so they can teach the majority of the students. (No comment from me on that)

I think the word that this thread is about is, "Integration". How do you integrate a child with a Thai education into the Aussie school system and cost and typical length of time it takes ?

Most Thais know nothing about the world, apparently, Hitler is a hero and cool dude, ......... ' what war ? ' for example.........

I am sure many people have successfully navigated this path before, I am looking for tips and the pit falls.

Even experience to other western English speaking countries is good.

I am assuming that a private education facility will be needed and am wondering if cost wise it makes any difference if the child is a Perm res or on a Ed visa anyway ?

Fire Away

Private schools do not always have them but government schools have special ESL tachers to help the many migrants that come into australia. Migrants tto Australia were and I believe still are entitled to one year of free high quality English classes.

My daughter returned after a long period overseas including Thailand with ordinary schools and although she struggled a little in her first year or so is not a fully qualified Special needs teacher.

Up to everyone but private schools do not have all the resources.

An ED visa is not free. Check out the cost compared with the permanent Visa. I think you will find it is higher.

An ED visa is very expensive I am not sure about the cost for a young child but I have my nephew here at the

moment he pays $7800 per semester he is on a 4 year education visa

Good point Harry, how ever the near free you re referring to is a Gov school, which is ok, but what about when a child has had an (in my opinion) inferior foreign education. Well to put it better, has not least what she would be expected to know at that level and have issues with understanding many things and even writing an essay in a decent time.

Do Oz Gov school teachers have the resources and are they expected to hold the class up for one child ? I doubt it.

Does the Gov have special programs that actually work to integrate new Perm Residence into the system ? I read an article how some schools in Gov Sydney all the teachers can speak Lebanese so they can teach the majority of the students. (No comment from me on that)

I think the word that this thread is about is, "Integration". How do you integrate a child with a Thai education into the Aussie school system and cost and typical length of time it takes ?

Most Thais know nothing about the world, apparently, Hitler is a hero and cool dude, ......... ' what war ? ' for example.........

I am sure many people have successfully navigated this path before, I am looking for tips and the pit falls.

Even experience to other western English speaking countries is good.

I am assuming that a private education facility will be needed and am wondering if cost wise it makes any difference if the child is a Perm res or on a Ed visa anyway ?

Fire Away

Private schools do not always have them but government schools have special ESL tachers to help the many migrants that come into australia. Migrants tto Australia were and I believe still are entitled to one year of free high quality English classes.

My daughter returned after a long period overseas including Thailand with ordinary schools and although she struggled a little in her first year or so is not a fully qualified Special needs teacher.

Up to everyone but private schools do not have all the resources.

An ED visa is not free. Check out the cost compared with the permanent Visa. I think you will find it is higher.

An ED visa is very expensive I am not sure about the cost for a young child but I have my nephew here at the

moment he pays $7800 per semester he is on a 4 year education visa

That will include the Uni fee.

Hower I believe the ed visa for school is about $500 a year plus full school fees which would be about 6000 a year I think. I cannot speak at all for the current rates as I am in Thailand now and have nothing to do with it for some time.

Good point Harry, how ever the near free you re referring to is a Gov school, which is ok, but what about when a child has had an (in my opinion) inferior foreign education. Well to put it better, has not least what she would be expected to know at that level and have issues with understanding many things and even writing an essay in a decent time.

Do Oz Gov school teachers have the resources and are they expected to hold the class up for one child ? I doubt it.

Does the Gov have special programs that actually work to integrate new Perm Residence into the system ? I read an article how some schools in Gov Sydney all the teachers can speak Lebanese so they can teach the majority of the students. (No comment from me on that)

I think the word that this thread is about is, "Integration". How do you integrate a child with a Thai education into the Aussie school system and cost and typical length of time it takes ?

Most Thais know nothing about the world, apparently, Hitler is a hero and cool dude, ......... ' what war ? ' for example.........

I am sure many people have successfully navigated this path before, I am looking for tips and the pit falls.

Even experience to other western English speaking countries is good.

I am assuming that a private education facility will be needed and am wondering if cost wise it makes any difference if the child is a Perm res or on a Ed visa anyway ?

Fire Away

Private schools do not always have them but government schools have special ESL tachers to help the many migrants that come into australia. Migrants tto Australia were and I believe still are entitled to one year of free high quality English classes.

My daughter returned after a long period overseas including Thailand with ordinary schools and although she struggled a little in her first year or so is not a fully qualified Special needs teacher.

Up to everyone but private schools do not have all the resources.

An ED visa is not free. Check out the cost compared with the permanent Visa. I think you will find it is higher.

An ED visa is very expensive I am not sure about the cost for a young child but I have my nephew here at the

moment he pays $7800 per semester he is on a 4 year education visa

That will include the Uni fee.

Hower I believe the ed visa for school is about $500 a year plus full school fees which would be about 6000 a year I think. I cannot speak at all for the current rates as I am in Thailand now and have nothing to do with it for some time.

Yes it does include Uni fees which work out to approxm $16000 per year as I said before I am not

sure about ED visa for a young child

A friend of mine took his 2 adopted children (with Mum of course) to Oz and placed them in a country education center in Victoria. The girls were in year 6 and year 8 with very little English...the school welcomed them with open arms and organised a system that when the other students went to their foreign language classes, the girls had English. In 2 years they were native speakers, readers and writers, with a good grasp of English grammar.

Unfortunatly after 2 years back in Thailand they both now struggle with English grammar, they both have had difficulties with their teachers as they got into the habit of asking questions and, shock horror, sometimes corrected the teacher's English (they said "to help the other students").

They now intend to do their last years of high school in Oz and move onto Uni when they have their PM...smart thinking!

Friend of mine married his gf then got her son put on the partner visa. He was about 13 also, thought he knew some English but found quickly once here he didn't. So they enrolled him in an intensive ESL school here in Adelaide for 1 year to get him up to speed. This school is purely aimed at high school age bracket and solely for migrants. Not knowing which city you are from, perhaps you may like to contact them and ask their proffessional opinion? It's an option anyway. There address is Torrens road, corner of Brown st at West Croydon, Adelaide. If you googled it,perhaps under English language school,you could get their number easily.

Good luck with it all mate!

@chao lao beach

Australia has excellant gov ESL schools purely for such cases as the op's with plenty of resources. Google the school I posted the address for and check them out you may be surprised just how good.

Thanks for the replies, I will post more info as I find it.

The actual Ed visa is about $500+ as Harry said but approved course fees are often $20,000+ a year plus living cost etc.

The cost of PR with a kid is now approaching $6000 all up.

Many factors will come into doing PR now or later, but I just can not help feeling I am doing an injustice in her current education situation.

Doing 1 year intense learning as described would be worth it, but I don't to be "forced" to do PR to enable going to a normal school after.

Thanks for the replies, I will post more info as I find it.

The actual Ed visa is about $500+ as Harry said but approved course fees are often $20,000+ a year plus living cost etc.

The cost of PR with a kid is now approaching $6000 all up.

Many factors will come into doing PR now or later, but I just can not help feeling I am doing an injustice in her current education situation.

Doing 1 year intense learning as described would be worth it, but I don't to be "forced" to do PR to enable going to a normal school after.

Thinking outside the box. Given you are talking about for an Ed visa, why not stick them into a 'real' international school in Thailand? Will minimise the disruption and taking into account the visa fees, moving costs etc, the international school fees might actually turn out to be cheaper and give group the transition you are looking for....