If you are an international student planning on studying in Perth, you are in for a treat! The city is a great study destination with excellent quality of life, culture, and infrastructure. 

We had a chat with Carolyn Tan, a graduate of the Western Australian Universities’ Foundation Program (WAUFP) program at Canning College. The WAUFP was Carolyn’s pathway to university, and she is now studying a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism at Curtin University.

Originally from Labuan in East Malaysia, she has lived in Perth for almost three years now and has a lot of great suggestions for international students looking to explore the city and its surroundings. Her time at Canning College was especially beneficial in helping her adapt to her new home.

“Canning College offers many opportunities for international students to familiarise themselves with Western Australia by hosting many events that allow international students to gain a better understanding of Perth,” she shares.

Canning College has congratulated a group of international students on their completion of the Mid-Year WA Universities’ Foundation Program during 2021-22.

Jamielynn Wong, who is from Kota Kinabalu in Malaysia, won the Top Student Award as well as the subject awards in Computer Science and Maths Applications.

She also gave a valedictory address in which she described the challenge of studying mostly online before moving to Perth recently.

Canning College is a leader in preparing international students for degree program studies at universities in Australia. The Western Australian Universities’ Foundation Program (WAUFP) is the cornerstone of Canning’s university preparation programs.

What is the Western Australian Universities’ Foundation Program?

The Western Australian Universities’ Foundation Program (WAUFP) is an academic program that provides entry into tertiary education in Australia.

With programs running across either 8 or 10 months, the WAUFP provides students with the skills to help them transition into university in Australia.

Benefits of the WAUFP

Successfully completing WAUFP guarantees entry into all five Western Australian universities (Curtin University, Edith Cowan University, Murdoch University, the University of Notre Dame Australia and The University of Western Australia). Australian universities in other states, including the University of Melbourne and the University of Sydney, and some overseas institutions also accept WAUFP results as entry criteria.

Students choose from a range of academic subjects at Year 12 level, including Mathematics (Applications, Methods and Specialist), Physics, Human Biology, Chemistry, Psychology, Business Management, Accounting, Economics and Computer Science.

The compulsory English Language and Australian Cultural Studies subject provides international students with additional literacy support to improve their readiness for university.

Teachers committed to both academic excellence and student wellbeing

Naomi Pang completed the WAUFP at Canning College in May 2020. She began the course as part of a cohort in August 2019.

“I thought it was the best pathway for me to enter directly into Australian universities,” Naomi said of the WAUFP.

The experience was a positive one, and Naomi has since gone on to study a Bachelor of Veterinary Science at the University of Queensland.

The diversity of the Canning College cohort, and the fact that many of them were living out of home for the first time, made it easy to find friends and study buddies.

Garryl, who lives in Lubumbashi in the Democratic Republic of Congo, is seriously committed to his studies, making a point of learning something new during lockdown.

Despite a six-hour time difference between his hometown and Perth, he joins his classmates for online lessons delivered live from Canning College.

He wakes during the night to start College and often sleeps during the day. But he is now on his way to completing the Mid-Year WA Universities’ Foundation Program.

Watch the video below to find out more about Garryl, his hobbies and where he will go next.

As international students start to return to Western Australia, we’re kick-starting our Containers for Change initiative to help the environment and a local charity.

We’re hoping to have many more students join us on campus in the coming weeks and months.

This will mean a great deal more recycling and more money to donate to a worthy cause.

Around 88% of the students enrolled in our pathway-to-university programs are currently studying online from their homes overseas.

But many students are now preparing to join us on campus after recent news that the Western Australian border will open on March 3.

Canning College’s Containers for Change initiative will be an ongoing project, which means students currently on campus, and those who will be joining us in the future, can contribute to the cause.

We’re really looking forward to seeing more students here in Perth and helping us with this project.

Simple actions, powerful results

Students and staff are encouraged to put refundable cans, bottles and other containers in the marked bins in the cafeteria, student lounge, student services and staff room.

These bins are for containers marked with a “10c refund at collection depots” label, or similar.

If you already take your 10c recyclables to a local depot, you can choose to donate some of your refund to Canning College.

Simply scan the code at your collection point and select Canning College.

We will make sure your donation is passed on to our chosen charity.

Keep reading to find out which charity will be receiving the funds from our recycling efforts.

But if it’s easier, or if you are not currently using a recycling depot, bring your containers into Canning College and drop them into one of the bins.

Choosing a charity

We expect that by the middle of the year, our campus population will be much busier, and we’ll then be in a position to take the next step.

This will involve asking our students to research some suitable local charities that are listed on the Containers for Change website.

Student input will be considered before an organisation or cause is selected to receive the proceeds of our Containers for Change initiative.

Western Australia’s border will be open to international visitors from March 3, which will allow Canning College students to join us on campus.

This means that international students entering Western Australia after 12.01am on March 3 will not be required to spend any time in quarantine. As indicated in correspondence sent earlier this week, students entering before the border opening date must isolate in approved accommodation for seven days. For information regarding entry into Western Australia before March 3 please visit our website here.

After March 3, international travellers into WA will be permitted with the following requirements:

• meet Commonwealth Government requirements to enter Australia;
• be fully vaccinated under the Commonwealth requirements, if eligible;
• have a registered G2G Pass;
• undertake a rapid antigen test on arrival (within 12 hours and report any positive result).

Students who are planning to travel to join us here in Perth are asked to provide us with flight and accommodation details before travelling to WA. This will allow us to arrange free transfers between the airport and accommodation.

From March 3, the WA State Government will provide a Rapid Antigen Test to each international arrival to meet the new interim controls. Interim testing arrangements will be in place for a minimum of two weeks and then be subject to an ongoing review.

During this transition period and until further notice, Canning College will continue to offer online programs. We are committed to supporting students in the pursuit of academic goals both on campus and online.

Further information regarding WA’s response to COVID-19 is available on the WA Government website here.

*PLEASE NOTE: Since this article was published, the State Government has announced that the Western Australian border will be open after March 3 without a requirement for travellers to quarantine. The information below is relevant for travellers into Western Australia before March 3. Click here for the latest information on the full border opening.

HOW TO ENTER WA BEFORE MARCH 3

International students can start to return to Western Australian following an announcement by the State Government regarding new entry rules.

As a college dedicated exclusively to international education, we are delighted to welcome new students back to Perth and on to campus after almost two years of restrictions.

There are a number of measures students must take to be able to join us in Perth, including a requirement to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and to quarantine for seven days on arrival. Further requirements are outlined below.

Under the new rules, international students can enter Western Australia either directly under the arrivals cap, or by transitioning through another state. It is important to note that the number of international visitors allowed directly into Western Australia is currently restricted to 530 people per week. The number of visitors allowed to enter Western Australia from other states is not restricted. More information regarding State and Territory entry requirements is available here.

Students who intend to travel into Perth, either directly or via another Australian state, are required to:

• Have an approved G2G pass with “Enrolled Student in WA” as the exemption category.
• Be fully vaccinated with an approved vaccine.
• Provide proof of a negative Rapid Antigen Test (RAT) within 24 hours before departure.
• Undertake 7 days of self-quarantine in approved accommodation in Western Australia, with the same requirements for household members at any self-quarantine premises.
• Undertake RAT or PCR testing within 24 hours of arrival, and either a PCR test on day 6 or a RAT on day 7 of self-quarantine. If the student has no symptoms and tests negative, quarantine is complete after 7 days. If a student has symptoms, the student must continue to isolate until symptoms are gone. Household members, who quarantine with the student, will also be required to do a PCR test on the student’s day 6.
• Be subject to mandatory use of the G2G Now app and in-person checks by Western Australian Police as required.

To assist with quarantine-related expenses, students are advised to register on the WA Government website here for a one-off payment of $2000. They should also register with StudyPerth here to receive a welcome pack.

Additional to the entry requirements, Canning College also recommends:

• Parents/students assess the suitability of the student to complete the mandatory 7-day quarantine period before pursuing entry into Western Australia.
• Students under 18 years of age travel with a parent or guardian. Parents/guardians should select “Immediate Family Member of Approved Traveller” on their GTG Pass application.
• Students understand the requirement to quarantine in approved accommodation and prepare accordingly. Students should check the accommodation they have booked for use during the normal course of their studies is approved for quarantine purposes. If not, students must arrange for approved accommodation during their quarantine stay. A list of approved accommodation is available on the StudyPerth website here.
• Students understand airline refund policies in case flight schedules change.
• Students be prepared to start their online studies during quarantine. Starting or continuing study online while in quarantine is a great way for students to interact with teachers and other students during isolation.

Canning College understands that quarantine may be challenging for some students, who may not be ready to travel, and we will continue to offer online learning until further notice.

Students who intend to travel to Perth are asked to provide flight and accommodation details before travelling to WA.

We remain committed to delivering high-quality education programs and providing high levels of support that help students achieve their academic goals.

Should you have any questions regarding information in this email that is not answered in any of the links, please visit the StudyPerth frequently asked questions page here or contact us at canning.col.info@education.wa.edu.au. Further information on international education is available on the WA Government website here.

Current and new students, staff members and visitors to Canning College are reminded of social measures in place to protect the health and safety of Western Australians against COVID-19.

Border restrictions will be relaxed after February 5, which will allow international visitors to enter Western Australia without the requirement to quarantine, provided they meet entry requirements. These include having proof of vaccination and a negative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test within three days of departure.

In order to protect the health and safety of the WA population, the State Government will continue to make health assessments and introduce new measures when necessary.

The wearing of masks is currently mandatory in some public venues, including on public transport, in hospitals and at Canning College.

It is also a requirement to show proof of vaccination to enter some public venues.

Students and staff are asked to regularly check the WA State Government information page for the latest measures.

We can’t wait to welcome new and returning students on to campus in 2022.