Melbourne and Brisbane
Impact Student Handbook

Welcome to
Impact English College
We are really excited to meet you and look forward to getting to know you better. Come and talk to us any time if you have any questions.
2. About Impact
Campuses
Melbourne | Brisbane | |
Address | Level 5, 620 Bourke Street, Melbourne, Vic, 3000 | Level 1, 110 Eagle Street, Brisbane, Queensland, 4000 |
Phone | (03) 9670-2840 | (07) 3306 7610 |
Fax | (03) 9670-2896 | (07) 3306 7611 |
info@impactenglish.edu.au | info@impactenglish.edu.au | |
Web | www.impactenglish.edu.au | www.impactenglish.edu.au |
Opening Hours | 8:30am – 6:00pm, Monday to Friday | 8:30am – 6:00pm, Monday to Friday |
Timetable
All courses at Impact English College consist of 20 hours of face-to-face classes per week. Students study on either a morning or afternoon timetable. Morning classes are held from 8:50am to 1:15pm and the afternoon classes are from 1:20pm to 5:45pm. You will be placed in a suitable level according to your placement test. Impact English College cannot accept student requests for personalised timetables. The college has two slightly different schedules for both morning and afternoon timetables.
Timetable A | Timetable B | |||
Morning | 8:50am-10:05am | 75 minute lesson | 8:50am-10:20am | 90 minute lesson |
10:05am-10:15am | 10 minute break | 10:20am-10:35am | 15 minute break | |
10:15am-11:30am | 75 minute lesson | 10:35am-11:50am | 75 minute lesson | |
11:30am-11:45am | 15 minute break | 11:50am-12:00pm | 10 minute break | |
11:45am-1:15pm | 90 minute lesson | 12:00pm–1:15pm | 75 minute lesson | |
Afternoon | 1:20pm-2:35pm | 75 minute lesson | 1:20pm-2:50pm | 90 minute lesson |
2:35pm-2:45pm | 10 minute break | 2:50pm-3:05pm | 15 minute break | |
2:45pm-4:00pm | 75 minute lesson | 3:05pm-4:20pm | 75 minute break | |
4:00pm-4:15pm | 15 minute break | 4:20pm-4:30pm | 10 minute break | |
4:15pm-5:45pm | 90 minute lesson | 4:30pm-5:45pm | 75 minute lesson |
Your First Day
All students will have Orientation on their first day. Students enrolled in General English will start classes the following day. Students enrolled in any of the other courses (Extreme English, Business English, IELTS/EAP, Barista, FCE or CAE) will join class on the same day as orientation, from 1.20pm – 5.45pm.
Digital Student ID Cards
You will find your digital student ID card on ICON. Simply go to your ICON dashboard and open your student card. Discounts on entry into various venues are available (except public transport) by showing your digital ID card. If you extend your course, your digital ID card expiry date will automatically update.
2.1 Facilities
-
All Levels:
Classrooms: Classrooms are numbered on each door according to level. For example, Room 1 on Level 5 is 501. Your class will be held in the same room every day, but this may be subject to change.
Free Wi-Fi: Available throughout the campus. The password is provided at reception. Impact accepts no responsibility for your devices. Watch your belongings!
Noticeboards: check noticeboards for up-to-date information
Level 2:
Student Lounge/Kitchen, Teachers' Room, Staff Offices
Level 4:
Student Lounge (No food or drinks on this level), Cambridge Exam Centre/Multipurpose Rooms,
Student Services Officer
Level 5:
Reception, Café Impresso, Student Lounge, Kitchen, Accommodations Officer
Level 6:
Library: Please check the noticeboard in the library for opening hours and borrowing times.
Computer Room/Printer & Photocopier: Paper can be purchased from reception- 50 cents for 10 sheets.
Multilanguage Counselling Room (MCR)
-
All Levels:
Classrooms: Classrooms are numbered on each door according to level. For example, Room 1 on Level 2 is 201. Your class will be held in the same room every day, but this may be subject to change.
Free Wi-Fi: Available throughout the campus. The password is provided at reception. Impact accepts no responsibility for your devices. Watch your belongings!
Noticeboards: check noticeboards for up-to-date information
Level 1:
Reception
Library: Please check the noticeboard in the library for opening hours and borrowing times.
Computers & Printer: In the Library. Paper can be purchased from reception- 50 cents for 10 sheets.
Staff Offices
Level 2:
Café Impresso, Kitchen, Student Lounge, Vending Machine, Counselling Rooms, Teachers' Room, Staff Offices
Level 3:
Multipurpose/Activity Room, Multilanguage Counselling Room (MCR)
3. Who Can Help You?
Student Services and Support Staff Information
If you need confidential help and support, please make an appointment at reception to speak to a Student Services Officer.
You can contact reception on (03) 9670 2840 (MEL) or (07) 3306 7610 (BNE).
For study advice, please speak to your teacher, an Academic Coordinator, or the Academic Manager.
4. Impact Courses
Impact English College offers a wide range of courses depending on your level and goals.
General English: Elementary to Advanced (4-60 weeks) Open class - Intake every week
IELTS/EAP: Upper Intermediate and Advanced (5-20 weeks) Closed class - Intake every 5 weeks
Business English: Upper Intermediate (5-10 weeks) Open Class - Intake every week
Extreme English: Foundation (Pre-Intermediate+) and Excel (Intermediate+) Closed class - 10 weeks at each level
Barista/Café English: Intermediate+ to Advanced (5 weeks) Closed class - Starts every 5 weeks
Cambridge B2 First (FCE): Upper Intermediate+ (10-12 weeks) Closed class- January, March, June, September
Cambridge C1 Advanced (CAE): Advanced+ (10-12 weeks) Closed class- January, March, June, September
5. In the classroom
Each class will have two teachers during the week who work together to plan lessons using the course textbook and additional resources and materials.
5.1 Attendance and Lateness
All students are required to have at least an 80% attendance rate. If your attendance falls below 80%, Impact will not issue you with a certificate. Student visa holders have additional attendance requirements.
You must come to class on time. If you are more than 15 minutes late, you will be marked absent for the session.
5.2 Mobile Phones
You are expected to turn your mobile phones to silent during class times.
5.3 Textbooks/Materials Fees
You are required to pay a materials fee that covers textbooks and supplementary materials distributed in class. When changing classes, you need to report to reception to receive your new textbook.
5.4 Assessment
You will be assessed by file, progress and skills tests associated with the selected textbook.
Activities which may be selected as assessment include;
- In-class participation
- Homework tasks
- Formal and informal class tests and associated activities
- Participation in group activities
5.5 Appropriate Behavior
Inappropriate behavior may result in suspension/cancellation of enrolment.
At Impact, a student's enrolment in a course can be invalidated or cancelled for a number of reasons but not limited to:
- Unsatisfactory academic progress
- Unsatisfactory attendance
- Exclusion for health reasons
- Unsatisfactory behavior including acts of discrimination, sexual harassment, threatening or bullying behavior, cheating or fraud
- Non-payment of tuition fees or associated fees
- Breach of visa regulations
- Involvement in criminal activity
- Drinking alcohol or taking illicit substances at the college
If a student's enrolment is cancelled after commencing their course, the student is not entitled to any kind of refund. Any appeals regarding such action may be taken as per the Impact Complaints/Appeals process.
6. Enrolments and Course Changes
Please see the full version of our Terms & Conditions of Enrolment for details regarding Change of Course/Campus, Notice periods, Visa regulations and TPS.
Ten working days' notice must be given for any course changes (5 weeks for campus change).
6.1 Holidays and Deferment or Suspension
Holidays
Holidays are allowed for students who are enrolled for 10 weeks or more. You can have a one-week holiday for every 10 weeks of study. You must apply for the holiday at least 10 working days in advance. Holidays must be from Monday to Friday.
College closes in December for Christmas break. Please refer to the Impact school calendar for college closure dates. There will not be any classes during this period.
Deferment or Suspension**
**Please see Section E of the Impact Terms & Conditions for further information.
6.2 Credit Notes
Credit notes can be issued for a maximum of one year with two weeks' notice. An application fee of $50 applies. Please see terms and conditions on the credit note application form. Any increase in fees prior to restarting must be met by the student.
6.3 Transfer Policy***
Under Student Visa Regulations (Condition 8206) it is not possible to transfer to another educational institution during the first 6 calendar months of the course, without permission from Impact English College.
***Please see Section D of the Impact Terms & Conditions for further information.
6.4 Refund Policy****
1. Refunds are made by electronic funds transfer to a nominated bank account or as reverse payment to the credit card from which the payment was processed.
2. All refund requests must be made in writing and be accompanied by a completed Impact Refund Request form within 6 months of the initial enrolment start date. The refund form must be signed by the student claiming the refund and the signature must be matched with the one on the passport.
**** Please see Section B of the Impact Terms & Conditions for further information.
7. Visa and Attendance Compliance
You must have an appropriate visa to study at Impact English College.
If you have a student visa, your attendance must be above 80% throughout your course. Students whose attendance falls below 80% must be reported to the relevant government department. Your student visa might be cancelled as a result of this. If you have concerns about your attendance, make an appointment with an Impact staff member to discuss it.
If you hold a student visa, we must notify the Department of Home Affairs if any variations to courses greater than four weeks are made.
8. Grievance Procedure
It is Impact English College's policy to listen carefully to students' complaints or grievances and try to resolve the problem quickly and fairly. This procedure applies to all currently enrolled students at Impact English College. If you are not happy with the college, you can follow the procedure below:
Step 1: Talk to your Teacher or Student Advisor.
You can discuss the issue with your main class teacher, or make an appointment with a student advisor about the complaint. They may be able to help you solve the problem immediately.
Step 2: Talk to the appropriate Manager.
If you are still not satisfied, you might like to talk to the appropriate coordinator or manager depending on the issue.
Step 3: Write a letter to the Director and have a meeting.
If you are still not satisfied, put your case in writing to the Director of the College. You will be invited to present your case to the Director. You have the right to be represented by a nominee. A decision in writing will be forwarded to your nominated email address within 10 working days of the meeting. This decision will be final.
*Each party may be accompanied by a support person at any relevant meeting.
What if you are still not satisfied?
These grievance procedures do not stop you from getting outside advice through the Australian system. For a detailed list of support services, please refer to Section M of the Impact Terms & Conditions for further information.
9. Life in Melbourne and Brisbane
You can get information about where to go and what to do in Melbourne and Brisbane from the student Noticeboards or from the following websites:
9.1 Safety
Melbourne and Brisbane are generally safe cities, but it is still important to be cautious.
DO NOT: Carry large amounts of cash, walk alone at night, leave drinks unattended in bars, leave your valuable items unattended, or transfer money for accommodation that you have not visited.
DO: Stand or sit in well-lit areas if waiting for transport, lock your room when you are not at home and when you are sleeping.
You can also watch a short video about safety in Australia by going to the following websites:
- https://studymelbourne.vic.gov.au/living-here/your-health-and-safety
- https://www.studyqueensland.qld.gov.au/live-in-queensland/safety-in-australia
9.2 Water Safety
There are many patrolled swimming beaches in Victoria and Queensland. Always swim between the flags and only swim in water that is patrolled by lifeguards.
You can find more information on Swim-Safer by visiting:
9.3 Emergency Number
Outside school hours and during travel to and from school, please call 000 (emergency services) for the following incidents:
1. Physical violence (threatened or actual)2. Disaster e.g. fire or flood
3. All other serious injuries or accidents
The College emergency phone is available 24 hours in case of an emergency:
- Melbourne campus: 0434 524 115
- Brisbane campus: 0431 088 728
9.4 Public Transport
Both Melbourne and Brisbane have well-developed public transport systems.
For public transport in Melbourne, you must use a myki card. For public transport in Brisbane, you must use a Go card.
For more information on public transportation including up-to-date timetables and tickets in Melbourne, please visit:
For information on public transportation including timetables and tickets in Brisbane, visit the TransLink website
9.5 Accommodation
Impact can arrange the following accommodation for you:
Homestay Accommodation Student Residence Accommodation
For assistance with, or information about, Impact-organised accommodation please make an appointment at reception to talk with an Impact staff member.
Shared accommodation is available on many websites, but please make sure that the accommodation you choose is suitable for your needs. If you are not sure what kind of accommodation is suitable for you, please make an appointment to speak with one of our staff members.
9.6 Working in Australia
You must have an appropriate visa to work in Australia.
Melbourne
For information on international students' work rights legal service:
Study Melbourne Student Centre
17 Hardware Lane
Melbourne Victoria 3000
To make an appointment call 1800 056 449 or email info@studymelbourne.vic.gov.au
Brisbane
Visit the Study Queensland website for further information:
Employment Rights
Please visit the Pay and Conditions Tool (PACT) at www.fairwork.gov.au or call 13 13 94 to check your employment rights and conditions, and how to resolve workplace issues.
Tax File Number (TFN)
You must have a Tax File Number to work in Australia. You can apply for a Tax File Number online at www.ato.gov.au.
9.7 Banking
To open a bank account, you will need identification including your passport. We recommend you do this as soon as possible upon arrival in Australia.
9.8 Overseas Student Health Cover
If you have a student visa and organised your health cover through Impact, you will receive your Allianz Partners card approximately one week after beginning your course.
Once you have your card, you can claim a refund for part of your fees. You can get a claim form at reception or see an Allianz Global Assistance OSHC representative for a cash claim. Different doctors charge different fees, so when you make an appointment, check the fees and ask if you can be direct billed through Allianz Partners.
It is recommended that you download the OSHC Smartphone App onto your phone.
9.9 Legal Advice
Melbourne
For issues related to criminal, family and civil law:
Victoria Legal Aid
1300 792 387
www.legalaid.vic.gov.au
For issues related to accommodation:
Consumer Affairs Victoria
1300 558 181 121
For general support and advice on a range of issues:
Study Melbourne Student Centre
1800 056 449
Brisbane
For issues related to criminal, family and civil law:
Legal Aid Queensland
1300 651 188
www.legalaid.qld.gov.au
For issues related to Real Estate:
Tenants Queensland
1300 744 263
www.tenantsqld.org.au
International Student Hotline
1800 778 839
www.eqi.com.au/student-support/hotline
Study Queensland
www.studyqueensland.qld.gov.au