What are my rights and responsibilities?
Information on this topic can be found by clicking here

Where is the AGA located?
The Australasian Golf Academy is located at the magnificent Robina Woods Golf Course on Australia's
Gold Coast. The Gold Coast is Australia's most popular holiday destination, is renowned for the
number and quality of golf courses available and also has a growing reputation as a "centre for
excellence in education". Information about the home of AGA can be found here and information about
the Gold Coast here. For a detailed map and travel directions to AGA, click here. There are two
international airports close to the Gold Coast, with Brisbane Airport being approximately 1 hour drive
from AGA and Gold Coast Airport being 20 minutes drive.

What is the expertise and qualifications of AGA's staff?
AGA's golf coaching staffs are members of the PGA of Australia and all staff members are selected for
their industry experience and knowledge appropriate to their roles. An on-going professional
development program ensures the currency of knowledge. Details of individual staff members
experience and qualifications can be found by clicking here.

What are the costs of courses at the AGA and what do these costs include?
Costs of all courses at the AGA are listed here.

Are Australian students eligible for assistance subsidies such as Austudy or Abstudy studying your
programs?
According to the Minister’s determination of eligible courses within the ‘Student Assistance Act’
a course above the level of Associate Diploma delivered by an education institution (TAFE, University,
Technical College) or a Registered Training Organization meet the criteria of eligibility. You will need to
be enrolled full time.

If I wish to study at AGA under Austudy financial assistance, what should I do?
We would prepare an individual training plan timetable according to your needs, recognition of prior
learning and study plans. You would need to apply to Centrelink with this information. You will be
subject to an assets and income test to determine eligibility. For further information, please see the
Centrelink website (centrelink.gov.au).

What are the entry requirements for AGA courses?
Entry requirements vary from course to course. For specific details of entry requirements for each
course, please choose the course you are interested in from the menu at left under the heading "AGA
Programs".

What are the visa issues in attending AGA?
Yes you can change your education provider after completing the first 12 months of your course. You
must contact the immigration department and provide:- a letter from your previous education provider
releasing you from your studies and provide a Confirmation of Enrolment from AGA. Additional
information can be found on DIMA web site at:
http://www.immi.gov.au/students/students/changing_courses/index.htm.

Can I bring my own golf equipment?
Yes. In fact, we recommend that you bring your own clubs to allow you to maintain consistency when
you return home. Because the correct clubs are vital to playing well, one of the first things that will be
arranged when you arrive at AGA is an assessment of how well your current clubs suit you. In addition
to being a Callaway Golf Custom Fitting Centre, the AGA carries a wide range of clubs and accessories.
If you do not have your own clubs, rental clubs are available at reasonable prices.

What are my accommodation options?
The staffs at AGA are happy to assist you with arranging accommodation in a hotel, an apartment or
homestay with a local family. More information about accommodation options can be found here.

When do I receive my homestay details?
You will normally receive the details of your homestay or a confirmation of hotel or apartment
accommodation approximately two weeks prior to your scheduled start date. It is not possible for us
to provide these details until we have received your flight arrival information. At the same time as you
are given confirmation of your accommodation details, you will receive a confirmation that airport
transfer has been arranged, if you have requested this service.

Children Under 18 Years of Age
The Australasian Golf Academy works closely with the Commission for Children and Young People and
is committed to protecting children from harm and promoting their wellbeing. Under the Commission
for Children and Young People and Child Guardian Act (2000), Families who wish to homestay
children less than 18 years of age must undergo a criminal history check – the Working with Children
Check. Those found suitable to work with children and young people are issued a suitability card or
blue card and will be placed on AGA special suitability list.

What is the duration of AGA's courses?
The Australasian Golf Academy offers a wide range of programs for all levels of golfers and budgets.
The duration of your course will depend on what you want to gain from your time at the AGA, the time
you have available and your budget.

Can I access language and literacy training? Is is for beginners or advanced students? Are there
IELTS level requirements? Does this training cost extra?
English Language classes are provided during the mornings in AGA's classrooms or Bond University
English Language Institute (BUELI). Lessons are a combination of English theory and conversation
practice. The class student numbers are minimal, and enable lessons to be directed towards both
beginner and advanced students. There is no IELTS level requirement to enroll in the class. For
students wishing to enter AGA's formal study programs, customized language and literacy programs
are available if required and an assessment of each student's needs is done on arrival at AGA.

Can career placements be arranged?
As a leading golf education provider the AGA maintains relationships with many other organizations
within the golfing industry. Depending upon the type of placement and location required the AGA will
provide you with contacts for employment recruiters that specialize in the sport and recreation
industry.

What improvement in my golf game can I expect?
Improvement is dependent on a number of factors such as the amount of time a student is enrolled
for, playing habits, natural ability and their personal commitment to enhancing their ability. Some
students will drop their handicap dramatically and then plateau for a while before dropping their
handicap again, while other students improve at a more consistent rate.

What is the content of the courses at AGA?
For accredited courses, units of competency come from the SRS06 National Sport Training Package and
delivery and assessment materials are either developed in-house or sourced from reputable suppliers
and adapted to the special needs of AGA students.
For other courses, coaching materials have been developed in-house to ensure delivery of coaching
meets the needs of a wide variety of golfers. Specific programs are created for each student, drawing
on the material available to ensure that all training is relevant to the individual needs of the client.

Regardless of the course enrolled in, students will not only learn the skills required playing the game
successfully, but they will also learn the mental aspects of the game. Students are taught tactics and
strategy for game play that will enable them to outwit opponents on any golf course in all conditions.
Students will also learn how physiology and dietary management can improve and sustain excellent
golfing performance. The most effective methods of practice and the best ways to gauge improvement
will be taught: so that when they are finished at the AGA, students will be able to continue the
progress they initiated at the AGA .

Who will recognize the qualification I receive from AGA?
Most courses offered by the AGA are done so under the Australian Qualifications Framework and
receive full recognition by both employers and educational institutions across Australia. Students
wishing to undertake further study after graduating from AGA should be able to obtain full credit for
the study they have completed. A number of articulation arrangements have been made with
Australian institutions and these are detailed here.

What employment can I get after I graduate from AGA?
The Diploma of Sport (Development) are aimed at golfers who wish to seek employment in the golf
industry including as a golf coach, driving range manager, pro-shop manager, or as a professional
golfer (subject to meeting the required playing ability level). AGA's certificate programs are aimed at
those seeking an entry-level position in the golf or recreation industries. For those who are interested
solely in a playing career, the Professional Golf Training Program provides intensive instruction in this
area and gives a solid grounding to a future as a tournament professional. Students should enquire
with the national golf union in their own country to find about the qualification requirements for their
desired profession.

What if I cannot finish the course in the stated time?
As all courses at the AGA are competency based, students who are unable to complete all of the units
within the allowed time frame may be able to complete the course over an extended duration. Student
progress is monitored throughout the course and staffs carry out regular reviews of progress with the
student and any extension of time would be negotiated at one of these reviews. There may be extra
charges payable for extensions to the length of a course.

What if I want to finish the course in a shorter time?
It is possible that some students may be able to complete their chosen course in a shorter time than
the standard duration. This would be subject to students demonstrating a sufficient amount of prior
knowledge and skills and all students have the opportunity to be assessed for RPL (Recognition of
Prior Learning) at the commencement of their course. Any application for RPL must be accompanied by
documentation in English to allow staff to properly assess the relevance and level of the skills and
knowledge.

Do I have to have a certain handicap to gain a qualification from the AGA?
For courses other than Certificate II in Sport, Certificate III in Sport, there are no handicap
requirements either for entry into or to graduate from the course. This includes the Diploma of Sport
(Development).

For Certificate II in Sport, you will be required to demonstrate a playing handicap of 12 or lower to
attain the qualification and, for the Certificate III, a handicap of 4 or lower is required, as laid down in
the SRS03 National Sport Training Package by the PGA of Australia. Students in these programs are
assessed prior to the acceptance of their enrolment to ascertain whether they are likely to attain the
required level within the timeframe of the course .