TGS Health and Safety
The Global Student (TGS) is committed to ensuring a safe and risk adverse experience for all our program participants. Information is constantly updated and provided through pre-departure information, orientation programs and communication via program specific FB pages (where applicable).
Program participants are adults and as such are responsible for their own behavior and actions while in a foreign country. TGS will take every measure to support a student experiencing a crisis but will not be responsible for any breaches of the laws of the country and cannot provide support under those circumstances.
Preventative information
Program participants are provided with information both at pre-departure and again during orientation,
that covers the following information:
Site-specific advice on eating and drinking safely
What to do in case of illness
Location of nearest medical assistance
Risk minimizing behavior and attitudes
Consumption of alcohol
Advice on local areas that are not considered safe
Cultural norms, attitudes and taboos
Each student also receives a hard-copy of the TGS Risk management action plan in their welcome packs.
24 hour emergency support
TGS provides 24 hour emergency support and each program participant receives a TGS hotline card upon arrival. The hotline is managed by TGS team members who are on standby to provide advice and maintain a log of calls for reporting to partner universities. the card also contains local emergency support providers such as police and fire-brigade. There is no central ambulance service, instead each hospital usually operates their own fleet.
During orientation, advice is provided as to what constitutes an ‘emergency’ and details guidelines and expected response timelines for non-emergency situations.
Risk Management and Emergency Response
No overseas journey is without risk and TGS is prepared for the possibility of having to manage a critical incident. Universities are provided copies of the TGS Risk Management and Emergency Response Plan and to ensure students know what to do in an emergency, an excerpt of this is provided to students, and discussed in detail, during orientation.
DFAT Smart traveller
Students are advised to register with DFAT prior to travel at http://smartraveller.gov.au/Pages/default.aspx
Students can also contact Smart Traveller for 24-hour Consular Assistance – Phone: +61 2 6261 3305 or SMS +61 421 269 080
Leisure Travel
TGS encourage students to explore the region during their program and provides advice on places of interest and transport options. TGS in providing that advice takes no responsibility for any injury or damages incurred as a result of that travel advice.
For safety and security reasons, it is vital TGS is always aware of student whereabouts. Students must notify TGS before undertaking any travel either domestically (inside Malaysia) or Internationally (to neighboring countries) by completing and submitting the short-term travel notification form no later than 48 hours prior to departure.
While travelling, students must adhere to the advice of TGS and DFAT travel advisories. If you are unaware of the DFAT warnings for the intended location, please consult with TGS or the DFAT SmartTraveller website beforehand. Travel to level 3 and 4 DFAT locations are STRONGLY urged to reconsider.
Risk taking behavior
Students are advised to check with their university what their insurance coverage considers ‘risk-taking” behavior that may include extreme sports or hiring of motorcycles. TGS discourages the hiring of motor bikes in tourist hot-spots, and many university insurance does not cover hospital and repatriation for accidents that occur under these circumstances.
*The Global Student is proudly partnered with International SOS to ensure the safety and security of all our students and academics while in country.