DMC Student Travel Assessment | Altura Student

SQS Framework · Feb 2026

DMC Assessment

Student Travel Readiness
Assessment.

This assessment determines whether your operation meets the standards required to deliver student educational travel for Australian tour operators. Aligned to the SETO Quality Standards framework, February 2026.

Assessment Progress

Before You Begin

This assessment is completed by the DMC on behalf of your SETO operator client. Answer all questions honestly and accurately — responses are used to generate a formal audit report.
Scoring uses a Yes / Partial / No framework. Partial indicates foundations exist but documentation or process gaps remain.
Six domains are assessed across a maximum of 30 points. A score of 25 or above qualifies for SQS-Ready status.
Some conditions result in automatic Not Ready status regardless of your score — these are highlighted as you proceed.
Activity modules (expeditions, adventurous activities, ski tours, homestays, etc.) are nominated at the end and assessed additionally.

All information provided is treated as confidential. An audit report is generated automatically on submission and reviewed by the Altura Student team. Your operator will be notified of the outcome within 5 business days.

Details

Organisation & Contact Details

Basic identification fields. These populate your audit report header.

DMC / Company Name *

Primary Contact Name *

Contact Email *

Country / Region of Operation

Referring SETO Operator The Australian student travel company that sent you this assessment link.

Quoting & Financial Practice

Australian school operators need transparent, accurate quoting to meet SETO obligations and satisfy state education department approval processes.

/ 5 pts

D1.1 — Standardised quote format with day-by-day breakdown of inclusions and exclusions * Does your quote template include explicit inclusions, exclusion notes, and meal / accommodation standards?

✓Yes

◐Partial

✕No

D1.2 — FX assumptions and quote validity period stated Does your quote state the base exchange rate, date, a validity period (minimum 14 days), and an FX fluctuation threshold?

✓Yes

◐Partial

✕No

D1.3 — NETT pricing with no hidden commissions or mark-up ambiguity Are per-person rates shown with group-size variables? Is pricing clearly NETT or commission-inclusive?

✓Yes

◐Partial

✕No

D1.4 — Documented payment schedule and cancellation policy aligned to international school tour norms Payment terms, deposit %, balance timing, cancellation tiers by days-to-departure, and force majeure / DFAT advisory clauses.

✓Yes

◐Partial

✕No

Safety Management System

Australian school operators carry significant legal and reputational liability. DMCs must demonstrate structured safety management consistent with the PDCA cycle. This is a critical fail domain.

/ 7 pts

D2.1 — Documented Safety Management System (SMS) covering risk assessment, safety arrangements, and continuous improvement * Look for signed senior leadership endorsement, clear safety objectives, and evidence of annual review.

✓Yes

◐Partial

✕No

D2.2 — Comprehensive, documented emergency escalation protocol with defined roles, communication chains, and 24/7 operations support * Must include crisis levels, reporting lines, local emergency contacts (hospitals, police, Australian Embassy), and media / parent communication protocols.

✓Yes

◐Partial

✕No

Critical Fail Condition: No documented emergency escalation protocol is an automatic Not Ready result regardless of overall score.

D2.3 — Systematic supplier vetting — transport and accommodation providers assessed against documented safety criteria Annual rechecks required. Transport provider contracts should include safety standards compliance clauses.

✓Yes

◐Partial

✕No

D2.4 — Documented incident, accident, and near-miss reporting protocol with investigation process and trend monitoring All staff trained in reporting procedures. Findings must feed back into SMS review.

✓Yes

◐Partial

✕No

D2.5 — Established contacts with local authorities, emergency services, and Australian Embassy / High Commission Confirm process for contacting DFAT Smart Traveller is in place.

✓Yes

◐Partial

✕No

Additional SQS requirements to confirm: Water and swimming policy · Crisis management and contingency plans · Data protection policy (Privacy Act aligned) · Illness management and allergen protocols · Satellite communications for remote operations.

Additional safety context Note any of the above SQS requirements that are in place or in development.

Tour Preparation & Supplier Vetting

Your vetting and contracting practices determine whether the supply chain is defensible to Australian school risk assessors. Prohibited activity confirmation is a critical fail condition.

/ 6 pts

D3.1 — Formal accommodation assessment process including fire safety, security, electrical hazards, pool safety, POSI, and hygiene checks — completed prior to first use and at least every 3 years Confirm grading process (Significant / Moderate / Minimal risk) and that significant-risk properties are not used.

✓Yes

◐Partial

✕No

D3.2 — Formal coach / transport assessment including licensing, insurance, vehicle maintenance, driver vetting, and WWCC-equivalent checks — with contracts in place and annual review

✓Yes

◐Partial

✕No

D3.3 — Risk categorisation and appropriate vetting applied to all activity / excursion providers (Low / Medium / High-Risk / Adventurous) Public liability insurance, operating licence, and risk assessments sighted for medium / high-risk activities. High-risk requires external licensed providers only.

✓Yes

◐Partial

✕No

D3.4 — Documented risk assessments available for all DMC-organised elements (walking tours, cultural visits, etc.) not delivered by an external operator

✓Yes

◐Partial

✕No

D3.5 — Service Level Agreements with all contracted sub-suppliers specifying minimum safety standards, safeguarding requirements, and compliance with local law — reviewed at least annually

✓Yes

◐Partial

✕No

Prohibited Activities — Confirm your DMC does NOT offer any of the following to school groups * Bungee jumping · Flying ultra-light aircraft · Hang gliding · Parachuting or skydiving. These are prohibited under SQS for all Australian school groups.

✓Confirmed — none offered

✕One or more offered

Critical Fail Condition: Offering prohibited adventurous activities to school groups results in automatic Not Ready status.

Staffing, Training & Safeguarding

Safeguarding is non-negotiable in Australian educational travel. Background checks and child protection policy are critical fail conditions in this domain.

/ 6 pts

D4.1 — All guides, representatives, and local staff who work with school groups hold current criminal history checks and an equivalent to Australia's Working With Children Check (WWCC) * Checks must apply to guides, local reps, drivers, and activity instructors. Confirm frequency of renewal.

✓Yes

◐Partial

✕No

Critical Fail Condition: Absence of background checks or WWCC-equivalent for staff working with school groups results in automatic Not Ready status.

D4.2 — Documented child protection / safeguarding policy addressing responsibilities, disclosure procedures, reporting, photography policy, ICT / digital safety, and code of conduct for staff * Policy must reference applicable local child protection law and align to Australian safeguarding expectations (National Framework for Protecting Australia's Children).

✓Yes

◐Partial

✕No

Critical Fail Condition: No child protection or safeguarding policy results in automatic Not Ready status.

D4.3 — Structured guide / staff training programme including formal induction, annual refresher training, and mandatory first aid certification (minimum 16-hour Outdoor First Aid for expedition leaders) First aid certificates held on file. Guides accompanying expeditions should hold Certificate IV Outdoor Leadership or equivalent.

✓Yes

◐Partial

✕No

D4.4 — Documented supervision ratios and duty of care protocols — understanding that teachers hold in loco parentis and are primary duty of care holders, not the DMC guide

✓Yes

◐Partial

✕No

Documentation & Communication

Australian operators present DMC documentation to school principals, parent information evenings, and education department approval processes. Quality directly reflects on the operator's professionalism.

/ 3 pts

D5.1 — Responds to operator queries within 24 business hours — with a separate 24/7 emergency line Standard operational expectation for the AU/NZ market.

✓Yes

◐Partial

✕No

D5.2 — Itinerary version control and change log system — itineraries are versioned, dated, and changes communicated with a summary of amendments Major changes = new version (v1.0 to v2.0). Minor changes = increment (v2.0 to v2.1).

✓Yes

◐Partial

✕No

D5.3 — All client-facing documentation available in fluent English with no language barriers for Australian operators or school groups

✓Yes

◐Partial

✕No

Responsible Travel Practice

Australian schools and parents increasingly scrutinise sustainability credentials, ethical supply chains, and animal welfare. Third-party accreditation is a strong differentiator.

/ 3 pts

D6.1 — Child protection policy and ethical employment / anti-slavery commitment formally documented — supplier due diligence includes ethical labour practice checks Already assessed in D4. Confirm here that it extends to the supply chain. Request anti-slavery statement or supplier code of conduct.

✓Yes

◐Partial

✕No

D6.2 — Environmental and sustainability commitment — documented policy covering waste reduction, single-use plastic elimination, carbon management, and biodiversity / conservation practices Third-party accreditation (Travelife, Green Globe, B Corp) is a bonus. Note any active conservation programs relevant to school curriculum.

✓Yes

◐Partial

✕No

D6.3 — Cultural sensitivity, community respect, and animal welfare — cultural experiences are accurate and respectful; no animal encounters involve exploitation or welfare concerns Review sample itineraries for animal encounter activities. Confirm Indigenous engagement is handled appropriately where relevant.

✓Yes

◐Partial

✕No

Modules

Activity Modules

Select all module types your DMC offers to school groups. Module-specific requirements will be noted in your audit report. A DMC may pass core domains but fail an applicable module.

Select all activity modules your DMC offers to school groups

Community Projects Conservation, building / renovation, reforestation, charity work

Expeditions Multi-day trekking, hiking, orienteering, remote environments

Adventurous Activities Abseiling, zip lines, rafting, kayaking, rock climbing, scuba, surfing

Sports Tours Competitive fixtures, tournaments, training camps

Snow & Ski Tours Skiing, snowboarding, snow sports

Homestays Billeting, host-family accommodation, cultural exchange stays

Additional notes on activity module capabilities or limitations

Anything else the Altura Student team should know? Certifications, awards, accreditations, unique capabilities, or areas currently under development.

Declaration & Submission

By submitting this assessment you confirm that all information provided is accurate and complete to the best of your knowledge, and that you are authorised to submit on behalf of your organisation. Altura Student will assess your application and the referring SETO operator will be notified of the outcome within 5 business days. This assessment is valid for 12 months from the date of submission.

I confirm all information is accurate and I am authorised to submit on behalf of this organisation.

Assessment received · Audit report generated automatically · Altura Student reviews within 5 business days

Critical Fail Conditions Detected

Live Score Preview

Updates as you complete each domain

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Assessment Status

Complete form to preview

What Happens Next

Your assessment is received by the Altura Student team immediately on submission.
An audit report is generated automatically and reviewed by our assessors.
Your SETO operator is notified of the outcome within 5 business days, including any required improvement actions.
SQS-Ready status is valid for 12 months. Annual reassessment is required.

This assessment is aligned to the SETO Quality Standards Member Handbook — February 2026. Altura Student operates as an independent DMC assessment service. SQS-Ready status issued by Altura Student is not a substitute for SETO membership or SQS certification of the tour operator.

Assessment Submitted.

Thank you for completing the Altura Student DMC assessment. Your responses have been received and an audit report is being generated for review by the Altura Student team.

Your referring SETO operator will be notified of the outcome within 5 business days.

Altura Student — DMC Assessment Programme

An Altura Travel Group service · Sunshine Coast, Queensland

Student Travel ReadinessAssessment.

Before You Begin

Organisation & Contact Details

Quoting & Financial Practice

Safety Management System

Tour Preparation & Supplier Vetting

Staffing, Training & Safeguarding

Documentation & Communication

Responsible Travel Practice

Activity Modules

Declaration & Submission

Critical Fail Conditions Detected

Live Score Preview

What Happens Next

Assessment Submitted.

Student Travel Readiness
Assessment.