Living in Australia
Accommodation
There are number of accommodation options available for students studying in Australia.
Most universities and TAFE colleges operate housing offices to assist students with accommodation. Staff at Canam would also be able to provide you with useful information.
Students can choose from the following options :
Homestay
A$110-A$270 a week
Homestay (living with an Australian family) is popular with younger students. Single or shared rooms may be offered and the cost may vary accordingly. Meals are usually included.
Rental Accommodation
A$70-A$350 a week
Students can also rent an apartment or house. Rents vary depending on the location, size and facilities. Many students in Australia live in an apartment or a house with other students, sharing the cost of gas, electricity and sometimes food. The student will be expected to pay one month advance payment and some security deposit. The cost may work out to be approximately A$50 to A$160 a week if the accommodation is shared.
Other types of accommodation for students include private board, hostels and guest houses. Again, costs will vary depending on the location and the facilities available.
University Accommodation
A$70-A$250 a week
Many universities and colleges have halls of residence attached to them. Here, students have a bedroom/study of their own, and will share bathrooms, laundries and recreational facilities. Most of these residential halls provide meals and some offer kitchen facilities where students can cook and store food. Some universities may offer apartments. However, the cost would be higher.
Hostels and Guest Houses
A$80-A$135 a week
Hostels are usually run by organisations such as Youth Hostels Australia and the Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA). Students share kitchen and bathroom facilities.
Health Insurance
The Australian government requires that all international students and their families pay for health insurance in Australia through the Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) scheme.
You will need evidence that you have OSHC before you can obtain your visa for Australia. Membership of a health insurance scheme in your home country does not exempt you from paying OSHC. The payment for the cover is mostly made along with the first payment of tuition fees . The membership card is normally issued by the International Student Centre on arrival.
OSHC provides free access to the University health service and public hospitals. OSHC will also pay for many prescription drugs and emergency ambulance transport. OSHC is essential for a number of reasons:
The OSHC fee is approximately A$330 for a cover up to 12 months.
Food & Restaurants
Australia has a fantastic variety of food. There is a large range of fruit and vegetables available at Australian produce markets. Students should have no difficulty in finding the foods that they are used to at home as the market caters for a diverse population.
You can sample almost every type of cuisine available throughout the world in the restaurants sprinkled around all cities. There are elegant restaurants or typical Aussie pubs. Ethnic restaurants offer cuisines from all around the world. Good food at reasonable prices can be found at bistros or cafes. And for those who like takeaway, most of the major global fast food chains are well represented. The adventurous must try some 'bush tucker' or make Aussie friends prepare home made barbecue for them!
Telephones
Australia has a modern telephone system. Public phone booths are located at all Post Offices, shopping centres and are often situated on street corners. Public pay phones accept a variety of coins and Phonecards. Phonecards are pre-paid for use in public pay phones and can be bought at a large number of retail outlets in denominations of A$5, A$10, A$20 and A$50. Credit phones take most major credit cards such as American Express, Visa, Mastercard and Diners International and can be found at international and domestic airports, central city locations and hotels. Mobile phones are very popular and can be purchased from a number of retailers.
Religion
Australia is predominantly a Christian country; however, all religions are represented in its multicultural society. Australians respect the freedom of people to practice their choice of religion. Churches, mosques, temples and synagogues are located in most major cities. Some universities have their own spiritual groups on campus.
Currency
Australia uses a dollars and cents system of decimal currency with 100 cents in a dollar. The bank notes in use are A$5, A$10, A$20, A$50 and A$100. Coins used are the silver coloured 5 cent, 10 cent, 20 cent and 50 cent and the gold coloured A$1 and A$2 coins.
Australia's development of the polymer (plastic) banknote heralds the introduction of advanced banknote technology for the new millennium.
Credit Card
Credit cards are widely accepted around Australia. The most commonly accepted credit cards are American Express, Bankcard, Diners International, MasterCard, Visa and their affiliates.
Climate
Australia has warm to hot summers 15°-32°C (75°F-90°F) from December to February and mild to cool winters 8°C-19°C (50°F-65°F) from June to August. Some summer days will reach over 40°C (100°F) and some winter mornings will be around 0°C (32°F). Even during the wettest and coldest months, an overcoat and umbrella are all that you will need to keep warm and dry. Australia is renowned for its sunny days and clear blue skies even during winter.
Transport
Australia has an extensive public transport system that includes trains, buses, tramways, ferries, two major national airlines and a number of regional airlines. Metropolitan areas are divided into zones and your ticket type and cost depends on which zone you are going to travel in and for how long. Tickets can be bought at train stations, on buses and trams and at newsagencies.
Metered taxicabs operate in all major cities and towns. You will find taxi stands at transport terminals, main hotels or shopping centres or you can hail taxis in the street. A light and sign on the roof indicates if a cab is vacant. There is a minimum charge on hiring and then a charge per kilometer traveled. Taxi drivers do not have to be tipped.
Students may drive in Australia on a valid overseas drivers licence. Ensure that your Driver's Licence is valid for the period of your intended stay in Australia. A good quality used car can cost up to $10,000 and will need to be registered with the Road Transport Authority [RTA].
Electricity
The electrical current in Australia is 240/250 volts AC, 50 cycles. The Australian three pin plug is extremely safe. Adaptors are usually required for most foreign appliances. A transformer may be required if you bring an appliance from overseas that operates on a different voltage.
Banking
It is advisable to set up a bank account during the first few days of arrival and discuss with the bank, ways to send money to and from Australia. The usual way of sending money from overseas is by electronic transfer to your bank account, which may take 1-2 days. You must provide proof of identification when opening a bank account in Australia so take your passport and at least one other piece of identification with you, which may be a phone/electricity bill or proof of residence in Australia.
The savings account is very popular with students. An access card that can make the automatic teller machine (ATM) available 24 hours is useful for deposits and withdrawals when the banks are closed. Your card can also be used to make purchases in shops and supermarkets using EFTPOS (Electronic Funds Transfer at Point of Sale).
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