Information for International Students
This article contains information about the following information.
Computer Skills / OSHC / Housing / Culture Shock / Clubs / ESOS Act / Visas / Food / Fun / Shopping / Jobs / Exploitation / Rights while working / Experience / Permanent Residency
Computer Skills
In Australia most of the assignments (submission and completion) and research is done online. Hand written assignments are not accepted. For this reason it is important that students have basic skills in using a computer. For those students who have not had a lot of experience using a computer might find it beneficial to attend computer classes prior to joining university.
OSHC
For international students it is a visa requirement to maintain health cover while in Australia. Most universities recommend a particular OSHC agent; it might be useful for students to do their research before signing a health cover deal. There are four main companies that provide health cover for international students (BUPA, Medibank, OSHC Health cover (Worldcare), Amp)
Housing
Housing in Australia is a bit of an issue. Prices for a single room can vary from $85 - $110 and can go up to $140 depending on location. Most universities have housing services that helps students in looking for accommodation. Students can also apply to live in university housing; it might be useful to apply for these before hand as they fill up quite quickly.
Culture (shocks)
There are many things in Australia that are going to be different to how things are back home. Some students find it hard to accept these. One of the best ways to get used to Australia is to get to socialize with people other than those from your background, see more of Australia and keep an open mind. No good is going to come out of staying in your room, missing life back home and complaining about everything you find different. Most new students find the first few months hard, talking to other people always makes it easier.
Student Associations / Clubs
The assocition in conjuntion with our advacaty officer ensure that all students are represented and that their voices are heard. Spaeking with the advacacy officer and they will be able to explain your rights and what can be done to remedy the situation. The various clubs with colleges look after the fun things at university like parties, trips etc. ICIS is a particalur organisation which organises other trips with predominantly other international students. The clubs directory can be found at:
http://unicentre.uow.edu.au/csd/clubs/clubs_details.html
ESOS Act
The Education Services for Overseas Students (ESOS) is the legal framework governing the responsibility of educations institutions towards International students.
Who does this Act protect?
- It protects overseas students coming to Australia on student visas. Unfortunately it does not cover students on other kinds of visas, nor does it cover students studying at Australian institutions based in other countries.
- It sets out clear roles and responsibilities for education institutions wanting to teach overseas students.
What does it protect?
The ESOS act protects
- your right to receive, before enrolling, current and accurate information about the courses, fees modes of study and other information from your provider and your provider’s agent. If you are under 18, to ensure your safety, you will be granted a visa only if there are arrangements in place for your accommodation, support and welfare.
- your right to sign a written agreement with your provider before or as you pay fees, setting out the services to be provided, fees payable and information about refunds of course money. You should keep a copy of your written agreement.
- your right to get the education you paid for. The ESOS framework includes consumer protection that will allow you to receive a refund or to be placed in another course if your provider is unable to teach you your course.
- your right to know:
o how to use your provider’s student support services
o who the contact officer or officers are for overseas students
o if you can apply for course credit
o when your enrolment can be deferred, suspended or cancelled
o what your provider’s requirements are for satisfactory progress in the courses you study
o if attendance will be monitored for those courses
o what will happen if you want to change providers
o how to use your provider’s complaints and appeals process
International students on a student visa, have the responsibility to:
- satisfy your student visa conditions
- maintain your Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) for the period of your stay
- meet the terms of the written agreement with your provider
- inform your provider if you change your address
- maintain satisfactory course progress
- if attendance is recorded for your course, follow your provider’s attendance policy
- if you are under 18, maintain your approved accommodation, support and general welfare arrangements
Students can get more information on the ESOS act from aei.dest.gov.au/esos and for more information on visa matters students can check www.immi.gov.au
Visa
It is the responsibility of the student to follow his/her visa conditions/requirements while in the country. DIMA (Department of Immigration and Multicultural Affairs) are strict when it comes to breach of student visa conditions and do not hesitate to deport students. That being said it is not hard to follow the rules, go to classes and maintain your attendance, do not work more than 20 hours a week no matter what your employer tells you (you can work more than 20 hours during the break), do not work if you do not have permission to work on your visa, make sure you pay your taxes etc.
Food
Australia is a multi cultural society and therefore there are a variety of food options available. Different cuisines are available for students with different budgets. For a good night out with a few friends in a decent restaurant, expect to pay $15 per person excluding drinks at most places. For a casual eat out at a fast food joint you could expect to pay $8 excluding a drink at most places. Fast food chain outlets like McDonald's, Burger King (Hungry Jacks in Australia), KFC etc are generally the cheapest and unhealthiest way to eat out. For students who prefer to eat healthy should expect to pay a couple of dollars more. One tip for all students, prices for food in shopping centres generally drop near closing time at outlets that have to provide fresh food on a daily basis (again excluding the big fast food chains), of course in this case you have to settle for not-so-fresh food.
Doing grocery shopping late on Friday nights (by late night I mean between 9pm and 10pm) in big grocery chains such as Woolworths, Coles, etc you can save you a few dollars on your final shopping bill as perishable products like milk, bread, meat etc are often price slashed as new delivery is received during the weekend. This is only a general theme and it varies from store to store.
ALDI is cheaper than the other retailers, although they have less variety and their ‘own’ brands. Take your own bags to save money. Plastic Bags are charged at ALDI.
Fun
There are many clubs and pubs around Wollongong. Ask people and they will tell you where the good places to go on various days. Generally speaking, Student night is Wednesday night. Cooneys, ‘illawaraa’ and Glasshouse are quite popular on these nights.Look out for ‘happy hours’ where at some places you can get a schooner of beer for $2.
For movie lovers, Tuesdays are the cheap ticket days, tickets can cost around about $8, this is the cheapest day. Students do get student discounts on other days (be sure to show your student card before you buy the ticket), but even after the discount expect to pay around $10. There is also UniMovies which get the new releases a month or so later. This only costs $5.
Eating out in Wollongong is quite cheap, many of the asian places around town have meals for less than $10.
Shopping
Thursday is late night shopping in Wollongong. On weekends, you will find that Wollongong Mall closes much earlier in the afternoon that you make expect from your own countries.
The large retail stores discount products around the end of the Financial Year (July) and have large sales at Christmas and New Year. If you wait out, the left over stock is further reduced in January. Savings can be from 25-75%.
Jobs
Some students might want to look for part time jobs while they experience university life. First of all to get a job in Australia an international student would need to get permission to work. Some students get visas that already have permission to work. This is normally printed on the visa, for those who do not have permission to work can apply for it online at the immigration website (http://www.immi.gov.au/students/students/working_while_studying/how-to-apply.htm) or visit the DIMA office on 26 Lee Street, Sydney. This office is just outside the central station.
After getting the permission to work an international student also needs to get a Tax File number, as employers ask for this number when an employee first starts working for them. International students can apply for their tax file number online at https://iar.ato.gov.au/iarweb/default.aspx?pid=4&sid=1&outcome=1
Some students might feel that this is a bit of a hassle and opt to work for cash under the presumption that they can earn more as they are not paying tax. A quick note of warning, jobs that are cash-in-hand do not necessarily pay more than jobs that you pay tax on. In some cases if you feel that you are taking home less money than your friend who is earning cash-in-hand, you need to remember that the government gives you all of the excess tax you have paid, back. And you also have a record of holding a job that you will need to show if you apply for a loan or when you want to rent an apartment. There is good chance that if you get exploited in your cash-in-hand job, there is nothing anyone can do to help you as you have no proof of working with that employer, and further more you are at risk of getting into trouble with the Immigration department.
Exploitation
International students have to aware of their rights to avoid exploitation. Having a clear understanding can ensure that students are treated fairly in the work place as well as at University.
Rights while Working
International students have the same rights at work as the locals. An employer cannot force you to work more number of hours than you want to or are supposed to work, you have the right to the same pay as a local in the same position.
The employment environment has changed recently, and will continue to do so in the future.
http://workplace.gov.au/ has information, and hotlines you can call to get advice. Alternatively, see our advocacy officer.
Experience
To get a study related job after graduation it is important to have some sort of experience in that field. Employers often prefer employees with local experience, before hiring them. For this reason I recommend that you regularly visit the careers service ‘Unicentre Building’, to check the job notice board. Any experience in the field helps. If you are an international student, you should have your permission to work and your tax file number to be even considered for any of these jobs. There is also a job fair (when big companies come to university and set up stall to attract graduates to their companies) and seminars (where organizations come to promote themselves). I recommend going to as many of these as you can.
Permanent Residency
For students who wish to stay in Australia after finishing their degree, the requirement for permanent residency continually change, it is best to check the immigration website regularly for changes. In addition it might be useful to talk to a migration agent about your chances of getting permanent residency. Mind you applying for permanent residency could cost you around about $3000 - $4000; this is including the fees for all the tests and the application fee. It could get more expensive if you choose to go through a migration agent.