Life in Australia

The electrical current in Australia is 220 – 240 volts AC. 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.

Australia has a modern telecommunications system with mobile and Internet access generally available at a low cost. Public telephones are available at all Post Offices, shopping complexes and are often situated on street corners. Public pay phones accept a variety of coins and Phone-cards. Phone-cards are pre-paid for use in public pay phones and can be bought at a large number of retail outlets in denominations of $Aud 5, $Aud 10, $Aud 20 and $Aud 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. Australia has more than 120 national sporting Organisations and thousands of state, regional and club bodies. It is estimated that 6.5 million people, about a third of the population are registered sports participants. While there are over 120 sporting Organisations, Australians also take part in bushwalking, fishing, boating and water sports.

Immigration laws allow students to work for a limited number of hours whilst studying on a student visa in Australia. Students can currently work 40 hours per fortnight during the Institute study time and full-time during breaks. However, work is not always easy to find and under no circumstances can students rely on income earned in Australia to pay course fees. Students are not permitted to work if it interferes with their study. Family members may also be entitled to work if accompanying students. Please contact the immigration department or the Institute for further details. International students tend to secure jobs in the service-based industries although there are no limits to the industry in which you can gain employment. For visa information and work rights please visit Department of Immigration and Border Protection website
https://www.homeaffairs.gov.au/trav/visa-1/500-
https://www.homeaffairs.gov.au/trav/visa-1/500-?modal=/trav/stud/more/work-conditions-for-student-visa-holders

All workers in Australia need a Tax File Number (TFN). When starting a new job, you need to inform your employer of your TFN by completing a Tax File Number Declaration form. International students pay tax on their earnings. For further information, please visit the website: www.ato.gov.au.
At the end of each financial year, international students need to apply for their tax return through an accountant or using online service.

Australian currency is the only legal tender in Australia. When you first arrive, money from other countries can be exchanged at the exchange facilities located at international airports, banks and major hotels. Traveller
Cheques are easier to use if already in Australian dollars, however, banks will cash traveler Cheques in most 58 currencies. Major hotels and some shops, depending on individual store policy, will cash travellers Cheques.
It is a good idea to set up an Australian bank account. You will need to provide your passport (photo ID), visa and evidence of residency. Banking services in Australia are extremely competitive. Over 20 local and numerous international banking groups are represented in Australia. All major banks have a branch in cities and regional areas.
Most shopping complexes have Automatic Teller Machines (ATM) facilities. These machines can be used for deposits and withdrawals 24 hours a day. Many department stores, supermarkets and specialist shops have electronic transfer terminals (EFTPOS) where cash withdrawals can also be made in addition to purchasing goods.
International students can access free banking from most of the main banks. It’s easy and straightforward to open an account by popping into a branch with the required documents. The main Australian banks are ANZ, Westpac, Commonwealth and NAB. Suncorp is also another bank. These can be found throughout the city and suburbs.
Once you open an account you will be provided with a bank card so you can access your money via ATMs located throughout the city.
http://www.westpac.com.au/
http://www.anz.com.au/
http://www.commbank.com.au/
http://www.nab.com.au/
http://www.stgeroge.com.au/
Normal bank trading hours
9.00 am – 4.00 pm Monday to Thursday
9. 00 am – 5.00 pm Friday
Some banks are open Saturday mornings

Credit cards are widely accepted around Australia. The most commonly accepted credit cards are American Express, Bankcard, Diners International, MasterCard, Visa and their affiliates.

Australia uses a dollars and cents system of decimal currency with 100 cents in a dollar. The bank notes in use are $5, $10, $20, $50 and $100. Coins used are the silver colored 5-cent, 10-cent, 20-cent and 50-cent and the gold colored $1 and $2 coins.
Australia’s development of the polymer (plastic) banknote heralds the introduction of advanced banknote technology for the new millennium and rewrites world standards in design. Not only does this leading-edge polymer technology offer immense security benefits but its concepts of cleanliness, environmental responsibility and recyclability set an example for the world to follow.

From time to time people may get sick and require to access medical professionals, hospitals, dentists and other health related services. All International Students must have Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) before they enroll with us. Students may arrange this for themselves with any of the health insurance providers.
Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC)
International students are required by the Government to join a private health insurance scheme. The OSHC premium cover must be paid before a student visa is issued. You will need to pay the OSHC premium at the same time as the course fees. The OSHC entitles you to free hospital cover and 85% of standard doctor’s fees.
Links to their websites are:
www.nib.com.au
www.ahm.com.au
www.medibank.com.au
It is a visa requirement that all overseas students possess OSHC while they are studying at the Institute. We can arrange this for you prior to your arrival with our provider OSHC NIB. For further details or if you wish to arrange your own OSHC contact BUPA direct at www.nib.com.au.

The Australian government recommends that the cost of living in Brisbane for an international student will be approximately $20,290 per year (Reference: https://www.expatistan.com/cost-of-living/brisbane]. If a student wishes to bring a partner the Department of Home Affairs indicate that an additional $7,100 per year of study will be required for a partner. Married students with dependents will require approximately $3,040 per dependent. This may vary significantly from person to person depending on their individuals taste and requirements.
Fruit, vegetables and meat are available fresh and at a reasonable price. Clothing and personal effects are usually good quality and available at a wide variety of prices.