Australia Preparation Guide

Table of Contents

1. Before you leave

   Clothing
   Luggage
   Visa Logistics
   Insurance
   Budget
   Accommodation
   Arrival Details
   Driving
   Electricity
   

2. When you get there

   Travel
   Communication
   Cash
   Holidays/Shopping Hours
   Studying in Australia
   Some notes about Australian culture
   

3. Culture Shock

   What is it?
   Suggestions for dealing with Culture Shock
   How to Get Used to a New Country Quickly and Comfortably
   

Clothing

Australia does not face severe winters, so one just has to carry moderate woolen clothes.even carry casuals such as jeans, T-shirts, shirts, caps, etc

Luggage

Confirm with the airlines your ticket is booked with how many kilos of luggage are you officially allowed to carry so that you don't face any problem at the airport.

Visa Logistics

The Australian government operates an Overseas Student Program (OSP) that allows people who are not Australian citizens or Australian permanent residents to study in Australia. Any person who is not an Australian resident may apply to study in Australia under the OSP. Generally, a person who wants to study under the program must get a Student visa before they can begin to study their course in Australia. To be granted a student visa you must complete an application form, pay the application charge and satisfy the student visa requirements. You can be granted a student visa only if you intend to undertake a registered course or part of a registered course on a full-time basis.

A registered course is an education or training course offered by an Australian education provider who is registered with the Australian Government to offer courses to overseas students. The Department of Education, Training and Youth Affairs (DETYA) can provide details of registered courses.

Gazetted and Non-Gazetted Countries

The Australian Government has gazetted countries whose citizens have had a lower risk of overstaying or not abiding by visa conditions. These countries are listed as follows: Asia-Brunei, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, Republic of Korea, Malaysia, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand North America- Canada, USA Oceania- New Caledonia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea Northern Europe- Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Slovak Republic, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom Southern Europe-Cyprus, Greece, Italy, Malta, Portugal, Romania, Spain Middle East- Arab Republic of Egypt, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain. Application procedures depend on whether you are a citizen of a `gazetted' or `non-gazetted' country.

Students from gazetted countries

If you are from a gazetted country you should apply for a visa after you have enrolled with an Australian education provider and obtained official confirmation of enrolment. Your genuineness will then be assessed by the Australian mission.

Non-gazetted country students

If you are from a non-gazetted country you should apply for a student visa before enrolling, paying fees or obtaining official confirmation of enrolment. Government-sponsored students and secondary exchange students are exempted from this process and should follow procedures for students from gazetted countries.

This procedure protects intending students and Australia's reputation as a reliable supplier of education services. It aims to discourage non-genuine applicants and reduce the need for providers to reduce fees. It allows your genuineness to be assessed before you enrol and pay any tuition fees.

You should contact the Australian embassy in your home country as soon as possible to start the visa application process. You can download the visa forms and further information at: http://www.australia.org.uk/visas/index.htm The fee for student visa may change at any time, however at present it is £120. (Sept.1, 2000)

Insurance

It is a condition of the grant of your Overseas Student Visa that you and your dependents have acceptable health insurance cover during the whole time you are in Australia. To be covered for health insurance, you will have to pay the Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) for yourself and any family members travelling with you.

The OSHC provides medical and hospital insurance for overseas students and their dependants who have travelled to Australia with them. All applicants must show evidence that they have health insurance cover before a visa can be issued to them.

To arrange for the OSHC, students can pay the OSHC premium to the education provider which will then arrange to pay the health insurance cover on their behalf.

Student Health Cover for AusAID Students If you are a student sponsored by AusAID, you will not need to pay the OSHC yourself. You will, however, need to provide proof that AusAID supports your application.

Budget

Before lodging your application you should consider whether you will have enough money to set up house in Australia as well as pay for your air fares (including return), course tuition fees, overseas student health cover (OSHC) and all general expenses during your stay in Australia.

As a general guide, your accommodation, food, transport, clothes and expenses could cost you between AUD$8,500 to AUD$15,500 or more a year, depending on your lifestyle and where in Australia you will study.

For example, a single person renting accommodation would need at least $200 a week just to spend on general expenses and a married couple would need at least $330 a week. If accompanied by family members, you will also need enough money to cover their expenses.

You should be aware that these amounts are only an indication of everyday expenses and do not include air fares, health insurance or the cost of your course.

Accommodation

Most universities offer a variety of on-campus residences. Accommodations may range from traditional two-person dormitory rooms to suites with private baths to apartments. The typical room is furnished with a bed, desk, chair, and dresser for each student. Residence halls usually feature lounges for studying and socializing, recreation areas, laundry facilities, and a convenience store. In most cases, meal plans may be purchased in addition to the room for an all-inclusive plan. Most students choose to live on-campus in their first year, and later move off-campus in shared accommodation in senior years. Your university will usually keep a listing of all housing on and around campus that is available to students.

Arrival Details

If you are not able to make use of the telephone registration system from your home country, we encourage you to arrive about two weeks before class to complete registration procedures. (If you arrive early make certain you have sufficient money to cover your living costs.) This will also allow you to get to know your way around the University and the city and to find suitable housing while there is still a variety of accommodation from which to choose. Early arrival will also make it possible to have free time to participate in planned social events, make new friends and attend orientation.

The best time to arrive, if your travel arrangements permit, is between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. on weekdays. University offices are closed on Saturday, Sunday and holidays. The University is closed over the winter break (December 25, 2000 - January 1, 2001).

Be sure to inform your E.C.O councilor and your university contact about your flight arrival information.

Driving

If you intend to drive a car in Australia, you should obtain an International Driver's License in your country before coming to Australia. You must be at least 21 years old and have a major credit card to rent a vehicle in Australia.

Electricity

Australia operates on the 220-240 V system. Electrical outlets are generally of the 3-flat pin variety. Don't forget to bring electrical converters if you plan to bring your electrical items from your home country.

Travel

Australia is so vast (and so empty in places) that something like 80% of long-distance trips by public transport are made by air. Qantas and Ansett are the two main domestic carriers. Few people pay full fare for domestic air travel because the airlines offer such a wide range of discounts, including random discounting and air passes.

There are several long-distance bus companies but only one truly national service, Greyhound Pioneer Australia. Buses are comfortable, but if you're travelling between major cities, be prepared for a long trip. Australia has a skeletal rail network linking all major cities except Darwin. Few people travel long-distances by train because it's usually the slowest mode of overland transport and remains relatively expensive. Many visitors group together and hire or purchase a car. The latter can be an economical way of travelling round Australia, as long as you don't have too many mechanical failures. Highway 1 circumnavigates the continent, sticking close to the coast much of the way. Watch out for monstrous road trains (trucks with multiple trailers) on country roads; naturally it's wise to give way to anything bigger than yourself.

Communication

Telephones

Telephone Directory

Use your telephone directory to save time and travel by calling people or businesses in advance to confirm arrangements for appointments or the availability of items.

Postal Service

Email

Australia has fast and reliable access to the internet. There are numerous providers in the market, offering anything from 10 hours to unlimited access, cable to dial-up modems for home access. Often, the same company that provides your telephone service also provides your internet access. Universities will more than likely give you access to the internet with your tuition fees. There usually are computer labs dedicated to students to work on their projects and stay in contact. Just be sure to remember your password!

Cash

Banks and Bank Machines

You'll have no problems changing foreign currencies or cash at almost any bank or exchange agent. Travellers cheques generally get a better rate than cash. Credit cards are widely accepted (and pretty much compulsory if you're going to rent a car), and ATMs all over the country accept credit and Cirrus cards. Tipping

Tipping is getting a foothold in Australia, particularly in cafes and restaurants in the bigger cities - 10 or 15% is the usual. However, you won't be looked down upon if you don't tip. Taxi drivers are always grateful if you leave the change.

Holidays/Shopping Hours

Official Holidays

These are national holidays that schools and businesses shut down for.

New Year's Day	January 1
Australia Day	January 26
Good Friday	Varies (usually in April)
Easter Monday	Varies (banks and civil services are losed, but shops and offices are open)
Queen's Birthday	June 12
Labour Day	Varies/depends on each province
Christmas Day	December 25
Boxing Day	December 26

Office Hours

Most offices open from 9 to 5 pm or 8:30 to 4:30 pm. Some close during lunch, but most of them have a receptionist there to take messages. Lunch hour is generally from 12 to 1 or from 1 to 2 pm.

Store Hours

The majority of stores are open 7 days a week, but this is still fairly new, so some of them are still closed on Sundays. Generally, the opening hours are as follows:

Monday to Wednesday	10 am to 6 pm
Thursday and Friday	10 am to 9 pm
Saturday	9 am to 5 pm
Sunday	10 am (or 12) to 5 pm

Average Prices of Commonly Purchased Goods
Note: All prices listed in Australia

Item	Price

Studying in Australia

Class participation is expected in Australian universities. Junior-level courses are usually larger classes (300 +) , however most senior-level courses are taught in classes of less than 30 students. Depending on the course, occasionally a seminar will accompany the main lecture class. In senior-level courses, it is expected that there is class discussion over the course material, and it is common for students to disagree with the professor. The ability for a student to come up with original material and personal conclusions is paramount in the Australian education system. Often, students spend many hours outside the classroom researching from various sources to support their thesis. Students that can support their thesis well, even if it is not in alignment with the professor, do the best in this system. If you come from a system different than this, expect a few months to adjust to the new style of teaching and learning.

Some notes about Australian culture

Australia is a multicultural society. Until WW II, Australians were predominantly of British and Irish descent, but that has changed dramatically. Large immigrations from Greece, Italy, Yugoslavia, Lebanon and Turkey followed the war and have been supplemented by more recent influxes of immigrants from Asia. There are also about 230,000 Aborigines and Torres Strait Islanders. Many Australians speak Italian, Greek, Lebanese, Vietnamese or Turkish as a first language. English-speaking Australians are liable to use a hotchpotch of indigenous slang and shortened words that often makes their speech impenetrable.

Australia has a rich artistic heritage and a vibrant contemporary art scene. Aboriginal rock carvings and paintings date back at least 30,000 years. European settlers began to produce distinctively Australian art forms towards the end of the 19th century. Australia's mid-20th century artists were world figures (Sidney Nolan, Arthur Boyd, Patrick White) and its modern practitioners have excelled in painting (Brett Whiteley,

Fred Williams), literature (Peter Carey, Thomas Keneally), opera (Joan Sutherland), film (Peter Weir, Bruce Beresford, George Miller, Gillian Armstrong), acting (Mel Gibson, Nicole Kidman) comedy (Barry Humphries), dance (Graeme Murphy, Paul Mercurio) and popular music (Nick Cave, INXS, Midnight Oil, silverchair). Modern Aboriginal art has undergone a revival in the last decade as Aboriginal artists have explored ways to both preserve their ancient values and share them with a wider community.

Sport is the Australian religion and Aussies are worldbeaters in cricket, rugby league, rugby union, swimming and cycling. Other popular sports are basketball, yachting, soccer and Aussie Rules - a unique Australian sport, similar to Gaelic football. The Olympic Games will be held in Sydney in 2000.

Food and Drink AustralianCuisine

What is it?

The Adjustment Process in a New Culture

Cross Cultural Adjustment Cycle

Each stage in this process is characterised by “symptoms” or outward and inward signs representing certain kinds of behaviour.

Honeymoon Period

Initially, you will probably be fascinated and excited by everything new. Visitors are at first elated to be in a new culture.

Culture Shock

The visitor is immersed in new problems: housing, transportation, food, language, and new friends. Fatigue may result from continuously trying to comprehend and use the second language. You may wonder, "Why did I come here?"

Initial Adjustment

Everyday activities such as housing and going to school are no longer major problems. Although the visitor may not yet be perfectly fluent in the language spoken, basic ideas and feelings in the second language can be expressed.

Mental Isolation

Individuals have been away from their families and good friends for a long period of time and may feel lonely. Many still feel they cannot express themselves was well as they can in their native language. Frustrations and sometimes a loss of self-confidence result. Some individuals remain at this stage.

Acceptance and Integration

A routine (eg. Work, school, social life) has been established. The visitor has accepted the habits, customs, food and characteristics of the friends, associates, and the language of the country.

Return Anxiety, Reentry Shock, Reintegration

These stages should be mentioned, even at orientation, because of the very important part they play in a visitor's stay in a new culture. It is interesting to note that Reentry Shock can be more difficult than the initial Culture Shock.

Suggestions for dealing with Culture Shock

• Keep in touch with friends and family at home
• Try to look for logical reasons why things happen. This may help you view your host culture in a more positive light.
• Try not to dwell on the negative things about your host culture and don't hang around people who do.
• Make an effort to restore communication by making friends in your host culture.
• Keep your sense of humour!
• Set small goals for yourself as high expectations may be difficult to meet.
• Speak the language of the country you are in and don't worry if you sometimes make a fool of yourself doing it!
• Take care of yourself by exercising, getting enough sleep, eating properly, and doing things you enjoy.
• Try to fit into the rhythm of life in your host culture. Adjust to their time schedule for meals and work.
• Find out where people meet and socialise. Make an effort to go to those places and observe.
• Draw on your own personal resources for handling stress. You've done it many times before and you can do it again!

How to Get Used to a New Country Quickly and Comfortably

Get a sense for the physical environment:

• Go on a tour of your locale.
• Find a colleague to show you around.
• Find a friend and do your own walking tour
• Take a walk around your neighborhood.
• Note locations of shops and post offices and when they are open.
• Look for recreational areas such as parks or sports facilities where you could relax or rejuvenate yourself.

• Observe people's behaviour
• How do they greet each other?
• How do they line up for a bus or train? How do they seat themselves in it?
• How do people behave in shops?
• How do people behave walking on the street?