Destination

Electrical goods
The electrical current in Australia is 240-250 volts
at 50Hz. Electrical plugs have a three prong
design. If you come from a country that operates
on a different voltage, you must ensure that you
are equipped with the appropriate transformer/
adapter. Alternatively, there are many discount
electrical stores where you can buy various items
(hairdryer, iron, etc) at reasonable prices.
Paying for goods
The final total of your purchase amount is
rounded down or up to the nearest 5 cents.
In Australia there is a variety of methods to pay
for goods and services:
n cash
n cheque
n credit card
n store credit card
n EFTPOS (Electronic Funds Transfer at Point
of Sale) is an electronic processing system
for credit and debit cards. It also allows you
to withdraw cash at the time of purchasing
a product
n lay-by.
Enquire about the availability of these services
when paying for goods and services and check
if any extra costs are involved. When paying on
credit, make sure you have the means to pay.
For whitegoods, furniture or clothing purchases,
lay-by is a good way to buy items that you cannot
afford straight away. You are required to pay a
small deposit and a service fee, followed by
regular payments until the total amount is paid.
The shop will keep the item until you have paid
it off. Interest is not charged on a lay-by.
Returning goods
Make sure you understand the price of your item
and save your receipts in case you want to return
or exchange it. Stores allow you to return the item
if it is broken or damaged provided only a small
amount of time has passed since purchase.
Students with children
Monash has family and child care services to
provide information and support for families,
partners and children of international students.
These are designed to assist you and your family
establish networks and adjust to life in Australia.
Visit Monash Connect on your campus for further
information.
Child care
As discussed earlier (Chapter 1 – Before Leaving
– Travelling with Family – Child Care), the demand
for child care at Monash is often greater than the
number of places available. If your name is on a
waiting list, make sure you call with the relevant
centre for availability. Remember, there are several
child care options available on and off Monash
campuses.
Turn to page 9 for Monash child care centres’
contact details and visit the following websites to
understand child care alternatives:
Monash University Child Care:
www.monash.edu.au/childcare
Other child care centres in your local area:
www.mychild.gov.au
Child Care Benefit (CCB)
International students sponsored by the Australian
Government (eg AusAID or IPRS scholarships) can
apply for the Commonwealth Child Care Benefit.
The Child Care Benefit helps families with their
work-related child care costs for dependent
children. It helps cover a percentage of the cost of
day-long care, family day care and out-of-school
hours care for school aged children.
Child Care Benefit and application forms:
Telephone: 136 150
www.centrelink.gov.au
www.mychild.gov.au/pages/CCBenefit.aspx
Kindergarten
In Australia, three and four-year-old children can
attend kindergarten, otherwise known as preschool.
The Victorian Government funds
kindergarten programs for children in the year
before they go to school. These programs are
offered by a range of organisations and in a
variety of settings (including many child care
services). The funding contributes to the cost
of providing a kindergarten program but most
kindergarten services charge fees in addition
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