Brisbane! - Queensland-australia.eu

Help!
Don’t be shy asking for help
from other students, including
local students. The teachers
understand that you may not be
as good at English as the local
students, so talk to them about
your study problems and they
will help you!
Location, location,
location
Choose a good place to study!
As comfortable as it may be
pumping the speakers and
having the TV on while you
study, it isn’t a good idea. You
will get a lot more work done in
a shorter amount of time if you
work privately, in a quiet area.
Banking in Australia
Opening a bank account
Unless you plan to store your
money in your mattress, you
might want to get yourself
an Australian bank account.
Dealing with the banks is rarely
a straightforward process, so
we’ve put together some tips
for you.
Choosing a bank
There are a number of banks
to choose from in Australia,
and we recommend doing your
research online before choosing
a bank. NAB, Commonwealth
Bank and Westpac have quite
comprehensive international
student sections on their websites.
When comparing the banks,
make sure you take note of the
fees on the account. Fees and
charges are all too common
with Australian bank accounts,
so it is wise to understand what
you will be charged for and
when.
Once you’ve selected one, it’s
time to visit the bank. Some
banks require you make an
appointment, but if you avoid
the lunch time rush you should
be able to get it done on the
spot.
What to bring:
Drivers
License
(If you have one)
Passport/
Visa
Proof of
Address
A bill that has been
sent to your house is
usually good enough.
ATMs
(Also known as cashpoint,
cash machine or ‘hole-inthe-wall’)
Always try to use the ATM that
belongs to your bank as there
will likely be no charge. If you
can’t get to your bank’s ATM,
use one from another bank (this
charge is usually about $2 per
transaction). Avoid using the
smaller machines you find in
bars, clubs and petrol stations.
Some of these will make you
pay a lot for the convenience.
Credit cards
Before getting a credit card,
take a look at ‘debit’ cards.
These enable you to use VISA
or Mastercard services (like
online shopping), but it uses
the money in your account, not
credit. If you decide you need
a credit card make sure you do
your research and ask about
fees.
Eftpos
Eftpos is a way to use your
bank card to buy products and
services without using cash. All
you need to do is swipe your
bank card and enter your PIN.
You might be asked if you want
“cash out”- this is just a convenient
way to withdraw money
from your account without
going to an ATM.
Transferring money
overseas
If you’re heading home and
you’ve still got money in your
account, you obviously haven’t
been making the most of your
time! Check out the rest of
this guidebook for helpful tips
about where to spend your
money. If you must take it with
you, head into your local bank
branch with the details of your
overseas account. They may ask
for:
Bank account name and
account number
The overseas bank
‘sort’ code
International Bank
Account Number
(IBAN) (Europe only)
SWIFT code of the overseas
bank
You may need to contact your
overseas bank, but usually the
above information can be found
on their website.
Transferring money to
Australia
Need a top up from a relative
back home? Here’s the information
you’ll need to give them:
Australian bank account
name
Australian bank account
number and BSB
Address of the bank
your account is with
Australian bank SWIFT
Code
Currency conversion
Travelex outlets are basically
a one stop shop for currency
conversion. These outlets can
be found in a number of locations.
These include airports,
major travel agents and tourist
areas. Most banks also offer
conversion facilities.
Web links
Department of Immigration
www.immi.gov.au
Australian Tax Office
www.ato.gov.au
Workplace Authority
www.workplaceauthority.gov.au
Online Job Sites
www.mycareer.com.au
www.seek.com.au
www.careerone.com.au
Looking for Work
By Florence Wong
Working while studying has many great benefits,
not only in terms of earning a bit more spending
money, but is a great way to make new friends
outside university and gain work experience and
skills in Australia.
As an international student, the first thing to check
is whether you have working rights before starting
your search for a job. Usually, you will be permitted
to work for 20 hours during term time, and unlimited
hours when your course is not in session (such
as over semester breaks, or, if you are a postgraduate
research student, after you have handed in your
thesis). However, you should check your documentation
to make sure.
Additionally, before you start looking for work,
you will also need to apply for a Tax File Number, a
straightforward process through the Australian Tax
Office.
Once you’ve got that out of the way, prepare a good
resume and start looking!
Good sources of work include job notice boards
at your university, or through online job sites (see
left). Local newspapers are also a good source for
casual and part-time jobs in the area where you live
(particularly important if you need to rely on public
transport).
Many larger organisations, such as supermarkets or
department stores recruit through their websites, so
it’s also worth going there to have a look. Smaller
shops and cafes will sometimes post vacancies on
their windows, so keep your eye out when you’re
wandering around. If there’s a particular place that
you’d like to work, don’t be afraid to walk in and talk
to the manager or hand over your resume. Even if
they don’t have an opening then, they can keep you
in mind when they are looking to hire.
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