Melbourne is Australia’s second largest city, famous for its parks and gardens, historic buildings, excellent food and sporting events such as the Formula One Grand Prix, the Australian Open Tennis and Australian Rules Football. Melbourne is a vibrant multicultural city and is often referred to as the cultural capital of Australia and there is always a wide range of festivals, major art exhibitions, music and comedy shows on offer. It has been awarded as the “most livable city” for the seventh occasion in 2017.
Tourism in and Around Melbourne
AAPoly is located in the heart of Melbourne within easy walking distance of many tourist attractions, including:
- The National Gallery of Victoria
- The Melbourne Aquarium
- Federation Square
- Old Melbourne Gaol
- The Melbourne Museum
- The Yarra River
There are also many interesting and beautiful tourist destinations within 100km of Melbourne that students can visit on weekends, including:
- Great Ocean Road
- Phillip Island
- Goldfields region around Ballarat
- Yarra Valley wine regions
- Wilson’s Promontory
More information can be found at www.visitvictoria.com or www.tourismvictoria.com.au
Sydney is Australia’s most vibrant and cosmopolitan city. It is famous worldwide for its iconic landmarks, beautiful beaches, national parks, active lifestyle and friendly locals. Sydney also has become a very popular choice for overseas students wanting to balance a high standard of education with a healthy and active lifestyle.
Tourism in and Around Sydney
AAPoly’s Sydney campus is located in the heart of the city, within walking distance of a plethora of famous tourist destinations. The beauty of studying in Sydney city is the climate – Sydney enjoys a sunny climate with mild winters and warm summers – and being so close to Australia’s most famous landmarks, to stunning, panoramic coastal views, and to national parks and mountain ranges in the Sydney Opera House and Sydney Harbour. Sydney city is driving distance from, infamous surfing destinations.
- Sydney Opera House
- Sydney Harbour
- Sydney Harbour Bridge
- Royal Botanic Garden Sydney
There are also many interesting and beautiful tourist destinations within 100km of Sydney that students can visit on weekends, including:
- Blue Mountains
- The Hunter Valley
- Manly beach
- Hawkesbury River
- Ku-ring-gai National Park
- Royal National Park
More information can be found at: https://sydneyvisitorguide.com.au or https://www.visitnsw.com/
Perth is the capital and largest city of Western Australia. It is the fourth most populous city in Australia, sits where the Swan River meets the southwest coast. Sandy beaches line its suburbs, and the huge, riverside Kings Park and Botanic Garden on Mount Eliza offer sweeping views of the city. The Perth Cultural Centre houses the state ballet and opera companies, and occupies its own central precinct, including a theatre, library and the Art Gallery of Western Australia.
Tourism in and Around Perth
AAPoly is located in the heart of Perth within easy walking distance of many tourist attractions, including:
- The Art Gallery of Western Australia
- State Library of Western Australia
- Russell Square Park
- Elizabeth Quay
- The Bell Tower
- The Swan River
There are also many interesting and beautiful tourist destinations within 100km of Perth that students can visit on weekends, including:
- Wave Rock
- Swan Valley
- The Pinnacles Desert
- Helena National Park
- Port Kennedy
More information can be found at https://perth.wa.gov.au/
Accommodation
AAPoly can make accommodation arrangements upon request for both Homestay Placements and the Student Lodge. Students can send their request to our Accommodation Officer via email at accommodation@academies.edu.au.
Other accommodation options are available for students in and around Melbourne or Sydney, including rental properties, services apartments, share accommodation, hotels and backpacker hostels.
Homestay
Our Accommodation Officer carefully selects homestay families ensuring that students are provided with a positive experience of Australian home life. The homestay experience is offered as a rewarding learning experience to develop cross cultural understanding and enhance the student’s English language development.
Australia is a multicultural society and as such the lifestyle of your homestay family may be different from the culture and lifestyle you are used to at home. Homestay should be a rewarding learning experience and your homestay family will help you to adjust to life in Melbourne. You should make an effort to fit in with your family’s routine, even though it may seem strange to you at times and you can share your own culture and way of doing things with your family so they can gain an understanding of where you come from, your cuisine, pastimes and lifestyle back home.
To help make your Homestay a success:
- Help with the household chores – there are no maids in Australian households so you are expected to keep your own room tidy, help with meal preparations and dishwashing and in some cases cleaning the bathroom or doing your own laundry. Take the lead from what other family members do and help accordingly – do not treat the homestay placement like a hotel.
- Talk to your host family frequently so that you can all get to know each other well and develop a better understanding of each other’s cultures and backgrounds.
- Keep showers short – 3 to 5 minutes – and do not spend time with the water running unnecessarily. Australia has been in a period of drought for some time and water resources must be used with care.
- If you are allowed to use your host family’s phone, please keep phone calls short in case the other family members need to use the phone and if calling interstate or internationally, always offer to pay for the cost of the call.
- If there are some foods that you do not eat or times when you will be fasting, tell your family at the beginning of your stay so they can accommodate your dietary needs. Let the family know 2 hours in advance (depends on the family dynamic) if you will not be home for a meal.
- If there is a problem or you are not happy in your homestay, try to talk with your host and/or talk to someone at the college immediately so that the problem can be resolved.
- If you need to make changes to the duration of your homestay placement, you must give two weeks’ notice to your homestay host and the college to shorten or lengthen your stay.
- After the first 4 weeks (unless you have prepaid in full for your entire homestay), consult with your host regarding payment arrangements and how and when you should make payment.
Student Lodge
If you would like a little more independence, Together Co-Living in Melbourne provides quality campus-style accommodation with everything you could want for making friends, having fun, and successful study. The lodge offers many great facilities including table tennis, billiards, student bar and restaurant, resort-style swimming pool and barbecue area.
The rooms for students include a microwave oven for heating up meals and there are also fully equipped kitchens where you can cook with other students and share costs. The lodge also offers a mix of free and cheap social activities like movie nights and barbecues so you can enjoy a great social life at a very low cost.
Premium Student Residence
Iglu is brand new, modern and funky student only accommodation in Sydney and Melbourne. Our Melbourne campus is within 15min walk from the city residence. Whether you want to roll out of bed into the college, drop into nearby shops or Victoria Market or head out for the night – all is available right on your doorstep. The common facilities include:
- Gym and Exercise area – stay fit and healthy without leaving the building
- The Great Outdoors – Terraces to get some fresh air or cook up a storm on the BBQ
- Social Spaces – Communal café, lounges with large screen TVs and game areas
- Bicycle storage area
- Space to study – a range of study areas, including a library den, to make study a pleasure
- Free WI-FI
- Security and support 24/7 – CCTV, electronic card access to all areas and 24×7 onsite support
- Events program
Share accommodation
Renting a small house or apartment with other students can help you to share costs and can also be a great way to make new friends. You can find more information about share accommodation from:
Accommodation Legal Advice
If you require any legal advice in relation to your accommodation whilst in Melbourne, contact:
Please click to download 2022 Accommodation & Living Cost flyer.
Adjusting to Life in Australia
While living and studying abroad may be an exciting adventure, it can also present a range of challenges. Having decided to study and live in Australia you will be undertaking adjustments in many areas of your life. It is also important to remember that while these changes are occurring you will be embarking upon new study in a different language and be away from your usual supports, networks and resources. Adjustment to a new country and culture is a process that occurs gradually and takes time. The values, beliefs, traditions and customs of your home country may vary greatly from those in Australia and adapting to the Australian way of life may take some time. It is important that you seek support and advice to assist you with your transition to the new way of life in Australia.
Social Customs
When meeting someone for the first time, it is usual to shake the person’s right hand with your right hand. People who do not know each other generally do not kiss or hug when meeting. When you first meet someone, it is polite not to talk about personal matters. Many Australians look at the eyes of the people they are talking with. They consider this a sign of respect, and an indication that they are listening. However, do not stare at the person for a long time. You can address a new acquaintance using their title and family name. You may use their first name when they ask you to or use it in the introduction. In the workplace and among friends, most Australians tend to be informal and call each other by their first names.
Polite Behaviour
‘Please’ and ‘thank you’ are words that are very helpful when dealing with other people, and buying goods or services. When asked if you would like something, like a cup of tea, it is polite to say, ‘Yes please’, or just ‘please’ if you would like it, or ‘no, thank you’ if you do not. When you receive something, it is polite to thank the person by saying ‘thank you’. Australians tend to think that people who do not say ‘please’ or ‘thank you’ are being rude. Using these words will help in building a good relationship. Sometimes a sensitive issue may come up in conversation. Not to talk may seem rude. It is more polite to say ‘sorry, it is too hard to explain’ than to ignore a question. Australians often say, ‘Excuse me’ to get a person’s attention and ‘sorry’ if we bump into them. We also say, ‘Excuse me’ or ‘pardon me’ if we burp or belch in public or a person’s home.
You should always try to be on time for meetings and other visits. If you know you are going to be late, try to contact the person to let them know. This is very important for visits to professionals as you may be charged money for being late or if you miss the appointment without notifying them before the appointment time. Most Australians blow their noses into a handkerchief or tissue, not onto the footpath. This is also true for spitting. Many people will also say, ‘Bless you’ when you sneeze. This phrase has no religious intent.
The Australian Government estimates that the average living costs for an international student is at least A$21,041. This pays for food, accommodation, telephone, gas, electricity, transport and entertainment. Your living costs could be higher or lower than this, depending on where you study and your lifestyle. For example, Sydney is generally more expensive than other cities in Australia.
School Aged Dependents
If you have school-aged dependents (i.e. unmarried children between 5 and 18 years old) accompanying you to Australia for more than three months you are required to ensure that adequate arrangements have been made for their schooling. Your dependents will be charged the full school fee if they are enrolled in either a government or non-government school.
Branch Opening Hours
There are a large number of local and foreign banks and other financial institutions in Australia. Banks are usually open between 9:30am and 4:00pm Mondays to Thursdays, and between 9:30am and 5:00pm on Fridays. Some banks open on Saturday mornings in suburban shopping centres.
ATMs
You can withdraw cash at any time (24 hours a day, 7 days a week) from Automatic Teller Machines (ATMs). Most enable withdrawals using international cards such as Visa and Cirrus however there may be fees applied (usually $2-$3 for using the ATM not associated with your own bank).
Currency Exchange
Foreign currency can be exchanged at many larger bank branches in the CBD or larger suburban shopping centres or at foreign currency exchange tellers such as Thomas Cook and Western Union.
EFTPOS
EFTPOS (Electronic Funds Transfer at Point of Sale) is widely accepted at most supermarkets, cafes, restaurants and shops. EFTPOS can be used to pay for goods and services and to withdraw small amounts of cash. Check with your bank if a fee applies to the use of this service.
Credit Cards
Visa and MasterCard are accepted widely throughout Australia. Diners Club and American Express (Amex) are accepted at many places but may incur additional charges.
If your card is lost or stolen, call your bank or credit card provider immediately to cancel or put a stop on in. Most banks have a 24-hour number you can call in such a situation. You may wish to record your credit card numbers and keep them in a safe place so it is easier to cancel your account if your card is lost.
VISA Hotline Ph: 1800 224 004 Mastercard Hotline Ph: 1800 120 113
Post offices are open between 9:00am – 5:00pm from Monday to Friday. Some also open on weekends but check with your local office for their operating hours. Post office boxes are located both outside post office and in multiple other locations; items posted before 6pm are generally delivered within Australia by the next business day.
For general enquiries call 131 318 or visit the website: http://www.auspost.com.au/
Both prepaid and contracted mobile phones can be purchased in Australia. A prepaid mobile phone is an inexpensive way to purchase a mobile if you will only be staying in the country for a short time. You can also purchase prepaid SIM cards to use in your own mobile phone if it is compatible and is unlocked.
If you are staying for 12 months or longer in Australia you can take out a contract with a mobile phone provider and pay for the phone over the course of the contract rather than upfront. Make sure that you understand what deal you are accepting before signing a contract with a provider.
For a comparison of mobile phone plans in Australia see: https://www.comparemobileplans.com.au/ or https://www.choice.com.au/about-us
Transport in Melbourne
Melbourne has one of the best public transport systems in Australia, offering several services including trains, buses and trams. Metro operates Melbourne’s metropolitan train network, while V/Line operates Victoria’s regional public transport. The City Circle Tram is a free service around central Melbourne. In Melbourne the transport card is Myki, easy to use to ‘touch on’ when the travel starts and ‘touch off’ when the travel finishes. Myki is the ticket to travel on trains, tram and buses in Melbourne and many parts of regional Victoria.
Please note that the international students are not entitled to concession fares, so you must pay the full adult fare. The pre-paid ticket is a way of saving money.
Bourke St. Campus close station: Southern Cross Station
Swanston St. Campus close station: Melbourne Central Station
Public transport Victoria: https://www.ptv.vic.gov.au/
Transport card Victoria: https://www.ptv.vic.gov.au/tickets/myki
Also, there are several taxi companies in Melbourne. There is a taxi rank, in Bourke St, outside the Campus.
Arrow: 132 211
Black Cabs: 132 227
Embassy: 131 755
North Suburban: 131 119
Silver Top: 131 008
West Suburban: 9686 1444
Driving in Australia
International students can drive in Australia on their overseas license, provided that the license is current and in English; or is accompanied by an English translation from the Overseas License Authority.
To get a local license, you will be required to go through the full testing procedure. This consists of a written test and a driving test.
Car Insurance
If you are planning to buy a car, new or second hand, you must at a minimum purchase third party property car insurance. For higher cover you can purchase comprehensive car insurance. Without insurance, if you hit another car, you must pay to have the other car fixed as well as your own. Third party property car insurance cover will cover you for damage to someone else’s vehicle or property if you have an accident, but not the repair costs of your own car. Comprehensive insurance will cover you for both damage to your own and someone else’s vehicle.
Transport in Sydney
Sydney has an extensive public transport system of buses, trains, metro, light rail and ferries. To use the network, the transport card in NSW is the Opal, also the system allows to use the credit card, debit card or mobile device using these cards. There are daily and weekly caps on the Opal network, meaning that is possible to travel as much the people like within the Opal network during a week paying only the capped fare. The Sydney Airport station access fee isn’t included in the travel caps.
Please note that the international students are not entitled to concession fares, so you must pay the full adult fare. The pre-paid ticket is a way of saving money.
Goulburn St. Campus close station: Town Hall Station
Public transport NSW: https://transportnsw.info/
Transport card NSW: https://transportnsw.info/tickets-opal
Driving in Australia
International students can drive in Australia on their overseas license, provided that the license is current and in English; or is accompanied by an English translation from the Overseas License Authority
To get a local license, you will be required to go through the full testing procedure. This consists of a written test and a driving test.
Car Insurance
If you are planning to buy a car, new or second hand, you must at a minimum purchase third party property car insurance. For higher cover you can purchase comprehensive car insurance. Without insurance, if you hit another car, you must pay to have the other car fixed as well as your own. Third party property car insurance cover will cover you for damage to someone else’s vehicle or property if you have an accident, but not the repair costs of your own car. Comprehensive insurance will cover you for both damage to your own and someone else’s vehicle.
Transport in Perth
The Transperth division provides public transport services in the greater metropolitan area of Perth. This city has an extensive public transport system of buses, trains and ferries. Public transport within the city centre is free. Additionally, international students are eligible to a Tertiary Smart Rider card which offers students discounts on travel. Also, Perth has a great weather means walking and biking are options all year round.
Please note that the international students are not entitled to concession fares, so you must pay the full adult fare. The pre-paid ticket is a way of saving money.
Roe St. Campus close station: Elizabeth Quay Station or City West Station
Public transport WA: https://www.pta.wa.gov.au/
Transport card WA: https://www.transperth.wa.gov.au/SmartRider/
Driving in Australia
International students can drive in Australia on their overseas license, provided that the license is current and in English; or is accompanied by an English translation from the Overseas License Authority
To get a local license, you will be required to go through the full testing procedure. This consists of a written test and a driving test.
Car Insurance
If you are planning to buy a car, new or second hand, you must at a minimum purchase third party property car insurance. For higher cover you can purchase comprehensive car insurance. Without insurance, if you hit another car, you must pay to have the other car fixed as well as your own. Third party property car insurance cover will cover you for damage to someone else’s vehicle or property if you have an accident, but not the repair costs of your own car. Comprehensive insurance will cover you for both damage to your own and someone else’s vehicle.
Melbourne, Sydney and Perth offer a variety of options for shopping. A variety of foods can be purchased in supermarkets, specialty grocers, butchers, open air markets, cafes, restaurants, food courts and convenient stores.
The amount you spend on food depends on what you include in your shopping basket. You will find fresh fruit and vegetables, grains and pulses, meat, fish and poultry in supermarkets, specialty stores and in fresh produce markets.
There are also a variety of top end department stores and designer or branded stores, discount department stores, retail and factory outlets.
Shop groceries around Australia
Shopping in Melbourne
- Queen Victoria Market
- South Melbourne Market
- Melbourne Central shopping centre
- Bourke Street Mall
- DFO South Wharf
Shopping in Sydney
- Paddy’s Market in HayMarket
- Paddy’s Market in Flemington
- World Square Sydney shopping centre
- Westfield Sydney
- Broadway Shopping Centre
Shopping in Perth
- Fremantle Markets
- Kalamunda Farmers Markets
- Watertown Brand Outlet Centre
- South Shore Shopping Centre
- DFO Perth
Before leaving home:
- Apply for passport
- Arrange student visa
- Make contact with institution
- Arrange for immunisation and medications from your doctor
- Apply for a credit card and/or arrange sufficient funds
- Confirm overseas access to your funds with your bank
- Make travel arrangements
- Arrange travel insurance
- Advise institution of travel details
- Arrange accommodation
- Arrange transport from airport to accommodation
Pack bags with the following:
- Name and contact details of an institution representative
- Enough currency for taxis, bus, phone calls, etc.
Pack these important documents:
- Passport
- Letter of offer and student agreement
- Electronic Confirmation of Enrolment(s)
- Certified copies of qualifications and certificates
- Travel insurance policy
- ID cards, driver’s licence, birth certificate
NOTE: Make sure you leave any originals or copies of these documents safely with family in your home country in case of loss.
