So, you’ve done your
research and decided upon Australia as your dream study destination? Yes, the
work-study-balance is great here, yes, the beaches are amazing, and yes,
absolutely, the people are mostly warm and friendly and LOVE a good barbeque.
But there’s a lot more to get to know about Australia before you jump on-board
that plane and let it carry you to your antipodean adventure. Here are 10
things about studying in Australia that don’t make it to most university or
TAFE brochures but are just as important as to know before you begin your
journey as a student in Oz…
- It can be daunting – Travelling to Australia on a holiday is completely
different than actually living here. Whilst holidaying in Australia is
full of fun, action and engaging in tourist activities, studying in
Australia is a lot more challenging. For students coming from an academic
background that’s based in Asia, educational assessments there are mostly
focussed on a student’s ability to memorise material and then replicate it
in an exam. Contrastingly, Australian schools and universities focus on a
student’s ability to critically analyse and evaluate the information
provided to them. In order to do this, you need to be prepared to spend a
lot of time understanding the finer details provided to you in your study
materials, and ask your instructor lots of questions until your
understanding of your subject is thorough. Remember – the keyword here is
LOTS! Your analytical and critical evaluation skills are important because
they are what will get you job-ready and employment-worthy. If you feel
like your skills in these areas need improvement, there are plenty of
online resources and short courses. Sign up, so you can be prepared to hit
the ground running when your classes start.
- Choose what you want to study and where you want to study carefully – Your own interests and passion should be the most important factor in deciding which course you study. Remember, if you have little to no interest in a particular study area, but choose it because someone else has recommended or encouraged you to take it up, well… it’ll only make the task of critically analysing the study materials doubly harder. A genuine interest, however, will take a lot of the tediousness out of your study because your brain is indisputably interested and actively engaged in the readings.
- Weather is a real consideration in Australia. Love the tropical vibe and
sultry, balmy evenings?... DON’T pick Victoria, South Australia or
Tasmania! Equally, if you love the
crisp, cool temperate weather, then definitely
don’t pick anything North of Sydney! Sure, we all love the novelty of
experiencing weather we would normally not have in our home countries, but
this will wear thin after a while and become a downright pain a few months
into your study, particularly if your study keeps you here for more than a
year.
- It can get expensive – especially when you consider the living expenses,
cost of transportation, food and entertainment on top of what you are
already paying for your education. Getting a part-time or casual job that
suits your class and study schedule is highly recommended. This will not
only financially supplement your student lifestyle here, but also go a
long way in preparing you for the job market, especially if you are
considering future employment in Australia, upon the completion of your
course. Employers in Australia are very focused on experience and skills that
complement your qualifications, so getting relevant industry experience is
crucial. Also, please remember that there are certain restrictions on the
number of hours students and non-residents can work every week. Remember
to check the work conditions on your visa before you make work commitments
to ensure that you are not in breach of any laws. Even though your hours
per week might be restricted, the high minimum wage will make your working
experience entirely worth it!
- Get health insurance and ambulance cover – We all like to count on
smooth sailing as far as our health is concerned, however should any
issues come up with your health whilst you’re in Australia, remember, you
might end up paying a small fortune to see a local GP. It’s safest to get
insurance for the duration of your stay in Australia. Additionally, when
you get here, it makes good sense to pick up the phone and sign up for an
ambulance cover with the ambulance organisation relevant to your state.
Annual fees for Ambulance cover in most states is around $ 50 per person
annually. In the situation where you call for an ambulance without having
the necessary ambulance cover, you could get charged anywhere between a
few hundreds of dollars to an eye-watering two – three thousand dollars,
depending upon the state you live in.
- Get to know the locals – Living, studying and working in Australia can be
an equally exhilarating and challenging experience, so make sure that you
build a support group around you as you go. Moving to a new country might
leave you feeling isolated, vulnerable and a ‘bit blue’, particularly as
you leave your friends and family behind in your home dominion. You will
need the support, knowledge and camaraderie of locals as you progress
through your degree. The best way to do this is by joining hobby, sporting
or volunteer groups. Remember, nothing brings people together more than a
joined sense of purpose and a common goal. Not only will it provide you
with a great reference point in terms of living, enjoying and
understanding the local culture, it will also provide you with friendships
for life, and weekend invitations so you can experience the Aussie BBQ
experience first-hand. It is entirely worth putting yourself out there!
- EVERYWHERE else is FAR FAR away! – So, you have a week’s
break coming up and you feel like it’s the perfect opportunity to get on a
plane and duck back home to catch up with family… please remember that
almost everywhere is roughly 7-8 hours from Australia, unless you live in
Fiji, New Zealand or some of the Pacific Islands. Remember to leave plenty
of time to recover from jet lag because that’s a very real thing in
Australia. You don’t want to have to drag yourself to full time class in
your first week back when all you want is to Zzzzzzzzzzzz.
- Get to know the Outdoors! Australia is one of the most
stunning places you’ll ever see. From the Great Barrier Reef, to Uluru, to
Sydney’s amazing Shoreline and Bondi beach culture, to Tasmanian
Rainforests, to Kakadu National Park, to The Grampians National Park in
Victoria…. There is so much to be amazed by. If you are able to, then try
to get some travel time in so you can experience the incredible natural
diversity that exists within Australian biosphere. It won’t be cheap, but
this should serve as a great motivation for you to save up. Guaranteed,
it’ll sweep you off your feet and you will be a newer, improved individual
for it.
- Drive Safe! Remember to study up local road rules by looking
them up on the internet before you do any local driving. Australians drive
on the same side of the road as the Brits. However, too many lives are
tragically lost every year as a result of tourists being unaware of the
road rules here. If you’re from a country where people drive on the
‘other’ side of the road, then that may prove to be an additional hazard
on the off chance that you forget which side of the road you are meant to
be on. Our recommendation?... Be road smart and invest in a couple of
lessons from a qualified Australian driving instructor, even if you are an
accomplished driver. Also familiarise yourself with highway merging /
roundabout rules as they vary from state to state. It’ll put you way ahead
of the curve (pun unintended), give you incredible amounts of confidence
and most importantly, keep you, and others on the road safe!
- Don’t forget to be Sun-safe – Australia has one of the
highest rates of skin cancer in the world. There is no way around it – be
sun smart. Zinc based sunscreens are incredibly effective at preventing
sun damage. Alternatively, during the summer months, use light clothing to
cover up, and if you’re going to the beach to spend the day, don’t forget
to pack a beach tent.
-Written By
Aanchal White; Steering True North’s Australia based contributor.
Aanchal has worked as a reporter and editor and helped facilitate the Newspaper-in-Education programmes in India, developing educational and career workshops for high school students. She also networked extensively with tertiary education providers and universities in the US, UK and Australia to provide students with a gamut of education and career solutions overseas. Education remains at the forefront of her interests, passion and expertise.