INTRODUCTION TO MELBOURNE, VICTORIA, AUSTRALIA
Melbourne is Australia‟s second largest city, famous for its parks and gardens, historic buildings, excellent food and sports events such as the Formula One Grand Prix, the Australian Open Tennis and our own Australian Rules Football. Melbourne is known as the cultural capital of Australia. It is a city full of festivals, major art exhibitions and musical extravaganzas. It is also Australia‟s most multicultural city. Melbourne is located on the Yarra River and Port Phillip Bay.

ARRANGING YOUR VISA
Prior to visiting Australia, you must ensure you hold an appropriate visa that will enable you to engage in your intended activities.
Many prospective students apply for a visa themselves online or via the Australian Diplomatic Mission in their country. However, the visa application process can be quite complicated depending on your country of origin so it may better to submit an application with the assistance of an accredited agent due their familiarity and experience in the field. Discover English can provide you with the contact details of accredited agents in your country.
In order to apply for a student visa you will need a valid passport, an electronic Confirmation of
Enrolment (eCoE) and any other documentation required by the Australian diplomatic post where you lodge your application. You must ensure you allow enough time for processing between lodging your application and the start of your academic program as it can be a lengthy process depending on your country of origin.

VISA CONDITIONS
It is essential that you have the correct visa enabling you to study in Australia. If you are in Australia and you have a visitor‟s visa or you are holding a working holiday visa, you are permitted to study for 3-4 months. It is very important that you tell us if you have already been studying at any other institution as you cannot study beyond your visa‟s conditions.
If you are applying for a student visa, you are required to study full-time (minimum 20 hours per week) and may not study part-time. If on a student visa, you have permission to work for up to 20 hours per week during term time and full time during holiday periods.
Students‟ attendance is closely monitored, and if your attendance falls below 80%, Discover English may report you for low-attendance to the Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) and you may be asked to leave Australia. If you are sick and cannot attend class you must visit a doctor and provide a doctor‟s certificate on your return to school. Medical certificates will be considered when determining whether you will be reported for low attendance.
If you are granted a visa, you must abide by its conditions. Failure to comply with these conditions
could result in the cancellation of your visa. These conditions include (but are not limited to):
 Complete the course within the duration specified in the CoE
 Maintain satisfactory academic progress
 Maintain approved Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) while in Australia
 Remain with the principal education provider for 6 months, unless issued a letter of release from the provider to attend another institution. Please refer to college‟s policy and procedure regarding Transfer between Registered Providers.
 Notify the college of your Australian address and any subsequent changes of address within 7 days.
For a full list of mandatory and discretionary student visa conditions please visit
www.immi.gov.au
DEPARTMENT OF IMMIGRATION AND CITIZENSHIP (DIAC)
The Australian Government Department of Immigration and Citizenship provides comprehensive
information about student visa requirements and the application process, as well as application
document checklists to assist you with your application.
Visit www.immi.gov.au for the latest information.
DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND TRADE (DFAT)
As well as links from the DIAC website, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade website
www.dfat.gov.au has a comprehensive list of Australian embassies, high
commissions, consulates and representative offices around the world.
MIGRATION AGENTS
A migration agent can assist you in submitting your visa application and communicate with DIAC on
your behalf, but please note that you do not need to use a migration agent to lodge any kind of
visa application.

EDUCATION AGENTS
Education agents promote various Australian education programs and institutions internationally and are a good way for students to apply to study in Australia. Agents are experienced in making
international student applications and applying for visas. Most speak both English and the local
language so this makes the application process a lot simpler and generally hassle free for students
and parents. Most do not charge for their service as they collect a commission from the institution
you choose to attend. However, some agents do charge small amounts or offer additional services
for which they charge. You can find some of the qualified education agent counselors who have undertaken the Formal Assessment of the Education Agent Training Course by visiting:
http://www.pieronline.org/qeac/default.aspx
Please Note: Although able to assist in completing education and visa applications, Education Agents are NOT licensed to provide migration advice.
HOW MUCH TO BRING
You will need to make sure you have enough funds to support you when you first arrive. It is
recommended that you have approximately AU$1500 to AU$2000 available for the first two to
three weeks to pay for temporary accommodation and transport. You should bring most of this
money as either Traveller‟s Cheques or on an international credit card. Traveller‟s cheques can be
cashed at any bank or currency exchange in Australia.
Please note that it is not safe to bring large sums of cash with you. Lost credit cards or
traveller‟s cheques can be replaced, but very few travel insurance companies will replace lost or
stolen cash. Do not ask someone you have just met to handle your cash for you or to take your
cash to make payments for you. Not even someone who may indicate they are studying at the same education institution.
COST OF LIVING
Coffee - $3.50 Big Mac Hamburger - $3.45 Share accommodation - $160~$200 per week
Lunch - $6.00~$10.00 Local telephone calls – 50c Daily transport ticket - $6.80
CURRENCY EXCHANGE
Only Australian currency can be used in Australia. If you have not brought some with you, you will
need to exchange money as soon as possible after your arrival. You can do this at the airport once you have arrived in Melbourne city, you can change money at any bank or at currency exchanges in the city.
ELECTRONIC TRANSFERS
You can transfer money into Australia by electronic telegraph or telegraphic transfer at any
time. This is a fast option and will take approximately 48 hours, but the bank will charge a fee on
each transaction.
ATMs
Automatic Teller Machines are conveniently located and easily accessible at the airport and in the CBD, suburban shopping street, shopping centers and convenience stores. You can withdraw cash from your home bank account at any ATM displaying the Cirrus Logo (if your ATM card has international access). Check this with your bank before leaving home.

CREDIT CARDS
All major international credit cards are accepted in Australia but you must remember that
repayments to many of these cards can only be made in the country where they were issued. Do
not rely on being able to get a credit card once you arrive in Australia because this can be very difficult due to credit and identification laws.
BRINGING MY FAMILY
Most student visas allow you to bring your family members to Australia as your dependents (check
your individual circumstances with the Department of Immigration and Citizenship and see: Arranging Visas). Family members include your spouse, and you and your spouse's dependent children.
Before bringing your spouse or children to Australia, you will have to prove that you can support
them financially. The cost of supporting a family in Australia is very high. You may have to consider
and discuss many issues with your family.
Issues to Consider
Rather than bringing your family together with you to Australia, some students may find it useful to
arrive first, settle into studies, find appropriate accommodation, adjust to living in Australia and then arrange for their family to join them.
Before making a decision to bring your family to Australia it is important to consider the following
issues:
• The cost of airfares for your family to and from Australia;
• The cost of rental properties in Australia;
• Limited employment opportunities for your spouse;
• Extra costs for food, clothing and other necessities;
• The effect on you and your studies if your family is not happy in Australia;
• Whether your children will adjust to school in Australia;
• Waiting lists for child care centers; and
• Whether to come alone to Australia first and arrange things for your family, or to all come at the
same time. For more information visit: www.immi.gov.au
SCHOOL AGED DEPENDANTS
If you have school aged dependents traveling with you to Australia, it is law that they attend school in Australia. There will be tuition fees and charges which apply for them to attend, whether they enroll at a Government or a private school. Note: Should you be accompanied to Australia by school-aged dependents, you will need to pay full fees at both government and non-government schools.
CLOTHING
The standard of dress in Australia is rather relaxed. Casual jackets and ties are not normally required in restaurants or bars. We recommend lightweight clothing for summer along with sunglasses, hat and sun-screen. However, Melbourne‟s weather can vary, so bring something a little warmer, too. In winter, a jacket, a sweater and an umbrella are recommended.
ELECTRICAL APPLIANCES
Electricity supply throughout Australia is 240 volts using a standard three pin plug, which is fitted to domestic appliances, so some visitors may need an adaptor socket. 110-volt appliances such as hairdryers and electric shavers cannot be used without a transformer.

TIME
Victoria is on Eastern Standard Time (EST), which is nine and a half hours ahead of GMT.
From October to March, Victoria has Daylight Saving Time, which means that you have another hour of daylight in which to enjoy the pleasures that Melbourne offers.

Geneva
less 9 hours
Paris
less 9 hours
Rio de Janeiro
less 14 hours
Bogota
less 15 hours
Bangkok
less 3 hours
Tokyo
less 1 hour
Taipei
less 2 hours
Seoul
less 1 hour
Beijing
less 2 hours
Hong Kong
less 2 hours

AUSTRALIAN CUSTOMS AND QUARANTINE
Australia has been an isolated continent for many years and is relatively free from pests and harmful insects. There are very strict quarantine laws controlling the importation of food and plants.
Travellers coming into Australia‟s international airports will have their luggage screened – either by sniffer dogs, x-ray machines and/or inspection of their bags. You must declare food, wooden items or items of plant or animal origin that you are carrying with you. Make sure you complete the customs form honestly and accurately – you are better to declare all items if you unsure rather than risk a fine for not declaring an item.
All international travellers entering Australia who do not declare quarantine risk items, face an
on-the-spot fine of up to $220. This could happen as a result of failing to declare something as small as a piece of fruit!
Most Asian and European food products are readily available in Australia and you do not need to bring these with you. Please refer to http://www.daff.gov.au/aqis