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15 things you must know before moving to Australia

15 things you must know before moving to Australia (No.4 will surprise you)

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So you think you have what it takes to study in the land of man-eating sharks, venomous snakes and spiders?

You may be filled with excitement about this new adventure, but things work differently here in Australia.

If you are coming to Australia for the first time, these are the 15 things that you must know before moving to Australia.

1. Casual Environment 🙋

Australians are generally quite casual, whether it’s work, study, or any part of their social life. They usually take things easy, and if you are going to study in Australia, you will need to adapt to this casual culture.

To begin with, you don’t need to dress formally when going to university or college, and it’s perfectly okay to call your teachers by their first names. 

No one here calls their teacher “sir” or “ma’am,” so you will need to get used to that.

2. Jobs 💼

Finding your first job in Australia as an overseas student can be tough, so you need to be prepared for that, and you might be surprised to know that some blue-collar jobs get paid much better than white-collar jobs.

Someone working as a carpenter, electrician, or plumber gets paid much better than someone working in an entry level office job.

And, if you work in hospitality, don’t expect to get tips, as people in Australia don’t usually tip.

3. Multicultural 👳🏻

Around 26% of the Australian population is from overseas, and that pretty much sums up how multicultural Australia is.

So be prepared to meet people from different backgrounds and cultures that you have never met before.

In certain parts of Australia, especially city areas, you might even feel like you’re not even in Australia, as you will find more overseas visitors or students than Australians.

4.Weather ⛅

The weather in Australia varies a lot depending on the state or region you are coming into. 

For example, in cities like Melbourne and Hobart, they are known for their cold winters, while in other cities like Brisbane, Darwin, or Cairns, you may not be getting such cold weather.

When you are coming to Australia, it’s important that you pack your bags accordingly.

If you are visiting cities such as Melbourne, Hobart, or Canberra, you will need to pack some winter clothing, whereas other cities may not require as much winter clothes packing.

Also, the weather in Australia is completely different from that of the Northern Hemisphere. Summer is from December to February, while winter is from June to August.

So if you’re coming from the Northern Hemisphere, expect different weather than in your home country.

Another thing is that the sun in Australia can be extremely harsh, especially in the summer.

If you are planning to go out to the beach and get tanned at 40 degrees, think again.

It can get very hot, and the UV rays can be extremely dangerous, so if you go out, wear sunscreen or prepare to be sunburned.

And in the summer, flies can be really annoying as well.

5. Jaywalking 🚸

Jaywalking means crossing the road without an appropriate pedestrian crossing or just crossing the street in front of traffic.

In Australia, jaywalking is illegal. You could get a penalty of up to $70 if you get caught jaywalking.

So don’t cross the street without a pedestrian crossing sign or zebra crossing; otherwise, if you get caught, you will be fined for jaywalking.

6. Wildlife 🐨

For many people outside Australia, the first picture that comes to their mind are snakes, sharks, and spiders.

While you could see some of these things in Australia, it is not as dangerous as it is portrayed in some countries.

To give you a better idea, the last person who died of a spider bite was in 1979, and on average, only one or two shark accidents happen during the year.

In all honesty, it is a pretty safe place to live in, so don’t stress too much about the wildlife.

7. Shopping Centers 🛍

A great number of shopping centers in Australia provide a unique shopping experience for their customers.

But if you are a late-night shopper, there’s disappointing news for you: most of the Australian shopping centers close by 5:00 or 6:00 p.m., except in a few major cities on Thursdays and Fridays, where the shopping centers might be open till 9:00 p.m.

And you can literally go to the shopping centers in your shorts and thongs and PJs if you want. 

Yeah, there is no dress code when going to shopping centers.

8. Coffee ☕

There is no doubt that Australians love their coffee, and we must say that Australian coffee tastes pretty good, especially in larger cities. You will get to see many good cafés with great coffee.

If you are not too much into coffee at the moment, when you arrive in Australia, you might find yourself loving this coffee culture.

9. Standard of Living 💰

A lot of people complain that Australia is an expensive country. Sydney usually ranks in the top five most expensive cities in the world.

While it might be an expensive country when compared to the cost of living in some countries. Australia certainly has good wages as well.

According to government statistics, the average income of an average person in Australia is around $1769.80 per week (May 2022). Source: https://www.abs.gov.au/

That would be around $7666 compared to the cost of living of $3653 per month. So, those are perfect numbers.

The cost of living in Australia is manageable, people can afford to buy things, go on holidays and have a decent lifestyle.

10. Mobile Network 📶

There are three main network providers in Australia: Telstra, Optus, and TPG (formerly known as Vodafone).

There are many other providers that use these networks to provide mobile services, so there are plenty of options to choose from when you come to Australia.

There are plenty of different plans available for both local and international calls.

When it comes to mobile networks, if you are living in the city areas, then you are in luck because most of the time, the networks in those city areas are good.

So you won’t have issues with regular call dropouts or internet dropout issues. 

But if you start moving out of the urban areas to regional towns or the bush areas, then it will become a bit of a challenge.

Although we must say that Telstra does a decent job of holding their network in the outer regional areas.

But you might still struggle to get an excellent network with other network providers.

So, if you plan to travel in the regional areas or outside the city, then you might have to carefully choose your network.

11. Dimensions of the Country 📏

Some people don’t realize it, but Australia is a huge country, and most of the major cities are quite far away from each other. 

So if you’re traveling from one capital city to another, people usually prefer to take a plane.

It is about the same size as continental USA.

12. Generic Drugs 💊

Let’s hope you don’t get sick, but if you do, you may need to see a doctor, who will write you a prescription that you must buy at a pharmacy.

When you go to the pharmacy and ask for the medicine, the pharmacist might ask if you want a generic medicine or a branded one, and you might be thinking, what does that even mean?

The generic brands are like no-name brands; their drugs are safe to take, otherwise the government will never approve them in the first place.

The only difference you might notice between generic brands and branded medicines is the pricing.

Generic medicine is usually cheaper than the branded medicine. 

We don’t think there’s much difference between these two medicines because they are obviously safe to take. 

So you might want to choose the generic ones because it will save you some dollars.

13. Speeding 🚓

Speeding while driving in Australia is not a good idea at all. If you get caught, you will be paying very high penalties for that.

There is a demerit point system as well, and you will lose some points when you get caught speeding.

There’s a high possibility of you getting caught speeding because there are so many cameras around the city areas, plus there are lots of mobile cameras that police use in the outer regional and outer city areas as well.

So it’s not worth taking the risk of speeding on the road, and it’s definitely dangerous to do it anyways.

14. Daylight Savings 🕑

Daylight Savings starts in the first week of October and ends in the first week of April. During daylight saving time, we push our clocks by one hour.

It is interesting to note that not all states actually participate in daylight saving. So while some states actually move their clocks by one hour during daylight saving, other states don’t.

This situation is a little weird because half of the country does not follow the system and the other half does. 

Queensland, the Northern Territory and Western Australia don’t take part in the daylight savings while other states do. 

You can read more about daylight savings in this article. 

15. Smoking 🚬

Australia is not known for cheap cigarettes. The Australian government does it on purpose and puts extra taxes on cigarettes, which makes it expensive to discourage people from smoking.

If you are a smoker, you might not like the fact that you will be paying around $25 to $30 for one pack of cigarettes (around 20 cigarettes).

And as a smoker, there are certain rules and regulations you would need to follow in Australia too.

If you are an international student coming to Australia, we highly recommend you download our free overseas guide, where we map the whole journey of an international student. 

To end this article, we would say that living in Australia is probably going to be different from your home country, but it will be a unique experience as well.

So these are the 15 things you must know before arriving in Australia.



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Difference between Application Form, Offer Letter and Confirmation of Enrolment (COE) in Australia

Difference between Application Form, Offer Letter and Confirmation of Enrolment (COE) in Australia

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When you’re planning to enroll in any course in Australia, you’ll need three documents, which include:

  • Application form
  • Letter of Offer
  • Confirmation of Enrollment.

In this article, we’re going to be discussing the difference between Application Form, Offer Letter and Confirmation of Enrolment (COE), the purpose of each one of them, and the process involved in using these three documents.

So let’s kick it off.

What’s An Application Form?

This is the first document you’re required to complete when you’re planning to apply for any course in Australia.

You can find this document on the website of the institute or university that you’re planning to study at.

You can either complete these documents by yourself or get help in completing them through an education agent.

What’s included in the Application Form?

This application form varies according to the different schools or universities‘ policies and procedures, but most of them will ask you similar kinds of questions in the application form.

Some of the things you need to complete in the application form include:

1. Personal Information

Personal information includes your name, date of birth, passport details and some other personal details.

2. Contact Details

They may ask you for your address in your home country, your email address, and your phone number.

3. Academic Background

This includes any of your previous qualifications and what you have studied so far.

4. Your Course Selection 

The course you would like to study at that particular institute or university.

5. Visa Details (if applicable)

If you are renewing your visa and applying for a course from Australia, then they may ask you about your visa details.

6. Student’s Statement

This is your acceptance of the terms and conditions of the university or institute that you’re applying to.

They may require more information in the application form. And they might also have a different kind of format, depending on the school, university, or institute that you’re applying to.

Here is a sample of the application form from one of the Australian institution:

What Documents Do You Need To Submit Alongside The Application Form?

You will be required to submit the following documents along with the application form to get your offer letter:

  • Passport
  • Academic evidence like your certificates, marksheet etc.
  • Proof of English Level Proficiency (IELTS, PTE or other English test results)

Depending on the institute or university you’re applying to, they may ask you for additional documents as well.

Once you’ve completed this application form and sent it to the institute or university you’re applying to, they’ll review and access your application, and that’s where the second document comes in, the letter of offer.

What’s a Offer Letter or Letter of Offer?

If the university or institute you’re applying to is satisfied with your application, they’ll issue you a document called a “Letter of Offer”, which means you’ve met the entry requirements of that institution and that specific course and have been formally offered a place to study.

A letter of offer can be an Unconditional, Conditional, or Package offer.

1. Unconditional Letter 

This means that there are no conditions that you need to meet to apply for this course.

2. Conditional Letter 

This means you’ve been granted a place in that specific institution and for the specific course, but you’ll need to meet the conditions as stated in your offer letter. So you need to make sure you meet them before signing your letter of offer.

3. Package Offer Letter

If you’ve applied for more than one program or qualification in the institute, or you’re required to complete an English Language program before starting your actual course, that’s when you get a package offer letter. So, it’s a package or combo of two or more courses.

What’s Included In The Letter of Offer?

  • Name of the course that you’ve been accepted into.
  • Duration of the course
  • Start and end dates of the course
  • Fees you need to pay for the course
  • Total deposit fee
  • Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) Fee

Once you’ve received the Letter of Offer, make sure you read the terms and conditions carefully as it usually has information regarding suspension, academic misconduct, and many other policies and processes that you should be mindful of.

If you’re happy with the terms and conditions, then you’ll sign the Letter of Offer and send it back to the university or institute you’re applying to.

You also need to pay your deposit fee as well. You can pay by credit card or telegraphic transfer.

And once the institute has received the payment, they’ll issue you a Confirmation of Enrollment (COE) or eCOE, which stands for Electronic Confirmation of Enrollment.

What is Confirmation of Enrolment (COE) or eCOE?

A Confirmation of Enrolment (COE) is an official document issued by your school or university.

COE is proof that you have a place secured in a registered Australian education institution. 

You’ll need this document when applying for your student visa, your Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC), and some other administrative purposes.  

Each COE will have a unique code (highlighted in red below)

You will receive confirmation of enrolment via email or through your education agent. 

What’s Included In COE?

The following information is usually included in a COE:

  • Name of the course you’re studying
  • Duration of the course
  • Start and end dates of the course
  • Total amount paid as a deposit
  • The total fee amount left to be paid

It’s important that you’ve a valid COE for the entire time you’re going to stay with your student visa in Australia.

How Long Does it Take to Get a COE (Confirmation of Enrolment)?

It depends on the institute, but usually it takes a few days to a couple of weeks to get a COE after your acceptance of the payment agreement and offer letter.

And that’s how the whole process works with these documents.

If you would like to know how you can apply to study in Australia in a step-by-step guide, then check out our YouTube video. https://youtu.be/uQld8cqc7mQ 



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Everything you need to know about Assignments in Australia - featured

Everything you need to know about Assignments in Australia

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Everything you need to know about Assignments in Australia

Many students get confused about the assignment system in Australia.

Some common confusions include: what types of assignments are there and how to do assignments correctly and can I use information from the internet?

So in this article, we are going to talk about everything you need to know about assignments in Australia including some tips that you should know as an international student.

What is an assignment?

Assignments can be considered homework or a task allocated to you by your educational institute to be completed in a defined timeframe.  

Many universities and vocational courses use assignments in Australia to assess your performance in your studies. 

Some students get surprised that there are no exams or very few exams in their studies in Australia.

But it’s a common thing. So don’t be surprised!

Even if you have exams in certain subjects, you’ll still likely to have assignments for the subject. 

So as an example, your one subject’s overall weighted scores (or we call it unit in Australia) might look like this:

Subject name: Business Studies

Total weighted score: 100%

  • Attendance: 10%
  • Class Quiz: 10%
  • Assignments: 60%
  • Exam: 20%

Different types of assignments in Australia

There could be different types of assignments you might be required to during your studies here in Australia

Some popular type of assignments are: 

  1. Writing an essay or a report 

In both cases you’ve to do a thorough research, and then you may have to write a certain word limit report or essay depending upon the requirements of the subject.

  1. Case Study

You might be required to go through a case study and answer some questions based on that case study.

  1. Quiz

There could be quizzes as well where you may have to do a multiple choice or a true and false quiz at times. 

  1. Group work

You might be required to do research projects in a group setting.

  1. Presentation

There could be some visual or verbal presentations involved in your studies. 

  1. Demonstrations

In certain subjects, you might’ve some practical components and you’ll need to provide some demonstrations of the tasks.

  1. Portfolio

In some courses, you might be required to submit a portfolio of your work like your designs or actual work completed.

There could be other types of assignments also but the above-mentioned ones are some of the most common ones you’ll come across in Australia. 

Where to find your assignments?

When you enroll in any course at University or vocational education program, you are likely to be given access to an online platform. 

Many of the universities in Australia use ‘Moodle’ as their preferred platform, but there could be another type of platform that you might’ve access to.

Inside that platform, you’ll be given information about all the subjects that you’re studying, study resources, timetables and information about your assessments as well. 

Usually, at the start of a new term, you will also get a term outline which will explain your weekly schedule of the term.

In this outline, they will give information on what topic will be covered during each week, what tasks to be completed and when they need to be submitted. 

If they don’t give you access to any online portal,  then they’ll give you a physical printout of your assignments that you will be required to complete.

Most of the study terms in Australia could go anywhere from 10 weeks to 12 weeks. And during the year, you can have multiple terms. 

We have covered some of the most common intakes in Australia including the best and the worst in Australia here. Check it out.

How to do assignments in Australia?

Now the most important question is how to do assignments. What’s the method or system that you need to follow?

There are four main steps you can take in order to do your assignments in Australia:

4-steps-to-do-your-assignments-in-Australia

1. Understand the instructions 

Before you even attempt any question, understand the instructions of the assignments and what you are required to do in that assessment task. 

It’s very important to read those instructions carefully because sometimes you get some key ideas from those instructions themselves.

If you don’t understand something from those instructions, then you’re welcome to go out and seek help from your trainer or your tutor.

 2. Start planning

Once you’ve understood the assignment, the next thing is to start planning.

The planning phase is where you start looking for some information and start doing research on how you’re going to write your assessment task. 

3. Writing 

Then comes the actual writing part where you will start typing your answers. This is the part where you will be writing the answer to those questions in your assignment.

It is a good idea to create an outline of the assignment before you start typing it in more details.

4. Check your assessments

Make sure to proofread your assignments before submitting them. If possible, check it for plagiarism scores as well. 

A lot of times, students submit wrong documentation, and they end up paying the fines or the penalties.

So make sure to check each and every element of your assignment before your final submission.

Deadlines for assignments in Australia

Every assignment will have a specific timeframe you need to complete it by.

If you don’t submit within those time frames, you will be getting a penalty.

It could be a penalty for your scores or that you may need to resubmit again, or you may have to pay a late submission fee depending upon the Institute.

Each institute in Australia may have a different policy in regard to late submissions, so check your institute’s late submission policy.

Penalties can be quite high (in terms of dollars) so it is important that you pay attention to these deadlines.

Plagiarism 

Plagiarism basically means copying others’ work. 

Most universities or institutes in Australia use a software called Turnitin 

This plagiarism software can easily pick up the sources of the information where the students are getting the information from.

It can provide a very detailed report to the tutors who are going to check your assignments.

A high plagiarism score could mean that you could be failing the subject. It can ultimately mean that you could be repeating the subject again. Obviously it costs a lot of money, time and don’t even start talking about the stress it causes.

How to Avoid Plagiarism in your assignments in Australia?

Ideally, if you’re going to use any internet resource or any source out there available and relevant to your assignment, then you can shouldn’t copy from it directly.

Instead, you can read it, get some ideas and then you use your own words to explain it.

Again, you are allowed to do research from any resource available out there but you should explain them in your own words. 

No copying and pasting here!

Referencing

If you do use any resource to conduct your research, it is important that you provide a reference to that specific resource.

It is expected by most Australian educational institutes that you provide a reference list for your assignments in Australia. 

Now there are multiple types of referencing systems available in the world. And depending on the university, they could be using a different system. 

The most popular referencing system in Australia is Harvard referencing.

Please, refer to your University or institute’s referencing policy on what type of referencing system is expected by them.

There could be additional requirements like having footnotes as part of your referencing sas well.

We highly recommend you attend sessions offered by your University or Institute on how to do referencing for your assignments.

They usually provide these sessions as a part of the orientation session. So don’t skip it.

Want to learn more about orientation in Australia? Check our detailed article here.

Support systems available for assignments in Australia

Let’s discuss some support systems available in the Australian education system for students who don’t understand assignments in Australia.

Your first point of contact for assignment support

Thankfully, most of the lecturers and tutors are quite friendly in Australia.

So you can easily walk up to them and ask for help in regards to your assignments. We suggest you arrange a meeting with them through email or email them about your questions.

Do it a few days ahead of time so that they can meet up, or they can explain to you about your assignments.

Academic Study Support

Most of the universities will have some academic support systems available for students to help them with your assignments.

Help from peers

If you have a friend or other peers doing the same course, then you can ask them any questions about the assignment as well.

But we highly encourage you not to ask or share your assignments with any of your friends or peers.

It can lead to a lot of trouble for your academic career if you decide to share it with your friends and then submit the same assignment.

So, never share your assignment with anyone.

Apply for special consideration

If you’re struggling to do your assignments in Australia, then there is usually a provision for special consideration by your University or Institute. 

Please, communicate your difficulties with the assignments to your teacher or the support systems available at your university as soon as possible so that they can assist you with it.

In special consideration, they can give you some additional time to complete assignments, or provide you with some additional academic support as well. 

Don’t use online academic cheating services

If you’re thinking of getting your assignment done from these assignment cheating services, think again because cheating and getting the assignment done from someone else is illegal in Australia.

It can have devastating consequences for your career if you get caught. 

If you can’t do your assignment, seek help from your University sources or from your trainers or tutors, but do not engage in any cheating services for your studies.

Additional tips about assignments in Australia

Here are a few additional tips from our team in regard to assignments in Australia:

  • Attend your classes regularly because in those classes your lecturers, tutors or your trainers will give you some instructions on how to complete your assignments.
  • Not only attend but pay attention to your classes as well, the lecture notes and any additional material provided by your trainers or tutors. 
  • As some assignments require lots of work, we suggest you try to complete assignments on a weekly basis rather than doing it all at the end.
  • If at any time you feel that you can’t do your assignment, please seek help quickly from your institute’s academic department. 
  • Please don’t wait till the last day of your assignment to ask for help, ask for it nice and early. 

So that’s all in regard to the assignments in Australia. We wish you all the best for your studies and assignments in Australia. 



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Top 8 reasons to study in Australia in 2023

Top 9 reasons to study in Australia in 2023

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Top 8 reasons to study in Australia in 2023

If you are considering to study abroad in 2023, then Australia should be on top of you list.
And no, we are not just saying it in a cliché, but there are 9 important reasons behind it.

So, in this article, we are talking about the Top 9 reasons to study in Australia in 2023 and what it means for the international students.

Let’s discuss them!

1. Unlimited work hours

International students are currently allowed to work unlimited work hours in Australia. 

There are no restrictions on the amount of hours you can do while studying until 30th June 2023.

After 30th June 2023, the work restrictions for international students will come back into force. Which students could be once again limited to 40 hours per fortnight work limit.

But while the option is available, why not take full advantage of those work hours. It’s very rare that this sort of opportunity comes. No other country has unrestricted work hours for international students.

We compared Australia with top destinations for international students: Canada, UK, USA for work hours; check the difference among all of them here.

2. Increase in post-study work visa timeframes

The Australian government will increase the post-study work visa for international students studying in the areas of verified skill shortages.

Currently, international students doing a Bachelor’s degree get a Post Study work visa for 2 years, Masters students 3 years and PhD students 4 years respectively.

But as per the update, it will increase from two years to four years for select Bachelor’s degrees, from three years to five years for select Master’s degrees and from four years to six years for select PhDs.

We are expecting more details on this increase in timeframes soon.

3. Increase in skilled migration cap

The Australian Government has increased the skilled migration cap for the financial year 2022-23.

Previously it was 160,000 places, but it has been increased to 195,000 for this financial year.

It means more visa holders who are eligible under the skilled migration program can apply for permanent residence.

4. Low unemployment rate

Australia has recorded one of the lowest unemployment rates even during the dark days of the pandemic.

Currently, the unemployment rate is at 3.5% (August 2022), one of the lowest in recent history.

(Graph below: Unemployment rate: Australia)

(Source: ABS)

Low unemployment in the country is significant for international students as it means they can easily find part-time jobs in Australia while studying.

5. High wages

Australia has the highest minimum wages in the world (Graph below: Minimum Wages (Source: Statista)

From the 1st July 2022, it is $21.38 per hour. 

And the recent study also shows that Australians are the richest people in the world. (See the graph below)

So, what it means for international students is that they can earn decent wages even doing part-time jobs in Australia.

Another huge plus with the low unemployment rate.

6. New government focus on longer term migration

New Labour government (which was elected in May 2022 during the federal election) is focused on long term migration rather than short term migration. More details here.

As mentioned by the Education minister, only 16% of international students stay back in Australia after their studies compared to 27% in Canada. 

That means the Australian Government is keen to change that and make more students stay longer in the country.

And provide pathways for workers on temporary visas to stay longer, or transition to permanent visas and international students are likely to benefit from it.

7. Fully Funded Scholarships

Many Australian institutions and the government are offering fully-funded scholarships to international students.

Some of the popular ones include 

  • Australia Awards, 
  • Deakin Vice Chancellor’s International Scholarship 
  • Monash International Leadership Scholarship
  • UTS Vice-Chancellor’s International Undergraduate Scholarship
  • Vice-Chancellor’s Social Champion Scholarship

You can check more fully-funded scholarships on our website here. 

8. Government incentives

Some states governments like Western Australia are also giving incentives to international students to entice international students to study with them.

These incentives will provide 

  • $1,500 for up to 2,500 eligible students to offset accommodation expenses while studying full-time in WA in Semester 2, 2022; and 
  • ISEB – $1,500 for up to 2,000 eligible international students to offset fees when undertaking an approved ELICOS course in Western Australia.

And if you are willing to study in a regional Western Australia with Tafe Western Australian, then you can get $5000 for studying, working and living there. More details here.

9. Most Liveable and Best Student Cities

Many Australian cities usually ranks well in the Global Liveability Index.

As per the Global Liveability Index 2022, many Australian cities make it to the Top 50 liveable cities in the world.

Here is a quick list of the most liveable cities in Australia with their world ranks in 2022:

  • Melbourne – 10th
  • Brisbane – 27th
  • Adelaide – 30th
  • Perth – 32nd

Also, as per the QS Best Student Cities for 2023, many Australian cities ranks in the Top 100. Here Australian cities with their ranks:

  • Melbourne – 5th
  • Sydney – 9th
  • Brisbane – 24th
  • Adelaide – 31st
  • Perth – 34th
  • Canberra – 35th
  • Gold Coast – 93rd

So, these are our Top 9 reasons to study in Australia 2023. What’s yours? Leave a comment or reach us via DM here. 



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What does Optus Data Breach mean for international students

What does Optus Data Breach mean for international students?

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Some of you might have received the email that looks something like this from Optus:

Or else you must have heard about the recent news about Optus data breach and might be wondering what that is and how it affects you as an international student.

And more importantly, what can you do about it?

So in this article, we are going to give insights into what is the whole saga about Optus Data Breach, and what does Optus Data Breach mean for international students?

What is Optus Data Breach?

On 22nd September 2022, Optus revealed that they have been subject to a massive data breach with exposing personal data of nearly 10 million customers.

The attacker who identified himself as “Optusdata” in an online forum asked for $1 million in cryptocurrencies in ransom or else threatening to release the data on the dark web.

But later this attacker seems to have a “change of heart”, and apologies for the trouble it caused to Optus and its customers.

This was not before he claimed to have released the data of 10,000 customers on the dark web already. 

What data is believed to be stolen?

Some of the data that has been stolen include:

  • Name of the customers
  • Their Date of Birth
  • Their Phone Numbers
  • Their Email address
  • Their Home Addresses

Many customers are believed to have their ID details stolen as well including:

  • Passport Details
  • Driving License Details
  • Medicare Details

It is obviously very concerning for everyone as so much personal data has been relieved that it can be used for multiple crimes and other illegal activities like terrorism, identity theft, frauds etc.

Imagine a whole amount of loan taken under your name when you are not even aware of it. And this is just one scenario.

Steps international students can take?

Here are a few things that you can do to help protect yourself from this data breach:

  • Immediately change your email passwords and use double authentication, if available. 
  • Notify any financial institution like banks or lenders about it if data has been breached. Change your bank account details. Ask for a new card. Change PIN.
  • Report to the relevant providers if something suspicious happens on your account. 
  • Ask to put extra measures like putting a special secret code with other important institutions like your insurance company, telco providers etc.
  • Notify your university about the data breach as well, so they can assist and know if anyone tries to use your personal information.
  • Don’t click on emails that look suspicious or spammy, especially if it seems to be coming from Optus. Make sure to check the email address before clicking or replying.
  • If you are getting calls from some organisations to pay bills or fines, don’t reply and disconnect immediately. You can call back the organisation to confirm if they are really after a payment from you
  • If your ID has been revealed during the breach, then you can apply to renew the ID document. (We explain that below)

What assistance is available from Optus and the Australian and State governments?

Optus would have emailed you by now if your data has been breached. We suggest you check your inbox (or spam folder) just to confirm it.

The email would have notified you if your data has been breached and if your personal ID like passport details or driving license number has been compromised.

Optus has also announced that it will give access to a 12-month subscription to the Equifax Protect, credit monitoring and identity protection service.

Assistance for your Driving License change 

As it is likely that you might have given a Driving License as your ID when signing up for Optus and if that’s compromised, then you should apply to get a new one.

Many states have come to help with issuing new licenses to the affected customers whose Driving License might have been compromised and providing free replacement to all those whose license was compromised.

You can check the details on how you can change it from each of these states here:

You can check more details about it on the Optus website as well.

Assistance for your Passport change

It has also been announced that Optus will pay the fee for the renewal of any Australian passport holders. 

But it won’t help international students as they don’t carry Australian passports and most of them might have given their Passport as their ID to Optus.

In that case, you might need to speak to your local consulate office in Australia from your home country and discuss how you can replace the passport.

We also suggest you reach out to Optus to reimburse any costs involved in changing the passport. 

Assistance for your Medicare change

Some students who might have access to Medicare and got their Medicare accessed in the breach, can apply to renew the medicare card through mygov account. 

Complaints

If your data has been breached, and you wish to raise a complaint about privacy, then you can make it with Optus.

You can also lodge a complaint with the Telecommunication Ombudsman if you can’t resolve the issue with Optus here.  



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How Many Hours Can an International Student Work in Australia - featured image

How Many Hours Can an International Student Work in Australia?

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Many international students are usually aware of the work restrictions on a student visa when studying in Australia. 

But there are still some common questions about work restrictions like 

  • “How many hours can an international student work in Australia?” 
  • “Can a student work unlimited hours in Australia on a student visa?”
  • “Until when international students are allowed to work unlimited hours in Australia?”

So, in this article, we are going to discuss everything about work hours restrictions for international students in Australia.

Before we get started, here is a quick cheat sheet of the changes that are coming into effect from 1st July 2023.

Can International Students Work Along with Their Studies in Australia?

The cost of studying abroad is significant. The benefits of working while studying are numerous, and international students studying in Australia are usually permitted to work on their student visas.

During the academic year, students with a valid student visa are permitted to work 40 48 hours fortnight (every two weeks), and they are allowed to work an unlimited number of hours during breaks.

This is done to guarantee that students may maximise their earnings while they are not in school while still focusing on their academics when their study is in progress.

How Many Hours Can Students Work During Their Study in Australia?

In the past, International Students could only work up to 40 hours per fortnight (every 2 weeks) when their study is in progress.

But since the new update from the Department of Education, international students can work up to 48 hours per fortnight from 1st July 2023. There is exception to this as students working in aged care sector can continue working unlimited hours until 31st December 2023.

There are many international students that might think they have unlimited work hours. But, this is not completely true. Usually, students can only work unlimited hours during their official study vacations.

International students studying Masters by research and Doctorate programs can work unlimited hours even when their study is in progress. 

Students studying with the Australia Awards scholarship or Defence students are also required to follow the 48 hours per fortnight work limitations during their studies and unlimited work hours during their official school holidays.

But the Australian government has offered a temporary easing of working hours due to worker shortages. As a result, students are now permitted to work more than 48 hours every two weeks until 30th June 2023.

Can Students Work Unlimited Hours In Australia?

From 1st July 2023, with a valid student visa, international students in Australia are allowed to work up to 48 hours per fortnight (or 24 hours every week) while courses are in session. There are no limitations on how many hours they can work during officially recognised school breaks.

However, as per the new update in the budget 2023 announced on May 9th 2023, international students already working in the aged care sector on 9th May 2023 can continue to work unrestricted hours until 31st December 2023.

To avoid confusion about the work week, in Australia, the work week starts from Monday and ends on the next Sunday.

But currently, these work restrictions have been lifted which means students can continue to work unlimited hours until 30th June 2023.

Until When International Students Can Work Unlimited Hours In Australia?

To help with the labour shortages, the restrictions on student work hours on visa have been temporarily relaxed. These relaxed rules for unlimited work hours will expire on June 30, 2023.

All current students, new student arrivals, and secondary candidates (arriving along with students) are permitted to work over 40 hours per week in any industry until June 30, 2023.

A student visa holder’s ability to work will be limited to a 48 hours per fortnight after June 30, 2023 (except students working in the aged care sector, as noted above) as the Australian government wants students to prioritise getting a high-quality Australian education and credential.

International students must ensure that they are informed of any changes to visa requirements, including work restrictions and hours.

Can International Students Come And Work In Australia Before Their Course Commencement?

Australian government relaxed rules regarding students commencing work before their course commencement during the pandemic period. Students were allowed to come before the start of their course and start working even before the course commencement.

But since last update from the Department of Home Affairs, there is no mention regarding this on their website and students are advised to confirm this change regarding starting work before course commencement with their university, agent or the department.

Students can check their visa conditions also to see if they can or can’t commence work before the course commencement.

But after 30th June 2023, as the restrictions on work hours will be back, students can only commence work after the start of their official study period.

In the past, students were not allowed to begin working until after their studies had begun, and they were allowed to arrive in Australia up to 90 days prior to the commencement of their degree.

Can Students Work After Completing Their Studies in Australia?

Students who are studying in the major city areas, i.e. Brisbane, Sydney or Melbourne, can get up to two-year post-study visa work.

Students studying in regional areas can obtain a three to four year post-study work visa, allowing them to remain in Australia after their graduation.

But the new suggested changes by the government mean there will be additional time for post study work visas for international students studying in the areas of verified skills shortages.

Students completing eligible qualifications and in high demand occupations will be able to apply for additional 2 years of post study work visas. You can read more details about these eligible qualifications here.

Apart from that, you can also keep an eye on the website of the Department of Home Affairs for further details on this.

How Many Hours Can My Dependent Family Member Work on My Student Visa in Australia?

Currently, the dependent family members of the student visa holders (subclass 500) can work unlimited hours until 30th June 2023.

Usually, the dependents of some student visa holders are required to follow the work hours restrictions as well.  

However, if you are studying a Master’s degree (by coursework or research) or Doctorate degree in Australia, then your dependents are allowed to work unlimited hours even when your study is in session.

Dependents of the students studying other courses (than the listed above) will need to abide by 48 hours per fortnight work restrictions after 30th June 2023.

Can International Students Work Unlimited Hours During Holidays?

Yes, international students are allowed to work unlimited hours during their official holiday or term break.

Sometimes employers may ask you to provide a letter regarding your official term break while studying on a student visa.

In that case, you can ask your university or school to provide you with a letter or certificate for official school term break.

How Many Hours Can International Students Work in Australia After 30th June 2023?

As per the latest news update from the Department of Home Affairs, international students can only work 48 hours per fortnight after 30th June 2023 (except students working in the aged care sector, as noted above).

It means the work restrictions for new and existing student visa holders will restart from 1st July 2023.

International students visa holders are expected to abide by these work restrictions during their study period.

What Happens if Students Work More Than 48 Hours per Fortnight After 30th June 2023?

International students (except students working in the aged care sector, as noted above) will be required to follow the 48 hours per fortnight work limits after 30th June 2023.

Any students working more than the work restrictions will be in a breach of their student visa conditions. It can also lead to the cancellation of the visa.

So, we recommend that you always abide by the student visa work restrictions.

Can International Students Work 40 Hours?

Until 30th June 2023, international students can work more than 40 hours per week on a student visa in Australia.

After 1st July 2023, if international students work 40 hours in a week, then they must ensure that they are not in breach of their 48 hours per fortnight work restrictions in the fortnight.

It is a student’s duty to keep regular account for how many hours they are working in a fortnight.

Why Australian Government is Bringing Back the Work Restriction For International Students?

In January 2022, Australian government announced unlimited work hours for international students in Australia to address the labour shortages due to pandemic.

Since then the slow economic growth and opening of Australia’s international borders has helped to reduce the labour market shortages. And government wants to also make sure that student focus on getting a quality Australian education and qualifications.

While student visa holders can work during their study and holiday period, the main aim of the student visa is to get a high quality education.

So Australian government has decided to bring the work limitation of 48 hours per fortnight for international studenyts from 1st July 2023.

Comparing Work Hours For International Students in Australia, Canada, UK And USA

Now let’s look at the comparison of work hours for international students in some of the most popular study abroad destinations.

Australia

While classes remain on, international students in Australia with a valid student visa are permitted to work up to 40 hours per fortnight, with no restrictions on how many hours they can work during officially recognised school holidays.

There are no such restrictions on the level of study when it comes to work hours for international students in Australia. The student visa holder dependents can also have work rights as mentioned above.

Students can also work as a self-employed person like Uber Eats in Australia. 

United Kingdom (UK)

In the UK, during the academic year, you are permitted to work a maximum of 20 hours per week with a student visa for full-time degree-level study. There is a weekly cap of 20 hours for any work—whether it is paid or unpaid—done for one or more organisations.

If you are studying qualifications below degree level, then you can work only 10 hours per week during study term.

There are also restrictions on type of work like you can’t be self-employed or engage in any business activity and many others.

Canada

International students in Canada can work 20 hours a week during their study term. During scheduled study breaks, students are allowed to work more than 20 hours per week. Although students in Canada are allowed to work as self-employed people. 

If you work more than that, then you are in breach of the terms of your study permit. If you do this, you risk losing your student status and risk having future requests for a study or work visa denied. You could even be asked to leave the nation.

United States of America (USA)

International students who are enrolled for full-time studies and holding F-1 status in the USA, are allowed to work up to 20 hours per week during study period and up to 40 hours during vacations. 

Students who hold a valid F-1 status cannot be employed off-campus without meeting eligibility requirements and obtaining official authorisation. International students also need to agree that the position they are taking on campus doesn’t replace a job for the US resident.

There are more terms and conditions on what students can and can’t do in the US when they are on their student visa. You can read more details here. 

Overall Summary of Work Hours in Australia

Here is a quick summary of work hours for international students in Australia before and after 1st July 2023:

TimeframesWhen The Course Is In SessionWhen The Course Isn’t In Session

Until 30th June 2023
Unlimited work hours
Unlimited work hours

After 1st July 2023
48 hours per fortnight
Unlimited work hours

So, this is what you need to know about student work hours in Australia. If you want to know more about work in Australia for international students, then you should check this guide here.



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