We often get asked about the first week expenses in Australia that international students should budget before arriving to study here.
Now, your first week’s expenses as an international student in Australia will vary depending on the city you’re moving to, the type of accommodation you’ll be staying in, and your lifestyle.
In this article, we will provide a rough estimate of how much you will need to pay for these expenses.
1. Airport Transfer
First thing first, you would need to go to your accommodation from the airport.
You can use various types of airport transfer options like public transport, charter buses, airport buses, taxis and ride sharing services like Uber.
There may be a free airport pickup service offered by the university or institution you will be attending. Make sure you verify that with your university or institution.
For public transport transfers, it can cost around $10 to $25. You can also use private buses like Sky Bus which can cost around $30 or alternatively you can also use a taxi service or a ride-sharing service like Uber, Ola, or Didi. You will be paying anywhere from $20 to $200 for these services depending on the distance you need to travel.
If you have friends or family that can pick you up at the airport, that would be great as it would help you save money for the airport transfer..
2. Accommodation
Many international students coming into Australia will be booking temporary accommodation at the start.
It could be a hotel, an Airbnb, or a hostel, and during that time you should be prepared to pay between $250 and $400 for the week.
However, if you have made arrangements to stay in long-term accommodation, you will be expected to pay at least a two-week bond, which is a security deposit and is refundable at the end of your tenancy. You would also be required to pay one month’s rent.
If you have friends or family who you will be staying with in Australia, that would be awesome as it can help you save money and share the accommodation expenses. You could be paying anywhere from $150 to $300 per week for the shared accommodation.
3. Mobile SIM and Internet
You should be able to get a prepaid SIM when you first arrive in Australia. Prepaid SIMs cost between $15 and $30 a month.
They come with unlimited calling within Australia and a lot of data that can help you access the internet. Some of the sims also come with free international calling to certain countries as well.
For the internet, you can also ask your accommodation provider if they provide these services as a part of the accommodation. Sometimes they might require you to pay extra fees for using these internet services.
Good home internet plans start from around $50 per month. But you can share these expenses if you are living in shared accommodation.
4. Transport Expenses
Most of the states and territories you will be coming into have specific transport cards that you need to use for travelling on public transport.
It is completely free in some states or directories, but most of the time you will be required to pay $5 to $10 to purchase this card.
For example, in Melbourne, they make use of the Myki card, which costs $6.
During your first week, you might also be traveling a lot as you need to visit your university, you might start looking for a job or accommodation or just travelling to see around the area.
So you might be spending $20 to $50 for your first week of travel, and this varies based on the city you’re coming into and how many times you use public transport.
5. Food Expenses
If your accommodation provides you with facilities where you can cook food then we highly recommend that you cook your own meals as it is a cheaper option than eating out.
You will also need to buy groceries and that can cost you around $80 to $150 for your first week, and it varies based on what you intend to cook and how much you know about cooking.
If you are going to be eating out, especially lunch and dinner, it can be an expensive affair in Australia.
Even if you stay on budget. you will still be spending about $20 to $30 per day if you eat out most of the meals.
Food delivery services like Uber Eats are also very popular in Australia but it can be an expensive exercise as well.
You can check out our blog post that walks you through what you can eat under $10 in Melbourne Australia here and more blogs of other cities are coming soon. So make sure to follow us on Instagram for updates here.
6. Study Material Expenses
Each semester, you might need to buy some new books.
You can start with secondhand books or books available from the previous students, as this will obviously be much cheaper.
But you will be expected to pay between $50 and $100 for each book.
You can borrow some books from the library, however it can be really challenging for everyone to borrow those books at the same time. So you must be quick in getting these books loaned from the library.
Estimated Total First Week Expenses in Australia for International Students
In total, our estimated total cost as your first week expenses in Australia will be around $500 to $1200.
Again keep in mind that these numbers can vary based on the factors like city, lifestyle, accommodation and personal preferences.
Here is a quick summary of how these expenses might look like:
1. Airport transfer fee – Free – $10 to $200
2. Accommodation rent –
Hotels, Airbnb, Hostels – $250 to $400 per week
Long term accommodation (Including Bond ( 2 weeks rent + 1 month rent) – $700 to $1000 for the month
friends and family – Free to $300 per week
3. Mobile sim and internet – Prepaid Sim – $15 to $30
4. Transport
Transport card – $5 to $10
Transport Travel cost – $20 to $50
5. Food
Cooking – $80 to $100,
Eating out – $20 to $30 per day
6. Books – $50 to $100 per book
7. Total Estimated Cost- $500 to $1200
Other things you need to do in first week
Here are some things you also need to do in your first week that don’t require spending money:
Opening your bank account
Applying For TFN
Applying For ABN
Creating your Resume
Orientation at your school
We have several videos on our YouTube channel that can walk you through some of these things you need to do in your student life.
Students looking at their options for higher education abroad should give serious thought to Australian colleges and universities. It’s hardly surprising since the country has a top-notch educational system and awards degrees that are respected internationally.
When academic quality is top-notch, it is not easy to get admission to one of these institutions.
To begin with the process, you need to check if you already have the credentials required to continue your studies in Australia.
In general, institutions set out the academic criteria and English proficiency standards.
The English language requirements are tailored to non-native speakers, given that all courses and other kinds of communication are taught in English at Australian institutions.
Apart from that, there are requirements for things like visas and medical insurance.
The minimum required level of English proficiency and academic achievement level vary from institution to institution and degree to degree.
In this article, we will discuss the basic entry requirements for international students enrolling in Australian schools, colleges, and universities.
A brief guide for applying for admission into Australian educational institutes
You may start the application process after you’ve chosen a program and an institution.
Before submitting an application, prospective students should verify that they meet the minimum educational and English proficiency standards.
The majority of Australian overseas students apply directly by mail or online or through an educational agent. The application form will include the course(s) you want to enroll in, as well as provide required information and documentations.
The basic information required in most of the application forms are:
Your personal information;
Verified proof of English language proficiency;
Transcripts of past academic qualifications
References.
Many schools need a non-refundable application fee, often between $50 and $100 Australian Dollars (AUD), to be sent with the application.
Make sure you meet the criteria for a student visa on the Department of Home Affairs website before submitting an application.
Once you’ve submitted your application, the educational institution will examine it. It can take a few weeks before your application is processed (or longer for post graduate programs).
You will get an offer letter and an acceptance form if you are chosen. You should read the complete offer letter before making a choice in order to be well-informed about the conditions.
You must first fulfill the conditions in the offer letter in order to get a Confirmation of Enrollment from the institution (CoE).
After being approved and receiving the CoE from your educational institution, the next step is to apply for a student visa. Use your letter of offer or your CoE to apply for a student visa.
You will also be required to submit a GTE statement and get OSHC cover for your studies in Australia.
Now let’s look into more specific entry requirements into different courses in Australia.
Entry Requirements to study in primary and secondary school in Australia
Each school might have different admission criteria but to give you a general idea, following are the entry requirements.
Students in Prep through Year 6 can enroll in the Primary School program by meeting the following criteria:
The program must run for a minimum of six months.
Students whose first language is not English must either participate in a Young Learners Program or present documentation of their proficiency in the language.
Whereas if we talk about secondary education in Australia, it is offered by government and non-government institutes. Depending on the state or region and the duration of elementary school, it is offered for five to six years.
In Australia, secondary education consists of two study levels and starts in years 6 or 7.
Secondary school (lasts 3 to 4 years – Years 7 to 10 or 8 to 10)
Senior secondary school (lasts for two years – Year 11 and Year 12)
The requirements for enrolling in secondary school in Australia vary from one state or territory to the next, as do the specific schools you want to attend.
The application procedure considers several elements, including your academic record, extracurricular activity, athletic abilities, and other factors.
Candidates from other countries will be judged on how well they meet the English language standards. The student may enroll in a high school preparatory course to improve their English proficiency if they do not already fulfill the standard. We have already covered a separate article on getting secondary education in Australia; check it out here.
English Requirements:
Year 7 & 8 = IELTS 4.0 – TOEFL = 31
Year 9 = IELTS 4.5 – TOEFL = 32
Year 10 = IELTS 5.0 – TOEFL = 35
Year 11 = IELTS 5.5 – TOEFL = 46
Year 12 = IELTS 6.0 – TOEFL = 60
If you are under the age of 18, you will also need to have welfare arrangements sorted before arriving in Australia for your studies.
Entry Requirements for VET (Vocational courses) in Australia
Instead of going to university, international students can choose to undertake vocational education programs. These vocational programs are offered by various Tafes and private institutions, which both public and private universities offer, providing real-world learning experiences.
These programs provide real world experiences to the students, which hence equip them with skills to start working as soon as they graduate.
In order to ensure quality education in these programs, Government agencies keep an eye on these education providers and audit them regularly for compliance purposes.
Typically, students will attend 15 to 20 hours of in-person training weekly.
When students graduate from VET institutions, their credentials are recognised in Australia and often in other nations worldwide
Some basic entry requirements for vocational programs are as follows:
International students who want to enroll in the VET system must complete a level of study comparable to years 10, 11, and 12 in Australia. In your native country, you must have attended and graduated from at least the third year of high school.
International students may need to pass an English exam to enroll in a vocational program.
While some courses would need job experience, others could have prerequisite subjects.
A portfolio might be required for admission to courses like painting and design.
For English Proficiency, you must provide proof that you are at least at the following levels of English proficiency:
IELTS: You will need to score an overall of 5.5, no band less than 5.0
TOEFL: You will need to score an overall of 55 with individual section scores no less than (Listening: 9, Speaking: 16, Reading: 10, Writing: 18)
PTE: You will need to score an overall of 42-49 with no section score less than 40
CAE: You will need to score an overall of 162 with no individual band less than 154
Entry Requirements for Graduate Diploma and Graduate Certificate in Australia
A Graduate Certificate program is a 6 months full time program (one semester) and usually includes 3 to 4 units of study. The typical length of study for a graduate diploma at a university is 12 months and usually includes 8 units of study (two semesters).
A Graduate Certificate and Graduate Diploma is the next step for students after finishing a Bachelor’s degree in Australia.
The entry requirements for Graduate Certificate is a Bachelor’s degree and for Graduate Diploma is a Bachelor’s degree along with Graduate Certificate.
Apart from that, international students are usually required to provide proficiency of their English levels by providing a result for one of the following:
IELTS: You will need to score an overall of 6.5, no band less than 6.0
TOEFL: You will need to score an overall of 79 with individual section scores no less than (Listening: 19, Speaking: 19, Reading: 18, Writing: 22)
PTE: You will need to score an overall of 58-64 with no section score less than 50
CAE: You will need to score an overall of 176 with no individual band less than 169
Entry Requirements for Bachelor’s degree in Australia
International students can only apply for a bachelor’s degree in Australia after twelve years of elementary and secondary school.
International students are suggested to apply for admission early, so they have plenty of time to get necessary visas and arrange travel arrangements.
Standard admission entry requirements for a Bachelor degree in Australia are as:
Application fee: Most universities will require application fee of around $100 to $200 to apply for their courses
Academic Transcripts: You will also need a score of between 60% and 70% on the Australian equivalent of the High School Leaving Exam (HSLE) to apply to a Bachelor degree program in Australia (12th grade).
English Test Results: A good score on an internationally recognised English language test that proves you’re proficient enough to study in Australia.
Others: Further requirements such as surveys, letters of recommendation, work experience, portfolio’s etc.
In regards to the English proficiency, as a general guide, you will be required to provide a proof of one of the following levels:
IELTS: You will need to score an overall of 6.0, no band less than 6.0
TOEFL: You will need to score an overall of 67 with individual section scores no less than (Listening: 12, Speaking: 18, Reading: 15, Writing: 21)
PTE: You will need to score an overall of 50-57 with no section score less than 50
CAE: You will need to score an overall of 169 with no individual band less than 169
Entry Requirements for Master’s Degree in Australia
For getting into Master’s degree in Australia, having an undergraduate degree is a must.
The typical cutoff for eligibility to apply for a Master’s degree at Australian universities and Institutions is 60% or GPA of 4.0. The Australian Bachelor (Ordinary) Degree equals a foreign undergraduate degree such as a B.Sc., B.Com., or B.A.
If you are planning to do a Masters degree by research, then you might be required to have an equivalent to the Australian Bachelor (Honors) Degree or previous research experience.
Some other requirements are as follows:
Application Fee: You will expected to pay $100 to $200 as an application fee
Academic Transcripts: You must present the results of your earlier academic life. At the time of admission, you must present your Secondary School Certificate (Year 10 transcripts), High School Certificate (Year 12 transcripts). In addition, you must submit the Transcript of Records, which lists all of the subjects you studied for your Bachelor’s and the marks and grades you earned in each of them.
Entrance Exam Results: You may also submit your results from any university entrance exams you’ve taken as evidence if you have! Some university courses like MBA might need students to undergo an entrance exam like GMAT, GAMSAT, LSAT etc.
English Test Results: A good enough score is required in an internationally recognised English proficiency test for an overseas student. Most universities in Australia accept the IELTS, PTE, or TOEFL examinations to measure your proficiency in English. A letter from your former university that confirms that you completed your undergraduate degree entirely in English and don’t need to take any additional exams may also be accepted by certain universities.
Attending Interviews: Interviews could be conducted by some universities in order to check the communication skills, professionalism and reasons for those specific courses.
Here is a general guide for the English proficiency scores that you need to provide for your Master’s degree in Australia. Please note that these numbers can vary from one institution to the other :
IELTS: You will need to score an overall of 6.5, no band less than 6.0
TOEFL: You will need to score an overall of 79 with individual section scores no less than (Listening: 19, Speaking: 19, Reading: 18, Writing: 22)
PTE: You will need to score an overall of 58-64 with no section score less than 50
CAE: You will need to score an overall of 176 with no individual band less than 169
Entry Requirements to PhD (Professional Doctorate Degree) in Australia
Getting entry into PhD programs in Australia is different from getting entry into most other courses. Most of the PhD programs in Australia are research based.
Before you submit your formal application to the university, you will need to find a research supervisor. This will be someone who will be the lead researcher in your preferred institution and area of study.
Then you need to submit a brief research proposal to this prospective supervisor. If the supervisor accepts your research topic, then you will receive an expression of interest from this provisional supervisor.
From here, you can start a formal application to the university. But if the supervisor doesn’t accept or support the application, then you will need to find another supervisor.
Most universities will not accept the formal application from PhD students until they have a research supervisor.
Once you have expression of interest, then you will need to meet the following requirements. Please note that each university sets its own requirements and might require you to meet further requirements than listed below here:
A Bachelor’s and a Master’s degree in the relevant field of study.
Evidence of your prior research experience certified from your previous university or universities.
Approved expression of interest for your research proposal from academic supervisor
References from the academic or professional world
Universities might require students to go through an interview for getting accepted into Doctorate degrees.
Provide proof of your English proficiency by undertaking IELTS/PTE/TOEFL/CAE test.
You must provide proof that you are at least at the following levels of English proficiency:
IELTS: You will need to score an overall of 6.5, no band less than 6.0
TOEFL: You will need to score an overall of 79 with individual section scores no less than (Listening: 19, Speaking: 19, Reading: 18, Writing: 22)
PTE: You will need to score an overall of 58-64 with no section score less than 50
CAE: You will need to score an overall of 176 with no individual band less than 169
We hope we were able to give you a general idea of what it looks like to apply for an admission to different programs in Australia. You can also check out the following related articles that we covered regarding studying in Australia.
Before travelling out of your country as an international student, there are certain essential skills you need to learn.
In this article, we’re going to discuss the top 7 practical skills you need to learn before coming to Australia.
1. Cooking Skills
As an international student, you must learn to cook some basic foods for yourself.
Many students are already familiar with some cooking, but there are many international students in Australia who do not know how to cook their own food when they arrive. Most of the students don’t even have any family or friends who can assist them in cooking.
When you arrive here without cooking skills, it becomes a nightmare as it is extremely expensive to eat outside.
You’ll have to prepare food for yourself and most of the time, many students end up eating only noodles, pastas, and cereals to survive, which isn’t healthy to eat on a regular basis.
To ensure that you survive as an international student and not eat out or prepare unhealthy meals regularly, make sure you get some cooking lessons from your mother or other family members who are good cooks before coming to Australia.
2. Driving Skills
If you’re going to study in the suburban or city areas, you will be perfectly okay travelling around using public transport.
Having a bicycle can also be helpful, however you’ll eventually need to drive a car. If you can obtain a full driving license before coming to Australia, that would be extremely helpful.
If you can afford to buy a car, it will help you save time commuting from home to work or university.
Some jobs may even require you to have a car because they begin too early in the morning or too late at night when public transport is unavailable.
So it is ideal if you can get some driving lessons or preferably a driving license from your home country before coming to Australia.
3. Computing Skills
Most of the students who arrive in Australia usually have decent computing skills. However, there are few students who shy away from learning new technologies and new software programs.
In Australia, you won’t be able to get away without having at least some basic computing skills.
You will need these basic skills to apply for anything online, including your TFN, ABN, job applications, your bank accounts and many other government services.
Most universities and colleges will expect you to submit assessments online, so learning about some basic software like Word Excel, PowerPoint can really help in your studies.
Improving your typing skills will help you to save a lot of time. It will even be better if you can learn some advanced shortcuts that can make your life easier so that you can do your assessments faster.
Even if you are not into technology, it is still a must-have skill for international students planning to study in Australia.
4. Laundry Skills
As an international student, it is important to learn how to clean your house, clean your bed, tidy up your room and do your own laundry.
The laundry itself is a big exercise which includes cleaning, drying, folding and ironing your clothes, linens etc.
All these things are basic skills, unfortunately many international students don’t know about them or don’t learn them while they are at home.
You can get that laundry done from various laundry services but it is a very expensive exercise which many international students can’t afford to use.
5. Time Management Skills
As an international student, you will need to learn how to manage your time effectively as you will be juggling between your work, your studies and your life.
You will be on your own most of the time and you won’t have family members to help you with certain tasks. You’ll have to go to work, come home, cook for yourself, study, and call your parents all on the same day. This can take a significant amount of time and effort.
It can be a nightmare to manage all of these things in your life if you don’t properly plan your day and week.
In order to effectively manage your time, you will need to create a weekly schedule for the week’s major tasks.
This could include:
What tasks need to be completed during the week?
When will you be working?
Which days do you have classes?
When do you need to submit assessment tasks and prepare for them?
Which days can you call your family and friends back home?
Which days can you catch up with your friends in Australia?
And many other ad-hoc tasks during the normal work week.
Making a schedule will be highly beneficial, and it will be even more beneficial if you can learn to manage these things before arriving in Australia.
English is the most commonly spoken language in Australia. Everyday aspects of life in Australia including finding jobs, making friends, talking to lecturers, asking questions to tutor, etc. will all be in English itself.
Most international students are required to take IELTS/ PTE/ TOEFL/ CAE or some other format of English test before arriving.
It is very important that you keep improving your English language while you are still overseas.
You can do so by watching mostly English TV shows, English movies, or reading English newspapers, magazines, or online articles.
We have a playlist of hundreds of videos on our YouTube channel, which you can watch regularly, or you can read some articles on our website.
Doing some of these things can help improve your English and your vocabulary.
You should also learn and get familiar with some popular Australian slangs before arriving in Australia.
7. Budgeting and Personal Finance Skills
As an international student, you make money based on the number of hours you work.
With all the money you are making, you might think it’s a great time to go shopping, watch movies, or do other fun activities; however you have to remember that you have a lot of expenses to deal with as well.
You must pay your rent, groceries, and other living expenses, as well as tuition fees.
It is important to learn how to manage your monthly income and expenses, so you don’t end up asking for a large sum of money from your friends or family back home.
Make a personal budget spreadsheet for yourself before coming to Australia, so you can start managing your finances from the day you arrive here.
So these are the top seven practical skills to learn before arriving in Australia. Let us know what other skills you think international students should learn before coming to Australia. We would love to hear from you via our Instagram page here.
Australia is one of the few countries that allows international students to work for 20 hours per week or 40 hours per fortnight while studying..
Working in any of these job roles means that you can easily earn decent money to cover some of your expenses as an international student in Australia.
In this article, we are going to discuss 7 high paying jobs in Australia for international students.
1. Security Jobs
As an international student, you can work as a security guard or as a security officerin Australia.
To become a security officer, you will need a certification known as a “Certificate II in Security Operations.” It is a short course, and you could be paying anywhere from $150 to $250 to do this course.
You can easily earn more than $25 per hour if you are working as a security guard in Australia.
As a security guard, you can work in commercial spaces like shopping centers and supermarkets, and construction sites as well.
You can also work as a security guard at events. If you work during the events, you can even earn more than $35 per hour. If you are working in the evenings or in the nights, you could also be getting more than $35 per hour for this job.
2. Cleaning Jobs
As an international student, there is certainly a possibility of you working as a cleaner.
As a cleaner, you are obviously required to clean different facilities. You can work in a variety of settings. You can work in commercial settings like offices or residential settings like private homes.
Without a doubt, you can even run your own business in the cleaning industry. You can easily earn more than $25 per hour as a cleaner in Australia. And occasionally you can even charge more than that as well.
For this specific job role no certification is required, you can get started with some training from your workplace and can start working as a cleaner right away.
3. Construction Jobs
You can do construction jobs in different industries like residential building constructions and commercial building constructions
Some popular jobs in the construction industry among international students include construction cleaning and casual laborer. You don’t need to have any special course for working in the jobs mentioned.
Just be mindful that if you are going to work in the construction industry, you will need to have at least “White card training” (construction induction training).
Working in the construction industry means you can easily earn more than $30 per hour.
Usually there is a physical work involved in these sorts of jobs, but many international students prefer to do these sorts of jobs these days because they are quite well paid.
4. Specialised Hospitality Jobs
Specialised hospitality jobs means that you have some sort of special skills to work in this industry.
You can work as a waiter or waitress in this industry but these jobs doesn’t require any specific training for that but if you want to earn some extra money in the hospitality industry, it might be a good idea for you to do some specialized courses.
For example, you can become a bartender in this industry and to become a bartender you would need an RSA course.
Becoming a bartender means you can easily earn more than $25 to $30 per hour. And if you’re going to work in the evenings or late nights, you can even earn more money in that sort of job role.
RSA course for international students from $49 (online) here:
To become a barista, you don’t need a specific course, although there are some short courses available for that as well., But there is no specific requirement that you must have a barista course in order to become a barista..
You can also become a cook, in that case you might need some certification and some training, also. These sorts of job roles can easily get you higher money or top dollars in the hospitality industry.
In current circumstances because of shortage of staff in the market, many hospitality venues are paying top dollars for any of the job roles in this industry. So even if you’re getting some basic sort of job role as a kitchen hand or as a waiter, you can expect to get more than $25 per hour.
5. Personal Trainers
As a personal trainer also known as PT.
As a personal trainer, you will be responsible for giving instructions and training to people for their health and well-being, and you can easily earn more than $35 per hour as a personal trainer.
To become a personal trainer, you will need a certification. You will need at least Certificate IV in Personal Training to get started.
If you just want to work in existing gym facilities then you can do “Certificate III in Personal Training” only.
You can even become a yoga instructor if you have the right skill set and the right certification for it.
6. Dog Walkers or Pet Sitters
As people being so busy these days with their own life, there are plenty of jobs for people who can walk their dogs or their pets or can become a pet sitter for their pets. This is one of the popular jobs among international students these days.
There is no formal qualification required to become a dog walker. But having a qualifications like Certificate III in Dog Training and Behaviour or Certificate IV in Companion Animal Services can help in getting a job.
With this sort of job roles, you can easily earn more than $25 to $30 per hour for mostly walking around people’s pets and if you really love pets then this is the job for you.
7. Delivery Drivers
We can divide delivery drivers into two categories: one who delivers food and the other ones who do courier work (non-food).
Food delivery persons
Obviously there are plenty of food delivery platforms in Australia and you can sign up with any of these platforms and start delivering the food. You don’t need to have a car, motorbike or van in order to deliver food. You even can get started on a bike as well.
You can become a delivery partner with food delivery services like Uber eats Obviously we can’t work out a specific hourly rate for these sorts of job roles as they vary from one city to another, , timing of the delivery and many other factors.
But if you are delivering during peak times, you can certainly make some good dollars from these sorts of job roles.
The second category of delivery drivers is couriers who usually deliver non-food items. You would need a car or motor van in order to become a courier driver.
In this job role, you would be mostly responsible for delivering parcels, posts, letters etc. ou
can easily earn more than $25 to $30 per hour.
In order to do a delivery using a car, motorbike or van, you would need a driving license, but there are no formal qualifications required for any of these delivery jobs. Overseas licenses are valid for certain times in certain states, so make sure to check those details in the state you are arriving in.
So these are the top high paying jobs in Australia for International Students. Let us know which high paying job you are planning to do in Australia?
If you’re looking for a side gig with plenty of flexibility or additional income while in college, consider using the Uber app as an independent driver partner today.
Driving with the Uber app is an easy gig to pick up, as the sign up process is straightforward, as we’ll go over in the article below. You also have full liberty of how much and when you drive as a driver-partner, subject to applicable driving time limits.
Without wasting any time, let’s get started!
What you need to know about driving with the Uber app in Australia
Before we begin the process of guiding you on signing up to use the Uber driver app, the following are a few things to keep in mind when deciding if this is the right fit for you:
First and foremost, as an independent driver partner, you will be your own boss. You have the freedom to earn and drive based on your own schedule. Although being your own boss has its perks, this requires self-discipline if you have set out your own goals to achieve.
You must meet all the current rideshare driver requirements of your state or territory in Australia. Generally speaking, this includes that you be 20 or older, meet applicable accreditation requirements, and have at least one year of licensed driving experience in any Australian state or territory under your belt (exceptions apply in certain states and territories). If you do not fulfil these requirements, you might want to consider alternatives, such as delivering for Uber Eats.
What is Uber?
Uber is a ride request app which connects riders and drivers and is available in more than 900+ cities across 69 countries on 6 continents.
Driving with the Uber app has several perks
If you’re wondering about the positives of driving with the Uber app, we’ve listed them below:
Use the app’s 24/7 online support team to receive answers to your issues.
Drive whenever you want, whenever it is convenient for you.
Earnings are released on a weekly basis and can be withdrawn at any moment.
Set up work schedules that aren’t rigid.
Makeup and uniform are not required.
Infographics – Steps to Sign Up as a Driver Partner with Uber App
Steps to Signing Up as a Driver Partner
To get started on driving with the Uber app, you must first complete the signup process which is simple and easy to follow. This includes demonstrating that you meet the statutory qualification requirements that vary by city as per the local laws and regulations. Please refer to the driver guides for each state for more details.
1. Meet requirements
Before signing up, ensure that you meet the following requirements to drive with the Uber app.
Meet the minimum age requirements
Have access to a vehicle that meets Uber’s vehicle requirements
Hold a valid full driver’s license in your state or territory
Have held a full driver’s license in any Australian state or territory for at least 12 months (exceptions apply in certain states and territories)
Provide all the necessary documents required in your state or territory
Be listed as an insured driver for the vehicle you plan to drive
If you don’t own a car or vehicle that meets Uber’s requirements, Uber can connect you to vehicle solutions providers who have special offers for driver-partners through Uber’s Marketplace. Refer to the city guides for vehicle requirements in each state:
You can sign up to drive with the Uber app in Australia if you match the above requirements.
You’ll be asked some basic questions about yourself and your vehicle. You can complete this process in a few minutes.
3. Upload your documents and get driver accreditation
After this, you will need to upload your documents, including your driver’s license. Once everything is in order, you can download the Uber driver app.
You will also need to obtain your Driver’s Accreditation. Government regulations require driver partners to hold the right driver accreditation, which you can learn about here. You can get this online and it will allow you to take trips with the Uber app.
4. Background and VEVO checks
After starting the signup process, you’ll be required to pass a background check. Processes for driver-partner background checks vary by city. This process is done online through National Crime Check via the Uber website.
At the time of writing, background check costs around $36.45. Your criminal and driving records may be examined, depending on the state in which you live.
5. Download the Uber Driver app
It can take Uber a few days to review your documents. In the meantime, you can download the Uber Driver app while you wait!
6. Get a vehicle inspection
You must next get a vehicle inspection to make sure that your vehicle is roadworthy.
Each city has its unique approach to a car inspection. You’ll get an email with your location details, but you can also find them on the Uber website.
Since your car will be checked for general safety issues like tyres, lights, and body damage, it’s nice to get them reviewed beforehand or do your safety checks.
And we are done!
These are the easy steps you must follow to start driving with the Uber app in Australia.
What are potential costs to be mindful of?
There may be some expenses you need to keep in mind which we’ve listed below as you get started driving with the Uber app:
Car Purchase/Loan/Rental Costs: If you don’t already have a vehicle, car purchase or rental costs will need to be factored in.
Insurance: You must have mandatory third-party insurance and third-party property damage insurance that covers rideshare driving.
Registration costs: If you own the car, you will need to pay a yearly car registration fee.
Fuel Costs: Your fuel costs will depend on how many hours you drive and how fuel-efficient your car is. Uber’s rewards program Uber Pro offers fuel discounts that you can take advantage of.
Car Maintenance: Cost of keeping a car in good condition, like replacing the tires and getting oil and filter changes. This is dependent on how old your car is, what kind it is, how often you use it, where you live, and how you drive it.
What is the best time to drive with the Uber app?
In order to make the most of your time when driving with the Uber app, it might be better to pick peak hours in your local city or town. While this may differ across cities, peak hours are often around:
Weekdays (Monday to Friday) 6 am to 9 am
Weekdays (Monday to Friday) 4 pm to 8 pm
Weekend (Saturday and Sunday): All day
Apart from peak hours, you can also focus on specific locations such as:
Airport
Inner city areas (e.g CBD)
Events
Tourist attractions
How much money could you make by driving with the Uber app?
Since each driver’s earnings are distinct, estimating the average Australian Uber driver’s income may be difficult.
Average earnings may be significantly affected by several factors, including but not limited to number of trips, trip fares, time of day and location, and earnings are not guaranteed.
We recommend checking Uber’s earning calculator on their website to get a better estimate.
Is it worthwhile to drive with the Uber app in Australia?
Although this is an entirely personal choice, if you are considering earning extra income or a side hustle that provides flexibility around your study schedule, then driving with the Uber app might be the right fit for you.
We discussed some factors above including costs, timings, and the perks of being your own boss and we hope those might help you decide if driving with the Uber app is the right fit for you.
We hope you found this article helpful, and all the best of luck if you decide to start driving with the Uber app!
Going to an English-speaking country means being exposed to bizarre slang and coming to Australia is no different.
There are a few Australian slang terms that you should learn to help you navigate daily life, whether you’re planning a trip to Australia, have already arrived, or have lived on this enormous island of beauty for a while.
Even though Australia is an English-speaking country, not knowing the local lingo might put you in an awkward position.
It’s worth noting that most Aussies shorten the bulk of English words. But adapting to Aussie slang and phrases won’t take long.
To help you get by, we’ve compiled a list of Australian slangs and phrases (some of which are used in other English-speaking countries as well).
What are slang and phrases? And when do you use slang?
A small group of words standing together as a conceptual unit is a phrase.
Whereas “unconventional words or phrases that transmit something new or something old freshly” is slang.
Slang is sometimes rude, inconsiderate, and maybe even indecent. So, slang is the informal language or specific terminology a subculture uses.
Slang is often used in everyday conversation. However, informal language should never be used in formal documents or formal discussions and interviews.
Slang, if used correctly (and in the proper context), may help non-native speakers of English in sounding more natural. In addition, it might show that you are proficient in social English.
Among friends, for instance, slang is acceptable. However, if the tone of the conversation is more formal, slang words should be avoided.
Therefore, try to use slang properly, as a natural speaker would. If misused or out of context, it sounds strange and may show that you don’t understand the language.
It might be good for you to see how Australians actually use these slang and phrases before starting using them yourself as you might sound a bit weird with these slangs.
We have compiled a list of the top Australian slangs and phrases used in Australia right here.
Serial No.
Slang
Meaning
1
A Cold One / Coldie
It refers to Beer
2
Accadacca
Australian band ACDC is referred to as this by Aussies.
3
Ace
Excellent
4
Aggro
Aggressive or Angry
5
Ambo
Ambulance
6
Ankle Biter
Used to refer to a child.
7
Arvo
Used to refer to afternoon.
8
Aussie
Australian
9
Aussie Salute
Scaring the flies by waving.
10
Avo
Avocado (A fruit)
11
Barbie
Barbeque
12
Billy
Teapot or some Aussie’s use it to refer to a bong
13
Booze Bus
A vehicle of police to catch drunk drivers
14
Bottle-O
A place to buy alcohol
15
Brekky
Breakfast
16
Bring a Plate
Request to participate in a BBQ or a party.
17
Banana Bender
An individual from Queensland
18
Beauty!
Great! When something positive occurs, especially in sports, the phrase “You Beauty” is often screamed with great emphasis.
19
Bloody
Very. To emphasize an argument or a point
20
Bloody oath
To say yes or confirm that it is true.
21
Bludger
A lazy person dependent on others (sometimes referred to as a “dole bludger” when they rely on the government for support).
22
Bogan
A person who lacks sophistication. The Australian version of American rednecks.
23
Bored shitless
To tell that he/she is bored.
24
Bonzer
Great
25
Buggered
Drained
26
Bail
To cancel plans.
27
Bathers
Swimwear
28
Barrack
To support or cheer someone.
29
Billabong
Pond in a dried-up riverbed
30
Bloke
A man or a guy
31
Brolly
Used to refer to an umbrella.
32
Bruce
The Aussie Guy
33
Buckleys’ Chance.
Almost no chance of happening
34
Bush
A place far from civilization
35
Bushman’s Alarm clock
A Kookaburra who’s laughing
36
BYO
Bring Your Own
37
Cab Sav
Cabernet Sauvignon
38
Choccy Biccy
Chocolate-flavored biscuits
39
Chunder
To vomit.
40
Cobber
Someone who’s a very close friend.
41
Crack the shits
Getting angry or frustrated with something or someone
42
Crikey
Surprise expression
43
Cactus
To refer to a thing as broken or dead.
44
Cark-It
To say someone to die.
45
Choc A Bloc / Cockers
Complete
46
Chook
Used to refer to a chicken
47
Chrissie
A slang for chirstmas
48
Ciggy / Durry
Used to refer to a cigarette.
49
Clucky
A maternal feeling
50
Cockie
A slang for a cockatoo named the bird
51
Corker
Excellent
52
Coppers
Used to refer to cops or police officers.
53
Crook
Used to refer to someone who’s ill or a criminal.
54
Daks
Slang for a trouser
55
Dogs Breakfast
Messed up work or a piece.
56
Dunny
Washroom or a bathroom
57
Docket
A list of items or a bill/receipt
58
Dag
An individual who’s a geek or a nerd
59
Deadset
To say that it is true.
60
Defo
For sure
61
Devo
Saddened
62
Down Under
Australia
63
Drongo
A Dumb or Stupid Person
64
Exy
Something expensive
65
Esky
Box of ice
66
Fairy Floss
It refers to cotton candy
67
Flake
Flesh of gummy shark being sold at fish and chips shop
68
Frothy
It refers to Beer
69
Far out
An exclamatory expression like, Really?!
70
Facey
Slang for FB (Facebook)
71
Fair Suck of the Sav
To take a risk on someone.
72
Fair Dinkum
Genuine
73
Fair go
A chance
74
Flat out
To describe how much crazily busy he is
75
Footy
Aussie Rules Football
76
Furphy
Long stories or rumours which are usually improbable
77
G’day
Hey or Hi or Hello
78
Going off
To explain the reaction of an angry or a sad person.
79
Good On Ya
To tell about someone’s good work.
80
Grundies
undergarments, usually underwear
81
Grog
Liquor, Beer
82
Galah
A dumb person called after the annoying Australian bird known for its silly antics and loudness.
83
Gnarly
– Great (usually surfers use this slang)
84
Grouse
Awesome
85
Hungry Jacks
Burger King
86
Hard yakka
Emphasizing someone’s hard work
87
Heaps
A lot of
88
Hoon
Someone who is driving really bad
89
Hooroo
Signing off
90
Iffy
Taking risks or being unreasonable
91
Icy Pole
Ice Lollie, Popsicle
92
John Dory
Referring to a gossip
93
Joey
Baby kangaroo
94
Knickers
Used to refer to female underwear.
95
Kangaroos lose in the top paddock (a few)
Someone with a low IQ
96
Knock back
Refusal
97
Lollies
Sweets
98
Legless
A highly drunk individual
99
Lappy
Used to refer to a laptop.
100
Larrikin
A person who is always up for a joke
101
Maccas
McDonald’s
102
Manchester
Used to refer to sheets or linen.
103
Mate
A friend
104
Moolah
Cash
105
Mozzie
Mosquito
106
Mongrel
A person with some scoundrel qualities
107
No Drama
No issue
108
No Worries
No issue
109
Nuddy / In the Nud
Naked
110
Ocker
A person who’s unsophisticated
111
Outback
The middle/interior of Australia.
112
OZ
Australia
113
Pash
To smooch
114
Pokies
Gambling Machines
115
Pollie
Politician
116
Postie
Postman
117
Preggo
Pregnant
118
Prezzy
Gift
119
Rage / Rage on
Party
120
Reckon
For sure
121
Rego
Registration
122
Rellie / Rello
Relatives
123
Rock Up
To reach
124
Roo
Kangaroo
125
Sanger
It refers to a sandwich
126
Sickie
Calling sick at work
127
Skull / Skol
To down a beer
128
Slab
A beer box which usually has 24 beers
129
Sheila
Women
130
Shout
Turn
131
Snag
It refers to a Sausage.
132
Stubby
It refers to a beer bottle
133
Stubby Holder
It refers to avoiding warming the Beer with your hands.
134
Sausage Sizzle
A weekly BBQ event outside Bunning
135
Smoko
Smoke break
136
Sunnies
Sunglasses
137
Ta
Thank you
138
Tinny
A beer can or a small boat
139
Thongs
Sandals
140
Tucker
It refers to food
141
True Blue
Real patriotic Australian
142
Ute
Pickup truck
143
Uey
Making a U-Turn
144
Uni
University
145
Veggo
Vegetarian
146
Veggies
Vegetables
147
Veg out
Relax
148
VB
Victoria Bitter (Beer Brand)
149
Wag
Skipping School
150
Whinge
Complain
151
Woop Woop
In the middle of nowhere
152
Ya
You
153
Yous
Plural of the word “You”
154
Yakka
Hard work
155
Zonked
Exhausted
Did you enjoy learning these Aussies slang and phrases?
If you’re planning a trip to Australia, remember that the local lingo will be very different and exciting. While most Australians can speak English, they all have unique accents and dialects.
It may be tough to catch what they’re saying in some instances. However, you should be somewhat more equipped now that you know basic Australian slang and phrases. If you think that some important Australian slang or phrases are missing out on this list, then make sure to DM them to us here.
Also, check out the article we covered on some important Australian acronyms here. It would also help you quite a lot on your trip to Australia.
