Life in Australia

As a student, every single dollar counts and saving money is the way to go in student life. So we complied a list of student discounts in Australia that will have to save money on your essentials and other activities.

Here is a list of various retailers, food outlets and other organisations giving student discounts in Australia. At the moment, there are 30 on the list, with more being added regularly. Before we get started though, here is a shameless plug from us:

OSA ISIC Card

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The OSA International Student Identity Card (ISIC) allows students to get over 150,000 discounts on shopping, travel, and entertainment worldwide. A one-year ISIC virtual membership costs $30AUD but as we love you so much (you know we do, right? 😉 ) so we have got a better deal for you.

Our OSA ISIC costs $36 $29.90 (cheaper than original ISIC Card) and it includes ISIC Extra’s ( which is usually $11 extra). So for less than $2.50 per month, you will get to access standard ISIC deals but additionally, you will get student discounts on your favourite stores like JB Hi-Fi, McDonald’s, Coles, Pizza Hut, KFC and thousands of takeaway and dining options in Australia.

Buy your OSA ISIC card here.

Electronics

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1. Apple Student Discount

Apple is one of the most popular tech companies among students in Australia and they do have educational pricing (student discounts) available for students in Australia on most of their popular products like Macbooks, IMac, Ipad and iPhone etc.

Keep an eye on Apple’s special student offer at the start of the uni year, when they offer free headphones when buying a mac or ipad. We have covered the step by step guide on how you can save money on buying Apple products as a student here. (We are sure you will love reading ways to save more money on Apple products there).

2. JB Hi-Fi Student Discount

JB Hi-Fi is one of the most popular electronics store in Australia. They have a dedicated portal on their website for student discounts where you can select the discounted offers and range of other offers for laptops, phones etc. If just want to see all the deal available, then you can click here for that.

Btw, OSA ISIC members get 5% discount on their JB Hi-Fi gift cards. Check here.

3. Amazon Student Discount

In UK, US and some other countries, Amazon has a very generous student offer that include 6 month free trail and further 50% after the trail ends. But at the moment, there is no student discount for the prime membership for students in Australia. We will keep you up to date once the discount is available in Australia. You can check prime membership in Australia here.

4. Officeworks Student Discount

Officeworks provides low prices for all the study and work related stationary, furniture, electronics and pretty much everything you need for work and study. They also run special students discounts using their Back to school or Back to uni campaigns. You can check the all the student discounts and offers here.

5. Harvey Norman Student Discount

Another popular store for your electronics needs as a student is Harvey Norman. They also run promotions for student discounts at the start of the each school and uni semesters. So keep an eye on the special deals. You can visit the dedicated portal for students on their website.

You can further save money by stacking 4% off Harvey Norman eGift Cards if you become OSA ISIC member.

6. Lenovo Student Discount

Lenovo has great deals on student discounts. At times, the student discount can be up to 50% off the retail prices that includes laptops, desktops and accessories. You can check the Lenovo student discount on Lenovo’s website.

7. HP Student Discount

Another popular brand for the students and they have range of electronics on special deals and offers for the students using their dedicated education store here. You must have an edu email to access the student offers.

8. DJI Student Discount

We have a dedicated student discount for DJI products on our website. Get a 10% off on Mavic Mini and other DJI products here.

9. eBay Student Discount

EBay is known worldwide for their lowest prices but from time to time they also launch the exclusive discount codes for the students, where you can save further 10% to 15% off the items purchased on their platform.

10. Catch.com.au Student Discount

One of the biggest online retailers in Australia, catch.com.au sell everything you need, from electronics to groceries, and you can now save up to 15% when you signup here.

11. Huawei Student Discount

Huawei provides latest gadgets like smartphones, wearables, laptops and accessories at very competitive price. For a limited time, you can score up to 15% on various products using this here.

Fashion

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12 Iconic Student Discount

Iconic is Australia’s favorite online fashion retailer. They offer a range of fashion clothing and accessories that suit the taste of students. They offer various student offers with up to 50% off regular prices here.

13. Boohoo Student Discount

Boohoo is a popular female fashion retailer with focus on youth fashion apparel and accessories. Unlock 55% off on dresses and shoes by clicking here.

14. Valleygirl Student Discount

Valleygirl focus on the newest trends, styles and looks you see on the catwalks and fashion magazines for the girls and the ladies. Save up to further 10% on your orders at Valleygirl. Check the Student Beans website for details.

15. Specsavers Student Discount

If you need contact lenses or glasses, then look no further than Specsavers. Unlock $100 off Glasses when you buy one pair from the $199 range and above at Specsavers.

You can also get 10% off on your contact lenses as well by clicking here.

16. Temt Student Discount

TEMT offers modern style for fashion savvy young women who value cutting edge design and know what they want. Unlock 10% student discount at TEMT by checking them on Student Beans website.

17. yd. Student Discount

yd. offer trendy, stylish yet affordable clothing for men. So if you are after a casualwear for parties or a formal dress for a work look no further than this popular youth brand in Australia. Get up to 75% off + additional 10% student discount when shopping at yd. through Student Beans.

Phone Plans

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18. Telstra Student Discount

Telstra is considered to be the best phone networkin Australia. Telstra offer up to 10% student discount visa their website here. You must have a edu.au email address to access their student discount.

17. Optus Student Discount

Optus gives 10% off to the students via their students hub. You will need to validate your email and choose a plan using the link given above for exclusive student discounts and offers.

18. Vodafone Student Discount

Vodafone is very famous among student community in Australia due to it’s low prices and roaming offers. Vodafone offers not only discounts to the student on their sim plan but roaming and unlimited data pack options as well. Check them out here.

Entertainment

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19. Hoyts Student Discount

Hoyts does not specifically provide discount to student anymore but from time to time they offer a generous discount on various websites like Scoopon and Groupon.

You can also get a $12.50 Hoyts standard tickets if you are using Optusperks app. Check more details here.

Hoyts has also introduced a single ticket pricing (one ticket price for all ages) and saver/super saver sessions that run 7 days a week than just Super Tuesdays.

If you are OSA ISIC member, then you can get $14.50 adult tickets and $11.50 child tickets here.

20. Village Cinema Student Discount

Like Hoyts Cinema’s, there are no student discounts available for students at Village Cinema’s as well but you can always use the Vrewards program and get a discounted tickets.

Also, if you are member of some organisations like RACV, then you can get the standard tickets starting at $9 per session for standard tickets

OSA ISIC members get a discount on Village Cinema tickets also. Adult tickets from $15.50

21. Strike Student Discount

Looking for some indoor fun with mates? Head to Strike and get a student discount with $8 bowling sessions from Monday to Thursday before 5pm here.

Strike offers various fun activities from bowling to laser tag, karaoke to Exitus escape rooms – there’s no shortage of fun at Strike’s 14 venues across Australia.

If you would like to get one complimentary FULL PRICED GAME (including shoe rental) for up to FOUR PEOPLE when another FULL PRICED GAME of equal or greater value is purchased, then OSA ISIC card is your best friend. Check the details here.

22. Holey Moley Mini Golf Student Discount

Holey Moley Golf Club – a cocktail bar, mini-golf course, work of art and all-out cool hub rolled into one brilliant venue. Get a $9 mini golf anytime before 5 pm from Monday to Thursday here.

Travel

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23. OSA Students Flights & Hotels Discounts

Travelling is one the most popular activity among students. Whether, you are planning to travel interstate within Australia or overseas or just want to go back, we have got your back for that.

Check the latest discounts, offers and deals for student flights, hotels and car rentals from our website here.

24. Flight Centre

Get 10% off your selected airlines and travel with Flight Centre.

Make sure to grab your OSA ISIC card to access this special discount here.

Subscriptions

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25. Spotify Student Discount

Spotify offer 1 month free trail to students and then a premium account for a discounted rates at $5.99 per month. You can access this offer from Spotify here.

26. Apple Music Student Discount

Apple has announced a free Apple TV+ plan with any Apple Music Student Plan along with 3 months trail and discounted offer at $5.99 per month. More details are here.

Food

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27. Dominos Student Discount

Dominos Pizza needs no introduction, especially when you are a student. Their pizza’s are famous for any catch up with friends. Dominos offer generous discounts to students , you can get up to 33% off your orders when signing up here.

28. Grill’d Student Discount

Grill’d Burgers offer a free drink for students between Monday to Wednesday. You will need to join their reward program to get the Free drink here. They also give free chips after second visit, free drink after your 5th visit and your birthday for joining the relish reward program.

29. Uber Eats Student Discount

Uber Eats is probably one of the most favorite app for students in Australia to order food. Luckily, Uber Eats offer discount when you signup using the existing code/s from the current users. Get $10 off your first Uber Eats order of $20 or more using the link here.

If you want to drive with Uber Eats, then you can sign up here.

30. McDonald’s Student Discount

Some of the best student discounts can be found in McDonald’s app.

But if you want to get a one complimentary CHEESEBURGER when another CHEESEBURGER of equal or greater value is purchased, then check the deal here. (It goes without saying that it is a part of OSA ISIC Card).

31. KFC Student Discount

KFC launches various coupons during the year.

But our OSA ISIC card covers different KFC offers for various cities in Australia. For example, students in South Australia can get One complimentary TWISTER when another TWISTER of equal or greater value is purchased, One complimentary ORIGINAL RECIPE BURGER when another ORIGINAL RECIPE BURGER of equal or greater value is purchased and last but not the least One complimentary KRUSHER when another KRUSHER of equal or greater value is purchased. Details here.

But students in ACT, VIC and TAS gets the following KFC offer: One Complimentary upsize when any Burger Combo, Kentucky Nugget Combo, Original Tenderloins Combo or Twister Combo is purchased. Details here.

Softwares and cloud services

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32. Microsoft Office 365

Students and educators at eligible institutions can sign up for Office 365 Education for free, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote, and now Microsoft Teams, plus additional classroom tools. Use your valid school email address to get started today here. Make sure your educational institute is eligible for this free access.

33. GitHub Student Developer Pack

This pack gives access to 12 months of free access to GitHub Pro, Partner offers (like 12 months Free Canva Pro + more) and GitHub Campus Expert training for qualified applicants. Check out the pack here.

34. Notion

Notion offers a free Personal Pro Plan for students and educators. This lets you collaborate with unlimited guests and gives you version history. Sign up with your school email address here.

35. JetBrains

Free Educational Licenses for students and educators. The license may be renewed free of charge as long as you are a student or a teacher. Apply here.

36. Other Student Discounts

There are many more discounts on items like health and fitness, fashion, tech, entertainment, food and travel, you can access through OSA ISIC Card. Get your card on overseasstudentsaustralia.com

So these are the top student discounts in Australia for international students. Which one are you looking for? We look forward to your comments below.

If you want to save more money as a student in Australia, then you will definitely want to read on for these 60+ amazing saving tips here.

As you are probably aware, COVID-19 (also known as Coronavirus), is affecting the life of millions of people around the globe. It is no exception that Australia is also affected by this virus and so are the lives of international students who are studying or planning to study in Australia.

In this article, we are analysing the impact of COVID-19 (Coronavirus) on international students and international education in Australia.

What’s the latest update in Australia?

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As we know that this is a rapidly changing situation, we will try to keep you updated with the current situation in this section:

• • WHO has declared COVID-19 a Pandemic
  • Australians are advised to not travel overseas at this time
  • Large indoor gathering of more than 100 people are banned in Australia
  • Australian government enforces self-isolation for all overseas arrivals for 14 days (including international students)
  • International students working in supermarkets are allowed to work extra hours to help stock up the shelves
  • Work restrictions have also been lifted on international student nurses in Australia, to allow them to help cope with the expected rush of virus-stricken patients
  • Travel ban on all foreigner’s starting Friday 20 March 2020 9 PM
  • Strict social distancing rules are in now in place in each state and territory 
  • Public Gatherings restricted to two people

Our Government is supporting international students impacted by coronavirus and doing all we can to reduce the impact on your education pic.twitter.com/8HG78nXGK2

— Dan Tehan (@DanTehanWannon) February 11, 2020

What is COVID-19?

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COVID-19 is part of a large family of coronavirus that causes illness from common cold to severe illnesses like SARS and MERS.

If you can recall 2003 SARS virus then you already have an idea of the Coronavirus as it belongs to the same family.

This new Coronavirus is spreading fast and has infected more than 135,000 people so far and nearly 5,000 people have lost their lives. WHO has now officially declared COVID-19 as a pandemic.

COVID-19 has not been identified in the humans in the past and there is no vaccination available to cure it yet.

Where did it start?

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The virus is believed to have started in the seafood “wet market” in Wuhan city (Province Hubei) of China in December 2019.

It is also believed to have been transmitted from bats to some other animals to humans in the market. The exact cause of this virus has not been identified as yet.

What are the symptoms?

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Usually the symptoms develop within 14 days of exposure to the virus. When you are infected with Coronavirus, you usually show flu-like symptoms like:

• Fever
• Dry cough
• Sore throat
• Shortness of breath
• Body aches
• Tiredness
• Pneumonia

How to avoid Coronavirus?

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The best way to avoid this virus is by maintaining high hygiene standards. Here are some suggestions for keeping yourself safe from this virus:

• Wash your hands frequently and thoroughly for at least 20 seconds (or enough for singing a happy birthday song twice while washing hand)
• Use tissue when coughing or sneezing. If you don’t have tissue around then use a flexed elbow
• Avoid touching your face, eyes, and nose
• Avoid getting in close contact with the person who is showing flu-like symptoms
• Clean and disinfect the objects and the surfaces
• Wear masks only if you are sick or are caring for someone with respiratory symptoms
• If you are feeling unwell, then stay home

 

Why is everyone so scared of this virus?

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Some people do have this question in mind, why are so many countries and people nervous of this virus as it has lower mortality rate than some other viruses?

The main reason is that this virus is easily transmissible from one person to the other through respiratory droplets from coughing and sneezing. Also, there is a possibility of air-borne transmission of this virus.

The other reason is that there is no vaccination available to cure this virus at the moment and there is an unknown fear factor about this virus about how severe it can get before it gets controlled.

Which countries are banned in Australia for travel?

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So far, the Australian Government has banned the travellers from the following countries into Australia:

• China
• Iran
• South Korea
• Italy

But it is a rapidly changing situation so you may find more countries or continents listed here in the future.

If you are an Australian citizen or permanent resident then you can still come to Australia from these countries but anyone arriving after 15th March 2020 in Australia will need to quarantine themselves (self-isolation) for 14 days regardless of the country they are coming from or citizenship status.

What is Self-isolation?

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Self-isolation is about staying away from a situations that can infect others. So basically to self-isolate, you will need to:

• Stay home and avoid going out
• if sharing house, separate yourself from others
• Wear masks when other people are around
• Avoid having visitors to your house
• Use delivery services for food and other essential items

How does the coronavirus affect international students and education in Australia?

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Obviously, Coronavirus is having a huge impact on many industries, including international education, in Australia.

If you are a student from the countries listed above, then you will need to wait in your home country until the travel ban is lifted. Even if your country is not listed among those that are currently banned by Australia and you are planning to come to Australia, we suggest keeping an eye on Australia’s Department of Health website.

There are other implications that include travelling to other countries from Australia. If you are planning to go overseas for your travel then you might have issues coming back to the country or you might have to quarantine yourself for 14 days or so. Australian Government’s official advice is to reconsider any non-essential travel overseas.

Not only Australia, but many other countries are introducing the entry or movement restrictions to reduce the spread of this virus. So even if Australia has not banned travel from your country. it is possible that your own country might restrict your travel movements. Since many countries are putting these restrictions, your airline might also cancel or alter your travel booking.

As a consequence of the virus, some universities or other educational institutions might reduce the number of courses offered to the students due to low enrolments. Also, there is a possibility that your classes or lectures might be cancelled or postponed or you might even need to study online for a while.

However, there is some positive news from the Department of Home Affairs for the international students working in the Australian supermarkets.

We’re helping Aussie supermarkets to keep essential items like toilet paper, tissues, rice and pasta on their shelves during the COVID-19 crisis. International students will now temporarily be able to work more hours. More details 👇 pic.twitter.com/PCLejRWOP6

— Alan Tudge (@AlanTudgeMP) March 13, 2020

 

International students working in the Australian supermarkets can work extra hours to help keep shelves stocked. If required, these measures can be expanded to other business sectors as well.

The restriction on international students working as nurses in Australia has also been lifted temporarily until further notice. 

Where to get the help?

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Health

If you are feeling unwell, please call your local GP before going there in person. If you don’t know your local GP practices, then you can google them.

Based on your explanation, your GP will advise the next steps or you can go to the emergency department of your local hospital as well.

As an international student, you will need to have OSHC insurance so we also suggest you to check the requirements with your OSHC provider. When contacting your provider, ask them about any costs related to the testing and if you need to be hospitalised due to Coronavirus.

We suggest you to keep an eye on Australia’s Department of Health website for the up-to-date information about COVID-19.

Study

In regards to your studies, please speak to the support office from your educational institute. They usually update students with any changes being made but we suggest you contact them if you face any issues with your health or studies.

You can check what your university is doing in response to COVID-19 here

Travel

In regards to your travel, it is important for you to keep an eye on the Department of Home Affairs’ website. Here is some more information for student visa holders from Department of Home Affairs

You can also check the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trades website for any updates to travel to other countries.

We also recommend you to get in touch with your airline as well if your travel plans are changing or impacted due to COVID-19

Other

International students can also reach out for help at

• Email: [email protected]
• Call: +61 1300 981 621

More Resources

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• World Health Organisation  – Keep yourself informed about the global pandemic at this time by following the updates from WHO
• Department of Health – Australia’s official health website for health advice including any cleaning and hygenie protocols. 
• Department of Home Affairs – Immigration department website for any changes related to visas, travel and work restrictions etc.
• Study in Australia – Official website for studying in Australia providing dedicated support services for overseas students.
• Department of Education – Australia’s education website for education, skills and employment.
• Smartraveller – Official travel advice issued by Australian Government for Australians but very useful website to keep an eye on the conditions for travelling overseas.
• ABC News – Australia’s official national public broadcaster for news and stories around Australia.

Last updated: 1st April 2020

Australia is known for its bushfires during the summer seasons (December to March) but since September last year, Australia has been battling against one of its deadliest bushfire crises, which already has claimed close to a billion wild animals, thousands of homes, and several human lives, and seems to be not over yet despite the valiant efforts by the firefighters and the local and federal government.

If you’re capable and willing to lend a helping hand, please find some of the ways to support the causes you most feel for, which have been organised by the categories and the area for your convenience. We are also covering some useful tips and guide regarding the Australian bushfire season.

Which areas are affected by these bushfires?

Although, the bushfires are going on pretty much in all states and territories in Australia this season, but there are 4 main states that are severely affected by this year’s bushfire season.

• New South Wales – Mostly north coast, the mid-north coast and blue mountains area of the New South Wales state have been badly impacted by the bushfire season.
• Victoria – In southern parts of the state Victoria is severely impacted by the bushfires, especially East Gippsland and High Country (including Alpine Region).
• South Australia – Kangaroo Island has been badly damaged due to the fire and other areas including Adelaide Hills, Mount Lofty Ranges, etc.
• Queensland – In Queensland, mostly southern-eastern, central, northern, and far northern Queensland including the Sunshine Coast region were affected by the blazes.

How to help the Australian bushfire victims, wildlife and firefighters?

There are many ways you can help as an international student in Australia during this bushfire crisis. However, we suggest you can help by:

• donating some money to the various registered organisations
• becoming a volunteer at one of the organisations that help bushfire victims and wildlife.
• spreading the word via your social media accounts

If you can’t afford to pay for the Australian Bush fire appeals then you can help by becoming a volunteer at one of the organisation that supports bush fire victims.

Becoming a volunteer can actually help you in lots of ways, for example:

• You can learn more about Australian slang and accent as you are likely to work with many locals. It will certainly help to boost your confidence as well.
• You also get to meet people from all walks of life and it gives you a chance to network with like-minded people who are willing to help the community.
• You represent your country and community in Australia and by helping people in need, you will help your community representation in Australia.
• It looks good on your resume. Australian employers certainly appreciate community-minded employees.

If you would like to donate money

You can consider donating money to the following organisations:

Help Victims 

• The Salvation Army
• Australian Red Cross
• Vinnies
• Givit
• Foodbank
• Gippsland Emergency Relief Fund
• Bendigo Bank Bushfire Disaster Appeal

Help Firefighters 

• New South Wales – NSW Rural Fire Service
• Victoria –Country Fire Authority
• Tasmania –Tasmania Fire Service
• South Australia –SA Country Fire Service
• Queensland –Rural Fire Brigade Association Queensland
• Western Australia –Department of Fire and Emergency Services

Help Wildlife

• RSPCA
• Wires
• Australian Koala Foundation
• WWF

If you would like to become a volunteer

You can apply for volunteering in the following organisations:

• NSW RFS
• VIC CFA
• SA CFS
• BlazeAid
• Australian Red Cross
• Food Bank

How to stay safe this bushfire season?

While we are in the middle of the scorching summer and there is no end in sight for the bushfire season, here are few things we suggest to stay safe in Australia:

• Download app and regularly check website from your state fire authority website –                        [NSW]  [VIC]  [QLD]  [SA]  [TAS]  [ACT]  [WA]  [NT]
• If you live in a bushfire prone area, then be ready with yourbushfire survival plan.
• Understand the Fire Danger Rating and warning signs.
• Wear masks and stay indoors if there is smoke outside.
• Always follow and listen to official news and warnings only.

Final notes

Last but not least, some scammers are using the Australian bushfire as an opportunity to scam people and take advantage of this unfortunate situation. We suggest you always check the details of the organisation before you are going to donate.

We would also like to thank all the firefighters, volunteers and everyone involved in fighting these fires and helping the community in any possible way.

If you can help us by sharing this article with others, it will be really helpful. Thank you for help.

So you have landed to study in Australia but you don’t know anyone here. You don’t know how to get around and worried about making friends. So in this article, we are looking at 10 ways on how to make friends in Australia as an international student.

1. Making friends at University

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As an international student studying in Australia, the first point of contact for you will be your educational institution. Whether you are studying in a university, TAFE or a private provider, there are usually many opportunities for making friends at all these institutions.

To make friends at your university, we suggest you attend your orientation. Now we explain a lot about orientation in detail here. But to give you a quick overview, orientation is a way of welcoming new students by Australian educational institutions. 

Another way to make friends at uni is when your classes start you can observe the people in your lectures or tutorials and approach them for a drink or sharing notes or just having a meal.

You can also join student social clubs and participate in various activities organised by these clubs. Not only it gives you some experience in dealing with people from various backgrounds but also helps in making lifelong friends.

Also, attending special events organised by your institution is a good way to network and make friends. So whether it is a special lecture, guest speaker conference, workshop, seminar, etc, try to attend as many as you can.  

2. Make friends at the workplace

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One of another popular place for lots of international students to make friends in Australia is at their workplace. 

It is quite a common culture for many workmates in Australia to mingle after work, especially for after-work drinks. But if you don’t drink, that’s fine too as you can ask your workmates to go for other activities like watching a movie, going bowling or a bite to eat. 

Lots of workplaces even have a culture to encourage staff to do other activities which help to build team bonding like barbeques, playing sports, day trips and family activities etc.

3. Choose your accommodation wisely

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Accommodation can be very critical for making new friends in Australia, so choose it wisely. While there are many types of student accommodations available for international students in Australia. You should choose the one that meets your budget, lifestyle and the one where you can make a few new friends.

Lots of international students choose backpacker hostels as their first accommodation before moving into other types of accommodations. It is not only cheaper to live rather than a hotel or private room but also an excellent way of meeting new people from other countries and cultures. 

Apart from backpacker hostels, international students also live in managed student accommodations. These accommodations are specially designed to meet the needs of the students. 

So these managed student accommodations have lots of other students from different parts of Australia and the world living under the same roof. If you decide to live in them, then don’t forget to attend all the social events organised by these facilities. 

We also know that some students will not live with other students from their own culture or country, so they can make friends from other parts of the world and it can help them to improve their English as well.

4. Facebook and Whatsapp groups

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Another way to make friends in Australia is through social media platforms. But we are specifically talking about Facebook and Whatsapp groups as these are indeed very popular networks for socialising in Australia. 

There are many groups you can join and make friends with other group members online and attend all the events organised by the group admins or members. Alternatively, you can catch up with these people privately outside the group events too.

In case, you decide to meet a person in private, we suggest you meet them in public places like cafes, restaurants, etc to ensure your safety.

5. Attend local events

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Most of the Australian cities and towns organise various food festivals, exhibitions, and other educational events during the year. Check all the local events happening in your area and visit them and make friends with locals there.

You can check all the events happening in your local community by visiting your local council’s website. We suggest you check this website for all the major events happening in each state and territory.

As Australia is one of the most diverse countries in the world, there are many cultural events that you can be a part of. So whether it is Chinese New Year, Indian Diwali Festival, Greek Festival or Spanish Fiesta, you can enjoy these cultural events and make new friends either by just attending or working at them.

These events are usually free to attend and they can be close to your neighbourhood so don’t need to travel far away from attending them.

6. Do volunteering when free 

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For some students it might seem like that volunteering is a time-consuming task and of course, it’s not paid work but it’s definitely done for a good cause. While volunteering, you will come across people who share the same common values of helping others. 

You can do volunteering either by helping an elder, disabled person or you can join a local volunteer organisation. There are many ways you can help the local community in Australia. 

It is also very much appreciated by locals and you can use the experience you gained at these volunteer events or jobs in your resumes too. 

The volunteer organisations are always needing more helping hands. So don’t be shy! Go volunteer is also a very popular platform for finding volunteer work in Australia.

7. Play sports

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Australians love their sports especially Australian Football (aka AFL), Cricket, Soccer, Hockey, Rugby and pretty much any sports you can think of. Playing sports will also mean that you will keep yourself healthy and fit.

Ideally, you can look for sports club in your local area by checking it on facebook groups or find it from your local council or a community center. Sometimes, a simple google search to find a sports club in your local area can also do wonders.

Alternatively, you can also join a gym as they regularly hold events and you can find a buddy to workout with and have a decent conversation as well. You will see familiar faces on a regular basis in the gym, so no harm in asking for a piece of quick advice or support to start a convo there.

8. Go to your place of worship

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Believe it or not but religious places are not the only way to connect with God but also with other people who share the same belief as you do. So whether you are Christian (Church) Muslim (Mosque) Hindu, Buddhist, Sikh (Temple), Jewish (Synagogue) there are many religious worship places you can visit for praying and seek friendship there 

You can always start by talking with religious leaders of the place about how you can connect with more people and attend the events organised by these places. 

Usually, people attending these religious places are welcoming and if you are regularly attending these religious places, you can make more friends there. 

9. Go to a local Library

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If you love reading books, there is good news for you as there are plenty of libraries in Australia. Not only you can read the books in the library but also you can also find other readers who have a common interest in reading similar types of books.

If you already know about the layout of the library, then you can help others who are searching for books. Again, the libraries also organise tours, events and other activities, you can be a part of these groups for these activities for making friends.

10. Be part of the meetup groups and events

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Australian cities are famous for organising lots of meetups. You can literally find many meet groups in each city. The best way to find these groups is by using online platforms like Meetup.com and Eventbrite.com.au.

These groups and events are organised by a host and you can also filter them by your specific interests. If you are confident in organising events, you can also create your own group or event on these platforms. 

While lots of these groups and events are free to attend, some of them might cost you some dollars.

So there you have them all on how to make friends in Australia as an international student. We want to hear which method did you use to make new friends in Australia.

Food is one of the most important parts of our lives. As a vegan or vegetarian, it can be hard to survive in certain countries. But is Australia easy enough to survive for vegan or vegetarian international students? Let’s check it out in this guide.

For those who don’t know, while both vegans and vegetarians avoid eating animal meat, vegans avoid eating any animal produced products like milk, cheese etc. as well.

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Can I survive as vegan or vegetarian in Australia?

In short, the answer is definitely Yes, You Can!. It is certainly possible to survive as vegan or vegetarian in Australia. While most of the major cities have plenty of options for Vegans and vegetarians, you might feel short of options if you are in regional towns and cities. 

Who would know better about how to survive as a vegan/vegetarian than our very our founder, Sam, who has been living here in Australia for more than 12 years and never felt an urge or being short of so many food options that Australia has on offer for vegans and vegetarians in Australia. 

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Things you must know about vegan and vegetarians in Australia

• Australians are considered to be one of the most meat-eaters in the world.
• Although, the latest research shows that many Australians are adopting a vegan and vegetarian lifestyle.
• Around 12.1% of Australians follow a vegan or vegetarian diet. 
• Although lots of people, especially in cities understand the concept of being vegan and vegetarians, there are still plenty of Australians who don’t understand that.
• Don’t feel offended when you are going to Aussie BBQ/meeting/social setting if there is no vegan or vegetarian food available. 
• Australia has lots of fresh produce of fruits and vegetables so there are plenty of choices there. Some fruits and vegetables especially the one imported from other countries can be expensive though
• There are plenty of grocery shops available from countries all over the world like Asian, Indian, European, etc, so you can still have a taste of your home country. 

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Tips for surviving as vegan and vegetarian in Australia

Before arriving in Australia

Even before arriving in Australia, make sure to contact your airline and pre-order your flight meals. 

If you have already have made arrangements for the accommodation in Australia, then you should contact your host or accommodation provider and make an arrangement for the food meeting your dietary requirements.

Learn to cook

It is a good idea to learn how to cook your own meals as it is not only a cheaper option but you also know what is putting inside your food. 

Cooking can be a fun thing to learn and once you master the skill, there is no stopping you. You can buy your plant-based groceries from local supermarkets, local markets, and specialty stores and learn how to cook using YouTube, reading cookbooks or family’s help.

Check the labels

Read the ingredients on the packaging. Any food served in Australia whether packed or not must have nutrition information and ingredients used. 

Unlike other countries, there are no specific labels requirements for Vegan and Vegetarians friendly foods by the Australian government. Although many companies have started using those labels now.

Adjust your tastebuds

The flavor of the food might be different than your home country so you will need to adjust your tastebuds accordingly. If you have same taste expectations like your home, then you might get yourself disappointed,

If you are out and about

If you are going to be out for a long time during the day, then it is advisable to bring your own food from home and especially if you are going to be in the regional areas and outer city areas.

If you can’t carry around too much food, then we recommend you to at least keep some snacks in your bag.

Ask when eating out

If you are eating out, then confirm with the restaurant waiter/waitress about the food before ordering as some restaurants consider eggs and fish as part of a vegetarian diet. 

If you can’t find any vegan or vegetarian dish on the menu, then you can ask the waiter/waitress if there is any chance they can alter or modify one of the menu items so it is a vegan or vegetarian.

Ask for help and connect with others

If you are still unsure and struggling to find the right food for you, then we suggest you ask around from your landlord, friends, teachers and support service officers from your education provider.

If you are new to the country or coming soon to Australia, then we also suggest you connect with like-minded people through Facebook groups (like vegans in Australia), Whatsapp groups and WeChat groups. 

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Where you can buy vegan and vegetarian groceries

There are many vegan and vegetarian-friendly groceries and supermarkets available in Australia. All the major supermarkets in Australia have products meeting the needs of vegans and vegetarians. You can easily find a substitute for any food item. Almond milk, tofu, vegan burger, vegan tacos, and even vegetarian sushi.

Vegan toiletries are also becoming popular by the day and you can find them in the leading supermarkets as well. Here is a list of popular supermarkets where you can buy your vegan and vegetarian products:

• Woolworths
• Coles
• Aldi
• IGA
• Foodworks

Apart from these supermarkets, there are specific vegan stores in most of the major cities in Australia. Most of them you can easily found out using a simple google search. 

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Websites and Apps for eating vegan or vegetarian food in Australia

Happy Cow

This website compiles all the vegan and vegetarian restaurants from all over the world.

Veg Out

Veg out is an app powered by Happy Cow team and complies all the vegan, vegetarian and vegetarian-friendly restaurants but in an app.

Vegman

Vegaman is another popular platform for vegans and vegetarians to find the restaurants meeting their dietary requirements, 

Vegan Australia

Vegan Australia is an organisation that provides information regarding veganism in Australia. They also have lots of resources, articles and organise events throughout Australia.

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Popular Vegan and vegetarian fast-food restaurants in Australia

Although, we suggest you check more restaurants and eating places for vegans and vegetarians in your city using one of the apps or websites mentioned above. Here, we are giving a list of popular food chains that you can find vegan or vegetarian food (pretty much) throughout Australia. Most of these restaurants can be found in all major metro and regional cities. 

Please note that most of these restaurants have vegan or vegetarian options only and are serving food with meat as well. We can’t make comment on if they are cooking vegan or vegetarian food using the same equipment or not. So if you have a strictly religious or dietary requirement, we suggest you do your own research before eating at any of these restaurants. 

Burger/Sandwich

Hungry Jacks

Hungry Jacks offer Vegan breaky Muffin and Vegan Cheeburger along with their fries and hashbrown as well.

Grill’d

Grill’d offer not one, two but four vegan burger options on their menu. You can also request to customise any burger on the menu making it vegan and vegetarian. Fries are vegan as well.

Subway

Subway in Australia offers few options for vegans and vegetarians. You can their try Veggie Delite or Smashed Avocado. Their toasties are vegetarian as well.

Lord of the Fries

Everything on the menu of Lord of the Fries is 100% plant-based and vegan. So you are good to order anything from their menu and be assured that it is vegan.

Nandos

You can try their vegetarian burger from the main menu or try their word famous Peri-Peri chips. 

Schnitz

Schnitz are known for their innovative menu. You can customise most of their rolls or wraps by avoiding few ingredients and swapping with vegan cheese and vegan mayo.

Mexican

https://www.instagram.com/p/B70CW–luFZ/

Guzman y Gomez

Guzman y Gomez is one of the leading Tex-Mex Mexican food chains in Australia and they serve a variety of burritos, enchiladas, tacos, and nachos. You can easily get a vegan and vegetarian option while eating here.

Zambrero

Whether, you want to order burritos, chikitos, bowls, nachos, tacos or quesadilla, vegan and vegetarian-friendly options are available for all these items. Plus make sure to try their spiced cauliflower side.

Mad Mex

You can enjoy burritos and nachos without having any meat inside them. They have also added a vegan cheese option for meeting the needs of vegans as well.

Salsa’s

Salsa’s offer Mucho burrito and veg bowl for vegans and vegetarians. You can try their Mexican salad, corn chips, and nachos. 

Pizza

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Domino’s

Domino’s not only offered 3 vegan pizzas but has many options for vegetarians as well. They even offer vegan garlic bread on their menu.

Pizza Hut

Pizza Hut in Australia offers 3 vegetarian pizzas which can also be customised to be vegan. If you want to completely customise the pizza, you can do so on their website as well. 

Crust

If you are seeking vegan pizza options, then Crust is definitely the place to be. With 3 vegetarian and 2 vegan options, Crust has upper hand than most other pizza franchise. They also offer pasta and salads as well.

Pizza Capers

Pizza Capers also offer 4 pizzas which can cater to the needs of the vegan (2 of them) and vegetarians. They also offer vegan calzones as well.

Healthy

Sumo Salad

Sumo salad provides a range of salads, soups, wraps, sandwiches and other healthy snacking options. You can also customise their salads as they allow you to build your own. 

Soul Origin

Soul origin is also famous for soups, sandwiches, soups, baguettes, paninis and other healthy food. Their menu has a decent range of options for vegetarians but they have fewer vegan options. 

With so many options for vegetarians and vegans in Australia, it is certainly possible to survive as a vegan or vegetarian in Australia. So if you are a vegan or vegetarian and planning to study abroad, then we would definitely recommend you to choose Australia as a top destination to study. 

 

Finding accommodation to live in Australia is one of the most challenging parts of overseas students life. It can be really challenging as

• You usually compete with the locals for the property
• You don’t have rental history
• You don’t income proof as you don’t have Australian employment
• You probably have no guarantors

Here in this guide, we explain the step by step on renting in Australia as an overseas student.

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Step 1: Look for the property

The first step is to look for the property that you would like to rent. There are various types of accommodation options available for overseas students in Australia. You can rent a

• Private rental
• Student apartments
• On campus and
• Home Stay

You can find more information about all these accommodation types here.

Before you even decide the type of accommodation, we suggest you consider the following selection criteria for choosing the accommodation:

• Budget: How much money would you like to spend?
• Area: Which suburb or areas you would you like to love?
• Facilities: Which facilities matter to you the most like furnished accommodation, pool, gyms etc? It is also important for students to have a nice desk and comfortable chair, as they spend a lot of their time studying.​
• Location:  How accessible the university/college, work and shopping are from the property?
• Public Transport: How far is the public transport from the property?

Although, there are many ways (e.g. student services from your institute, notice boards, newspapers or real estate agents office) you can look for accommodation in Australia but the most preferred way is to search the properties online. You can look for various rental properties on popular websites like:

• Gumtree.com.au
• Realestate.com.au
• Domain.com.au
• Flatmates.com.au

You can also look for student-specific accommodations on websites like:

• Student.com
• Universityliving.com
• Amberstudent.com

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Step 2: Inspect the property

Once you selected a few properties meeting your selection criteria, the next step is to inspect the property. You will need to check the property inspection open times and it is also advisable to confirm the timings with the property agents as well because sometime the inspection times might change.

Usually, the property managers will open the property for 15 to 30 minutes. In Australia, Saturday is the most popular day for the inspections. Although, there might be another days or timing available as well. The property manager may even ask for your identification and some personal details before letting you inspect the property.

After inspecting the property, the property manager may ask you if you like the property and if you would like to apply for the property. If you like the property, then you will go to step 3, if not, then you will keep inspecting the property until you find the one that meets your requirement.

It is also advisable to inspect the property before renting as some students in the past have reported that pictures shown on the websites look different than the reality,

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Step 3: Application for the property

Once, you are happy with the property, you will need to proceed with the application of the property. This usually involves completing an application form and providing as much information as possible.

Some of the key information that you need to provide in this application form includes:

• Personal Details including some form of identification
• Employment details
• Previous rental history
• References from employers and previous landlords etc.

Once you submit the application, the property agent will notify you about the result of the application after discussions with the landlord. The property manager will also conduct the background, employment and reference checks as well to ensure that they are going to give rental property to someone who can pay the rent in time.

There can be quite a lot of competition in some properties so it is better to apply nice and early if you would like to improve the chances of getting a positive answer.

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Step 4: Sign the lease and paying the bond

If your application is successful, the next step is to sign the lease. A lease is a legally binding contract between you (a tenant) and a landlord. A lease can be fixed term (which is for a specific time like 12 months) or a periodic lease (month by month).

This lease document will have information on:

• How long a tenant can live
• How much the rent will
• When the rent must be paid and how
• How much the bond will be
• How often the inspections will be conducted
• Any special conditions that tenants must abide

You will also usually need to pay the bond when you are signing up the lease. A bond is a refundable security deposit that you need to provide to landlord or property agent which they will then be lodging it to the authorised government body in your state or territory. You may need to pay an amount equivalent to 4 to 6 weeks of rent as your bond.

A bond is kept by this authority till your lease finishes and you decide to move out of the property. It is kept to ensure the rights of a landlord to cover any expenses for damages that might be caused by the tenants. It is important that you get a copy of the receipt of your bond.

If you plan to sublet the property to other tenants, then you should get approval from your landlord first. Also, it is better to have every co-tenants name on the lease as well as it legally binds them also in case something does go wrong.

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Step 5: Condition report

Once you signed the lease and lodged bond, it is time to move into the property. Prior to moving into the property, your property agent or landlord must give you a condition report. A condition report is a document that records the general condition of the property and any existing wear tear or damage.

You must get this report and complete if you find any further damages or scratches or any other missing items. Once completed, you will need to give it back to your property manager or landlord. You must keep a copy of that condition report for yourself as well.

It is also advisable to take photos of any damages or scratches that happened before you move into the property to avoid any future disputes with the property manager or landlords.

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Step 6: Moving into a new home and Inspections

It is time to move into the property and make it to your own. Welcome to your new home!

While you are renting the property, it is always good to keep it clean and tidy at all times. You should try to treat it like your own house. The property manager or a landlord will conduct regular inspections also to ensure that the property is well maintained throughout the lease period.

The inspections will usually be conducted at least 2 or 3 times per year if your lease is for 12 months. It can be more or less depending on the agreement that you have with the landlord or the agent.

A landlord or an agent can not inspect the property without giving you written notice. There usually restrictions on timeframes as well on when the inspections can be conducted.  You usually don’t need to be present at the inspection as a landlord or a property agent keep the spare key of the property.

If while renting, there are things that need to be repaired then you can tell them to the agent or landlord when they come for an inspection. However, if the repairs are urgent then you must notify them as soon as possible.

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Step 7: Ending the lease

Once the lease is over, it is up to you and landlord if you want to extend it further or not. If you are planning to move at the end of the lease, then you must notify the landlord or agent at least 28 days before the lease expires. It gives the chance to the property manager or a landlord to show the property to other prospective tenants.

When leaving the property, it is important to make sure to leave it clean and tidy. It is always advisable to leave the property the same way that it was when you moved into it. Your property manager or landlord will inspect the property after you leave. They will also do the final condition report also and if the property is not left clean or in a reasonable condition, then they might deduct the cost of cleaning or damages from your bond.

When the final inspections are done, you and your landlord or agent must complete a bond claim form after reaching an agreement on how and to whom the bond should be paid out. However, if you and your landlord or agent can’t reach an agreement then a landlord or a property agent should to the tribunal for claiming the bond in case of dispute over cleaning or damage.

You can apply for tribunal for claiming your bond as well in case you don’t receive the bond back within a few days of moving out from the property.

Also, it is important to cancel all the utilities like gas, water, electricity and internet as well. You must also notify all the businesses you expect to receive the mail from.  Alternatively, you can use Australia Post’s mail redirect service for redirecting all the mail to your new address.

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Where to get more help

If you need further information on renting, we suggest you contact the relevant authority in your state or territory. Here is a list of the relevant authorities for each state and territory in Australia

ACT – Tenants Union Act

NSW – Tenants Advice & Advocacy Services

NT – Consumer Affairs Northern Territory

QLD – Tenants Queensland

SA – Tenants’ Information and Advisory Service

TAS – Consumer Affairs and Fair Trading

VIC – Consumer Affairs Victoria

WA – Tenancy WA