Australian culture is quite unique and there are many features and characteristics that make it stand out from the culture of many other countries around the world.

If you are planning to come to Australia, these are the 10 things you should know about Australian culture.

1. Australians Are Known For Their Friendly Nature

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Generally speaking, Australians are friendly, honest, and open-minded people.

For example, if you see a stranger on the street, you can smile and say hi to them, and they’re likely to smile back and reply to your greetings.

Australians are also known for their laid-back attitude and sense of humor as well.

They like to have fun, crack jokes, and if you are coming to Australia for the first time, you might find it a bit challenging to understand some of their jokes. 

So a tip for you is to not take things too seriously and just go with the flow. And if you do not understand their jokes at the start, you will start getting the jokes in a while. 

2. Australians Love Sports

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Whether it is Football, AFL, Cricket, Rugby, or any other sport, Australians are very competitive in sports, and Australian fans love to back their home team regardless of the sport they’re playing. 

So if your home country’s teams are coming here to play against Australia, be ready to face hardcore Australian fans along with their teams.

Australians also love sports because it is a way to connect with other people, to share stories and experiences, and to feel a sense of community.

If you are just arriving in Australia, then we suggest you read our complete guide on AFL (Australian Football League) here.

3. Australians Don’t Have a Specific Religion

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Many Australians don’t follow any specific religion, and some of them don’t follow any religion at all. 

Even though they don’t follow any specific religion, they openly accept the practice of any other religion.

As Australia is a multicultural society, you can see people from all types of religion. 

As per the latest Australian census data (2021), here are the most common religions in Australia:

• Christianity (43.9%)
• No religion (38.9%)
• Islam (3.2%)
• Hinduism (2.7%)
• Buddhism (2.4%)

So don’t worry, you will be okay to practice your own religion without any issues. 

4. Meeting an Australian person for the first time

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As we discussed earlier, Australians are quite casual, but when meeting them for the first time, make sure to shake hands with them. 

Australians usually like a firm handshake, and it’s very important to maintain eye contact with the person you’re speaking to, as not looking into their eyes is disrespectful, and it seems as if you are hiding something (untrustable personality).

As friendly as they are, if you’re meeting Australians for the first time, don’t try to get too close to them; they don’t feel very comfortable about that. 

Generally, you can talk about their culture, country, sports, etc. You can also ask them about their favorite places in Australia, or what they think is the best thing about living there.

It’s always a good idea to avoid discussing topics related to politics, religious beliefs or any other controversial topics. 

5. Australians Love Their Slang

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Australians try to abbreviate everything they say aka their slangs.

You might feel overwhelmed with Australian abbreviations or slang at the start.

If you don’t understand their slangs, it’s a good idea to ask them to repeat what they say again.

Or just tell them you’re new here, and you don’t understand the slang, and saying “hello” is much better than saying “good day mate.” 

We have a comprehensive list of Australian slangs (120+) on our website here.

6. Australians Don’t Accept Discrimination Or Racism.

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It is illegal in Australia to discriminate against people based on their color, race, religion, gender or any other attribute. There is a law in the country about discrimination to protect human rights. 

We are not saying that there is no racism or discrimination in Australia, but you will rarely find discrimination or racism happening in Australia. 

If you experience discrimination, you may be able to take legal action against it.

7. Tipping Waiters Is Not Customary

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If you are working in the hospitality industry as a waiter, a waitress, or even in the kitchen, don’t expect to get any tips. 

Generally, the wages and salaries in Australia are excellent, as the minimum wage per hour in Australia from 1st July 2022 is $21.38 per hour, (the highest minimum wage in the world)

However, sometimes if you provide an excellent service to the patrons, you might end up getting a tip. 

8. Arrive On Time For Meetings

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Australians usually don’t like to be late for meetings.

As laid-back as they are, Australians still try to arrive on time for any meeting, whether it’s an interview, a business meeting or just meeting someone casually. So make sure to arrive on time when meeting an Australian.

And if you can’t make it on time, make sure that you let that person know by text or by calling them that you are running late.

9. Etiquette in Public Transportation

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When boarding public transport in Australia, you must give way to the exit passengers first and make sure to queue when catching any public transport. Don’t try to skip the queue.

It’s very important not to eat any food while traveling on public transport in Australia, as you might even end up getting a penalty for that in some cities.

It’s also a good idea not to speak too loudly on public transport. 

You can learn more about Public Transport Etiquette here.

10. Dating Culture in Australia

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If you are planning to date someone in Australia, it’s very important to know these factors; 

Unlike many other cultures, where people like to kiss each other on the cheek when they meet for the first time, Australians are reluctant to do that for the first meeting. So try to avoid that when you’re meeting someone for the first time.

People often go out for drinks or coffee with a potential partner before deciding if they want to pursue a further relationship.

Casual dating is also popular in Australia, and many people choose to date multiple people simultaneously.

Many Australians also use different apps for finding their love.

Regardless of gender, anyone can ask for a date in Australia.

Apart from meeting people through apps and online platforms, you can also meet people at:

• Educational institute, 
• Workplace,
• Community groups
• Sports
• Other events.

When going on a date with a potential partner, it’s a good idea to split your bills in half.

So these are the 10 things that you should know about Australian culture before moving here. 

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

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

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

1. Casual Environment 🙋

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

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

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

2. Jobs 💼

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

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

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

3. Multicultural 👳🏻

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

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

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

4.Weather ⛅

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

5. Jaywalking 🚸

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

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

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

6. Wildlife 🐨

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

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

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

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

7. Shopping Centers 🛍

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

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

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

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

8. Coffee ☕

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

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

9. Standard of Living 💰

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

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

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

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

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

10. Mobile Network 📶

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

11. Dimensions of the Country 📏

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

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

It is about the same size as continental USA.

12. Generic Drugs 💊

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

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

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

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

Generic medicine is usually cheaper than the branded medicine. 

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

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

13. Speeding 🚓

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

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

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

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

14. Daylight Savings 🕑

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

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

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

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

You can read more about daylight savings in this article. 

15. Smoking 🚬

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

And more importantly, what can you do about it?

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

What is Optus Data Breach?

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

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

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

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

What data is believed to be stolen?

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Some of the data that has been stolen include:

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

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

• Passport Details
• Driving License Details
• Medicare Details

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

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

Steps international students can take?

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

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

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

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

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

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

Assistance for your Driving License change 

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

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

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

• Australian Capital Territory 
• New South Wales
• Northern Territory
• Queensland 
• South Australia
• Tasmania
• Victoria
• Western Australia

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

Assistance for your Passport change

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

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

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

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

Assistance for your Medicare change

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

Complaints

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

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

Food is one of the biggest expenses after accommodation in Australia, and over the last few months the cost of living has been rising rather high.

In this article we are going to talk about some key money-saving tips on grocery bills in Australia.

1. Sign Up for Loyalty Programs

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There are four major supermarkets in Australia

• Woolworths
• Coles
• IGA
• ALDI

Woolworths and Coles being the most popular supermarket.

If you are going to shop at one of these supermarkets, which is either Woolworths or Coles, it makes sense for you to sign up for their loyalty program.

Most popular supermarket loyalty cards:

• Woolworths – Everyday Rewards 
• Coles – Flybuys.

Once you sign up for these loyalty programs, every time you scan your loyalty cards when shopping you get some points, and once you have collected a certain number of points, you get some rewards back.

For example, if you are shopping at Coles and you scan loyalty card regularly and get around 2000 points while shopping, you can get up to $10 back as a reward.

It may not seem like a lot, but if you are shopping there anyway, then it just makes sense that you save some money by signing up for these loyalty programs.

Plus, they usually send some special deals and offers for people who sign up for these loyalty programs.

And again, these programs are free to sign up for, so the question is: Why Not?

2. Wait For Weekly Specials

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All the major supermarkets in Australia always release their weekly specials.

Every week they come up with new bargains, discounts, deals, and offers.

If you are planning to buy things, it might be worthwhile for you to go through these weekly catalogs. If the item you really want to buy is not available this week, the chances are that it might be available in next week’s special.

It makes perfect sense to wait for those weekly specials and then plan your shopping accordingly.

Check our popular guide on student discounts in Australia here

3. Buy Generics or Home Brands

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Most of us prefer to buy branded items, but when it comes to certain items like sugar, salt or cleaning products, it makes sense to buy some generic brands or home brands.

These home brands or generic brands pretty much have the same quality product but just cheaper than branded ones.

The only difference is that they are made by the supermarket and are usually packed in very basic packaging, and they turn out to be cheaper than the branded products in many items.

If you are thinking well, the quality can be an issue, then consider that these supermarkets won’t be able to sell things that are not consumable or are dangerous to consume.

So it can be said that these home brands or generic brands are safe to use.

They’re just cheaper because they may use lower quality ingredients as compared to the very expensive high-quality branded products.

4. Use Gift Cards Instead of Cash

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Instead of cash, you can look for some discounted gift cards.

If you are a member of certain organisations like RACV, Optus, AGL etc., they may have some special deals for buying these gift cards.

For example, being a member of RACV insurance entitles you to a 4% discount on Woolworths gift cards.

In essence, you can buy these gift cards and then use them instead of cash to do your grocery shopping, saving you 4%.

There are services like CashRewards and ShopBack, which are basically cash back services that give you cash back on your gift card purchases as well.

These cash backs can range from 2% to 5%, and they occasionally have special offers.

Signing up for these services is free, and if you sign up using these services for cashback or rewards for the first time, then you can get some referral bonus as well.

Sign up for Shop Back here :

https://app.shopback.com/zKZrSeoc9qb 

Sign up for Cash Rewards here:

https://bit.ly/3BkXFay

Make sure to follow all the steps in the apps to get a referral bonus.

5. Shop In The Evening Time

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If you can go shopping in the evening instead of morning, that would be great.

The reason is that some fresh produce and bakery items usually get discounted at this time of the day, that you usually won’t see in the morning.

The thing is, supermarkets need to clear some of these items by the end of the day because they are not as fresh as they were in the morning, so they’ve to put some special prices in order to clear these items out.

If you’re not fussy about the highest quality possible, then these clearance items are pretty good to eat as well.

6. Look For The Clearance Section

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Some supermarkets have started creating specific aisles for clearance items.

Before you shop around, make sure you look for this clearance section and see if any item you really want to buy is available there.

If you’re not sure, you can ask one of the team members if they have a specific clearance section in the supermarket.

7. Check out Ozbargain regularly

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You should definitely sign up and check this website, ozbargain.com.au

This is one of the most popular websites for finding deals in Australia. We check not only for grocery shopping, but for other shopping items as well.

They usually have information on what the weekly specials are and some specific specials available from online retailers as well.

Just a word of caution, the website is very addictive as you will keep checking it regularly for deals.

8. Make a shopping list before going grocery shopping

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Create a shopping list before heading to the supermarket.

It will not only save you time for your shopping, but also will help in staying focused on what you need to buy, rather than just choosing random items on the shelves.

You can download shopping list apps on your phone or generally, supermarket apps have inbuilt shopping lists as well.

Read 60+ money saving tips for students here

9. Check your fridge and pantry before heading shopping

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There are chances that some items are just hidden behind other items or available in your pantry or in the fridge, so you don’t need to buy them again.

10. Don’t go grocery shopping on an empty stomach

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Going for the grocery shopping with an empty stomach is a very bad thing.

As you tend to buy more items than you need when going on an empty stomach. Usually you will end up buying more snacks than actual ingredients as well.

11. Bring your own bag from home

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If you’re going to buy bags from the supermarket, it will cost you some extra dollars.

Bringing your own bag is not only an environment friendly act, but also pocket friendly as well. 

12. If possible, buy in bulk

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If you’re living in shared accommodation, it might be worthwhile for you to buy in bulk rather than buy single items, because sometimes buying in bulk means saving you additional money.

If you are living in Australia and you do your grocery shopping on a weekly, monthly or whatever basis, we would love to hear from you as well.

What other tips do you have for others to save some money on their grocery bill?

Australia is one of the top most study abroad destinations worldwide. The country provides quality education, post-study work opportunities, friendly culture, and exotic locations, thus, making millions of international students aspire to study here.

However, settling in a faraway place can be pretty challenging in the first few months. On this note, you must be wondering about all the options available for your accommodation in the country!

To give you a sigh of relief, there are plenty of student housing options in Australia! Check out this article to learn about all 11 student accommodation options for international students in Australia, so you can select the one that meet your needs!

Residential College

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Cost: $110 to $280 per week

In Australia, a residential college is an on-campus accommodation near or sometimes inside a university. Thus, eliminating the burden of commuting long distances to reach university and making the overall experience of your university life safe and convenient.

In this type of accommodation, both the students and the staff reside together. Moreover, residential colleges offer you various services, such as food, laundry, cleaning, etc., so that you can comfortably study and spend your time in the country.

Another benefit of choosing this accommodation is to experience on-campus living, which comes with many perks. It is especially recommended for first-year students to get acquainted with the university culture and bond with other students. Besides, you can even access the Wi-Fi, library, and study room anytime while staying there!

Homestay

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Cost: $235 to $325 per week

Homestay is perfect for international students who have never travelled or stayed alone in a foreign location. It provides the home-like comfort many students crave after arriving in Australia.

Moreover, it is perfect for closely observing and integrating into Australian culture. You can learn about the local way of life, participate in community events, and improve your English.

A homestay program will provide you with a well-furnished room and take care of all your needs, such as food, laundry, and cleaning. Moreover, the cost of utilities is included in the rent; thus, you don’t have to fret over paying separate bills. However, the cost of the homestay varies depending on the room type and whether it is shared or single.

Generally, overseas students choose homestays for 1-2 months, and later, they shift into private accommodation near their universities. Nevertheless, you can stay for a bit longer, like the whole year, if you wish to.

Halls of Residence

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Cost: $320 to $1000 per Month

In Australia, halls of residence are owned by the educational institution or in partnership with a private company. These huge buildings with furnished rooms house over a hundred students and are usually located on the campus or close to it. Thus, making it easier for students to commute safely and quickly to the university.

In these residence halls, students share amenities–such as a study space, a kitchen, and sometimes even a bathroom. Moreover, you don’t have to pay bills separately as the utility cost includes the rent.

Purpose-Built Student Accommodation (PBSA)

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Cost: $200 to $500 per week

PBSA is one of Australia’s most popular off-campus accommodation options. These are alternatives to residence halls constructed by private developers near universities.

Although each student will get a fully furnished room, they will have to share the kitchen and bathroom with others. Moreover, they also provide impressive amenities like a gym, TV room, game room, etc. These places can be both self-catered or catered, and the cost of utilities is included in the rent.

Private Rental

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Cost: Rental: $165 to $500 per week; Shared Rental: $95 to $215 per week

In Australia, private rentals are generally referred to as renting an apartment. You can choose to rent together with other students or can stay alone. However, these are one of the costliest accommodation options, so you should consider renting an apartment with your friends, not alone!

Private rentals are usually suitable for students who want to live independently without the rules and regulations–which is not the case in on-campus living. Moreover, this accommodation is self-catered, and the cost of utilities may or may not be present in the rent. That means you might have to pay separate monthly bills for electricity, gas, etc.

You can even take assistance from your university to provide you with a list of verified landlords and letting agents. Remember, you must go through the entire tenancy agreement before signing it. It will help you become aware of your rights as a tenant and allow you to make changes in the document if you find something irrelevant.

Hostel Accommodation

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Cost: $90 to $150 per week

Hostels are an incredibly affordable accommodation option, generally picked by international students pursuing short courses in Australia. Besides, international students also prefer to stay in these hostels–usually for a concise duration–until they find permanent accommodation in the country.

There are two types of hostels available in Australia:

• Classic Hostels: These are renowned for providing high-quality accommodation services. Students get well-furnished rooms and access to shared facilities, such as a kitchen, lounge area, etc. Moreover, within this category, you can find different ranges of services like excellent, good, or average!

• Backpacker Hostels: You will find a vibrant yet relaxed atmosphere here. Depending on your budget, either you can go for the exclusive services package that includes complimentary breakfast, airport pickups, etc., or you can stick with the basic services package.

Boarding House

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Cost: $100 to $250 per week

In Australia, a boarding house is a type of residential accommodation where international students can rent a single room or a sleeping spot in a shared room in a house. They are affordable and can be rented for both the short and long term.

Each tenant has a separate lease agreement with the landlord but shares facilities like a bathroom, kitchen, etc. Moreover, you might avail of services like laundry and cleaning, so you have to check with your landlord.

Rooming House

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Cost: $100 to $250 per week

Generally, people think of boarding houses and rooming houses as the same, but they are not entirely similar. Both establishments are multi-tenant where rooms are rented out individually but have joint facilities like bathroom and kitchen.

However, one main difference is that rooming houses only provide rental of rooms. In contrast, boarding houses offer both lodging and meal services, and sometimes, additional facilities like laundry and maid service.

A rooming house is one of the low-cost accommodation options provided and owned by landlords in Australia, where you can rent a room on a temporary or long-term basis.

Staying with Your Relatives or Friends

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Cost: Free or as per your agreement with family or friends

When we move abroad, we always check if anyone in our family or friends is already living there. Well, it will be icing on the cake if you are fortunate enough to have someone in your social circle residing in Australia who wouldn’t mind you shifting with them.

Besides having a home away from home, you will enjoy a few other perks of living with your friends or family in Australia, such as:

• They can help you better adjust to the new environment by making you acquainted with the city, its culture, people, nearby places, etc.

• You will have a home-like comfort, enjoy home-cooked meals, spend your time with familiar faces, etc.

• If you have close relative or friend living in Australia, then sometimes, you can even enjoy a completely free accommodation.

Working as an Au Pair for Accommodation

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Cost: Usually Free

An au pair is a person, generally a female, from a foreign country who works and lives with a host family. They are responsible for childcare and some housework, and in return, they get food, accommodation, and a monthly stipend.

Most Australian families need support to care for their children, so they hire nannies or au pairs for the job. If you have previous childcare experience, then it will be an excellent opportunity to secure free accommodation and earn some money while studying in Australia. However, you must ensure your working hours do not collide with your university schedule.

Crisis & Emergency Accommodation

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Cost: Usually Free

Crisis & emergency accommodation aims to remove people dealing with a harmful environment or situation like homelessness (or at risk of it), domestic violence, etc. and place them in a safe and secure environment.

While in Australia, if you ever find yourself in such a situation, you can contact the nearest crisis center, and their staff will help arrange emergency or crisis accommodation for you.

One of the most popular resources to find these service is Ask Izzy

Conclusion

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Living as an international student in an exotic location like Australia is nothing less than an exciting adventure. On top of that, finding suitable and safe lodging can make your entire stay more wholesome in the country!

Also, before you begin your academic journey in the country, you must plan your accommodation on time to avoid the struggle of finding the right student home at the eleventh hour. This approach will save you from high rents and housing scams as well.

So whether you are looking for student accommodation in Sydney or student accommodation in Perth, book the property as soon as you know which university in Australia you will be attending!

Do you need help finding accommodation abroad?

Amber serves millions of students worldwide by providing the best and most budget-friendly options for booking accommodation. You can contact us to know more, and our team will assist you through the entire process of finding your student housing at your preferred location.

The Australian Football League is one of the most popular sports in Australia, second only to Cricket.

If you are an expat living in Australia or just visiting or international student, it can be difficult to understand the rules and how the game is played.

In this Beginner’s Guide to AFL, we will break down all the important terms and go over some basic strategies to help you gain a better understanding of AFL.

A brief history of AFL

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Actual origins of the Australian Football League are still a matter of debate. Although, here is a quick rundown of the history of this sport as we know.

Australian Rules football, more commonly known as AFL, is a sport which was created in Melbourne, Victoria in 1858.

Three different Melbourne schools competed in a number of football matches in the cold of 1858. These contests are said to be the very first official Australian Rules football games. Regular games in Melbourne started in 1859 after a set of AFL rules had been developed.

By the 1870s, audiences of up to 10,000 people were attending the distinctively Australian sport. The contest became a national sport.

The game may have drawn some of its inspiration from an indigenous game and Irish Gaelic football. However, the game was mostly modelled by the game of football used in English public education.

Various schools had different football regulations. This meant that a lot of effort was spent deciding which set of rules would be applied when games took place between schools.

AFL- Single Set of Rules

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It was in May, 1859 when the AFL-single set of rules was drafted by Thomas Wills and 6 other members from Melbourne Cricket Club.

In accordance with these regulations, which were revised throughout the course of the following ten years, a player might hold the ball and kick it at any moment, but they were not permitted to toss it.

Additionally, in order to score a goal, the ball must be booted through the net rather than carried.

How Was the Game Organised?

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Workplaces, schools and churches established their own football teams. Games were initially played in parks. But football had begun to gain popularity by the 1870s. Crowds paid to see the games, which were shifted from parks to cricket fields.

It was in May, 1877 when the VFA or Victorian Football Association was established in order to oversee football games in Victoria. The VFA promoted participation, developed new regulations, and supplied umpires for major matches.

In 1896, eight of the VFA’s top teams formed a pro football league named Victorian Football League. The VFL concentrated on enhancing the game’s speed and entertainment value. Additionally, they generated money by selling spectators’ tickets. Over the course of time, many clubs joined VFL.

How AFL became popular?

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Tasmania, Western Australia and South Australia- all adopted the sport in the 1880s, giving it the name “Australian Rules”. In addition to this, you must know that Rugby League and Union remained the most widely played football formats in the Queensland and New South Wales.

The Australian Football League, often known as the AFL, took the place of the Victorian Football League in 1990. Since that moment various clubs from New South Wales, Western Australia, Queensland, South Australia joined the league.

This uniquely Australian sport continues to develop every year as new players, regulations, and technology are introduced.

How to Score in AFL?

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Each of the two 18-player teams competes against the other.

Their primary purpose is to place a ball between a quartet of goalposts. Which crossbar the ball touches determines exactly how many points the team scores.

Players are not permitted to throw the ball; instead, they may kick it or punch it off their palm to transfer it to a teammate.

Unless a tie-break or a declared draw is used, the side with the most points at the conclusion of the game wins.

Basic AFL Rules for dummies

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Here are some must know rules about the Australian Football League (AFL)

• AFL is played on an oval-shaped pitch (oval shaped ball) with goalposts at either end.
• Only 18 of each team’s 22 players participate on the field. Other 4 are substitutes and can be replaced anytime.
• Australian Football League is divided into 4 quarters. The duration of each quarter is 20 minutes.
• More time is also given if an umpire signals time out.
• All judgments are made by the umpire, whose decision is final.
• The game starts with a center bounce.
• Then, a member from each side tries to touch the ball.
• Players can move the ball in three ways running. Players can use their fist or kick it. If the ball remains too high, you can catch the ball by jumping.
• Players must make sure that they are bouncing the ball every 16 yards.
• In order to score, the players will have to throw the ball through the two large upright posts. It will give their team 6 points.
• However, if you hit the post or send the ball between the outer large and lower post, it is worth 1 point only. It is called a ‘behind’.
• The game resumes in the same manner as it did at the start once a goal is scored.
• A team will get a free kick if one of the players catches a kick greater than 15 metres. It’s also known as “mark”.
• The player who catches (or mark) the ball cannot be challenged until it has been kicked.
• He is given the freedom to execute the following play without any interruptions.
• The side in possession of the ball advances 15 metres down the field if an opponent steps beyond the mark or makes a tackle.
• To recover the ball, players are permitted to tackle the opposing team, but they can only do it from shoulder height and below.
• If a player is being tackled and won’t release the ball, the umpire will call out and the ball will be handed over.
• When sprinting or engaged in a tackle, players cannot shove their rivals from the rear.
• Another unique thing about this game is that there is no offside rule.

Different Positions in the AFL

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If you want to understand AFL deeply, you need to know the different players’ position in the game. We have named them below:

• Ruckman: The Ruckman is the player on the team that defends their goal post, as well as tries to win possession of the ball during stoppages. They need a lot of height, strength, and ability to cover ground.

Teams typically only have one Ruckman on the field, but they can also use taller players on the defence or the forward line to fill in as the “back-up ruckman” during ruck competitions.

• Defenders: As the name implies, these guys are protecting the goal from the other team.

By tackling the opponent, marking the ball, sabotaging kicks and locating midfielders up the field while in control of the ball, these players are attempting to divert the ball away from the goal.

The first defender is called a defender and his or her role is to mainly stay back and control any advances into their side of the ground while reading what plays the opposition will make.

They also need to position themselves so that they can be seen by their teammates downfield in order to communicate with them when necessary. If an opponent manages to break through, it’s important for this player to have excellent tackling skills so that they can stop them from scoring.

The second defender is usually referred to as an outside back or wingman and their job is usually about helping in any way possible.

• Midfielders: These players serve as the team’s heart and soul. These players hold the ball in large numbers as it travels from one end to the other and back again.

If the midfielders have the ball, they should search for another midfielder or a striker who can score. A player who is nearer to the ball and tries to take possession of it from the opposition by tackling or stealing passes is known as an “inside midfielder.”

An “outsider midfielder,” on the other hand, tries to distance themselves from their opponent. They aim to advance in the possession chain as the following participant.

• Forwards: To counter the defensive and playing styles of the opposition, forwards come in a variety of sizes.

Key forwards are big, athletic individuals who track the high ball and make all-around goal kicks.

To avoid tackling as well as kicking goals, “crumbing” forwards, who are smaller in stature but quick and intrusive, play below the key-forwards.

List of Teams in AFL

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Currently, there are 18 teams playing in the Australian Football League.

Here is a list of all the teams and their nickname that are currently playing in Australian Football League (AFL)

• Adelaide – Crows
• Brisbane – Lions
• Carlton – Blues
• Collingwood – Magpies
• Essendon – Bombers
• Fremantle – Dockers
• Geelong – Cats
• Greater Western Sydney- Giants
• Gold Coast – Suns
• Hawthorn – Hawks
• North Melbourne – Kangaroos
• Melbourne – Demons
• Port Adelaide – Power
• Richmond – Tigers
• St Kilda – Saints
• Sydney – Swans
• West Coast – Eagles
• Western Bulldogs – Bulldogs

How is AFL tournament played?

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A total of 18 teams plays in the home and away games each other in the AFL league. These games will occur during the winter months between March and September.

Top 8 teams will qualify for the finals after the home and away round. These 8 top teams will compete in 4-week final series. And the final 2 teams will proceed to play in the Grand final.

Grand final is usually played each year on the last Saturday of September at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) in Victoria.

The winner of the final will take the premiership cup and the premiership flag.

There is also a public holiday on the AFL final eve (Friday prior to the AFL final) in Victoria.

In 2022, the AFL Grand final will be played on Saturday 24^th September 2022 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG).

Reasons To Watch AFL

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The Australian Football League (AFL) has been one of the most popular sports in Australia since its inception in the 19th century. Here, we have added the top reasons to watch AFL.

• Game Is Easy to Understand: Watching and understanding an AFL game is pretty easy once you know what’s going on.

For example, teams try to score points by kicking or handballing the ball into one of three different goal posts: left, center and right.

• Players are Very Accessible: When you go to an AFL game, not only are you getting a chance to see some amazing football, but you can also meet players and get autographs and photos with them.

Players in Australia are used to interacting with fans of the game because so many people play footy. This helps them become role models for younger players and show that they should always be open and friendly.

So, this is all about Australian Football League or AFL in short. We hope that you have understood how this game is played. An AFL game unites Australians of all ages.

You can interact with new people and fit in with Australian sports culture. Everyone will be applauding and chanting for their preferred sides during the game. So, next time, when you see an AFL match is going on, do not miss it.