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Top 10 Cheap Eats in Adelaide Under $15 - Featured Post

Top 10 Cheap Eats in Adelaide Under $15

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Adelaide is a city that offers a diverse range of food options, including delicious and affordable dining experiences. From street food stalls to casual eateries, Adelaide has plenty of options for those who are on a budget. From mouth-watering burgers to flavorful curries and everything in between, Adelaide has something for every taste bud. 

So, let’s dive into the top 10 cheap eats in Adelaide that are both delicious and budget-friendly.

Sit Lo

📌 Location: 30 Bank Street, Unisa City West Campus – Gf, Barbara Hanrahan (Bh) Building, Shop 2/11 Waymouth Street, Adelaide SA 5000, Australia

☎️ Phone: 0456 659 841, 08 8123 7341, 0452 658 211

✉ Email: [email protected]

⏰ Opening Hours: Monday – Friday (11:30am – 3:30pm)

 (30 BANK STREET, ADELAIDE): 11:00am – 9:00pm

🍽️ Cuisine: Asian, Vietnamese

⭐ Google Reviews: 4.4/5 (from 601 reviews)

🖤 Zomato Reviews: 4.1/5 (from 298 reviews)

Sit Lo restaurant is a modern Chinese restaurant located in the heart of Adelaide, Australia. The restaurant offers a contemporary dining experience that blends traditional Chinese flavours with modern culinary techniques. 

The menu features a variety of affordable dishes inspired by regional Chinese cuisine, including classic dishes such as kung pao chicken and sweet and sour pork. The restaurant also features an extensive selection of traditional Chinese teas and a well-curated wine list to complement your meal. 

With its warm and inviting atmosphere, Sit Lo is the perfect destination for an intimate dining experience or a special celebration with friends and family.

North Indian Cuisine

📌 Location: 38A Hindley St, Adelaide SA 5000 and multiple other locations

☎️ Phone: +61 08 7001 7353

🔵 Website: northindiancuisine.com.au

⏰ Opening Hours: Monday – Sunday (11:30am –10:00pm)

🍽️ Cuisine: Indian

⭐ Google Reviews: 4.2/5 (from 302 reviews)

North Indian Cuisine is a go-to place for pocket-friendly lunch and dinner in Adelaide. With their vegetable pakora’s starting from only $1.50, you can’t go wrong with this cheap eat.

You can also get 3 curries with rice for less than $15 with an option to upgrade to meat curries. Perfect for students and travellers alike, this place will leave you in awe with their pricing and decent food serving as well.

Pondok Daun

📌 Location: 94 Currie St, Adelaide SA 5000, Australia

☎️ Phone: +61 8 8212 1449

🔵 Website: pondokdaun.com.au

⏰ Opening Hours: Monday – Saturday (11:30am – 8:30pm)

 🍽️ Cuisine: Indonesian

⭐ Google Reviews: 4.6/5 (from 913 reviews)

Pondok Daun is an absolute gem of a restaurant in Adelaide. The food is amazing, with a great selection of Indonesian dishes that are full of flavour and spice. 

What’s even better is that the prices are incredibly affordable – most dishes are under $15, so you can enjoy a delicious meal without breaking the bank. 

The service is also fantastic, with friendly staff who are always happy to help. Pondok Daun is highly recommended to anyone looking for delicious and affordable Indonesian food in Adelaide.

Warong

📌 Location: Lower Ground, 77-91 Rundle Mall, Adelaide SA 5000, Australia

☎️ Phone: +61 8 8223 7697

🔵 Website: warong.com.au 

⏰ Opening Hours: Monday – Thursday (10:30am –6:30pm), Friday (10:30am – 8:45pm), Saturday – Sunday (11am – 5pm)

 🍽️ Cuisine: Malaysian

⭐ Google Reviews: 4.0/5 (from 219 reviews)

Warong Adelaide is an amazing spot in the city. The food is amazing, and the food is so affordable! Most dishes are under $15, which is an absolute steal for the quality and flavour of the food. 

The menu is full of delicious options, from the fragrant and spicy laksa to the crispy and savoury roti canai. The portions are generous, and the staff are friendly and welcoming. The atmosphere is relaxed and comfortable, making it the perfect spot for a casual lunch or dinner. 

Lots of options available for Vegans and Vegetarians as well.

Ballaboosta

📌 Location: 289 Halifax St, Adelaide SA 5000, Australia

☎️ Phone: +61 8 8232 1853

🔵 Website: ballaboosta.com.au

⏰ Opening Hours: Monday – Friday (7:30am – 9pm), Saturday (8am – 9:30pm), Sunday (8am – 3pm) 

🍽️ Cuisine: Mediterranean 

⭐ Google Reviews: 4.5/5 (from 1089 reviews)

Ballaboosta is a great spot to get fast meals and has been commended over the years for its food and affordability. 

Their menu features a range of Mediterranean-inspired dishes, including falafel wraps, shakshuka, and hummus plates. The portions are generous, making it a great spot for a filling and satisfying meal. 

Many of their breakfast options are under $15 and their Mezze also meet the bill. 

Uncle Authentic Hainanese Chicken Rice

📌 Location: 4A/8 Waymouth St, Adelaide SA 5000, Australia

☎️ Phone: +61 8 8410 1963

🔵 Website: facebook.com

⏰ Opening Hours: Monday – Friday (11:00am – 3:00pm)

🍽️ Cuisine: Chinese

⭐ Google Reviews: 4.8/5 (from 148 reviews)

Uncle Authentic Hainanese Chicken Rice in Adelaide is a great spot to eat delicious food at affordable prices. 

The restaurant’s specialty is its Hainanese Chicken Rice, a traditional dish made with poached chicken and fragrant rice cooked in chicken broth and served with various sauces and condiments. 

The quality of their popular chicken and rice combinations is top-notch and is popularly known for its aroma and taste. Despite the high quality of the food, Uncle Authentic Hainanese Chicken Rice is known for its affordability, with most dishes priced at under $15. This has made it a popular choice among students and budget-conscious diners.

Two-bit villains

📌 Location: Adelaide Arcade, Shop 150, Level one, 111/117 Rundle Mall, Adelaide SA 5000, Australia

☎️ Phone: +61 8 8232 1302

🔵 Website: two-bitvillains.com

⏰Opening Hours: 

  • Monday (Closed)
  • Tuesday (11:30 am–3 pm)
  • Wednesday (11:30 am–3 pm, 5:30–8 pm)
  • Thursday (11:30 am–3 pm, 5:30–8 pm)
  • Friday (11:30 am–9 pm)
  • Saturday (11:30 am–8:30 pm)
  • Sunday (11:30 am–3 pm)

🍽️ Cuisine: Vegetarian

⭐ Google Reviews: 4.4/5 (from 619 reviews)

Two-Bit Villains in Adelaide is a popular restaurant that has been receiving great reviews for its food and affordability. The restaurant is known for serving delicious plant-based meals, with most dishes priced under $15. 

Their menu features a range of burgers, hot dogs, and sides, all made with fresh and locally sourced plant-based ingredients. The restaurant has a friendly and welcoming atmosphere and their staff are knowledgeable and passionate about the food they serve. Two-Bit Villains offers a unique and creative menu, with plenty of options to satisfy any craving.

Mugen House

📌 Location: 408 King William St, Adelaide SA 5000

☎️ Phone: +61 466 093 118

🔵 Website: mugenhouse.com

⏰ Opening Hours:

  • Monday (5:30pm – 9 pm)
  • Tuesday (5:30pm – 9 pm)
  • Wednesday (5:30pm – 9 pm)
  • Thursday (5:30pm – 9 pm)
  • Friday (5 pm – 10 pm)
  • Saturday (12 pm – 2:30 pm), (5 pm – 10 pm)
  • Sunday (12 pm – 2:30 pm), (5 pm – 9 pm)

🍽️ Cuisine: Japanese

⭐ Google Reviews: 4.2/5 (from 622 reviews)

If you really want to feast, then this is the right restaurant for you as they offer all you can eat for $49.80 per adult.

But if you are not in mood to eat your heart out, then there are plenty of à la carte options available as well. 

With entrées starting from only $3, noodles from $12, grilled items from $14, you are sure to find something that fits your budget under $15. And the place looks quite decent with the wooden features and traditional Japenese wall art. 

Cibo Espresso

📌 Location: 3/57-59 O’Connell St, North Adelaide SA 5006, Australia and multiple locations around Adelaide 

☎️ Phone: +61 8 8267 6284

🔵 Website: ciboespresso.com.au

⏰ Opening Hours: 

  • Monday (6:30 am–5 pm)
  • Tuesday (6:30 am–5 pm)
  • Wednesday (6:30 am–5 pm)
  • Thursday (6:30 am–5 pm)
  • Friday (6:30 am–5 pm
  • Saturday (6:30 am–4 pm)
  • Sunday (7 am–4 pm)

🍽️ Cuisine: Italian

⭐ Google Reviews: 4.1/5 (from 356 reviews)

Cibo Espresso in Adelaide is truly a prize for those who are looking for delicious food at an affordable price. With most dishes priced under $15, Cibo Espresso has become a go-to spot for many locals and tourists alike. 

Their menu features a range of delectable Italian-inspired dishes, including paninis, pizzas, and pasta. The portions are generous, and the food is always fresh and flavorful. 

Whether you are in the mood for a light snack or a cup of soothing and warming coffee, Cibo Espresso is the best spot! The atmosphere of the cafe is cozy and welcoming, making it the perfect spot for a quick bite or a leisurely catch-up with friends.

Pho House

📌Location: 42 Currie Street, Adelaide SA 5000

☎️ Phone: (08) 8212 5272 

✉ Email: [email protected]

⏰ Opening Hours: Monday – Friday

 Lunch: 11:00am – 3:00pm

 Dinner: 5:00pm – 9:00pm

🍽️ Cuisine: Vietnamese 

⭐ Google Reviews: 4.4/5 (from 692 reviews)

🖤 Zomato Reviews: 4.3/5 (from 347 reviews)

We started with Vietnamese cuisine, and we are ending with it too.

Pho House is a popular Vietnamese restaurant located in Adelaide, Australia. It offers a wide range of authentic Vietnamese dishes, including the famous Pho noodle soup, rice dishes, salads, and stir-fried dishes for $15. 

The Pho House is known for its fresh ingredients, flavorful dishes, and friendly service. Pho House is a great option for those looking for a quick satisfying meal, tasty drinks and delicious dessert. Pho House has something for everyone.

Conclusion 

Adelaide offers a fantastic array of cheap eats that will tantalize your taste buds and satisfy your cravings without breaking the bank. 

From delicious burgers to mouthwatering pizza, flavorful Asian cuisine to classic pub fare, Adelaide has it all when it comes to affordable dining options. 

The city boasts a variety of local gems and hidden foodie treasures that are waiting to be discovered, making it the perfect destination for budget-conscious foodies. 

Whether you’re a local or a visitor, these top 10 cheap eats in Adelaide offer something for everyone.

 So, go ahead and explore Adelaide’s cheap eats scene – you’re sure to find a special spot that will leave you wanting more!

If you want are travelling to Melbourne and want to cheap eats under $10 there, then we suggest checking our article on it here.



How to become a Hairdresser in Australia

How to Become a Hairdresser in Australia with a Salary Guide

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Hairdressing plays a crucial role in shaping people’s appearance, confidence, esteem and identity. 

From trendy haircuts to elaborate styles, hairdressers have the power to transform regular hair into a work of art! 

Do you see hairdressing as an appealing and adventurous career path? If yes, come along as we show you how to become a hairdresser in Australia.

Who is a Hairdresser?

Hairdresser is a person who cuts, trims, and styles customer’s hair. This could include straightening, colouring, treating, perming and many more. 

Size of the Hairdressing Industry

There are over 63,500 hairdressers in the Australian workforce. Statistics show a progressive projected growth of 9.6% by 2026, rendering this a stable career path to explore.

Popular Locations

The population of hairdressers in Australia has ever increased year after year (it is safe to say Aussies care very much about fashion and appearance). About 43% of hairdressers live outside capital cities and New South Wales has the largest share of resident hairdressers amongst other regions. 

Here below is the percentage of hairdressers in different areas of Australia by state and territory:

  • New South Wales 30.8%      
  • Queensland 21.4%    
  • Victoria 24.5%   
  • Western Australia 10.9%
  • South Australia 7.9%
  • Tasmania 2.4%
  • Australian Capital Territory 1.5%
  • Northern Territory 1.5%

Industries Where Hairdressers Work

The Beauty Services industry employs up to 98.9% of the hairdressers’ workforce. The beauty industry involves services like hairstyling, skincare, hair treatment, make-up artistry, spa services and body therapy treatments.

Other industries like Retailing services and Education and Training account for a minute 1.1% of the hairdressers’ population.

Hours of work

In Australia, around 51% of the hairdressers’ population work full-time hours in all their jobs combined. 

Full-time workers work an average of 41 hours per week in their primary job. 

This is 3 hours less than the working hours average for all jobs in Australia (44 hours per week). 

Age

The average age of hairdressers in the Australian workforce is 34 years, which is lower than the all-jobs average of 44 years. 

A large share of workers (27.9%) are within the age bracket of (25 to 34) years.  

Gender

With over 63,500 hairdressers in Australia, females make up 85% of the people who work there, and males make up 15%.

What are some of the skills required to become a Hairdresser in Australia?

People often say that hairdressers tell the most engaging and thrilling stories (gossip) in the salon, that isn’t totally a lie, right? : ) 

It is quite funny but true that you need great (gossip) communication skills to become a good hairdresser. 

Anyway, here are some important skills necessary for you to become a successful hairdresser in Australia:

  • Creativity skills
  • Technical Hairdressing skills
  • Meticulous skills
  • Hygiene and safety
  • Interpersonal skills
  • Tools Handling skills
  • Time Management
  • Customer service and relation skills
  • Communication skills

What are the tasks and duties of a Hairdresser in Australia?

Hairdressers have several roles to play from communicating with customers to styling them and ensuring customer satisfaction. 

Here are some tasks and duties of a hairdresser:

  • Schedule client appointments and manage client records.
  • Hold consultation appointments with clients regarding their hair type, desired style and hair treatment needs.
  • Give recommendations to clients on hair care and styling products personalized for their hair.
  • Cutting, trimming, fixing and shaping hair using different hair care equipment and products.
  • Perform chemical hair treatments such as perms, relaxers and moisturisers.
  • Shampoo, condition, rinse and dry hair before, during or after treatments.
  • Apply hair extensions and wigs according to clients’ fit.
  • Keep workstations, hairdressing tools and equipment properly organised, cleaned and sterilised.
  • Keep up-to-date with the latest hair trends and techniques in the industry.
  • Optimization of social media platforms to market hairdressing services.
  • Manage and take proper records of inventory and order supplies.
  • Provide excellent customer service and build relationships with clients.
  • Work with other professionals such as makeup artists and photographers.
  • Handle customer complaints and professionally resolve issues.

How much do Hairdressers earn in Australia? 

As a hairdresser in Australia, your income depends largely on many factors like your skill sets, your employer, the size of your business, and your experience in the industry.

However, the general average full-time earnings are $1,038 per week. The average hourly pay is $27.

On a yearly basis, the average salary for hairdressers is around $54,000.

Essential steps on how to become a Hairdresser in Australia

Hairdressing is a way more significant profession than it most times appears to people.

There are a couple of ways to become a hairdresser in Australia. 

You can either 

  • Complete a certification from recognised institutions like an RTO or TAFE
  • Or going through an apprenticeship (domestic students only).  

Here, we will be showing you the step-by-step procedure required to help you become a hairdresser in due time!

Step 1: Get a Certificate III

Completing a Certificate III in Hairdressing is a minimum requirement if you want to become a qualified hairdresser in Australia.

This is a generally recognised certification in Australia that provides you with all the required skills and knowledge to work as a qualified hairdresser. 

This particular qualification covers various hairdressing aspects such as hair cutting, styling, and perming. 

The qualification focuses more on developing the technical, creative and interpersonal aspects of hairdressing. 

This course is usually completed over the span of 12 to 24 months and costs an average range of $5,000 to $15,000 depending on the institution, region and your residency status. 

This training can be delivered through a registered training organization (RTO) or TAFE.

You can also complete a Certificate III in Barbering if you want to become a barber in Australia. 

To get an entry into the course, you must meet the following requirements:

  • Minimum age requirements of the training institute (Usually 18 years)
  • Completed Year 11 or 12
  • English requirements e.g. 5.5 score in IELTS (for international students)

Step 2: Get a Certificate IV

The certificate IV course is the next step in the hairdressing training for experienced hairdressers who have completed the certificate III. 

In this course, you will be taught advanced technical skills which would involve both theoretical and practical aspects of the industry. 

Topics such as salon management and operations, advanced styling techniques, customer consultation, understanding product contents, advanced hair colouring, promotion of products and services etc. will be part of the curriculum. 

This certification is usually completed over the span of 6 to 7 months. The cost of doing a Certificate IV in Hairdressing is between $5,000 to $10,000 depending on the institution, region and your residency status. 

This certification will help you to advance your career and work as a senior hairdresser, salon manager, or even trainer. 

Step 3: Obtain a Diploma

This Diploma course is the highest qualification for a hairdresser in Australia. 

This is a great course to take if you plan on setting up your hair salon in the future or want to work in a senior position in a salon.

The Diploma in Hairdressing course can be completed within 7 to 9 months.

This qualification is also a pathway for further study in hairdressing or beauty-related fields, such as the Diploma of Beauty Therapy.

Alternative Step 1: Apprenticeship (Domestic Students only)

Apprenticeship can be a great way to enter the Hairdressing industry in Australia.  

During the apprenticeship, you learn the practical daily experience of being a hairdresser. This would include customer relations, skill testing and client consultation. 

Hairdressing apprenticeships can take 3 to 4 years to complete.

Many domestic students also complete apprenticeships, along with the certification III training in hairdressing, which helps to get both on-site and off-site knowledge. 

Please note: international students can’t undertake stand-alone apprenticeships in Australia. However, international students can find part-time work in the hairdressing industry to gain experience while studying in Australia.  

What are some of the popular institutions to study Hairdressing in Australia?

Here are some popular institutions that offer hairdressing courses in Australia:

  • TAFE NSW
  • TAFE Queensland
  • TAFE South Australia
  • TAFE Western Australia
  • TAS TAFE 
  • Australian Academy of Hairdressing
  • Academia International
  • Biba Academy
  • Box Hill Institute
  • Brisbane School of Hairdressing
  • Canberra Institute of Technology
  • Charles Darwin University
  • Chisholm Institute
  • Victoria University

Career Opportunities for Hairdressers in Australia

There are variety of career opportunities for hairdresser in the hairdressing industry. Some of the popular ones include:

  • Salons
  • Barber Shops
  • Resorts
  • Spas
  • Film industry
  • Fashion industry
  • Celebrities
  • Weddings
  • Photo shoots
  • Other events

Future growth of Hairdressing in Australia

The future growth of hairdressing in Australia is bright and full of exciting opportunities with a speculated 9.6% growth in the industry. 

Australia, having a constantly growing population, a thriving beauty services industry, and an increasing demand for personalised services is a sweet spot to start a career in hairdressing. We hope you enjoy reading this article. If you want to know about other careers, please look through our careers guide through blog page here.



10-free-apps-and-tools-you-need-to-use-as-an-international-student-in-Australia.

10 free apps and tools you need to use as an international student in Australia.

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Let’s be honest life as a student is pretty challenging juggling between study work life and family can be tough at times and especially online study these days can add up to that challenge as well.

The good news is that there are free apps and tools available that can make your life somewhat easier.

In this article, we are going to talk about 10 free apps and tools that you need to use as a student to make your life easy.

Canva

The first tool is actually created by an Australian company, Canva.

As a student you probably have to create a lot of presentations and reports.

While you can design these reports and presentations in powerpoints or word documents but if you really want to level up your game then canva is a great graphic design tool and solution for that.

You can create amazing looking presentations and reports within this tool and their free template library contains plenty of options for reports and for presentations as well.

Apart from reports and presentations if you want to design anything else like resume, cover letter, this is a great tool to have in your armory

It is one of our personal favorite tools as well and their free plan is pretty generous, so try it out yourself.

Small PDF

Pdf is one of the best thing that happened to humanity. Period.

But as good as pdfs are sometimes we would like to see these pdf documents in a word document or other format

Some of you may know that it can be bit of pain to go and convert these documents as such

so there’s a solution for this problem as well and this tool is known as Small PDF.

Basically this is the solution for all your pdf problems.

If you want to convert a pdf into a word document or an image or PowerPoints or to convert any other document into pdf or other way around then small pdf is your friend.

You don’t need to necessarily download any softwares for this it’s a free online tool.

Grammarly

If english is your second language and you want someone else to have a look on your documents whether it’s a report, resume or assessment that you’re creating for your homework then grammarly is your friend.

This amazing tool check your grammar, punctuation, spelling, vocabulary and any other issues with your writing.

They also have apps available for all the mobile devices or you can use their chrome extension to make your life really easy.

Another tool that we personally use all the time to check our grammar and spelling mistakes.

Although they have a different paid plans available but their free plan also does a pretty good job so if you haven’t already signed up, then we highly recommend you to use this tool.

Loom

While taking screenshot can be a good way of capturing information and sending it to your friends or your teachers.

But if you have any questions especially if you’re studying online it will be even better if you can video record your screen and send it to the person you need to.

If you want to send a video recording of your screen then this tool is for you.

It is known as loom.

To use this tool, all you need to do is sign up and download their chrome extension and then you can video record the screen.

If you want you can also record yourself in the screen and after recording it will generate a link that you can send to anyone for watching this video recording.

A great tool for recording your presentations as well.

It is fairly easy tool to use but another life saving tool for students.

Quillbot

Quillbot ia an amazing tool for paraphrasing the text.

It is an artificial intelligence based paraphrasing tool that can help you to paraphrase up to 400 words for free.

Another great tool to help you with your research for your assessments.

Just a quick warning though, we don’t want you to use this tool as a copy paste solution for your assessments.

But it can be a good tool to help you paraphrasing some of the text and get to learn new words and improve vocabulary.

Resoomer

This tool helps to summarize the text.

So, for an example, if you have a long text or long article to read, put this article text into this tool, then press that resoomer button, and it will summarise the whole text into short paragraphs.

This is another time saving tool that will help you to save time as it can summarise all the articles you are reading for your study or research purposes.

So rather than spending lots of time reading all the articles put those articles into the resumer that will help you to summarize the text of those articles.

Zoom

We are pretty sure you have heard about the name this tool before.

After all it is Zoom.

Since the start of pandemic, everyone who is studying online pretty much have either used it or heard about this tool.

In the past zoom was used basically for meetings and online conferences but it has been the life-saving tool for many of us during this pandemic.

Especially if you are studying online and you might have to do your online presentations to record your presentations, zoom can be one of the easiest solution for most of the classes running online.

Google office suite

Buying a yearly subscription for microsoft can be an expensive affair. especially if you are a student.

So, there are lots of free alternatives available for microsoft office these days and one of our favorite tool is provided by google.

Google docs google slides and google sheet (part of google office suite) are free replacement for microsoft office.

The best part of this tool is that you don’t need to save these documents in your computer or you might lose it because you haven’t saved it properly

All your documents gets saved into cloud automatically.

All you need to access this service is have a gmail account and access to internet.

If you don’t google products, then you can also check some other free office alternatives.

Google Drive

Another free provided by Google.

Google drive is a solution to all your cloud storage problems.

Once you sign up with your email you get 15 gb of free cloud storage and all your google docs google sheets and slides are usually ger saved in this cloud storage.

So it’s quite easy to access those documents and that is one of the reason why we like using those softwares as well.

Notion

Now last but not the least is our personal favorite tool.

Notion is a lifesaver. (Say it after us).

Notion is a project management, productivity, to-do list, notes, collaboration and anything you can imagine in one tool. (Yes, you can see our love for this tool).

We use this tool for taking notes, creating our content (just like this article) creating to-do list and when working with other team members, then we use it as a project management software as well.

Rhere’s so many uses of this tool that it is hard to put into this short video.

So, we highly recommend you to check this tool and if you haven’t i recommend you to download this tool as well.

Their new free plan is really amazing you can download this tool on your desktop laptops and their app in your mobile devices as well.

If you sign up with the same email in all your devices. It will sync all your data together (as long as you have internet connection).

Bonus: Overseas Students Australia

If you are an international student who is either studying in australia or planning to study in australia then we highly recommend ourselves. No jokes.

Overseas students australia is an online platform for international students and we cover range of information regarding studying, working and life in australia

We also have lots of free resources like guides, resume, cover letter templates, checklists and everything pretty much you need as an international student.

So make sure to include that too in your list of tools as well, especially if you are planning to study or are currently studying in Australia..

Now, it’s your turn.

We would like to hear from you, which other tools do you use to make your life as a student easy?

Let us know youtr thoughts in the comment section below.



Step by Step guide on what to expect at the airport when you land in Australia for the first time as an international student

A step by step guide on what to expect at the airport when you land in Australia for the first time

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What to expect at the airport when you land in AustraliaIt is indeed a very exciting time when you are going to land in Australia for the first time. So your visa has been approved, you have booked your flights, you have boarded the plane to Australia but what happens when you land in Australia? What are the things you should be mindful of when coming to Australia for the very first time as an international student?

In this step by step guide, we are going to cover all the things you will need to know before you reach your new home in Australia. Let’s get into the nitty gritty right away.

Before getting off your plane

Your first step for landing in Australia starts even before you land in Australia. The plane you have boarded from your home country for Australia will provide you with the incoming passenger card (see below on how to complete incoming passenger card as an international student) that you will need to complete before passing through the customs area.

Also, these days, most of the planes will show a video on what things you should and shouldn’t bring to Australia. If you believe you are bringing something to Australia that might not be allowed to bring, you can either advise the cabin crew of the plane and suggest them to discard the item or you must declare such item on the incoming passenger card.

Once your plane land in Australia, the first thing you will have to go through is Customs area.

How to complete an incoming passenger card as an international student

Incoming Passenger card page 1 of 2 (source:www.homeaffairs.gov.au)

Incoming Passenger card page 1 of 2 - Overseas Students Australia

In the first page of the incoming passenger card, you will need to provide:

  1. Your name including given name and family name
  2. Your passport number
  3. Flight number
  4. Your address in Australia
  5. If you are planning to stay in Australia for more than 12 months (depends on your student visa)
  6. If you have tuberculosis or any criminal convictions
  7. If you have been to the African country in last 6 days before your arrival
  8. If you were in contact with the farm, farm animal or wild animals in the last 30 days before arrival

In this side, you must also declare the items you are bringing to Australia, you must tick yes if you are bringing any of these items:

  1. Medicines/steroids
  2. Illegal drugs
  3. Firearms/weapons
  4. Illegal pornography
  5. More than 2250 ml of alcohol
  6. More than 25 cigarettes or 25 gms of tobacco
  7. Goods worth more than $900 including gifts
  8. Business samples
  9. More than $10,000 Australian or foreign currency equivalent
  10. Food items like meat, poultry, vegetables, fruits, seafood, dairy, egg, fish
  11. Grains, seeds, plants or plants related products, wooden articles
  12. Animal, animal parts or animal products
  13. Soil, attached to the shoes

Here is a complete list of things you must declare. You must sign this page and write down the date as well. This is a legal document so signing this document means you are bound to the Australian laws.  

Incoming Passenger card page 2 of 2 (source:www.homeaffairs.gov.au)

Incoming Passenger card page 2 of 2 - Overseas Students Australia

In this side, you will need to provide:

  1. Your contact details in Australia (you can provide your email address only if you don’t have any phone number.)
  2. The country where you boarded the plane
  3. Your occupation (usually “student”)
  4. Your nationality
  5. Your date of birth
  6. Emergency contact details of a friend or a family member
  7. Select option B from A, B and C option
  8. Write down your intended stay in the country (Check your visa and write down the time until your visa is granted)
  9. Your country of residence (your home country)
  10. Your main reason for travel – select education

We highly suggest you declare all the items you are bringing to Australia. If you don’t declare, you can get fines from $340 to $66,000 or 10 years in prison

Customs Clearance

Follow the signs for the customs clearance area as soon as you get off the plan. When reaching the customs area, you will need to queue up for the customs clearance. You must queue up in the non-Australian passport holders line. Please keep quiet and don’t take photos in the customs areas.

Have your incoming passenger card, boarding pass and passport ready. We suggest you carry a small bag or pouch where you can easily store all these documents alongside pen in it.

When you are called up for your turn, you must provide all these documents to the customs officers. They may ask you questions about your visa, stay, study and incoming passenger card declarations.

Usually, the officers are very friendly and can guide you if you have any questions about the incoming passenger cards or something else. Once cleared, you will be given back your passport and incoming passenger card.

Baggage Claim

The next step is to claim your baggage.

Find out which baggage carousel is your luggage coming on. You can check this information on the screens around the carousel which shows the details of the flight numbers. Again, if you are stuck, you can ask someone around or airport officials.

You can use the trolley available around the carousel area for bringing your baggage. After collecting the baggage from the carousel, proceed to the Quarantine area.

Quarantine Inspection

At Quarantine area, your bags will be inspected for any item that officers may need to quarantine. They can ask you questions and you must answer them truthfully.

It is very important that you should know what’s inside your bags as you are one who will be liable to pay any fines if the officers find that you have brought something that you shouldn’t. That is why we recommend that you pack your own bags.

If someone you know gives you something to bring for their family members in Australia, then you must clarify what they are giving you and if it is allowed to bring in Australia or not.

The quarantine officers can take out the things from your bags that are considered illegal or if it can pose a threat to the Australian ecosystem.

Sometimes dogs are used to sniff any high-risk items in the baggage and they can easily identify any such item in the bags. Make sure not to touch these dogs while they are doing inspections.

Once you are cleared from the Quarantine are, you will need to find transport to reach your destination.

Finding Transport

If you know someone or have friends or family in Australia, you can ask them to pick you up from the airport.

Usually, universities and some institutions offer free pick-up service for overseas students from the airport. If that’s the case, you may need to book that in advance with your university or institutions.

But, in case, they don’t offer pick-up service, then you will need to look for alternative transport to reach your destination.

Most of the capital cities in Australia, you can easily access your destination by train, taxi, bus and airport shuttle services. You can also use the ride-sharing services like Uber, Ola or Taxify in order to arrive at your new home, which is usually much cheaper than the taxis. You must have access to the app and internet before ordering the ride-sharing services.

A very important thing if you are travelling with children, you should not order ride-sharing services as they are not allowed to carry children without safety seats. Your best way to travel would be to catch public transport or taxi in that case.

Trains are usually the fastest way to reach your destination while taxis or ride-sharing services are good if you are carrying lots of luggage or travelling with more than 2 passengers.

Paying your fare

As you might already know that the exchange rates at the airport are usually expensive, so we suggest you exchange only what you need or a minimum amount.

If you have brought some Australian currency from home country than you can certainly use that or you can even use your ATM/ credit card for the payments.

ATM/Credit cards are usually accepted in Australia everywhere, even in Taxis but we mindful of any overseas card fees that your banks may charge you.

If you are planning to use public transport then you must buy tickets or cards that are used in the transport network in your city. You can find about which type of cards are used in which city in our infographic or you can ask the tourist information desk at the airport also.

Hope this guide helps your landing in Australia much smoother and safer. Let us know your thoughts on this in the comments below.

In the meantime, you can check a guide on what you can and can’t bring to Australia by watching this video guide:



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