THE REALITY OF STUDYING IN AUSTRALIA AND HOW TO MANAGE EXPECTATIONS

Australia is an excellent study destination. There’s a reason of why Australia is the third most popular study destination).

Arriving from overseas it is very important that you MANAGE EXPECTATIONS. These are some of the realities you will encounter when you arrive Down Under. Be aware!

The way to do this is by learning the reality of what you will encounter when arriving in OZ (“OZ” is the short version of Australia).

JET LAG IS REAL. LEARN HOW TO MANAGE IT.

As soon as you arrive to study and live in Australia you will feel tired. VERY TIRED.

Be aware the of time difference between Australia and American, Europen, Middle Eastern and African countries is intense.

If you arrive in the morning, force yourself to stay up all day (get some sun). If you arrive at night, go to bed. The sooner you dive into your new time zone, the better.

This also means that you may be oversensitive and basically negatively charged.

There’s been cases of people arriving into their new rooms in Australia (and even though it’s a great place) and complain about small things and without a real reason.
We suggest you arrive, shower, and sleep. IF the same negative feeling stays the next morning and things are not OK then make a formal complaint.
Always give things a chance. Remember you are in a completely different country where things work differently!

REMEMBER YOU ARE EXPERIENCING  SOMETHING COMPLETELY NEW.

You will be in a completely different country. Different culture. Different ways of doing things.
Expect to feel out of your comfort zone. You will have to learn a whole new system that involves from buying food to paying rent for your room (for example: rent is paid on a weekly basis and in advance).

Chances are this is the first time you live for an extended period of time in a foreign country. This means everything is different to what you are used to. New city, perhaps a different language, new food and different way of living. You will be without your family and friends.

It’s tough at the start; and it will be for the first few months.

BUT you (same as many other people before you) will adjust and will get used to how things are done in Australia.

This is why you need to have an open mind, be patient, flexible and learn and experience new things.
Embrace the change and learn how to adapt and grow.
You will see that in no time you will be used to everything and will be having a great time (for example the place in Sydney felt uncomfortable at the start, and now that you are friends with your flatmates it is great).

THINGS DON’T ALWAYS WORK AS THEY SHOULD, OR AS YOU WANT THEM TOO

Things not always work they way you want them to (this is a simple fact of life).

Instead of being negative, think openly about how to find a remedy to the problem.

You will see that every single issue has a solution. Your attitude towards things will dictate if you bring stress into your life.

YOU FOUND SUITABLE ROOM. NOW WHAT?

You finally found a nice room. You are ready to move in.

1. Make sure you sign a lease agreement (this is a legal requirement in all Australian cities). In this way you are protected and everything is within the local laws.
2. Most hosts / landlords will ask for a bond/security deposit to be paid (equivalent of no more than 4 weeks of rent).
   We prepared a checklist form for you to record what was broken or damaged at the time when you moved in.
3. The first few weeks of rent will need to be paid in advance.
   Rent in Australia is calculated on a weekly basis. It is usually paid weekly, fortnightly or monthly and in advance.

Be careful with illegal hosts.
This is why we verify all users. Because we do not want any of the following happening within our community.

Some signs that something is not right are:

1. The place is overcrowded (there are more than 2 people per room and there are people living in common areas).
2. Your host / landlord doesn’t want to sign the rental agreement document (all  hosts SHOULD do it). We strongly suggest that at least a basic document were you have a record of what was paid, the length of the stay, bond, etc is signed.
3. They want to keep your passport or ID document (never leave your documents behind).
4. IF this happens to you please report it to the authorities or the local council. They will help you and this will also help others.

Find out what is expected from you as a guest.
http://www.bedssi.com/student-guidelines-and-expectations

AUSTRALIAN BUGS  & INSECTS

You will undoubtedly come across cockroaches and ants when you first move in. These are just part of the Australian lifestyle! This doesn’t necessarily mean places are dirty. In fact, the closer you are to the ocean/water, the more you will find them. They will also come out more during warmer seasons (September to May). This can be a bit of a shock to the system, but not to worry because they are harmless!

Best advice for dealing with bugs in Australian households is to relax. Relax and have some bug spray at hand. There is NO need to panic.

AUSTRALIA IS (VERY) EXPENSIVE

Sydney and Melbourne regularly make the top ten lists of the world’s most expensive cities. From rent, to transport, to food. Be prepare to experience some serious shock and make sure to have a good amount of money saved. In terms of living costs, Sydney is the most expensive (expect to pay more than $310 per week for a private room with shared bathroom), followed by Melbourne (a private room with en-suite in a regular building can cost $300 per week) and then Brisbane, Perth and Adelaide (Private rooms with en-suite in a brand new modern building can cost more than $300 per week).

You will find cheaper rooms in older style building options, but always remember the saying: “You get what you pay for”. Please also note the above prices are for places geared towards people that are studying, so don’t expect anything fancy or luxurious.

GOOD NEWS! AUSTRALIA HAS THE HIGHEST MINIMUM WAGE IN THE WORLD

The good news is that by studying and living in Australia you can work part time.

OZ has officially the highest minimum wage in the world. This means that you should receive at least $17.50  per hour. This will obviously change depending the your type of job.

WORKING IN AUSTRALIA? DON’T EXPECT TIPS

In Australia you don’t have to tip. But you can if you want to. This is a big difference with other countries (like the U.S.)

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