The Ultimate Guide to Aussie Life for International Students

It’s time to start packing!

This post is presented in partnership with RMIT University.

Been wanting to study in Australia for ages but missed your chance these last few years thanks to COVID-19? It's the worst!

Thankfully padlocked borders are a thing of the past, so you can finally make your international student dreams come true.

To help you avoid falling behind, we've partnered with RMIT to give you the ultimate, one-stop guide to kick off your life in Aus.

Finding accommodation.

After you've completed your Prepare to Arrive checklist, you’re going to need somewhere to rest your head. You’d be forgiven for feeling a bit overwhelmed as to where to start.

Uni/student accommodation is a good start, and most campuses will have affiliated colleges and locations for you to reside in. RMIT provides personalised accommodation support.

Privately run student accommodation is also an option—UniLodge, Urbanest, and Iglu are places to check out for that.

If you’re chasing that Aussie share house experience, Flatmates is a good place to start digging.

Getting amongst transport options.

Public transport in Australia is pretty great. Usually, all it takes is a travel card, but paper tickets still exist in some states.

Here’s where you can read up on the state relevant to you: ACT, NSW, NT, QLD, SA, TAS, VIC, WA.

Hot tip: Google Maps is a rather trusty journey planner when you tap the train symbol in the app.

If you’re here for a long haul and are wanting to get or transfer your driver’s license you’ll need to visit a motor vehicle registry office.

Here’s where you can go for your relevant state or territory: ACT, NSW, NT, QLD, SA, TAS, VIC, WA.

The nitty-gritty—banks, insurance, and health.

If you’re wanting to set up a local bank account, these are the four major banks in Australia: ANZ, Commonwealth, NAB, and Westpac.

Let’s talk about health insurance. Although you won’t be covered by Australia’s public healthcare system Medicare, you may be eligible to apply for Overseas Student Health Cover. This scheme will cover you for any emergencies or general sicknesses you might have and help you meet the costs of medical and hospital care while you’re in Australia.

For example, RMIT works with Medibank for OHSC and you can find out more about that here.

When it comes to seeing a doctor or dentist, appointments are usually vital. You can find your nearest doctor and book online on websites like HotDoc and HealthEngine.

Doctors don’t dispense medicine in Australia. Instead, they provide you with a prescription which you’ll need to take to a pharmacy to purchase.

Unlike other countries, many medicines in Australia are classified as ‘prescription only’, so you won’t be able to buy them over-the-counter.

Getting a job.

Wanting to make some extra cash, and get amongst the community while in Australia? Getting a casual job is an amazing way to do that and meet a bunch of people while you’re at it.

Seek is probably the top platform for job searching, but Facebook is also handy for hospitality openings in particular.

A hot tip would be to search “[YOUR CITY/AREA] HOSPITALITY JOBS]” as a start!

Most importantly though, know your work rights! Make sure you give the Fair Work guide a thorough read.

RMIT has International Students' futures in mind. Check out all their benefits on offer, from virtual internships and a 10% tuition fee bursary to 24/7 study support and more here.

Dealing with culture shock.

You’re undertaking a massive move and life adjustment. It’s okay and completely normal to feel a bit turbulent and unsettled.

Shops close early, we call professors by their first names and the slang is strange.

It’s important to remember support is available to you! We’ve written a guide on combatting culture shock, and ReachOut has an awesome resource on dealing with change.

Most Australian universities and affiliations offer a body or NGO to represent the international students on campus.

The Council of International Students Australia and the Australian Federation of International Students also offer support for overseas students in Australia.

It’s okay to seek Aussie alternatives for your usual creature comforts such as restaurants or shops. Plus, here’s a fun Aussie slang rundown if that’s your thing.

Getting out there.

You probably don’t need us to tell you this, but orientation sessions and activities are an awesome way to familiarise yourself with the campus, meet staff from different areas and learn about support services available.

Uni clubs and events will be your savior. For example, RMIT has a really awesome program called Mates at RMIT.

It’s also great to get around the Insider Guides for your city, and not just see the main attractions.

Have fun and enjoy Aus!

Probably the most important tip here. Get out there, study hard, and enjoy everything this country, its facilities, and its people have to offer.

You’ve got this!

Want personalised advice about studying in Australia?  Book a RMIT one-on-one consultation here.

Header Image: Armin Rimoldi via Pexels