4. Settling in

Where you live in Sydney is an important decision, so you should take some time to find what suits you. Once you have accommodation it is time to think about other important matters such as working, banking and (if you have your family with you) childcare and schools.

Here you'll find:
Deciding where to live
On-campus accommodation
Moving into an existing home
Setting up a new home
Working in Sydney
Banking
Families, schools and childcare
Legal help

Deciding where to live

Finding affordable, suitable permanent accommodation in Sydney will require some effort on your part, and will be time-consuming. Before you start, take a moment to see what types of accommodation there are, think where you want to live, learn how to find a home, and see where to get help from University staff if needed.

On-campus accommodation
There is a limited number of places for international students who want to live on the University campus. On the main campus there is International House, the Sydney University Village, a number of residential colleges and some University-owned terrace houses
and Darlington House. There is also accommodation at some of the University’s other campuses. See here for details.

Off-campus accommodation
Off-campus accommodation is generally cheaper than on-campus accommodation but requires some effort on your part to find something suitable. Because this type of accommodation cannot be arranged while overseas, you must arrange for temporary accommodation to allow you enough time to find a house. After you arrive in Sydney, the ISSU Housing Officer (see opposite) will be able to help you with information and resources to help you find off-campus accommodation.

If you want to live off-campus there are two main options:

• Moving into an existing home
• Setting up a new home

Where in Sydney do you want to live?
Most Australian students either live at home with their families or share flats or houses with other students. Students sharing houses can either have their own room or share a room with another student. Some people want to live within walking distance in suburbs such as Glebe, Forest Lodge or Newtown. Because of their location these suburbs are in great demand and you will often have to pay quite high prices for mediocre housing. The better-quality houses and flats in these suburbs are usually expensive.

Living further away and travelling to the University by public transport or bicycle is a very good alternative. Often housing 15-30 minutes away by bus, train or bike is cheaper and in less demand. Any train line that goes directly to Redfern railway station is worth considering, such as the southern line passing through Rockdale or the western lines passing through Strathfield. The University is a 12-minute walk from Redfern, and in the evening a free security bus service operates between the University and the station. More details of this service are available during the ISSU Orientation. For Orientation dates see the booklet “Things to do before you leave home’ which will be sent to your before you leave your home country.

ISSU Housing Officer for international students
The International Student Support Unit (ISSU) has a Housing Officer whose job is to guide and help international students with accommodation. Remember, though, that you are the one who has to do the actual work of finding a home for yourself.

Note: the ISSU Housing Officer is only available during the early part of the semester when international students are arriving. You may use the University Accommodation Service after this.

Level 5, Jane Foss Russell Building (G02)
City Road, University of Sydney NSW 2006
Tel: 8627 8437
Fax: 8627 8483
Email:
Web: www.usyd.edu.au/issu

Accommodation Service
The Accommodation Service Officers provide information on the range of on-campus and off-campus accommodation options available to students. The office is open for student visits Monday to Friday, from 10am to 4pm, (closed one hour at lunchtime). Comprehensive information is also available via their website. All local and international students at all campuses of the university are able to use this service and you do not have to make an appointment to see an Accommodation Advisor.

Level 5, Jane Foss Russell Building (G02)
City Road, University of Sydney NSW 2006
Tel: 9351 3312
Fax: 8627 8484
Email:
Web: www.usyd.edu.au/accom

Cumberland Campus
Cumberland Campus at Lidcombe is where the Faculty of Health Sciences is located. It has one residence, Yannadah, which houses about 40 students, both male and female. Yannadah offers meals and accommodation. For bookings and information contact:

Tel: 9351 9405
Fax: 9351 9977
Email: [[yannadah@fhs.usyd.edu.au||yannadah@fhs.usyd.edu.au

CSG (The Student Guild) operates an accommodation “Classifieds” service on its website through its memebership benefits program CSG Campus Rewards. The Classifieds offer advertisements for off campus accommodation at Cumberland.
Web: www.campusrewards.com.au

Camden Campus
Nepean Hall and Nepean Lodge provide catered and self-contained furnished accommodation for single students or students with family.

Contact:
Properties Manager
Werombi Road, Camden NSW 2570
Tel: 9351 1662
61 2 4655 0666 (from overseas)
Fax: 9351 1664
61 2 4655 0664 (from overseas)
Email:
Web: http://www.usyd.edu.au/invest_capital_mgmt/university_owned_student_housing/camden_campus.shtml

If you are studying at Cumberland or Camden campuses please refer to the Accommodation Information Booklet for detailed information on types of accommodation and how to apply.

Other ways to find accommodation
Visit local real estate agents
This is often the most effective way to find a rental property to let. The ISSU Housing Officer can give you a list and location map of local real estate agents. Most agents have some houses and flats that are listed as ‘To Let’ (available to rent) in their windows, with more comprehensive listings inside.

Check newspaper advertisements
Check the ‘To Let’ and ‘Share Accommodation’ columns of the ‘Real Estate’ section in the Sydney Morning Herald. The Saturday edition has the best selection and the Wednesday edition is usually good as well. Other newspapers with accommodation in their ‘Classifieds’ section are the Glebe and Western Weekly and the Western Suburbs Courier.

Look up websites
Most real estate agents list their properties online. The most popular sites are www.domain.com.au, www.realestate.com.au and www.gumtree.com.au.

Looking at these sites will give you a general idea on the cost of renting a property in Sydney. Descriptions of some suburbs can be downloaded from the Accommodation Service website. Street maps of Sydney are available at http://maps.google.com.au

Check noticeboards
Some noticeboards or shop windows display advertisements for share accommodation, especially at the start of the year. Check noticeboards around the University, especially the Quadrangle, the Wentworth, Holme and Manning buildings, and near the Library.

On-campus accommodation

Finding a place on campus is not easy, as there are so few places available. The most important thing is to apply early while you are still in your home country. The largest on-campus facility is the Sydney University Village, and there is International House as well as residential colleges and a number of other facilities to choose from. The University-owned properties, Darlington House and the University Terrace Houses and Sydney University Village offer self-catered accommodation. The colleges and Halls of Residence offer accommodation and all meals.

We recommend that you start applying for on-campus accommodation in September/October of the year before you start yours studies.

Sydney University Village
Sydney University Village, located in Carillon Avenue next to the University’s main campus, is a residential facility closely associated with the University. It can accommodate 650 undergraduate and postgraduate students, and demand for places is very high.

The Village opened only a few years ago, so the buildings and facilities are as new. All apartments, facilities and bedrooms have been specifically designed to meet students’ needs in a progressive academic and community environment.

The Village has some single-sex share accommodation. If you need single-sex accommodation for religious or cultural reasons, please indicate your need clearly on your application form. For applications and further information visit: www.sydneyuv.com.au

Residential colleges
The colleges are independent of the University, and you need to contact them directly if you wish to live in one. Each residential college has its own distinctive style and facilities. Some offer accommodation to both men and women while some are single-sex only. Some are affiliated with particular religious denominations, while others are non-denominational. You do not have to be affiliated to a particular religion to gain admission to any of the colleges.

Places at the colleges go quickly – there are very few available by January or February each year when First Semester begins, or in July when Second Semester begins. So if you are interested in living in a residential college we strongly encourage you to apply for a place as soon as you receive your letter of acceptance, or even before.

You can now apply to colleges with one application (excluding St Andrew’s and St Paul’s – you must apply directly to either of these) which you can download from the participating colleges’ websites, or from the Accommodation Service website. You should send this application only to the college of your first preference. If you are not successful in this application, the college will forward it to your second choice, and so on. Please refer to the Accommodation Information Booklet or Accommodation website for detailed information on application and contact details. Please note that all phone and fax numbers need the prefix 612 if you are calling from outside Australia.

Residential college websites
International House: www.usyd.edu.au/internationalhouse/
Mandelbaum House: www.mandelbaum.usyd.edu.au/home.htm
St Andrew’s College: www.standrewscollege.edu.au
St John’s College: www.stjohnscollege.edu.au
St Paul’s College: www.stpauls.edu.au
Sancta Sophia: www.sanctasophiacollege.edu.au
Wesley College: www.wesleycollege.usyd.edu.au
Women’s College: www.thewomenscollege.com.au

Other on-campus accommodation - Darlington House and the University Terraces
Student Housing at the University’s Properties Office manages a number of student houses. Darlington House, a few minutes’ walk from the main campus, contains 12 units. Each unit accommodates four to five students of the same gender in their own single study bedrooms. The University Terraces are located at Forest Lodge and Darlington, both within easy walk of the main campus. These stylish terrace houses are over 100 years old but have been recently refurbished with modern facilities. A typical terrace will provide a home for five mixed-gender students in single and twin-share bedrooms. All rooms are fully furnished as study bedrooms.

For applications and further information for both Darlington House and the University Terraces visit: University Owned Housing.

Moving into an existing home

If you want to live off campus, a very good option is to move into a house that has already been established. There are many types of accommodation to choose from, including share houses, single flats, flatettes, boarding houses, rooms with share facilities, and a limited number of private boarding arrangements.

Sharing a house or flat
Share houses usually have two or three bedrooms. However, you may find houses with four or more bedrooms, which can be cheaper. Houses have a kitchen, bathroom, living area, laundry and often a garden. In the area close to the University houses rarely have garages, because most were built before car ownership was common. Larger houses with bigger gardens and garages are common further away from the University. Depending on location, size and condition you can expect to pay $380+ for a two bedroom house, $500+ for a three-bedroom house, and $600+ for a four-bedroom house. This amount would be divided among you and your housemates.

Flats (also called ‘units’ or ‘apartments’) usually have one, two or three bedrooms, with a separate kitchen, bathroom and living area. Sometimes they have an internal laundry, or the laundry may be shared with other flats. Some also have a garage space, or may be in a security building. A one-bedroom flat will cost approximately $250+ per week, depending on its size, condition and location. Flats with two or more bedrooms will cost approximately $350+ per week; this would be split among you and your housemates.

The ups and downs of sharing
Shared accommodation has several advantages:

• It is usually less expensive than other types of accommodation.
• You get to know new people.
• You do not need to furnish an entire house, as your housemates will also have furniture and household utensils to contribute. In most cases, all you will need is bedroom furniture.

But there are some general ‘rules’ to be aware of:

• You will be expected to pay a set share of the rent, electricity or gas costs, and your share of the telephone bill.
• You will probably also need to pay a bond for the house, usually equal to four weeks’ rent. In some cases you will also need to pay a proportion of the household bond for electricity, gas and the telephone. You will usually get your bond back when you leave the house, unless the house has been damaged.
• You are expected to help clean all the shared areas – kitchen, bathroom, living area and garden. A roster system may help share the work fairly. You will also need to make sure you pay your share of the rent and bills on time.
• Most households have a ‘kitty’ where each member contributes money on a regular basis for buying shared food and other household items. In some share houses everyone cooks their own food, but often it is less time-consuming and more friendly if people take it in turns to cook on a group basis. Of course, if one person is a vegetarian and another a keen meat eater this system may not work.

If you choose to live with people you do not know, make sure you will be able to get on with them. For example, if the house seems untidy when you visit and you prefer cleanliness (and do not like cleaning up after others), the house is probably not for you. Do not move into a house if you feel you may have problems with any of the people you will be living with – it is inconvenient and costly to have to move again.

[b||Private board and homestay]]
There is usually also a limited number of places offering private board. In this situation you might be living with a family or a single person. Meals may or may not be provided, depending on what you arrange. Homestay can cost between $180 and $350 per week.

Living alone
If you want to live alone, a small one-bedroom flat or ‘flatette’ is probably the cheapest option. This will usually have one combined bedroom/living room with a small kitchen and bathroom. In some cases the bathroom is shared. Furnished flatettes are sometimes available, but are more expensive. You can expect to pay approximately $180+ per week for a flatette, depending on its condition, location and size. Another option is staying in a boarding house. A boarding house is usually a building with many self-contained bedrooms and a large central room. People often ‘come and go’ from boarding houses, and there is not usually the same communal feel as in a share house.

Do not lose money
If you are living in a share house where other people have access to the phone but the account is in your name, make sure that expensive long distance calls made by other people are not billed to your account. Remember, if the account is in your name you are legally liable to pay all bills for that account. You can protect yourself by having an STD/ISD bar put on the phone so that long distance calls can only be made if a Personal Identification Number (PIN) is entered. Ask your telephone service provider about this option.

Setting up a home (lease, bond, etc)

Rather than moving into an existing house you might like to set up your own home with your family or with a group of friends. If you do, then there are quite a few important matters to be aware of, such as leases, bonds and house inspections.

Note that, in this section, we often refer to the ‘agent or landlord’. The landlord is the person who owns the property and the agent acts on their behalf. In most cases you will deal with an agent but sometimes a landlord may not have an agent so you will deal direct with the landlord.

How to find a home
If you see an advertisement in the newspaper that interests you, phone the contact number to get more details from the agent or landlord. Ask questions like:

• What size are the bedrooms?
• What condition is the house or flat in (e.g. security)?
• Has it been renovated?
• Is it sunny, and is there a garden?
• Is it in a noisy area?
• Is it close to shops and transport?

If you are still interested, you can arrange to see the place. Sometimes the advertisement will give the address and a time that it is open for inspection, but even if this is the case it is best to ring and make sure you are interested before making the effort to see it.

If you visit an agent to search for accommodation you will need to describe the type of accommodation you want and how much you want to pay. If the agent has a property that interests you, they may take you to see it, or give you the keys so that you can view it alone. If you take the keys you will be asked to leave a ‘key deposit’ – usually $50. This is returned to you when you return the keys. If you see a property you like, the agent will usually have you fill in an application form to submit to the landlord for their assessment.

Real estate agents often have a lot of properties that are in very poor condition but are relatively expensive, particularly if they are close to the University. It is inevitable that you will look at a lot before you find the one you want. If you do not want to waste time looking at lower-quality accommodation, then tell the agent you are not interested in seeing properties like that.

If you cannot afford a higher-quality house near the University, you may need to lower your expectations or live further away. Remember that public transport in Sydney is relatively cheap and quite efficient. You could also consider looking for share accommodation in an already established house; this often works out much cheaper than setting up a new house and may provide better-quality accommodation.

When you are assessing a property, the agent or landlord will also be assessing you, so remember to be friendly, well-groomed and tidily dressed when house hunting. They will want to know if you are a responsible, tidy person, so they may ask you to provide personal references, or references from the agent or landlord of a house you have rented in the past in your home country. If you do not have references, do not panic. A lot of people have never rented accommodation before and so do not have references.

The agent or landlord will also be interested in whether you are able to afford to pay the rent and bond and other costs, so you may be required to provide information about your financial situation. Of course, you have a right to privacy, so there is some information you should not be asked to provide. If you are uncertain about what information to provide, please talk to the ISSU Housing Officer (at the beginning of semester), or the Accommodation Service (throughout the rest of the year).

Signing the lease
If the agent or landlord decides to offer you the house, flat or other property, a Residential Tenancy Agreement (or ‘lease’) will be prepared and a date fixed for you to move into the property. You will be required to pay half the cost of preparing the lease, to a maximum of $15.

There are two types of lease:

• a Fixed Term Agreement, which is for a specified period of time, and
• a Continuing Agreement, which has no time limit. A lease will often start as a Fixed Term Agreement, and then when this elapses it continues as a Continuing Agreement.

The lease sets out the conditions and terms of the tenancy, such as your rights and obligations in renting the property, and the length of time the agreement will operate. When signing the agreement, check that it is a ‘standard’ agreement. Any additional terms or conditions have to be agreed to and signed by you. Make sure you discuss all the conditions and terms with the agent or landlord, and that you understand everything and are in full agreement before you sign. The ISSU Housing Officer can give you advice if you need help with this.

For your protection, all agreements should be in writing. However, if you enter into a verbal agreement with the agent or landlord you still have basic rights and responsibilities.

Some people who are house hunting choose to pay the agent or landlord a ‘reservation fee’ or ‘deposit’ on a house, to show that they are seriously interested and would like your application considered ahead of anyone else’s. Always get a receipt if you pay this fee. The fee cannot be greater than one week’s rent
and will be returned if you are not accepted to rent the property; if you are accepted, the fee will cover your first week’s rent.

Paying the bond
When you rent a house you will also be required to pay a ‘rental bond’. A lodgement form is completed by the agent or landlord and you as the tenant. You and any housemates you are setting up the house with must pay the bond to the agent, who lodges the money with the Rental Bond Board, a government authority. The Board will send you a receipt as soon as the bond is lodged. You will know if the bond has not been lodged because you will not receive a receipt for it.

The maximum amount an agent or landlord can ask for rental bond is the equivalent of four weeks’ rent for unfurnished premises, and six weeks’ rent for furnished premises let for $250 per week or less. The amount of bond is unlimited for furnished premises with a rent above $250 per week.You will be required to pay rent in advance, usually two to four weeks.

The bond acts as security for the agent against your failure to pay the rent or comply with any other condition of the lease. If you do not owe any rent and leave your house or flat in a clean, undamaged condition (or at least the condition it was in when you started the lease) you are entitled to get your bond back in full.

Always get a receipt when you pay rent. Keep all your receipts and the copy of your lease, your receipt for your bond, condition report and inventory of contents in a safe place for future reference. Always get a receipt when you pay your bond money.

Rental Bond Board
The bond must be lodged with the Rental Bond Board, and cannot be kept by the landlord. It is ILLEGAL for an agent or landlord to take a bond from you unless it is then lodged with the Rental Bond Board.

Be careful with your bond money
When you move into an existing house you will probably be asked to pay your share of the bond – a payment all tenants must make as security in case the house is damaged. If the person you pay the bond money to says you ‘don’t need a receipt’, ask for one anyway (any piece of paper will do). This can help prevent problems when you move out. Make sure that on the receipt there is:
> the date
> the nature of the transaction (i.e. ‘payment for bond’)
> the amount in numbers and the amount in words
> the signature of the person you are paying the bond to.

Inspecting the property
Before you move in, the agent or landlord will inspect the property and complete a Premises Condition Report, then give two copies to you. The report lists every room in the property, and any damage (e.g. a broken light) should be noted on the report.

When you receive the report, do your own inspection very carefully. If you disagree with any part of the report, note it on the report, keep a copy as your record, and return the final copy to the agent within seven days.

Why is this so important? Because when you move out of the house there will be another inspection. If anything is broken – cupboard doors, tiles, floorboards, peeling paint – you will have to pay for it or have it taken out of your bond unless you can prove that it was already broken. And the way to prove this is to produce your original report.

For furnished properties you should also make an ‘inventory of contents’. This lists the contents of the premises, including all furniture, furnishings, household
utensils and appliances, with notes on the condition of each item. A copy of this should be kept by you and another by agent.

Terminating the lease
When you leave the house or flat you have been renting, you must give ‘notice’ to the agent or landlord in writing. Keep a dated copy of the letter for yourself.
The amount of notice you must give depends upon the type of lease you have:
> For a Continuing Agreement you must give at least 21 days’ notice
> For a Fixed Term Agreement, when you have come to the end of the lease, you must give at least 14 days’ notice
> For a Fixed Term Agreement when you are ‘breaking your lease’ (giving notice before the end of the fixed term) you must give at least 14 days’ notice. You will also have to pay rent for the property for a ‘reasonable period of time’ (possibly
four to six weeks) until the agent finds a suitable new tenant, plus you will have to pay the costs of advertising the house or flat for renting. One option is to find replacement tenants to take over your lease, provided the agent agrees.

When your agreement is terminated the agent or landlord will complete a Claim for Refund of Bond Form.Whether or not they are claiming any part of your bond or you agree with any claims the agent is making, make sure the form has been completed in full and that both you and the agent or landlord sign and date it, and that it is lodged with the Rental Bond Board.

Further information
For more information about bonds read the Share Housing Survival Guide, available from the University of Sydney Student Representative Council (tel: 9660 5222). For further information contact:

> Redfern Legal Centre, Tenants’ Advice Service, tel: 9698 5975, web: http://rlc.org.au
> Share Housing Survival Guide web: http://rlc.org.au/sharehousing
> Tenants Union, tel: 1800 251 101 web: http://www.tenants.org.au
> Department of Housing, Central Sydney Region (City), tel: 9268 3444, web: www.housing.nsw.gov.au
> Office of Fair Trading, Tenancy Information Service, tel: 133 220, web: www.fairtrading.nsw.gov.au
> Office of Fair Trading, Rental Bond Board, tel: 133 220, web: www.fairtrading.nsw.gov.au
> Consumer, Trader & Tenancy Tribunal, tel: 133 220, web: www.cttt.nsw.gov.au

For more information on your rights as a tenant, go to:
http://rlc.org.au/
www.tenants.org.au
www.fairtrading.nsw.gov.au

The cost of setting up a home
As a single student, establishing a home for the first time in Sydney your initial establishment costs will include:

• Rental bond: usually four weeks’ rent in advance
• Utility security bonds and connection/establishment charges
• Telephone: from around $60 for reconnection of existing line to just over $200 for a new line and number
• Gas: $100 refundable security deposit and $22 establishment fee
• Electricity: $200 refundable security bond
• Furniture: anywhere from $500 to $3,000.

Costs of establishing a home for a family are likely to be higher, particularly for rental bond and furniture. It is estimated that a family would require initial establishment costs of between $1,700 and $3,000. This amount would include such items as:

• rental bond, usually four weeks’ rent at approximately $800 to $2,400
• utility security bonds (telephone, gas, etc).

Home expenses (phone, furniture, gas, etc)

When you move into a new home you will find there are more costs involved than just paying the bond, lease fee and rent. You will need to buy (or borrow) household furniture, utensils and other items, and you may need to arrange to have the electricity, gas and telephone connected, or transferred into your name for billing purposes.

Electricity, gas and water
Electricity
www.energy.com.au
There are many providers of electricity in Sydney (one of which is Integral Energy – see website above). Your real estate agent will generally have a preferred supplier. Otherwise you can ask them which company they recommend. Be sure to research prices and billing before you sign a contract with a company. For general information about your electricity supply, to get the electricity connected or have the account transferred into your name, phone your electricity provider.

It is rare for the electricity to require reconnection. However, if this is required there may be a cost involved. Unless a property has been vacant for six weeks, this fee is seldom charged. There may be other charges if you request the electricity supply to be reconnected on a weekend. Usually you will just be informing your electricity provider of the transfer of the account into your name.

As two days’ notice is usually required to transfer account names or reconnect electricity, it is best to phone your electricity provider and advise them of the date you are moving in with as much notice as possible. It may be possible, though, to have the electricity supply reconnected or transferred into your name on the same day.

If you have electricity account and do not use direct debit to pay your bill, you will be required to pay a security deposit of approximately $150. This deposit, plus interest, will be returned to you in full when you leave the house, unless you owe your electricity provider money. Electricity bills arrive every three months. You can pay your security deposit and bills:

• by phone using your Visa, MasterCard or Bankcard
• online using Visa, MasterCard or Bankcard
• through your bank using BPay
• by mail with a cheque or money order
• in person by cash or cheque at any Australia Post shop.

Gas
http://www.agl.com.au
Having a house with appliances that use gas, such as heaters, a stove or hot water, is an advantage as gas costs less than electricity.

As with the electricity, it is rare to need to have the gas reconnected, so usually you will just be arranging to have the account transferred into your name. If you
do need to have the gas supply reconnected, you will be required to pay a reconnection fee of about $24. A new connection will cost $86. If the gas supply has not been cut off, you can continue to use the gas until the company changes the name on the account.

You will have to pay a $150 security deposit if you do not use direct debit to pay your bill. Your security deposit, plus interest, will be returned in full when you leave the house, as long as you owe the company no money.

To organise the transfer to your name, phone AGL on 13 12 45 (also see website above), or another gas supplier of your choice. You will need to read the gas meter at your property, show your passport and either take a letter from your agent or landlord or show your lease agreement to the gas company to have the account transferred to your name. This process generally takes one day’s notice. You will be billed for gas every three months and can pay your bill:

• by phone using Visa, MasterCard or Bankcard
• online using Visa, MasterCard or Bankcard
• through your bank using BPay
• by mail with a cheque or money order
• in person by cash or cheque at any Australia Post shop.

Water
www.sydneywater.com.au
When you sign a lease there may be some terms relating to water usage. If there are no such terms in the lease you cannot be asked to pay for costs incurred. In most cases, a tenant is usually responsible only to pay for any excess water used (the landlord must pay for water up to a certain level). There are no connection costs involved.

You may also be required to pay for other water charges set out in any ‘additional terms’ attached to your lease. Read these carefully so that you understand your rights. A tenant can only be charged for the metered amount of water used. If there is no individual meter for the rented premises, as is the case with most blocks of units, a tenant cannot be charged for water usage. Contact Sydney Water on 13 20 92 (or at website above) if you have any queries about water.

Furniture
Buying new furniture is expensive, so if you do not want to spend thousands of dollars, the best option is to live simply and buy second-hand furniture. The best places to look for second-hand furniture are:

• The Trading Post newspaper, which comes out every Thursday, and is available from newsagents (and at www.tradingpost.com.au). It gives a brief description of furniture and other goods for sale, with a contact name and phone number.
• Second-hand furniture shops.
• Shops and warehouses run by charitable organisations such as St Vincent de Paul and the Salvation Army.

Before you buy anything, look around to get an idea of what prices are reasonable. The ISSU Housing Officer can give you a list of second-hand furniture dealers in the area. Many dealers will deliver furniture to you for a small fee, or if you have an Australian driver’s licence you will be able to hire a small truck or van to pick up your own furniture.

Telephone
Connecting a land line
Australia has various service providers who can connect a phone to your house. The two main ones are:

• Telstra – 132 200, www.telstra.com.au
• Optus – 1300 300 937, www.optus.com.au

The costs of setting up a phone in a household can vary. For example, if the house has already had a phone you can be connected without the need for a technician to visit. This costs around $60. If there is no phone in the house you will need to either rent a phone at around $3 per month or buy one at around $200. Most houses already have the connection and phone available.

When your connection is made you can make local calls, which are a fixed cost per call, long-distance calls within Australia, and international calls. The cost of long-distance and international calls varies according to the length of the call, the time of day and the location you are calling. Telephone companies have discount plans.

Billing
While telephone billing usually occurs quarterly, you may request to have your bill sent monthly. Most people prefer the more frequent billing method. For initial connections, you can pay your bill and security bond in person with cash, a credit card or cheque at the Telstra office that services your area. You can also pay by mail with a cheque or money order, or you can pay by credit card over the phone. Once the service is connected you can pay bills at any post office, including the one on campus.

Public telephones
Public telephones are easy to find in the city and suburbs on street corners and in post offices, hotels, shops and cafes. A local call costs 40-50 cents (you will need 20- or 10-cent coins or a Phonecard). Emergency calls (police, ambulance, fire, etc) are free and are made by dialling 000 and asking the operator to connect you to the service you require.

Public telephones with international access are available at 231 Elizabeth Street, Sydney (across from Hyde Park). International phone calls may also be made from the Telstra Payphone Centre located at 130 Pitt Street, Sydney, between Martin Place and Pitt Street Mall. It is open 8am to 10pm on weekdays and between 10am and 7pm on weekends.

STD and IDD Country Codes
STD and IDD codes can be found by visiting www.whitepages.com.au, or at the back of the White Pages phone directory, for town and country codes and charges. With IDD you can dial direct from almost any hotel, home, office or public phone in Australia. Simply dial 0011 + Country Code + Area Code + Local Number.

Telstra Card Phones
Telstra Card Phones are convenient public telephones that allow you to call long distance and overseas by using a regular credit card as payment. You will find all approved cards clearly displayed at Card Phone locations, including IDD Telephone Centres, the domestic and international airport terminals, major city hotels and many other city locations.

Telstra Telecards
Telstra Telecards are phone cards that allow you to make local, STD or IDD calls and have the amount charged to your home telephone account. Local calls cost 40 cents while STD and IDD calls cost the normal amount for the type of call you are making plus 40 cents. Visit www.telstra.com.au for more information on Telecard features and costs. Optus provides a similar card, the Optus Global Calling Card. Call rates can be accessed on www.optus.com.au..

Phonecards
Phonecards allow you to make local and international telephone calls without coins. You can buy them at newsagents, and they may be purchased for predetermined amounts of $5, $10, $20 and $50. You may wish to program your Phonecard to dial a local or STD number automatically, though international calls cannot be programmed. Cards can be programmed at any telephone that accepts Phonecards. Such programming can be either temporary or permanent; temporary programming can be overridden at any time.

Dialling internationally
To call outside Australia you should dial 0011 then the country code and then the phone number you want to call.

There are many companies offering different rates for international phone calls, and you can use any of these companies from your home phone. For more information on how each service works, contact one of the telephone companies directly.

Country Direct
Country Direct (operator assisted) is the fastest and easiest way of making international telephone reverse charge (collect) calls.When you dial your Country Direct number, you are immediately put in touch with your own country’s operator, who will then connect the call. You can call Country Direct to around 20 countries.

Australian mobile phone providers
Prepaid packages (includes phone, SIM card and call credits)

• Normal pre-paid – purchase recharge card (minimum value $20), call credits valid for 6 months
• Turbocharge/maxicap pre-paid – purchase recharge card but get bonus credit. eg. $30 gives you $120 worth of call credits, but only valid for 30 days.

Plans (contract based service with regular bills)

• Sign up for 12 or 24 months
• Get discounted handsets and monthly bills
• Call rates usually more expensive than pre-paid.

Most popular providers:
Vodaphone: www.vodaphone.com.au
Optus: www.optus.com.au
Telstra: www.telstra.com.au
3G: www.three.com.au
Virgin Mobile: www.virginmobile.com.au

Where can I buy a pre-paid mobile package?
Kmart, Target (closest is Broadway Shopping Centre), large Post Offices and mobile phone shops (all have outlets at Broadway Shopping Centre).
Where can I buy just a handset without SIM card?
Mobile phone shops, ebay (new and secondhand) or online through providers websites.
Where can I buy a SIM card?
Mobile phone shops and department stores.
Where can I recharge or buy phone credit?
Newsagents, mobile phone shops, department stores, convenience stores, supermarkets, campus outlets. Remember: a pre-paid SIM card can take up to 24
hours to activate.

Australian internet providers
There are four different types of internet available:

1. Broadband/cable: high speed connection that is expensive (about $40/month) but reliable. Doesn’t require a fixed phone line but may not be available in all areas. Users sign a 12 or 24 month contract. Penalty for early disconnection, $300+.
2. Wireless/unwired: no contract, pay as you go. Portable. Speed and download limits vary according to the monthly fee.
3. Dial-up: very slow, requires a fixed line, inexpensive (as little as $10/month).
4. DSL/ADSL/ADSL+: requires a landline and costs about the same as broadband. Fast connection, 12 or 24 month contract with early disconnection fee of $300+.

Where can I get internet on campus?
High speed broadband is available through campus computers. You will need your Unikey login and password.

Wireless ‘hotspots’ are available for laptops. Best coverage is found: Fisher Library, Fisher Stack, Manning, Wentworth, Eastern Avenue, Seymour Centre, University Computing Centre, Wilkinson Building, Information Technologies Building.

Visit the USYD Wireless Network website for set-up guides: http://www.usyd.edu.au/ict/switch/internet/setupvpn.shtml

Cafes and hotels offer students free wireless access with every purchase.

Most common Providers:
Telstra Bigpond: www.bigpond.com
Optus: www.optus.com.au
TPG Internet: www.tpg.com.au
AAPT: www.aapt.com.au
DODO: www.dodo.com.au
Internode: www.internode.on.net

Working in Sydney

As an international student you are entitled to work up to 20 hours per week in Sydney during your stay. However, you should be aware that the nature of the work available may not be the same as you are used to at home. You will probably be able to earn some money to help with your living costs, but you should not plan to pay your University fees from your earnings in Australia or fully support yourself in Australia, as the high cost of living generally makes it impossible to support yourself and save to pay your fees from part time work.

More information about taxation, job-seeking and other related matters will be provided at the Daily Arrival Information Sessions.

Work entitlements
How much can you and your partner work in Australia while you are studying?

The Department of Immigration and Multicultural Affairs (DIAC) allows students and their dependants to work as follows:

• Students can work 20 hours per week during session and unlimited hours when the University of Sydney is not in session (the advertised vacation period)
• Dependants of students who are in a Masters program, PhD or sponsored by AusAID and Defence can work full time
• Dependants of all other students can work 20 hours per week throughout the year.

Information about finding work can be found in the ISSU Families booklet. The Accompanying Partners Program can also assist with language skills for interviews.

Permission to work
Students granted visas on or after 26 April 2008 will receive permission to work with their student visa grant. This applies to both the primary student and any
family members travelling with them on their student visa. Student visa holders can work up to 20 hours per week while their course is in session and work
unlimited hours during official University breaks. For more information visit: www.immi.gov.au/students/_pdf/permission-to-work-students.pdf

Students who were granted a student visa before the 26 April 2008 will need to apply separately for permission to work. Contact the International Student
Advisers for information on how to apply:

The permission to work application process differs for AusAID (APS, ADS, and ALA) students. Students should contact an AusAID adviser: to obtain the documentation required to lodge an application.

Complaints and Appeals
The University has procedures to assist you if you if you have a grievance or wish appeal a decision which affects you. Please see the policy at http://www.usyd.edu.au/su/ab/policies/HESAGrievanceProcedures.pdf
If you are excluded from the University, you can lodge a complaint with
the NSW Ombudsman if there is evidence of wrong conduct. More information can be found at:
http://www.ombo.nsw.gov.au/publication/PDF/factsheets/International%20students%20fact%20sheet.pdf

On-line/Distance study
Student visa holders may undertake no more than 25% of their total course by distance and/or online learning and must not enrol in exclusively distance or online study in any compulsory study period.

Completion within the expected duration of study
Student visa holders must ensure they are meeting course requirements in accordance with course progression rules and complete their studies within the time-frame specified on the electronic Confirmation of Enrolment used to grant the student visa.

For information on the University’s policy to assist students at risk of not progressing satisfactorily please see - http://www.usyd.edu.au/secretariat/students/riskstudents.shtml. It is important to contact your faculty advisers, the International Student Advisers or the ISSU counsellors immediately if you are experiencing difficulties during your studies so that you can make use of the support that is available to you. You can apply for the course duration to be extended in certain circumstances in consultation with your faculty. Restrictions are placed on students enrolling in less than the full load of units unless you have the permission of your faculty advisers. The International Student Advisers can assist you with any questions you may have regarding your academic progress and the options available to you.

Sponsored students
Sponsored students have an additional responsibility to ensure that their enrolment is in accordance with the conditions of their sponsorship. This is particularly important where an extension of duration may be required. In most cases, sponsors expect students to complete their studies within the expected duration and extensions of duration are very difficult to obtain. Sponsored students should contact their sponsor or an International Student Adviser if they are unsure about their enrolment. AusAID and ADB sponsored students should contact their specialist advisers.

Transferring to Another Institution
Students wishing to transfer to another education provider within the first six months of their course must obtain a “release letter”. If you wish to transfer to another institution, please contact the International Student Advisers for advice. Visit www.immi.gov.au/students/index.htm for more information.

Careers Centre – Casual Employment Service
The Careers Centre Casual Employment Service assists students enrolled at the University to find casual and part-time work.

Organisations, householders, students and researchers advertise casual and part-time employment on the Casual Employment data base. The database functions as an online notice board. Students enrolled at the University who are seeking casual or part-time work can login to the data base and then make direct contact with employers. MyUni first time users will first need to complete the online student registration form. Jobs that may be advertised include office work, data entry, receptionist, face to face and telephone market research, IT support, web design and development,
school and university subjects tutoring, child care, manual work, customer service, retail and hospitality and more.

The casual employment database is updated Monday to Friday throughout the year and can only be accessed by students logging into the site via MyUni. Students
needing personal assistance with casual employment should visit or contact the Casual Employment office, Monday to Friday, 10am to 4pm.

You should prepare a brief resume and keep a diary recording hours worked and duties performed. You should bring this resume to the notice of Casual Employment Service if you are uncertain about any work practices or if you are having any difficulty with an employer. Such information will be treated in confidence and not acted upon without your consent.

Careers Centre
Level 5, Jane Foss Russell Building
City Road, University of Sydney
Hours: 10am – 4pm
Tel: 9351 8714
www.careers.usyd.edu.au/students/casual/index.shtml

SydneyTalent
Sydney Talent aims to enhance the experience of every student by providing the opportunity to complement students' academic studies with meaningful paid employment and work related development. Participating students are able to work up to 20 hours each week during semester, which complies with work permit requirements for international students and postgraduate scholarship students.

With SydneyTalent, you can create lasting relationships with your future industry, connect with potential long term employers, and gain practical knowledge, leaving the University of Sydney with professional experience that complements your degree. It's an unbeatable edge in the modern employment environment.

For more information please visit www.sydneytalent.com.au, contact the SydneyTalent team on 02 8627 8000 or email sydney.talent@usyd.edu.au.

SydneyTalent
The University of Sydney
Level 5, Jane Foss Russell Building G02
Sydney NSW 2006 Australia

Unistaff
As well as the Casual Employment Service, there is also a professional recruitment service at the University, called Unistaff. This service provides casual staffing for the University community in the areas of office support, accounts, research, information technology, desktop publishing and human resources.

If you are interested in casual work of this sort, contact Unistaff office and give details of your background and work availability to the consultants. They will contact you when there is a need for your skills.

Unistaff
Tel: 9351 5407
Web: www.usyd.edu.au/unistaff

Other ways to find work
You may be able to find work on campus by directly approaching the Union Personnel Office. The Union offers casual employment for students, mainly in catering, activities and counter work. Ask at the Union Information Desk, Ground Floor, Manning Building for the Personnel Officer, or phone 9563 6000. The University also hires extra staff for the enrolment period over the summer vacation. You can apply at the Student Centre, Carslaw Building, around August/September.

The Sydney Morning Herald and most local newspapers have employment sections with ‘Casual Work’ columns. The Saturday edition usually has the largest employment section. You can buy a copy of the Herald at newsagents or visit www.smh.com.au.

Income tax and the financial year
The Australian financial year is from July 1 to June 30. You have from June 30 to October 31 to lodge an Income Tax Return with the Australian Taxation Office
(ATO). You can do this by filling out the form in the Tax Pack, which is free and available in newsagents from 1 July each year. The Tax Pack will give you step-by-step instructions on how to fill out your tax form correctly. You
may also seek assistance from a registered tax agent or accountant. If you want to, you can lodge your tax return online, using Tax Pack ‘e-tax’, which you will find on the ATO website at www.ato.gov.au

In order to fill out your tax return, you will need tax certificates (statements of your earnings and the tax you have already paid from your wages) from all of the employers you have worked for during the financial year. It is important to make sure that all your employers have your current address as tax certificates are generally mailed to your postal address.

Information about tax rates is available on the ATO website. On the ATO home page, click on ‘For Individuals’ to access tax rate information.

Tax File Number
You will need a Tax File Number (TFN):

1. If you intend to work.
2. To reduce the tax on the interest earned on money in your bank account. Your bank, building society or credit union in Australia will ask for your TFN when you open an account. If you do not give them your TFN, the ATO will deduct 10% of your interest as withholding tax. You can open a bank account before you get a TFN.
3. For the Child Care Benefit (if you are eligible) –see ‘Financial Assistance for childcare’ section in this chapter.

How to get a TFN
Once you have your permission to work (see opposite page), you can apply online for the TFN by quoting your visa number. If you cannot apply online, you will need to go to an ATO office to apply, taking proof of your identity with you. For further details about applying for a TFN phone the ATO on 13 28 61 or visit www.ato.gov.au.

Pay rates
For information about award pay rates, as well as rights and responsibilities of employees and employers, you can call the Office of Industrial Relations on 131 628 or go to www.industrialrelations.nsw.gov.au.

Banking

The financial institutions most commonly used by students are banks, building societies and credit unions. Banks are regulated by government legislation, while building societies and credit unions are required to meet strict standards in order to safeguard the funds of their customers.

All three forms of financial institutions in Australia provide savings accounts and cheque accounts plus a range of other financial services, including personal loans, housing loans, bank drafts and transfer of funds. Banks are the main places where you can change foreign currency or buy foreign currency in Australia. Traveller’s cheques can be cashed at any bank provided that you have your passport for identification.

Opening an account
You will need to open an account to keep your money safely in Australia. You will earn interest on your account. An account which utilises the Automatic Teller Machines (ATM) is the most convenient type of account. Money can be deposited or withdrawn at any time from ATMs with a card or from the bank teller during banking hours. The ATM account card has a secret Personal Identification Number (PIN) which allows only you to operate your account. You must keep the record of your PIN separately from your ATM card to avoid someone potentially accessing your account if you lose your card.

When you open your account you will need to provide the bank with a TFN to avoid excessive tax on the interest your money earns. More information will be provided about taxation and banking in the Daily Arrival Information Sessions. For details of Daily Arrival Information Sessions see Chapter 1.

Banks on campus
Banks on the University of Sydney campus are the Commonwealth Bank and the National Australia Bank. Several other banks (e.g. Westpac and St George) have ATMs on campus. There is also a Universities Credit Union which provides banking facilities. These on-campus institutions may provide special tertiary student accounts which do not have some of the usual account fees.

Bank Fees
As with all banks around the world, some accounts earn high interest but have high fees while others earn low interest and have low fees. Also remember that using ATMs that do not belong to your bank can be costly with fees.

Banking business hours
Banking business hours are generally Monday to Thursday 9.30am to 4pm and Friday 9am to 5pm. Major city banks open Monday to Friday 8.15am to 5pm. St George Bank opens on Saturday mornings 9am to 12 midday. All other banks are closed on Saturday and Sunday. ATM transactions can be carried out seven days a week, 24 hours a day.

Credit cards
Credit cards accepted in Australia include Visa, MasterCard, American Express and Diners Club. Banks also issue bankcards for use within Australia.

If you lose your credit card contact:
Visa lost card hotline: 1800 450 346, Web: www.visa.com
MasterCard lost card hotline: 1800 120 113, Web: www.mastercard.com
American Express: 1300 132 639, Web: www.americanexpress.com
Diners Club lost card hotline: 1300 360 060, Web: www.dinersclub.com

Families, schools and childcare

You can apply to bring your dependants (spouse/partner and children) to Australia on a student dependant visa if you are enrolled in a formal tertiary course which lasts for at least one year. DIAC will process your dependants’ entry to Australia. Friends or other members of your family, such as parents or siblings, would need to apply for a visitor’s visa if they want to visit you in Australia. A visitor’s visa is issued usually for a period of three months. You can see an ISSU Counsellor to discuss the procedure for bringing your family if you wish.

Accompanying Partners Program
Adjusting to life in Australia can present some special difficulties for family members, particularly partners of students. With you concentrating on your University studies and without family and friends nearby, your partner may not have the chance to make friends and practice English. They may be isolated at home alone or with young children. Some have children attending school who learn English very quickly.

The ISSU provides a free program for partners of international students which includes English classes and discussion meetings. The classes and meetings give partners an opportunity not only to improve their English but to make friends and talk with other partners. English classes are offered twice a week throughout each semester. Newly arrived partners can register for classes at any stage throughout the year at the ISSU office.

If you have a partner staying with you in Sydney, get a copy of the Accompanying Partners Booklet. Written by the ISSU, this booklet covers many topics relevant to families living in Sydney. It contains information on cheap places to shop for food and furniture, work/study opportunities, childcare, schooling, health, entertainment, travel and more. To get your copy, visit the ISSU office.

Support for families
Counsellors at the ISSU are also available to discuss any concerns you may have, such as childcare, schooling, finding employment, or feelings of homesickness. The families of international students are also welcome to participate in the trips and other activities organised by the ISSU.

Study for partners
Your partner, on a dependant’s visa, can study in Australia as a full-fee paying international student for a maximum of three months. If your partner wants to study for more than three months, they must apply for their own student visa. Part-time studies are permitted for spouses, and a pro-rata fee will be charged. Information about courses at the University of Sydney is available from the International Office. For information about work entitlements for partners see ‘Work Entitlements’ earlier in this chapter.

Schools
In Australia, children attend primary school (Years K-6) and secondary school (Years 7-12). School education is compulsory for all children between the ages of six and 15 years. Where you live in Sydney determines the school your child can attend. Once you have found permanent accommodation, you should enrol your child at school. For all details contact the NSW Department of Education and Training.

The state education system (i.e. government schools) is mostly co-educational (boys and girls together). It is not always possible to arrange enrolment at a boys only or girls-only school as there is often a waiting list at these schools. If you are interested in a single-sex school for your children, you are encouraged to apply as soon as possible after you arrive.

School terms 2009
Term 1 Tuesday 27 January to Thursday 9 April
Term 2 Tuesday 28 April to Friday 10 July
Term 3 Monday 27 July to Friday 2 October
Term 4 Monday 19 October to Friday 18 December

School terms 2010
Term 1 Wednesday 27 January to Thursday 1 April
Term 2 Monday 19 April to Friday 2 July
Term 3 Monday 19 July to Friday 24 September
Term 4 Monday 11 October to Friday 17 December

School fees
If you are intending to bring school-age children with you, you should be aware that you will need to pay fees for primary and/or secondary schooling, including an application fee. If you hold a temporary visa – such as a temporary resident visa, student visa, visitor visa or bridging visa – you must pay a Temporary Visa Holder’s Education Fee to enrol your children in a government school. A non-refundable application fee also applies.

If you are an AusAID or Australian Defence Scholarship holder your children will be exempt from education fees. Other scholarship holders and student visa holders generally need to visit http://www.detinternational.nsw.edu.au/schools/tempr esidprog.html and look at the Schedule of Visa Subclasses and Conditions to see if you need to pay education fees. The entitlements are different in each State and Territory and this site is specific to NSW and Sydney. In the case of visitors, enrolment is for a maximum period of 12 weeks. Fees must be paid for the full 12 weeks in advance.

All payments must be made by credit card, bank cheque, bank draft or Australian money order and made payable to the NSW Department of Education and Training.

Before enrolling your children in school, you must provide evidence of their immunisation status.

For information about schools contact the Department of Education and Training office closest to where you live. District offices are located in Bankstown, Blacktown, Bondi, Fairfield, Granville, Hornsby, Liverpool, Mt Druitt, Northern Beaches, Parramatta, Port Jackson, Ryde, St George and Sutherland.

The entire list of district offices and their addresses and telephone numbers can be found in the White Pages phone directory under ‘School Education, Department of Education and Training’. If you have internet access, you can use the ‘School Locator’ on the department website at www.det.nsw.edu.au..
Further information on schools Information about all aspects of schooling is available at the ISSU or you may contact the International Students Centre:
827-839 George Street, Sydney
PO Box 707, Broadway NSW 2007
Tel: 9217 4801 or 1300 302 456
Email: isc@det.nsw.edu.au
Web: www.schools.nsw.edu.au

Current School fees
The current school fee rates (in Australian dollars) for one year for holders of temporary visas are:
Primary school Years K-6 $4,500
Junior high school (or IEC) Years 7-10 $4,500
Senior high school (or IEC) Years 11-12 $5,500
Non-refundable application fee $110
Visit www.schools.nsw.gov.au for more details.

Childcare
The system of childcare in Australia may be quite different from the system in your home country. If you are used to having your family help with childminding, then it will take some time for you and your child to adjust to a childcare centre. There is a high demand in Sydney for places at childcare centres and the cost of childcare can be quite high (approximately $40- $70 per day) and can vary from centre to centre. Staff in the centres are usually helpful and you can discuss any concerns you have with them.

Remember! There is a high demand for childcare
places in Sydney, and fees can be quite high!

Long day care
Long day care centres provide full-time and sometimes part-time care for children aged six weeks to five years. Care is usually available Monday to Friday 8am to 6pm. Most of the staff in these centres are trained childcare workers or nurses. They provide educational programs and activities to meet the developmental needs of children in a caring and stimulating environment.

Most long day care centres have long waiting lists (often one year or more), so put your name down as soon as possible. Sometimes there are places readily available for specific age groups – usually three- to five-year-olds. Priority for places in most childcare centres is given to students, working parents and those seeking work.

We strongly advise you to put your name on waiting lists for more than one childcare centre to give yourself the best possible chance of securing a place for your child. You may do this by filling in a waiting list application form available on the University Childcare website and sending the forms directly to the centres. See box for contact details of childcare centres affiliated with the University of Sydney.

Family day care
Family day care provides home-based childcare for children aged six weeks to five years. This can be on a full-time or part-time basis, with a minimum usually of two full days a week. The hours for this care are usually 8am to 6pm but there is some flexibility. As the children are cared for in small ‘family’ groups in carefully supervised private homes, it is particularly suitable for the younger age range. A coordinator matches care providers with families requiring care. Child Development Officers supervise the care providers’ homes on a regular basis.

If you require further information regarding childcare centres or schooling before you come to Sydney, please contact the ISSU. Further information about childcare centres and the different types of childcare is available from ISSU.

Childcare centres around the campuses:
Boundary Lane Children’s Centre
Boundary Lane NSW 2006
Tel: 9351 4130

Centres which are a part of the Sydney University Union:
Carillon Avenue Child Care Centre
Carillon Avenue, Newtown NSW 2032
Tel: 9557 2344

Laurel Tree House
61 Arundel Street, Glebe NSW 2037
Tel: 9660 8857

Union Child Care Centre
Lander Street (off Raglan Street),
Darlington NSW 2006
Tel: 9351 7878

Ngallia Child Care Centre
East Street, Cumberland Campus
University of Sydney, Lidcombe NSW 2141
Tel: 9351 9700

Activities for school-age children
There are lots of activities available for children both after school and during school holidays. Activities include art and craft classes, sports, excursions and holiday camps. If you would like to find out more about activities close to where you live, you can contact your child’s school or your local council. Sydney Uni Sport and Fitness conducts multi-sport camps for children aged 6-16 years. Phone 9351 4987 or visit www.susf.com.au

Financial assistance for childcare
The Child Care Benefit is government assistance available to Australian residents and to a limited category of international students: you will only be eligible for this benefit if you hold an AusAID or EIPRS scholarship.

The amount of Child Care Benefit you receive
depends on your income. You need to complete an application, available from most childcare centres or Centrelink (see a Family Assistance Officer) and lodge it with Centrelink. You must give details of your income so Centrelink can assess your eligibility for the benefit. You will also require a Tax File Number. See page 51:LINK for information on TFNs.

For Further information on childcare contact:
Childcare Information Officer
Tel: 9351 5667
Email: childc@stuserv.usyd.edu.au
Web: www.usyd.edu.au/childcare

Centrelink
Tel: 136 150
Web: www.centrelink.gov.au
(type ‘child care benefit’ into search)
Family Assistance Office
Web: www.familyassist.gov.au

Child Care Access Hotline
Everything you need to know about childcare.
Hours: Monday to Friday 8am to 9pm
Tel: 1800 670 305
TTY: 1800 639 327 (for people with hearing or speech impairment)
Web: www.facs.gov.au/childcare (translation services available)

Legal Help

During your time in Australia you will hopefully have no legal problems to deal with. However, it is possible that a problem may arise, and you need to know how to get some legal help if this occurs. The Australian legal system may be different from that of your home country, so it is important to get help from people who know how the system works here.

Information on legal matters relating to tenancy, car ownership and driving in Australia and customs regulations is provided in this booklet (see Chapter 2 and 3: LINK). If you have other legal concerns or matters relating to the police you should seek assistance from the following services listed. Please contact ISSU if you are unsure.

SRC Lawyer
There is a Legal Officer funded by the Student Representative Council (SRC) available to undergraduate students on campus free of charge, to provide legal advice.

Address: Level 1, Wentworth Building
Telephone for appointment: 9660 5222
Drop in: Tuesdays and Thursdays, 1pm to 3pm
Web: www.src.usyd.edu.au

Redfern Legal Centre
The Redfern Legal Centre also offers free legal advice.
73 Pitt Street, Redfern NSW 2016
Telephone for appointment: 9698 7277
Telephone advice: 9698 7277 between 6.30pm and 8.30pm (must book beforehand)
Telephone tenants advice: 9698 5975 Monday
to Friday 9.30am to 5pm
Web: www.rlc.org.au

Law @ your library
A free information service at your local public library and the State Library of NSW.
Tel: 9273 1558
Web: www.liac.sl.nsw.gov.au

Justices of the Peace
A Justice of the Peace (JP) is someone who has authority to sign important documents. For example, a government form might say ‘Must be signed by a JP’, so you will have to find a JP to sign it. Note, however, that many newsagents, police stations, chemists and similar services can provide the same service as a JP. See the listing at the University Union website, www.usydunion.com, under ‘JP or Justices of The Peace’.

Law Society
The Law Society has a community referral service which can refer you to a solicitor.
Hours: Monday to Friday 9am to 4pm
Tel: 9926 0300
Web: [http://www.lawsociety.com.au||www.lawsociety.com.au]]

Legal Aid Commission
The Legal Aid Commission is a free service available to Australian residents and international students. However, to get Legal Aid help you will be subject to a means test (i.e. a test of whether you really need the service or not, depending on your finances).

Legal Aid Commission of NSW: 9219 5000
(Branch Offices are available in several suburbs)
Law Access Online: 1300 888 529
Legal Access HotLine for Under 18s: 1800 10 18 10
Web: www.legalaid.nsw.gov.au

LawAccess NSW
LawAccess NSW has a website with information about the laws of NSW, and many useful links. Please note, however, that LawAccess NSW cannot respond to written requests except where demonstrated exceptional circumstances exist.
Law Access Online: 1300 888 529
Web: www.lawaccess.nsw.gov.au