Download Our Arrival Guide for International Students
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Arrival guide GIVING YOU A HEAD START IN SYDNEY Contents Welcome Just arrived 2 to Australia! Foreign exchange 2 Lost luggage 3 Contact your family 3 Get organised 4 Accommodation 4 4 Airport reception and travel 4 6 Shopping 5 Setting up a mobile phone 5 Internet access 6 Setting up an official Macquarie University email account 6 Opening a bank account 6 8 Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC)7 Medical services 7 Emergency contact information 7 Orientation and enrolment steps 8 Useful tips 10 Checklist 12 Contact information 13 Campus map 14 Student Advocacy and Support mq.edu.au/future_students/international/travel_planning_and_arrival/ 9 PHOTOS: Jking Yuen Hung, FJ Gaylor, Richard Power, Paul Wright, Holimage, Sarah Anderson, Martina Valinger, Phillipa Janos, Paul Wright. Disclaimer: Information given in this publication is correct at June 2014 but is subject to change without notice. The University has the right to alter content or impose terms and conditions in relation to a program any time. ii MACQUARIE UNIVERSITY STUDENT ARRIVAL GUIDE 1 Just arrived HOW DO I WITHDRAW AND EXCHANGE MY During business hours banks facilitate: HOW DO I CONTACT MY FAMILY TO LET THEM Step 2 MONEY FOR AUSTRALIAN DOLLARS? KNOW OF MY ARRIVAL IN SYDNEY? • Phone calls can be made from a public phone, • exchange of currencies a landline (home phone) or from a mobile Step 1 Sydney International Airport • cashing of travellers cheques: take your phone. • Australian currency can be withdrawn from • Buy an international calling card. passport as a form of identification • To call outside of Australia, dial 0011, followed ATMs located before and after Customs. • Cards or calling credit can be purchased from Note: Some foreign banks may have a limit or an extra by the country code, the area code and the • Travelex ATMs offering multiple currencies charge on withdrawals made from an overseas bank some Australian news agencies (shops where account. number. are located throughout the airport and also you can purchase newspapers), Australia Post • For your family to contact you from overseas facilitate withdrawal of Australian dollars. THE AIRPORT LOST MY LUGGAGE WHAT (post office), supermarkets and on campus at MacShop (located within the Campus Hub to your landline – they should dial the • Traveller cheques can be cashed at the SHOULD I DO? building, C10A). international access code in your country Travelex foreign exchange retail outlet • For luggage lost during your flight, followed by 61 2, then the number. located at T1 after Customs and at other bank contact your airline directly. • For your family to contact you from overseas branches. • For luggage lost within the T1 International to your mobile – they should dial the You can withdraw Australian dollars from ATMs Terminal, contact Sydney Airport Corporation international access code in your country on Macquarie University Campus (a National Lost Property on (02) 9667 9583. followed by 61 and then the number without Australia Bank branch) or ATMs at the Macquarie the 0 at the beginning. Shopping centre located across from the University on Herring Road. 2 2MACQUARIE UNIVERSITY STUDENT ARRIVAL GUIDE 3 Key contacts to save in your mobile After hours hotline number 1800 227 367 On campus security 9850 9999 Macquarie University medical services 9812 3944 or 9812 3906 Save your key contacts Other medical centres Do an online search for the contact number for your local area Medical Centre Residential Adviser (if living on campus) Refer to the accommodation pack provided Your landlord/real estate agent WHERE DO I PURCHASE FOOD AND OTHER HOW DO I SET UP A MOBILE PHONE? Get organised ESSENTIAL SUPPLIES? You can choose a prepaid or a post paid plan. At supermarkets Prepaid plan HOW CAN I ORGANISE MY ACCOMMODATION? HOW DO I TRAVEL TO AND FROM THE Supermarkets are located in shopping centres • On a prepaid plan you pay in advance for UNIVERSITY? and in the local area. Do an online search for If you have not booked accommodation: your mobile phone use and you don’t pay any The University is connected with both bus and your closest supermarket. • Contact the Macquarie University monthly bills. train services. Accommodation Service Operating hours • Purchase a sim card from any supermarket, accommodation.mq.edu.au • Refer to the Macquarie University Transport Supermarkets generally begin trade between activate your mobile and obtain a contact 6am and 8am and close between 10pm and 12 • To find temporary accommodation visit Access Guide for travel information including number. A prepaid voucher (phone credit) can midnight, seven days a week. accommodation.mq.edu.au/temporary- travel discounts be purchased from either the supermarket accommodation mq.edu.au/about_us/strategy_and_ At shopping centres or by accessing the website of the service HOW DO I BOOK AN AIRPORT RECEPTION? initiatives/sustainability/areas_of_focus/ The closest shopping centre to the University provider. transport/ is Macquarie Centre, located across the road Post paid plan or contract The University offers a free airport pick up • For any queries related to public transport from the campus on Herring Road. It offers a • A post paid plan is a long term contract for service for all new international students. visit 131500.com.au or call 131500 wide range of retail outlets. 12 or 24 months where you agree to pay a To request this service you must notify the minimum monthly amount. Accommodation Office one week in advance of • Taxis are also available for travelling but can Operating hours your confirmed flight. be an expensive mode of transport Monday to Saturday from 9am – 5pm with the • Purchase a phone on a plan by signing a Note: Australian Government Sponsored students exception of Thursday nights when most shops contract at a mobile phone retailer. To book, visit mq.edu.au/future_students/ and students involved in formal University exchange close at 9pm. Sunday 10am – 4pm. • Different types of deals are available. Make a international/travel_planning_and_arrival/ programs are entitled to a student travel concession. The NSW Government has announced public transport comparative online study of the cost involved airport_pickup_request/ For location of all other shopping centres do an fare discounts for international students who purchase as offered by various service providers either a Multi2 or Multi3 travel ticket, over a 90 day online search. or yearly period. The discounted Multi tickets will or visit the retail service outlets at the come into effect during 2013 and apply to set periods shopping centres. of duration, which are aligned with the University calendar. Conditions apply refer to mq.edu.au/future_ • For information about mobile phone plans students/international/why_choose_macquarie/ read Australian Communications and Media studying_in_sydney_australia/transport_in_sydney for further information Authority (ACMA) ‘Going mobile – which plan is right for you?’ fact sheet. Visit acma.gov.au 4 MACQUARIE UNIVERSITY STUDENT ARRIVAL GUIDE 5 HOW DO I GET ONLINE? HOW DO I OPEN A BANK ACCOUNT? Who do I contact in an emergency? Off campus Banks are located at various shopping centres • For the police, ambulance or the fire brigade dial 000 • Free internet access is available at several and suburbs. If living close to the University places around Sydney for example the airport, you can access the banking facility provided • If you are feeling unsafe on campus call (02) 9850 9999 McDonald’s and various coffee shops. This on campus or at the Macquarie centre. Do an • For health and wellbeing support at any time call 1800 227 367 service can be used if you have a laptop or online search for location of a bank in your local mobile phone with a wireless device. area. HOW DO I GET MY OSHC WHERE CAN I RECEIVE MEDICAL TREATMENT • Internet can also be accessed at internet cafes. • Your passport is required as a form of (OVERSEAS STUDENT HEALTH COVER)? IF I AM SICK? The closest internet cafe to the University is identification. located at the Macquarie Centre, in The Loft, Your commencement fee paid at the time of On campus • Compare interest rates, bank fees, etc. before on Level 4. accepting the offer, includes the OSHC fee. • Medical service is available at the Macquarie choosing a bank and a particular You will have cover from the day that you University Clinic located on Level 3, Suite 305, On campus account. Ask if the bank has a student account arrive in Australia. Building F10A. Post orientation which may offer a discount/no fees. • If you have organised OSHC through • Wi-Fi is available on most parts of the campus. • Book an appointment by calling Business hours Macquarie University and are waiting for However you’ll need to be enrolled in order to (02) 9812 3944 or 9812 3906. Generally banks operate from Monday to your card, print your temporary OSHC from access this service. There are several computer • Show your student ID card as well as your Thursday 9am – 4pm oshcallianzassistance.com.au. Remember labs on campus that are monitored by OSHC card to the medical reception desk and Friday 9am – 5pm your policy number is your student ID number campus security. To access the computer lab upon arrival at the Medical Centre. followed by MU. Your Student ID number can you’ll need to show your campus card. Saturday and Sunday be found on your offer letter and COE. Off campus Closed (some banks open Saturday mornings) • See a doctor (known as GP or General • If you have organised your OSHC with a Practitioner in Australia) at a medical centre. different provider, log on to the web page of Do an online search using key words such WHEN CAN I SET UP MY OFFICIAL MACQUARIE UNIVERSITY EMAIL ACCOUNT? your servicer provider. as ‘Medical Centre + name of suburb’ or New international students will be able to set up their official Macquarie University email account • If you are unable to print the OSHC card ‘GP + name of suburb’.