RUSU O-Book 2020 Web.Pdf

www.rusu.rmit.edu.au Acknowledgement of Country RMIT University Student Union acknowledges the people of the Woi wurrung and Boon wurrung language groups of the eastern Kulin Nations on whose unceded lands we conduct the business of the University. RMIT University respectfully acknowledges their Ancestors and Elders, past and present. RMIT University Student Union also acknowledges the Traditional Custodians and their Ancestors of the lands and waters across Australia where it conducts its business. © Copyright 2020 RUSU All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form by any electronic or mechanical means (including photocopying, recording, information storage and retrieval) without permission in writing from the publisher. Printing Dinkums Print and Design 460 Swanston Street, Carlton, VIC, 3053 (03) 9349 4355 www.dinkums.com.au Acknowledgements This project was made possible by the Student Services and Amenities Fee (SSAF). This guide was produced by RUSU, the RMIT University Student Union, in collaboration with RMIT Connect and Student Life. With thanks to our RMIT student contributors and to RUSU staff, for both written content and publication design. Special thanks go to RMIT Students Shiona Oosha Raj (writing and editing) and Sayali Harde (design). Hello there! I’m Daniel. I study IT, enjoy footy and Star Wars, and I’m the President of your student union, RUSU. My one piece of advice to you is this: university isn’t just an education – it’s an experience, so make the most of it. While higher education is about studying hard to get where you want to go, balance is crucial. Uni is also about having fun, making new lifelong friends, and developing as a person outside the classroom. The RMIT University Student Union can help you do all these things. With student clubs, camps, campaigns, parties, free food, lounges, activities, a student magazine, and a fantastic volunteer program, there really is something for everyone. Get involved! RUSU is about students. It’s run for students, by students. We’re here for you when times get tough in both life and study. While RUSU is the heart of student life, we are also here for when you need help. Check out Compass, our drop-in welfare centre, if you ever need a chat with a qualified social worker, or come see our trained Student Rights team if you’re having trouble with your course. RUSU is your voice, support, and representation. We ensure you get a fair go at uni by working to improve university rules and policy, representing you to RMIT and the community, and standing up for your rights as a student. I hope this booklet gives you all the information you need to get started at RMIT University, and I hope to see you at one of our membership stalls early in the semester. RUSU Membership is $10 for the whole year, and it gets you access to a bunch of freebies, discounts, events, and giveaways. I hope to see you around, come and say Hi! Daniel Hoogstra President, RUSU ts en es r P U CONTENTS S U R Uni Life ................................................. 7 Getting Started At RMIT ��8 Important Dates ��0 Academic Matters ��11 Culture At RMIT ��12 The First Australians ��13 wELCOMEwELCOME Safety ��14 My Life .................................................15 BASH Starting Out In Melbourne ��16 Finding A Home ��18 2020 Being A Good Housemate ��19 The Suburbs Of Melbourne ��20 Public Transport ��22 Sustainability ��23 Shopping On A Budget ��24 Finding Work ��25 Getting Help ��26 th THURSDAY 5 march Social Life ��27 Making Friends ��28 3:00pm ~ 8:00pm Volunteering ��29 Fitness, Sport & Clubs ��30 Alumni Courtyard RMIT Media Collective ��32 City Life ............................................. 33 FOR RUSU MEMBERS ONLY - JOIN NOW! Beaches and Markets ��34 Cheap Eats..................................................................................35 Coffee ��36 The Weekend ��38 FOR STUDENTS. BY STUDENTS. Become a RUSU member now at rusu.rmit.edu.au/join rusu.rmit.edu.au | facebook: RUSUpage | instagram: rmit_rusu 5 — How2RMIT Get your questions answered Register for free: bit.ly/how2rmit SCAN ME WITH YOUR SMARTPHONE CAMERA — Get ready. Get organised. In this 90 minute session, which includes a campus tour, current students will help you: anage ganis nnec scove xplore M Or e Co t Di r E your your with people, student life your email, fees, student card, make friends and RMIT campus, enrolment, transport and get services that facilities, Canvas concession, involved support you study spaces and more timetable and more and more Your first few weeks at uni can be a pretty scary and overwhelming time. There’s so much you need to do and remember, and that’s before you even start studying... Starting out at RMIT is a lot like visiting a new country for the first time – you need to know where to go, what to do, and even when to do it. It’s useful to have at least some knowledge of the local terrain, it definitely helps if you can speak a few words of the local lingo, and you understand the regional customs and traditions. It’s all a pretty steep learning curve, but the sooner you get across all of this stuff, the sooner you can start to enjoy yourself as you embark on this new adventure. Don’t be daunted – everyone who goes to uni starts with the same level of apprehension and confusion. They got through it, and so will you – read on... everything is going to be fine. 7 Let’s get it started... Akshay Jose Believe it or not, before the internet was KNOW YOUR STUDENT invented, new students had to trudge NUMBER around campus on foot, invariably getting Learn your student number so lost, while trying to find out where to enrol, you can recall it from memory. when to arrange their timetable and how You’ll save yourself countless to join their union� Happily, those days hours of delving into your are long gone, and you can now do pretty much all of your uni prep from the comfort wallet to find out what the damn number is of your own sofa� So put your slippers on, (again!). Burn that shit onto your retina if you log into your wifi and get to work! have to. Or you know, just learn it. Open up your new students guide on the UPDATE YOUR DETAILS RMIT website, and read your way through As a new student, you may each section to learn what you need to do: currently be in the middle of moving house (or about to be soon). If that’s you, RMIT www.rmit.edu.au/students/ needs to know ASAP, so they new-student-guide can do stuff like send out your student card. Log in to myRMIT and dial in your deets. And follow our handy tips to make sure GET YOUR TFN your first few days run according to plan... You need a tax file number to access HELP or VSL loans (and to work!). If you don’t CHECK YOUR EMAIL already have one, apply to That’s whatever email the ATO now, as the process address you registered with can take up to 30 days, and you need to RMIT, right at the beginning, have all your ducks in a row before your way back when you applied. census date to ensure your studies are It’s where you’ll find details of funded. your program code. GET HELP IF YOU NEED IT NOW CHECK YOUR RMIT EMAIL It’s always better to seek help early if you need it. If Logged in? Good. Now make sure to check your you need help with RMIT emails, REGULARLY. Your issues, talk to RMIT Connect, student email is where you will receive who can assist you with any administration- all important communications from the related issues if you run into difficulties University, so make it your priority to know doing it alone. They have an online chatbot what’s going on, when. It’s also part of your and a dedicated phoneline, or you can visit student agreement with RMIT, so it’s a pretty them in person on campus. Search RMIT important thing to remember. Connect for more. 8 How I survived my first semester at uni... Saminabanu Munshi It can be overwhelming starting your first My initial query about the timetable was semester at the University, and that's why I resolved in a succinct, timely, and friendly want to share my personal experience

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