Australia Awards Pre-Departure Information
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Pre-departure Information for Australia Awards Students – Semester 2- 2019 This booklet will assist you to plan your arrival to Australia. International Sponsorships +612 8627 5449 [email protected] Pre-departure Information for Australia Awards Students – Semester 1 2019 Airport pick-up & temporary accommodation ................................................. 4 Arrival information session ...............................6 Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) ........7 Bringing family with you .....................................8 Your campus .......................................................10 Accommodation ................................................14 Introductory Academic Program (IAP) ......... 17 Student life .......................................................... 18 This booklet will assist you to plan your arrival to Australia Welcome to Sydney ........................................... 19 Facilities and services ......................................22 University policy on International Sponsorships application documents ................................... 24 +612 8627 5449 Final checklist ....................................................25 australiaawards@ sydney.edu.au Important arrival contact details ................. 26 Page 1 Congratulations on being awarded an Australia Awards Scholarship and welcome to the University of Sydney! sydney.edu.au Please read the information in this document carefully as it contains valuable information about living and studying in Sydney. We recommend that you print a copy and carry it with you while in transit. On behalf of the University, we wish you all the best with your travel preparations and we look forward to meeting you in person. We will do our best to make your experience at the University of Sydney a rewarding and memorable one. Yours Sincerely, International Sponsorships Pre-departure Information for Australia Awards Students The University of Sydney Ms Amy Wan, International Sponsorships Manager The University of Sydney Ms Annie Dinh, Sponsored Students Officer Mr Bojan Bozic, Sponsored Students Officer Ms Georgina Donovan, Sponsored Students Assistant Ms Susan Sullivan, Finance Officer (Australia Awards) Page 2 Airport pick-up & temporary accommodation sydney.edu.au How do I exchange money after I arrive? If you prefer to book a different room, or change the duration of stay, you must notify us prior to arrival. The only currency accepted in Australia is Australian For further information about Australian Sunrise dollars (AUD). American dollars are not accepted. If Lodge, please see the Booking Form attached to your you have American dollars with you upon arrival, you pre-departure email. should change these at a currency exchange, or at a bank. Once your temporary accommodation booking has been made, you are responsible for all costs related Currency exchange counters are available at the to the accommodation and you will be required to pay The University of Sydney can book an airport pick-up and airport and also in the city. Most bank branches are the bill shortly after arrival. temporary accommodation for all Australia Awards scholars. To open Monday to Friday only. When will I start receiving my contribution book either of these services, please complete the Booking Form Automatic Teller Machines (ATMs) are widely to living expenses (stipend)? attached to your pre-departure email. available in Sydney. If you do not have ATM access, please bring enough cash to last you a few days, Your stipend, or Contribution to Living Expenses particularly if you are arriving over the weekend. (CLE), payment will be calculated from the day you arrive in Australia, but no more than 14 days prior to Temporary accommodation your scholarship start date. Airport pick-up What should I do if my flight details All temporary accommodation costs will need to be Stipend payments will be deposited into your change? covered by you (including any accommodation costs Australian bank account once every 2 weeks in Pre-departure Information for Australia Awards Students If you have booked an airport pick-up service, you for family members). Soon after you arrive in Sydney, accordance with the University of Sydney’s pay day will be picked up by a REDY2GO representative. If your flight details change, please contact the you will have access to your Establishment Allowance schedule. IMPORTANT: Depending on the day you Please look out for REDY2GO's Black & Green vans. University of Sydney’s International Sponsorships to cover the cost of temporary accommodation. arrive, your first stipend payment may not be in Further pick up information will be emailed to you Unit immediately: [email protected] Please be advised that no refund will be given your bank account until 1-3 weeks after your arrival. ahead of your travel. and +61 402 969 006 (Amy Wan, Manager). if you check-out of the pre-booked temporary Therefore, it is important that you bring enough accommodation early. Upon your arrival at Sydney Airport, if in doubt, If you do not notify us that your flight details have money to cover this period. please call REDY2GO's Call Centre on 1300-2-46- changed, there may be no one to collect you at the Where will I stay when I arrive? 669 (1300-2-GO-NOW). The Call Centre is open 24 airport and you may need to make your own way to When will I receive my establishment hours, 7 days a week. your accommodation. We can arrange temporary stay for you and your allowance family at our temporary accommodation provider, If you need to make a phone call, Sydney Airport Unless you inform us in advance of your You are entitled to $5000 Establishment Allowance staff should be able to assist you with making a changed arrival, you will be liable for temporary the Australian Sunrise Lodge, a budget hotel located as part of your Australia Awards scholarship. It free-of-charge phone call. Further assistance can accommodation payment from the original in Newtown and about 20 minutes’ walk to the main may take a few days after your arrival before be found at the Airport’s help desk. booking date. campus. Unless otherwise instructed, we will make a your Establishment allowance shows in your bank The University of Sydney standard booking on your behalf for a single room for account. Therefore, it is important that you bring Airport pick-up service is complimentary for It is also a good idea to contact your temporary 7 nights. enough money to cover this period. Australia Awards students, however, if you are accommodation as soon as possible to avoid arriving with your family members they are required cancellation of your booking. to pay separately. Page 4 Page 5 Arrival information session Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) Arrival Information Sessions are compulsory. You must attend one once you arrive in Sydney. sydney.edu.au Please bring your passport, visa and boarding pass(es) to the As you are an Australia Awards scholar, the University will pay for and session. The session will introduce you to the University’s International organise your health cover. Your OSHC membership information will be Sponsorships team and you will receive: given to you at the Arrival Information Session. 1. Arrival Pack, containing important University and If your family is joining you in Australia as dependents on your student Australia Awards scholarship information; visa, you will need to organise their OSHC cover yourself: your Australia Awards scholarship only pays for your single student cover. You will 2. Establishment Allowance information; have an option of upgrading your single student cover to family cover; 3. Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) information. or purchasing a separate cover for your family. You will also be taken to the Commonwealth Bank to set up an The University’s preferred OSHC provider is Allianz Global Assistance. Australian bank account. This cover gives you exactly the same benefits as what Australians are entitled to under Medicare (the Australian public health system). Arrival Information Sessions will take place at: For more information about your OSHC cover, please check the Allianz Student Centre website at Level 3, Jane Foss Russell Building allianzassistancehealth.com.au/en/student-visa-oshc (entrance via City Road) Arrival Information Session dates and times will be specified in your pre-departure email. University map will be sent to you as well. Pre-departure Information for Australia Awards Students The University of Sydney Page 6 Page 7 Bringing family with you sydney.edu.au The Australian Government and the University Bringing school-age children to Sydney As an Australia Awards Scholar you are not required of Sydney cannot provide any financial, or other, to pay the DEI $110 application fee. Also, as a Foreign support for the dependents (spouse, children, etc.) If you have school age children, they will be required Affairs sector student visa holder, you are not travelling with you to Australia. DFAT recommends to attend school. New South Wales public school required to provide Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE) that you consider waiting at least 6 months before enrolment is free for dependents of Australia document with your DEI application. Instead of a bringing your family over, as it will allow you to settle Awards scholars. CoE, please upload a copy of your DFAT contract. in, find suitable accommodation, complete your IAP and enrol in your University course, without You will need to register your child with the NSW Please submit your DEI application