THE MUSLIM STUDENTS’ GUIDE TO BRISBANE studybrisbane.com CONTENTS 02 MESSAGE FROM THE LORD MAYOR 03 MESSAGE FROM DR ASLAM HUSSAIN 04 WELCOME TO BRISBANE 05 STUDY BRISBANE 08 MUSLIMS IN AUSTRALIA 10 UNIVERSITIES IN BRISBANE 11 PRAYER TIMES & CENTRES 11 MOSQUES 13 HALAL PROVIDERS 18 USEFUL CONTACTS Compiled by Rakan Al Eidi, Brisbane International Student Ambassador, Saudi Arabia with assistance from MSA-UQ, the Muslim Students Association at UQ and Sapphira Toh. 2 MESSAGE FROM THE LORD MAYOR With its leading educational On behalf of the residents of Brisbane, I am Brisbane has a thriving Muslim community delighted to welcome you to our city. including a number of Mosques, halal butchers, institutions and well respected restaurants and supermarkets, delivering high- This publication has been designed to help Muslim quality services for Muslims living in our city. research facilities, Brisbane students settle into Brisbane life and to help make has become the destination them feel more at home. Brisbane is conveniently located about an hour’s drive from the popular beaches of the Gold Coast With its leading educational institutions and well of choice by students from all and Sunshine Coast, the natural splendour of respected research facilities, Brisbane has become Moreton Bay, the Scenic Rim and country valleys. over the world. the destination of choice by students from all over the world. Proudly initiated by Brisbane Marketing through its Study Brisbane program, the Muslim Students’ As well as having numerous study options Guide to Brisbane will provide you with all of the available, Brisbane also offers an enviable lifestyle information you need about Brisbane and Muslim with an abundance of social and cultural activities services provided in and around our city. for students to enjoy. Good luck with your studies and I hope you enjoy From the bustling energy of outdoor cafes, all that Brisbane has to offer. trendy bars and riverside restaurants to boutique shopping and the city’s thriving cultural scene, Graham Quirk there is something here for everyone to enjoy. Lord Mayor of Brisbane Venues such as the Brisbane Powerhouse, the Gallery of Modern Art and the Queensland Performing Arts Centre offer world-class programs and throughout the year the city hosts a series of exciting major sporting and entertainment events. 3 Bismillahi-Rahmani-Rahim To our cherished guests, the International Students, that are sure to satisfy a Student’s spiritual as well as Your Brisbane Brother, from beyond the four horizons, Welcome! Welcome to the ‘worldly’ needs, interests and hobbies. There are Dr Aslam Hussain Brisbane, Queensland – the beautiful Sunshine State of numerous Halal meat and Halal food outlets, Mosques B. Shariah (Medina), B. Dental Sci. (Qld) Australia! and even regular weekly Islamic classes and events! Director, HikmahWay Institute Leaving home for a distant land can itself be quite a Tapping into these resources is now so much easier challenge. But, Brisbane, as with the rest of Australia, with The Muslim Student Guide to Brisbane! can be your sweet home away from home. Brisbane This guide, a joint effort between Muslim students boasts a rich multicultural society with people from a of Queensland and Brisbane Marketing, is a ‘friend’ diverse ethnic background, cultures and languages. that will help you feel cosy and at home right here in It’s quite a pleasant surprise to arrive in Brisbane to a Brisbane. Refer to this guide for any of your academic, mouth-watering variety of cuisine that is as rich in its social, recreational and religious needs and you’re sure colour, taste and aroma as the richness of the personal to find helpful directions. friendships and life-long relations that Brisbane takes pride in building amongst its international guests. Not only will international students benefit from this guide, but the residents of Brisbane will be able to You will not be alone in Brisbane, inshaAllah! utilise this guide to feel at home. Even if you are not a Our Universities are a world in themselves -new Muslim, this guide may make that difference in finding people to meet, the intellect to stimulate, skills to just the right alternatives to make your Muslim clients acquire and memories to cherish for the rest of our feel special and cared for with your hospitality and lives. Student Services and Student Unions at all service. Brisbane Universities cater for most of a student’s May Allah reward Brother Rakan AL Eidi, Brisbane study and social needs. In fact, all Universities International Student Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, for even have a prayer room for daily prayers, Friday this great initiative, sincere thanks to the Brisbane City congregational prayers with Khutba and daily Iftar in Council and all those who helped to put this Muslim Ramadan. The wider Brisbane offers additional social, Student Guide to Brisbane in our hands – and Brisbane recreational, sports, cultural and religious events in your hearts; and you in ours! 4 WELCOME TO BRISBANE This guide contains useful information for Muslim students to practise their faith whilst pursuing their studies BRISBANE FAST FACTS in Brisbane. • Brisbane is known as the “River City”. About Brisbane • Brisbane has a population of about one Prior to European settlement in 1825, Brisbane was known as ‘Mian-jin’ – ‘place shaped like a spike’ – and was million, and has recently experienced occupied by Aboriginal clans associated with the Yaggera language group. The Turrbal people mainly lived Australia’s highest rate of capital-city north of the Brisbane River and the Jagera people were located mostly south of the river. population growth. The fast-growing colony of Queensland separated from New South Wales in 1859 and became a self- • The median age across the city is 32 years. governing state with Brisbane – populated by 5000 settlers – incorporated as a city municipality. • 22% of Brisbane residents are aged between Since these early settlement days, Brisbane’s story has been shaped by waves of migrants from within 10 and 24 years. Australia and elsewhere across the globe. The gold rush of the 1850s brought predominantly Chinese • 23% of Brisbane residents are born overseas. immigrants. The two world wars influenced the resettlement of ex-servicemen, refugees and young people. Australia’s ambitious post-World War II migration program heralded the arrival of thousands of people from • 13.5% of households speak a language other the United Kingdom, Malta, the Netherlands, Italy, West Germany, Turkey, Yugoslavia, Austria, Greece, Spain, than English with the most common being Belgium and other countries. Chinese, Vietnamese and Italian. In response to changing political, social and economic conditions and opportunities, Brisbane continues to Source: Our shared vision - Living in Brisbane 2026 welcome migrants, refugees, business visitors, students and tourists from more than 185 countries including Sudan, Bosnia, Afghanistan, Iraq, Samoa and the Philippines. 5 Information from BCC’s Vision 2006 guide (http://www.brisbane.qld.gov.au/documents/about%20council/vision2026_final_ourbrisbane.pdf). “Brisbane is a true multicultural city, with Today, Brisbane is a youthful and progressive city of approximately one million people, the largest local many faiths, ethnicities and backgrounds. government authority in Australia, and recognised as among the world’s most desirable destinations for To me, Islam is clearly represented in the leisure, business and lifestyle. society. The Muslim community is well The city also accommodates for all sorts of living needs for visiting students, with choices established, Halal food can be easily found in communal living, boarding with Australian families, independent living, shared and and there are many mosques in the city, on-campus accommodation. with the first one being built in 1908. All of Brisbane people are friendly, optimistic and offer visitors an opportunity to share in a culture this has made Brisbane’s friendly people, that promotes a healthy outdoor lifestyle mixed with a love of sports, the arts and our beautiful heritage- AKA Brisbanites, very familiar with Islam, listed fringes that include some of the world’s largest sand islands, unique wildlife and made Brisbane a city for the new and delightful rainforests. world. I’m proud to choose Brisbane for my masters studies.” Rakan Al Eidi, 2011 Brisbane International Student Ambassador (Saudi Arabia), President, University of Queensland Saudi Students Association, President and Founder, The Saudi Entrepreneurs Club 6 Information sourced from Our Shared Vision – Living in Brisbane 2026 (http://www.brisbane.qld.gov.au/documents/about%20council/vision2026_final_ourbrisbane.pdf). STUDY BRISBANE Established in 2009, Study Brisbane is a city-wide • Brisbane Insider Guide for strategy responsible for applying a consistent International Students approach to marketing and promoting Brisbane This guide helps newly arrived international as a destination of choice for international students students discover what there is to love about in core source markets and throughout the local Brisbane. Hard copies of the guide are available at education sector. the Visitor Information Centre in Queen Street Mall At Study Brisbane we focus our expertise on and the Brisbane International Airport, Brisbane improving the experience of international students City Council libraries and from Study Brisbane currently studying in Brisbane and driving the growth member institutions. of international student enrolments