International Student Guide | Sydney | 2019 | Guide Sydney International Student International Student Guide FREE 20192019 insiderguides.com.au Sydney & New South Wales A GUIDE BY LOCAL EXPERTS CONNECTWITH Study NSW coordinates a wide range of programs and support services for international students to help you make the most of your time in Sydney and NSW Visit our international student Access free legal advice from welcome desk at Sydney International Student Legal Service International Airport NSW Contact Service NSW for free Find out about our NSW information and referral advice International Student Awards Explore work experience and work integrated learning opportunities Visit our website www.study.sydney to through NSW Global Scope and find out more and keep in touch our airport welcome desk work Stay connected www.study.sydney 2 StudySydneyWWW.STUDY.SYDNEYStudySydney StudyNSW Contents SETTING UP ACCOMMODATION 10 Everything you need to know COMMUNICATION 18 to get your new student life MONEY & BANKING 26 organised and start enjoying EMPLOYMENT 32 the experience of being in a new city. STUDYING 40 HEALTH & SAFETY 46 AREAS TRANSPORT 54 CENTRAL 64 Learn about the different areas that help make Sydney EAST 68 an ideal place to live and SOUTH 72 study. WEST 76 WESTERN SYDNEY 80 REGIONAL NSW 82 ACTIVITIES EVENTS 92 Looking for something to do LIVE MUSIC 95 on the weekend? Want some CINEMAS 96 new ways to make friends or BEACHES 99 stay active? This breakdown of popular activities across GETAWAYS 102 Sydney will help get you CAMPING 106 started and experiencing life beyond your books. WILDLIFE 107 KEY CONTACTS AND SERVICES Need some help while you are in Sydney? Find the contact details of the various support services available. P.108 WWW.INSIDERGUIDES.COM.AU 5 FACT - IF YOU HEAR YOUR SMOKE ALARM AND YOUR FIRE SAFETY THERE’S A FIRE IN YOUR HOME CALL TRIPLE INFORMATION SHEET ZERO “000” AND ONCE YOU GET OUT, STAY OUT. COMMON FIRES Distractions and Extinguish cigarettes cooking don’t mix. correctly and never Never leave your smoke in bed. Never cooking unattended. use wheat bags in Most fires in the home bed. Turn off electric start in the kitchen. blankets when not in Keep Looking When use and store correctly Cooking. - roll don’t fold. Don’t overload power × points & powerboards 1 metre Keep everything one and check leads for metre from your damage or faults. heater and switch off When using chargers, all heating devices do not leave under when leaving the bedding. room. PLAN A SAFE ESCAPE Plan an escape route with at least two exits from every Keep door and room. Decide on window keys in or an outside meeting near locks so they place such as the can be opened. letterbox. × × Blocked exits are Do not overcrowd. a hazard, keep exits clear. For more information visit www.fire.nsw.gov.au FACT - IF YOU HEAR YOUR SMOKE ALARM AND YOUR FIRE SAFETY THERE’S A FIRE IN YOUR HOME CALL TRIPLE INFORMATION SHEET ZERO “000” AND ONCE YOU GET OUT, STAY OUT. Welcome to Sydney and COMMON FIRES New South Wales Distractions and Extinguish cigarettes cooking don’t mix. correctly and never Congratulations on choosing the best place I want NSW to feel like home and I want to Never leave your smoke in bed. Never in the world to study. I am delighted that you help to make your experience here the best it cooking unattended. use wheat bags in are joining us in New South Wales (NSW) and can be. This is why the NSW Government has Most fires in the home bed. Turn off electric as the Minister responsible for supporting our Study NSW, the NSW Government agency start in the kitchen. blankets when not in international students, I want to wish you the dedicated to supporting and enriching your Keep Looking When use and store correctly warmest welcome. student experience. Study NSW coordinates Cooking. - roll don’t fold. a wide range of services to help you with Each year we attract more than 235,000 living, studying, and working in NSW, all of international students from 160 countries Don’t overload power which is available on www.study.sydney around the world to study on our shores. I points & powerboards 1 metre Keep everything one × hope your time with us will leave you with a Study NSW also funds the International and check leads for metre from your damage or faults. heater and switch off lifetime of fond memories. Student Legal Service NSW which offers all heating devices free legal advice to international students When using chargers, The NSW education sector is world class. do not leave under when leaving the across the state. If you’re looking for practical Wherever you study in NSW, you learn bedding. room. experiences, they also provide work integrated from the best. Our universities, research learning opportunities through programs organisations, vocational education and such as NSW Global Scope and our airport training institutions, including government- welcome desk. owned NSW Technical and Further Education PLAN A SAFE ESCAPE (NSW TAFE), have a global reputation for On behalf of the NSW Government, I wish excellence. We are also home to a wide range you every success with your studies and I of Australia’s leading private education and hope you take the chance to explore and Plan an escape route with at least training providers, English language colleges enjoy all that Sydney and NSW has to offer. two exits from every Keep door and and secondary schools. room. Decide on window keys in or an outside meeting near locks so they place such as the can be opened. letterbox. THE HON. NIALL MARK BLAIR MLC Minister for Primary Industries × × Minister for Regional Water Blocked exits are Ministry for Trade and Industry Do not overcrowd. a hazard, keep exits clear. For more information visit www.fire.nsw.gov.au INSIDERGUIDES.COM.AU 7 Get to Know Sydney Too busy to read this entire guide now? No problem! We made you a handy little checklist so you can have the best possible start to your study experience! Basics - Get your Opal card (see page 55), download the Sydney Culture Walks app (to tick off the tourist spots) and follow Study Sydney on social media to keep up to date with the city. Explore - Take a walk along Circular Quay and The Rocks to get to know the city a little and learn the locations of some major sites (see page 67). Drink - Australia is famous for coffee and Sydney is no exception. Learn to order your favourite (see page 74) at one of Surry Hills’ many coffee spots (see page 70). Eat - For a fascinating selection of food from around the world, with a focus on Asia, head to World Square in Haymarket (see page 64). Go Out - For a sophisticated night out, but with a relaxed vibe, check out the small bars in Darlinghurst (see page 68). Listen - Live local music is an ideal way to get to know a city. Avoid the touring acts and head to a midweek gig at one of Sydney’s smaller venues (see page 95). Play - Head to one of Sydney’s famous beaches on a nice day or check out the amazing swimming facilities in the city (see page 99). Travel - Sydney’s location means it is easy to access the bush (Royal National Park), mountains (Katoomba) and beautiful coastal spots (Wollongong). See page 102 for more information on them all. Visit - insiderguides.com.au - For ongoing international student content, sign up for our e-news. It is full of articles, videos and competitions. 8 WWW.STUDY.SYDNEY Sydney Facts The Sydney Harbour Sydney city was originally The Sydney of City local Bridge is locally known as to be called ‘New Albion’. area is Gadigal Land. The ‘The Coathanger’, for its Captain Arthur Phillip, the original people of the City arch-shaped design. Sydney first Governor of New South of Sydney area are the University’s Quadrangle is Wales, was to officially name Gadigal people, one of the affectionately nicknamed the British penal colony (that 29 clans of the Sydney ‘Hogwarts’ by students was to become Sydney) ‘New area, known collectively because it resembles the Albion’, but the name didn’t as the Eora Nation. You magical school of Harry stick. Instead, the colony may hear their traditional Potter. The University of became named after Thomas custodianship reflected in Technology, Sydney’s Tower Townshend, ‘Lord Sydney’. Sydney’s ‘Acknowledgement Building is less flatteringly of Country’ speeches. (but equally lovingly) nicknamed ‘The Jenga Building’, after the game Jenga. Sydney’s George Street is Sydney is not Australia’s quite possibly the oldest capital city. Ask people street in Australia. George overseas the question, “What Street, which lies in is the capital of Australia?”, Sydney’s central business and they might reply, district, was built during “Melbourne or Sydney” - a colonial times. Once known common misconception! as ‘High Street’, the street Back in 1908, Melbourne was later named after King and Sydney (Australia’s two George III of the United largest cities) couldn’t decide Kingdom by Governor which should become the Macquarie in 1810. capital, so to compromise, they created Canberra. WWW.INSIDERGUIDES.COM.AU 9 Accommodation Finding somewhere to live is a crucial part of a successful study experience in Australia. Whatever you choose, it is vital to fully understand all of your options and be aware of your rights and responsibilities. COST OF LIVING CALCULATOR Want to learn more about your accommodation and other costs in Sydney? Use our Cost of Living Calculator to receive a customised breakdown of your expected costs: www.insiderguides.com.au/colc 10 WWW.STUDY.SYDNEY Comparing Your Options PRIVATE RENTAL This is true independent living; renting an apartment or a house, either alone or with housemates.