Welcome to Australia Blog

Which student visa are you seeking?

A student visa, costs and is only issued once you’ve been accepted onto a course and paid half of the first year fees up-front.

You can be going to a University, TAFE, or a college. Student Entry to Australia (form 1160i) and Application for a Student (Temporary) Visa (forms 157a).

The 7 Types of Student Visas

• English for Overseas Students ELICOS.
• Primary or secondary school.
• Certificate and diploma studies- Vocation Education and Training.
• Bachelor degree or a graduate certificate or diploma – Higher Education.
• Masters and Doctorate Studies
• Non-award Foundation Studies
• AusAID or Defence Sponsored

Find out more on TAFE’s.

Whilst universities offer a range of full degree courses, Technical and Further Education (TAFE) colleges, offer courses that have a strong vocational, practical focus.

TAFE colleges are state run and are similar to universities in that they have many campuses.

The typical level of qualification sought is: certificate, diploma or advanced diploma.

Degree and university entry courses are also available at some TAFE’s.

Typical courses are: pre-apprenticeships, apprenticeships, trade, post-trade, technician courses, commercial and general courses to certificate level.
Courses often work alongside the industry and job that a student is in.

Study can be part-time or full-time.
Fees vary with the state or territory. and concessionary rates are means tested.
TAFE websites: www.tafe.qld.gov.au/international/living_qld/regions.html
www.tafensw.edu.au/
http://www.tafe.sa.edu.au/
http://www.centraltafe.wa.edu.au/

What’s the Weather Really Like?

Well, given that this week has broken many Australian records, it’s hard to say.

In Brisbane we’re experiencing high levels of humidity – hot and sticky, warm rain and dramatic light shows as the thunder rolls in. However, I think we’re lucky at the moment.

Victoria and South Australia are having a terrible time, you may have seen the forest fires on the news.

I’ve been flooded with emails asking whether the fires and flooding are really that bad – and unfortunately yes, in many parts of Australia, bush fires or flooding do happen and this year there are alot of casualties.

This is the time or the year, when it is dry, as it is down South, the bush catches a light. Typically fire breakers are set up and local fire brigades issue warnings and do back-burning activities- that is to say, they light and burn under growth in forest areas to clear paths to prevent blazes getting out of control.

Sadly, however, as in some of the cases this week, someone else has lit a fire, either with intention to cause damage or by accident (camp fires, cigarettes etc) and there you go, unbelievable destruction.

This year has been particularly bad and parts of the Simpson dessert are closed for the safety of the public.

In far north Queensland, at the other end of the country, we’ve been having the flooding with townships under water. From drought to flooding – it is mad! Again at this time of the year, rain and cyclones are common and storm warnings and advice are issued, yet once again there is little that people can do when the rain just keeps on pouring.

Quick 101 on Universities Down-Under.

18 is the typical age students go to University here in Australia. The really brilliant are accepted younger and today there is also large percentage of ‘mature’ students. In this 30 years or older age bracket, a high percentage are women.

The typical length of a degree course is 3 years, with a few being 4.

Campuses range in size but are kept relatively small by spreading over smaller campuses, 10-30 000. Often campuses specialise in a discipline.

Fees for Australian universities vary according the course but the average course is between $10-15 000 per year.

There are scholarships, some cover tuition fees, others cover living costs with others covering both. The Australian International Development Assistance Bureau (AIDAB) www.austehc.unimelb.edu.au/asaw/asawhome.htm and the Department of Education, Science and Training Affairs (DETYA) www.dest.gov.au are the places to go to find out more.

The most common degrees in Australia are a Bachelor of Arts (BA) and a Bachelor of Science (BSc).

Master of Arts (MA) or Master of Science (MSc) are gained by those with a Bachelors degree who then go on and study for a further year in a different subject.

Students who do postgraduate work in the same subject(s) as their degree typically study for a three-year Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) research programme.

Admission
For Australian’s coming through the Australian education system, the high school leaving certificate is either an OP1 or OP2.

For overseas students, qualifications which would admit them to a university in their own country are taken into consideration, each application is individually considered.

Grants
Resident students who are studying at an official university may be able to get either a Youth Allowance or Austudy grant from the government.

Migrants however, can’t get an Austudy grants until you’ve been here for two years. If you’re following a masters or doctorate course, there are no grants here either.

What if as a New Migrant, I lose my Job?

There is a little of this uncertainty in the air isn’t there…. what with the credit crunch and all.

Here are the facts:
In the short term you are able to claim any unemployment benefits (for at least two years), that is until you are an Australian.

However, it is worth knowing what is available for the long term, for all members of your family even if hopefully you don’t ever need assistance.

There are two unemployment programmes here in Australia: ‘jobsearch’, ‘newstart’.

Steps to take:

• Upon loosing your job, you register with the Department of Social Security (DSS) and fill in forms.
• You will need proof of your identity and tax file number.
• You will also need your Employment Separation Certificate, which states the reason for unemployment and your wages.
• You receive your DSS allowance every two weeks.
• Rates of payment are means tested –income & assets…..your age, income, marital status and number of children.

Job Search:

• Under 18 or adults that have been registered with the DSS for less than a year are given the job search allowance and as the title suggests this is to assist you in seeking work (keep your application letters, job adverts etc).
• When possible, you need also to be attending training sessions or courses/educational classes.
• Payments are every 2 weeks conditional to you reporting to the DSS about your job searching activities.
• You can only claim whilst in Australia.
• Needless to say, the allowance can be stopped if you are not authentically active in job searching.

Newstart Allowance
If you do happen to stay unemployed for more than a year, the second scheme, newstart takes over from jobsearch and kicks in. This allowance is available for the over 21’s, permanent Australian residents, the unemployed and registered at the DSS for more than one year.

Once again it is for the ‘willing to work’ – evidence of job seeking is as important as ever and similarly, you report to the DSS every two weeks.
Further to this anyone aged 21 to 34 who is claiming this benefit for six to 12 months needs to do some work experience, locally or in community service. There is an extra payment per fortnight for doing so.

For amounts and further information: www.centrelink.gov.au/internet/internet.nsf/payments/index.htm

Visa 457 Integrity Review

The Minister for Immigration and Citizenship has published an integrity report for the visa subclass 457.

In this report the situation has been assessed and a number of recommandations have been listed.

The Australian Computer Society (ACS) have said that they believe the visa 457 is an important source of labour and skills for the ICT sector where shortages are at present, and added however that there should be more levels of skills verification.

The integrity report can be found here: http://www.minister.immi.gov.au/media/media-releases/2008/457-integrity-review-report.pdf

The ACS submission to the review can be found here: http://www.acs.org.au/457submission

Have you had a good or a bad experience with this visa?… leave a comment below.

Chinchilla Melon Festival

As part of the Queensland 150 must-dos, there is the Chinchilla Watermelon Festival…

The next occurence will be on 19-22 February 2009. It will be held over 9 days.

It includes activities and competitions such as watermelon-skiing and head-bashing….

It is an event for the entire family!

Find more here 150mustdos.com.au

Visa Information Sites

1 More Immigrate-to-Australia Visa information resources: