Student
Services
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Arriving
at Brisbane Airport>
Accommodation Options>
Orientation>
Special Interest Groups (SIGS)>
Supervised Self-Study>
Student Activities>
Employment>
Student Counselling>
Student Grievance Resolution Procedure>
Arriving at Brisbane
Airport
The airport servicing Brisbane city has two terminals:
the international and domestic terminals. (The international
terminal is slightly closer to the city.)
Transport options on arrival
- Airtrain: the Airport Rail Link runs
every 30 minutes to 1 hour and services both
domestic and international terminals. Cost to
the city is $9 and it takes approximately 25
minutes. You will need to have Australian dollars
to buy a ticket. For further information including
a timetable, see: www.airtrain.com.au
- Taxis: generally available outside
both terminals. (If there isn't a taxi waiting
in the taxi stand, ask airport staff to assist
you to call a taxi.) Approximate cost to the
city is $30 but this will vary according to
the route taken, traffic and the exact location
of your destination. Suburbs to the west or
south of the city will be significantly more
expensive. You will need to have Australian
dollars to pay the taxi. (Some credit cards
accepted. Ask the driver.)
- Airport Greeting Service: an International
Institute Australia representative will meet
you as you exit the customs area. Look for the
International Institute Australia sign and your
name. (Please do not leave the arrival area
until you have made contact with our representative.)
Cost is $88. To book this service you must prepay
and provide flight arrival details 10 days prior
to arrival. We will take you to your accommodation.
(Failure to notify International Institute Australia
of changes to your arrival details will incur
a penalty.) Our after hours emergency number
is 0413 888 948.
Which option is right for me?
The train and taxi options suit the student with
basic or higher English language skills, who has
travelled overseas before and wants to save money.
The Airport Greeting Service is suited to the student
who is anxious about being in a foreign country,
who has very limited English language ability, and
who wants the security of being met by an International
Institute Australia representative.
Accommodation
Options
Homestay: Is homestay the best option for me?
Homestay provides you with the opportunity to experience
Australian home life within the security of our
program. You may be hosted by a family, a couple
or a single person. We carefully screen our homestay
providers to ensure they are interested in you.
Each student can expect to have a their own furnished
bedroom. Breakfast and dinner are provided Monday
to Friday and three meals are provided on the weekends.
Many Australian households are casual about meals
on the weekends and may ask you to help yourself
if you do not wish to join family outings of a weekend.
The length of homestay can vary from a minimum of
4 weeks to the duration of your course. IIA requires
two weeks notice should you wish to move to alternative
accommodation.
Short term options: Hotels, motels, back packers…
There are a number of short-term accommodation options
available within walking distance of International
Institute Australia. These vary in price from the
inexpensive nightly rates of backpacker accommodation
through to the more expensive weekly rates of luxury
inner city apartments and hotels. The following
websites provide information on just a few available
options:
www.palacebackpackers.com.au
www.home.aone.net.au/brisbanebackpackers
www.studentstay.net
(minimum stay 2 weeks)
www.kookaburra-inn.com.au
www.riversidehotel.com.au
www.explorers.com.au
www.dahrlcourt.com.au
www.pacificinhotels.com.au
(rates vary according to 'lease' or 'no lease' rate)
Share Accommodation
In Australia the most popular type of accommodation
for students is share accommodation. This is largely
because it is also one of the cheapest (along with
backpacker accommodation). 'Sharing' usually means
a small number of people live together in rental
accommodation and share the facilities (kitchen,
bathroom, etc) and household costs (security bond,
electricity, gas, phone).
Share accommodation is difficult to arrange from
overseas. We recommend you look for share accommodation
on arrival through word of mouth, noticeboards or
the local newspaper.
The following websites may be of interest to you:
www.seqrents.com.au
(select share accommodation)
www.realestate.com.au
(select QLD, then 'Find a Housemate' tab)
Inner City Apartments: Privacy at a price
Most inner city apartments require you to sign a
lease for 3-6 months. Please check the apartment
is fully furnished or put aside sufficient funds
to cover set-up costs. Most properties will require
a security deposit, otherwise known as a 'bond',
to be paid prior to moving in. The bond is normally
equivalent to 4 weeks rent and is returned on vacating
your rental accommodation.
www.seqrents.com.au/manhattan
www.seqrents.com.au/newyorker
www.seqrents.com.au/cathedral
(Most apartments unfurnished.)
www.pacificinhotels.com.au
Orientation
Our first-day Orientation is designed to welcome
you and equip you with the necessary information
to adjust to your new life as an International Institute
Australia student. Enjoy meeting other new students
and our friendly staff, take a tour of the city,
and learn about International Institute Australia
and student life in Brisbane. You will be placed
into your regular class having completed a placement
test along with all other starting students.
Special Interest Groups
International Institute Australia runs a number
of Special Interest Groups (SIGS) based on the interests
of its students. SIGS are teacher-coordinated; however,
students are encouraged to run the groups with some
teacher assistance (as opposed to passive participation
by students in a teacher-led activity). We see this
as a great opportunity for students to develop other
skills in conjunction with their English language
skills, such as leadership, organisational skills
and event management. The groups meet outside regular
class times on a regular basis. Participation is
optional; however, students are encouraged to explore
this applied language learning opportunity.
Supervised Self-Study
Supervised Self Study will be conducted in the Resource
Centre from 8:00 to 9:00 am Tuesday to Friday and
4:00 to 5:00 pm, Monday to Thursday. An ELICOS teacher
will supervises the self-study sessions and be available
to answer questions and direct student learning.
Make the most of the additional hours of study on
offer.
Student Activities
On Friday afternoons, there are optional
activities available for students. There may be
just the one activity, such as an 'all college barbeque'
at the end of a 12 week cycle, or a number of activities,
2 or 3 of the activities listed below.
- a language based activity (Aussie slang,
pronunciation workshop, etc),
- a sports based activity (soccer, tennis, ice
skating, golf driving range, etc),
- a field trip/excursion to a place of interest
(Southbank Parklands, museum, etc).
Students under 18 years of age must attend a supervised
activity.
Friday afternoons are a good time for students to
schedule appointments, such as moving house, attending
to travel arrangements or visa issues. Friday afternoon
activities are optional. If you choose not to attend,
your attendance record will not suffer. This is
important if you have a Student Visa.
Additionally International Institute Australia runs
a program where various activities will be held
most weekends. The weekend program consists of:
- half-day activities, such as sporting events
or visiting places in and around Brisbane, (local
markets, river cruise, entertainment);
- day trips to places such as the theme parks,
the Gold and Sunshine Coasts, Byron Bay;
- weekend trips away, generally of 2 to 4 days,
for students to experience the great Australian
outdoors and associated lifestyle.
Employment
If you hold a Visitor Visa, you are not
allowed to work whilst in Australia.
If you hold a Working Holiday Visa, you are
able to work whilst in Australia but must not have
continuous employment, with the same employer, for
more than 3 months.
If you hold a Student Visa and have permission,
you can work 20 hours per week during a regular
study period and full-time during approved holidays
whilst in Australia.
Students holding a valid Student Visa are
able to apply for permission to work to Department
of Immigration, Indigenous and Multicultural Affairs
(DIMIA) on commencing their course. You can download
the form from the Internet (www.immi.gov.au/students/forms.htm)
or request Form 157P if visiting DIMIA in person.
Processing of the application costs $50.
Please note, regular part-time work outside your
class hours is not easy to find. Your success in
finding work will depend on your:
- level of English
- past employment history
- marketable skills
- job search skills and motivation
Students should budget so they are not dependant
on finding a part-time job to pay for necessities,
such as food and rent.
Student Counselling
International Institute Australia offers student
support by both academic and personal counselling.
Whether you simply have a day-to-day concern, are
missing home, family or friends or have a question
regarding career options, please talk to our staff.
International Institute Australia staff are committed
to assisting you to resolve any difficulties you
may experience during your time as a student at
our college.
Student Grievance
Resolution Procedure
Your opinions as a student are important to us.
If you are dissatisfied with any aspect of your
International Institute Australia experience, please
talk to a staff member. You will then be referred
to the appropriate person in the organization in
an attempt to resolve your problem or grievance
to the satisfaction of both parties: you and the
College.
If you are unhappy with the outcome of your discussions
with International Institute Australia staff, you
can:
- ask for an independent mediator to help you
resolve your problem. (International Institute
Australia will refer you to a professional mediator
or you can nominate a person.)
- make a complaint to the chief executive of
Education Queensland. (The chief executive has
the authority to suspend or cancel the registration
of International Institute Australia or any
International Institute Australia courses.)
Please note, by choosing to use the services of
an independent mediator and/or make a formal complaint
to the chief executive, you are not excluded from
pursuing other legal remedies.
For more information please ask to see the International
Institute Australia's Student Grievance Resolution.
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