Orientation
It is important to give yourself time to “settle in” before you start at IIA. Try to arrive in Brisbane at least 24 hours before your first day of study.
On your first day at IIA, we will give you lots of information! This will help you adjust to your new life as an IIA student. Enjoy meeting other new students and our friendly staff, take a tour of the city, and learn about IIA and student life in Brisbane. You will join your regular class after completing a placement test with the other new students.
Student Activities
Special Interest Groups, Friday afternoons, workshops and the weekend program.
We strongly encourage you to join the IIA activity program during your time with us. After-school activities and workshops give you the chance to make friends with other students and to practise speaking English with native speakers.
- Special Interest Groups (SIGS) are based on students interests. SIGS are coordinated by teachers, but students are encouraged to run some groups with the help of a teacher. This is a great opportunity for students to develop leadership, organisational and event management skills, in combination with English language skills. Groups meet regularly outside normal class hours. Joining is optional; but students are encouraged to explore these opportunities to practise what they are learning.
- Students are offered optional activities on most Friday afternoons. This might be:
- a college barbeque (held every 12 weeks)
- student/teacher picnics in the City Botanical Gardens
- a language based activity (Aussie slang, pronunciation workshop, writing a CV),
- a sports activity (soccer, tennis, bowling, golf driving range),
- a cultural activity (Aboriginal boomerang-painting, dance lessons, Australian cooking, museums).
- Cultural workshops offering advice on living in Australia and on safety in the city and on the beach are held regularly.
- Guest speakers from a wide range of further education providers are invited regularly to speak to IIA students.
- IIA also coordinates a weekend program offering activities twice a month. The weekend program might include:
- half-day activities such as sporting events or visits to places around Brisbane (local markets, river cruise, Southbank, entertainment);
- full day or weekend trips to famous tourist attractions such as Australia Zoo, theme parks, the Gold and Sunshine Coasts, Byron Bay and Fraser, Moreton and Stradbroke Islands;
Supervised Self-Study
Supervised Self Study is available in the Resource Centre from 4.00 to 5.00pm Monday to Thursday and 2:00 to 5:00 pm on Fridays. An English language teacher supervises these sessions and is available to answer questions and assist students. We recommend you make the most of these additional hours of study on offer.
Working in Australia
If you hold a Visitor Visa, you are not allowed to work while in Australia.
If you hold a Working Holiday Visa, you are able to work while in Australia but can not have continuous employment, with the same employer, for more than 3 months.
If you hold a Student Visa and you have permission, you can work up to 20 hours per week during your regular study period while in Australia.
Students holding a Student Visa can apply to the Department of Immigration, Indigenous and Multicultural Affairs (DIMIA)for permission to work, once they have commenced their course. Students can visit the Brisbane DIMIA office in person or go to immi.gov.au/e_visa/students.htm to apply for permission to work. DIMIA will charge a fee for the visa with permission to work.
Regular part-time work outside class hours is not easy to find. Success in finding work will depend on your:
- English level
- past work history
- job skills
- job search skills and motivation.
Students should not depend on finding a part-time job to pay for necessities, such as food and rent. Students’ work commitments must not prevent them from attending classes.
Student Counselling
International Institute Australia offers support to students through academic and personal counselling. If you are worried about your progress in English, your study skills, if you need advice about career options or you are missing home, family or friends, please talk to your teachers or to one of IIA’s counsellors. All staff at IIA are committed to assisting you resolve any difficulties you may have during your time at our college.
Student Grievance Resolution Procedure
Your opinions as a student are important to us. If you are unhappy with any part of your IIA experience, please talk to a staff member. They will refer you to the right person at IIA to help solve your problem. If you are unhappy with the outcome of your discussions with IIA, you can:
- ask for an independent mediator to help you resolve the 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 IIA or any IIA course).
This does not remove your right to take further action under Australian consumer protection laws or to pursue other legal remedies.
