Information for International Students
 

Welcome to Australia – A Place to Learn, Live and Thrive

 

We’re so excited to welcome you to our warm and beautiful country! Australia has so much to offer—both in education and in life—and we’re confident your time here will be a truly rewarding experience.

 

From the moment you arrive, you’ll feel the difference. Australians are known for their friendliness and hospitality. No matter where you're from or what your background is, you'll find people smiling, saying hello, and making you feel right at home.

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More Than Just a Study Destination

 

While your education is the focus, your time in Australia will be so much more than just study. During your free time, you’ll have the chance to:

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• Take excursions to natural wonders like the Blue Mountains

• Visit world-famous sites like the Sydney Opera House and Bondi Beach

• Explore other states and iconic locations such as Uluru (Ayers Rock), Kakadu National Park, or

• Simply relax on our stunning, clean, white-sand beaches

 

There’s an adventure waiting around every corner.

 

A Commitment to Excellence

 

If you’re joining us from overseas, it’s important to know that international students must follow the conditions of their Student Visa, which includes a commitment to attending classes, progressing in your studies, and maintaining academic excellence.

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We’re here to support you in every way so you can meet your goals and make the most of your time in Australia.

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Life in Australia booklet

 

Visitors and new residents can learn more about the Australian Values Statement and our history, culture and society from the Life in Australia booklet (148KB PDF).

 

Life in Australia booklet.  Retrieved from https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/support-subsite/files/life-in-australia/life-in-australia.pdf

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Pre-Arrival Information

There are a few things that you need to remember before leaving your home and your country.
 

Please make sure you plan your departure carefully and pack the following documents:

• Passport

• Visa

• Letter of Offer

• Confirmation of Enrolment

• Your international Driver’s Licence (if you have one)

• Notarised copies of your previous Educational Qualifications

• Evidence of your English Language Proficiency/Skills

 

Remember that there are now restrictions on planes on what you can and cannot bring – check with Travel/SECURE.
Australia’s strict quarantine regulations also mean that you cannot bring in certain types of foods, plant or animal products, so you should also check the Australian Government’s Immigration website for detailed information about these issues.
 

An Australian Government website called ‘Study in Australia’ provides in-depth and extremely valuable information which all prospective international students should refer to prior to making the decision to study in our beautiful country.

Arrival in Australia

 

From the time you step off the plane, you will experience Australian hospitality.  We can arrange to have you met at Kingsford Smith Airport in Sydney when your plane arrives.  You then have a short trip to your destination.  You can choose to travel by car, train, bus or - for an additional charge - by taxi or by limousine.

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Our staff will assist you to settle in at your place of residence, if required.  Any queries you have you will be able to ask our Overseas Co-ordinator to help you settle into your new way of life.

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Climate

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Australia is well-known for its temperate climate. Sydney has a beautiful, sunny coastal climate with winter temperatures averaging between 15 - 18 degrees celsius and a summer temperature averaging between 28 – 30 degrees celsius.

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That doesn’t mean you come without a coat and some warm clothes, as there are occasions when the temperature falls to a low 8 degrees celsius with some parts of New South Wales having temperatures of 0 degrees or even –0 degrees.

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Of course, Australia caters to everyone and we have a fantastic snow season as well, so if you wish to go skiing in our beautiful Mt Kosciusko region in the winter months, then you do need to bring some very warm clothing as well.

 

Recreation and Sport

Sydney offers a variety of sporting and recreational activities. These include swimming, golf, tennis, sailing, scuba diving, tennis, horse riding, abseiling, hang-gliding, bushwalking, soccer, rugby, boating, cricket, fishing, archery – the list is endless.

In Australia’s winter, a four-hour trip takes you to the magnificent Australian ski slopes where you can ski to your heart's content. Alternatively, for those who prefer warmth in winter, a trip to sunny Queensland’s well-known tourist attractions can also provide endless hours of fun.

The Illawarra region is close to Sydney and has numerous venues for picnics, sightseeing and – in nearby animal parks such as Symbio Wildlife Zoo – you can feed kangaroos, pat koalas and watch wombats. Beautiful, colourful parrots; white cockatoos; pink and grey galahs are plentiful in the region. Sydney also has its own magnificent Botanical Gardens overlooking our majestic and world-known Sydney Harbour and Opera House.

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Proposed Budget

Obviously, international students are responsible for their own living expenses whilst in Australia. We have prepared a proposed budget to give you an idea of the cost of living for twelve months in the Sydney region. The costs are based on your sharing rental accommodation with at least two other students.

All costs are in Australian dollars and are approximate only. Remember that costs will vary according to your personal lifestyle and preferences.  The Australian Government's Department of Home Affairs recommends that you should budget for expenses to provide a reasonable standard of living of approximately AUD29,710.00 per year for living expenses.  If you are married, you will need more for your spouse and also more for each child.

Your Student Visa normally allows you to work up to 48 hours per fortnight, so you can earn approximately AUD600 - AUD800 or more weekly to supplement your own funds.  Your Student Visa also allows you to work unlimited hours during College holiday breaks.  However, Student Visa conditions are determined by the Australian Government, so you should check all terms and conditions on the Australian Government’s Immigration website (https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas).

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Accommodation

Accommodation can be arranged with families in private homes. This is called homestay and generally includes an individual room plus three meals a day. The benefits of homestay is that you live in the safety of a family environment. If you require assistance with finding accommodation while you study with us, Focal Holdings Group of Colleges can help you with this by referring you to an accredited, recognised Real Estate Agency or Home Stay Agency.

Accommodation is also available by renting a home unit, town house, villa or a free-standing house. A free-standing house normally has a fenced garden with lawns surrounding the house – ideal for families with children. Accommodation can be rented with one to four bedrooms and normally includes a kitchen, bathroom, internal toilet, lounge room (salon) and eating area (dining room).

The average costs of renting these types of premises in the region ranges from $400.00 to $600.00 per week depending on the type of accommodation you choose. Electricity and telephone usage are additional costs. Students can choose to share accommodation, thus reducing your weekly accommodation expenses.

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Homestay Accommodation
 

Homestay allows you to live with an Australian host family – providing you with an authentic Sydney living experience. Homestay families charge a fee that covers accommodation, breakfast and/or dinner and/or lunch. Internet access is also often included. We can refer you to homestay accommodation for your arrival in Australia.

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​Course Details

Most of our courses do not have any pre-requisites for enrolment in those courses. However, our courses do require you to have:

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• the equivalent of e.g., Year 12 level Australian schooling (e.g., High School Completion Certificate, Matura), or

• Year 10+2 years’ schooling or

• be a mature-age student.

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Courses Available with Our College

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We have a great range of full-time courses available for international students to choose from that provide a range of skills for jobs that are in high demand in Australia, including:

 

​Skills for persons wanting to work in the Tourism and Hospitality industries:

• SIT60322 Advanced Diploma of Hospitality Management - allowing you to work in the role of highly skilled senior managers who use a broad range of hospitality skills combined with specialised managerial skills and substantial knowledge of industry to coordinate hospitality operations.

• SIT50422 Diploma of Hospitality Management - allowing you to work as highly skilled senior operators who use a broad range of hospitality and managerial skills.

• SIT50422 Diploma of Hospitality Management (Cookery specialisation) - providing you with the skills to work as an Executive chef leading your own team or managing your own restuarant.

• SIT40521 Certificate IV in Kitchen Management - allowing you to work as a chef with a supervisory or team leading role in a commercial kitchen. 

• SIT30821 Certificate III in Commercial Cookery - this qualification provides a pathway to work as a cook in organisations such as restaurants, hotels, clubs, cafes, and coffee shops.

• SIT30622 Certificate III in Hospitality - allowing you to work in a range of well-developed hospitality service, sales or operational units.

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Skills for people wanting to work in providing personal care to individuals:

• CHC52025 Diploma of Community Services - providing you with specialised skills in community services and to work autonomously within their scope of practice

• CHC43121 Certificate IV in Disability Support - allowing you to work in a range of community settings and / or peoples’ homes, providing support in a manner that empowers people with disabilities to achieve greater levels of independence.

• CHC33021 Certificate III in Individual Support​ - (you can choose from three different specialisations:   Ageing, Disability or combined Ageing and Disability)​ - allowing you to provide services as a support worker for frail, aged or disabled persons.

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Skills for people wanting to work in leadership and/or management roles in various industries:

• BSB60420 Advanced Diploma of Leadership and Management - allows you to apply specialised knowledge and skills in leadership and management across a range of enterprise and industry contexts.

• BSB50420 Diploma of Leadership and Management - equips you with knowledge and practical skills to work in leadership and management roles across a range of enterprise and industry contexts.

• BSB40520 Certificate IV in Leadership and Management - for developing and emerging leaders and managers in a range of enterprise and industry contexts.

 

Skills for people wanting to work in a wide variety of business roles, such as:

• BSB60120 Advanced Diploma of Business - suited to individuals who are responsible for the supervision and leadership of a team or work area (including by managing staff performance and making staffing decisions).

• BSB50120 Diploma of Business (Operations) - equips you to carry out moderately complex tasks in a specialist field of expertise that requires business operations skills.

• BSB40120 Certificate IV in Business (Administration) - equips you to carry out a mix of specialist and moderately complex administrative or operational tasks, providing leadership and guidance to others.

• BSB30120 Certificate III in Business - equips you with the skills required to perform a range of routine procedural, clerical, administrative or operational tasks that require technology and business skills.

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​Emphasis on Quality and Curriculum

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Our courses are all accredited by the Australian Government. Courses are based on qualifications endorsed by Service Skills Organisations. This gives students the assurance that the training received is of the highest quality and the curriculum being followed is relevant to the industry that the training relates to.

 

Government Recognition

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Focal Holdings Group of Colleges is registered with the Australian Skills Quality Authority (ASQA) as a Registered Training Organisation (RTO). Overseas students can be assured that their training is being conducted by an organisation that is on the Commonwealth Register of Institutions and Courses for Overseas Students (CRICOS). Our CRICOS number is 01497F and our College Provider number is 90191. This means that the Australian Government has endorsed the College as a training institution offering professional courses.

 

Health Insurance

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International students must take out health cover before you come to Australia. This is a requirement of the Australian Government. Please note that if your family accompanies you to Australia, you must take out family rate of cover.

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What this means is that for a small charge called the Overseas Student Health Charge (OSHC), international students (and their families) receive free public hospital care (in a shared hospital ward) and a rebate of approximately 85% of standard medical fees. Students are usually covered for pathology, radiology, eye-sight testing and emergency ambulance.

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Your agent can assist you in applying for your OSHC card.

 

Money and Banks

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Australian dollars are the only legal tender accepted in Australia. Australia uses decimal currency with 100 cents in a dollar. Bank notes are in $5, $10, $20, $50 and $100 plus there are 5c, 10c, 20c, 50c, $1, $2 coins.

Money from other countries can be changed at our international airport, larger banks and major hotels. Travellers’ cheques are easy to use if already in Australian dollars. Automatic Teller Machines are readily available.

The most commonly accepted credit cards are Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Diners International.

 

Food

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Australia has a plentiful supply of food. Our multicultural profile means that we have foods from countries all over the world, so you should have no trouble finding foods that you are used to in your home country.

There are food shops selling vegetables from various countries and our supermarkets also sell a wide variety of foods from different countries.

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There are also restaurants specialising in cuisines from countries such as Thailand, Vietnam, Africa, Europe, China, Mexico, Brazil, etc., so you will also have the opportunity of sampling foods from many other cultures.

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