Western Sydney University: A Comprehensive Guide for International Students, Study notes of Marketing

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WELCOME

INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS

2 Welcome to Western

4 Welcome to Western

CONTENTS

A MESSAGE FROM THE PRO VICE-CHANCELLOR, INTERNATIONAL 3

WELCOME TO WESTERN SYDNEY UNIVERSITY 6

SETTLING IN: SETTING UP AND GETTING ORGANISED 8

Accommodation 9 On-campus accommodation | Temporary accommodation | Off-campus accommodation | Ten tips to know before you rent | Homestay and under 18s Essential Services 11 Money and banking | Top tips to save money | Phone and internet | Students with families | Study, Money and Life Skills LIVING AND TRANSPORT: ON CAMPUS AND OUT IN THE COMMUNITY 16 Australian Culture 17 Australian English | Cultural immersion Lifestyle in Western Sydney 17 History | The outdoors | Sport | Shopping and food | Culture and community Our Campuses 20 Map of Western Sydney Transport 22 Shuttle bus service | Public transport | Shared transport | Buying a car or motorcycle | Parking on campus | Follow the road rules | Vehicle licences | Taxis and Uber LOOK AFTER YOURSELF: KEEP HEALTHY AND STAY SAFE 24 Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) 25 Medical Treatment 26 Medical emergency | Doctors | Pharmacies | Public Hospitals | Private Hospitals | Mental Health and Wellbeing | Counselling services | Sun safety | Get Healthy Information and Coaching Service | Ten tips to stay healthy Stay Safe 28 Campus safety and security | Emergency numbers | Emergency Contact Points | Walking | Biking | Driving | Swimming | Fire hazards STUDY SMART: HOW TO KEEP YOUR LEARNING ON THE RIGHT PATH 30 The Essentials 31 Enrolment | Tutorials & timetable | Attend classes | Happy with your units? | Want to drop a unit? | Ongoing study | Check your email | Exams | Results | Student ID card | Important dates Your Library 33 Study Smart Zone | Spaces to suit your study | Access day and night | Digital resources | Course support | Study break | Contact us | Stay connected Online Services and Systems 34 MyWestern | Student email | Handbook | My Student Records (MYSR) | Allocate+ (tutorial registration and timetables) | SMS | Twitter | Facebook | WeChat and Weibo | E-learning (vUWS) | Student website

westernsydney.edu.au 5

STUDY REQUIREMENTS 36

Unit outline | Assessment tasks | Lectures | Tutorials | Independent learning | Critical thinking and analysis | Course progression and attendance | Leave of absence | Student (work) placements | Student misconduct Six Habits for Academic Success 40 Essay Writing – What’s Expected 41 FEES AND COST OF LIVING 42 Tuition fees | Additional fees and costs | Student fees account | Three easy methods to pay your fees Five Tips for Paying Fees 44 LIVING COSTS 46 Living Expenses per Year 46 Settling In Expenses 47 Weekly Ongoing Expenses 47 ASK FOR HELP: SUPPORT SERVICES FOR STUDENTS 49 Transition Success | International Buddies | Mentoring | Peer assisted study sessions (PASS) | Student Clubs | Student Central | Help 24/7 | Student ID Card | E-Forms | Student Welfare Service Equity and Diversity 52 Ally Network | Respect.Now.Always | Disability Service | Chaplaincy | Academic Support Programs | Complaints Resolution Unit Student Representation and Participation 53 Ten Tips for a Great First Year 54 WORKING IN AUSTRALIA 55 How to Find a Job 56 Avoid Exploitation 56 Fair Work Ombudsman 56 Tax File Number (TFN) 56 Cash-in-hand Payment 56 Career Readiness 57 Student Employment and Experience 57 Post-Study Work Arrangements 57 YOUR STUDENT VISA 58 Visa Conditions 59 Education Service for Overseas Students (ESOS) 59 Financial Requirements 60 HELPFUL LINKS 61 GRADUATION AND ALUMNI 62

8 Welcome to Western

SETTLING IN

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HOMESTAY AND UNDER 18s You might want to live in a ‘homestay’ with an Australian family, where you’ll live in a single or shared room in a private home, usually with ‘full board’ which means all meals are provided. You’ll be part of the daily routine of the family, practise your English language skills and experience Australian culture first-hand.

If you are under 18 years old, this is your only accommodation option. To enable the University to issue a Confirmation of Appropriate Accommodation and Welfare (CAAW), all students under 18 must live with a homestay family arranged by one of Western Sydney University’s approved Homestay Providers: globalexperience.com.au ozhomestay.com.au

TEN TIPS TO KNOW BEFORE YOU RENT OFF-CAMPUS

1. Inspect the property before agreeing to live there. 2. Sign a written contract between you and the landlord. 3. Find out what your legal status is in shared housing. Are you a tenant or a boarder/lodger? Your rights and obligations will vary. 4. A landlord/agent can ask you to pay a holding fee, rent in advance (no more than two weeks rent) and bond (no more than four weeks rent). 5. Your landlord/agent must deposit your bond with NSW Fair Trading. 6. Your landlord/agent must give you a condition report when you move in to be completed by you and the landlord within seven days of moving in. 7. If you do not deposit rent into a bank account make sure you always receive a receipt when you pay rent in cash. 8. If there is a change of shared tenancy make sure tenancy is officially transferred in writing. 9. If you are not sure, ask! You can get advice from your local Tenants Advice and Advocacy Service tenants.org.au or from Student Legal Services: westernsydney.edu.au/sls 10. You have the right to complain to NSW Fair Trading if you are treated unfairly: fairtrading.com.au Phone: 13 32 20 or +61 2 8760 0012.

ESSENTIAL SERVICES

MONEY AND BANKING Opening a bank account Opening an Australian bank account is easy. Banks are generally open Monday to Thursday 9.30am – 4.00pm and Friday 9.30am – 5.00pm. Once you have an account, you can do online banking or phone banking and withdraw cash from an Automatic Teller Machine (ATM) 24 hours, seven days a week.

Australia has many banks, credit unions and other financial institutions. Banks have a range of accounts, so you can choose the most suitable for you. These are some of the major banks:

≥ anz.com.au ≥ bendigobank.com.au ≥ commbank.com.au ≥ nab.com.au ≥ stgeorge.com.au ≥ westpac.com.au

If you open a bank account within six weeks of arriving, you’ll only need to present your passport to the bank to fulfil identification requirements. After six weeks, you’ll have to supply further identification. Some banks offer accounts especially for students with fee-free facilities, meaning no account fees are charged. You will need to present your student card to open this type of account.

Overseas telegraphic transfers can take about three working days to enter your Australian bank account, while overseas bank drafts can take two to three weeks. Make sure you have alternative means of obtaining cash in the first few weeks.

Automatic Teller Machine (ATM) You can use your Australian plastic banking access card at any Automatic Teller Machine (ATM) in Australia. You will find ATMs all over Australia including supermarkets, shopping centres and on campus. To avoid transaction fees, use ATMs that belong to your bank network.

ATM locations on campus are: ≥ Bankstown in Building 1 (near the cafeteria) ≥ Campbelltown in Building 2 ≥ Hawkesbury in Building L ≥ Parramatta in Building EA (ground floor near the Security office) ≥ Penrith (Kingswood site) at Building K.

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westernsydney.edu.au 13

PHONE AND INTERNET

Telephone To make an international call from Australia, dial 0011 + country code + area code + telephone number.

Pre-paid telephone cards offer competitive calling rates to all countries 24 hours per day. Costing $5, $10, $20 and $50, you can buy them at most newsagencies, post offices and convenience stores.

Mobile phones Many different phone and internet services providers offer a wide range of mobile phones and payment options, including prepaid and postpaid. Many students find it easier to buy a prepaid plan; this will also help you keep track of your expenses.

Major service providers include: ≥ optus.com.au ≥ telstra.com.au ≥ vodafone.com.au ≥ tpg.com.au

Internet On campus, you can access free Wi-Fi using your smartphone or laptop with your student ID login and password, simply select Western Wifi when you are on campus. The Village also offers free Western WIFI to all Western Sydney University students.

You can also access your student email, student records and latest news on your MyWestern account. Log on using your student ID and password.

MyWestern: westernsydney. edu.au/mywestern

Public pay phones You can find public payphones that accept coins in airports, post offices, railway stations, shopping centres and in the centre of the city. Local calls are untimed. They cost 50c from a pay phone if you use coins. Long-distance and international calls are charged by the minute. Find a public pay phone’s location using the Payphone Locator search tool at: envinsaonline.mapinfo.com. au/ppol

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14 Welcome to Western

STUDENTS WITH FAMILIES

Childcare Western Sydney University Early Learning Limited has Long Daycare Centres conveniently located on six campuses for children up to and including five years old. The centres provide high-quality childcare and early learning experiences in a stimulating, inclusive and nurturing environment. westernsydney.edu.au/ childcare or email [email protected]

New South Wales Schools School attendance is compulsory for all children aged between six and seventeen years. Most children start school aged five. School students generally attend school from Monday to Friday, between 9.00am and 3.30pm. The academic year starts in late January and is divided into four terms of about 10 weeks each.

There are two main types of schools: government (public), and independent (private) schools. There are different independent schools and many are connected with a particular religion. Fees for independent schools vary greatly and you will need to contact the schools directly to find out what they charge or contact the Association of Independent Schools. aisnsw.edu.au/Pages/ schools.aspx

Public Schools As an international student studying in New South Wales, you can enrol your dependent children in a NSW public school. Your children can only be enrolled while you are studying full-time and their enrolment must not exceed the period stated on the visa.

If your children are enrolled in a NSW public school, you will be liable to pay the Temporary Visa Holders Education Fee. The only exceptions are dependents of international students who have a full scholarship from the Australian Government or a publicly funded Australian higher education institution.

If you wish to enrol your child of school age in a NSW public school, you must contact the Department of Education regarding enrolment of primary and secondary school children. www.deinternational. nsw.edu.au

16 Welcome to Western

LIVING AND

TRANSPORT

Image: Ethan Rohloff; Destination NSW

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AUSTRALIAN

CULTURE

‘AUSTRALIAN’ ENGLISH It will usually take time to understand the Australian version of the language with its unique accents and unfamiliar terms. These terms often include colloquialisms, common words that often aren’t in the dictionary but everyone knows, as well as slang and other words only found in the local dialect.

Don’t be afraid to ask your friends, lecturers and tutors what they mean if they use a term that you don’t understand, especially if you hear it more than once. It is also valuable for the lecturer to be aware of the language they use and to know their students understand.

Listening to podcasts can help you get used to the Australian way of speaking. Check out the ‘Aussie Slang: 5 Things Every WSU Student Should Know’ podcast available on Apple Podcasts.

CULTURAL IMMERSION

You’ve decided to study and live in a foreign country. That’s a huge step. It involves many changes you may find difficult, such as adjusting to new learning and social environments, and dealing with the impact of missing family and friends. These social and practical adjustments can impede your ability to study effectively and have a negative impact on your life as an international student.

But don’t worry! Learning a new culture always takes time. You’ll be puzzled about why things happen and make plenty of mistakes or wrong assumptions. If you share experiences with your peers, the whole experience will be much more fun and you’ll probably have a few laughs together with your international and local classmates.

Acknowledge any difficulties as early as possible and take action. Contact any one of the various support services and in particular, talk to your campus Student Welfare Officer.

LIFESTYLE IN WESTERN SYDNEY The Greater Western Sydney region encompasses the area northwest, southwest and west of Sydney and is Australia’s third-largest regional economy. With a population of more than two million people from 170 countries, it is a thriving centre of opportunity, diversity and innovation that welcomes international students.

HISTORY Several Indigenous nations including the Bediagal and Darug people originally lived in the Greater Western Sydney region. Radiocarbon dating shows human activity in the area 30,000 years ago.

The area is also steeped in colonial history – European settlers arrived here just ten months after landing at what is now The Rocks in the heart of Sydney in 1788. Old Government House in Parramatta was the ‘country’ home of ten NSW governors in the first half- century of European settlement in Australia. The World Heritage listed site in Parramatta Park, built between 1799 and 1816, contains furniture and treasures from the 19th century and is open to the public.

On campus and out

in the community

• westernsydney.edu.au
• westernsydney.edu.au

20 Welcome to Western

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