WHAT TO PACK

The southern states tend to be colder than the northern states, so bring something warm with you if you are travelling to Australia during the middle of the year because we are in the middle of winter.

Here is a list of what to bring in your onboard luggage (keep it on you at all times):

• Information pack containing your letter of offer
• Passport with student visa
• Airline ticket
• Money , credit cards, travellers cheques, money orders ... etc
• Working Camera
• Contact lenses and glasses
• Medication (if needed) and a letter from your GP stating that you need this (Australian Customs Officers will probably ask you to explain what the medication is ... etc)

 

WHAT TO BRING

If you are in the north of the country in Queensland, or the Northern Territory you will need more cooler clothing than if you were in the southern states of Victoria, New South Wales, South Australia or Tasmania. Cool clothing like: t shirts, jeans, blouses, and slacks are they way to go if you are going to the northern part of the country. While in the south you may need to bring jumpers, jackets, and heavier cardigans with you.

Australians tend to have a relaxed approach to clothing. And on most campuses in Australia this rule applies for both students and staff of the institution. But you may have to attend formal dinners and other celebratory events and will be required to dress accordingly. The dress code at these functions is: smart trousers, shirt and a tie for men, while women dress in semi-formal way or wear traditional clothing.
Personal items like: toiletries / towels / linen / blankets / bilingual dictionary and a thesaurus / clock / radio / walk man / iPod / personal DVD player / international driver’s licence and home country’s drivers licence.

You can also bring in laptops and other computer equipment into Australia if you can satisfy Australian Customs with the knowledge that you are going to be taking them out of Australia when you leave. Although with these items you will need adaptor’s that are compatible with Australia.
Cooking utensils and kitchenware can be purchased in Australia very cheaply from large retailers or second hand shops.


WHAT YOU DON’T BRING

This is what you do not bring into Australia. Australia has some of the toughest quarantine laws in the world, and the guidelines are strict.
You have to declare everything you have on your (IPC) Incoming Passenger Card before you get off the plane. And if you are not sure something has to be declared, declare it anyway just to be on the safe side. By following these precautions you will play a significant role in protecting Australia from potentially deadly pests and other parasites.

Here is a list of what cannot be brought into Australia or mailed to you while you are here:
Mayo / fresh noodles / moon cake / fresh fruit and vegetables / packaged meals with dairy products, eggs or meat / meat and meat products that are frozen, dried, smoked, salted or canned, including meat based snacks and stocks / most fish either dried or frozen / cheese / beans / sausages / salami / milk and dairy based products.

• A current passport with your student visa
• Two passport sized photos for your student ID card
• Airline tickets
• Travel itinerary
• The details about your arrival time at the campus you are studying at and an appropriate telephone number and email address of the International Students Office at your education provider.
• Travellers cheques

(You can bring currency of up to $10 000 into Australia without having to declare it to Australian Customs. The law stipulates that you can bring any amount of foreign or Australian currency into the country that you like. But, anything over $10 000 has to be declared. And if you are bringing in promissory notes, travellers cheques, money orders and postal orders you may be asked by a customs officer to fill in a Bearer Negotiable Instruments (BNI) form. So, keep this in mind when you are bringing in currency and cheques and other financial documentation into the country)

• Aussie dollars to cover your initial expenses when you arrive. It is not difficult to get money changed into Australian dollars at any of the stopovers on your way to Australia.
• Dental check up because dentistry is not covered by OSHC.
• Read the international student guide given to you by the education provider that you will be studying with during your time in Australia.