Kellogg Grantee Guide

Whether or not this is your first time away from your country, you are probably thinking about the different aspects of living in a new culture. Most grantees find that they must make some adjustments, since many things are new or unfamiliar. The process you will go through may be difficult, but it is also exciting and contributes to your personal enrichment and understanding of other ways of life.

Adapting to another culture may be frustrating at times, but there are people at your host university and at LASPAU who are able to help. Temporary problems should not discourage you. A growing familiarity with the new culture and with the resources available to you will greatly increase your enjoyment of your surroundings. You can read more about the process of cross-cultural adjustment by downloading this document in PDF format.

We also advise you to visit Study in Australia, the website developed by the Australian government to assist international students. The "What Type of Course" section of the Study in Australia site includes a description of the Australian academic system. The "Study Costs" section offers information on health insurance and immigration issues. The "Living in Australia" section provides tips on banking, culture, transportation, and other general issues.

Immigration

Please pay particular attention to the information on student visa information on the Australian Department of Immigration's website and the Study in Australia website (link above). It is critical that you obtain the appropriate immigration documents for yourself and your family prior to entering Australia.

Health Care

If included in your contract, LASPAU will automatically enroll you in the Virginia Surety insurance plan once you become a LASPAU-administered grantee, unless you inform us that you have alternative coverage. The Virginia Surety insurance plan, provided at no cost to you, is only for you and does not include any of your dependents. LASPAU will pay for insurance for your dependents, but you are responsible for arranging this coverage. Please click here for more information on the Virginia Surety insurance plan, as well as on how to obtain coverage for your dependents.

Employment

If you or your dependents would like to work while in Australia, you must be certain that both your program sponsor and the Australian government will allow you do so:

To verify whether your program sponsor will allow you to work, please contact your LASPAU program advisor or coordinator.
To verify whether the Australian government will allow you to work, please see the "Working While Studying" section of the Department of Immigration's website and talk to your international student advisor at your host institution.

If you work or receive grant funding in Australia, you may be expected to pay taxes. Please consult with the international student office at your university or the appropriate Australian government agency.

Housing and Your Mailing Address

Local newspapers, websites such as craigslist.org, ozrentals.com.au, or expatriates.com and your host university's international office can often serve as excellent resources when searching for off-campus or on-campus housing.

Make sure your mailbox at your home, dormitory, or residence hall indicates your full name (first and all surnames), since some postal carriers in Australia may not be accustomed to multiple surnames.

You must notify your host institution of your Australian address within seven days of your arrival. If you move, notify your host institution of your new address within seven days of moving. You must also register your address with the proper Australian authorities. The international advisor at your host institution should be able to give you further information.

The Australian Post Office provides a mail redirection service if you move while in your host country. This is generally done by filling out a mail redirection form available online or at the Post Office. There is a small fee for the forwarding service.

Shipping

When preparing to leave, you will probably find that you need to send some of your belongings home using an international shipping service. Check with the international student office at your host institution to see if they have any information about reliable shipping companies. You may also find it useful to try the Australian Post Office (link above).

Please note that the external websites listed above are not maintained by LASPAU, and LASPAU is not responsible for any of their contents. Please let us know if you find other online resources that might be helpful to international students in Australia.

Last revised: September 13, 2006