Is your student visa expiring?
 If so, you'll need to extend your student visa or apply for an alternative visa before it expires. If you allow your visa to expire, you may have to leave Australia and there is a chance you will not be allowed to return for three years.
You should apply to renew your student visa at least two months before it expires.
To begin, you will need a new electronic Confirmation of Enrolment (eCoE) from Swinburne International*. You can then apply to renew your visa with the Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC). Please note that extensions are not automatic and are granted at the discretion of DIAC.
Follow the step-by-step guide to renewing your visa on the Swinburne International website. If you have any questions, contact DIAC on 131 881 or visit the Swinburne International office on your campus.
* Please note that this is different from the 'Confirmation of Enrolment and Tax Invoice' from your faculty.
Learning about all things Australian
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In true Melbourne style, Swinburne's international students have been introduced to Australian culture through a talk about the place of football in the nation's psyche. In August Hawthorn Football Club's Michael Nguyen introduced students to Australian rules football as part of a workshop preparing them for the local job market.
"I work with a lot of people who are new to Australia and one of the best ways to introduce them to Australian culture is through football," he said.
Swinburne's Careers and Employment International Consultant, Olivia Doyle says understanding Aussie pastimes forms an important part of the job seeking process.
"Football, television, movies and the media make up a significant proportion of topics Australians use when making small talk, during tea and coffee breaks or at the start of a meeting," Doyle says.
"We are trying to help international students feel more confident and speak about topics that will enable them to engage with, and feel part of their work team."
Find out more about how our Careers and Employment Unit can help international students: www.swinburne.edu.au/corporate/careers/international_students.html
Free career and employment workshops
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The Careers and Employment unit are presenting a series of free workshops to assist international TAFE and university students.
The October sessions are:
PRAHRAN CAMPUS
Australian Workplace Culture
Tuesday, 13 October - 2.30pm in PA402
HAWTHORN CAMPUS
Managing Your Career in Australia and Abroad
Friday, 16 October -
12.30 pm in EN 515
HAWTHORN CAMPUS
Skilled Migration & Visa Information Session
Friday, 30 October - 12.30pm in EN515
This session will include guest speakers from the Department of Immigration and Citizenship and an immigration lawyer.
You can register on SwinEmploy at www.swinburne.edu.au/careers and follow the prompts to the Events section. |
Sample some of Australia's finest wine with the SSAA
Saturday, 10 October 2009
The Yarra Valley, just an hour from the CBD, is not only one of Victoria's most attractive tourist spots, it also produces some of Australia's best wine. The Swinburne Student Amenities Associations is giving you the chance to sample the delights of the region on Saturday, 10 October. The wine tour stops at four different wineries where you'll enjoy finger food and, of course, wine tastings.
The tour includes transport from Hawthorn or Wantirna campus and return transport to your pick up point.
Swinburne students: $40
Others: $70
For further details and information on how to book your spot, please contact Nik Willmott at NWillmott@swin.edu.au or on 9214 8174
Participate in an anonymous survey and win
If you are a current Swinburne student aged 18 years or over, you may be eligible to take part in an anonymous survey examining wellbeing and gambling in international uni students.
Participants have the chance to win one of five $100 COLES-MYER VOUCHERS*
(To enter the prize draw you must complete the survey by Monday, 9 November 2009.)
To find out more or to become involved, visit www.problemgambling.org.au or contact Anna Thomas on 9214 4608.
Support Services
If you are worried about your gambling, call Gambler's Help on 1800 156 789. Alternatively, you can contact Swinburne University Students Services on 9214 8025 or an International Student Advisor on 9214 6741.
*Prizes drawn at Swinburne on Monday, 16 November 2009. Winners notified in writing. If a winner cannot be identified by contact details provided, an additional entrant will be drawn in substitution (registration number 46359).
Keep yourself active at Swinburne Sport this spring
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SwinburneSport would like to inform students of a few timetable changes:
- We've moved Spinning to 11.30am Thursdays. If you are up for the challenge, join Nicola in an exhilarating cycling experience that burns calories fast.
- Step Aerobics will now feature on our fitness class timetable absolutely free. Conducted on Mondays, this class is sure to put a spring in your step.
- If you want to avoid the Pilates lunchtime crowd, come to the 11.30am class for a complete physical workout. This additional Pilates class is now a permanent part of our timetable.
To stay up to date with all the latest from Swinburne Sport you can follow us on Twitter and our Facebook group, Swinburne University Sport & Recreation Centre. |
Improve your language and academic skills during the break
 Second semester classes are coming to an end and you can use your holiday time to improve your skills for summer semester and 2010 assessment tasks!
LAS workshops end in early October but individual appointments and conversation groups continue until mid-December. We'd love to help you develop your language and academic skills.
If you'd like more details, you can visit the LAS website.
A free event with something for everyone
 Harlequin Dreams is a team of Swinburne Event Management students aiming to produce high quality, popular events that are fun for everybody.
Our next function will take place on Tuesday 12 October at the Atrium (Hawthorn campus) between 11.00am and 4.00pm.
It's a free event that will incorporate salsa dancing, Japanese massage, Indian food and music, Portuguese desserts, a Moroccan area, jewellery and decorations, lots of prizes and more.
COME AND JOIN IN THE FUN!
For further details email: harlequin.dreams5@gmail.com or visit us on facebook.
Fifteen minutes of fame? Click here!
 Swinburne Abroad has recently launched a photo competition.
If you are a current Study Abroad or Exchange student and interested in participating, we'd like photos of your campus, trips and weekends, the city, where you live, Orientation Week, or your favourite discovery - anything that shows the fun you're having in Melbourne.
Please include 50 words about your photo - where it's taken, why it's special to you, etc.
The next competition deadline is Friday 30 October.
Submission
Bring your photos to the Swinburne Abroad offices on a USB or CD (for high res shots).
Hawthorn: Monday - Friday (see Marisa or Maria)
Lilydale: Wednesdays (see Xenia)
Prahran: Thursdays (see Yuki)
Prizes
Monthly prizes will include book shop vouchers and movie passes. We'll present a Final Prize and runner up prize at the end of the year.
What's on in Melbourne?
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