Support for AusAID Students
Swinburne University of Technology is in contract with AusAID to manage the AusAID student program. The contract requires Swinburne to provide a range of services and support to AusAID students in addition to providing regular reports to AusAID on the academic progress of their students.
Free Arrival and Greeting Service- Accommodation
- Stipend Payments
- Budgeting and Banking Advice
- Introductory Academic Program
- Academic and Study Support
- Welfare Support Services
- Disability Support Services
- Social and Recreation Activities
- Family Support Program
- Post-Orientation Workshops
- Returning Home Program and Travel Arrangements
Free Arrival and Greeting Service
Airport Reception Service
An airport pick-up service is provided free of charge to all newly enrolling AusAID students. The service will transport the student to their nominated/pre-arranged place of accommodation on arrival in Melbourne, Australia. The booking for this service can be arranged once a new student’s flight details are communicated to Swinburne’s Student Contact Officer.
Greeting Service
A greeting letter will be waiting for the student prior to their arrival at their place of temporary residence, advising them of the date and time they will be met by a Swinburne University representative.
The representative will familiarise the student by giving him/her a tour of the campus and surrounding areas, assist with opening bank accounts, explain the public transport system and other basic facilities and services that would help orientate a new student to their new surroundings.
Accommodation
Temporary Accommodation Placement
Swinburne International’s Accommodation Officer will be able to place AusAID students into temporary accommodation of their choice. Details of temporary accommodation placements recommended by Swinburne are listed in the 'Pre-Departure and Arrival package.' This package is sent from Swinburne to the new AusAID student (via the AusAID representative office) at the time an offer to study a Swinburne course is confirmed. This information is aimed at helping the new student make an informed choice about which temporary accommodation meets their needs.
Please note that bookings are made on a first come, first served basis. Therefore it is important to submit a Temporary Accommodation Booking Form to Swinburne’s SCO (via the AusAID representative office) as soon as possible.
The cost of temporary accommodation is the responsibility of the AusAID student. The student will be required to make payment arrangements with the accommodation provider at the time of arrival and check-in.
Upon a student’s arrival, free accommodation inspections will be arranged to assist all new students in finding and securing long-term accommodation.
Accommodation Assistance Program
All AusAID students are able to take part in Swinburne’s Accommodation Assistance Program, as part of the IAP (Introductory Academic Program). The Accommodation Assistance Program is designed specifically to assist newly arrived students to Australia with a practical way of finding and securing long-term rental accommodation.
There are two parts to the Accommodation Assistance Program. The first part involves a comprehensive briefing about rental accommodation options and advice followed by an accommodation inspection tour. The tour involves a Swinburne representative driving the students to local real-estate agents to view rental property available for lease.
Contribution to Living Expenses (CLE or Stipend) and Budgeting Advice
As part of their scholarship, AusAID sponsored students are entitled to receive a one-off Establishment Allowance, paid by Swinburne on arrival in Australia. The allowance is intended to cover initial settling-in costs.
In addition, AusAID students receive a regular stipend for living and maintenance costs, calculated from the day of arrival in Australia.
The following table gives a typical example of how the Establishment Allowance and stipend should be budgeted for:
Establishment Allowance to cover: |
Stipend to cover: |
|---|---|
|
|
-
Allowances for AusAID Scholarship Students
View the latest rates and other AusAID scholarship entitlements.
Budgeting and Banking Advice
There is a Student Financial Advisor on each campus, available to assist students with budgeting advice and develop a personalised budgeting plan. Assistance can also be sought on general advice about buying a car or computer, or the emergency student loan.
It is highly recommended that students:
- Make arrangements with their Estate Agent/Landlord and their bank, to pay their rent directly from their bank account on a regular basis.
- Save a little bit every month to help cover expenses for the final trip home (i.e. at the end of the scholarship) such as excess baggage, gifts and souvenirs, as well as airline tickets for any accompanied family member. (The airline ticket for the AusAID students will be paid by AusAID.)
- Open a second bank account specifically for saving purposes and nominate a portion of the stipend to be paid into that account every fortnight.
Opening Bank Accounts
Prior to the AusAID student’s arrival in Australia, a bank account will be opened and the Establishment Allowance deposited into it so that he/she has immediate access to the funds. With the assistance of the Swinburne representative, the student will be directed to the bank and advised on banking procedures and bank-related services on the first business day following their arrival in Melbourne.
Introductory Academic Program
All newly arrived ADS students are required to undertake a 4 to 6 week Introductory Academic Program (IAP) prior to commencing their nominated award course. The progam is aimed at introducing and assisting the new students in making a smoother transition to their new living and studying environment. While this program is not compulsory for ALA students, it is highly recommended that they take part in the IAP, as well.
The IAP consists of two parts:
1. Academic Preparation
2. Welfare and Support Services (on campus and in the wider community)
The Academic Preparation component is conducted by Swinburne College and includes report writing, critical thinking, presentations, essay writing, basic computing and keyboard familiarisation, researching skills, and so forth.
In the IAP, it is assumed that students have met the English requirement for entry into their academic course. However, students arrive with different academic skills and expectations. Therefore another aspect of the Academic Preparation component is to give all students the opportunity to develop and improve study or learning skills that they may not be familiar with. In addition, giving new students extra time to adapt and adjust to the Australian way of learning and studying also enhances the chance of academic success and less study stress.
The Welfare and Support Services component provides assistance to the student with settling into their new environment, including orientation, accommodation assistance, introduction to public transport, banking and familiarity with both Swinburne-provided services (such as Housing, Counselling, Health, Budgeting, Student Union, Legal Advisor, Night Bus Service, Excursions, Security, etc.) and community services (such as childcare, schooling, city council, etc.).
Orientation and Enrolment Program for International Students
Together with other newly commencing international students, new AusAID students are expected to participate, as part of their IAP, in the Orientation and Enrolment Program for International Students. Among a range of other information, the program will cover courses, enrolment, meetings with academic staff, DIAC regulations, OSHC, cultural adjustment, health and well-being, money matters, safety and security, opportunity to meet classmates and reinforce the on-campus support services available to students.
Academic and Study Support
All new AusAID students will be assigned an International Student Adviser (ISA) and required to meet with their nominated ISA on a fortnightly basis until such time that the student is settled and coping academically. Private tutorial assistance, arranged by the nominated ISA, is provided as required.
Academic and study support is also offered to AusAID students through the Language and Academic Skills Unit (LAS), as well as through teaching staff.
In addition, the Counselling Service provides individual study skills assistance (including time management, examination techniques and managing stress) to address areas of concern and improve the chances of academic and personal success.
Welfare Support Services
Swinburne International, through the Student Contact Officer (SCO) or the nominated International Student Advisor, are usually the first point of contact for AusAID students regarding welfare related matters. However a range of University services are available free of charge to all students. Students are also encouraged to approach the service directly for assistance.
The types of specialist services on campus include:
- Health-related and medical services
- Housing and tenancy advice
- Student counselling services
- Student financial advice and assistance
Where appropriate, a student may be referred to specialist services within the community such as dental services, local councils, police stations, community houses, etc.
Disability Support Services
Swinburne is committed to increasing and enhancing educational opportunities for people with disabilities. This commitment is based on a philosophy of integration that characterises our approach to service provision.
Swinburne's Disability Support Service ensures the application of this philosophy in assisting students to manage their studies effectively in the face of disability.
Social and Recreational Activities
AusAID students will have the opportunity to participate in numerous day trips to tourist attractions, interstate excursions and other activities organised and heavily subsidised by Swinburne International. While most of these events are open to all international students, some will be planned exclusively for AusAID students and their respective family members.
Family Support Program
Every effort is made to ensure that dependants of AusAID students enjoy their time in Australia.
As part of the Family Support Program, there are University-organised activities for spouses, including excursions and day trips suitable for families with young children, community house visits and information sessions regarding schooling and childcare.
Information about community service facilities, childcare benefits and Enrolment Forms from the Victorian Department of Education for school-aged children are available from the SCO. There are also opportunities for spouses to undertake Migrant English Language classes or Swinburne short courses.
Spouses are also encouraged to utilise the programs and services offered by their local councils.
Please note that similar services are provided by other local councils within other municipalities.
Post-Orientation Workshops
It is compulsory for all new AusAID students to attend a Post-Orientation Workshop within 3 months of arrival in Australia.
This program is organised by the International Student Advisers and is intended to enhance students’ capacity to manage their studies, to assess whether AusAID students are adapting to their new environment, to help identify groups or individuals who are in need of further support and to promote a self-help network amongst new students.
AusAID Students Returning Home
Homeward Travel Arrangements and the Returning Home Program
AusAID students are entitled to a one-way air-ticket from Australia to their home country at the end of their course or scholarship. This air-ticket is paid for by AusAID for the student only. Students completing their final year, or final semester, will be notified early regarding the procedures to book their return home travel through the University’s nominated travel agent.
The Returning Home Program is compulsory for all AusAID students. Relevant students enrolled in their final semester will be notified of the program details well ahead of time.
The main objective of the Returning Home Program is to advise students of the preparation and considerations for the journey home as well as re-integration into work and family life back home. This includes information on job seeking techniques for graduates with no work attachments, graduation, freight services, alumni services, procedures involved in vacating rental premises and a range of other checklists.
Graduation and Farewell Functions
It is a Swinburne tradition to host a farewell function for departing AusAID students to celebrate their academic achievement, personal journey and the valuable contributions they are expected to make to the development of their home country on return. Depending on the date of completion, AusAID students may also be permitted to attend the official Swinburne International Student Graduation Ceremony, held in July and December each year.
