As an international student, you may think you can only attend assigned classes. But the truth is that your tuition includes a number of other useful amenities that you can enjoy right on the university campus! In fact, all educational institutions serving international students are required to provide support services under Australian law. The purpose of this support facility is to help international students study and adapt to their new life in Australia.
Here are some of the amenities at your university that you can enjoy as an international student:
1. Meeting before departure to Australia
Even before you set foot in Australia, you can attend a pre-departure meeting in your home country. Most Australian universities work in partnership with your local education authority to organize this pre-departure meeting. The sole purpose of this meeting is to clarify your concerns and provide an opportunity for you to ask questions regarding your departure. In general, the pre-departure meeting will explain to you more detailed information on topics such as

• Adapt to the Australian education system
• Prepare for your start: what you need to know to get started and access learning support services
• Accommodation advice and support
• Services and tips for your safety and security
• Instructional activities you can participate in
• Work in addition to studying

New international students and their families are also invited to participate in these pre-departure meetings.
2. Free airport shuttle service
Some universities offer free airport transfers for international students to take you to your accommodation. For more information about available bookings, please check your university’s website.
3. Instruction program
Most universities have mentoring programs for international students to participate in. This tutorial program is organized to introduce and familiarize students with their university environment. Additionally, this program is also a great opportunity for international students to make friends and start their network. The orientation program is usually held one week before the start of the first week of classes. For more information, please check your university’s website.
4. Club
Most universities have student-run clubs that you can join as an international student. There is a wide choice of clubs for students, from anime and chess fans to performance and suburban arts lovers, medieval lovers and volunteer groups. Clubs often provide unique opportunities for you to try new things and explore the things that interest you most. Often, clubs also organize fun activities such as trips and social events. Whether you want to meet people with similar interests, who like the same type of music, or if you just want someone to hang out with, clubs can be an important part of your student life. If you don’t find a club you like, you can also start a new one!
5. Student associations
Student associations provide opportunities for you to influence life on campus. As the name suggests, student unions represent students. Unions are typically comprised of elected student representatives, whose role is to liaise with the university to provide services, facilities and amenities on campus. There are many ways you can get involved in student unions such as writing articles for the student newspaper, organizing events for tutorial week, and many more. Not only will it give you a great university experience, but joining student unions will also help you develop important life skills such as leadership and teamwork.
7. Consulting
We care about your health and wellbeing. Every university in Australia must have experienced and qualified consultants, providing free and confidential consulting services to international students. During your counseling session, you may seek advice on personal, social, and academic issues such as

• Culture shock and homesickness
• Depression, stress, and anxiety
• Relationship/family issues
• Accommodation problem
• Difficulty in learning

For more information, please check the university website.
7. Study and English skills support
As you are new to the Australian education system and English may not be your first language, this facility is important for you to take advantage of. Most universities offer study and English skills support, such as personal guidance and workshops, to help international students adjust to studying and life in Australia. . You can also find English chat groups that encourage local and international students to meet and practice their language skills while learning about the cultures of different countries. Even the most proficient English speakers may have difficulty understanding others initially because of the distinctive Australian pronunciation style.
8. Library
Surprisingly, not all international students are familiar with the library facilities at their university. Not only can you use the physical library as a place to study and read, but it’s also very common for every university to have online library instruction. This online library is very useful when you are researching for assignments, as there are millions of academic journals, reports, and many other resources available. For more information, please check with your university or inquire about your department.
Now that you know what facilities you are entitled to as an international student, we hope you can take advantage of them and improve further in your studies. Good luck!