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ACCOMMODATION 

Australia offers a high standard and variety of accommodation to suit different budgets and needs.

Help with Accommodation
Most institutions have an accommodation officer who is able to advise you and your family on accommodation options and expenses. Student notice boards often advertise rooms, apartments and houses for rent or to share with other students.

You should contact the accommodation office at your chosen institution to arrange temporary accommodation before leaving home. This will allow you time to consider where and how you would like to be accommodated in the longer term.

Types and Cost of Accommodation
Here is a brief description of different types of accommodation available to you and approximate costs:

Homestay or Farmstay
Homestay or Farmstay means boarding with a local family during the academic year. Institutions maintain a register of families prepared to board international students. Meals are usually included in the cost. Single or shared rooms may be offered and the cost will vary accordingly. Homestay is popular with younger students and those studying short-term English courses. Self-catering homestay is sometimes available cheaply. Farmstay offers exactly the same services in a rural setting.

Australian institutions ensure that homestay and farmstay families are reputable and that accommodation is of a reasonable standard. This type of accommodation would give you access to the Australian lifestyle in a natural and friendly way. In many cases you are treated like a member of the family.

Full Board
Full board is similar to homestay or farmstay but less formal. You can negotiate personally with the landlord the standard of accommodation and meals you require.

Hostels and Guest Houses
Hostels are usually run by organisations such as Youth Hostels and Young Men and Young Women Christian Associations. You will share kitchen and bathroom facilities.

Boarding School
Many private secondary schools provide accommodation, meals and laundry services for international students.

Share and Rental Accommodation
Houses and apartments can be rented from a real estate agent or from private owners. They can be either furnished or unfurnished. Many students choose to share a house or apartment with other students. They advertise on student notice boards and in the classified advertisement section of newspapers. In this arrangement you would have your own bedroom but share communal areas as well as responsibilities for keeping house.

Rents vary dramatically across the country as do costs of many other living requirements. When renting a house or apartment landlords require rent to be paid in advance and the payment of a security bond equal to one month’s rent. The bond is used to repair any damage done to the property by the tenant. If no damage is incurred, the bond is returned when the lease expires.

If you decide to rent a house or apartment a legal document usually has to be signed between the owner of the house and the tenant (yourself). This document called a lease sets down the obligations of the owner and the tenant. The lease requires the owner to make sure all utilities are properly installed and working and the tenant must keep the house or apartment in a good condition.

University Apartments
Postgraduate and married students have access to this type of self-contained, fully furnished accommodation available at universities.

University Residential Colleges
Residential colleges are generally owned and managed by organisations which are independent from the universities although many of them are on campus while others are nearby. Colleges provide accommodation with meals. Cleaning and household tasks are undertaken by the college. They also provide sporting and social facilities, tutoring and libraries.

University Halls of Residence
Halls of residence are located on or near university campuses and are cheaper than residential colleges. You may find them an attractive alternative. Although meals and some cleaning services are usually provided they can also be self-catering. Only full-time students are accepted They do not provide all-round service like the residential colleges.