Starting a new course is a daunting prospect for any student, and this is particularly true for international students who are facing not only a new course and education provider, but also a whole new country! There’s no need to worry though, plenty of help and support is available.

Support for international students
Australian universities and colleges provide extensive help and a wide range of services to make international students’ transition to life and study in Australia as easy and pleasurable as possible.
In fact, by Australian law all education providers that offer courses to international students must provide support services specifically to help international students to study and adapt to their new environment in Australia. Typical international student support offices in Australian universities and colleges help students before they leave their home country and throughout their entire stay in Australia. In addition, they provide advice and assistance when the time comes to return home.

What types of support services are provided for international students?
Information and advice for pre-departure and arrival
Most international student support offices provide information and support for students before they leave home, and for their arrival in Australia.
Typical support will include:
• advice on travel arrangements, passports, luggage, valuables, Australian currency
• advice about arriving in Australia and what to do at the airport
• information about transport options from the airport to the university
• help with organising temporary accommodation
• free airport pick-up services (offered by many but not all institutions).
Orientation and study preparation programs
Every Australian education provider will run an orientation program for newly arrived international students. Orientation programs are usually held a couple of weeks before the start of semester to give students a chance to make all necessary preparations and settle in before classes begin. Typical orientation programs offer:
• information sessions
• guided campus tours
• faculty-specific orientation
• library tours
• social activities
• introduction to services and facilities
• opportunities to meet academic and other university staff, and student representatives.
Mentors and help from other students
Many universities and colleges have student groups designed to provide international students with opportunities to meet other international and Australian students. These student groups run regular social gatherings and organise activities (such as trips, meals, sightseeing) to help international students make friends, settle into their Australian environment, and feel supported and at home; and, of course, to have a bit of fun in the process!
Some universities and colleges provide students who act as volunteer mentors to new international students. These student mentors, who may be either local or international students, are recruited and trained by the international student support office. Mentors help organise and run special programs and events, and provide international students with advice and support, as well as opportunities to meet other students.
Counselling services
International student support offices provide counselling services from qualified and experienced professionals. Counsellors offer free, confidential counselling and advice on personal, social and academic matters. Individual counselling for international students covers a range of personal problems including, but not limited to:
• culture shock
• depression and anxiety
• stress
• eating disorders
• alcohol and drug problems
• relationship problems
• family problems
• accommodation problems
• academic difficulties
• motivation problems.
International students should seek the help of counsellors if they are having problems of any kind, if they are feeling overwhelmed, lonely or homesick, depressed or overly anxious, stressed, or just not as happy as they would like to be.
English language practice
The international student support offices of many Australian education providers offer services to help international students practice and improve their English language skills. Typically, these language groups encourage international and local students to come together and practice their language skills while learning about other cultures. Some universities specifically pair international students with a local student who is studying the international student’s native language. This gives international students a chance to improve their English language skills while assisting another student with their own language goals.
Help for accompanying family members
In addition to helping international students, the international student support services of some universities and colleges offer support services for family members who accompany students to Australia.
Support for family members typically includes services like:
• English conversation classes
• social meetings, activities and exursions
• counselling services to help with any problems such as culture shock, homesickness, difficulty adjusting to lifestyle and cultural differences, employment etc.
Information and advice for returning home
Most education providers offer international students who are finishing their studies information and advice about returning home. Seminars and brochures available to international students include advice and information about:
• readjusting to their home country
• employment possibilities
• migration issues
• obtaining their final results
• alumni services
• transporting belongings home
• freight companies
• tax refunds.