The Iglu Guide | Blog
How to make the most of your time in Australia
Studying in Australia is an incredible experience that many students can only dream about. If you’re one of the lucky ones, you have a unique opportunity ahead of you that can really help enhance your cultural, personal and professional growth. As well as offering world class academic programs with global recognition, Australia is also famous for her laidback approach to life. And with spectacular scenery and sunshine on tap, it’s really not hard to see why. If your studies are taking you off to the land of opportunity, here’s how to get the very best out of your time here in Australia as soon as you hit the ground.
Embrace independence
For many students, this is likely to be the first time living away from home, and the first time handling all the responsibilities that come alongside that move. Once the excitement of your new freedoms has worn off, the realities of your new life will start to kick in and many students struggle with this sharp transition. It’s perfectly normal to feel homesick when you’re far from home, struggling with a new language, trying to make friends and adapting to cultural expectations. Learning to manage this new independence is an important life skill that will help you make the most of your time in Australia and beyond.
- Set a budget – Whilst there are no adults in charge to tell you how to spend your money, you’ll find out pretty quickly that life can be expensive when you’re picking up every bill. Living on a budget is an essential life skill for all independent adults that will serve you well into the future, and you don’t have to be a mathematician to work it out. Simple adjustments can be made along the way to make your money stretch a little further, giving you the chance to really make the most of your time away.
- Manage your time – Managing the new demands on your schedule can be tricky, especially in those first weeks when you want to meet as many new people as possible. Effective time management is all about owning your time – that means knowing what your schedule is, and knowing when you can afford to take time out. It also means you can plan for your free time and really make the most of the time off books. Start out with good intentions, and you’ll reap all the benefits.
- Stay healthy – You’re now fully in charge of your own health journey, and if you want to reach your academic best and maximise your opportunity here in Australia, that means staying on top of your physical and mental wellbeing. Regular exercise, healthy eating habits and plenty of sleep all form part of that equation, especially in your first year away. Keeping this in balance will help keep your stress levels down, giving you more time and energy to really enjoy everything that’s around you.
Make new friends
Friendships bring many benefits, and having a solid support network behind you is absolutely critical to your overseas experience. As human beings, we all need other people in our lives to lend emotional support and understanding. In the absence of family, that companionship role falls to our friends, and this is where we derive that sense of belonging. The best way to make new friends quickly and build resilience along the way is to throw yourself in with two feet right at the start. Go to O-Week, join every society or club that you can legitimately fit into your schedule, and try out some new activities that push you way beyond your comfort zone. You never know who you might meet along the way. Another avenue to meet new friends and enjoy new experiences is to live in shared student accommodation. Here you’ll meet other students from all different backgrounds, expanding your world view in ways that would not otherwise be possible. Building friendships will also enrich your personal and cultural experiences. They might be other international students, all keen to discover the delights of Australia together. Alternatively, as resident Aussies, they can introduce you to the local culture and customs and help you appreciate what’s on your doorstep. Studying with friends can also help improve your performance and enhance your understanding of subjects.
Explore the country
Australia is home to beaches, rainforests, diverse ecosystems and world class cities. It has a whole host of memorable experiences for students just waiting to be discovered. Some of them are sitting right under your nose and won’t cost a cent, like the Sydney Opera House and the Harbour Bridge. Others might take a bit more travel, effort and money, but if you think flexibly and plan ahead, there’s plenty of excitement to be explored on a student budget. So, whether you’re nosing around the local neighbourhood or exploring further afield, Australia has something for everyone to enjoy.
Absorb the culture
One of the greatest benefits of studying in a different country is the opportunity to integrate into a new culture. Embracing the Australian way of living through language, food and cultural activities will enhance your understanding of the people you meet, and help you deepen your connections.
- Speak the language – Expand your language and communication knowledge by speaking, listening and practising the language as much as possible. This gives you the opportunity to dig a bit deeper into the Aussie vernacular as there’s plenty of ‘Australianisms’ that don’t feature in the dictionary. Certain slang words will pepper your social feed and the more you embrace this, the greater your cultural insight.
- Cultural activities – Try to attend local events such as music festivals and sports events in your area. You can also spend some time volunteering as a way to build meaningful relationships with the local community.
- Aussie traditions – Australia has her fair share of traditions that don’t make a lot of sense to the outside world. There’s the unofficial holiday on Melbourne Cup day, the traditional Two Up game on Anzac Day, and Christmas in July just for starters. Brush up on your Aussie sports and get involved by celebrating this national pastime. From cricket and AFL to NRL and tennis there is no sport that is not considered worthy of a lengthy chat. The more you experience, the more it will all make sense.
Get a job
Whilst there are obvious financial benefits to getting a job as a student, there are also immense personal gains for international students keen to enhance their overall experience in Australia. Firstly, it massively improves language skills. Interacting with locals and listening to conversations reinforces learnings in your mind and is a great opportunity to try out new phrases and conversations starters. Secondly, meeting a different set of people to your university peers enhances your understanding of the local community and opens you up to new experiences. Thirdly, it’s another opportunity to build new friendships, enriching the social fabric of your life in Australia.
Professional development
Studying in Australia is a great opportunity to get a fast start on your career prospects. Not only will you benefit from a fantastic education at some of the world’s top-ranking universities, you’ll have access to an incredible range of university resources, skill development programs, entrepreneur initiatives and networking opportunities. Take advantage of intern programs, alumni events, workshops and leadership training and engage with any professional associations relevant to your field of study. There may even be additional scholarships and funds available to support your individual investigations. All this, combined with a supportive careers department, creates a solid foundation for you to build on your professional journey.
