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LEASING: UV Apartments
Information and Links
Banking and Money
Tax
Seeing Adelaide
Specialty Foods and Eating
Useful Links
Banking and Money:
Banks
Banks are the safest places in Australia for keeping your money. Bank funds are guaranteed by the Reserve Bank of Australia. Other financial institutions including credit unions, building societies, finance companies, life insurance companies and merchant banks are popular and provide similar services to the larger banks.
It is best to open a bank account immediately after arriving. It’s easier to open an account when you have a permanent address so if there will be just a short delay before you move to your permanent accommodation, it might be better to open an account then.
Bank opening hours:
Monday - Thursday 9.30am - 4.00pm
Friday 9.30am - 5.00pm
Some banks open for a few hours on Saturdays. Most banks are closed on weekends and on public holidays.
Some of the popular/larger financial institutions are:
ANZ
Bendigo
Commonwealth
HSBC
National
Westpac
How to open an account
To open a bank account you need to include your personal details such as your name and address. You will be required by law to complete a form that asks:
- The name you wish the account to be in (normally your own name)
- The name and residential address of any people who will be permitted to withdraw money from the account (these are called the 'signatories') in addition to yourself. If you are opening the account for yourself, usually there are no other signatories.
To open an account, you are also required to show your passport and one other form of identification such as:
- An overseas driving license
- Credit cards
- Your Student ID card
Most banks will accept your passport only up to six weeks after your arrival in Australia.
Students are also advised to supply a Tax File Number (TFN) shortly after opening an account - see the link further down this page.
Bank fees
Banks charge fees for various services and for transactions in your account. However, many banks exempt full-time students from fees. You should ask the bank if they waive the charges for full-time students before opening an account. Most banks calculate interest on your daily balance and pay it to your account quarterly The higher your daily balance, the more interest you earn. All interest earned on savings in Australian banks is taxed by the government.
Account types
Generally, there are two types of accounts:
- Everyday accounts
- Investment or passbook accounts
An everyday account provides you with an ATM (automatic teller machine) card for use at 24-hour ATMs or in store EFTPOS facilities. EFTPOS (Electronic Funds Transfer at Point of Sale) was quick to become the preferred method of payment for businesses and customers alike, thus is widely accepted throughout Australia. It saves people from carrying around large sums of cash and offers a safe and secure way of making payments. Students should contact their Australian bank to check the fees and charges associated with using this method of payment.
A passbook account is useful if you have large amounts of money because it pays a higher rate of interest, but doesn't usually have an ATM card.
Major credit cards are also widely accepted throughout Australia and offer the convenience of easy payments in person, or over the phone or Internet. Students should contact their Credit Card dealer for fees, conditions, and the interest rate in order to keep spending under control.
Tax:
Paying tax in Australia
International students are treated the same as Australian residents when it comes to paying tax. Once you have been in Australia for more than six months you are considered "a resident for tax purposes".
Tax File Numbers
Every adult in Australia is required to have a Tax File Number (TFN). In order to obtain a Tax File Number, you must complete a TFN application form. Application forms are available from the International Office on your campus, from post offices or from the Australian Taxation Office.
You will need to give information (with proof) such as:
- Your name and date of birth
- Current Australian address (a bill, bank statement or accommodation lease agreement will show this)
- Date of arrival in Australia
- Proof of identity (documents to be examined by the Tax Officer)
- "Proof of identity" documents include:
- Your passport
- Original birth certificate
- Overseas or Australian drivers license or
- Your Student ID card (issued to you on enrolment day)
Seeing Adelaide:
Located in the heart of the central business district (CBD), UV Apartments is in a prime position so that you can see everything Adelaide has to offer. The peaceful city of Adelaide boasts a number of things to do and see. From the well-developed sporting facilities, including AAMI Stadium, to the Adelaide Zoo, to the boutique shops on Rundle Street East, to the numerous museums and historical sights. Adelaide is also renowned for its park lands and gardens, including the Adelaide Royal Botanic Gardens, being one of only two cities where its CBD is completely surrounded by park lands. Alternatively, for those who enjoy the arts, the CBD also offers a diverse collection of museums and galleries, from Aboriginal to contemporary artists. No matter who you are, there is something of interest for everyone in the City of Adelaide.
Further activities outside of the CBD include the famous wine growing regions of Barossa Valley, McLaren Vale, and Clare Valley, Victor Habour for its popular whale watching, Kangaroo Island which is the native home of the fur seal, and the renowned local Murray River.
Specialty Foods and Eating:
Adelaide is recognised for its innovative and affordable dining. Being a multicultural city, Adelaide offers dining from every possible origin. There are a number of streets in the CBD that are considered to be the main places for dining out. For instance, Gouger Street is the traditional home of seafood and Asian restaurants, while you can find the widest variety of culinary dishes in Hutt and Rundle Streets. Rundle Street is the most concentrated place in Adelaide for night time eating and entertainment and is known as the cosmopolitan centre of Adelaide, so whatever style of meal you are after, whether it be Egyptian, Malay, Turkish or Italian, you will find it on Rundle Street.
Places outside the city centre that are also well-known for their restaurants and cafés include O’Connell and Melbourne Streets in North Adelaide, King William Road at Hyde Park, The Parade at Norwood, and for beachside dining visit Henley Square in Henley Beach.
Useful Links:
South Australia is known as the Festival State, with over 500 regional festivals and events held state-wide each year. Major events in Adelaide that attract people from all over include Adelaide Bank Festival of the Arts, Adelaide Cup Carnival, WOMADelaide annual music festival, and motor sport’s Clipsal 500 Adelaide. Adelaide has also been selected to host the upcoming 2007 World Police and Fire Games.
For information on what is on in Adelaide, visit:
www.southaustralia.com
For information on tourist attractions, tours and sightseeing in Adelaide, visit:
www.australianexplorer.com/tourist_attractions/adelaide.htm
For information and timetables of public transport, visit:
www.adelaidemetro.com.au
For information on specific universities, visit:
www.etc.cmu.edu/australia
www.adelaide.edu.au
www.unisa.edu.au
www.flinders.edu.au
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