tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-300312432024-03-14T14:10:34.058+11:00Melbourne Price CheckA guide to life in Melbourne.Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16947902626860519653noreply@blogger.comBlogger63125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30031243.post-78628967570686852452010-01-20T21:32:00.003+11:002010-01-20T22:35:01.679+11:00Victoria Police Admits: Indians are Overrepresented in Robbery Statistics.The ABC* has finally extracted an <a href="http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/01/20/2797173.htm">admission</a> from the Chief of the Victorian Police that Indians are over-represented in crime statistics in Melbourne. Looking deeper into the statistics some interesting points emerge. Firstly, about 50% of attacks on Indians have been on Taxi drivers or in convenience stores and the over-representation is in robberies, not assaults as the media hype has led us to believe.<br /><br />If anyone reading this has been in Melbourne lately they will know that Indians are now the most common taxi drivers & the most common convenience store attendants. Taxi drivers and convenience store attendants have been attacked in Melbourne for decades, long before the latest wave of Indians came along. These are very dangerous jobs. How many of the robberies and attacks we hear about are simply because the Indians coming here as students don't have enough money to live and are prepared to do any job? How many of the attacks could have been avoided by people who are more familiar with drunken, loutish behaviour and ways to avoid it? I've never worked in a convenience store on a midnight to dawn shift but have heard enough stories to avoid doing it at all costs. To those parents who are sending their sons to Melbourne to study, without enough money for fees and living expenses, be aware that you are putting them into a more dangerous life than most Australians lead. More dangerous than most overseas students too. <br /><br />Then the same question needs to be turned around to the Australian government. Why are students accepted without enough money to live on? Why are students allowed to stay on after their courses have finished if the only jobs they can get are as taxi drivers? Clearly the skilled migration scheme has brought in a lot of people who are ready and willing to work, but aren't quite appropriate for skilled jobs in Australia. The government has avoided any big changes to the skilled immigration policy because it would endanger the now-enormous education industry. As long as a degree from an Australian University gives a small fraction of overseas students the ability to stay here permanently, the Universities will be flooded with students. Many of those students will end up going back home to families who will see them as failures, their youth & hope wasted on the dream of becoming Australian residents. This puts too much pressure on students, leading to risk taking, suicides and mental illness. The skilled immigration laws should be tightened to de-couple permanent residence in Australia from long courses of study - perhaps the English proficiency requirement should be judged at the beginning of the course, not at the end, so students don't maintain the Australian dream for several years of study, just to have it dashed at the end. <br /><br />*Australian Broadcasting CorporationMichellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16947902626860519653noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30031243.post-55379973174507070342010-01-10T00:05:00.005+11:002010-01-10T01:20:02.417+11:00Is Melbourne a violent, racist place?Comments originally from a Facebook Group - 4 June 2009<br /><br />The stories we're hearing in the media point to some semi-organised gangs who are targeting Indian - looking overseas students. I am reminded of the film "Romper Stomper", a 1992 movie where a gang of neo-Nazis attack Vietnamese in Footscray. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YXa-nAYdjrk )<br />I mention it because the movie may give you all some insight into why these people choose to attack the latest new arrivals. Its not nice or pretty & these kind of racist people do exist in Australia, but we don't hear about Vietnamese being attacked any more. Why?<br /><br />On something completely different, I disagree with some writers about provision of accommodation. I think overseas students should be provided with the option of living on campus at least during their first semester. I was an overseas student in London & found staying on campus a very easy way to gradually learn how to act & how to live in my new city. I could then avoid living in areas where I was likely to be attacked on my way home from the University.<br />That is not to say overseas students should be provided with free accommodation, but something which is at comparable rates to living off-campus. Traditionally, living on campus at the Universities in Melbourne has been a more expensive option.<br /><br />5 June 2009 <br /><br />It is extraordinarily difficult to work here for 20 hours a week, make enough money for tuition fees and living expenses & study a full time course as well. That is more than the local students try to do & an awful lot of pressure for someone to put on themselves. In these circumstances, racist attacks are only one of the dangers students face. I have recently had a close friend become very ill under these kind of pressures - a serious illness which probably wouldn't have happened without the study & work & English language pressure - and which will be with her for the rest of her life. I think a better solution for the present time is to somehow change perceptions that you can do all these things. Discourage students from coming over here for PR. Let students be students, not PR applicants. If the course gives you nothing but PR, don't do it. Do a course which can get you a step ahead when you get home.<br />The government may change the immigration rules to reduce further the number of OS students eligible for PR anyway.<br /><br />10 January 2010<br />Sadly, attacks on Indian students in Melbourne are continuing. Despite government platitudes about Melbourne's safety Indians here are living in an increasing environment of fear. The fear isn't about statistics. What terror is ever about statistics? Who cared if more people were killed on New York's roads in 2001 than in the 9-11 attacks? The TV footage had the whole world scared. An Indian graduate, Nitin Garg, was fatally attacked this week while walking to work through a park in Yarraville. Traditionally nearby Footscray is one of Melbourne's most dangerous areas. Most of the the attacks are in Melbourne's Western suburbs, a cheap place to live, but much more dangerous than the eastern suburbs. Some of the violence may be simply opportunistic robberies by drug addicts looking for their next fix. Avoiding dangerous areas and times would help prevent people from being a soft target for these kind of crimes. <br /><br />The concerning factor is that Indian students say there is a more sinister kind of crime occurring, which the perpetrators call "curry bashing", which is clearly racially motivated. Whether Nitin Garg was the victim of a random attack or whether it was racially motivated, its clear that attacks on Indians in Melbourne aren't stopping. I wonder whether the Andrew Bolt's Herald Sun <a href=" http://blogs.news.com.au/heraldsun/andrewbolt/index.php/heraldsun/comments/some_gangs_are_too_ethnic_for_the_police_to_see/">column</a> from September 2007 explains why the police response is inadequate. Andrew Bolt explained how police statements underplayed the role of gangs in violent crime in Noble Park, an outer Eastern suburb of Melbourne. Are they doing the same thing when a gang attacks an Indian student? <br /> <br /><br />http://blogs.news.com.au/heraldsun/andrewbolt/index.php/heraldsun/comments/some_gangs_are_too_ethnic_for_the_police_to_see/Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16947902626860519653noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30031243.post-48183011280594082212009-04-15T19:10:00.001+10:002009-04-15T19:12:19.999+10:00Hairdressing. PR or not PR?This desperate message arrived in my in-box in Dec 2008...<br /><br />HELLO. I AM A HAIRDRESSING OVERSEAS STUDENT. I HAVE ALREADY COMPLETED MY ONE YEAR. OF STUDY. I WISH TO STAY IN MELBOURNE & OPEN MY OWN SALON. BUT NOW GOVERNMENT HAS CHANGED THE RULES. I AM GOING TO APPLY FOR PR. IN DEC 2009. SO WILL I GET THE PR?Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16947902626860519653noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30031243.post-92052643889845762732009-04-08T19:05:00.001+10:002009-04-15T19:35:25.863+10:00Privacy Policy - Update April 2009Update April 2009 - Privacy Policy<br /><br />This website/blog uses third-party advertising companies to serve ads when visiting this site. These third parties may collect and use information (but not your name, address, email address, or telephone number) about your visits to this and other websites in order to provide advertisements about goods and services of interest to you. If you would like more information about this practice and to know your choices about not having this information used by these companies, you can visit <a href="http://www.google.com/privacy_ads.html">Google's Advertising and Privacy</a> page.<br /><br />If you wish to opt out of Advertising companies tracking and tailoring advertisements to your surfing patterns you may do so at <a href="http://networkadvertising.org/managing/opt_out.asp">Network Advertising Initiative</a>.<br /><br />Google uses the Doubleclick DART cookie to serve ads across it's Adsense network and you can get further information regarding the DART cookie at <a href="http://www.doubleclick.com/privacy/faq.aspx">Doubleclick</a> as well as opt out options at <a href="http://www.google.com/privacy_ads.html">Google's Privacy Center</a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Privacy<br /><br />I respect your privacy and I am committed to safeguarding your privacy while online at this site melbournepricecheck.blogspot.com The following discloses how I gather and disseminate information for this Blog.<br /><br />RSS Feeds and Email Updates<br /><br />If a user wishes to subscribe to my RSS Feeds or Email Updates (powered by Feedburner/Google), I ask for contact information such as name and email address. Users may opt-out of these communications at any time. Your personal information will never be sold or given to a third party. (You will never be spammed by me - ever)<br /><br />Log Files and Stats<br /><br />Like most blogging platforms I use log files, in this case Statcounter & Google Analytics. This stores information such as internet protocol (IP) addresses, browser type, internet service provider (ISP), referring, exit and visited pages, platform used, date/time stamp, track user’s movement in the whole, and gather broad demographic information for aggregate use. IP addresses etc. are not linked to personally identifiable information.<br /><br />Cookies<br /><br />A cookie is a piece of data stored on the user’s computer tied to information about the user. This blog doesn't use cookies. However, some of my business partners use cookies on this site (for example - advertisers). I can't access or control these cookies once the advertisers have set them.<br /><br />Links<br /><br />This Blog contains links to other sites. Please be aware that I am not responsible for the privacy practices of these other sites. I suggest my users to be aware of this when they leave this blog and to read the privacy statements of each and every site that collects personally identifiable information. This privacy statement applies solely to information collected by this Blog.<br /><br />Advertisers<br /><br />I use outside ad companies to display ads on this blog. These ads may contain cookies and are collected by the advertising companies and I do not have access to this information. I work with the following advertising companies: Google Adsense, Clixgalore, Commission Junction. Please check the advertisers websites for respective privacy policies.Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16947902626860519653noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30031243.post-68020481240185263042008-12-20T21:09:00.004+11:002008-12-20T21:59:32.888+11:00Changes to Skilled Migration ProcessingOn the 17th of December, the Australian government announced changes to the way applications for skilled migration visas are handled. Occupations on the new <a href="http://www.immi.gov.au/skilled/general-skilled-migration/pdf/critical-skills-list.pdf">critical skills list</a> will be fast-tracked, while other occupations on the Migration Occupations in Demand (MODL) list will proceed more slowly. <br /><br />The press has been quick to pick up the fact that cooks, and hairdressers are not on the critical skills list. The changes will become effective on 1 January 2009, so any students currently studying cookery or hairdressing courses as a short-cut to permanent residence may find themselves heading back home in 2009. The government is maintaining the target of 133 500 places for skilled migrants in 2008-9, but does not guarantee that many migrants will actually be allowed visas.<br /><br />While the change is something of a shock for students part way through their courses, the economic situation in Australia has changed radically in the second half of 2008 and a reduction in the number of skilled migrants is almost inevitable. Numbers have risen very quickly since 1996-7, when only 24,000 people migrated to Australia in the Skilled migration program. In 2007-2008 the number was just over 100,000. The economic situation will hit students and the skilled migration program. Already, students are finding it more difficult to find part time work. Retailers are finding it tough, with some stores, such as Portmans, a women's fashion store, advertising 70% off some stock today. Some stores have been brought their traditional Boxing Day discounts forward a week to try to encourage people to buy. Normally prices don't budge until the 24th of December at the earliest and I haven't seen such early, extreme discounting in recent years. I even doubt whether it happened in 1990 or 1991, in the depths of recession. <br /><br />One thing we should remember from 1990 & 1991 was that immigration became unpopular as unemployment in Australia rose. Even though immigration became unpopular, the government didn't shut down the skilled migration program completely. If unemployment rises in 2009, and all the indications are that it will, there will come a time when the public will lose patience with skilled migrants driving taxis as locals are unable to find work, even as taxi drivers. To pre-empt the shift in public opinion, the government has re-adjusted the migration system to better ensure skilled migrants will be able to find work in their area of skill.<br /><br />My prediction is that the MODL list will be either totally superseded by the "critical demand" list or shortened next year to only include professions which are "recession-proof", professions like those on the critical demand list such as medical professionals and plumbers. Lets face it, if you're plumbing is leaking you'll get it fixed, even if takes your last dollar.Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16947902626860519653noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30031243.post-9528936929642673122008-05-23T21:29:00.000+10:002008-05-23T21:51:56.904+10:00Student Jobs and FinancesQ:<br />How much is the basic pay of a student who is doing a part time job?<br /><br />Ahmad: The FairPay Commission has set $12.5 per hour as the minimum wage.<br /><br />Rajan added:<br /><br />We also know that a lot small business owners take advantage of overseas students and lure them into cash in hand jobs where they pay them about $8 per hour or so. It is better to look for a job which sticks to the Government Regulations.<br /><br />Michelle:<br />You can't do much about it if your cash in hand employer decides not to pay you at all.<br /><br />Q:<br />How much time it would take to find a job after reaching Australia(by student visa)?<br /><br />Ahmad: Depends on how hard you look...<br /><br />Q: Is there any placement agencies who assist to find part time jobs?<br /><br />Ahmad: Yes. The majority of job-searches are done online though.<br /><br /><br />Q: Is it possible to earn some money during the course by doing part time jobs? Is it possible to save at least 300AUD per month?<br /><br />Ahmad: Yes. 20 hours of work a week is allowed during semesters...How much you can actually work depends on your timetable.<br /><br /><br />Q:Is it possible to save at least 300 AUD per month?<br /><br />Ahmad: If you are looking at paying your fee, living expenses and still having $200 left, I would say probably not.<br /><br />You should be able to break even and perhaps save some money provided you live in relatively cheap accommodation, work a substantial portion of the 20 hours allowed, and don't spend extravagantly.<br /><br />Michelle: Earning money to pay full fees and living costs by working 20 hours per week during semester is very unusual & probably not feasible.<br /><br /><br />Ahmad & Rajan have been posting answers to questions in the Melbourne Community on orkut. Reproduced with permission.Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16947902626860519653noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30031243.post-92192137915892516142008-05-08T19:41:00.000+10:002008-05-08T20:34:53.831+10:00How to find a house to rent for six peopleI received the following email yesterday:<br /><br />Hi, my name is S. B. I saw the blog and understand that you have some knowledge about renting houses just walking distance from the Caulfield campus? I am going over at the end of June 2008 and I am in need of a big house. There are at least 6 of us. Is it possible if you could kindly provide any information to us regarding any house with 5 or more rooms available? We prefer taking the whole house. Your help would be much appreciated.<br />Thanks.<br /><br />From Michelle:<br />Its good to hear you're getting organised early, by getting together a group who will live together. Its more difficult to actually rent a house before you get here, and you should be careful to thoroughly inspect any house before renting it. Beware that some of the rental accommodation in Melbourne is not very well maintained.<br /><br />If you are sure that you want to live within walking distance of Caulfield campus, you will have only a limited number of houses available to rent. You will have many more accommodation options if you are prepared to take a train or tram, or cycle to the University. I have to admit the transport would be expensive, at $28 for a week if you confine yourself to "Zone 1", but rents can be cheaper a little further from the city centre. Rents for a 4 bedroom house within walking distance of the campus in Caulfield and Malvern are advertised as high as $1000 per month, but search more widely down the train line in Carnegie, Murrumbeena, Hughesdale or Oakleigh and you could find a house like <a href="http://www.domain.com.au/Public/PropertyDetails.aspx?adid=5734626">this one</a> for only $450 per week.<br /><br />One thing many students do to reduce costs is share a room, and there are a few houses and flats set up for high density student living (for example, <a href="http://www.domain.com.au/Public/PropertyDetails.aspx?adid=5726889">see this ad on domain.com.au</a>). Looking through the rental advertisements on domain.com.au and realestate.com.au I can see that there are very few houses for rent with more than 4 bedrooms. To fit 5 people, you may have to rent a 3 or 4 bedroom house, and convert a living room or garage to living space, or share bedrooms. Many 3 or 4 bedroom houses will have a large living room (with chairs, TV etc) which some people convert to 2 bedrooms.<br /><br />While you can contact advertisers on websites like domain.com.au and realestate.com.au before you arrive, I don't think you will get very far. My suggestion is that one or two of you arrive a couple of weeks early to find a house for the rest of you to live.<br /><br />I hope this advice proves useful.Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16947902626860519653noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30031243.post-27322421743933244452008-03-30T17:26:00.001+11:002008-03-30T17:37:26.029+11:00Desalination Would Cost Too MuchMelbourne has been under permanent water restrictions for nearly two years. With a rising population, the restrictions are unlikely to lift. Currently, water can be used freely for drinking, washing, cooking and other inside-the-house uses, but watering of gardens is severely restricted. The Victorian state government is now planning to introduce more water pipelines and a desalination plant to guarantee the future water supply. <br /><br />The government's current plans are just a knee-jerk reaction. We may be low on water, but that's no reason to introduce a costly and inefficient desalination plant. Surely it would be more efficient to pipe recycled water for large industrial users such as our La Trobe Valley power plants.<br /><br />Recycled water is used for drinking in other parts of the world, in fact I've drunk it myself while living in London. On the world's driest continent I think we can learn to drink recycled water, just as we have learned to sweep our driveways rather than hosing them down.<br /><br />Comment posted by Michelle at the age blog <a href="http://blogs.theage.com.au/lifestyle/potteringby/archives/2008/03/inaction_over_w.html">PotteringBy</a>Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16947902626860519653noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30031243.post-53622969616981517972008-02-24T13:56:00.000+11:002008-02-24T13:59:57.083+11:00Student Visa or Work permit?An anonymous correspondent asked...<br />Hi guyzz..<br />I'm planning to migrate to Australia..currently I'm working in Dubai. Can you please advise me whether I should come on a student visa or a work permit?<br /><br />Rajan replied:<br />If you are planning to migrate then why would you consider student visa? If you have option to come on work visa or on permanent basis please use that. <br /><br />reproduced from the <a href="http://www.orkut.com/CommMsgs.aspx?cmm=1926&tid=2480280883325181995&na=4&nst=364&nid=1926-2480280883325181995-2583825602020264057">Orkut Melbourne Community</a> with permission from Rajan.Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16947902626860519653noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30031243.post-45257690787443205522007-09-20T21:53:00.000+10:002007-09-20T22:05:47.976+10:00Does teaching english as a foreign language get me points for Skilled Migration?Teaching of English as a Foreign Language. In demand or not?<br /><br />The Department of Immigration website has current lists of occupations which are on the MODL (Migration Occupations in Demand), the SOL (Skilled Occupation List) or the Employer Nomination Scheme Occupation List (ENSOL). These lists change regularly, so don't take my word for it, check the <a href="http://www.immi.gov.au/index.htm">DIC website</a> yourself.<br /><br />Teaching of English as a Foreign language is currently in the <a href="http://www.immi.gov.au/allforms/pdf/1121i.pdf">ENSOL</a> list, so you can't use it to get points as an independent Skilled Migrant.Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16947902626860519653noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30031243.post-53017536172529913892007-09-20T21:27:00.000+10:002007-09-20T21:40:19.978+10:0020 hour work allowance<h3 class="smller" style="font-weight: normal;">Anonymous writes </h3> <div class="para"> Is there a new rule coming up , that the new students will not be allowed the 20 hour work permit anymore ?<br />Please confirm...its crucial for me.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Rajan Replied</span><br />All the changes which gets made to the legislation are here<br /><a href="http://www.immi.gov.au/legislation/amendments/index.htm" target="_blank">http://www.immi.gov.au/legislation/amen<wbr>dments/index.htm</a><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Ahmad Added</span><br /><br />I haven't heard anything on the maximum of 20 hours work condition being withdrawn..and it doesn't make sense as well...because students in many degrees (esp engineering) need vacation work for 12 weeks before they can graduate...<br /><br />There is legislation coming up which ill make it a criminal offence for employers to employ anyone knowing that they will breach visa conditions...<br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">Reproduced from the Orkut Melbourne Community with permission from Ahmad and Rajan</span><br /></div>Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16947902626860519653noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30031243.post-74011256343837705782007-09-20T21:22:00.000+10:002007-09-20T21:27:05.689+10:00Biotechnology Opportunities<span style="font-weight: bold;">Keerthi wrote </span> Hi all!! i got a gr8 deal of info from tis thread! thanks a ton to all u guys!<br /><br />Now about myself.. I have finished my bachelor's this yr and am gonna do my masters in biotechnology at RMIT. Planning to land at melb in feb 2008.<br /><br />Could someone tell me about the job opportunities out there and how good is the Uni for this course?<br />And is extending visa to continue studies at the same Uni a problem?<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Rajan Replied</span><br /><br />There are many few uni's here who offer BioTech education, To my understanding Monash Uni, Melbourne Uni (& Swinbourne uni shares resources), University of Queensland and Adelaide Uni holds good reputation. I haven't came across RMIT much but you might hear from someone in RMIT soon who can tell you more about it.<br /><br />I have also heard that most of the uni's in Queensland has BioTech courses.<br /><br />I am unsure that in which field are you looking for a job. I guess if you will come here only then you will be able to decide that well.<br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">Reproduced from the Melbourne Community on Orkut with permission from Rajan</span>Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16947902626860519653noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30031243.post-4551540833566732082007-09-19T19:46:00.000+10:002007-09-19T19:55:42.548+10:002-year study rule. Orkut Worries about MelbournePotential overseas students thinking about coming to Melbourne have a new online community addressing their worries, and giving up to date votes on relevant issues like how much does it cost to live here, and how much money should I bring? Ahmad has written the following opinion in the <a href="http://www.orkut.com/Community.aspx?cmm=32852709">Melbourne Worries Community</a> ....<br /><br /><br />DIAC has not changed the two-year study rule as such...you can still use more than one qualification to make 2 yrs.<br /><br />HOWEVER, the department of education, science and training (DEST) which works with DIAC to issue eCOEs for visas and extensions, has now changed the rules that govern universities. It is now expected that each student will finish his course within the time given on the eCOE ... so you cannot under-enrol in a 1.5 yr subject to make it 2 yrs. If you don't finish your course within the stipulated time, you wont get a new eCOE and hence wont get a visa extension, except if you can prove the delay in completion was due to a genuine medical cause...the university will have to intercede on your behalf. Failing a unit would allow you to take an extra semester and extension of visa, provided the university and/or faculty intercedes on your behalf.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">In short:</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Under-enrol a shorter course to extend it:</span> NO<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Extend course for genuine medical reasons: </span>YES, subject to DEST and DIAC approval<br />use more than one qualifications: OK<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Failing a unit and taking an extra semester and extension of visa:</span> MAYBE, provided the university and/or faculty intercedes on your behalf.<br /><br />Please note: This is from a discussion group only, and not intended as advice on how to apply to immigrate to Australia.Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16947902626860519653noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30031243.post-45151062989903973942007-08-05T22:28:00.000+10:002007-08-05T22:39:21.847+10:00Scholarships<span style="font-weight: bold;">Danuka Asked</span><br />Hello everyone.........<br />I'm planning to study in Australia for undergraduate studies, I am living in India. I have been searching for some scholarships in which I can apply for, but I have not been able to find them. I'll be really grateful to you, if you people could let me know some of the links where I can find some good scholarships provided for international students.<br />Thankyou<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Ahmad's response<br /></span>Check with specific universities...each uni will have it's own scholarships to give out. Moreover, scholarships for international students r normally only partial...UNSW gives AUD 5000 per year, Monash gives AUD 6000 per year and Melbourne Uni gives 25% fee waiver...and all these scholarships r VERY competitive....Me and my friend got the Monash scholarship, because we had 96% marks in A-Levels (which is very high by A-Level standards, as the A-grade is at 80%).<br /><br />If u r looking for aid scholarships, ask your local Australian high commission for AusAID scholarships...they will be able to inform u on that, since AusAID has a variable quota for each country every year..<span style="font-weight: bold;">.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Danuka</span><br />Thanks Ahmad, but the problem with me is that I have already gone through the scholarship links of almost all the universities, but I am not able to find any outcome. Basically I don't know how to go about it. I have got 88% marks and have a good sports background as well. So what do you think are there any possibilities of me getting a scholarship?<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Ahmad</span>:<br />For most unis you wont need to apply for undergraduate entry scholarships...<br /><br />UNSW's scholarship page for international applicants is here:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.scholarships.unsw.edu.au/future/undergrad_intl/faculty/FacultyUndergraduateInternationalFirstyear.html" target="_blank">http://www.scholarships.unsw.edu.au/fut<wbr>ure/undergrad_intl/faculty/FacultyUnderg<wbr>raduateInternationalFirstyear.html</a><br /><br />For Monash or Melbourne Uni, you don't need to apply. They will inform you themselves if you get one.<br /><br />AusAID scholarships can be be provided details for by the ausralian diplomatic office in your area.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">From Michelle</span><br />In general, there aren't any sports scholarships to Australian Universities like there are in the US. Don't expect good sporting achievement to count anything towards an undergraduate scholarship, if you're looking for that, go to the US.<br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">Reproduced from the Orkut Study in Australia Community with permission from Ahmad.</span>Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16947902626860519653noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30031243.post-60805624543283348962007-07-30T20:59:00.000+10:002007-08-03T21:32:02.295+10:00Extra Label in the ListLabels in the list below this post are redundant and don't have any posts. If you click on them, you'll only get this message. Please accept my apologies for the error, which is due to a blogger bug.<br /><br />Please choose the alternative labels <a href="http://www.blogger.com/posts.g?blogID=30031243&searchType=ALL&txtKeywords=&label=jobs">jobs</a>, <a href="http://www.blogger.com/posts.g?blogID=30031243&searchType=ALL&txtKeywords=&label=weather">weather</a> and <a href="http://www.blogger.com/posts.g?blogID=30031243&searchType=ALL&txtKeywords=&label=Discount+shopping">discount shopping</a> from the list on your left.Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16947902626860519653noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30031243.post-54416397319253614972007-07-30T20:40:00.000+10:002007-07-30T20:57:41.158+10:00Finding a house to rent.Pratik Asked:<br />Hey michelle , i and my friends are looking out for rental properties here since 2 weeks but we are still not able to get it, do u have any known estate agents who can rent a property out to us?<br /><br />Charan Wrote:<br />ya i am in melbourne.. v r 4 members looking for a house ....<br /><br />Sometimes estate agents don't want to rent to students. They tend to think a group of students will make a mess, especially a group of male students, who may have been used to having their mothers (or servants) clean up after them at home. They may also be concerned about your ability to pay the rent.<br /><br />To have the best chance of getting a property, you need good references if possible, and some kind of financial statement or job showing you can pay the rent.<br /><br />Other than that, I can't help you, although if you would like to rent out your house near Monash Caulfield or Clayton, please contact me (<a href="mailto:operativezplatypusz@gmailzdotzcom">operativezplatypusz@gmailzdotzcom</a> remove the zzzs) to negotiate rental to students like Pratik and Charan.Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16947902626860519653noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30031243.post-13905308869727439852007-07-21T12:38:00.000+10:002007-07-24T21:23:17.905+10:00Education Providers RegulationsNew Legislation: The ESOS National code 2007 by Ahmad.<br /><br />From 1 July 2007, a new version of the legislation regulation education providers came into force (previously known as the ESOS act 2002).This is an important change in legislation applicable to providers of education services for overseas students, and can have repercussions or implications for some students, implemented by the Department of Education, Science and Training in association with DIAC. The key changes brought in this legislation are:<br /><br />(1) Change of provider time window is now reduced to six months from twelve months<br /><br />(2) All students are now expected to complete their course within the stipulated time period as published and registered by the provider. (For example, if a course is listed by the provider as 18 months, the students will have to finish it within the 18 months unless necessitated by medical or other compelling circumstances). To enforce this, eCOEs for extension of the same course will no longer be issued, except in very limited circumstances.<br /><br />An excerpt from the RMIT website:<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">"International students are required to complete their study within the expected program duration.<br /><br />The expected duration is given on your eCoE (Electronic Confirmation of Enrolment). To complete your program in the expected duration, you will usually need to be enrolled in a 100% load each semester.<br /><br />There are now situations, however, where you can enrol in a less than full-time load:<br /><br />* as part of a documented intervention strategy authorised by your Dean of Academic Development;<br />* when you have compassionate or compelling circumstances, documented by your Dean of Academic Development;<br />* when you have undertaken extra study (i.e. summer semester courses);<br />* you only have a few courses left to complete and these do not constitute a full-time load.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Please note: if you do not maintain a full-time load and you do not have a valid reason, if you do not complete your program within the expected duration you will not have grounds to apply for a new eCoE."</span><br /><br />___________________________________________________________________________________<br /><br />There is no definition of loading on students as such, but the stipulation that students are expected to complete their course within the time period shown on the initial eCOE means that students will need to enrol in a 100% load each semester, except for the final semester of study, if the courses left to completion of the degree/program make up for a part time load.<br /><br />This legislation effectively closes all the remaining loopholes in the skilled immigration system, with students no longer eligible for visa extensions unless there are compelling circumstances.<br /><br />The rest of the legislation remains more or less the same, such as attendance requirements etc.<br /><br />80% attendance is still mandatory. Providers will have to report students if they fail more than 50% of the subjects in any given semester or year.<br /><br />Dharma asked:<br />Does this new legislation dent the possibilities for pr for students from abroad after they complete their studies and have secured a job?<br /><br />Ahmad Replied:<br />This legislation only governs students and providers during the course of study. This has nothing to do with immigration policies of the skilled migration streams as such.<br /><br />But yes there is a possible link. Under the ESOS Act 2002, a full-time load was defined as a 75% load, with no restrictions on issuance of new eCOEs for the course. This sometimes meant that students were able to enrol in 75% load in 1.5 year degrees and have it counted as 2 years of study.<br /><br />Under this legislation, the severely limited circumstances allowing for issuance of new eCOEs to extend the visa beyond what was issued in the initial eCOE will mean that students will be required (or forced) to finish degrees within the published time. If it says 1.5 years on the CRICOS register or your eCOE, you have to finish it in that time, unless medical or other compelling reasons are present.<br /><br />New eCOEs (and hence visa extensions) will not be easy to get in simple terms. You cannot just enrol in a 75% load at your leisure and then have the visa extended by a semester at the end without a solid reason.<br /><br />Reproduced from the Orkut <a href="http://www.orkut.com/CommMsgs.aspx?cmm=19265990&tid=2544591206749223844&start=1">Study in Australia Community</a> with permission from Ahmad.Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16947902626860519653noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30031243.post-49480146133404408782007-07-16T21:00:00.000+10:002007-07-24T21:23:56.865+10:00MODL and new immigration lawsAnonymous: Hello,<br />I would like to know the difference in Uni and TAFE ? Also which course should I do for MODL?<br />Must say you guys are Rockin. Thanks so much !<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Ahmad: University is an institution chartered by the government for providing degrees of bachelors or higher level. TAFE institutes are accredited by the government but only to provide occupation-specific diplomas.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">And MODL does not matter [for overseas students*] under new immigration rules, as MODL points will need work experience.</span><br /><br />*Added by Michelle<br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">Reproduced from the Orkut Melbourne Community with permission from Ahmad.</span>Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16947902626860519653noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30031243.post-20732364761043933622007-07-16T20:28:00.000+10:002007-07-16T20:59:35.364+10:00ShoppingLuiz asked:<br /><br />Hi, I'll be in Melbourne soon and I would like to know some tips about several things..<br />This is a great topic and I already found great tips! But I still would like ask few things..<br /><br />1- Where can I find good deals for buying electronics, like photograph cameras or Ipods or pen drives? How much does does it costs approximately? I heard about some place where you can buy without taxes, like a Duty Free if you show your aeroplane ticket that is marked for less than 1 month? Does anybody know this place?<br /><br />R<span style="font-style: italic;">ajan: Are you planning to stay in AUS only or you would be going to any other countries like Hong Kong, Singapore or Malaysia ? Those are good countries to shop for electronic items. There are duty free shops in Melbourne city where you can shop if you show your ticket. Further even if you will buy something from a non-duty free shop like Myer, Harvey Norman or any other store you can claim GST (10% of your bill) on the way back at Airport. But your purchase should be $300+<br /><br /></span><span>Luiz</span><span style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span>Thanks Rajan!<br /> I'll just be in Melbourne and in Auckland.<br />I know that these places you've mentioned are better for electronics shopping...<br />But Australia is better than Brazil, where I live.<br />How can I get the addresses of these duty free stores? Do you know these stores?<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Michelle: There are some in the Duty Free search in the Discount Melbourne Swicki (see left).</span><br /><br />2- Are there good places to buy sneakers, like nike, adidas, rebook or others like that? Are there good prices? A friend of mine was in Melbourne few years ago and told me about some place near to the financial centre...<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Rajan: Smith street (Tram 86 will take you there), DFO outlets.</span><br /><br />3- I like to know local cultures when I visit different places. I like to go to local markets and restaurants.. Does someone have good recommendations?<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Rajan: Greek (Losdale St.), Italian (Lygon St. , Carlton), Asian (China town, Lt.Bourke St.)</span>Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16947902626860519653noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30031243.post-53291032025079722342007-07-11T02:08:00.000+10:002007-07-24T21:12:06.488+10:00Predicting RainThe Australian <a href="http://bom.gov.au/">Bureau of Meteorology</a> announced its long range rainfall prediction today, (<a href="http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/enso/">El Nino Southern Oscillation (ELSO) Wrap-Up</a>). After years of dry weather, rain is expected. Anyone arriving in the next couple of weeks should make sure to pack a good coat and umbrella. Don't expect to buy them here because the shops are running out of winter stock.<br /><br />The Bureau will be updating a range of predictors such as Tropical Pacific water temperatures, cloudiness near Peru and strength of Trade Winds in the Pacific are used to predict whether Australia is heading for drought (El Nino), floods (La Nina) or a normal year. A month ago, the Bureau was cautiously predicting wet La Nina conditions for 2007-8. With floods in southern NSW and Eastern Victoria since then, it seemed that La Nina was on the way, but the Bureau is even more cautious now. The floods may have caught the news, but the total rainfall is still about average and some areas of eastern Australia have had less than average rainfall for the month. <br /><br />A La Nina year would have an enormous impact throughout the Eastern half of Australia. In the cities, massive rainfall could mean water restrictions are removed, meanwhile city and country alike have been turning green as normal rain has resumed. In country areas, reservoirs and dams are severely depleted and farmers are hoping for signs that autumn plantings will not be wasted, there will be enough grass to feed livestock and irrigation can be maintained over summer. Rain continuing through spring and summer would also be good news for fire fighters, as the eucalypt forests which cover large parts of eastern Australia more flammable when dry.<br /><br />La Nina is looking less likely now, but visitors should still expect cold, cloudy weather with lots of rain over the next few months, with a good ski season on the Victorian and NSW mountains.Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16947902626860519653noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30031243.post-44796754218086327922007-07-07T22:13:00.000+10:002007-07-07T22:36:05.220+10:00Do I need to do more study in Australia?Anonymous asks:<br />Hi Rajan,<br />I'm getting married , my fiance has PR in Australia. I'm currently in Canada and will be moving to Australia with him after marriage. I have done B.Tech (Electronics and Instrumantation ) in India and P.G degree in Wireless Telecommunications in Canada, after that I have been working with DLink Networks and Primus Telecommunications as a Technical Support Associate.<br /><br />I just want to know, do I have to study more in Australia to get a job or will I be able to find one on the basis of my previous experience?<br /><br />I am planning to do SAP here in Canada itself, Whats the scope for a SAP professional in Australia and in which field, I'm planning either Management or Warehousing?<br /><br />Ahmad replied:<br />SAP has a good scope...and you should be able to get a job based on your current qualifications as well.<br /><br />Rajan replied:<br /><br />Hi Bro,<br /><br />First of all, if you have overseas experience (other than the one in India unless it's from companies like Infi, Microsoft, IBM, EMC, Wipro, HP, CISCO.....) you are always on the positive side. Let me tell you few things which affect you directly or indirectly even though you haven't asked for those.<br /><br />- If you are moving from Canada you are going to find Australia pretty expensive as compared to Canada. There are many factors which affects it. The main factor is the small population because of which Australia does not hold the same bargaining power in the world marker as compared to US or CA.<br /><br />- Job prospects are good for people who hold experience from known companies. But again your references count.<br /><br />- SAP is in demand but I didn't see many permanent roles. Most of the roles are contract based. It's because most of the time once SAP has been rolled out internal people take over its maintenance. Check Seek.com.au and mycareer.com.au to get an idea. Since you will not be holding experience in SAP I am not sure on the prospects.<br /><br />- If you have good hold on AD, Domino, Exchange, LINUX and Unix you have more chances to score a good job.Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16947902626860519653noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30031243.post-56128493786412890522007-07-01T22:39:00.000+10:002007-07-24T21:24:26.706+10:00Masters in Engineering for PR - Ahmad reportsMasters in Engineering<br />Many people have asked me whether the Master of Engineering Science course is eligible for PR. To clarify this matter, I contacted Engineers Australia, and I am reproducing their response here for reference.<br /><br /><br />Dear Sir,<br /><br />Thank you for your enquiry.<br /><br />Essentially, the primary focus of assessment is on the undergraduate qualification in all cases. However, that is not to say that the postgraduate qualification is not considered ... sometimes a successful assessment in the applicant's nominated occupation / category needs to be based on the COMBINED Bachelors/Masters, if the Bachelors is not assessed as fully underpinning the nomination.<br /><br />It is of little consequence from which country the qualification has been obtained - all non-accredited qualifications are assessed on a case-by-case basis ... and no postgraduate qualification is accredited from our perspective anyway. Very little significance is paid to the PhD qualification in the assessment of qualifications in support of Migration.<br /><br />I hope this helps...Please come back to me if necessary with the specific details.<br /><br />Regards... Gareth JONES<br /><br />This email makes it clear what the stance of EngAus towards postgraduate degrees is.<br /><br />Regards,<br />Ahmad.Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16947902626860519653noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30031243.post-87013820048970153802007-06-28T22:01:00.000+10:002007-06-28T22:19:03.380+10:00End of Financial Year SalesIn case anyone's missed it, Saturday is the last day of the financial year and companies around the country are reducing stock to improve their end of year figures. That spells good discounts for shoppers. Lets have a sneak peek at a few of them. Advertisements in my local rag this week include a "Massive Jeans and Street Fashion Sale" starting 12 noon at the Brighton Town Hall, a stocktake sale at Decorators Warehouse, Cnr Cecil & Market St South Melbourne. Caulfield Godfrey's at 380 Hawthorn Road, Caulfield, has up to 60% off. They mainly sell vacuum cleaners, but have steam irons at $10 for the sale. That sounds all very well, but while we're still on water restrictions the best bargains have got to be on plants. Devon Tubestock Nursery in Monbulk* is offering hundreds of thousands of plants for sale at $1 each. If I had time to get across to Monbulk I'd be checking them out this weekend. <br /><br />*17 McCarthy Rd, Monbulk Phone 9752 1700.Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16947902626860519653noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30031243.post-22826341067375896162007-06-23T19:37:00.000+10:002007-06-23T19:45:01.203+10:00How many kg am I allowed on the flight?Manisha asked: <br />"Hey I'm from India coming with a student visa in July. Could anyone help me out by telling me how luggage I'm allowed? It will be a great help. Thanks.<br /><br />Ahmad replied:<br />"That is up to specific airlines. Most airlines from India would allow 40kg for students. Normally it's 20+7 for economy class, 30+12 for business class and 40+12 for first class."<br /><br />Rajan:<br />From India Airlines will not pinch you if its your very first flight. They are lenient if you keep your luggage under 40+7 kg.<br /><br />40 should be divided into 2 bags. Due to work safety laws no one will pick up a bag heavier than 30kg.<br /><br />There are things which are not allowed in the cabin bags and in luggage. Please check CASA's web site for it.<br /><a href="http://www.casa.gov.au"><br />http://www.casa.gov.au</a><br /><br />Reproduced from the Orkut Melbourne Community with permission from Rajan & AhmadMichellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16947902626860519653noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30031243.post-24752521417761475632007-06-21T21:44:00.000+10:002007-06-21T21:49:29.898+10:00What is the cost of doing an MBA in Australia?Seems like a number of people are interested in the average cost of attaining an MBA from the land downunder. The link should suffice as far as estimates are concerned. <a href="http://www.ranke-heinemann.de/australien/mba.php?order=uni">http://www.ranke-heinemann.de/australien/mba.php?order=uni</a><br /><br />However, it misses the two leading business schools:<br /><br />Melbourne Business School (Melbourne Uni): AUD 55,000<br />Australian Graduate School of Management: AUD 52,800<br /><br />If you want to consider potential for earnings from a part time job<br />Tuition fee (total): AUD 35,000 to 55,000<br />Living Expenses: AUD 12-18 thousand per yr<br /><br />Part time jobs can get you about AUD 10k a year at max in most cases... <br /><br />Thanks to Ahmad and Hadi from the <a href="http://www.orkut.com/Community.aspx?cmm=19265990">Orkut study in Australia Commumity</a>Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16947902626860519653noreply@blogger.com0