Dear new students,

Welcome to your first monthly International Newsletter! In this edition we share some great tips to help you settle into life in Melbourne, make the most out of studying at Monash, make cultural adjustments and connect you to other students and the local community.

Important notices

International Student Orientation sessions
If you missed out on International Student Orientation, we have organised repeat sessions just for you! Repeat sessions are available in week 1 and 2 at the Clayton and Caulfield campuses.

Details and registration

Learning more about Australian Life and Culture
If you would like to learn more about Australian culture and hear other student’s experiences of adapting to life in Melbourne and the programs and services they used to feel connected and make friends, come along to this session. You can attend a session at Caulfield or Clayton in week 4.

Details and registration

Monash Essentials
This is a compulsory Moodle unit for new international students to make your transition to Monash Australia as smooth as possible, and to best prepare you for your orientation experience. We will introduce you to services available to international students and how to access them. The unit should take about 30 minutes in total to complete, and you can start and stop as you need.

Start Monash Essentials

Get Started at Monash Sessions
The Get Started website will guide you through every step of your first semester at Monash, from finding somewhere to live when you first arrive to studying for your exams at the end of the semester.

Have you updated your address?
You must provide your current address and phone number in Melbourne to Monash as a condition of your student visa. Update your information via the Web Enrolment System (WES) or contact Monash Connect. Make sure you include your emergency contact details too.

New to Monash? Not confident with English?
Registrations for Let’s Chat are open now! Make friends, improve your conversational English and learn about Australia and Monash from our friendly peer facilitators. Classes run Monday to Thursday in the afternoons. After registrations you can select your classes in Allocate+.

Make sure you have Overseas Student Health Cover
If you are on a student visa, then you must have Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) for the duration of your stay in Australia. You can now access your e-membership card through the “My OSHC Assistant App”. There is no need to wait for a card to arrive in the mail. Use the app to update personal details including passport and nationality. Read the step-by-step guide on downloading and registering the app, or speak to an OSHC representative on campus.

International Students with Families – Information and Networking Event
Register to meet other international students with families and hear from community experts on: childcare, English Language Support and community resources. Bring your family! Children are welcome.
When: Friday 17 August, 4:00pm – 6:00pm
Where: Graduate Hub, Seminar Room 2, Campbell Hall, 21 Sports Walk, Clayton

New to Monash Uni 2018 Facebook group
Join the New to Monash Uni 2018 Facebook group to keep up to date with the coolest events on campus and to get to know other new students.

Look out for blue hoodies!
New to Monash? Lost? ASK Me Ambassadors can help you. You’ll be able to spot them around campus in bright blue hoodies. If you need help, ask them your question and they will happily answer or direct you to someone who can.

Be aware of scams targeting international students
Victoria Police has warned students throughout Australia to watch out for strangers phoning with incorrect information. This post will help you recognise what to look out for. Our advice is to not respond to any questions from unknown callers, and to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or Monash Security on 03 9902 7777 if you have any concerns.

Download the Respect. Now. Always. app
Monash’s new Respect. Now. Always. app has heaps of important information to help make sure you are safe from sexual assault and sexual harassment. The app can be viewed online or downloaded for your smartphone. Monash also has many services, both on- and off-campus, that provide expert support to anyone facing sexual assault and sexual harassment. You are not alone.

Unlock a new part of Melbourne every day
Study Melbourne, a Victorian government initiative, has created the Unlock Melbourne app to help you settle in and discover new parts of the city every day. You can download it for Android on Google Play and for iPhone from the App store.

Salaam Monash
Salaam Monash is a handbook to assist Muslim students with adjusting to life in Australia. You can access everything from lists of social groups to a directory of halal outlets in Victoria, and it comes in three different languages.

Trying to get a job?
The team at Career Connect understand the complexities of the Australian job market. Check out their website for help applying for jobs and acing interviews, as well as helpful workshops and online resources.

Living in Melbourne

Are you Rent Smart?
Navigating the private rental market can be challenging. There are so many things to do, places to inspect and contracts to read! We’ve put together a few important points to remember when you’re looking for somewhere to live:

• Make sure you have all of your landlord’s details (not just their phone number, but also their email address and a contact address)
• Always communicate with your landlord in writing
• Make sure you receive receipts for all payments made to your landlord

The Rent-Smart website has more information on your rights and responsibilities as a tenant. If you need further assistance, check out the off-campus accommodation website, submit a question via ask.Monash or contact Monash Connect.

Staying safe on campus

Security tips and advice
Monash Security has put together a handy video with useful tips and advice for new and returning Monash students.

24/7 safety escorts
If you ever feel unsafe getting around campus, security officers are available to escort you to your car, public transport, taxi pick-up points or other locations on or in the near vicinity of the campus. This free 24 hour service is available to all students from anywhere in campus. If you intend to study late at night and know you will need assistance, try to book in advance to avoid delays.

Monash security buses
Security buses help students get around after dark. They run every 30 minutes from 5:30pm – 12:00am from Monday to Friday on our Clayton and Caulfield campuses. Clayton campus students can download the Clayton security bus route and use the live Clayton campus tracker to see exactly where the bus is when it’s running. Caulfield campus students can download their security bus route and check out the live Caulfield campus tracker.

Taking care of yourself

On-campus counselling services
Counselling can help you deal with problems coping with university life, anxiety or depression, loneliness, drug and alcohol abuse and addictions, negative feelings or suicidal thoughts and relationship or family issues. Our counsellors will work with you to help you find the cause of the problem and solutions or ways to cope. Don’t hesitate to make an appointment at any of our Caulfield, Clayton, Parkville or Peninsula campuses.

Free mental health sessions
At Monash, we offer a range of activities to educate, support and foster student wellbeing. Please take advantage of our free programs, including Mental Health First Aid training, suicide prevention workshops, weekly lunchtime meditation, mindful stress reduction programs and mindful relationships sessions.

———————————————————————————————————

What’s on for new students?

WinterFest
WinterFest is a week long festival running from August 13 – August 19 with heaps of events happening across Clayton, Caulfield, Peninsula and Parkville campuses. You can check out:

• WinterFest Playground – we have a giant seesaw, giant games and a DJ booth where you can request your favourite songs.
• Live at the Alex – a massive live music event headlined by one of the hottest acts right now, held in the recently refurbished Alexander Theatre at Clayton campus.
• Winter Carnival – our annual carnival with dizzying rides, food trucks and a fireworks display.

Like Monash University Campus Events on Facebook to keep up to date with what’s happening at WinterFest, and check out the program to plan out your week.

Join the MSA mid-year Host Scheme camp
MSA Host Scheme camps are one of the best ways to meet people and make new friends. Purchase tickets for this semester’s camp to enjoy relaxing at a beautiful lake, a trivia night, a slumber party themed party night and heaps of fun activities including quidditch, circus arts and dancing!
When: Friday July 27 – Sunday July 29
Where: PGL Campaspe Downs Adventure Camp (transport to and from the campsite is included in the ticket price)

 

Improve your communication skills
Come along to this free public speaking skills workshop to learn how to project confidence, use your body to speak for you and create a clear message that will engage your audience! This workshop is very popular so register here so you don’t miss out.
When: Friday May 8, 2:00pm – 4:00pm
Where: Study Melbourne Student Centre, 599 Little Bourke Street, Melbourne

Network with other Parkville students
Are you a postgraduate student at Monash’s Parkville campus? Come along to the MPA’s free networking lunch where you’ll have the opportunity to get to know other international students at Parkville and share your knowledge. Register here.
When: Wednesday May 23, 1:30pm – 2:30pm
Where: Meeting Room 4.04 – 5.05, Parkville campus