Swinburne University of Technology

Melbourne
Victoria 3122
(Incorporating Swinburne University of Technology TAFE Division)
Web address: www.international.swinburne.edu
ADS contact phone: +61 (3) 9214 5202
ADS contact fax: +61 (3) 9818 3648
Relevant campuses: Hawthorn, Lilydale, Prahran, Croydon (TAFE), Healesville (TAFE), Wantirna (TAFE).

Community and surrounds

All campuses are in and around Melbourne. Melbourne is the capital city of Victoria and has a population of 3.5 million. It is the second largest city in Australia, and has a strong European influence. Built on the Yarra River and Port Phillip Bay, the city is a major commercial and industrial centre. It is a multicultural city with more than 140 ethnic groups and more than 170 languages spoken. Melbourne is renowned for its culinary variety, cultural events and festivals, famous sporting events, architecture and shopping.

There are numerous large parks throughout the city. The outer suburbs spread for over 1,500 square kilometres from the central business district, but the public transport system is reliable and convenient. Melbourne is a short distance from many beaches as well as the Victorian mountain ranges. The city is close to ski fields, wineries, the Great Ocean Road, and abundant wildlife.

Climate

In summer (December to February), the temperature ranges from 14 to 35 degrees Celsius. In winter (June to August), the temperature ranges from 7 to 14 degrees.

Cost of living and accommodation

The average costs for a single student living in rented accommodation in the surrounding suburbs of Melbourne (sharing a house with two others), including food, household costs and travel expenses is $1,347 a month. Costs are generally higher for accommodation close to the central business district.

At the outer campuses, rental accommodation will range from $140 to $190 a week for a two-bedroom house.

On-campus accommodation is available on the Hawthorn and Lilydale campuses, and ranges from $140 to $190 a week. Full homestay (including meals) costs approximately $180 to $200 a week.

Campus descriptions

Swinburne University has six campuses. Hawthorn is Swinburne’s original campus. It is located seven kilometres east of the city, and is easily accessible by train and tram. There are 17,200 students on this campus.A few minutes walk away is Glenferrie Road where there are restaurants, cafes, supermarkets, specialist stores, medical centres, banks and chemists.

Croydon campus is a short walk from the Croydon train station and the main shopping street in the foothills of Mount Dandenong. It has 4,500 students. A large shopping centre and cinema complex is accessible from the Croydon campus by public transport. This campus is for TAFE students only.

Lilydale campus is set in a 24-hectare rural setting. It has 3,400 students and is located 40 kilometres east of Melbourne and is accessible by train and bus. Within walking distance are supermarkets, a post office, banks, newsagents, restaurants, cafes, chemists and clothing shops.

Prahran campus is situated in the cosmopolitan Melbourne suburb of Prahran, and is close to supermarkets, the Prahran market, specialist shops and cafes. This campus has 5,300 students. Only five kilometres south of Melbourne, the campus is easily accessible by public transport.

Wantirna campus has 4,200 students and is a short walk from the Knox City Shopping Centre where most facilities can be found. The campus is easily accessible by buses from the terminus at the shopping centre.Buses from the terminus also go to nearby train stations. This campus is for TAFE students only.

Healesville campus is located in country Victoria, about an hour’s drive from Melbourne. It has 275 students. Healesville is located extremely close to the village shops. This campus is for TAFE students only.

International student population

There are approximately 3,000 international students in the TAFE and higher education divisions. Of these, many students are from East Asia, South Asia and the Indian Ocean region, Africa, the Pacific Islands, South America and Europe.

Family and community services

Health services are offered at all six Swinburne campuses. Doctors can be seen by appointment. Melbourne has private and public hospitals such as the Royal Women’s Hospital and the Royal Children’s Hospital. Medical facilities are available after hours off campus.

There is a good network of private and public schools around all Swinburne campuses. Local Councils also offer services for families living within its boundaries such as holiday classes for school-age children and legal advice.

As Melbourne is a large city, there are many working options for spouses. Melbourne has strong multi-lingual capabilities with around 30 per cent of the city’s population speaking a language other than English. There are several multi-lingual radio stations in Melbourne, as well as multi-lingual newspapers and magazines. Ethnic organisations from many different cultures support the ethnic communities.

Childcare facilities

Childcare facilities are located at all of the campuses excluding Healesville, on a user-pay basis. The centres are community-based, run by a Parent Committee of Management and provides long-day care for children aged infancy to six years on a sessional, part-time or full-time basis. Vacancies are available for children from all areas. All meals are provided and are based on a vegetarian diet.

At Swinburne the childcare centres aim to provide a happy, warm, relaxed atmosphere meeting the individual needs of all children and families. Staff are friendly, caring and committed to quality; professional childcare providing planned educational; stimulating activities both indoor and out. Children are encouraged to make choices and develop their self-help skills.

Facilities for special needs

Each Swinburne campus has a Disability Services Officer available to meet with students to advise and assist with individual needs. Support services vary from student to student and are therefore arranged on an individual basis. As a guide, services may involve interpreters, note-takers, scribes, readers as well as alternative assessment arrangements (such as extra writing or reading time for exams, special equipment, seating requirements or alternative forms of assessment). Certain equipment or services may be provided at a cost, where funding is an issue.

There is also an appointed Disability Liaison Librarian at each campus library to coordinate access to library equipment and services such as audio loops, software for students with vision impairment, CCTVs, computers with large screens, book lockers, study rooms, lift access, telephone typewriters and extended loan periods.

The university has the infrastructure across campuses for students with mobility difficulties, such as ramps and lift access. In addition, on-campus accommodation at the Hawthorn and Lilydale campuses have rooms with disabled access.

Foods for different cultures

In multicultural Melbourne, it is easy to find places that cater for tastes from around the world, including Asian, Continental, Middle Eastern, Japanese and Vietnamese. This includes places to eat out and from which to buy groceries and spices. Major supermarkets carry an Asian line. There are many specialist grocery stores and butchers in Melbourne for those students requiring halal, kosher or strictly vegetarian food.

Religious facilities

Being a multicultural society, Melbourne is also home to many religions. At Swinburne there are a number of student religious groups such as the Indonesian Campus Ministries, Swinburne Islamic Society and Students for Christ. There is a surau located on the Hawthorn campus. Rooms are available to students for prayer and worship. The International Student Unit and the International Student Chaplain can also advise students on other places of worship regardless of religious affiliations.

Public transport

From the airport: Melbourne airport is located about 20 kilometres northeast of Melbourne city. Free airport pickups are available to all students arriving for the first time. An airport bus runs around the clock to and from the city and costs about $25 for a return trip.

Getting around: All of Swinburne’s metropolitan campuses are easily accessible by public transport. A daily ticket costs around $7 for unlimited travel within 10 kilometres from the city centre on trains, trams and buses. No travel concession is currently available for international students within Victoria.