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| Victoria University | |
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Community and surrounds Most campuses of the Victoria University are in and around the city of 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 Melbourne’s climate has the four distinct seasons: summer, winter, autumn and spring. 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 Your AusAID Liaison Officer will book you temporary accommodation at the Student Village. Once the Introductory Academic Program’s Orientation week commences you will be given assistance in seeking permanent rental accommodation if required. The Housing Officer is situated in our Footscray Park Campus, but also visits other campuses. The average costs for a single student living in rented accommodation in surrounding suburbs of Melbourne (sharing a house with two others), including food, household costs and travel expenses is $1,190 a month. Costs are generally higher for accommodation close to the central business district. On-campus accommodation costs around $10 to $13 a day (annual rate). Off campus rental accommodation costs between $140 and $200 a week for a two-bedroom flat, or between $180 and $250 for a three-bedroom house. Board or homestay ranges from $100 to $170 a week. Reasonably cheap units/flats and houses are available in the surrounding suburbs of Footscray, St Albans, Yarravile, Seddon. All of these suburbs are very close to Footscray Park, St Albans and City Flinders campuses. In some cases they are in walking distance, in particular the private rental accommodation surrounding the Footscray Park and St Albans campuses. Students will be given a list of places to buy furniture and appliances during the Introductory Academic Program Orientation Week. Campus descriptions All campuses are located in the central city area and in the western regions of Melbourne. Campuses open to both university and TAFE students are: City Flinders, Footscray Park, Melton, St Albans, Sunbury, Werribee. The City Flinders campus is a modern building overlooking the Yarra River, located opposite Melbourne’s main train station, Flinders Street. The cafes and shops of Southbank are five minutes walk across a footbridge. Campus facilities include a library, computing laboratories, a student lounge and conference centre. There are about 1,008 international students at City Flinders campus. Footscray Park campus is situated six kilometres from Melbourne’s central business district. The campus occupies a seven-hectare site adjacent to parklands along the Maribyrnong River valley. The campus has a recreation complex including a new state-of-the-art 10-lane 25-metre swimming pool, and video network. About 1,386 international students study here. Melton campus is 40-45 minutes by car from Melbourne’s city centre. The campus is 16 hectares, featuring modern architecture in garden settings. This campus currently has around six international students. St Albans campus is 32 hectares and sits alongside Jones Creek and native grasslands dotted with gum trees. It currently has around 79 international students. The 22-hectare Sunbury campus is located on a hilltop with historic buildings and gardens. It is 35-40 minutes by car from Melbourne’s city centre. Sunbury campus has around 13 international students. Werribee campus is situated in the Werribee Technology Precinct, 25-30 minutes by car from Melbourne’s city centre. Werribee campus currently has around 56 international students. Campuses that hold TAFE students only are: City South Melbourne, City King, Footscray Nicholson, Newport, Sunshine, Williamstown, and Yarraville. The City South Melbourne campus is in the same area as City Flinders and Flinders Lane, only five-minutes walk from the city centre. It is a 10-minute walk from City Flinders and students may use the campus facilities. City South Melbourne campus has around 14 international students. The City King campus is located in a modern high-rise building in Melbourne’s central business district, close to Spencer Street train station. This campus currently has around 29 international students. Footscray Nicholson campus is located in one of Melbourne’s most culturally diverse centres in Victoria, with more than 44 per cent born overseas and representing 65 different language groups.. The population of the city of Maribyrnong, which encompasses the suburb of Footscray, is almost 60,000 people. Maribyrnong has the highest concentration of Vietnamese migrants in Australia. It is 10 minutes by car from the city centre, close to shops, rail and bus transport. The campus consists of four buildings surrounded by paved and landscaped courtyards. Around 138 international students currently study there. Newport campus is close to rail and located next to the Historical Victoria Railways Workshops. It consists of four buildings set in landscaped grounds, 15 minutes by car from the city centre. Sunshine campus is located in the centre of the suburb of Sunshine. It is around 15 minutes by car from Melbourne’s city centre. Sunshine campus currently has around 11 international students. Williamstown campus is located 10 minutes by car from the city centre. The campus is used mainly as a training venue for hospitality students. Yarraville campus is half a kilometre from the Footscray Shopping Centre, 15 minutes west of Melbourne. For further information on facilities at each campus, visit www.vu.edu.au. International student population At the Victoria University in 2003, there were 2,697 international students. Of these about 660 students were from East Asia, 24 from Papua New Guinea and the Pacific Islands, 1,000 from South Asia and the Indian Ocean region and 34 from Africa. Most of the remaining overseas students were from countries that do not receive ADS awards such as Europe and the USA. There are health services at the Footscray Nicholson and Footscray Park campuses. The Health Practice Unit at St Albans campus offers health therapies such as acupuncture, Tui Na (Chinese therapeutic body work) and Chinese and Western herbal medicine. Community Health Centres are located close to Victoria University campuses. Melbourne has several public and private hospitals. It also has specific hospitals for women (Royal Women’s Hospital). A number of campuses have women’s rooms, which are lounge areas for women only. Migrant Resource Centres are available at Footscray and St Albans campuses. 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. Organisations from manydifferent cultures support the ethnic communities. AusAID buddy systemAll newcomers are met at the airport and matched with senior AusAID students who ensure that new students are well looked after, introduced to surroundings, transport, food, accommodation, introduced to other AusAID students, and generally helped to settle in. These buddies stay with the student for the duration of the course and help both the student and their family. Upon arrival, AusAID students also receive a second-hand computer, household goods and white goods, and are able to join any of the many student clubs such as the International Student Association, the AusAID Club, the Pacifika Association, the East Timorese Association, the Indian Association and the Middle East Association. Childcare facilities The university has children's centres located on five campuses–Footscray, Nicholson, Footscray Park, Newport, St Albans and Werribee. Each centre has been Quality Accredited through the National Childcare Accreditation Council and provides a high quality caring environment where children have access to a range of educational programs to meet their individual development needs. Payment rates appear below as a guide only and are effective from 1 January 2004. Approved care: This payment can be paid directly to childcare services to reduce the fees charged or as a lump sum to parents at the end of the financial year. You are limited to 20 hours care per child per week unless the work test is met. If the work test is met, you can get up to 50 hours care per child per week. This payment is subject to an income test. This payment is not subject to an assets test.
Childcare services are also available in most local communities. You can find out about these services by contacting your local council. Facilities for special needs The Equity and Social Justice Branch works with the university to maximise participation and quality of life for students and staff who have a disability. The Branch aims to: improve physical access on all campuses; support students and staff with a disability through a range of services; work with mainstream services across the university to ensure that people with a disability have access to the full complement of university benefits; and encourage equality in the employment of people with a disability. Foods for different cultures There are numerous take-away Chinese, Vietnamese, Thai, Indian, Turkish and Greek restaurants close to campus. In multicultural Melbourne, it is easy to find places that cater for tastes from around the world, including 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. Halal and kosher food is also available on Footscray Park and St Albans campuses. Fresh food is available at the Footscray, Victoria and St Albans markets located close to university campuses. Religious facilities Chaplains are based at Footscray Park and St Albans campuses. The Islamic Society provides a prayer room on the Footscray Park campus. There is also a Hindu Centre at the Footscray Park campus. There are several religious organisations and places of worship in metropolitan Melbourne, including the Melbourne Thai Buddhist Temple, Buddhist Society of Victoria, and Muslim Women of Australia. Public transport From the airport: Melbourne international airport is located about 20 kilometres northeast of Melbourne city. The university meets ADS students arriving at Melbourne airport and takes them to their accommodation. An airport bus runs around the clock to and from the city and costs about $25 for a return trip. Getting around: All campuses are within easy access of train stations and bus transport. Free evening shuttle bus services at the City Flinders, Footscray Park and St Albans campuses provide a safe link to local train and bus stations. The public transport system in Melbourne is called The Met. You are able to travel on a train, a tram and bus on the same ticket. A brochure called Fares and Travel Guide is available and clearly explains the system. On arrival the university will give you a copy of the guide, which includes a timetable of the trains. City Flinders and City Flinders Lane Campuses are a two-minute walk from Flinders Street train station. Tickets to the Victoria University campuses are upwards of $2.70 for two hours or $85.90 for a discounted monthly ticket (the cheapest option).
Copyright© 2005 Australian Development Scholarships - Southern and Eastern Africa |
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