A little planning makes your first weeks in Australia far smoother. Here’s how to prepare before you fly, what to pack, and how to get settled.
Booking your travel
- Aim to arrive 2–4 weeks before your course starts so you can settle in and sort accommodation.
- Take out travel insurance covering flight delays and your first few days here.
- Free airport pickup is available from Melbourne (MEL) and Brisbane (BNE) — book it with our Student Support team at least one week before you fly.
What to pack
Melbourne weather is changeable — pack layers and an umbrella year-round (winter averages 14°C, summer 25°C). Brisbane is warmer and subtropical (winter 21°C, summer 29°C). Bring at least one formal outfit for interviews and special occasions. See Living in Australia for a fuller Melbourne vs Brisbane comparison.
- Documents: your offer letter and eCoE, passport, ID, emergency contacts, medical records and accommodation confirmation.
- Money: a bank card plus around AUD $100–$200 in cash for your first day.
- Electronics: a universal power adapter (Australia uses Type I plugs, 230V).
Arranging accommodation
Book temporary accommodation (a hostel, Airbnb or student residence) for your first weeks, then find something longer-term — student housing, a shared rental or a homestay. Our Student Support team can connect you with trusted providers, free of charge. Budget around AUD $180–$650 per week depending on accommodation type and city — see Living in Australia for a full cost breakdown by campus.
Popular student suburbs near campus include Carlton, Fitzroy, Footscray and North Melbourne in Melbourne, and South Brisbane, West End and Fortitude Valley in Brisbane.
Biosecurity & customs
Australia has strict biosecurity laws and is moving from the paper Incoming Passenger Card to a Digital Passenger Declaration completed online before you fly — check which applies to your flight. Declare any food, plant or animal products; when in doubt, declare it. Fresh fruit, vegetables, meat, dairy, seeds, plants and soil are prohibited. Bring prescriptions for any medication.
- Undeclared items found at the border can mean an on-the-spot fine — from $313 up to $6,260 AUD depending on severity. It’s always safer to declare.
Health & wellbeing
- OSHC is mandatory for the length of your visa — see Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) for details.
- Bring a doctor’s letter and enough of any prescribed medication for your arrival.
- Free, confidential counselling is available through our Wellbeing team.
- Emergencies: call 000 for police, fire or ambulance, any time, day or night.
- For everything else, contact Student Support on (03) 7068 8413 (Mon–Fri, 9am–5pm) or info@evantaa.edu.au.
Getting settled
- Attend orientation to meet staff, explore campus and learn how everything works.
- Open an Australian bank account (Commonwealth or ANZ) with your passport and eCoE.
- Get a transport card (myki in Melbourne, go card in Brisbane).
- Get a local SIM: Telstra, Optus and Vodafone plans typically start from $35–$40/month; budget options on the same networks — Boost, ALDI Mobile, amaysim or TPG — often start from $15–$20/month.
- Know your time zone: Queensland doesn’t observe daylight saving, so for roughly half the year Brisbane and Melbourne aren’t in the same time zone — worth checking before booking calls home or connecting flights.
Your pre-departure checklist
- Offer letter, eCoE, passport and ID packed and accessible (not checked baggage).
- OSHC purchased and confirmation saved to your phone.
- Travel insurance booked.
- Temporary accommodation booked for your first 1–2 weeks.
- Airport pickup booked with Student Support, if needed.
- Digital Passenger Declaration / Incoming Passenger Card completed for your flight.
- Power adapter and at least one formal outfit packed.
- Student Support’s number and email saved in your phone: (03) 7068 8413 / info@evantaa.edu.au.
Keep exploring
- Living in Australia — settling in, costs, and where to get support.
- Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) — your visa-required health insurance.
- Arrival Information — what to expect at the airport and in your first days.
- Conditions of Enrolment — your visa study and attendance obligations.