Living in Adelaide

The City of Adelaide

Adelaide, the capital city of South Australia, is located on the southern coast of Australia, bordered by the Gulf St Vincent to the west and the Mount Lofty Ranges to the east. With a population of over 1.3 million people, it is the fifth-most populated city in Australia.

Known for its Mediterranean climate, wide avenues, and expansive parklands, Adelaide offers a high quality of life and a thriving cultural scene. From its vibrant festivals to its renowned wine regions, Adelaide captivates visitors and residents alike with its unique blend of history, nature, and modernity.

History

Adelaide was founded in 1836 by Colonel William Light. Named after Queen Adelaide, the consort of King William IV, the city flourished with industries like agriculture and mining. Planned with wide streets and parklands, it has grown into a cultural and economic hub, renowned for its festivals, wine regions and strong sense of community. Today, Adelaide stands as a vibrant testament to its founders' vision and its community's resilience.

Beaches

Australia is home to some of the world’s most beautiful beaches and Adelaide is no different. Only 20 minutes from the city centre, spend an evening at the beach with friends watching the sunset, playing beach cricket or having dinner at one of the delicious restaurants or cafes on the beachfront.

City Living

Adelaide has previously been ranked the 3rd most liveable city in the world! With over 1.3 million people and a variety of universities, shopping centres, sporting facilities and other attractions, Adelaide is a fantastic place to live and study!

With a relatively low cost of living, especially compared to other major Australian cities, Adelaide is very affordable for students. It is 16% cheaper than Sydney and 13% cheaper than Melbourne to rent, study and travel.

Festivals

Known as The Festival State, Adelaide allows you to experience festivals and events all year round. From the Adelaide Fringe and WOMADelaide in Summer, to Illuminate Adelaide and the Cabaret Festival in Winter, there is something for everyone! Get a group of friends together and experience Adelaide’s incredible festival culture!

Transport

Being a flat city, Adelaide is perfect for walking or cycling around. Free trams and buses are available in the city centre and international students are eligible for discounted tickets if student ID is provided.

Adelaide is also home to the first guided busway in the southern hemisphere, the O-Bahn, which services the northeastern suburbs of Adelaide.

Sport

Adelaide is home to over 15 major sports who all have their own professional clubs, including cricket, soccer, netball, basketball, Aussie Rules Football, rugby, hockey and golf.

In the summer, you’ll find Adelaide Oval, the biggest stadium in Adelaide, packed with cricket fans and in the cooler seasons the AFL fans will show their support for our home teams. Come and learn a new sport and join the thousands of fans every year as they enjoy world-class events.

Food Culture

Adelaide has an incredible food culture, with a vibrant variety of cafes, restaurants and bars spread throughout the city. It would be difficult to visit every single cafe or restaurant in Adelaide due to the size of the city, so there are plenty of options for eating out. Some of the cuisines represented in Adelaide include Korean, Japanese, Chinese, Thai, Italian, Malaysian, Mexican, Persian and many more!

Safe City

As the second safest place to live in Australia, Adelaide is the perfect city to live and study. With low crime rates and well-maintained public areas, living in Adelaide offers peace of mind and a sense of security that few cities can match.

Shopping

From the bustling hub of the iconic Rundle Mall to the quaint boutiques of the East End, there's numerous shopping options to explore in Adelaide.

Don't miss the lively Adelaide Central Markets, where you can discover fresh produce and handmade products. Additionally, suburbs like Norwood and Glenelg boast their own distinct shopping districts, not far from the city centre.

Visa Conditions

If you are granted a visa, you must abide by its conditions. Failure to comply with these conditions could result in the cancellation of your visa. These conditions include (but are not limited to):

Completing the course within the duration specified in the CoE
Maintaining satisfactory academic progress
Maintaining satisfactory attendance
Maintaining approved Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) while in Australia
Remaining with the principal education provider for 6 calendar months, unless released from the provider to attend another institution
Notifying your education provider of your Australian address and any subsequent changes of address or contact details within seven (7) days of the change taking place
Restrictions on working in Australia

For information on student visa conditions please visit https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/getting-a-visa/visa-listing/student-500

Working in Australia

Applicants granted student visas will usually automatically receive permission to work with their visa grant. Most student visa holders don’t normally need to apply separately in Australia for permission to work. This information is a general guide only and it is the student’s responsibility to be aware of visa conditions in relation to working in Australia and to abide by these conditions.

Working while Studying on a Student Visa

You are not permitted to start work until you have commenced your course of study. You can work a maximum of 48 hours per fortnight during the study period.

For information on student visa conditions please visit Student Visa (Subclass 500)

Tax File Number:

You must obtain a Tax File Number to be able to work in Australia. A tax file number (TFN) is your unique reference number to our tax system.

When you start work, your employer will ask you to complete a Tax File Number Declaration Form. If you do not provide a TFN your employment will be taxed at the highest personal income tax rate, which will mean less money in your wages each week.

You can apply for your TFN online at https://www.ato.gov.au/individuals/tax-file-number or phone 13 28 61, 8am to 6pm Monday to Friday. For the ATO translating and interpreter service phone 13 14 50.

Finding Work:

The job market in Australia is highly competitive and you will be joining the general Australian population in your search for employment. You should not rely on income from employment when budgeting to pay for living expenses.

There are many different ways to find a job in Australia including:

Tax Return:

If you pay too much tax you are entitled to a refund. To get a refund you will need to lodge a tax return. You can lodge online using e-tax (free), by mailing a paper tax return, or by paying a registered tax agent to complete and lodge the return for you. If you lodge by e-tax your refund will normally be issued within 14 days into your nominated bank account.

Lodge online using e-tax at www.ato.gov.au
For a registered tax aged visit www.tabd.gov.au
Tax returns are lodged at the end of the Australian tax year, which runs from 1st of July to 30th of June and ends on the 30th of June each year

Superannuation:

If your monthly wage is more than AU$450 (before tax), your employer must contribute an additional sum equal to 11% of your wage into a superannuation (pension) account for you. In most cases, you can access your contributions when you leave Australia permanently, although the contributions will be taxed.

To check your eligibility to claim your superannuation and to apply for your payment, visit https://www.ato.gov.au/Super You will need to provide the details of your superannuation fund to your employer, otherwise your employer will create a new superannuation fund for you, which may not be best suited to you and your financial requirements.

Legal Services:

The National Liaison Committee for International Students

National Liaison Committee for International Students, more widely known as NLC, is the national peak body for all International Students in Australia. Further information is available online at http://www.nlc.student.org.au

Obeying the Law

One of the reasons for the wonderful lifestyle in Australia is due to its representative democracy, the separation of powers, and our respect for the rule of law. There are a lot of laws in Australia and as a result, society runs smoothly.

In being granted a visa to study in Australia, you signed a document (Australian Values Statement Temporary) agreeing to respect Australian values and obey the laws of Australia for the duration of your stay.

You can find a comprehensive outline of Australian law and the legal system at https://www.ag.gov.au/LegalSystem/Pages/default.aspx