LEASING: CAMPUS 15

Information and Links

Banking and Money
Tax
Seeing Caulfield
Seeing Melbourne
Specialty Foods and Eating
Useful Links

Banking and Money:

Banks
Banks are the safest places in Australia for keeping your money. Bank funds are guaranteed by the Reserve Bank of Australia. Other financial institutions including credit unions, building societies, finance companies, life insurance companies and merchant banks are popular and provide similar services to the larger banks.

It is best to open a bank account immediately after arriving. It's easier to open an account when you have a permanent address so if there will be just a short delay before you move to your permanent accommodation, it might be better to open an account then.
Bank opening hours:
Monday - Thursday 9.30am - 4.00pm
Friday 9.30am - 5.00pm
Some banks open for a few hours on Saturdays. Most banks are closed on weekends and on public holidays.

Some of the popular/larger financial institutions are:
ANZ
Bendigo
Commonwealth
HSBC
National
Westpac

How to open an account
To open a bank account you need to include your personal details such as your name and address. You will be required by law to complete a form that asks:

The name you wish the account to be in (normally your own name)
The name and residential address of any people who will be permitted to withdraw money from the account (these are called the 'signatories') in addition to yourself. If you are opening the account for yourself, usually there are no other signatories.

To open an account, you are also required to show your passport and one other form of identification such as:

An overseas driving license
Credit cards
Your Student ID card

Most banks will accept your passport only up to six weeks after your arrival in Australia.
Students are also advised to supply a Tax File Number (TFN) shortly after opening an account - see the link further down this page.

Bank fees
Banks charge fees for various services and for transactions in your account. However, many banks exempt full-time students from fees. You should ask the bank if they waive the charges for full-time students before opening an account. Most banks calculate interest on your daily balance and pay it to your account quarterly The higher your daily balance, the more interest you earn. All interest earned on savings in Australian banks is taxed by the government.

Account types
Generally, there are two types of accounts:

Everyday accounts
Investment or passbook accounts

An everyday account provides you with an ATM (automatic teller machine) card for use at 24-hour ATMs or in store EFTPOS facilities. EFTPOS (Electronic Funds Transfer at Point of Sale) was quick to become the preferred method of payment for businesses and customers alike, thus is widely accepted throughout Australia. It saves people from carrying around large sums of cash and offers a safe and secure way of making payments. Students should contact their Australian bank to check the fees and charges associated with using this method of payment.

A passbook account is useful if you have large amounts of money because it pays a higher rate of interest, but doesn't usually have an ATM card.

Major credit cards are also widely accepted throughout Australia and offer the convenience of easy payments in person, or over the phone or Internet. Students should contact their Credit Card dealer for fees, conditions, and the interest rate in order to keep spending under control.

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Tax:

Paying tax in Australia
International students are treated the same as Australian residents when it comes to paying tax. Once you have been in Australia for more than six months you are considered "a resident for tax purposes".

Tax File Numbers
Every adult in Australia is required to have a Tax File Number (TFN). In order to obtain a Tax File Number, you must complete a TFN application form. Application forms are available from the International Office on your campus, from post offices or from the Australian Taxation Office.

You will need to give information (with proof) such as:

Your name and date of birth
Current Australian address (a bill, bank statement or accommodation lease agreement will show this)
Date of arrival in Australia
Proof of identity (documents to be examined by the Tax Officer)
"Proof of identity" documents include:
Your passport
Original birth certificate
Overseas or Australian drivers licence or
Your Student ID card (issued to you on enrolment day)

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Seeing Caulfield:

There is so much to see and do in Melbourne! In Caulfield, you will have plenty to do whether you enjoy a picnic in the beautiful Caulfield Park, a fun day at Caulfield Swim Centre, or a punt at the Caulfield Racecourse.

Other places of interest that are only a short tram or train ride from Caulfield include Chapel Street, (in South Yarra) with its boutique shopping and top quality cafés and bars, the Melbourne Cricket Ground (in Richmond) which hosts numerous sporting events all year, Glenferrie Road shopping strip and Malvern Central Shopping Centre, and the Royal Botanic Gardens (in South Yarra) for tranquillity in the world famous native and exotic plants and gardens, also home to the Moonlight Cinema in the Summer months.

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Seeing Melbourne:

The city of Melbourne (only a 20 minute train ride from Caulfield) also has so much to offer to everyone, contributing to its title as the world's 'most liveable city'. From the best-developed sporting facilities, including the city's Telstra Dome and Rod Laver Arena, to the Melbourne Zoo or Aquarium, to the boutiques specialising in Australian and international designers, and jewellery and accessories. Alternatively, if you are interested in the arts, the City holds a diverse collection of galleries and museums, not to mention the numerous events and festivals at Federation Square. No matter who you are, there is something of interest for everyone in the city of Melbourne.

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Specialty Foods and Eating:

With Melbourne being one of the most diverse and multicultural cities in the world, there are many restaurants and cafés with a variety of different cuisine. Many precincts have their own culinary character, from the Asian atmosphere in Caulfield Plaza, on Derby Road (next to Monash Caulfield) and in Richmond, to the 'Little Italy'on Lygon Street in Carlton, to the Greek feel of Lonsdale Street, to Chinatown around Little Bourke Street.

Places with a wider variety of culinary diversity that are also well known for their exquisite restaurants and cafés include Chapel Street in South Yarra, Glenferrie Road in Glenferrie, Glenhuntly Road in Elsternwick, Southgate with its various restaurants along the Yarra River, the Docklands with its striking city views and spectacular waterfront, and of course all around the City centre. For a more entertaining night out while you dine, there are also a number of Theatre Restaurants in areas including Richmond, Carlton, and the City.

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For information and timetables of public transport, visit:
www.metlinkmelbourne.com.au

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