SURVIVING
CANBERRA
2009
The
Malaysian
Students’
Organisation (2009)
1
CONTENTS
Welcome Note
Weijun, LIM
Accommodation
Burton and Garran Hall
Burgmann College
Bruce Hall
Ursula Hall
Fenner Hall
John XXIII
UniLodge
Off-campus
See Mun, MAK
Kar How, CHIN
Han Hui, THYE
Jared WONG
Zhi Yuan, CHUA
Andrew LOW
Amanda CHOONG
Shin Yau, YEAM
Prior to the big leap
Things to (and not to) bring
Akmal IDRIS
Now that you’re in Canberra…
Safety
Recreation outside university
Surviving winter
Working in Canberra
Important places on campus
Getting around
Eating out
Shopping
Sports and recreation
Banking, mobile and internet
Azrai A.ISHAK
Azrai A.ISHAK
Weijun, LIM
Aron LIEW
Zahin ZAIDI
Alex FONG
Kimberley HO
Jess WONG
Thines Kumar N.
Shaun SIAU
MSO Committee 2009
Credits
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Welcome Note
Firstly, I would like to congratulate you for reaching a very crucial stage of life.
What stage? Welcome to Australian National University! Yes, the stage I was
talking about is university. Furthermore, you are about to pursue your tertiary
education in Canberra, Australia as an international student.
As an international student, it is perfectly normal that you will experience
cultural shock. However, staying in your comfort zone would do no good as the
purpose of studying abroad is to experience the cultures and ways of the people
over there including other international students. Hence, this is where the
Malaysian Students’ Organisation (MSO) steps in.
This booklet serves as a guide for you throughout your stay in Canberra (if you
do find it useful). It offers a wide scope of information ranging from
accommodation to recreational activities. The MSO also organises activities
with the aim of bridging students among Malaysians and also encouraging
Malaysians to mix more with students from all over the world.
As we all know, the stereotype version of going to university would be to
graduate with a presentable degree. Nowadays, your tertiary life has more to
offer than that. Canberra may be alien to a lot of people, but it has its fair share
of surprises. Therefore, take the effort to explore Canberra and if given the
chance, visit other parts of Australia.
At the end of the day, you will realize that the experience you gather will help
you in further stages of life. Most importantly, always remember the simple
values taught to you at home and act wisely.
Lastly, on behalf of MSO, I would like to convey my best wishes to you
throughout your stay in Canberra!
Weijun, Lim
Bachelor of Commerce
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Burton and Garran Hall
Overview
-Burton Hall and Garran Hall merged together to form Burton and Garran Hall.
-It consists of 6 blocks: Central block, A block, B block, C block, D block, and
E block (for storage). The A, B, C and D blocks are 4 storeys high and have
around 30+ rooms.
-With over 510 residents, it is now the largest on-campus hall of Residence.
-It is a self catered hall; you need to cook your own food.
Room
-Although the room is small compared to other halls, but it is fully equipped
with basic necessity such as a large desk, lamp, bookcase, bed, bedside table,
chair, telephone, internet connection, sink, heater and a shelved walk-in
wardrobe.
-The telephone system provides each resident with a personal answering
machine facility. Residents can also make internal university calls for free.
-The room internet connection is currently charged at 1cent per MB but surfing
the ANU website is free of charge.
-B&G residents also have the privilege to watch local TV channels from their
laptops in the room for free!
-There are two toilets and shower blocks on each floor (one male and one
female).
-Each floor has a utility room provided with an iron, ironing board and clothes
line.
-Residence can borrow vacuum cleaner to clean their room from the Senior
Resident.
Facilities
-There are several Study Rooms provided for students to study anytime. It is a
good place to study if the resident does not want to study in their own room.
-The library can be found on the ground floor of central block. It offers a range
of materials including academic materials (textbooks, reference books and old
exams) and non academic materials (fiction, non-fiction, magazines and games).
-During examination periods, the library also provides free coffee, tea and Milo,
served with biscuits to the residents.
-The kitchen is the “heart” of the hall. It is the place for residents to meet new
people and socialise. With over a third of residents being international students,
residents have a chance to meet people all around the world and try
international cuisines. International students will have a lot of chance to meet
local students as well as the majority of the residents are locals.
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-Each resident is provided with a fridge basket and a locker to put their
groceries and cooking utensils. Microwave ovens and toasters are also provided
in the kitchen.
-There are two computer rooms in B&G. Each of them have a printer inside and
the first floor computer room is equipped with a photocopier machine. It is
connected to the ANU internet and printing system. If the computer rooms are
full (but very unlikely), you can always walk over to The Hancock Library or
BOZO computer labs to use computers. They are just across the road.
-Common room is also another place for people to gather together. There are
table tennis table, pool tables and a few television sets provided in the common
room. Residents can also connect to the wireless internet while in the central
block.
-Laundry block is just located behind the central block. All the washing
machines and dryers are located there. Residents can use them for free.
-There are 6 music rooms in B&G and some are equipped with piano. Music
students can straight away access the music rooms, while others need to apply
for the access through front office.
Transportation
-City is just 20 minutes walk from B&G. If you need groceries, you can go with
a few friends to do shopping and push a trolley back together. Yes, we are
allowed to push certain trolleys back to B&G, there will be people coming
around to pick them.
-Besides that, you can also buy a bicycle and cycle around the campus. It is a
cheap, fast, healthy and environmental friendly way to go around the campus or
to the city.
-The Action Bus stops near the hall, therefore residents can travel to city,
Woden, Belconen or some other places too (need to take another bus in the city)
easily. The bus system in Canberra is great, systematic and punctual.
-ANU also operates a free after-hours bus service (“Brian’s Bus Service) from
Monday to Friday to pick students up from all around the campus after 5pm.
-B&G also organises shopping trips to supermarket at Dickson and fresh fruits
market in Belconen and Fyswick on a weekly basis.
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Contact details
Location:
Burton and Garran Hall
49 Daley Road
Acton, ACT 0200
Australia
Telephone:
+61 2 619 40000
Fax:
+61 2 619 40045
Email:
enquiries.bg@anu.edu.au
There will be lots of activities organised by Senior Residents and BAGMA. So
make sure you are active and join most of these activities. Don’t miss out the
fun living in a residential hall!
For more information, you are encouraged to visit the B&G website at
http://bandg.anu.edu.au or the MSO website http://clubs.anu.edu.au/clubs/mso/
See Mun, Mak
Bachelor of Commerce
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Burgmann College
Burgmann College is one of the few fully-catered halls located on campus. It
just takes a 15 minute walk or a 5 minute bike ride to get to classes. Despite
what you might have heard about Burgmann College, it is not named ‘The Place
to Be’ for nothing. Below are some of the reasons why.
FOOD:
Burgmann has since switched to a better caterer from previous years. I have to
say that they made the right choice. Catercare Australia has a line of extremely
dedicated staff. This is judged through their constant motivation to improve
their menu in order to please the taste buds of the very demanding residents.
Burgmann is said to have to BEST breakfast in campus. Breakfast will consist
of bacon, sausages, hash browns, eggs, mushrooms, baked beans, different types
of cereal, yogurt, fruits etc. For lunch and dinner, residents are always pampered
with two choices of meat (fish, chicken, lamb or beef) and a vegetarian main
course. On top of that, there is a choice of seasoned/steamed vegetables and
what Australians MUST always have in their daily meals: POTATOES!
Wedges, fries, steamed potatoes; you name it, they have it. There is also the
‘SALAD BAR’. Buffet style, there are many different types of salads to choose
from. Fresh fruits would also be available during lunch while mouthwatering
desserts await you during dinner. Coffee machines, bread, butter, jams and milk
are available as long as the dining hall is open. On top of that, Catercare is
thoughtful enough to prepare a feedback booklet in the dining hall to accept
your constructive comments about their culinary skills. What more could you
ask for?
PEOPLE:
What makes Burgmann different from the rest of the halls/colleges is that the
proportion of Asians to Westerners is smaller compared to the others. I know
you would quickly conclude that this might not be a good thing because many
of us would prefer having more Asians (or to be precise, Malaysians) to reduce
the feeling of homesickness. HOLD THAT THOUGHT! Why do we study
abroad in the first place? It is because we want to expand our horizon and learn
more about other people’s culture. Therefore, having less Asians is not such a
bad thing after all. More Australians would only mean greater insights to their
lifestyles, more people to get to know and more friends (your first few
Australians) on your Friendster list! If you still worry that you will not fit in, the
staff and senior residents will be there to assist you. They always welcome any
enquiries and will take every measure to ensure your well being.
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UTILITIES/FACILITIES:
GOOD NEWS! Beginning 2009, all of Burgmann’s undergraduate rooms will
be finished with renovations. Newer looking rooms for all! Burgmann has one
of the bigger rooms among all on-campus colleges/halls. It is well equipped
with a heating system, sink, bed, chairs, and a closet among others. Washing
machines are located on each floor and are free to use. These rooms are located
on three floors of two separate wings, Homer and Barassi. Postgraduates, on the
other hand, are fortunate enough to be allocated to the newly built, self-catered,
postgraduate village. This village houses apartment styled accommodation
which is equipped with gas stoves for cooking purposes. For social functions,
there is a common room with a TV, bar (apparently, they sell really cheap
alcohol, so whenever there is stress, you know where to head to), pool table and
a ping pong table. Just for your information, the TV has five sports channels for
your viewing pleasure (did I just heard a really loud YEAH! from EPL fans?).
Both Homer and Barassi wings surround a beautiful landscape of trees, benches
and garden tables and a BBQ pit. A computer lab, bike shed, tutorial rooms,
study rooms, music rooms (with drums and a piano) are located at strategic
locations around the college for the convenient access by residents. Each floor
has around 4 toilets and toilets are Co-ed (calm down guys). Again, just for your
information, (although this does not involve utilities/facilities), Burgmann is the
nearest Hall to Lake Burley Griffin. If you would love to go for an evening
stroll along the lake while waiting for the sun to set, I would certainly
recommend it. The view is spectacular! Lastly, car park space is available at
Burgmann.
ACTIVITIES:
Burgmann has a greater number of events compared to other colleges (Don’t
worry, all the events are already paid for in the fees). BRA (Burgmann
Residents’ Association) is brought into your world to add a little sparkle to your
otherwise mundane university life and to reduce a bit of stress from your
haunting deadlines. I would say Burmann have 1 of the best orientation program
in campus. Last year our theme is “European Week” which consists of activities
such as October Events are aplenty namely Burg Day, Dawborne (pool
competition), Random Act of Kindness etc for your participation and formal
dinners such as Commencement and Valete which require you to be dressed to
your nines (HINT: girls can use this excuse to drag their boyfriends out for
shopping) while the kitchen staff pampers you with delicious food and fine
wine. If you excel in any area of sports, you can proudly represent Burgmann
during the inter hall sports competition and be awarded during the SPARTOS
(Sports and Arts) dinner. If you love to socialize with or assist your younger,
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new residents, you can apply to be a tutor (Senior Resident) in your later years
of residence.
SPORTS:
Burgmann team has a very strong side in our interhall sport games. This event is
a very good opportunity for individuals to show their talent in sports and also to
help their college to bring back the gold medal. Their competitions various in
many type of sport games such as hockey, volleyball, tennis, table tennis,
basketball, soccer, rugby, touch rugby, cricket, inward bound and many more.
All in all, Burgmann would be an unforgettable phase of your life and I mean
that in a good way. Enjoy your stay in Burgmann and who knows; you might be
in my position next year, writing this article, telling everybody just how great
Burgmann is.
Written by,
Kar How, CHIN (2007)
Edited by,
Alex Fong Kah Ho
Bachelor of Finance
9
Bruce Hall
Overview
- Oldest residential hall on campus
- One of the ‘longest’ building on campus
- Has six fully catered wings: North, South, East, West, Central and
Extension. Packard wing is self catered and reserved for post-graduate and
later year undergraduate students. There are four floors in Packard and
three floors in North and Extension wings. Other wings have two floors.
- Each floor has a senior resident to help students out. (If you run into any
problem, just knock on their doors)
- Located very near (usually 7-10 minutes walk) to Manning Clark Centre
(in short, MCC, the place where you have your lectures), Chiefly Library,
Hancock Library and Union Court (the place where the banks, ATM
machines, eateries, pharmacy ,etc. etc. are located)
Rooms
- Rooms in Bruce Hall are fairly large
- All rooms includes a bed, a built-in wardrobe, study table with chair, a
telephone (with voice mail and calls within the ANU are free), and a book
shelf
- You can connect to the internet thru your room. Just get a cable and pay
the fees at the front office. Rates are currently 7 cents per MB, but
authorities are currently discussing whether to reduce the price. Surfing
ANU pages are free.
- Sink will be available in all rooms except for Central Wing. Therefore,
Central Wing residents will pay a slightly cheaper rent.
Bathrooms
- Co-ed bathrooms are available on all floors. (Yes, they are co-ed, but you
will get used to it)
- Most floors have 3-4 toilet bowls and 3-4 shower stalls.
- Some floors have bath tubs.
- As for Packard wings, every room will have their own personal
bathroom.
Hygiene
- Rooms will be vacuumed once a week. (If that’s not enough, you can
always request a vacuum cleaner from your senior resident and vacuum it
yourself)
- Bathrooms are cleaned daily.
- You will have to empty your own rubbish bin.
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- You will have to do your own laundry. Washing machines and dryers are
provided.
Food
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Three meals will be provided everyday.
Food is served in a buffet style.
Usually, both Western and Asian food will be served.
There’s a salad bar, fruit bar and a cereal bar.
Cereals and drinks will be provided all day (except when the kitchen
staffs are cleaning the hall, but they won’t take long )
Meal times are fixed. Can’t make it in time for lunch or dinner? Don’t
worry! You can always pack sandwiches for lunch (weekdays only) and
you can sign up for “late – meal” if you can’t make it in time for dinner.
Packard wing residents will have a kitchen in their room and sometimes
there will be bus trips for your groceries. Packard residents who wish to
have a meal in the dining hall will be required to purchase meal coupons.
If you wish to bring other friends to dine in Bruce Hall, you can purchase
meal coupons for them too.
If you feel like cooking once in a while, you can ask permission to use the
South Kitchen. Microwaves will be available at some floors.
One of the most interesting things to note about Bruce Hall is that
sometimes there will be High Tables. In most cases, students who wish to
join the High Table will need to sign up for it and will be required to
dress formally with their academic gowns
Be sure to meet Phillip, Bruce Hall’s Malaysian chef who’s in charge of
weekday lunches.
Other facilities/interesting things to note
- There are tables and benches in South Quad and North Quad, an ideal
place for you to sit down for a chat or to study (when you get tired of
studying in your room or the library)
- Bruce Hall has its own library with a fair collection of books. You can
study there if you are too lazy to walk to other libraries on campus. There
are Study/Tutorial rooms as well.
- A computer lab
- Bicycle sheds
- Music rooms (you can access them even if you are non music students.
Just get the key from the front office)
- Senior common room and Junior Common Room (where you get to
watch TV, play ping pong and play pool with your friends)
- Buttery, which will be opened at night where you get to buy snacks and
drinks
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- Most of the time events are organized. They are fun and make sure you
participate in them!
- There’s quite a number of academic mentors in Bruce Hall to help you if
you need any academic help
For those who are coming to Bruce Hall, welcome to Bruce. It will be one of the
best experiences of your life. Cheers.
Written by,
Han Hui, THYE (2008)
Bachelor of Actuarial Studies
Edited by,
Weijun, LIM (2009)
Bachelor of Commerce
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Ursula Hall
It’s nearing the end of 2007… and as I reflect on the one entire year here in
Australia, I feel that one of the things I did right was to choose Ursula Hall.
Ursula Hall or Ursies as it is affectionately called by its 200 odd residents has
definitely made my stay here in Canberra all the more enjoyable. Out of the 3
my most important F’s (Family, Friends and Food, in that order), I believe
Ursula Hall delivers on all three. Ursula Hall is not too big (did I mention it’s
the smallest hall?) that I would get lost among all the people, but encourages a
healthy mix of international and local students alike. Most of my best friends
here are Australians, while International students add to a quirky dose of variety
every day. From the moment you get to Ursula Hall (don’t miss Orientation
Week!), till the end of the year, Ursula Hall residents grow to be one big family
for you. In fact, most of the friendships developed here go on to be lifelong
relationships.
For all those Malaysians, Ursula Hall would be a good familiar ground from
which to start your university life. There are many Malaysians who you could
talk to if you miss the local dialect (no problem la, sure can one!), and many of
us would more than welcome you and help you get familiarized. For those
concerned parents out there, Ursula Hall accommodates studies as well. It has
many study rooms and all residents respect each other’s privacy. Academic
mentors comprise of our own residents and can help on almost any subject. And
what hall would be good if there wasn’t good food? As an international student,
one of the best things I can say is that the food is great! Sure, you would miss
your roti canai and chili crab, but Ursula Hall has the best food among other
halls. Remember to get to know the kitchen lady, and she’ll serve you more
laksa noodles! On a side note, Ursula also has regular formal dinners and events
which are not to be missed. In the end it all comes down to a great campus
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experience that you’ll never find anywhere else. I’ll be returning here again in
2008, where hopefully I’ll meet all of you here!
Till then,
Jared
Jared Wong Ling Kern
Bachelor of Psychology (2008)
Edited by,
Weijun, LIM
Bachelor of Commerce (2009)
14
Fenner Hall
210 Northbourne Ave,
Braddon, Act 2612,
Australia.
Tel: +612 6125 9101
Fenner Hall is the only off-campus hall among the 7 main residences that
provide accommodation for students at the ANU. It is located just 2 kilometres
away from the ANU. A free bus provided by Fenner Hall runs between Fenner
and the ANU on weekdays during the academic year. Fenner Hall provides
approximately 500 rooms over 18 floors in two distinct towers.
Your room
Each standard room has a single bed, desk, chair, wardrobe and washbasin.
Residents share bathroom facilities with others on the floor. There are 3 toilets
on a floor – one male toilet, one female toilet and a unisex toilet. Each
residential floor develops a community of 27 members. All rooms have phones
with Voicemail. Internal university and Hall calls are free.
Approved Tariffs as of 2009*
Room Type
Weekly Tariff
1 Bedroom Flat
Corner Room
Standard Room
Studio North Tower
Studio South Tower
$199
$155
$149.50
$128
$133
The main difference between a standard room and a studio is that a studio has
no washbasin. South Tower Studio is slightly bigger than North Tower Studio.
A bedroom flat has its own kitchen and bathroom.
The rent includes all electricity, heating and water charges.
*Rates may have differed for year 2009 as the quoted tariffs are that of year
2008
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Your kitchen
Fenner Hall is self-catered. On the ground floor you will find our large
communal kitchens with gas cook tops, ovens and microwaves. Each floor has a
small kitchenette with fridge, microwave, toaster, and hot water urns. Residents
are not allowed to cook in their rooms.
Computer labs and internet
We have three computer labs with PCs and Macs. Each room has a data-port for
students wishing to bring their own computers. Internet usage is charged by the
download. There is free wireless connection in the common rooms on the
ground floor.
Restaurants and nearby shops
We are in walking distance to the ANU, the restaurants of Braddon, O’Connor,
Civic and Dickson. There is a takeaway and corner store just 50 metres away.
Fenner provides buses to the Belconnen fresh food markets on Sundays and to
the supermarket in Dickson on Thursday nights.
Senior Residents, Academic Assistants and Duty Wardens
Each floor has a Senior Resident and an Academic Assistant. Duty Wardens
operate outside of office hours so there is always someone to call should you
require urgent assistance. Academic assistants organise study groups, which are
especially helpful around exam time. We have a number of study rooms and a
small library. Floor parties and functions are also usually arranged by Senior
Residents 3 times a semester for residents to get to know each other better.
Music Rooms
Fenner Hall offers 3 soundproof music rooms on the ground floor. Residents
also organise the annual Fenner Hall musical.
Laundry @ Fenner
The laundry is free. Each floor has a laundry with washer, dryer, drying room,
iron and ironing board.
Parking @ Fenner
Parking is free to residents. A valid Fenner Hall parking permit must be
displayed. Canberra's network of bike paths and public transport is quite good,
so we encourage residents to save money and not bring a car.
Physical Disabilities
There are a small number of rooms available for students with physical
disabilities. Please contact the Hall to discuss your needs.
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Overall, Fenner Hall is a wonderful place to stay. We are supportive, friendly,
diverse and very energetic!
Consider staying at Fenner for one semester. You’ll never want to leave after
that. For more information, please contact the Hall directly.
E-mail : admissions.fenner@anu.edu.au
Phone : (02) 6125 9101
Fax
: (02) 6125 9555
Office Hours
Monday to Thursday : 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Friday
: 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM
(The office is closed on Public Holidays)
Written by,
Zhi Yuan, CHUA (2008)
Bachelor of Actuarial Studies
Edited by,
Weijun, LIM (2009)
Bachelor of Commerce
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John’s XXIII College
Can you cook an egg without setting up a fire in your mom’s holy ground-the
kitchen? Okay, that is slightly exaggerating. You will never have that problem
in John’s as meals are prepared for you. All you need to do is to carry yourself
down to the dining hall and EAT.
So, now the FOOD issue is solved. The time saved on cooking can be used to
get involved in the never-ending activities and events that are organized by a
superb resident’s committee. Sporting events, formal dinners, community
services, down to the block parties and outings, I salute you if you can find time
to catch your breath.
Most importantly, John’s XXIII College provides you with the most conducive
environment to take part in ALLLLLL the activities, and still excel in your
studies!!
Food
• 21 meals per week with a hot brunch on every Sunday.
• Continental breakfast, hot lunches and dinners (with Western and Asian
cuisines including vegetarian options).
• A full salad bar with sandwich and pizza making facilities.
• Take-away lunches and dinners are available if you can’t have your meals on
time.
Room
• Largest room among all the halls and colleges.
• The only college on campus that provides king-sized beds.
• Big windows give good ventilation.
• Weekly housekeeping service ensures that your room is in a clean and “dustfree” condition.
• Laundry basket, armchair and free linen pack are provided.
Common Room
• The place where you can have fun, get the stress out of your body system
and, most importantly, make new friends.
• Table tennis table, pool table, huge TV with DVD player, comfortable
couches, tables and chairs (where can use it to play board games, chess,
mahjong, etc.).
• There is also a bar where you can get yourself a drink or snack when you are
hungry.
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Sports
 Inter-college sporting events give you the opportunity to take part in the
sport that you are good at.
 John’s sporting teams have won and defended the sports shield for countless
times.
Academic Support
• A 24-hours computer lab (15 Dell PCs and 5 eMacs ) and study rooms allow
you to get away from the buzz and hype of college life when you have
assignments and exams pilling up.
• The academic mentor program offers an excellent gateway for students to
seek guidance and advice in their work.
John’s college has its own identity. It differentiates itself from other colleges. It
excels in everything it does. This is because it is made up of students that are
willing to sacrifice and offer their talent, effort, and time to make John’s college
a better place to live in. Do you want to part of this incredible community?
Written by,
Andrew Low (2008)
Bachelor of Commerce
Edited by,
Weijun, LIM (2009)
Bachelor of Commerce
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UniLodge – The Place to Be
CONTACT DETAILS
UniLodge ANU
Childers Street
Canberra City ACT 2601
Tel: 61 2 6194 5000
Fax: 61 2 6194 5050
unilodge.anu@unilodge.com.au
UNILODGE @ ANU 1
UniLodge @ ANU 1, which opened in January 2007, offers secure and
comfortable student housing on campus for ANU 1 students. This exciting
student accommodation facility offers students a choice of accommodation
ranging from single occupancy studios to five bedroom and mezzanine
apartments. Each student apartment provides self-contained living within a
secure community environment, and all apartments have their own bathrooms
and cooking facilities as well as television, internet and phone connections.
UniLodge @ ANU 1 incorporates generous common spaces to foster
intellectual and social interaction for lasting friendships, academic stimulation
and of course, fun for ANU 1 students. The large common room, equipped with
high quality entertainment systems, provides a place where you can relax and
meet other students. The computer and study room offer the facilities required
for students to work together on group assignments. As a student resident of
ANU 1 you will appreciate being on campus and close to the central city
area. Reception is open six days a week and high levels of student care is
provided by our Student Advisors.
COMMUNITY SPIRIT
It offers a balanced program of activities that supports student life across
many dimensions such as:
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Standard of living and quality of life as a whole
Mental and physical health
Academic and personal achievements
Personal and social relationships
Safety and security
Community connectivity and belongingness
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What type of activities under pin the Community Spirit program?
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Social responsibility activities such as getting students involved in raising
much needed funds for a charity, or participation in community activities
like “Clean up Sydney” campaign.
Barbeques and nights full of entertainment, that work to encourage
integration, fun and friendship.
Trips to Aussie fun spots - go surfing, indoor rock-climbing, bike riding
to great Australian icons.
Educational and special interest forums, seminars and focus groups.
Games nights and movies nights.
Sporting activities such as netball, basketball, footy, cricket – it’s up to
you!
International parties and cultural activities.
FACILITIES
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Modern, fully furnished apartments
A range of apartment types available, from studios to multi
bedroom.
High levels of security throughout UniLodge @ ANU. The main
entrance, all common area doors and each apartment and
bedroom are fitted with swipe-card electronic locks which can only
be opened by a resident's personalised security card. There is
restrictive access to each residential floor, and security cameras
record and monitor all entrances to the building and activity in
common areas.
LAN internet connection and VOIP telephony is available in every
bedroom and wireless data access is available throughout the
common areas of the building.
Convenient Location. UniLodge @ ANU is located within ANU
Exchange, a few minutes walk of the heart of the campus.
Numerous eateries and banking facilities are also within walking
distance.
Student common facilities include Lounge / Entertainment Room
and Computer Study Room and vending machines.
Outdoor barbecue area and two (2) courtyard areas
Ironing facilities and Laundry (coin operated)
Car parking and bike storage.
21
LOCATION






On Campus
City Centre - 5 minutes walk
Airport - 25 minutes drive
Nearest Supermarket - 1 minute walk
Local and National Buses - 5 minutes walk
Parliament House - 30 minutes walk
HERE’S WHAT I’VE TO SAY ….
Unilodge was my first choice of accommodation when I first arrived in
Canberra. One and the half years later the decision has not changed. The best
part is that the staffs are friendly and I always feel safe and secure. The central
location makes it easy to get to both the University and city centre. Living on
campus is a great advantage , it means I don’t need to worry about
transportation and can easily access all University facilities. I would definitely
recommend UniLodge to all students who wish to live independently whilst
being able to interact socially with other residents.
Consider staying in Unilodge, and you’ll never regret.
Choong Shi Rong, Amanda
Bachelor of Economics
22
Off Campus
Process
 Requires you to inspect the property before sealing the deal.
 You will need a reference - usually your previous agent/landlord.
For full time students, ANU can be your guarantor.
 2-4 week rent to be paid up front (refundable when you move out).
 Read the lease and know your rights + liabilities.
Advantages
 Privacy – Yes, you still have housemates. They might even be people
whom you've never met but you do have more privacy
compared to a student who lives with 200 students.
 Space - You have your own kitchen, living room, and bathroom.
 Independence - Well, your mum is not around. And you pretty much have
to settle everything yourself.
 Flexibility - Meal times are not fixed, unlike catered halls. You get to
decide your meals on top of that.
 Storage - Contracts usually last for 52 weeks, which means you can store
your stuffs in your rented home if you happen to be back in
Malaysia for the summer. For those who are on 40-week
contract, you will have to store your luggage in other places
when your contract expires (not fun!)
Disadvantages
 Electricity cost - Heater drains electricity. Keep an eye on your electricity
bills during winter season.
 Distance – Logically, the 5-minute-walk away from campus advantage
will not apply to you anymore. Transportation cost might
significantly affect your budget if not tackled tactfully.
23
 Social - Well, there is a price to pay for privacy. You will not have as
much opportunities to mingle with international students as hall
residents.
 Wasted months - 52-week contract means you will still have to pay the
rents even though you are back in Malaysia at the end
of the year, unless you manage to look for someone
else to occupy your home.
 Tedious - You might need to arrive at least a week earlier from the start
of the semester to check on the houses and pick the right one.
It is after all, your future home for at least a year. However, if
you make no early planning, just put up a few nights with your
peers or nice seniors while looking for the right house to go
for.
Useful links: accom.anu.edu.au -University Accommodation Service (UAS)
www.allhomes.com.au
Written by,
Shin Yau, YEAM (2008)
Bachelor of Actuarial Studies
Edited by,
Weijun, LIM (2009)
Bachelor of Commerce
24
Things to Bring (and Not to) Bring
I am pretty sure that students who will be studying abroad would be thinking
about the things that they should and should not bring overseas. Most people
will certainly have these kinds of question on their mind right now-Is my
luggage too heavy? Can’t I just buy it in Australia? Is this even legal? That is
actually normal and students tend to get anxious sometimes. Need some tips?
Well, there is no need to be nervous anymore because I am here to fulfill this
role.
1) Be sure of your LUGGAGE WEIGHT LIMIT. Make sure you are always
within the max weight and ask for excess luggage allowance if you really
need it. This can help you budget how much items to bring later on.
2) Always remember to bring your IMPORTANT DOCUMENTS with you.
The most important thing before you travel is to ensure your
documentation is in check. Your passport, a copy of your eVisa,
acceptance letter, etc is a must and you may want to have extra copies of
these documents as copying in Canberra is, again, costly. Besides that, do
bring enough money for food and stuff before you transfer or cash in your
traveler’s cheque into your new bank account in Canberra. These
essential items must be kept with you at all times as you will need them if
the unlikely event of baggage loss were to occur.
3) If you need to consume special MEDICINE, bring them along as well but
make sure you declare them before going to immigration.
4) CLOTHES
a. Bring enough clothes to last your adjusting period (like a week)
since you would probably have no idea where to do laundry in that
phase. To those who are a bit thrifty, it is recommended to shop
before you depart. It would be a bit hard to find cheap, quality
clothes in Australia. Make sure you bring at least one set of
FORMAL WEAR since there will always be formal events
throughout the year. It is also best if you could bring along your
25
TRADITIONAL CLOTHES as well since there are also cultural
exchange events.
b. As you might already know the weather in Canberra can vary a lot
day by day. It can go up to 30 degrees and even below 0 at times.
So it is always better to get prepared at least mentally. Bring at
least 1 jacket for windy/chilly days if you do not plan to buy later.
Do not worry of not bringing though since you will be arriving
around late summer.
c. Most colleges and accommodations do not provide mattresses
and/or pillow covers so it is up to you to choose where to buy. The
price would not be that much of a difference. Quilts and comforters
take too much of important luggage space so a light blanket is
always preferred.
5) ELECTRONICS
a. A lot of students bring their LAPTOPS and it is an important item,
not only for fun and games but also for assignments and such.
Some students choose to buy a desktop in Canberra as they feel it’s
more compatible for them.
b. You will need ADAPTERS for electronics bought from Malaysia.
Another alternative is to get EXTENSION cords (or multiple plug
point as others say it) so that you do not need too many adapters.
c. Others- you are welcomed to bring any other devices such as
cameras, mp3 players, alarm clocks, etc. On mobile phones, if
you’re in the stage of buying one, you may want to consider getting
one in Australia with a postpaid plan as you can get a phone if you
subscribe to the plan for two years. External hard disks are also
useful if you’re planning on downloading loads of stuff in
Canberra.
6) COOKING
26
a. Pots and pans would be important but some people prefer to just
buy them in Canberra.
b. Foods are to be sealed neatly, and ingredients on the packaging
would help greatly. Opened packages and homemade food usually
do not make it past immigration.
7) MISCs
a. It is up to you to bring your recreational items such as guitar,
books, or board games along to keep you occupied especially
during the weekends and holidays.
b. STATIONERY in Malaysia is way cheaper so it will be best if you
could stock up on stationery BEFORE DEPARTING. If you want
to buy TEXTBOOKS in Malaysia, do note that international
editions may differ from the local ones. You can also search for
SECONDHAND books in Canberra which could cost less so keep
that in mind.
c. One more thing you might want to consider is credit card. This will
certainly help you to do online shopping and might also give you
discount privileges.
That is all from me right now. Just bear in mind that this article is just a guide
and is not always meant to be fully followed. Bring what you think is best for
you as a travelling student. There is always the web if you need the answer to a
more specific question. Looking forward to see you in Canberra (well prepared
of course).
Akmal Syazwan Idris
Bachelor of Commerce
27
Safety
A campus of 145 hectares can be pretty intimidating. If you plan ahead you
won’t be left in the dark. This article offers some basic tips for personal safety
and outlines service available to the ANU community;
Around campus
 Walk confidently, be alert, be assertive
 Try to walk with a friend
Around campus at night
 Take designated and lit paths.(maps from ANU security)
 UniSafeGuard Patrol members can escort you to your on-campus
direction
Taking your car
 Park in well-lit, busy areas
 Park closer to buildings after dark
 UniSafeGuard Patrol members can escort you to your car
Taking public transport
 Know your timetable
 Wait in full view of passing traffic
Play smart
 Decide on a meeting point with friends for the end of the night – do it
before starting your night out
 Plan how you and your friends are getting home
 Carry change, phone card or mobile phone
 Remember, one drink too many can make your vulnerable
Watch yourself, Watch your friends
Amirul Azrai Ahmad Ishak,
Bachelor of Commerce
28
Recreation Outside University
Paintball
 Conveniently located in Tuggeranong at the corner of the Monaro Hwy &
Old Tuggeranong Rd-opposite Chisholm
Just a short 10-15 minute drive from Canberra CBD
 300 Paintballs*, entry, equipment hire for only
$60
 Any enquiry you can surf this website
www.worldseriespaintball.com.au
Laser tag
 Located in Stromlo Forest on Uriarra Rd our entrance is on your left,
which is 4km past the Coppins crossing intersection. Only 15min from:
the City, Weston Creek, Belconnen Mall & Kippax.
 $19 per person
 Any enquiry you can surf this website
http://www.laserskirmish.com/canberra/
Bowling
 About 30 minutes drive from Canberra City Centre
 $8 per person
Canoes and Kayak
 Located at Lake Burley Griffin – 15 min from campus
 Paddle boats $16 half hour or $28 an hour. All per hour: kayaks $15, two
person canoes $20, three person canoes $25, single surf skis $12 and
double surf skis $15
Gambling and Betting
 Located at Canberra City Centre- about 10 min walks from campus
Amirul Azrai Ahmad Ishak,
Bachelor of Commerce
29
Surviving Winter
Unlike Malaysia, Australia experiences seasonal changes. Based on personal
experiences, the most challenging season would be winter. So, here are a few
tips and pointers on how to survive winter.
FOOD
You would probably want to stock up on instant noodles as the weather is very
unpredictable. At times, the temperature will hit almost zero Celsius where
people would prefer to stay at home. Also, groceries shopping may be extensive
during winter as people would rather eat in. If you are not a big fan of cooking,
you can probably get simple food items such as chicken rolls and bread. It is
also advisable to buy stuffs such as instant coffee so that you can mix them in
case the weather is too cold to bear.
CLOTHING
As mentioned above, you would want to be well equipped for a place that could
hit zero Celsius at anytime. These are a few clothing that you want to have
during winter:
 Winter jacket
 Comforter (You need one regardless of the seasonal changes)
 Long johns
 Gloves
 Snow cap
I understand that most of you have limited baggage weight limits. Therefore, it
is advisable that you get the necessary clothing for winter over here at Canberra.
I am sure you do not want to stuff a comforter into your bag! Over here, there is
a huge range of brands such as Jag, Guess etc. and they are all reasonably
priced.
SPORTS AND RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES
Frankly speaking, winter is not a month for sporty people. If you are a die-hard
soccer player, it is suggested that you start playing indoor soccer. The ANU
Sports and Recreation Hall offers a wide variety of sports and recreational
activities (details to be mentioned in a related article). There are plenty of
badminton courts, futsal courts, basketball courts etc. up for use.
30
As for those of you who are willing to bear the cold weather for an outdoor
game, make sure you put on extra clothing to avoid falling sick!
HEATING
If you are staying on campus, all halls have a central heating system. If the
weather is cold (based on jurisdiction of the authorities), the central heating
system will be activated. Most of the time, the central heating system is
deactivated other than winter. However, you do not have to worry about getting
cold in your room as most residential halls activate the central heating system
during winter.
If you are staying off campus, it is suggested that you prepare yourself well
ahead of winter. Unlike the on campus residential halls, off campus residential
places does not have a fixed utility rate. The payment of utilities depends on the
amount of utilities consumed during the billing month. Therefore, you have to
put away more dough for utility payments during winter!
That is all I have to say for now. If you have any enquiries, feel free to approach
your fellow seniors or anyone from the MSO committee!
Good luck!
Lim Weijun,
Bachelor of Commerce
31
Working in Canberra
Now why should you even bother reading this page since it doesn’t concern you
now or yet to be of your concern? Isn’t studying hard and getting a degree the
main reason why you came here? Well if you’re having this mentality now or
later then please read this!
Fact: Canberra has the highest average wage in Australia. (Uh-huh!)
Fact: Canberra has a lot of job vacancies so that makes it less difficult to find a
job here (Plus DFO just recently opened here. That means more vacancies!
Yay!) 
Fact: Getting a job is probably the most productive way to spend your free time
and also to gain invaluable work experience.
Fact: Working brings in money which means more money to spend!
Fact: You can get staff discounts from the place you work and also get to know
more people.
Having second thoughts now? Well if you do, then read on as we guide you on
how to apply for your first Canberran job.
Step 1: Apply for a Tax File Number (TFN). You can do it online via
ato.gov.au. Just follow the steps and you will get your TFN in probably
around two weeks’ time.
Step 2: A simple resume is required for applying for jobs. You can search for
job
vacancies
online
from
www.seek.com.au
or
anu.edu.au/careers/current students/careerhub.php or you can just
simply bring your resumes ask shop by shop. with this visa, you are only
allowed to work a maximum of 20 hours during the school term but you
can work full time during the holidays.
32
Just follow the 2 steps above and you’ll be on your way to earning your first
Aussie pay. Just a final piece of advice: If you feel and REALIZE that working
is actually affecting your studies, then I strongly advise you to not work too
much. Your studies is your main priority here because I believe if you are able
to go overseas and study, money should not be too much of a concern for you if
you can and know how to spend wisely. So, all the best to all of you and should
you have any other enquiries, please feel free to contact any of the MSO
members. We are here to help you.
Lastly, thanks for taking the time to read. 
Liew Chiah Lone, Aron
Bachelor of Actuarial Studies
33
Important Places on Campus
Ladies and gentlemen, this is your captain speaking. Welcome aboard and thank
you for choosing “fly ANU”. We will commence our journey shortly. The
weather in Canberra today is fine and beautiful as always with an average
temperature of 20°C. While waiting for the clearance to take off from the
control tower, let me give you a rough idea on what the ANU looks like. There
are various key places you will usually go throughout the campus.
One of the most common places is the Union Court. This is where students
gather, sunbathe or even catch a short nap before getting themselves ready for
their subsequent lectures. Union Court also has eateries such as Sizzle Cafe,
Degree Cafe (I love its hot chocolate sooo much =p), Pajenka’s, Rosie’s
Chicken, and many others. There is also a convenient shop where you can buy
your stationeries and other miscellaneous items. ANU merchandises (T-shirts,
jumpers, mugs...you name it) are also sold in this shop. If you want to send a
letter or parcel to your parents, then to the Union Court you will go. The post
office is located next to the convenient shop. Text books? No problem.
There is the Co-op Bookshop in the Union Court as well. Almost every (but not
all) text books recommended by the lecturers are sold here. If you are going for
the same book but cheaper value, then you might want to go to the ANUSA’s
second hand bookstore. I can get a $ 165.00 Biology text book for only $ 65.50
(!!!) from this shop. However, it is not guaranteed that all the books you look
for are sold there (obviously, other students will definitely grab this opportunity
as well). So act fast!!! Alright, enough with books.
Now we talk about banking. There is a Commonwealth Bank branch at the
Union Court where you can keep and withdraw your money. Apart from that,
there is also an ANZ Bank ATM located near to the convenient shop. So there is
not much of a hassle of choosing which bank services you are ought to employ.
There are five libraries in the ANU. Two of the most famous are the Chifley
Library and Hancock Library. These two places provide perfect environments
for students to study. There are heaps of computers, study desks and discussion
rooms. The next stop is the musolla/surau. It is located next to the Law Faculty
and tennis courts. You won’t miss it, I can assure you. Friday prayers, and other
Islamic occasions will be held here.
34
For the non-Muslims, there is an ANU chaplaincy at the Union Court. It is a
multi-faith worshipping centre with separate rooms. Muslims can also pray
here, in the chaplaincy. Sporting? Then we are talking about the Sports Hall.
There’s a gym, multipurpose courts, squash courts, and many others. Malaysian
students always play futsal and badminton there, so for those who are fancy in
those games, gear up!!!
If you want to deal with matters regarding the university, then you might want
to go the IEO (International Education Office). The friendly people in the office
will help you to sort out your matter in no time. Well, that is roughly all about
the important places in the uni. If you were not able to find any of these places,
do not hesitate to ask anyone of us. We will be more than happy to help. Okay,
I’ve just got the green light from the tower. Alright, ladies and gentlemen,
buckle up and sit tight. To ANU here we go!!!
Muhammad Zahin Zaidi
Bachelor of Biotechnology
35
Getting Around
a) Traveling in Canberra
i)
Public Buses
The public buses in Canberra are called Action Buses. I
would say traveling by bus is by far the most convenient and
cheap. The bus routes in Canberra consist almost everywhere
u want to go to. Besides that The fair is reasonably priced at
a dollar fifty for a single trip but students could save more by
purchasing the fair saver card for eleven dollars which
consists of ten bus rides . The routes may be complicating
but fret not as there are action bus brochures and the route
maps at the bus stops, or alternatively you could ask the
people around, they are more than willing to lend a helping
hand. There is also a bus coordinator that gives directions on
bus destinations in the city.
ii)
Cabs
Cab service in Canberra is really efficient. You can make
your booking via call or website. It won’t be long before the
cab arrives to pick you up in your specified location. The
charges vary from weekdays to weekends, and depend on the
time of the day as well. Predictably, it’s an expensive form
of transportation. Thus a wise advice would be to turn to cab
service if and only if there are no other transportation
services available.
iii)
Cars / Rent a car
Having a car would be useful as it would enable you to
travel around Canberra and to places like Sydney and
Melbourne, but note that it comes with a cost. The price of
36
gas is far more expensive in Australia compared to Malaysia.
In addition, the maintenance costs of cars are high here.
However, second cars at Australia are very cheap. A reliable
second hand car could only cost you 6000 Aud. Renting a
car is also not advisable as there will be a lot of surcharges
such as insurance, GPS, one way fee, etc…
Car rental companies: Budget, Hertz, Thrifty, Avis
iv)
ANU Bus Services (Bryan’s Bus)
Bryan’s bus offers bus services for student from a specified
time of 6 am to 11.30pm. The services are very convenient
for students as all of the destinations include campus hostels,
libraries and outside accommodation (unilodge, fenner hall).
Bryan’s bus would be a reliable mode of transportation.
v)
ANU security
ANU security operates 24 hours a day. It can fit around 4
people each ride. Students could use the security at night,
preferably after 12am or so. Their services like Bryan’s bus
are only limited within the campus. Please note that ANU
security is prioritized for girls that require getting back to
their hostels late at night.
vi)
Bicycle
Bicycle is by far the cheapest mode of transport in Canberra.
Riding bicycles in Canberra is safe as there are special lanes
allocated for bicycles, and hence assuring the safety of the
cyclists. Make a point to get good locks for your bicycles, as
the theft rate for bicycles in Canberra is at an alarming rate.
37
Moreover, it is advisable to get a good second hand bike and
never buy bikes from supermarkets as it will not last long.
b) Traveling away from Canberra/vacation
i)
Buses
There are 2 major bus companies offering bus services to
places outside Canberra. They are Murrays and Greyhound.
Ticket prices vary according to destinations, but booking a
ticket early via the internet could enable you to get tickets
cheaper and certainly your money’s worth. So make a point
to look out for the offers online two months prior to your
holiday plans.
ii)
Flight
Similar to busses, flight tickets would be cheaper if they are
obtained earlier, so make a point to constantly log on the
respective airlines’ websites to keep in tab with the latest
offers. The cheapest airline to travel to places in Australia
would be Jetstar (Qantas subsidiary company). Jetstar offers
one of the best airfares to Malaysia, now that Air Asia has
entered the picture, students could board Air Asia flights
back. Air Asia’s current route is from KL to Gold Coast or
Melbourne. Another cheap flight would be “Tiger airways”.
Some important links:Canberra Cabs
: 13 22 27, 13 10 08
www.canberracabs.com.au
Murrays
: 13 22 51
www.murrays.com.au
38
Greyhound
: 13 14 99
www.greyhound.com.au/default.aspx
Jetstar
Tiger Airways
: www.jetstar.com
: www.tigerairways.com
Action buses
: www.action.act.gov.au
In short, transportation should not be a worrying issue for future students but if
you do have any questions or doubts feel free to ask the people around or your
fellow seniors. They are more than willing to offer a helping hand.
Fong Kah Ho, Alex
Bachelor of Finance
39
Eating Out
Hmm… what do I feel like
eating??
Whether you like it or not, it is almost impossible to not eat out. Yes, you might
have paid for your 3 meals in your catered hall, or you may be on a very tight
budget, but once in a while we do have the urge to splash the cash and reward
ourselves into some good food. For those who are staying in a self-catered hall,
it may be a hassle to cook every single day, especially when it’s close to the
exam periods. Times like these, eating out is the answer. However, in order to
survive Canberra and prevent yourself from starving, one should never convert
the price into Malaysian dollars. It is a well-known fact that food in Australia is
relatively more expensive as compared to Malaysia. So lets just not compare. 
As most of us have different cravings and expectations towards food, I shall
give you a brief guide on what and where to eat during your stay in Canberra.
Since most of us live on campus, I shall focus on eateries in Civic.
Malaysian / Singaporean/ cuisine: (the most important for the loyal taste
buds)
When you talk about fried kuay teow, curry, laksa, and the huge variety of
dishes with rice, there’s no where else other than Sammy’s Kitchen ($$),
Happy’s restaurant ($$), Oriental Kitchen ($), Asian Noodle House ($), LaPasa
($$), which are all conveniently located in Civic. However, if you are more
adventurous, do not hesitate to head to Dickson’s Rasa Sayang ($$) or Tak Kee
Roast Inn ($), and Abell’s Kopitiam in Manuka.
40
Japanese / Korean cuisine:
For a nice and quick meal the Sizzle Bento ($), which is conveniently located
on campus, or Izumi’s ($) just next to IGA would be your best bet. They serve
some fairly delicious Jap/Korean food at a more reasonable price. For authentic
Korean food, Seoul Palace ($$) and B-One ($$) is the only 2 Korean restaurants
in Civic. If you are willing to spend a little more for Japanese food, Iori’s ($$$)
and Shogun ($$$) will not disappoint. However, you are advised to make
bookings for Iori’s to avoid disappointment.
Italian cuisine:
Love pasta and pizza? La Scala ($$$) is a fine Italian restaurant that would
satisfy your cravings. Apart from that, Tosolinis ($$$) and Mama’s Trattorias
($$) is a well-recommended place for authentic Italian food too. For the more
adventurous, do head to Manuka and pay a visit to Beluccis ($$$), which serves
one of the best risotto. Yum..
Cafes (lala land style, hip chic and fabulous):
Love to be part of the set in Sex and the City, or maybe you love having coffee
and cakes on a lovely Friday afternoon after a long day of shopping, then you
will like Canberra and its variety of cafes. On campus, there’s Degree ($),
Panjekas ($), and the Coffee Shop ($) just outside Chifley Library. In civic,
Koko Black is a MUST TRY for all. Its chocolate is divine. Cafes such as Gus
Café ($$), Milk & Honey ($$), Café Essen ($$), My Café ($$), and Cream
($$$), not only have an array of good coffee blends, but delicious cakes and
mains too.
Fast food:
They may not be the best option for the weight watchers, but you must admit,
one can never hate fast food! And here in the land down under, we have
McDonalds, which do have a 24-hour drive thru, KFC, Dominos, Ali Baba,
Hungry Jacks aka Burger King, Subway, Oporto, and Chicken Gourmet.
41
Other recommendations:
For authentic Spanish food, do try Legends ($$$) in Manuka. Craving for Dim
Sum? Head to Prince ($$) in Belconnen. Pancakes for breakfast, lunch, and
dinner? Pancake Parlour ($$$) is the place to be. Thai? Lemongrass ($$$) is
highly recommended and bookings are essential. Want a cheaper alternative?
Three Mothers Thai ($$) and Zenyai ($$) would be it.
Ditch your Atkins, South Beach, and whatever diet you’re on. Plan to survive
on nothing but instant noodles? Think again. Life’s too short. So why starve
ourselves. For those who prefer eating in, why not organize a potluck? BBQ
party? Or maybe steamboat to warm yourselves during winter? Good food
makes people happy! So eat up!
Ho Huey Ling, Kimberley
Bachelor of Commerce
42
Shopping
IT’S TIME TO SHOP
*NECESSITIES
New in Canberra? Looking for necessities? Check out the guidance below,
hopefully it helps you look around Canberra.
Doonas, pillows and quilts
You have got a bed but not pillows and quilt? Drop by BIG W or TARGET in
CIVIC (it’s only 15minutes walk!). However if you do have the time, don’t
hesitate to grab a bus from platform 6 to BRAND DEPOT. Some of them sell
with much cheaper price. As for those staying on campus, some halls do sell
pillows and quilts.
Electric blanket, heater, fan
Electric blanket and especially heater are needed to survive through winter.
Weather in Canberra is really extreme. As for summer, fan plays an important
role. All these are available at BIG W or TARGET in the CIVIC. You might be
able to get second hand heaters and fans on ANU Classifieds. There is some
heaters that come along with air-conditioner as well.
Winter clothing
There are many varieties of winter clothing selling here with more or less the
same price. However, you might be able to get cheaper jacket or sweater here
during sales in the CIVIC. Every person has to have really good winter clothing
and maybe long johns as the weather in Canberra are extreme!
Cutlery, plates, cups, cooking utensils
You will need these especially those staying in self-catered hall or off campus.
HOT DOLLARS, TOP BARGAIN in CIVIC are always the ideal places to drop
by to get those stuff. For those who have time, it might be even cheaper to get
those at REJECT SHOP in WESTFIELD BELCONEN.
International adaptor
Most of the adaptors we have here are to convert Australian plug head to other
plug heads. It’s difficult and expensive to get adaptors that work the other way
43
round. Possibly, try to bring this from home. Or it could be obtained from DICK
SMITH, JB HI-FI and BIG-W.
Stationery
Stationery is EXPENSIVE here. It saves you tones if you bring all these from
home. Well, there is some stationery shop in CANBERRA CENTER which
sells some unique stationery as well.
*SHOPAHOLICS
Lots of people do not know about Canberra. Don’t think that it’s a lifeless city;
it could be a place for shopaholics as well.
Apparels and Accessories
CANBERRA CENTRE will be the main shopping mall in CIVIC. Usually it
open from 9am until 5pm but Friday (shopping day) is open until 9pm. Great
start for the weekend! Boutiques such as SUPRE, VALLEYGIRL and ICE are
the places where most of the girls drop by. They sell nice and affordable girls
clothes. Of course, boutiques like GUESS, HUGO BOSS and FOREVER NEW
are all here too.
BRAND DEPOT is another ideal shopping mall where all the people like to
head on to. There is variety of affordable things selling here. It gets really cheap
when it comes to sales. Get your way there by taking Airliner bus from platform
6 at city Interchange. It’s just somewhere nearby Canberra International Airport.
Working hours will be from 10am until 6pm but BEWARE as Airliner bus
stops operate after 4pm!
Newly open DFO (DIRECT FACTORY OUTLETS) CANBERRA located in
Fyshwick has become another choice in shopaholics’ shopping list. Ladies and
men’s fashion, children’s wear, footwear, accessories, home wares, lingerie and
lots more are available here. Most importantly, it’s affordable too. Just hop on a
bus from platform 4 at city interchange, get down at Newcastle Street. DFO is
just around the corner.
Else, pop up onto Action bus and get yourself to other shopping malls like
WESTFIELD BELCONNEN, WESTFIELD WODEN, TUGGERANONG
HYPEROME, KIPPAX CENTRE and GUNGHALIN MARKET PLACE
located in different suburbs. Every mall has different sales all the time.
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Electronic Items
There are some computers and electronics shops in CANBERRA CENTRE as
well. JB HIFI, APPLE and DICK SMITHS always are the choices of people
here. In fact, they do have branches at all the malls in Canberra. Not to worry
that you couldn’t find them anywhere.
It might come to an easier and cheaper way for you to browse through ANU
Classified for what you are hunting. Most of the items here are selling on
second hand price. Just check it out whenever you free. You might found
something you want or you are interested in.
http://billboard.anu.edu.au/classifieds.asp
Meanwhile, some of the places and malls in Canberra do have their own
website, just google them on the web. Malls’ working hours and Action bus’s
operating time are something important you need to know before you head on to
your destination.
*GROCERIES
Of course other than all the daily use, we need food to survive as well.
Groceries shopping are always essential for those who stay in self-catered halls
and off-campus. Knowing where to get affordable groceries always add another
cent in your account.
Cooking utensils
Well before you start any cooking, you will need cooking utensils first of
course. Things like frying pan, pot, kettle, cutlery, knives, plates, and etc are all
available BIG W in Canberra Centre, KMART at Westfield Belconnen,
WOOLWORTHS in Dickson and COLES in Gunghalin. KMART sells with
lower price compared to other shops. You might want to have a look there
before you get in any other shops.
Grocery Shopping
SUPABARN, SIMPLY FRESH and ALDI in Canberra Centre will be the most
convenient place to drop by every week. All the places mentioned sell more or
less the same thing just that they got different sales every week. You might be
able to get really cheap groceries if you do have the time to compare among the
shops. ALDI always sell cheaper goods as they do produce their own brand of
goods. However, they don’t provide shopping bags; make sure you bring your
bags if you don’t want to pay for the plastic bags selling here. For the
information of Muslims, SUPABARN sells halal meat as well as Mawson and
Yarraluma.
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In fact, there are other supermarkets like WOOLWORTHS and COLES, but it’s
not located anywhere near Civic. You can find them at Belconnen, Woden,
Dickson, Tuggeranong and Gungahlin. Compared to the shops in Civic, their
price might be lower. Not much difference in the goods sold. They have
different sales every week as well. I suggest you to buy groceries in the Civic
unless you really do have time, as you will have to compensate your bus fare
and time if you were to go there every week. It’s much easier in the Civic.
Thinking that foods selling in supermarkets aren’t fresh enough for you? Head
off to fresh food markets at FYSHWICK or BELCONNEN. These places sell
fresher fruits, vegetables and meat. It might be cheap sometimes. But you will
have to walk a bit from the bus stop to the markets; there is no direct bus there.
For those who stay in self-catered halls, there will be trip (free of charge)
getting you to the fresh food markets every week. Other than that, there are
some trips that will bring you to WOOLWORTHS in Dickson as well.
Asian groceries
DICKSON, ‘Chinatown’ of Canberra. Worry that you can’t get curry paste,
herbs, and spices? Dickson will be the best place of getting that stuff. There are
few Asian groceries shop located here, some shops sells with cheaper price. So,
do some survey before hand will be an advantage. Also, students find that they
could really get cheap instant noodles here by buying a box of it. Else, there is
another bigger Asian grocery at Gunghalin named THE HUB and ANGKOR
WAT in Belconnen. You might be able to get better and more stuff there. To be
convenient, Kim’s Groceries in Civic is another choice though it might be
pricier.
Yunn Yi, Wong
Bachelor of Actuarial Studies
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Sports and Recreation
In ANU, there is a wide variety of sports available for students to participate in.
The ANU Sports And Recreation Centre, located beside Union Court has a
counter for people to register according to their sport of choice.
Why there is even a gym, described as state-of-the-art in terms of its facilities in
Canberra, which could be beneficial to students. The gym membership is $200
per year and considering the number of times one goes to the gym per week,
this value is merely peanuts. There is also a power pass, which gives students
the access to various gym classes like “Body Pump”, “Body Combat”, “Abs,
Butt and Thighs”, “Salsa” and many more. The power pass is $100 per year so a
total of $300 for students to use these facilities. The gym also has a circuit class
conducted by the instructors and also an amazing “Cardio Theatre” which has
many equipments suited for cardiovascular activities.
Back to sports, the counter right in front of the gym can be used for enquiries as
to joining the club of choice. Football, tennis, futsal, swimming, mountain
climbing, basketball, badminton and table tennis are one of the many different
kinds of sports played at the ANU. The price is cheap too as students get a
discount for booking the field or the court. Those interested in indoor sports
have to pay $25 per hour while outdoor can sometimes be used for free!
The ANU has 3 fields with which outdoor sports can be played at; Willows
Oval, South Oval and Fellows Oval. There are also 5 grass courts and 7 hard
courts for tennis lovers to indulge in. The indoor activities are held at the Sports
Hall, located right beside the gym. There is surely some form of games held
there everyday and students wishing to play can just book at the front desk. As
of course, there are dressing rooms for obvious purposes and also lockers where
bags can be stashed. The classes for power pass students are conducted at the
upper level of the gym.
In a nutshell, ANU offers a wide variety of choices when it comes to sports and
games. Aspiring students should really ponder the choices and join a sport, for a
healthy and a fun-filled campus life!
Thines Kumar Nadaraja,
Bachelor of Engineering
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Banking, Mobile and Internet
While studying in a foreign country, you would most probably need two things
to survive by yourself – cash, so that you can pay your tuition fees and all
miscellaneous expenses, and a way to maintain connections with your relatives
and friends back at home. This article is designed to guide you through the
daunting steps of getting a bank account and mobile phone line of your own for
the entire duration of your course in Canberra. I’ll try to make this article as
objective as possible so as to provide a basic overview of things related to
banks, phones and internet.
Banking
Opening a bank account in Australia is easy, if you pass all the identification
verification checks. Before we get to the verification process, allow me to
introduce the “Big Four” banks in Australia:
1. Commonwealth Bank of Australia (CBA) – www.commbank.com.au
2. National Australia Bank (NAB) – www.nab.com.au
3. Australia and New Zealand Banking Group (ANZ) – www.anz.com.au
4. Westpac (and St. George) – www.westpac.com.au or
www.stgeorge.com.au
Of the four banks, you would have most probably heard of the first three as they
have bigger market capitalization. However, you should note that Westpac has
recently merged with St George, and together, these two banks form Australia’s
biggest bank.
Branches
Acquisitions aside, only the CBA and NAB have branches located within the
ANU campus. However, if you are daring enough, you could venture out to
branches of other banks located just within Civic, the city centre of Canberra.
All the “Big Four” banks do have branches within 5-10 minutes’ walk from the
ANU.
As all banks in Australia do have their own online banking system, you only
need to be physically present in the branch to complete identity verification
checks and deposit transactions. Therefore, you should not make your banking
decision based solely on convenience. Make sure you peruse the product
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disclosure statements on the banks’ respective websites before committing
yourself.
ATMs
If convenience is your primary concern, CBA is the way to go as they have
more ATMs across Australia. However, all three CBA, NAB and ANZ banks
do have ATMs located on-campus, so withdrawing money while in the ANU
should not be a problem.
Note though, that while you can withdraw money from another bank’s ATM,
there will be a surcharge for doing so. To avoid incurring unnecessary fees, just
stick to your bank’s ATM.
Opening Accounts
If you want to open bank accounts in one of the “Big Four”, you can do so even
before you board your plane to Australia. To do so, just visit the website of the
bank that you are interested in. You should be able to locate the accounts
section under personal banking. What you should be interested in are sections
on international students. There should be online application forms available for
you to fill in.
It is not necessary to open an account online before you enter Australia. You
might want to do this only if you want to avoid the long queues at the start of
the semester when everyone rushes to open their own accounts.
However, although you can deposit money into accounts opened online, you
cannot withdraw money until your account is verified. To verify your account,
most banks use a 100-point system. Your passport and offer letter from ANU
(or student card, if you have one) would suffice to pass this verification.
Make sure you do have your Australian residential address (where you will be
staying in Canberra) ready when you verify yourself, as your ATM keycard will
not be issued immediately upon verification, but sent to your mail. So, after you
verify yourself, make sure you keep checking your postal box after a few days!
Interest
Student accounts in Australia usually come attached with an online savings
account that is paid higher-than-normal interest rates (usually about the official
cash rate determined by the Reserve Bank). One drawback of these types of
account, however, is that your cash can only be accessed online, and personnel
in branches cannot do this for you.
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You should also be aware that interests paid by banks are a form of taxable
income. To avoid being taxed, you should provide a Tax File Number (TFN)
when you do your identity verification. Otherwise, the bank is legally required
to withhold tax at the highest marginal tax rate (currently 45%) from your
interest.
Technical details aside, this means that you need to provide a TFN (see the
article on working in Australia on how to apply for one) if you want to receive
all the interest accrued to your online savings account.
Interim Summary
In a nutshell, to open an account, you will need your passport and offer letter
from ANU. Be sure to ask for a student account (to avoid all account
maintenance fees), and bring alone your TFN advice if you have applied for it.
CBA and NAB do have branches on-campus, and along with ANZ, they have
ATMs located on-campus.
Mobile Phone
There are a number of mobile phone providers in Australia. Common ones
include, but not limited to:
1. Virgin Mobile
2. Vodafone AU
3. 3 Mobile
4. Optus
5. Telstra
There are shops within the ANU campus from which you can obtain prepay
mobile services. The Union Bookstore (not to be confused with the ANU Co-op
Bookstore) has an Australia Post branch from where you can obtain prepay
starter packs for most operators.
Be sure to register your prepay line immediately as well as your line will not be
activated otherwise (you can register online as well, if you missed the
opportunity to do so when u buy the starter pack). Do note that you need an
Australian residential address to register your prepay line.
Furthermore, there’s also a 3 Mobile shop near the Union Bookstore. You can
do pretty much everything that you want, including buying a new phone while
subscribing to the 3 network, from this shop.
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If you cannot wait to obtain a mobile line, then I suggest that you get your
starter pack from one of these two places on campus, both which are located in
the Union Court.
For more options, however, I suggest that you visit Canberra Centre located in
the heart of Civic (refer to the article on shopping for more information).
Whichever provider you choose, make sure that you select one that fits your
budget or provide you with the most value.
Don’t forget to check which network your friends are on as most providers
provide cheaper air time with people on the same network.
Should you feel dissatisfied with your service provider, don’t forget that you
can swap providers at any time (while keeping your existing mobile phone
number), so there’s a greater array and freedom of providers to choose from!
Internet
This section is primarily for students who access the internet more than the
average user. Halls on campus do provide their own internet service, but as with
all Australian internet service providers, all usage is capped. This means that the
amount of data you download in a month is limited to an amount decided by
whichever provider you are connected to.
Wireless internet (based on the HSDPA wireless network) is available
throughout Canberra. Therefore, if you so choose, you can subscribe to wireless
data packages that are usually bundled with a USB dongle for you to access the
internet anywhere within Canberra.
Most students living on-campus subscribe to these packages as the usage cap
provided by the on-campus internet provider is rather inadequate (and expensive
in terms of price per Megabyte downloaded).
Most mobile providers also provide wireless internet service. However, 3
Mobile and Optus have less restrictions for the application process compared to
other providers.
I will leave the exercise on deciding your internet service provider that suits
your budget as an exercise for you as it is beyond the scope of this article.
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Summary
I hope this article covers the basic information you need to help you decide
which bank, mobile and internet service provider you choose. The information
here is not extensive, but again, this article is designed to give you exposure to
how banking and communication systems work here in Canberra.
Feel free to contact me or MSO if you do have any queries regarding any
information that I have provided. On a parting note, I do wish you the best in
your future endeavors as an undergraduate or graduate student studying in
ANU. The best is yet to be!
Siau Kai-Wei, Shaun
Bachelor of Finance
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MSO Committee 2009
President
: Weijun, LIM
Bachelor of Commerce
u4512416@anu.edu.au
Vice President
: Amanda CHOONG Shi Rong
Bachelor of Economics
amanda87@live.com.my
Secretary
: Shaun SIAU Kai-Wei
Bachelor of Finance
gandalfmuaddib@yahoo.com
Treasurer
: Kimberley HO Huey Ling
Bachelor of Commerce
kim_88623@hotmail.com
Committee Members:
Akmal Syazwan IDRIS
Aron LIEW Chiah Lone
Jess WONG Yunn Yi
See Mun, MAK
Alex FONG Kah Ho
Muhammad Zahin ZAIDI
Amirul Azrai AHMAD ISHAK
Thines Kumar NADARAJA
malsyaz@gmail.com
aronliew@hotmail.com
jesswong_she2020@hotmail.com
seemun89@hotmail.com
alex_handsome_fkh@hotmail.com
armed_trident@yahoo.com
ryan_rampage07@yahoo.com
thinesk89@hotmail.com
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Credits
MSO would like to thank:1. The International Education Office (IEO) for funding the printing
of this booklet.
2. The year 2007 MSO committee for sharing previous year booklets
as text reference.
3. All the writers of the articles
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