Your first 48 hours in Adelaide
The first 48 hours after your arrival in Adelaide as a university student are likely to be both exciting and challenging. Each day will hold new experiences for you and you may have some questions about your new life. Answers to questions frequently asked by commencing students in their first few days inAdelaide are outlined below to help you get the information you need as quickly as possible.
- Where can I find information about Adelaide?
- How can I get help with accommodation?
- Should I change my banking arrangements?
- How do I get a mobile phone?
- Where do I go to shop for food or eat out?
- How do I get around in Adelaide?
- How and when do I arrange a South Australian driver’s license?
- How can I look after my health?
- What should I do if there is an emergency?
Where can I find information about Adelaide?
There is a Visitor Information Booth at the western end of Rundle Mall where you will be able to get interesting information about life in Adelaide and places to visit, shop and eat at. Maps of Adelaide are available. Also The SA Government Website can connect you to information about all the major resources and services in Adelaide. The Women’s Information Service is a comprehensive source of information for women living in Adelaide.
How can I get help with accommodation?
Many students stay with friends or in temporary accommodation to start with to give them time to decide on cost, location and house-mates. This also provides time to investigate accommodation options such as student residences, shared houses, apartments or units. Check the Finding accommodation inAdelaide web page and the University of South Australia's Accommodation Services website
Should I change my banking arrangements?
Some students from interstate or regional areas may find it more difficult to access their bank inAdelaide. You may want to find a branch of your bank that is close to either your home or place of study. If your bank account is with an institution that does not have a branch in Adelaide or one that is conveniently located you might consider opening an account with the bank that operates an ATM on your campus:
- Mawson Lakes Campus: Bank of South Australia (Bank SA)
- City East Campus: National Australian Bank (NAB)
- City West Campus: Bendigo Bank and the Campus Post Office is the agent for Commonwealth and National Australia Bank (NAB)
- Magill Campus: Bendigo Bank; Bank of South Australia (Bank SA) on Magill Road
You can open a Student Account which has no bank fees by showing your student ID card and other identifying documentation such as a passport and drivers licence.
How do I get a mobile phone?
There are many different phone plans available. Shop around, and read the purchase agreement carefully. It will outline the contractual agreement you are entering into with the phone company.
There are two types of contract which relate to the purchase and use of mobile phones. You can enter an agreement where you pay very little up front and get to use a handset cheaply, but are committed to monthly fees on top of call charges. This commitment is usually for two years. You may be assessed as to your credit suitability, and may need to provide bank and credit card details. You can also purchase a phone outright, and pay for your calls monthly or buy pre-paid cards. This is generally more expensive up-front, but does not commit you to a monthly repayment plan that can be expensive in the long term.
Where do I go to shop for food or eat out?
Most of the supermarkets in the city and suburbs are open from 7.00 am to 9.00 pm Mon - Fri. Sat 7.00 am to 5.00 pm. Sunday trading is between 11.00 am and 5.00 pm.
The Central Market is open for trading on Tues 7.00am - 5.30pm, Wed 9.00am - 5.30pm, Thurs 9.00am - 5.30pm, Fri 7.00am - 9.00pm and on Saturday 7.00am - 3.00pm. The Market is closed on Sundays, Mondays and public holidays.
Adelaide also has a wide range of eating places that cater for differences in taste. There are food courts in shopping complexes, popular restaurants in Rundle Street, Gouger Street and Melbourne Street and fast food chains all over Adelaide.
How do I get around in Adelaide?
Visit the Adelaide Metro Info Centre on the corner of King William Street and Currie Street, open Monday to Friday, from 8.00am - 6.00pm, Saturday, from 9.00am - 5.00pm and Sunday, from 11.00am – 4.00pm, to pick up timetables and guides of bus routes to your campus and accommodation. Adelaidehas a transferable ticket system between train, bus and tram.
Adelaide has an extensive public transport system with integrated bus, tram and train routes - the one ticket works on all services.
You can purchase a range of tickets at the Adelaide Metro Info Centre, the Adelaide Railway Station and any newsagent including multi-trip tickets which will allow you to travel 10 times on one ticket for a much reduced rate. There are multi-trip tickets for peak and off-peak times at different prices. You will only be able to use student concession tickets after you have enrolled as a full-time student and have collected a student card from Campus Central.
More information about ticketing can be found at the Adelaide Metro Info Centre website.
If you want to take a look at Adelaide it won’t cost you much to get around by bus, train and tram, so buy a value priced daytrip ticket for about $4.40 and travel all over Adelaide for the whole day.
The City Loop (99C) bus is free and transports you around the city, stopping close to both City West and City East campuses. City Loop links with the Tram at Victoria Square and North Terrace and takes passengers on a loop around the inner city of Adelaide. The 'Terrace to Terrace' Tramline is also free at all times and allows you to travel between South Terrace and North Terrace (City West campus).
How and when do I arrange a driver’s license?
If you already hold a valid driving license from another Australian state you can drive in South Australiafor three months. You will then need to change your interstate license over to a South Australian driver’s license. Drivers' licenses and car registration can be obtained from: Transport SA., EDS House, 108 North Terrace, Adelaide, SA 5000.
As a Student Visa holder, you can drive in Australia whilst holding an overseas license but you must carry with you the overseas license at all times accompanied by an official translation of your license. Further information on driving in Australia whilst holding an overseas license is available from theService SA website.
For more information about driving, you can access the Getting around Adelaide web resource.
How can I look after my health?
Staying healthy is an important part of being able to study successfully and you may not have the same supports around that you have had previously and so staying healthy may be more of a challenge. Eat well, keep fit and get sufficient sleep. It will also be important to find a Medical Practitioner and Chemist close to where you live. Find out about fees and health cover from them.
What should I do if there is an emergency?
In the event of an emergency dial 000 for fire, police and ambulance any time, day or night. On mobiles which are out of range, or locked, key in 112. A full list of 24 Hour Services and Adelaide public hospitals and their locations can be found on pages 3 and 4 of the Adelaide White Pages (print version). For an emergency on campus contact Campus Security on 88888.
沒有留言:
張貼留言