International

Living and Working in Perth​

As a student you are able to work part time for up to 20 hours per week and up to 40 hours per week during the semester breaks.

Perth has the lowest unemployment rate in Australia so it won’t be hard to find a job.
 
JobCentral is our job placement service for students where we are can match your skills with employer needs and guide you through the employment application process. Ask your student advisor for more information.
 

 

 Your money

 

Looking after your money

You should open a bank account on your arrival in Perth. Australian banks provide specialised services to all international students. The Perth Education City website provides links to the international student pages of Australia’s major banks.
Perth Education City
 

Tax and superannuation

Before you start work, you’ll need to apply for an Australian tax file number (TFN). It’s free and you can apply online. You should then give your TFN to your employer. At the end of the financial year (30 June) your employer will give you a group certificate showing how much tax you have paid, so that you can lodge an Australian tax return.
 
Your employer will also pay superannuation or ‘super’ on your behalf. This is basically a retirement savings fund paid by employers for all workers in Australia. Your super will be paid to you once you have left Australia. This is called a departing Australia superannuation payment (DASP).
 
 

 Your health

 

Health care

As an International Student, it is a condition of your student visa that you have Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) for the entire duration of your stay in Australia.
This covers:
  • Out of hospital medical treatment (for example visits to the doctor)
  • In hospital medical treatment
  • Prescription Medicines
  • Emergency ambulance assistance

Need a doctor?

If you are not in a medical emergency situation, the first point of contact is a general practitioner (GP) or local health/medical centre. Medical centres are located throughout Perth and are staffed by fully-certified doctors. You will need to phone first to book an appointment. Bring your medical records and prescriptions with a letter from your doctor if you need to take medication. You should also bring English translations of these documents
 Find a doctor in your suburb

Accident or emergency services

If you’ve been injured or you feel seriously ill, you should go to the emergency department at your nearest hospital or call an ambulance by dialling 000 on your phone.
Find your nearest hospital

 

Dental treatment

If you have a toothache or need a dental check-up, you can see a dentist at any private dental clinic in Perth. Please note that OSHC may not cover dental treatment. As dental services in Australia are expensive, you should consider having a dental check and any necessary treatment before you leave home.
 
 

 Out and about

 

 When you’re out and about

Trains and bus stations often have security guards on patrol. Police regularly patrol the city centre and other busy areas. Make sure you keep your valuables like your wallet and mobile phone well hidden and if you feel unsafe or need help, you can always approach a police officer for assistance.

 

At the beach

With such beautiful warm weather and pristine beaches, there’s no doubt that you’ll visit the beach during your stay. Popular beaches are patrolled by Surf Lifesavers during the summer months. When you see red and yellow flags on a beach it indicates that there is currently a lifesaving service operating on the beach. The lifeguards have chosen a section of the beach that is best for swimming and they will closely supervise this area.

Even when beaches are patrolled you should still be very aware of safety signs that will alert you to things like rough surf and strong currents.
 

Road Safety

If you are a visitor to Western Australia you can drive on your overseas licence, for as long as it remains valid in the country of issue. If your overseas licence expires you must apply for a WA licence if you wish to continue driving.

You must carry your overseas driver’s licence and show it to a police officer if you’re asked to do so. If your overseas licence is not written in English, consider carrying your International Driving Permit or an approved English translation of your licence with you when you drive.

There are laws governing driving that are designed to keep you, and other road users safe. Driving within the speed limit, having your seatbelt on at all times and not mixing drugs or alcohol with driving, are just a few of the basic road rule.
 

 Transport

 

Getting around

 

Free transport

Central’s campuses are located in Perth’s inner city which makes getting around easy.  Perth has a free bus service that operates around the central business district. These buses are called CATS (central area transport service) and run every 5-10 minutes to take you from the campus into the heart of the city for free.

 

Bus services

Perth has a bus service that travels throughout all the major suburbs and train stations between 6am and 11.30pm. The buses originate from Perth’s two bus terminals in the city. The Wellington street bus station (link to google maps) is 200m from Perth’s central train station and services the northern suburbs. The City Busport (link to google maps) is at the bottom of Mill St on Mounts Bay road next to the Esplanade and services the southern suburbs.
 

Train services

Perth’s train system operates regular services between 5.30am and 11.30pm daily. The central Perth train station is located on Wellington St (google map) and is accessible via a walkway from Central’s Northbriddge campus via the Perth Art Gallery.
 

Purchase a ticket

Perth is broken down into travel zones and ticket prices are based on the distance you travel. Tickets are generally valid for 2 hours and after that you have to buy a new ticket.  Tickets can be purchased on the platforms at the bus or train stations or from the bus drivers as you board the bus. You may prefer to buy a SmartRider ticket in which you add money to the card and simply swipe it when you travel on the bus or train. SmartRiders can be bought at bus or train stations or through a newsagency.
 
And as an international student, you will receive a 40 per cent discount on all public transport throughout Western Australia!
Both the bus and train services have reduced services on the weekends and on public holidays. Perth’s transport system is operated by Transperth. 
 

Cycling

Perth’s excellent network of on-road and off-road cycle paths, our ideal climate and flat terrain makes cycling an excellent way to get around.
 

Taxis

Taxis operate throughout Perth. You can book a taxi by phone, hail them on the street or wait at taxi ranks located at transport terminals, main hotels and shopping centres.
 
 

 
 

 Safety

 

Security


Security at home

 To keep you and your valuable safe at home, make sure you keep your doors and windows locked, particularly at night and when the house is empty. Make sure you have good exterior lighting and leave an outside light and a couple of indoor lights on when you go out at night. Make sure all the residents of the house have a set of keys and never leave a key under the mat, in the mailbox or in other hiding places.

 

 

Security on campus

 All of Central’s campuses have security guards onsite. Feel free to approach them if you feel unsafe at any time or are concerned about anyone around the campus. Be alert when leaving the campus and remember if you are walking at night to walk, try to walk in a group and on brightly lit, well-used streets as much as possible. Listening to an MP3 player can distract you from your environment so try to keep it to a low level or only use one earpiece.

 

In an emergency

Dial 000 for any emergency situation if you need the police, fire brigade or an ambulance. Calls to 000 are free and can be made from mobile, home and work telephones, and payphones. But remember, this number should only be called in an emergency situation.
 
For police assistance or attendance when it is not an emergency call 131 444 or go to the website.