Frequently Asked Questions

Will someone meet me at the airport when I arrive?
Yes, we will organise for someone to meet you at the airport when you arrive and then take you to your place of accommodation.

Once I arrive, what do I do?
At the time stipulated in your ANU Welcome Letter, come to the International Education Office (located on the lower floor of the Pauline Griffin Building Building - Building No. 11) or the Asia Pacific School of Economics and Government (Building No.13) and ask to see the AusAID Liaison Officer. At this initial meeting, you will receive important information about the ANU and Canberra, as well as formalising your Overseas Student Health Cover arrangements, depositing your establishment cheque into a bank account that will be opened for you, and receiving information about your Introductory Academic Program.

When do I receive stipend payments into my account?
Stipend payments are paid every fortnight.

If my address or banking details change, who do I notify?
It is extremely important that you notify the AusAID Liaison Officer of a change in address or banking details immediately. You must also notify Student Administration in writing of any change of address or enrolled students can change their address on the web at the following address http://isis.anu.edu.au.

When am I covered with Overseas Student Health Cover and when do I receive my card?
You are covered by Overseas Student Health Cover from the day that you arrive in Australia but you will not be issued a card until approximately 3 weeks after you start.

Can I see the doctor without my Overseas Student Health Cover card?
Yes you can, but you will have to pay for the service received. You will then be able to take the receipt the Worldcare Assist representative at the International Education Office and make a claim for reimbursement.

My Overseas Student Health Cover card is due to expire in the near future, and I have not received my new card yet? My family has arrived and their names are not updated, what do I do?
If your card is due to expire or your family has receintly arrived in Australia please contact the AusAID Liaison Officer. You are also required to bring your families passports and visas into the International Education Office and complete a Family Upgrade form. When your new card is ready to collect form the International Education Office you will be sent an email from the Worldcare Assist representative.

What is the procedure if I want to apply for work?
It is not recommended by AusAID that ADS students work whilst studying. However, If you think some part-time work will not impact on your studies, or your dependant wants to work, you will need to complete an Application for a Student Visa with Permission to Work, available at the Reception desk of the International Education Office. This form will then need to be taken to the Department of Immigration, Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs (DIMIA) for processing.

What are the procedures if I want my family to come to Australia?
Firstly, a Family Entry Application Form needs to be filled out and given to the AusAID Liaison Officer. They will then forward the application to AusAID. Once this application has been processed, your family will be contacted directly by the post in country.

Am I entitled to a childcare rebate?
Yes. You will need to obtain a reference letter from the AusAID Liaison Officer, which you will then need to take to Centrelink. This states that you are an AusAID Sponsored student, the course you are studying, and the amount of income you receive. This will be used to calculate the amount of rebate that you are entitled to receive on childcare costs. You will also need to obtain Tax File Numbers from the Australian Taxation Office for both yourself and your spouse (even if your spouse is not working) for Centrelink to check your total family income.

What is the procedure if my children have arrived in Australia and need to be enrolled in school?
As an ADS student, you will be exempt from paying school fees. For children going to school in the ACT, you will first need to contact the school directly. Then you will have to advise your AusAID Liaison Officer of the names, dates of birth and gender of the children requiring schooling, as well as the name of the preferred school. For children going to school in NSW you will need to collect a form from the school then ask your AusAID Liaison Officer to sign and stamp it. 

If I need to organise fieldwork, what do I do?
AusAID entitles research students (and research/coursework students where the research component is at least 50% of the course) to one return airfare to the home country for fieldwork. The stipend allowance will continue while overseas on fieldwork. You will need to complete the Application for Overseas Fieldwork which is available from your AusAID Liaison Officer.

What are Progress Reports?
At the conclusion of each semester, all ADS students are required to fill out Academic Progress Reports. In addition, Research students are required to have their supervisor complete a Supervisor Report. These forms are used by the AusAID Liaison Officer and AusAID to assess the current academic progress of AusAID students, while also providing an opportunity for ADS students to comment on their program progression.

How do I organise a Visa extension?
Visa extensions are the only available if there has been an extension to your original AusAID award. You will need to contact the AusAID Liaison Officer. For the extension of your visa, you are required to undergo a series of medical checks which may include a visit to an Australian Health Services Doctor, chest x-ray and possible blood tests. The Department of Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs will give you forms and extra information, as you are required to make these bookings. You will need a Visa Extension Medical letter verifying that you are an ADS student and not required to pay the costs of the x-ray or medicals.

How do I organise my travel home at the end of my award?
You will be sent a Travel Home Letter approximately 6 weeks before your award end date. This outlines the procedures for organising your travel home with the allocated travel agent for ADS students studying at the Australian National University.

Does AusAID pay for extra luggage on my return trip?
No. Any excess luggage charges must be paid for by the student.