Carrick Institute of Education

Student Services

Carrick Institute of Education provides a range of services to support students during their studies. The institute’s Admissions and Student Services departments provide personal and friendly assistance to students in many areas.

• » Student Services
• » Living Costs
• » Student Accommodation / Homestay and Guardianship Arrangements
• » Student Representative Council

Student Services

Student Support including Welfare and Guidance Services

Carrick Institute of Education provides a range of services to support our local and international students during their time at the institute.

Some of the services available to our students include:

• Student welfare officers
• Orientation
• Counselling and welfare services
• Airport, train and bus pickup
• Cultural adjustment services
• Student accommodation
• Homestay and guardianship arrangements
• Language, literacy and numeracy support
• Graduation ceremonies
• Carrick Student Association
• Organised sporting and cultural activities
• Common areas for student to socialise
• Private study areas
• Movie nights

Living Costs

International and regional students should keep in mind the following costs when they consider studying abroad. When calculating the cost of living away from home, students must also budget for food, health care, transport, books, clothing and entertainment. Please note that all costs listed should only be used as a guide and will vary depending on location, lifestyle and inflation.

Prices include goods and services tax.

*Australian Government Requirement - cost varies depending on duration of cover. Costs are based on figures at time of printing and are subject to change without notice.

Students are recommended to allow a minimum of A$15,000* per year to cover their cost of living. It is advised that students arrive with an additional A$2,000 to cover settling in costs such as rental bond and to purchase basic furniture items.

Students will be required to purchase books and equipment which are relevant to their course. These costs are not included in course fees.

Public Transport
Melbourne and Sydney offer reliable public transport servicing the city and suburbs.

Sydney’s public transport system consists of buses, trains and ferries. Weekly rail passes or weekly travel passes cost from $14 to $55 per week.

Melbourne campuses are easily accessible by trains, trams and buses from all suburbs. A weekly Metcard costs $28 (Zone 1) and $47.40 (Zone 1+2) per week.

Student Accommodation

The Student Services department advises students of their accommodation options and assists them in finding the most suitable accommodation. There is a noticeboard at the institute with available student accommodation such as share accommodation. Students can also enquire with this department about the legal guidelines and regulations governing accommodation tenancy in Victoria and New South Wales.

Student guardianship arrangements - international students only

Any student under 18 years of age applying to study at Carrick Institute of Education must complete the Carrick Institute of Education Guardianship Agreement and Guardianship Advice Notification (LINK) prior to commencement. Both forms need to be completed and signed by the parents and forwarded with the student’s application. International students requesting Carrick Institute of Education to appoint a guardian must also undertake homestay accomodation for the same period.

• » SMF 9 Melbourne Homestay & Pickup Application Form
• » SMF 8 Sydney Homestay Pickup Application Form
• » SMF 4 Guardianship Agreement
• » SMF 5 Guardian Advice Notification

Homestay Arrangements
Carrick Institute of Education can arrange homestay for international students.

Homestay is a popular accommodation option for international students. Students may stay in the homes of families, couples, single people or single mothers with children. Each home has been selected to provide good quality facilities and cultural education as well as meals, if specified. Host families speak English and this helps improve each student’s language skills. The host families help students with day-to-day problems such as transport, banking and shopping. Homestay provides students with a friendly environment to live, relax and study in comfort and security, which can be especially important when first arriving in a new country.

• » SMP 21 Student Homestay Arrangement

Please note:

Minimum homestay period is two weeks, which must be prepaid at time of enrolment and is non-refundable. Homestay placements issued more than 10 working days prior to arrival may be subject to change in location and price. Placing a single student in a twin share room is not an option. Twin share is only for friends/partners travelling together. Australia proudly promotes a multicultural society. Carrick Institute of Education cannot guarantee that all homestay families are of Australian heritage.

Studio Apartments

Accommodation can be arranged at Student Studio Apartments which promote clean, safe, secure and independent living with on-site management staff 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Student Studio Apartments are fully furnished, air conditioned and are equipped with a DVD player, television, fridge, microwave oven, shower and toilet and a telephone with voicemail.

Common kitchens and laundries are provided on every floor.

Recreational facilities available at some Student Studio Apartment complexes can include gym facilities, swimming pool and sauna, in-house restaurant, business centre, recreational room with TV and pool table.

Hostels

Hostel accommodation is a popular option for interstate and international students, especially in the first months of their arrival. A small, furnished room is provided with access to a shared bathroom, laundry, lounge and recreational activities. Some hostels also provide computer access. The different categories offered are usually either room only (no meals), full board or part board. Gas and electricity is usually covered in the overall cost. It is recommended that students considering hostel accommodation options look at two or three properties prior to making a decision. Many hostels are privately run and as such come under the Rooming House Act. Please note, if the student signs a lease, they are covered by the Residential Tenancies Act.

Apartment rental

Apartment/flat rental varies greatly in cost and conditions. Suburban areas have a range of properties which differ in quality and prices. The inner city areas are expensive and the CBD offers hostel and hotel accommodation which is better suited just for short term stays.

For long term arrangements, it is strongly advised that the student is familiar with the suburb or area. For purposes of bond payment and moving arrangements the student must be available to sign agreements. For this reason international and interstate students are advised to secure short term accommodation upon arrival so that flat and apartment hunting may be started after they have settled in and begun to seek out areas they would like to live in.

Under 18 Years of Age

Under 18 students who require Carrick Institute of Education to accept responsibility for their accommodation, support & general welfare arrangements for the duration of their visa or until they turn 18 years of age are expected to be supervised by a Carrick approved guardian.

• » SMP 7 Guardianship Arrangement for students under 18 years of age

Student Representative Council

The Student Representative Council (SRC) is the voice of the students and all students are encouraged to be a part of it. SRC members get involved in a range of activities from organising functions throughout the year to providing valuable insight to staff and management about the needs of the student body. The SRC is a great learning experience for all students who are keen to get involved.

If you are interested in becoming more involved at Carrick Institute of Education, why not join the SRC?