Support Services
Students with Families
A practical information pack for students with families is available on request at LTI.
If you would like your family members to accompany you to Australia it is important to plan
carefully. Whilst your family can provide emotional and moral support, you will need the financial
resources as well as the time to look after them, especially during the first months as they
adjust to a different culture and lifestyle. It is often best to settle in to academic life before
your family joins you.
Female students can encounter difficulties when they and their spouses experience role reversal.
This can occur when the male spouse is dependant on the female student for information and has
the responsibility of housekeeping and looking after the children. Also, it is not uncommon for
research students to find it difficult to focus on study when their children are on school holidays
and their spouse is working.
Prepare your spouse and children for a different lifestyle. Encourage them to read about life
in Australia , especially materials that highlight differences, and send newspaper or magazine
clippings and pictures of your accommodation. Your family could speak with friends or relatives
who have been to Australia to learn about the differences and how to adjust to them. Remember
that the family will have to return to your home country. Some children experience difficulties,
as they become used to communicating in English and not their native language. This can make
it hard for them to settle back into school when you return, especially if the culture in Australia
is very different to your home country.
You may find it useful to consult our page about Visa
Issues and Schooling for students with families, and find out about Child Care on campus:
Accommodation
When searching for appropriate accommodation, keep in mind that it must be suitable for a family,
including being accessible to services such as schools. |
Content Approved by: Director, La Trobe International