New Students

• Accepting your offer
• Enrol
• Information for international students
  • Before you leave
  • When you arrive
  • Settling in
  • Visas
• Ready4Uni
• Orientation Week
• Connect Mentor Program
• Vice-Chancellor's welcome
• Contacts

When you first arrive in Australia you may be feeling excited and a little anxious. This anticipation may also be tinged with sadness at leaving friends and family behind. It is challenging to live in a different country, in a different cultural environment. Due to the lack of familiar sounds, sights, tastes, noise, relationships, food and so on, it may take some time to feel settled and comfortable with living and studying in Australia .

If you have travelled before it may be easier to adjust to these changes. However if this is your first time living in a new country it may take some time for you to settle in. You may feel tired, excited, frustrated, unhappy, sad and confused (perhaps in quick succession) in the first weeks after arriving in Australia .

To help adjust to Australian life try following some of these suggestions. With time you should begin to feel more comfortable:

• Find someone to talk to about how you are feeling. You may want to discuss your concerns with friends and family, particularly those who have also travelled abroad.
• If you don't know anyone here that you feel comfortable talking about these things with, visit the staff at the International Office or the Counselling Service. These people are trained and experienced in assisting international students just like you.
• Bring some of your favourite things with you, and learn to cook some of your favourite dishes.
• Bring photos of family and friends and of home, as well as any items that you can use to make your new surroundings feel like home.
• Read about Australian culture. That way you will know something about what to expect when you arrive. It is especially helpful to talk to people of your own nationality, who have studied in Australia , about their experiences.
• Participate in the UniMates Program. In Australia ‘mate’ is a term for ‘friend’. In this program you will meet current students from La Trobe University in Bendigo who can help you learn more about campus life and getting settled into Bendigo. For information on the program contact the La Trobe International Bendigo.