Internet, phone and post

Internet access is available at all La Trobe University campuses. For new students, you will find that you will not be able to use most computers on campus until you have your log in and password details provided in your Statement of Account, which will be sent to you after you have undergone the enrolment process.

• At the Melbourne and Bendigo campuses, new students can use computers in the Borchardt and Heyward library accordingly before they have enrolled.
• At Albury-Wodonga campus, new students are able to make arrangements with International Student Support Services for a temporary computer password before enrolment.
• At Mildura campus, there are computer labs located in the Brian Grogan building. Internet access is available at most temporary accommodation and at the Mildura Library at 180 Deakin Avenue.
• At Shepparton campus, students can access computers at the Student Hub and library.

In addition there are internet cafes located within the community. These cafes provide internet services on a pay as you go basis and are very convenient for accessing email. For information on internet cafe locations, please visit the White Pages and type internet cafe into the business name search.

If you wish to connect internet at your accommodation, check with your accommodation provider first as most on-campus accommodation and some off-campus accommodation would already have arrangements in place to enable internet access for students.

International calls can be made direct from all phones in Australia, including payphones. Simply dial the following:

• the international access code (0011)
• your country code (if you are unsure of the country code, dial 132 200 for information)
• the area code for your city (remember not to dial the first zero)
• your family's phone number (for example).

International calls are timed and charged according to the destination, time of day and day of the week.

Please note that it can be very easy to make several hundred dollars worth of international calls within a short period of time. You may wish to consider buying  pre-paid international calling cards which usually offer cheaper rates and are available from most newsagencies and post offices.

We suggest you talk to students who have been in Australia for some time for tips on the best phone company and network to use. Some phone companies will not supply services to people who are temporary residents in Australia, but you can always use a pre-paid phone system. Pre-paid mobile phones also ensure that you will never be faced with an unexpectedly high mobile phone bill. Pre-paid mobile phones may be purchased at a number of retail outlets, including Australia Post.

In Australia, Telstra, Optus, Vodafone and Virgin Mobile are the major mobile carriers. To get the right deals, you may need to do some research by comparing mobile phones and mobile phone plans from these carriers.

Post offices are generally open 9am-5pm Monday to Friday. Mail is delivered once a day on weekdays only. Mail within Australia has a flat rate of postage (60 cents) for a standard letter. Non-standard letters and parcels are charged by weight and size.

International mail charges are calculated by weight, size, destination and mode of transport. You can also pay your bills, buy stationery, sending money within Australia and overseas at the post office. More information is available from the Australia Post website.