SURVIVINGCANBERRA

2009

The Malaysian Students’ Organisation (2009)CONTENTSWelcome Note Weijun, LIM

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AccommodationBurton and Garran Hall See Mun, MAKBurgmann College Kar How, CHINBruce Hall Han Hui, THYEUrsula Hall Jared WONGFenner Hall Zhi Yuan, CHUAJohn XXIII Andrew LOWUniLodge Amanda CHOONGOff-campus Shin Yau, YEAM

Prior to the big leapThings to (and not to) bring Akmal IDRIS

Now that you’re in Canberra…Safety Azrai A.ISHAKRecreation outside university Azrai A.ISHAKSurviving winter Weijun, LIMWorking in Canberra Aron LIEWImportant places on campus Zahin ZAIDIGetting around Alex FONGEating out Kimberley HOShopping Jess WONGSports and recreation Thines Kumar N.Banking, mobile and internet Shaun SIAU

MSO Committee 2009

Credits

Welcome Note

Firstly, I would like to congratulate you for reaching a very crucial stage of life.

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What stage? Welcome to Australian National University! Yes, the stage I was talking about is university. Furthermore, you are about to pursue your tertiary education in Canberra, Australia as an international student.

As an international student, it is perfectly normal that you will experience cultural shock. However, staying in your comfort zone would do no good as the purpose of studying abroad is to experience the cultures and ways of the people over there including other international students. Hence, this is where the Malaysian Students’ Organisation (MSO) steps in.

This booklet serves as a guide for you throughout your stay in Canberra (if you do find it useful). It offers a wide scope of information ranging from accommodation to recreational activities. The MSO also organises activities with the aim of bridging students among Malaysians and also encouraging Malaysians to mix more with students from all over the world.

As we all know, the stereotype version of going to university would be to graduate with a presentable degree. Nowadays, your tertiary life has more to offer than that. Canberra may be alien to a lot of people, but it has its fair share of surprises. Therefore, take the effort to explore Canberra and if given the chance, visit other parts of Australia.

At the end of the day, you will realize that the experience you gather will help you in further stages of life. Most importantly, always remember the simple values taught to you at home and act wisely.

Lastly, on behalf of MSO, I would like to convey my best wishes to you throughout your stay in Canberra!

Weijun, LimBachelor of Commerce

Burton and Garran HallOverview-Burton Hall and Garran Hall merged together to form Burton and Garran Hall.

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-It consists of 6 blocks: Central block, A block, B block, C block, D block, and E block (for storage). The A, B, C and D blocks are 4 storeys high and have around 30+ rooms.-With over 510 residents, it is now the largest on-campus hall of Residence.-It is a self catered hall; you need to cook your own food.

Room-Although the room is small compared to other halls, but it is fully equipped with basic necessity such as a large desk, lamp, bookcase, bed, bedside table, chair, telephone, internet connection, sink, heater and a shelved walk-in wardrobe.-The telephone system provides each resident with a personal answering machine facility. Residents can also make internal university calls for free.-The room internet connection is currently charged at 1cent per MB but surfing the ANU website is free of charge.-B&G residents also have the privilege to watch local TV channels from their laptops in the room for free!-There are two toilets and shower blocks on each floor (one male and one female). -Each floor has a utility room provided with an iron, ironing board and clothes line.-Residence can borrow vacuum cleaner to clean their room from the Senior Resident.

Facilities-There are several Study Rooms provided for students to study anytime. It is a good place to study if the resident does not want to study in their own room.-The library can be found on the ground floor of central block. It offers a range of materials including academic materials (textbooks, reference books and old exams) and non academic materials (fiction, non-fiction, magazines and games).-During examination periods, the library also provides free coffee, tea and Milo, served with biscuits to the residents.-The kitchen is the “heart” of the hall. It is the place for residents to meet new people and socialise. With over a third of residents being international students, residents have a chance to meet people all around the world and try international cuisines. International students will have a lot of chance to meet local students as well as the majority of the residents are locals.-Each resident is provided with a fridge basket and a locker to put their groceries and cooking utensils. Microwave ovens and toasters are also provided in the kitchen.-There are two computer rooms in B&G. Each of them have a printer inside and the first floor computer room is equipped with a photocopier machine. It is connected to the ANU internet and printing system. If the computer rooms are

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full (but very unlikely), you can always walk over to The Hancock Library or BOZO computer labs to use computers. They are just across the road.-Common room is also another place for people to gather together. There are table tennis table, pool tables and a few television sets provided in the common room. Residents can also connect to the wireless internet while in the central block.-Laundry block is just located behind the central block. All the washing machines and dryers are located there. Residents can use them for free.-There are 6 music rooms in B&G and some are equipped with piano. Music students can straight away access the music rooms, while others need to apply for the access through front office.

Transportation-City is just 20 minutes walk from B&G. If you need groceries, you can go with a few friends to do shopping and push a trolley back together. Yes, we are allowed to push certain trolleys back to B&G, there will be people coming around to pick them. -Besides that, you can also buy a bicycle and cycle around the campus. It is a cheap, fast, healthy and environmental friendly way to go around the campus or to the city.-The Action Bus stops near the hall, therefore residents can travel to city, Woden, Belconen or some other places too (need to take another bus in the city) easily. The bus system in Canberra is great, systematic and punctual.-ANU also operates a free after-hours bus service (“Brian’s Bus Service) from Monday to Friday to pick students up from all around the campus after 5pm.-B&G also organises shopping trips to supermarket at Dickson and fresh fruits market in Belconen and Fyswick on a weekly basis.

Contact details

Location: Burton and Garran Hall49 Daley RoadActon, ACT 0200Australia

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Telephone:  +61 2 619 40000       

Fax: +61 2 619 40045

Email: enquiries.bg@anu.edu.au

There will be lots of activities organised by Senior Residents and BAGMA. So make sure you are active and join most of these activities. Don’t miss out the fun living in a residential hall!

For more information, you are encouraged to visit the B&G website at http://bandg.anu.edu.au or the MSO website http://clubs.anu.edu.au/clubs/mso/

See Mun, MakBachelor of Commerce

Burgmann CollegeBurgmann College is one of the few fully-catered halls located on campus. It just takes a 15 minute walk or a 5 minute bike ride to get to classes. Despite what you might have heard about Burgmann College, it is not named ‘The Place to Be’ for nothing. Below are some of the reasons why.

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FOOD:

Burgmann has since switched to a better caterer from previous years. I have to say that they made the right choice. Catercare Australia has a line of extremely dedicated staff. This is judged through their constant motivation to improve their menu in order to please the taste buds of the very demanding residents. Burgmann is said to have to BEST breakfast in campus. Breakfast will consist of bacon, sausages, hash browns, eggs, mushrooms, baked beans, different types of cereal, yogurt, fruits etc. For lunch and dinner, residents are always pampered with two choices of meat (fish, chicken, lamb or beef) and a vegetarian main course. On top of that, there is a choice of seasoned/steamed vegetables and what Australians MUST always have in their daily meals: POTATOES! Wedges, fries, steamed potatoes; you name it, they have it. There is also the ‘SALAD BAR’. Buffet style, there are many different types of salads to choose from. Fresh fruits would also be available during lunch while mouthwatering desserts await you during dinner. Coffee machines, bread, butter, jams and milk are available as long as the dining hall is open. On top of that, Catercare is thoughtful enough to prepare a feedback booklet in the dining hall to accept your constructive comments about their culinary skills. What more could you ask for?

PEOPLE:

What makes Burgmann different from the rest of the halls/colleges is that the proportion of Asians to Westerners is smaller compared to the others. I know you would quickly conclude that this might not be a good thing because many of us would prefer having more Asians (or to be precise, Malaysians) to reduce the feeling of homesickness. HOLD THAT THOUGHT! Why do we study abroad in the first place? It is because we want to expand our horizon and learn more about other people’s culture. Therefore, having less Asians is not such a bad thing after all. More Australians would only mean greater insights to their lifestyles, more people to get to know and more friends (your first few Australians) on your Friendster list! If you still worry that you will not fit in, the staff and senior residents will be there to assist you. They always welcome any enquiries and will take every measure to ensure your well being.

UTILITIES/FACILITIES:

GOOD NEWS! Beginning 2009, all of Burgmann’s undergraduate rooms will be finished with renovations. Newer looking rooms for all! Burgmann has one of the bigger rooms among all on-campus colleges/halls. It is well equipped with a heating system, sink, bed, chairs, and a closet among others. Washing machines are located on each floor and are free to use. These rooms are located

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on three floors of two separate wings, Homer and Barassi. Postgraduates, on the other hand, are fortunate enough to be allocated to the newly built, self-catered, postgraduate village. This village houses apartment styled accommodation which is equipped with gas stoves for cooking purposes. For social functions, there is a common room with a TV, bar (apparently, they sell really cheap alcohol, so whenever there is stress, you know where to head to), pool table and a ping pong table. Just for your information, the TV has five sports channels for your viewing pleasure (did I just heard a really loud YEAH! from EPL fans?). Both Homer and Barassi wings surround a beautiful landscape of trees, benches and garden tables and a BBQ pit. A computer lab, bike shed, tutorial rooms, study rooms, music rooms (with drums and a piano) are located at strategic locations around the college for the convenient access by residents. Each floor has around 4 toilets and toilets are Co-ed (calm down guys). Again, just for your information, (although this does not involve utilities/facilities), Burgmann is the nearest Hall to Lake Burley Griffin. If you would love to go for an evening stroll along the lake while waiting for the sun to set, I would certainly recommend it. The view is spectacular! Lastly, car park space is available at Burgmann.

ACTIVITIES:

Burgmann has a greater number of events compared to other colleges (Don’t worry, all the events are already paid for in the fees). BRA (Burgmann Residents’ Association) is brought into your world to add a little sparkle to your otherwise mundane university life and to reduce a bit of stress from your haunting deadlines. I would say Burmann have 1 of the best orientation program in campus. Last year our theme is “European Week” which consists of activities such as October Events are aplenty namely Burg Day, Dawborne (pool competition), Random Act of Kindness etc for your participation and formal dinners such as Commencement and Valete which require you to be dressed to your nines (HINT: girls can use this excuse to drag their boyfriends out for shopping) while the kitchen staff pampers you with delicious food and fine wine. If you excel in any area of sports, you can proudly represent Burgmann during the inter hall sports competition and be awarded during the SPARTOS (Sports and Arts) dinner. If you love to socialize with or assist your younger, new residents, you can apply to be a tutor (Senior Resident) in your later years of residence.

SPORTS:

Burgmann team has a very strong side in our interhall sport games. This event is a very good opportunity for individuals to show their talent in sports and also to help their college to bring back the gold medal. Their competitions various in

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many type of sport games such as hockey, volleyball, tennis, table tennis, basketball, soccer, rugby, touch rugby, cricket, inward bound and many more.

All in all, Burgmann would be an unforgettable phase of your life and I mean that in a good way. Enjoy your stay in Burgmann and who knows; you might be in my position next year, writing this article, telling everybody just how great Burgmann is.

Written by, Kar How, CHIN (2007)

Edited by,Alex Fong Kah Ho Bachelor of Finance

Bruce HallOverview

- Oldest residential hall on campus- One of the ‘longest’ building on campus- Has six fully catered wings: North, South, East, West, Central and

Extension. Packard wing is self catered and reserved for post-graduate and

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later year undergraduate students. There are four floors in Packard and three floors in North and Extension wings. Other wings have two floors.

- Each floor has a senior resident to help students out. (If you run into any problem, just knock on their doors)

- Located very near (usually 7-10 minutes walk) to Manning Clark Centre (in short, MCC, the place where you have your lectures), Chiefly Library, Hancock Library and Union Court (the place where the banks, ATM machines, eateries, pharmacy ,etc. etc. are located)

Rooms- Rooms in Bruce Hall are fairly large- All rooms includes a bed, a built-in wardrobe, study table with chair, a

telephone (with voice mail and calls within the ANU are free), and a book shelf

- You can connect to the internet thru your room. Just get a cable and pay the fees at the front office. Rates are currently 7 cents per MB, but authorities are currently discussing whether to reduce the price. Surfing ANU pages are free.

- Sink will be available in all rooms except for Central Wing. Therefore, Central Wing residents will pay a slightly cheaper rent.

Bathrooms- Co-ed bathrooms are available on all floors. (Yes, they are co-ed, but you

will get used to it)- Most floors have 3-4 toilet bowls and 3-4 shower stalls.- Some floors have bath tubs.- As for Packard wings, every room will have their own personal

bathroom.

Hygiene- Rooms will be vacuumed once a week. (If that’s not enough, you can

always request a vacuum cleaner from your senior resident and vacuum it yourself)

- Bathrooms are cleaned daily.- You will have to empty your own rubbish bin.- You will have to do your own laundry. Washing machines and dryers are

provided.

Food- Three meals will be provided everyday.- Food is served in a buffet style.- Usually, both Western and Asian food will be served.- There’s a salad bar, fruit bar and a cereal bar.

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- Cereals and drinks will be provided all day (except when the kitchen staffs are cleaning the hall, but they won’t take long )

- Meal times are fixed. Can’t make it in time for lunch or dinner? Don’t worry! You can always pack sandwiches for lunch (weekdays only) and you can sign up for “late – meal” if you can’t make it in time for dinner.

- Packard wing residents will have a kitchen in their room and sometimes there will be bus trips for your groceries. Packard residents who wish to have a meal in the dining hall will be required to purchase meal coupons.

- If you wish to bring other friends to dine in Bruce Hall, you can purchase meal coupons for them too.

- If you feel like cooking once in a while, you can ask permission to use the South Kitchen. Microwaves will be available at some floors.

- One of the most interesting things to note about Bruce Hall is that sometimes there will be High Tables. In most cases, students who wish to join the High Table will need to sign up for it and will be required to dress formally with their academic gowns

- Be sure to meet Phillip, Bruce Hall’s Malaysian chef who’s in charge of weekday lunches.

Other facilities/interesting things to note- There are tables and benches in South Quad and North Quad, an ideal

place for you to sit down for a chat or to study (when you get tired of studying in your room or the library)

- Bruce Hall has its own library with a fair collection of books. You can study there if you are too lazy to walk to other libraries on campus. There are Study/Tutorial rooms as well.

- A computer lab- Bicycle sheds- Music rooms (you can access them even if you are non music students.

Just get the key from the front office)- Senior common room and Junior Common Room (where you get to

watch TV, play ping pong and play pool with your friends)- Buttery, which will be opened at night where you get to buy snacks and

drinks- Most of the time events are organized. They are fun and make sure you

participate in them!- There’s quite a number of academic mentors in Bruce Hall to help you if

you need any academic help

For those who are coming to Bruce Hall, welcome to Bruce. It will be one of the best experiences of your life. Cheers.

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Written by,Han Hui, THYE (2008)Bachelor of Actuarial Studies

Edited by,Weijun, LIM (2009)Bachelor of Commerce

Ursula HallIt’s nearing the end of 2007… and as I reflect on the one entire year here in

Australia, I feel that one of the things I did right was to choose Ursula Hall.

Ursula Hall or Ursies as it is affectionately called by its 200 odd residents has

definitely made my stay here in Canberra all the more enjoyable. Out of the 3

my most important F’s (Family, Friends and Food, in that order), I believe

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Ursula Hall delivers on all three. Ursula Hall is not too big (did I mention it’s

the smallest hall?) that I would get lost among all the people, but encourages a

healthy mix of international and local students alike. Most of my best friends

here are Australians, while International students add to a quirky dose of variety

every day. From the moment you get to Ursula Hall (don’t miss Orientation

Week!), till the end of the year, Ursula Hall residents grow to be one big family

for you. In fact, most of the friendships developed here go on to be lifelong

relationships.

For all those Malaysians, Ursula Hall would be a good familiar ground from

which to start your university life. There are many Malaysians who you could

talk to if you miss the local dialect (no problem la, sure can one!), and many of

us would more than welcome you and help you get familiarized. For those

concerned parents out there, Ursula Hall accommodates studies as well. It has

many study rooms and all residents respect each other’s privacy. Academic

mentors comprise of our own residents and can help on almost any subject. And

what hall would be good if there wasn’t good food? As an international student,

one of the best things I can say is that the food is great! Sure, you would miss

your roti canai and chili crab, but Ursula Hall has the best food among other

halls. Remember to get to know the kitchen lady, and she’ll serve you more

laksa noodles! On a side note, Ursula also has regular formal dinners and events

which are not to be missed. In the end it all comes down to a great campus

experience that you’ll never find anywhere else. I’ll be returning here again in

2008, where hopefully I’ll meet all of you here!

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Till then,

JaredJared Wong Ling Kern

Bachelor of Psychology (2008)

Edited by,

Weijun, LIM

Bachelor of Commerce (2009)

Fenner Hall210 Northbourne Ave,Braddon, Act 2612,Australia.Tel: +612 6125 9101

Fenner Hall is the only off-campus hall among the 7 main residences that provide accommodation for students at the ANU. It is located just 2 kilometres away from the ANU. A free bus provided by Fenner Hall runs between Fenner

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and the ANU on weekdays during the academic year. Fenner Hall provides approximately 500 rooms over 18 floors in two distinct towers.

Your roomEach standard room has a single bed, desk, chair, wardrobe and washbasin. Residents share bathroom facilities with others on the floor. There are 3 toilets on a floor – one male toilet, one female toilet and a unisex toilet. Each residential floor develops a community of 27 members. All rooms have phones with Voicemail. Internal university and Hall calls are free.

Approved Tariffs as of 2009*

Room Type Weekly Tariff

1 Bedroom Flat $199Corner Room $155

Standard Room $149.50Studio North Tower $128Studio South Tower $133

The main difference between a standard room and a studio is that a studio has no washbasin. South Tower Studio is slightly bigger than North Tower Studio. A bedroom flat has its own kitchen and bathroom.

The rent includes all electricity, heating and water charges.

*Rates may have differed for year 2009 as the quoted tariffs are that of year 2008

Your kitchenFenner Hall is self-catered. On the ground floor you will find our large communal kitchens with gas cook tops, ovens and microwaves. Each floor has a small kitchenette with fridge, microwave, toaster, and hot water urns. Residents are not allowed to cook in their rooms.

Computer labs and internetWe have three computer labs with PCs and Macs. Each room has a data-port for students wishing to bring their own computers. Internet usage is charged by the

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download. There is free wireless connection in the common rooms on the ground floor.

Restaurants and nearby shopsWe are in walking distance to the ANU, the restaurants of Braddon, O’Connor, Civic and Dickson. There is a takeaway and corner store just 50 metres away. Fenner provides buses to the Belconnen fresh food markets on Sundays and to the supermarket in Dickson on Thursday nights.

Senior Residents, Academic Assistants and Duty WardensEach floor has a Senior Resident and an Academic Assistant. Duty Wardens operate outside of office hours so there is always someone to call should you require urgent assistance. Academic assistants organise study groups, which are especially helpful around exam time. We have a number of study rooms and a small library. Floor parties and functions are also usually arranged by Senior Residents 3 times a semester for residents to get to know each other better.

Music RoomsFenner Hall offers 3 soundproof music rooms on the ground floor. Residents also organise the annual Fenner Hall musical.

Laundry @ FennerThe laundry is free. Each floor has a laundry with washer, dryer, drying room, iron and ironing board.

Parking @ FennerParking is free to residents. A valid Fenner Hall parking permit must be displayed. Canberra's network of bike paths and public transport is quite good, so we encourage residents to save money and not bring a car.

Physical DisabilitiesThere are a small number of rooms available for students with physical disabilities. Please contact the Hall to discuss your needs.Overall, Fenner Hall is a wonderful place to stay. We are supportive, friendly, diverse and very energetic!

Consider staying at Fenner for one semester. You’ll never want to leave after that. For more information, please contact the Hall directly.

E-mail : admissions.fenner@anu.edu.au Phone : (02) 6125 9101 Fax : (02) 6125 9555

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Office Hours

Monday to Thursday : 9:00 AM to 5:00 PMFriday : 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM(The office is closed on Public Holidays)

Written by,Zhi Yuan, CHUA (2008)Bachelor of Actuarial Studies

Edited by,Weijun, LIM (2009)Bachelor of Commerce

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John’s XXIII CollegeCan you cook an egg without setting up a fire in your mom’s holy ground-the kitchen? Okay, that is slightly exaggerating. You will never have that problem in John’s as meals are prepared for you. All you need to do is to carry yourself down to the dining hall and EAT.

So, now the FOOD issue is solved. The time saved on cooking can be used to get involved in the never-ending activities and events that are organized by a superb resident’s committee. Sporting events, formal dinners, community services, down to the block parties and outings, I salute you if you can find time to catch your breath.

Most importantly, John’s XXIII College provides you with the most conducive environment to take part in ALLLLLL the activities, and still excel in your studies!!

Food• 21 meals per week with a hot brunch on every Sunday.• Continental breakfast, hot lunches and dinners (with Western and Asian

cuisines including vegetarian options).• A full salad bar with sandwich and pizza making facilities. • Take-away lunches and dinners are available if you can’t have your meals on

time.

Room• Largest room among all the halls and colleges.• The only college on campus that provides king-sized beds.• Big windows give good ventilation.• Weekly housekeeping service ensures that your room is in a clean and “dust-

free” condition.• Laundry basket, armchair and free linen pack are provided.

Common Room• The place where you can have fun, get the stress out of your body system

and, most importantly, make new friends.• Table tennis table, pool table, huge TV with DVD player, comfortable

couches, tables and chairs (where can use it to play board games, chess, mahjong, etc.).

• There is also a bar where you can get yourself a drink or snack when you are hungry.

Sports

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Inter-college sporting events give you the opportunity to take part in the sport that you are good at.

John’s sporting teams have won and defended the sports shield for countless times.

Academic Support• A 24-hours computer lab (15 Dell PCs and 5 eMacs ) and study rooms allow

you to get away from the buzz and hype of college life when you have assignments and exams pilling up.

• The academic mentor program offers an excellent gateway for students to seek guidance and advice in their work.

John’s college has its own identity. It differentiates itself from other colleges. It excels in everything it does. This is because it is made up of students that are willing to sacrifice and offer their talent, effort, and time to make John’s college a better place to live in. Do you want to part of this incredible community?

Written by,Andrew Low (2008)Bachelor of Commerce

Edited by,Weijun, LIM (2009)Bachelor of Commerce

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UniLodge – The Place to Be

CONTACT DETAILS

UniLodge ANUChilders StreetCanberra City  ACT  2601Tel: 61 2 6194 5000Fax: 61 2 6194 5050unilodge.anu@unilodge.com.au

UNILODGE @ ANU 1  UniLodge @ ANU 1, which opened in January 2007, offers secure and comfortable student housing on campus for ANU 1 students. This exciting student accommodation facility offers students a choice of accommodation ranging from single occupancy studios to five bedroom and mezzanine apartments. Each student apartment provides self-contained living within a secure community environment, and all apartments have their own bathrooms and cooking facilities as well as television, internet and phone connections.

UniLodge @ ANU 1 incorporates generous common spaces to foster intellectual and social interaction for lasting friendships, academic stimulation and of course, fun for ANU 1 students. The large common room, equipped with high quality entertainment systems, provides a place where you can relax and meet other students. The computer and study room offer the facilities required for students to work together on group assignments. As a student resident of ANU 1 you will appreciate being on campus and close to the central city area.  Reception is open six days a week and high levels of student care is provided by our Student Advisors.

COMMUNITY SPIRIT

It offers a balanced program of activities that supports student life across many dimensions such as:

Standard of living and quality of life as a whole Mental and physical health Academic and personal achievements Personal and social relationships Safety and security Community connectivity and belongingness

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What type of activities under pin the Community Spirit program?

Social responsibility activities such as getting students involved in raising much needed funds for a charity, or participation in community activities like “Clean up Sydney” campaign.

Barbeques and nights full of entertainment, that work to encourage integration, fun and friendship.

Trips to Aussie fun spots - go surfing, indoor rock-climbing, bike riding to great Australian icons.  

Educational and special interest forums, seminars and focus groups. Games nights and movies nights. Sporting activities such as netball, basketball, footy, cricket – it’s up to

you! International parties and cultural activities.

FACILITIES

Modern, fully furnished apartments A range of apartment types available, from studios to multi

bedroom. High levels of security throughout UniLodge @ ANU. The main

entrance, all common area doors and each apartment and bedroom are fitted with swipe-card electronic locks which can only be opened by a resident's personalised security card. There is restrictive access to each residential floor, and security cameras record and monitor all entrances to the building and activity in common areas.

LAN internet connection and VOIP telephony is available in every bedroom and wireless data access is available throughout the common areas of the building.

Convenient Location. UniLodge @ ANU is located within ANU Exchange, a few minutes walk of the heart of the campus. Numerous eateries and banking facilities are also within walking distance.

Student common facilities include Lounge / Entertainment Room and Computer Study Room and vending machines.

Outdoor barbecue area and two (2) courtyard areas  Ironing facilities and Laundry (coin operated) Car parking and bike storage. 

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LOCATION

On Campus City Centre - 5 minutes walk Airport - 25 minutes drive Nearest Supermarket - 1 minute walk Local and National Buses - 5 minutes walk Parliament House - 30 minutes walk

HERE’S WHAT I’VE TO SAY ….

Unilodge was my first choice of accommodation when I first arrived in Canberra. One and the half years later the decision has not changed. The best part is that the staffs are friendly and I always feel safe and secure. The central location makes it easy to get to both the University and city centre. Living on campus is a great advantage , it means I don’t need to worry about transportation and can easily access all University facilities. I would definitely recommend UniLodge to all students who wish to live independently whilst being able to interact socially with other residents.

Consider staying in Unilodge, and you’ll never regret.

Choong Shi Rong, AmandaBachelor of Economics

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Off CampusProcess

Requires you to inspect the property before sealing the deal. You will need a reference - usually your previous agent/landlord.

For full time students, ANU can be your guarantor. 2-4 week rent to be paid up front (refundable when you move out). Read the lease and know your rights + liabilities.

Advantages

Privacy – Yes, you still have housemates. They might even be people whom you've never met but you do have more privacy compared to a student who lives with 200 students.

Space - You have your own kitchen, living room, and bathroom.

Independence - Well, your mum is not around. And you pretty much have to settle everything yourself.

Flexibility - Meal times are not fixed, unlike catered halls. You get to decide your meals on top of that.

Storage - Contracts usually last for 52 weeks, which means you can store your stuffs in your rented home if you happen to be back in Malaysia for the summer. For those who are on 40-week contract, you will have to store your luggage in other places when your contract expires (not fun!)

Disadvantages

Electricity cost - Heater drains electricity. Keep an eye on your electricity bills during winter season.

Distance – Logically, the 5-minute-walk away from campus advantage will not apply to you anymore. Transportation cost might significantly affect your budget if not tackled tactfully.

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Social - Well, there is a price to pay for privacy. You will not have as much opportunities to mingle with international students as hall residents.

Wasted months - 52-week contract means you will still have to pay the rents even though you are back in Malaysia at the end of the year, unless you manage to look for someone else to occupy your home.

Tedious - You might need to arrive at least a week earlier from the start of the semester to check on the houses and pick the right one. It is after all, your future home for at least a year. However, if you make no early planning, just put up a few nights with your peers or nice seniors while looking for the right house to go for.

Useful links: accom.anu.edu.au -University Accommodation Service (UAS) www.allhomes.com.au

Written by,Shin Yau, YEAM (2008)Bachelor of Actuarial Studies

Edited by,Weijun, LIM (2009)Bachelor of Commerce

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Things to Bring (and Not to) BringI am pretty sure that students who will be studying abroad would be thinking about the things that they should and should not bring overseas. Most people will certainly have these kinds of question on their mind right now-Is my luggage too heavy? Can’t I just buy it in Australia? Is this even legal? That is actually normal and students tend to get anxious sometimes. Need some tips? Well, there is no need to be nervous anymore because I am here to fulfill this role.

1) Be sure of your LUGGAGE WEIGHT LIMIT. Make sure you are always within the max weight and ask for excess luggage allowance if you really need it. This can help you budget how much items to bring later on.

2) Always remember to bring your IMPORTANT DOCUMENTS with you. The most important thing before you travel is to ensure your documentation is in check. Your passport, a copy of your eVisa, acceptance letter, etc is a must and you may want to have extra copies of these documents as copying in Canberra is, again, costly. Besides that, do bring enough money for food and stuff before you transfer or cash in your traveler’s cheque into your new bank account in Canberra. These essential items must be kept with you at all times as you will need them if the unlikely event of baggage loss were to occur.

3) If you need to consume special MEDICINE, bring them along as well but make sure you declare them before going to immigration.

4) CLOTHES

a. Bring enough clothes to last your adjusting period (like a week) since you would probably have no idea where to do laundry in that phase. To those who are a bit thrifty, it is recommended to shop before you depart. It would be a bit hard to find cheap, quality clothes in Australia. Make sure you bring at least one set of FORMAL WEAR since there will always be formal events throughout the year. It is also best if you could bring along your

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TRADITIONAL CLOTHES as well since there are also cultural exchange events.

b. As you might already know the weather in Canberra can vary a lot day by day. It can go up to 30 degrees and even below 0 at times. So it is always better to get prepared at least mentally. Bring at least 1 jacket for windy/chilly days if you do not plan to buy later. Do not worry of not bringing though since you will be arriving around late summer.

c. Most colleges and accommodations do not provide mattresses and/or pillow covers so it is up to you to choose where to buy. The price would not be that much of a difference. Quilts and comforters take too much of important luggage space so a light blanket is always preferred.

5) ELECTRONICS

a. A lot of students bring their LAPTOPS and it is an important item, not only for fun and games but also for assignments and such. Some students choose to buy a desktop in Canberra as they feel it’s more compatible for them.

b. You will need ADAPTERS for electronics bought from Malaysia. Another alternative is to get EXTENSION cords (or multiple plug point as others say it) so that you do not need too many adapters.

c. Others- you are welcomed to bring any other devices such as cameras, mp3 players, alarm clocks, etc. On mobile phones, if you’re in the stage of buying one, you may want to consider getting one in Australia with a postpaid plan as you can get a phone if you subscribe to the plan for two years. External hard disks are also useful if you’re planning on downloading loads of stuff in Canberra.

6) COOKING

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a. Pots and pans would be important but some people prefer to just buy them in Canberra.

b. Foods are to be sealed neatly, and ingredients on the packaging would help greatly. Opened packages and homemade food usually do not make it past immigration.

7) MISCs

a. It is up to you to bring your recreational items such as guitar, books, or board games along to keep you occupied especially during the weekends and holidays.

b. STATIONERY in Malaysia is way cheaper so it will be best if you could stock up on stationery BEFORE DEPARTING. If you want to buy TEXTBOOKS in Malaysia, do note that international editions may differ from the local ones. You can also search for SECONDHAND books in Canberra which could cost less so keep that in mind.

c. One more thing you might want to consider is credit card. This will certainly help you to do online shopping and might also give you discount privileges.

That is all from me right now. Just bear in mind that this article is just a guide and is not always meant to be fully followed. Bring what you think is best for you as a travelling student. There is always the web if you need the answer to a more specific question. Looking forward to see you in Canberra (well prepared of course).

Akmal Syazwan IdrisBachelor of Commerce

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Safety

A campus of 145 hectares can be pretty intimidating. If you plan ahead you won’t be left in the dark. This article offers some basic tips for personal safety and outlines service available to the ANU community;

Around campus Walk confidently, be alert, be assertive Try to walk with a friend

Around campus at night

Take designated and lit paths.(maps from ANU security) UniSafeGuard Patrol members can escort you to your on-campus

direction

Taking your car Park in well-lit, busy areas Park closer to buildings after dark UniSafeGuard Patrol members can escort you to your car

Taking public transport Know your timetable Wait in full view of passing traffic

Play smart

Decide on a meeting point with friends for the end of the night – do it before starting your night out

Plan how you and your friends are getting home Carry change, phone card or mobile phone Remember, one drink too many can make your vulnerable

Watch yourself, Watch your friends

Amirul Azrai Ahmad Ishak,Bachelor of Commerce

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Recreation Outside University

Paintball Conveniently located in Tuggeranong at the corner of the Monaro Hwy &

Old Tuggeranong Rd-opposite ChisholmJust a short 10-15 minute drive from Canberra CBD

300 Paintballs*, entry, equipment hire for only$60

Any enquiry you can surf this website www.worldseriespaintball.com.au

Laser tag Located in Stromlo Forest on Uriarra Rd our entrance is on your left,

which is 4km past the Coppins crossing intersection. Only 15min from: the City, Weston Creek, Belconnen Mall & Kippax.

$19 per person Any enquiry you can surf this website

http://www.laserskirmish.com/canberra/

Bowling About 30 minutes drive from Canberra City Centre $8 per person

Canoes and Kayak Located at Lake Burley Griffin – 15 min from campus Paddle boats $16 half hour or $28 an hour. All per hour: kayaks $15, two

person canoes $20, three person canoes $25, single surf skis $12 and double surf skis $15

Gambling and Betting Located at Canberra City Centre- about 10 min walks from campus

Amirul Azrai Ahmad Ishak,Bachelor of Commerce

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Surviving Winter

Unlike Malaysia, Australia experiences seasonal changes. Based on personal experiences, the most challenging season would be winter. So, here are a few tips and pointers on how to survive winter.

FOODYou would probably want to stock up on instant noodles as the weather is very unpredictable. At times, the temperature will hit almost zero Celsius where people would prefer to stay at home. Also, groceries shopping may be extensive during winter as people would rather eat in. If you are not a big fan of cooking, you can probably get simple food items such as chicken rolls and bread. It is also advisable to buy stuffs such as instant coffee so that you can mix them in case the weather is too cold to bear.

CLOTHINGAs mentioned above, you would want to be well equipped for a place that could hit zero Celsius at anytime. These are a few clothing that you want to have during winter:

Winter jacket

Comforter (You need one regardless of the seasonal changes)

Long johns

Gloves

Snow cap

I understand that most of you have limited baggage weight limits. Therefore, it is advisable that you get the necessary clothing for winter over here at Canberra. I am sure you do not want to stuff a comforter into your bag! Over here, there is a huge range of brands such as Jag, Guess etc. and they are all reasonably priced.

SPORTS AND RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIESFrankly speaking, winter is not a month for sporty people. If you are a die-hard soccer player, it is suggested that you start playing indoor soccer. The ANU Sports and Recreation Hall offers a wide variety of sports and recreational activities (details to be mentioned in a related article). There are plenty of badminton courts, futsal courts, basketball courts etc. up for use.

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As for those of you who are willing to bear the cold weather for an outdoor game, make sure you put on extra clothing to avoid falling sick!HEATINGIf you are staying on campus, all halls have a central heating system. If the weather is cold (based on jurisdiction of the authorities), the central heating system will be activated. Most of the time, the central heating system is deactivated other than winter. However, you do not have to worry about getting cold in your room as most residential halls activate the central heating system during winter.

If you are staying off campus, it is suggested that you prepare yourself well ahead of winter. Unlike the on campus residential halls, off campus residential places does not have a fixed utility rate. The payment of utilities depends on the amount of utilities consumed during the billing month. Therefore, you have to put away more dough for utility payments during winter!

That is all I have to say for now. If you have any enquiries, feel free to approach your fellow seniors or anyone from the MSO committee!

Good luck!

Lim Weijun,Bachelor of Commerce

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Working in Canberra

Now why should you even bother reading this page since it doesn’t concern you now or yet to be of your concern? Isn’t studying hard and getting a degree the main reason why you came here? Well if you’re having this mentality now or later then please read this!

Fact: Canberra has the highest average wage in Australia. (Uh-huh!)

Fact: Canberra has a lot of job vacancies so that makes it less difficult to find a job here (Plus DFO just recently opened here. That means more vacancies! Yay!)

Fact: Getting a job is probably the most productive way to spend your free time and also to gain invaluable work experience.

Fact: Working brings in money which means more money to spend!

Fact: You can get staff discounts from the place you work and also get to know more people.

Having second thoughts now? Well if you do, then read on as we guide you on how to apply for your first Canberran job.

Step 1: Apply for a Tax File Number (TFN). You can do it online via ato.gov.au. Just follow the steps and you will get your TFN in probably around two weeks’ time.

Step 2: A simple resume is required for applying for jobs. You can search for job vacancies online from www.seek.com.au or anu.edu.au/careers/current students/careerhub.php or you can just simply bring your resumes ask shop by shop. with this visa, you are only allowed to work a maximum of 20 hours during the school term but you can work full time during the holidays.

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Just follow the 2 steps above and you’ll be on your way to earning your first Aussie pay. Just a final piece of advice: If you feel and REALIZE that working is actually affecting your studies, then I strongly advise you to not work too much. Your studies is your main priority here because I believe if you are able to go overseas and study, money should not be too much of a concern for you if you can and know how to spend wisely. So, all the best to all of you and should you have any other enquiries, please feel free to contact any of the MSO members. We are here to help you.

Lastly, thanks for taking the time to read.

Liew Chiah Lone, AronBachelor of Actuarial Studies

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Important Places on CampusLadies and gentlemen, this is your captain speaking. Welcome aboard and thank you for choosing “fly ANU”. We will commence our journey shortly. The weather in Canberra today is fine and beautiful as always with an average temperature of 20°C. While waiting for the clearance to take off from the control tower, let me give you a rough idea on what the ANU looks like. There are various key places you will usually go throughout the campus.

One of the most common places is the Union Court. This is where students gather, sunbathe or even catch a short nap before getting themselves ready for their subsequent lectures. Union Court also has eateries such as Sizzle Cafe, Degree Cafe (I love its hot chocolate sooo much =p), Pajenka’s, Rosie’s Chicken, and many others. There is also a convenient shop where you can buy your stationeries and other miscellaneous items. ANU merchandises (T-shirts, jumpers, mugs...you name it) are also sold in this shop. If you want to send a letter or parcel to your parents, then to the Union Court you will go. The post office is located next to the convenient shop. Text books? No problem.

There is the Co-op Bookshop in the Union Court as well. Almost every (but not all) text books recommended by the lecturers are sold here. If you are going for the same book but cheaper value, then you might want to go to the ANUSA’s second hand bookstore. I can get a $ 165.00 Biology text book for only $ 65.50 (!!!) from this shop. However, it is not guaranteed that all the books you look for are sold there (obviously, other students will definitely grab this opportunity as well). So act fast!!! Alright, enough with books.

Now we talk about banking. There is a Commonwealth Bank branch at the Union Court where you can keep and withdraw your money. Apart from that, there is also an ANZ Bank ATM located near to the convenient shop. So there is not much of a hassle of choosing which bank services you are ought to employ.

There are five libraries in the ANU. Two of the most famous are the Chifley Library and Hancock Library. These two places provide perfect environments for students to study. There are heaps of computers, study desks and discussion rooms. The next stop is the musolla/surau. It is located next to the Law Faculty and tennis courts. You won’t miss it, I can assure you. Friday prayers, and other Islamic occasions will be held here.

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For the non-Muslims, there is an ANU chaplaincy at the Union Court. It is a multi-faith worshipping centre with separate rooms. Muslims can also pray here, in the chaplaincy. Sporting? Then we are talking about the Sports Hall. There’s a gym, multipurpose courts, squash courts, and many others. Malaysian students always play futsal and badminton there, so for those who are fancy in those games, gear up!!!

If you want to deal with matters regarding the university, then you might want to go the IEO (International Education Office). The friendly people in the office will help you to sort out your matter in no time. Well, that is roughly all about the important places in the uni. If you were not able to find any of these places, do not hesitate to ask anyone of us. We will be more than happy to help. Okay, I’ve just got the green light from the tower. Alright, ladies and gentlemen, buckle up and sit tight. To ANU here we go!!!

Muhammad Zahin ZaidiBachelor of Biotechnology

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Getting Arounda) Traveling in Canberra

i) Public Buses

The public buses in Canberra are called Action Buses. I would say traveling by bus is by far the most convenient and cheap. The bus routes in Canberra consist almost everywhere u want to go to. Besides that The fair is reasonably priced at a dollar fifty for a single trip but students could save more by purchasing the fair saver card for eleven dollars which consists of ten bus rides . The routes may be complicating but fret not as there are action bus brochures and the route maps at the bus stops, or alternatively you could ask the people around, they are more than willing to lend a helping hand. There is also a bus coordinator that gives directions on bus destinations in the city.

ii) Cabs

Cab service in Canberra is really efficient. You can make your booking via call or website. It won’t be long before the cab arrives to pick you up in your specified location. The charges vary from weekdays to weekends, and depend on the time of the day as well. Predictably, it’s an expensive form of transportation. Thus a wise advice would be to turn to cab service if and only if there are no other transportation services available.

iii) Cars / Rent a car

Having a car would be useful as it would enable you to travel around Canberra and to places like Sydney and

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Melbourne, but note that it comes with a cost. The price of gas is far more expensive in Australia compared to Malaysia. In addition, the maintenance costs of cars are high here. However, second cars at Australia are very cheap. A reliable second hand car could only cost you 6000 Aud. Renting a car is also not advisable as there will be a lot of surcharges such as insurance, GPS, one way fee, etc…

Car rental companies: Budget, Hertz, Thrifty, Avis

iv) ANU Bus Services (Bryan’s Bus)

Bryan’s bus offers bus services for student from a specified time of 6 am to 11.30pm. The services are very convenient for students as all of the destinations include campus hostels, libraries and outside accommodation (unilodge, fenner hall). Bryan’s bus would be a reliable mode of transportation.

v) ANU security

ANU security operates 24 hours a day. It can fit around 4 people each ride. Students could use the security at night, preferably after 12am or so. Their services like Bryan’s bus are only limited within the campus. Please note that ANU security is prioritized for girls that require getting back to their hostels late at night.

vi) Bicycle

Bicycle is by far the cheapest mode of transport in Canberra. Riding bicycles in Canberra is safe as there are special lanes allocated for bicycles, and hence assuring the safety of the cyclists. Make a point to get good locks for your bicycles, as the theft rate for bicycles in Canberra is at an alarming rate.

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Moreover, it is advisable to get a good second hand bike and never buy bikes from supermarkets as it will not last long.

b)Traveling away from Canberra/vacation

i) Buses

There are 2 major bus companies offering bus services to places outside Canberra. They are Murrays and Greyhound. Ticket prices vary according to destinations, but booking a ticket early via the internet could enable you to get tickets cheaper and certainly your money’s worth. So make a point to look out for the offers online two months prior to your holiday plans.

ii) Flight

Similar to busses, flight tickets would be cheaper if they are obtained earlier, so make a point to constantly log on the respective airlines’ websites to keep in tab with the latest offers. The cheapest airline to travel to places in Australia would be Jetstar (Qantas subsidiary company). Jetstar offers one of the best airfares to Malaysia, now that Air Asia has entered the picture, students could board Air Asia flights back. Air Asia’s current route is from KL to Gold Coast or Melbourne. Another cheap flight would be “Tiger airways”.

Some important links:-

Canberra Cabs : 13 22 27, 13 10 08www.canberracabs.com.au

Murrays : 13 22 51www.murrays.com.au

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Greyhound : 13 14 99www.greyhound.com.au/default.aspx

Jetstar : www.jetstar.comTiger Airways : www.tigerairways.com

Action buses : www.action.act.gov.au

In short, transportation should not be a worrying issue for future students but if you do have any questions or doubts feel free to ask the people around or your fellow seniors. They are more than willing to offer a helping hand.

Fong Kah Ho, Alex

Bachelor of Finance

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Eating Out

Whether you like it or not, it is almost impossible to not eat out. Yes, you might have paid for your 3 meals in your catered hall, or you may be on a very tight budget, but once in a while we do have the urge to splash the cash and reward ourselves into some good food. For those who are staying in a self-catered hall, it may be a hassle to cook every single day, especially when it’s close to the exam periods. Times like these, eating out is the answer. However, in order to survive Canberra and prevent yourself from starving, one should never convert the price into Malaysian dollars. It is a well-known fact that food in Australia is relatively more expensive as compared to Malaysia. So lets just not compare.

As most of us have different cravings and expectations towards food, I shall give you a brief guide on what and where to eat during your stay in Canberra. Since most of us live on campus, I shall focus on eateries in Civic.

Malaysian / Singaporean/ cuisine: (the most important for the loyal taste buds)

When you talk about fried kuay teow, curry, laksa, and the huge variety of dishes with rice, there’s no where else other than Sammy’s Kitchen ($$), Happy’s restaurant ($$), Oriental Kitchen ($), Asian Noodle House ($), LaPasa ($$), which are all conveniently located in Civic. However, if you are more adventurous, do not hesitate to head to Dickson’s Rasa Sayang ($$) or Tak Kee Roast Inn ($), and Abell’s Kopitiam in Manuka.

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Hmm… what do I feel like eating??

Japanese / Korean cuisine:

For a nice and quick meal the Sizzle Bento ($), which is conveniently located on campus, or Izumi’s ($) just next to IGA would be your best bet. They serve some fairly delicious Jap/Korean food at a more reasonable price. For authentic Korean food, Seoul Palace ($$) and B-One ($$) is the only 2 Korean restaurants in Civic. If you are willing to spend a little more for Japanese food, Iori’s ($$$) and Shogun ($$$) will not disappoint. However, you are advised to make bookings for Iori’s to avoid disappointment.

Italian cuisine:

Love pasta and pizza? La Scala ($$$) is a fine Italian restaurant that would satisfy your cravings. Apart from that, Tosolinis ($$$) and Mama’s Trattorias ($$) is a well-recommended place for authentic Italian food too. For the more adventurous, do head to Manuka and pay a visit to Beluccis ($$$), which serves one of the best risotto. Yum..

Cafes (lala land style, hip chic and fabulous):

Love to be part of the set in Sex and the City, or maybe you love having coffee and cakes on a lovely Friday afternoon after a long day of shopping, then you will like Canberra and its variety of cafes. On campus, there’s Degree ($), Panjekas ($), and the Coffee Shop ($) just outside Chifley Library. In civic, Koko Black is a MUST TRY for all. Its chocolate is divine. Cafes such as Gus Café ($$), Milk & Honey ($$), Café Essen ($$), My Café ($$), and Cream ($$$), not only have an array of good coffee blends, but delicious cakes and mains too.

Fast food:

They may not be the best option for the weight watchers, but you must admit, one can never hate fast food! And here in the land down under, we have McDonalds, which do have a 24-hour drive thru, KFC, Dominos, Ali Baba, Hungry Jacks aka Burger King, Subway, Oporto, and Chicken Gourmet.

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Other recommendations:

For authentic Spanish food, do try Legends ($$$) in Manuka. Craving for Dim Sum? Head to Prince ($$) in Belconnen. Pancakes for breakfast, lunch, and dinner? Pancake Parlour ($$$) is the place to be. Thai? Lemongrass ($$$) is highly recommended and bookings are essential. Want a cheaper alternative? Three Mothers Thai ($$) and Zenyai ($$) would be it.

Ditch your Atkins, South Beach, and whatever diet you’re on. Plan to survive on nothing but instant noodles? Think again. Life’s too short. So why starve ourselves. For those who prefer eating in, why not organize a potluck? BBQ party? Or maybe steamboat to warm yourselves during winter? Good food makes people happy! So eat up!

Ho Huey Ling, KimberleyBachelor of Commerce

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Shopping

IT’S TIME TO SHOP

*NECESSITIESNew in Canberra? Looking for necessities? Check out the guidance below, hopefully it helps you look around Canberra.

Doonas, pillows and quiltsYou have got a bed but not pillows and quilt? Drop by BIG W or TARGET in CIVIC (it’s only 15minutes walk!). However if you do have the time, don’t hesitate to grab a bus from platform 6 to BRAND DEPOT. Some of them sell with much cheaper price. As for those staying on campus, some halls do sell pillows and quilts.

Electric blanket, heater, fan Electric blanket and especially heater are needed to survive through winter. Weather in Canberra is really extreme. As for summer, fan plays an important role. All these are available at BIG W or TARGET in the CIVIC. You might be able to get second hand heaters and fans on ANU Classifieds. There is some heaters that come along with air-conditioner as well.

Winter clothingThere are many varieties of winter clothing selling here with more or less the same price. However, you might be able to get cheaper jacket or sweater here during sales in the CIVIC. Every person has to have really good winter clothing and maybe long johns as the weather in Canberra are extreme!

Cutlery, plates, cups, cooking utensilsYou will need these especially those staying in self-catered hall or off campus. HOT DOLLARS, TOP BARGAIN in CIVIC are always the ideal places to drop by to get those stuff. For those who have time, it might be even cheaper to get those at REJECT SHOP in WESTFIELD BELCONEN.

International adaptorMost of the adaptors we have here are to convert Australian plug head to other plug heads. It’s difficult and expensive to get adaptors that work the other way

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round. Possibly, try to bring this from home. Or it could be obtained from DICK SMITH, JB HI-FI and BIG-W.

StationeryStationery is EXPENSIVE here. It saves you tones if you bring all these from home. Well, there is some stationery shop in CANBERRA CENTER which sells some unique stationery as well.

*SHOPAHOLICSLots of people do not know about Canberra. Don’t think that it’s a lifeless city; it could be a place for shopaholics as well.

Apparels and AccessoriesCANBERRA CENTRE will be the main shopping mall in CIVIC. Usually it open from 9am until 5pm but Friday (shopping day) is open until 9pm. Great start for the weekend! Boutiques such as SUPRE, VALLEYGIRL and ICE are the places where most of the girls drop by. They sell nice and affordable girls clothes. Of course, boutiques like GUESS, HUGO BOSS and FOREVER NEW are all here too.

BRAND DEPOT is another ideal shopping mall where all the people like to head on to. There is variety of affordable things selling here. It gets really cheap when it comes to sales. Get your way there by taking Airliner bus from platform 6 at city Interchange. It’s just somewhere nearby Canberra International Airport. Working hours will be from 10am until 6pm but BEWARE as Airliner bus stops operate after 4pm!

Newly open DFO (DIRECT FACTORY OUTLETS) CANBERRA located in Fyshwick has become another choice in shopaholics’ shopping list. Ladies and men’s fashion, children’s wear, footwear, accessories, home wares, lingerie and lots more are available here. Most importantly, it’s affordable too. Just hop on a bus from platform 4 at city interchange, get down at Newcastle Street. DFO is just around the corner.

Else, pop up onto Action bus and get yourself to other shopping malls like WESTFIELD BELCONNEN, WESTFIELD WODEN, TUGGERANONG HYPEROME, KIPPAX CENTRE and GUNGHALIN MARKET PLACE located in different suburbs. Every mall has different sales all the time.

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Electronic ItemsThere are some computers and electronics shops in CANBERRA CENTRE as well. JB HIFI, APPLE and DICK SMITHS always are the choices of people here. In fact, they do have branches at all the malls in Canberra. Not to worry that you couldn’t find them anywhere.

It might come to an easier and cheaper way for you to browse through ANU Classified for what you are hunting. Most of the items here are selling on second hand price. Just check it out whenever you free. You might found something you want or you are interested in. http://billboard.anu.edu.au/classifieds.asp

Meanwhile, some of the places and malls in Canberra do have their own website, just google them on the web. Malls’ working hours and Action bus’s operating time are something important you need to know before you head on to your destination.

*GROCERIESOf course other than all the daily use, we need food to survive as well. Groceries shopping are always essential for those who stay in self-catered halls and off-campus. Knowing where to get affordable groceries always add another cent in your account.

Cooking utensilsWell before you start any cooking, you will need cooking utensils first of course. Things like frying pan, pot, kettle, cutlery, knives, plates, and etc are all available BIG W in Canberra Centre, KMART at Westfield Belconnen, WOOLWORTHS in Dickson and COLES in Gunghalin. KMART sells with lower price compared to other shops. You might want to have a look there before you get in any other shops.

Grocery ShoppingSUPABARN, SIMPLY FRESH and ALDI in Canberra Centre will be the most convenient place to drop by every week. All the places mentioned sell more or less the same thing just that they got different sales every week. You might be able to get really cheap groceries if you do have the time to compare among the shops. ALDI always sell cheaper goods as they do produce their own brand of goods. However, they don’t provide shopping bags; make sure you bring your bags if you don’t want to pay for the plastic bags selling here. For the information of Muslims, SUPABARN sells halal meat as well as Mawson and Yarraluma.

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In fact, there are other supermarkets like WOOLWORTHS and COLES, but it’s not located anywhere near Civic. You can find them at Belconnen, Woden, Dickson, Tuggeranong and Gungahlin. Compared to the shops in Civic, their price might be lower. Not much difference in the goods sold. They have different sales every week as well. I suggest you to buy groceries in the Civic unless you really do have time, as you will have to compensate your bus fare and time if you were to go there every week. It’s much easier in the Civic.

Thinking that foods selling in supermarkets aren’t fresh enough for you? Head off to fresh food markets at FYSHWICK or BELCONNEN. These places sell fresher fruits, vegetables and meat. It might be cheap sometimes. But you will have to walk a bit from the bus stop to the markets; there is no direct bus there. For those who stay in self-catered halls, there will be trip (free of charge) getting you to the fresh food markets every week. Other than that, there are some trips that will bring you to WOOLWORTHS in Dickson as well.

Asian groceriesDICKSON, ‘Chinatown’ of Canberra. Worry that you can’t get curry paste, herbs, and spices? Dickson will be the best place of getting that stuff. There are few Asian groceries shop located here, some shops sells with cheaper price. So, do some survey before hand will be an advantage. Also, students find that they could really get cheap instant noodles here by buying a box of it. Else, there is another bigger Asian grocery at Gunghalin named THE HUB and ANGKOR WAT in Belconnen. You might be able to get better and more stuff there. To be convenient, Kim’s Groceries in Civic is another choice though it might be pricier.

Yunn Yi, WongBachelor of Actuarial Studies

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Sports and RecreationIn ANU, there is a wide variety of sports available for students to participate in. The ANU Sports And Recreation Centre, located beside Union Court has a counter for people to register according to their sport of choice.

Why there is even a gym, described as state-of-the-art in terms of its facilities in Canberra, which could be beneficial to students. The gym membership is $200 per year and considering the number of times one goes to the gym per week, this value is merely peanuts. There is also a power pass, which gives students the access to various gym classes like “Body Pump”, “Body Combat”, “Abs, Butt and Thighs”, “Salsa” and many more. The power pass is $100 per year so a total of $300 for students to use these facilities. The gym also has a circuit class conducted by the instructors and also an amazing “Cardio Theatre” which has many equipments suited for cardiovascular activities.

Back to sports, the counter right in front of the gym can be used for enquiries as to joining the club of choice. Football, tennis, futsal, swimming, mountain climbing, basketball, badminton and table tennis are one of the many different kinds of sports played at the ANU. The price is cheap too as students get a discount for booking the field or the court. Those interested in indoor sports have to pay $25 per hour while outdoor can sometimes be used for free!

The ANU has 3 fields with which outdoor sports can be played at; Willows Oval, South Oval and Fellows Oval. There are also 5 grass courts and 7 hard courts for tennis lovers to indulge in. The indoor activities are held at the Sports Hall, located right beside the gym. There is surely some form of games held there everyday and students wishing to play can just book at the front desk. As of course, there are dressing rooms for obvious purposes and also lockers where bags can be stashed. The classes for power pass students are conducted at the upper level of the gym.

In a nutshell, ANU offers a wide variety of choices when it comes to sports and games. Aspiring students should really ponder the choices and join a sport, for a healthy and a fun-filled campus life!

Thines Kumar Nadaraja,Bachelor of Engineering

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Banking, Mobile and Internet

While studying in a foreign country, you would most probably need two things to survive by yourself – cash, so that you can pay your tuition fees and all miscellaneous expenses, and a way to maintain connections with your relatives and friends back at home. This article is designed to guide you through the daunting steps of getting a bank account and mobile phone line of your own for the entire duration of your course in Canberra. I’ll try to make this article as objective as possible so as to provide a basic overview of things related to banks, phones and internet.

BankingOpening a bank account in Australia is easy, if you pass all the identification verification checks. Before we get to the verification process, allow me to introduce the “Big Four” banks in Australia:

1. Commonwealth Bank of Australia (CBA) – www.commbank.com.au

2. National Australia Bank (NAB) – www.nab.com.au

3. Australia and New Zealand Banking Group (ANZ) – www.anz.com.au

4. Westpac (and St. George) – www.westpac.com.au or www.stgeorge.com.au

Of the four banks, you would have most probably heard of the first three as they have bigger market capitalization. However, you should note that Westpac has recently merged with St George, and together, these two banks form Australia’s biggest bank.

BranchesAcquisitions aside, only the CBA and NAB have branches located within the ANU campus. However, if you are daring enough, you could venture out to branches of other banks located just within Civic, the city centre of Canberra.

All the “Big Four” banks do have branches within 5-10 minutes’ walk from the ANU.

As all banks in Australia do have their own online banking system, you only need to be physically present in the branch to complete identity verification checks and deposit transactions. Therefore, you should not make your banking decision based solely on convenience. Make sure you peruse the product

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disclosure statements on the banks’ respective websites before committing yourself.

ATMsIf convenience is your primary concern, CBA is the way to go as they have more ATMs across Australia. However, all three CBA, NAB and ANZ banks do have ATMs located on-campus, so withdrawing money while in the ANU should not be a problem.

Note though, that while you can withdraw money from another bank’s ATM, there will be a surcharge for doing so. To avoid incurring unnecessary fees, just stick to your bank’s ATM.

Opening AccountsIf you want to open bank accounts in one of the “Big Four”, you can do so even before you board your plane to Australia. To do so, just visit the website of the bank that you are interested in. You should be able to locate the accounts section under personal banking. What you should be interested in are sections on international students. There should be online application forms available for you to fill in.

It is not necessary to open an account online before you enter Australia. You might want to do this only if you want to avoid the long queues at the start of the semester when everyone rushes to open their own accounts.

However, although you can deposit money into accounts opened online, you cannot withdraw money until your account is verified. To verify your account, most banks use a 100-point system. Your passport and offer letter from ANU (or student card, if you have one) would suffice to pass this verification.

Make sure you do have your Australian residential address (where you will be staying in Canberra) ready when you verify yourself, as your ATM keycard will not be issued immediately upon verification, but sent to your mail. So, after you verify yourself, make sure you keep checking your postal box after a few days!

InterestStudent accounts in Australia usually come attached with an online savings account that is paid higher-than-normal interest rates (usually about the official cash rate determined by the Reserve Bank). One drawback of these types of account, however, is that your cash can only be accessed online, and personnel in branches cannot do this for you.

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You should also be aware that interests paid by banks are a form of taxable income. To avoid being taxed, you should provide a Tax File Number (TFN) when you do your identity verification. Otherwise, the bank is legally required to withhold tax at the highest marginal tax rate (currently 45%) from your interest.

Technical details aside, this means that you need to provide a TFN (see the article on working in Australia on how to apply for one) if you want to receive all the interest accrued to your online savings account.

Interim SummaryIn a nutshell, to open an account, you will need your passport and offer letter from ANU. Be sure to ask for a student account (to avoid all account maintenance fees), and bring alone your TFN advice if you have applied for it. CBA and NAB do have branches on-campus, and along with ANZ, they have ATMs located on-campus.

Mobile PhoneThere are a number of mobile phone providers in Australia. Common ones include, but not limited to:

1. Virgin Mobile

2. Vodafone AU

3. 3 Mobile

4. Optus

5. Telstra

There are shops within the ANU campus from which you can obtain prepay mobile services. The Union Bookstore (not to be confused with the ANU Co-op Bookstore) has an Australia Post branch from where you can obtain prepay starter packs for most operators.

Be sure to register your prepay line immediately as well as your line will not be activated otherwise (you can register online as well, if you missed the opportunity to do so when u buy the starter pack). Do note that you need an Australian residential address to register your prepay line.

Furthermore, there’s also a 3 Mobile shop near the Union Bookstore. You can do pretty much everything that you want, including buying a new phone while subscribing to the 3 network, from this shop.

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If you cannot wait to obtain a mobile line, then I suggest that you get your starter pack from one of these two places on campus, both which are located in the Union Court.

For more options, however, I suggest that you visit Canberra Centre located in the heart of Civic (refer to the article on shopping for more information).Whichever provider you choose, make sure that you select one that fits your budget or provide you with the most value.

Don’t forget to check which network your friends are on as most providers provide cheaper air time with people on the same network.

Should you feel dissatisfied with your service provider, don’t forget that you can swap providers at any time (while keeping your existing mobile phone number), so there’s a greater array and freedom of providers to choose from!

InternetThis section is primarily for students who access the internet more than the average user. Halls on campus do provide their own internet service, but as with all Australian internet service providers, all usage is capped. This means that the amount of data you download in a month is limited to an amount decided by whichever provider you are connected to.

Wireless internet (based on the HSDPA wireless network) is available throughout Canberra. Therefore, if you so choose, you can subscribe to wireless data packages that are usually bundled with a USB dongle for you to access the internet anywhere within Canberra.

Most students living on-campus subscribe to these packages as the usage cap provided by the on-campus internet provider is rather inadequate (and expensive in terms of price per Megabyte downloaded).Most mobile providers also provide wireless internet service. However, 3 Mobile and Optus have less restrictions for the application process compared to other providers.

I will leave the exercise on deciding your internet service provider that suits your budget as an exercise for you as it is beyond the scope of this article.

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SummaryI hope this article covers the basic information you need to help you decide which bank, mobile and internet service provider you choose. The information here is not extensive, but again, this article is designed to give you exposure to how banking and communication systems work here in Canberra.

Feel free to contact me or MSO if you do have any queries regarding any information that I have provided. On a parting note, I do wish you the best in your future endeavors as an undergraduate or graduate student studying in ANU. The best is yet to be!

Siau Kai-Wei, ShaunBachelor of Finance

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MSO Committee 2009

President : Weijun, LIMBachelor of Commerceu4512416@anu.edu.au

Vice President : Amanda CHOONG Shi RongBachelor of Economicsamanda87@live.com.my

Secretary : Shaun SIAU Kai-WeiBachelor of Financegandalfmuaddib@yahoo.com

Treasurer : Kimberley HO Huey LingBachelor of Commercekim_88623@hotmail.com

Committee Members:

Akmal Syazwan IDRIS malsyaz@gmail.comAron LIEW Chiah Lone aronliew@hotmail.comJess WONG Yunn Yi jesswong_she2020@hotmail.comSee Mun, MAK seemun89@hotmail.comAlex FONG Kah Ho alex_handsome_fkh@hotmail.comMuhammad Zahin ZAIDI armed_trident@yahoo.comAmirul Azrai AHMAD ISHAK ryan_rampage07@yahoo.comThines Kumar NADARAJA thinesk89@hotmail.com

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Credits

MSO would like to thank:-

1. The International Education Office (IEO) for funding the printing of this booklet.

2. The year 2007 MSO committee for sharing previous year booklets as text reference.

3. All the writers of the articles

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