Living in Brisbane

Australia is a great place to live and study in. By studying in Brisbane you will enjoy the sights and sounds of one of Australia's most visited cities. You will also be close to many of our finest east coast tourist destinations.

Life in Brisbane

With an average of 283 days of sunshine every year, there’s no better way to explore your backyard – Brisbane City and Fortitude Valley.

From riverside eats and drinks, family picnics in the gardens - there are so many reasons to love Brisbane and Fortitude Valley.

As one of the fastest-growing capital cities in Australia in terms of population and employment, people in Brisbane are young and skilled, highly educated and culturally diverse.

Find out more about visiting Brisbane and Queensland.

Safety

Your safety matters to us at Victoria University Brisbane. We foster a safe environment where you feel empowered to speak up if something bothers you, or you believe someone needs help.

You can feel confident that VU Brisbane is committed to keeping you safe while you study with us.

Our Student Services team will be on hand to offer support, advice and assistance whenever you need it. Our campuses are all tobacco and smoke-free so you can study in a healthy environment.

Brisbane is often ranked highly among the world’s most liveable cities. But, like most cities, there are some risks, especially at night. Here are some tips for staying safe.

: Avoid parks, lanes and poorly lit areas at night.
Travel with a friend whenever possible.
Check your directions before you travel.
Take care when crossing roads: look to the right and the left before you step off the curb, and use pedestrian crossings or traffic lights whenever possible.
Don’t get in a car with people you don’t know.
Don’t get in a car with someone who’s been drinking.
Wear bright clothing when you’re walking or cycling at night so that drivers can see you.
Feel free to approach police officers on the street or walk into a police station at any time.
: When you’re travelling on a train, light rail or bus, sit in the first carriage or up the front near the driver, and press the emergency button only if necessary.
Never cross railway crossings when lights are flashing or barriers are down.
: Stay alert when using ATMs, and cover your hand when entering your PIN.
Don’t give out your phone number or personal details freely.
Always buy your own drinks, especially in a bar or pub.
Never carry more than $100 in cash with you.
In an emergency, dial 000.
: Emergency services are provided to help all Brisbane residents. The staff who work for these services are trained professionals.
If you ever find yourself in an emergency you can call 000 for:
police
fire
ambulance.
This is a free call and can be dialled from all phones, even those without credit. If you place a call to any of these services, the telephone operator will provide assistance until help arrives. To speak to someone in your own language ask the operator for a translator.

Accommodation

Finding the right accommodation is one of the most important factors to consider once you have made the decision to study and live overseas. You will need to be mindful of how much your accommodation costs, how far it is from the campus and other areas, and whether there are adequate services nearby, such as supermarkets and health services.

Temporary accommodation

The following is a list of budget-conscious hotels and hostels that you may like to contact for temporary accommodation upon your arrival in Brisbane. They are a short distance of the campus in Fortitude Valley.

Australian Homestay Network

Our preferred homestay provider is Australian Homestay Network (AHN). AHN students are covered by insurances and have a 24/7 emergency phone help. The minimum stay is four weeks.

Homestay provides a cultural exchange between you and a local family or individual (called a host). You live as a guest in the host's home. Unlike many other accommodation options you do not need to pay a bond, find furniture, sign a lease or search for a property.

Living in a supportive family environment, you are provided with a clean furnished room which includes items like a bed, desk, wardrobe, chair and a study lamp. You'll have access to bathroom and laundry facilities and meal services. Utilities (electricity, gas and water bills) are also included. Hosts offer ongoing support and can show you around the local area including nearby facilities such as banks, post office, shops and public transport.

Find out more:

Visit the VU Brisbane Australian Homestay Network page
Phone +61 3 9435 6621 or 1300 MY STAY

Vacant properties or share accommodation

Search for vacant rental properties or share accommodation in Brisbane:

We recommend getting an idea of what is available, but not actually signing or paying anything until you can inspect properties and meet potential roommates.

Tenancy advice

Free tenancy advice is available from Tenants QLD and the Residential Tenancies Authority QLD.

Cost of living

While Brisbane may sometimes seem expensive, it is comparatively cheaper than other capital cities around the world.

According to Insider Guides, you can expect to spend between A$350-A$370 per week in an inner-city share house or serviced serviced apartment. Budget approximately A$50 a week for unlimited travel on train, bus, ferry and light rail services. Use the Insider Guides' Cost of Living Calculator to find out how much it costs to live in Brsibane, depending on your lifestyle.

As a condition of your student visa, you must have enough money to pay your course fees, and travel and living costs, for you and any accompanying family members while you are in Australia. You might need to provide evidence of your financial capacity with your visa application.

The Australian Government's minimum 12-month living cost is:

student or guardian - A$21,041
accompanying partner or spouse - A$7,362
accompanying child - A$3,152.

View more information about providing evidence of financial capacity (refer to Step 2) and creating a budget to manage your money while in Australia

Living costs will vary by location, and by your lifestyle. With a student card, you will be eligible for concession prices to events, the cinema, museums and more.

Working in Brisbane

An Australian student visa (subclass 500) allows you to work in Australia once your course has commenced.

You have automatic work rights if your student visa was granted after 26 April 2008. If you were granted a student visa on or before 26 April 2008, you can apply to the Department of Home Affairs (DHA) for permission to work.

Work rights allow you to work:

for the duration of your visa
once you have started your course
for a maximum of 40 hours per fortnight (40 hours per two weeks) while your course is in session
unlimited hours during the summer or winter non-teaching periods in the academic calendar.

Work that is formally registered as a requirement of your course, such as work placements, is not included in the 40 hours per fortnight limit, nor is some voluntary or unpaid work.

Please see the Department of Home Affairs website for further details.

Taxes

Students who undertake paid work will also need to apply for a Tax File Number (TFN) and complete an income tax return at the end of each financial year.

For further information, please refer to the Australian Taxation Office.

Schooling for your children

If you have children aged between 5 and 18 accompanying you to Australia, they must by law attend school. Most temporary resident students pay the temporary resident administration fee and education fee to enrol in a government school. Allow schooling costs of at least A$8,000 per year for each child.

There are many public, private and multi-faith/religious schools for all ages, which charge fees ranging from quite low to very expensive. Find out more about the schooling system and education in Queensland.

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