IDP Education launched its Your Friend in Australia campaign last year in time for the July intake in Australia. Australian universities typically have two intakes – February and July.
As part of the campaign, welcome desks are set up at the Sydney and Melbourne International Airports for students who apply through IDP. For the February intake this year, the service was operational from February 4–24.
Students show their IDP offer letter at the desk and receive an IDP Welcome kit. The kit comprises a phone card (to call home), a student diary, a map of Sydney or Melbourne, transport timetables (very important), a keychain, and some discount booklets.
According to Kheng-Fui Chew, IDP's head of operations, Gulf states, "We understand that our students arrive in Australia after spending 13 to 14 hours in a plane. They are bound to be mentally and physically tired. Many of our students really appreciated the service as they could ask for transport directions, how to get out of the airport, how to travel to their pre-booked accommodations, etc."
Orientation tour
The welcome desk also provides information about the complimentary Melbourne and Sydney Orientation Tour. The three-hour tour, organised by the IDP offices in Melbourne and Sydney, is helpful for students to understand how the city functions. It provides a lot of practical information such as the location of the post office, major train stations, etc.
IDP Education is a global company offering student placement and English language testing services. It has a network of over 75 student offices in 29 countries. It was founded by Australian universities in 1969.
- The writer is the director of Counselling Point Educational and Social Services
Alumni network
Are you a graduate from an Australian institution? Join alumni network MEGAA or the Middle East and Gulf Australian Alumni network. "MEGAA is an initiative of the Australian Government Department of Education, Science and Training and its regional office at the Australian Consulate-General in Dubai.
All graduates residing in the Middle East with an Australian qualification are entitled to join" said Nada Salha, manager - Gulf States, Australian Education International, Australian Consulate General Dubai.
- Log on to MegaaNetwork.com for more information.
- R.M.
Pre-departure briefing sessions
The IDP offices in Dubai and Abu Dhabi conduct at least four pre-departure briefing sessions in a year. These are usually conducted in January and June, prior to the February and July intake of students in Australia.
Each session runs for about two hours and includes a presentation and a Q&A session. Sometimes, an officer from the Australian Trade Office, an alumnus or a university representative is invited to address students.
Those attending receive a pre-departure booklet that covers topics such as what to pack; what to do on arrival in Australia; student visa guidelines; information about accommodation, Australian culture etc.
"It is important to conduct these sessions a few weeks before the students are due to travel to Australia," said Kheng-Fui Chew, IDP's head of operations, Gulf states.
"They are understandably anxious and excited, and want to be as well prepared as they can be. They will have many questions on their minds such as Are they allowed to work? How much cash to bring to Australia? What are the things that cannot be carried into Australia by law? … We are usually able to answer a majority of their queries in these sessions."
- R.M.
Aussie Slang
- Arvo: Afternoon
- Aussie: Australian (pronounced ‘Ozzie');
- Ace!: Excellent! Very Good!
- Barbie: Barbecue (as in have ‘a barbie')
- Bizzo: Business (as in ‘mind your own bizzo')
- BYO: Bring Your Own
- Chook: A chicken (for lunch, for dinner)
- Click: Kilometres (as in ‘the library is 1 click away')
- Down Under: Australia (and New Zealand too)
- Exy: Expensive
- G'Day: Hello! (pronounced ‘gidday' and short for ‘good day')
- Hooroo: Good Bye (pronounced ‘ooroo')
- Good Onya!: Good on You! Well Done!
Did you know?
When English settlers first landed in Australia, they noticed a strange animal that jumped extremely high and far. They tried asking the Aboriginal people using about this animal. They responded with ‘Kan Ghu Ru'. The English then adopted the word kangaroo. What the Aboriginal people were really trying to say was – ‘We Don't Understand You!'
- Source : IDP Education Australia
