Student mentor program FAQs
As a new student there will be a period of adjustment when you arrive at Monash to begin your studies. This period can be stressful if you are unfamiliar with the university and the surrounding areas. The Postgraduate community has developed a mentor program to assist you with becoming acquainted with the School of Geosciences, the university and city. Upon arrival you will be assigned a contact person who will show you around the department and university, introduce you to other students and staff and help you get settled in. They will also be available to answer any questions you might have regarding departmental and university procedures and entitlements that you should know about.
Below is a series of questions and answers that are intended to provide you with some helpful tips and advice to help you get through the first six to eight weeks on campus. These FAQs are based on the experience of other new students, particularly international students, and are by no means exhaustive but are intended to save you some time in settling in here at Monash. If based on your own experience you wish to make additions to the information given below contact anyone on the Postgraduate Committee to get you input added to the webpage.
FAQs
The questions below are active links, so simple click to find out more! Getting Started:
1. How do I enrol/register once I arrive?
2. What do I have to do in order to get paid for demonstrating or lecturing?
3. If I have a partner what are their work rights and what do they have to do before they get employment? Getting Around the Department:
1. How do I get an office and a desk?
2. How do I purchase a computer or make use of other departmental resources?
3. How do I access the photocopier and get office supplies?
4. How do I get my computer account for the department? Getting Around the Campus:
1. Where is banking available on campus?
2. Where are health services located?
3. Recreation
4. Library
5. If I own a car how do I get a parking permit? Getting Around the City:
1. Driver's Licences?
2. How do I find housing?
3. How do I find furnishings?
4. Buying a car.
Getting Started
1. How do I enrol/register once I arrive?
Upon your arrival to Monash you will need to enrol in order to arrange any fees and/or scholarships, get your Monash Student Identification card and health coverage card. All of this is done at the Monash Research Graduate Centre, which is located in the Administration buildings 3c and 3d for both international and Australian students. Please make sure you provide all original documentation (transcripts etc).
2. What do I have to do in order to get paid for demonstrating or lecturing?
In order to be compensated for any casual work that you might do once you are enrolled you need to do three things.
The first is to get a work permit added to you student visa if you don't already have one. You will need to fill out a form that is available from Monash International, located at 871 Dandenong Road, Caulfield East (Caulfield campus). You will need to bring your passport, student visa and your Confirmation of Enrolment form along with a processing fee of approximately $100.00(AUD). It will take approximately two weeks to get the work permit.
The second step is to register for a tax file number. The form for this is available in the secretary's office (Room ) or at Monash International, located 871 Dandenong Rd, Caulfield East (Caulfield campus). Representatives from the Australian Tax File Office come to campus approximately twice per year usually between January and July during which time they will process the forms at the University Centre. Notice of their arrivals can be found at Monash International. Outside these scheduled visits the forms will need to be taken to any Australian Taxation Office.
The final step is get the following forms from Florita;
The first form outlines what is involved in casual employment and has three sections that need to be filled in. The second form also has three sections that need to be filled in by you. Both of these forms must be submitted to the Administration Officer before you can be paid for any work. You use the third form to log your time and give a description of the work you are doing. The supervisor of the course must sign it. This form will be submitted to the Administration Officer biweekly. A schedule for submission of time sheets can be obtained from the Administration Officer.
3. If I have a partner what are their work rights and what do they have to do before they get employment?
If you will be enrolled as a full-time postgraduate student then your partner will probably be able to work a full-time job for the duration of you candidature but it is best to consult the conditions of your particular visa as there may be differences depending on what country you are arriving from. If they are able to work they will have to go through the same procedure as outlined above. If you both go at the same time to get a work permit you can both apply at Monash International, located 871 Dandenong Rd, Caulfield East (Caulfield campus). However if your partner is arriving at a later date they will have to apply for a work permit at an Immigration office located off campus. The same fee applies.
Getting Around the Department
1. How do I get an office and a desk?
If your supervisor has pre-arranged an office and desk for you he/she can leave instructions with you, your contact or with the Administration Officer. If no arrangements have been made your contact can assist you in finding either temporary or permanent space once you arrive. Office and building keys can be obtained from Gail at the Administration Office.
2. How do I purchase a computer or make use of other departmental resources?
If your supervisor has agreed to purchase a computer for you than you can find your own computer and submit an expense report Gail in the Administration office. Normally this will be arranged before you arrive.
3. How do I access the photocopier and get office supplies?
Gail will provide you with a photocopier account number and give you just about any type of office supply that you might need. Each student has a budget of around $600.00 per year use on office supplies.
4. How do I get my computer account for the department?
Once you have an office and access to a computer you will need a departmental account so that you can receive departmental email from various groups within the department. Gail, will set you up with a username, password, email address and connect your account to the various printers as well as add you to all the relevant email lists within the department.
Getting around campus
1. Where is banking available on campus?
There are two banks located at the Campus Centre, Building 10; Westpac and The Commonwealth Bank.
2. Where are health services located?
Health Services is also located in the Campus Centre, Building 10. Health Services can be reached at extension 53175.
3. Recreation
The campus has a large sports and recreation ground, including an indoor swimming pool and almost every other sport facility.
4. Library
The Hargrave-Andrew library is located in building 30. Searches for material can be done electronically via the web. Your contact will show you where to find the building and sections that might be relevant to your work.
5. If I own a car how do I get a parking permit?
To park on campus it is necessary to buy a parking permit from the Security and Traffic department. Permits go on sale each year in January and are generally sold out by late February. Applications can be completed online. Students are restricted to buying the blue permits.
Should parking permits sell out on your campus the online system will ask if you want to be placed on a waiting list. If a permit becomes available the next person on the waiting list is notified by email.
Alternative parking options include:
Getting around the city
1. Driver's Licences?
If you are here on a student visa you do not need to get a Victorian licence and can use the licence from your country of origin or an international licence.
2. How do I find housing?
There is a housing advisory service on campus. Here you can find information about off- and on-campus housing, tenancy advice and transit accommodation. People who are looking for roommates also post ads in the University Centre.
3. How do I find furnishings?
Furnishings can be found at most department stores and many markets around the city. Second hand stores may also be of use. One of the best resources for buying used goods is the Trading Post which comes out every Thursday or can be found online. Just about anything can be found in the trading post from furniture to appliances to specialty items.
4. Buying a car.
There are many used and new car dealers in the city and surrounding suburbs. If you know what you want the Trading Post is probably a good starting point as there is never a shortage of people selling their cars privately.
When considering buying a car it is wise have it inspected by the Royal Automobile Club of Victoria (RACV). They do both on-site and off-site inspections that cost approximately $160.00 and $200.00 respectively. Contact information can be found at their website or in the yellow pages. It is also worthwhile to only consider buying a car that has a Road Worthy Certificate or if the owner is willing to get one at his/her expense since this certificate is necessary for the car to be registered.
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