Living and Working in Ballarat, Australia
Information Pack
CONTENTS
WHY ACU?
3
LIVING IN AUSTRALIA
4
Medicare and private health insurance
4
Banking
4
Taxation
5
Superannuation
5
5
Useful websites for living in Australia
LIVING IN BALLARAT 6
Natural attractions and climate
7
Cultural attractions
7
Housing and property
8
Schools and education
8
Getting around Ballarat 9
Cost of living
10
More information about Ballarat
10
This information booklet has been developed to provide you with relevant information about your living and working
arrangements within Ballarat, Australia. We acknowledge that moving and working within a new country is an exciting
experience and there are many logistical aspects to consider, therefore ACU wishes to make this transition as easy for you as
possible. Please consider the information in this booklet as a general guide to working in Australia and the Australian way
of life, with a particular focus on Ballarat.
Our information booklet contains general information and is to be used as a guide only. In Australia and as an employee
within this country, it is solely your responsibility to make decisions around the financial, legal and medical affairs
that affect you. ACU takes no responsibility or liability of the accuracy of the information provided in this document or
information provided on the listed websites. This booklet does not constitute legal or financial advice, not does it endorse
the products/services listed throughout.
WHY ACU?
We’re unique
Where we are
We empower our students to think critically
and ethically, and gain the skills to bring
about genuine change in their communities,
professions and industries, guided by a
fundamental concern for justice and equity,
and the dignity of all human beings. When you
join ACU you know you will not only be joining
a university, but one that strives to uphold its
mission and emphasise its Catholic identity.
ACU has six campuses around Australia
– Brisbane, North Sydney, Strathfield,
Canberra, Melbourne, and Ballarat. ACU has
approximately 23,000 students and over 1,500
staff.
ACU lives its mission daily: through community
engagement programs on the Thai-Burma
border, working with Burmese students to
have access to internationally recognised
qualifications in higher education; through
our unique Clemente Australia program
that brings university level education to
disadvantaged Australians; through assisting
the East Timorese rebuild their educational
infrastructure and programs; through
our nursing students undertaking clinical
placements in rural Australian communities
and in Vanuatu. These are just a few examples
of how ACU creates links with broader
communities to make a genuine difference.
3
We value you
As a publicly funded university, we
welcome staff and students of all beliefs
and backgrounds, and uphold a respectful,
open-minded and culturally diverse learning
environment.
Mission and Values
Our Mission and Values underpin everything
that we do at ACU, and the standards of quality
in our teaching, research and service. We are a
community characterised by free inquiry and
academic integrity.
The University’s inspiration, located within over
2,000 years of Catholic intellectual tradition,
summons us to attend to all that is of concern
to human beings. It brings a distinctive
spiritual perspective to the tasks of higher
education.
LIVING AND WORKING IN Ballarat, AUSTRALIA. Information Pack
Through fostering and advancing knowledge
in education, health, commerce, the
humanities, the sciences and technologies
and the creative arts, ACU makes a specific
contribution to its local, national and
international communities.
The University explicitly engages the social,
ethical and religious dimensions of the
questions it faces in teaching and research,
and service.
ACU has a primary responsibility to provide
excellent higher education for its entire
diversified and dispersed student body.
Our Vision
ACU is Australia’s outstanding Catholic
university and a leading Catholic university in
the world. Teaching and researching within
the great Catholic intellectual tradition, it is
national in its reach, public in its relevance and
committed to the common good.
For more information about ACU, visit our
website – www.acu.edu.au
Living in Australia
Australia has an enviable reputation for
being one of the most accessible and liveable
countries in the world. Diversity lies at the
heart of Australia – in our culture, population,
climate, geography and history. For this reason,
we are so welcoming to new people who come
to join us.
Australia is multicultural and multiracial,
which is reflected in the food, lifestyle, culture
and experiences. Australia’s population is
approximately 22 million people, with most
living in New South Wales and Victoria.
Canberra is Australia’s capital city and its
political centre. However, the capitals of NSW,
Sydney, and of Victoria, Melbourne, are the
most populous cities. Australia’s population
is concentrated along the coastal region of
Australia from Adelaide to Cairns, with a small
concentration around Perth, Western Australia.
The centre of Australia is sparsely populated.
With its natural beauty, Indigenous culture,
a vibrant cultural life and pleasant climate,
Australia is an easy place to live. To help you
to settle in Australia, the following sections
outline what you will need to do when you first
arrive and start working. You will need health
cover, a bank account, and a Tax File Number,
when you first start working.
Medicare and private health insurance
The Australian Government provides help with
basic hospital and medical expenses through
a program called Medicare Australia. Newly
arrived migrants can check their eligibility to
enrol in the Medicare program by going to
a Medicare office with their passports, travel
documents and visa information.
Most temporary visa holders are not eligible
to enrol in Medicare and must have their own
private health insurance prior to arrival in
Australia. This is referred to as Overseas Visitor’s
Cover. This insurance scheme helps with the
cost of treatment in private hospitals, dental
or optical care or transport in ambulances
(which are not covered by Medicare). There are
exceptions – for example people on temporary
visas who have applied for a permanent visa
and meet the necessary rules, may be able to
access Medicare.
provides further details regarding eligibility.
The Human Services website provides
information about the countries that have
Reciprocal Health Care Agreements with
Australia and eligibility for Medicare.
Private health details
For Medicare information for visitors from
the Republic of Ireland and New Zealand see:
www.humanservices.gov.au/customer/
publications/ma1856-36
Online: www.health.gov.au/internet/wcms/
publishing.nsf/Content/private–1
Some temporary visa holders from certain
countries can access limited reciprocal health
care under Medicare. This relates to immediate
necessary treatment in public hospitals only,
not to elective health care. The Medicare
website (www.medicareaustralia.gov.au)
For Medicare information for visitors from the
United Kingdom, Sweden, the Netherlands,
Finland, Belgium, Norway, Slovenia, Malta
and Italy see: www.humanservices.gov.au/
customer/publications/ma1856
Banking
Banking institutions in Australia range from
local credit unions that provide services to
members through to large national banks as
well as a range of overseas banks. There are
four major banks in the Australian banking
sector: ANZ Bank, Commonwealth Bank,
National Australia Bank and Westpac. However,
you should investigate whether your current
bank has a presence in Australia, as many of
4
the European, UK and American banks have
established branches locally.
It is best to open a bank account within six
weeks of arriving in Australia, as only a passport
will be required as identification. After the six
weeks, you will be asked for extra identification
in order to open an account.
You can also open an Australian bank account
LIVING AND WORKING IN Ballarat, AUSTRALIA. Information Pack
from overseas by visiting the particular bank’s
website and searching for “Open an Australian
bank account”. You can also ask your overseas
bank whether they have branches in Australia
and if they will open an account for you.
The www.bankers.asn.au website has more
useful information regarding our major banks
and banking systems.
Taxation
All Australian residents pay taxes on their
income when it exceeds a certain amount each
year. Taxable income includes a salary from
a job, business earnings and interest earned
on money deposited in a bank or from other
investments. If you are working in Australia on
a temporary visa, your tax liability will depend
on your time spent in Australia, your visa status
and the source of your income.
The Australian tax year runs from 1 July to
30 June. Under Australian law, most people
are required to lodge a tax return each year,
containing details of all income earned from
all sources and taxes paid. In most cases, tax
is deducted directly by employers from each
salary payment and paid to the Australian
Taxation Office (ATO). This is called ‘Pay As You
Earn’ (PAYE) tax.
A 1.5 per cent Medicare Tax Levy is payable by
all residents in Australia. Temporary residents
can apply for the Medicare Levy exemption
when lodging their tax return, as they are not
eligible for Medicare.
For further taxation information, please
contact the ATO or a qualified taxation adviser.
ATO
Telephone: 132 861
Online: www.ato.gov.au
Tax File Number application
To be eligible to receive income in Australia,
you will need to have a Tax File Number (TFN).
You can phone the ATO on 132 861 to obtain
a TFN application form or online at www.ato.
gov.au This is one of the first things you will
need to arrange prior to starting work.
If you do not provide your employer with a tax
file number, you will not be able to claim the
tax free threshold, which means that you will
pay more tax.
If you are a non-resident of Australia for
taxation purposes, you can apply for a TFN by
using the Tax file number-application or enquiry
for individuals living outside Australia form or
visit www.iar.ato.gov.au to apply online (if you
hold a current working visa). You will receive
your TFN no more than 28 days after the ATO
receives your completed application and
required documentation. All documentation
you send to the ATO will be returned to you by
registered mail and the TFN will be forwarded
to the postal address listed on the application
form.
SALARY PACKAGING OPTION
At ACU, you are able to salary package a
range of items, such as motor vehicles and
laptop computers out of pre-tax salary, which
will effectively lower the tax you pay and
increase your take-home pay. Additionally, as
a rebatable employer, the University is eligible
for a rebate of 48 per cent of the amount of
Fringe Benefit Tax (FBT) that would otherwise
be payable on salary packaged items, up to a
limit.
Superannuation
In Australia, superannuation is compulsory for
most employees. Superannuation is a savings
program that ensures workers have money
to live on when they retire. In most cases,
the money is not accessible until you reach
retirement age. Employers are required by law
to contribute to an employee’s superannuation
fund. Nine per cent is the minimum rate
that employers are required to pay into an
employee’s superannuation account and some
industry funds pay higher than the minimum.
In the higher education and research sector,
employees are employed under awards or
agreements that require the University to
make a higher percentage contribution into
superannuation. The superannuation fund
universities use is UniSuper. Your conditions of
employment and superannuation entitlements
will be outlined in your letter of offer.
There are some exemptions from the
requirement to pay the minimum nine per cent
for temporary visa holders who are covered
by their own country’s social security system,
providing Australia has an agreement with
that country. Temporary residents may claim
the money in their superannuation fund, when
departing Australia. Please note: this will be
subject to withholding tax.
Further information on superannuation
and taxation is available from the Australian
Taxation Office (ATO).
Telephone: 132 861
Online: www.ato.gov.au or
UniSuper 1800 331 685
Useful websites for living in Australia
Australian Government:
www.australia.gov.au
www.ato.gov.au
Settle in Australia:
www.immi.gov.au/living-in-australia/settlein-australia/beginning-life/_pdf/eng.pdf
A 46 page booklet about Life in Australia:
www.immi.gov.au/living-in-australia/values/
book/english/lia_english_full.pdf
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LIVING AND WORKING IN Ballarat, AUSTRALIA. Information Pack
Living in bALLARAT
Around 5 million people live in Victoria, the
second largest population of any state in
Australia. Ballarat is home to around 90,000
people. It offers a combination of well-suited
location, exceptional services and prosperous
lifestyle.
As a new resident to Ballarat, you are eligible
to apply for and join the New Residents
Program hosted by the City of Ballarat,
providing that you have been in Ballarat
less than three (3) months. This program is
6
designed to welcome you to Ballarat and to
help you settle into your new lifestyle quickly
and easily. You will receive a New Residents
Welcome Booklet and the invitation to attend
four new resident functions throughout the
year. This booklet includes thousands of
dollars worth of vouchers to assist you as you
settle into your new home.
To apply, visit the City of Ballarat- Customer
Service section at the Phoenix Building, 25
Armstrong Street South, Ballarat. You will
LIVING AND WORKING IN Ballarat, AUSTRALIA. Information Pack
need to bring the following documentation to
claim your package:
• a signed contract of sale; or
• a rental agreement of at least six months
or more;
along with one of the following documents:
• a driver’s licence; or
• Photograph ID
Natural attractions and climate
Ballarat is well renowned for its rich gold
heritage and was home to the richest alluvial
goldfield in the world. Long after the gold has
run out, the city retains much of its heritage.
An important asset to Ballarat is Lake
Wendouree, a man-made lake covering 200
hectares, located a couple of kilometres west
of the town centre. The lake’s reed beds and
islands are an important oasis for bird life. The
Botanical Gardens are also popular for tourists
and locals alike, situated near the western side
of the lake and featuring a floral conservatory,
fernery, lawns and an avenue of bronze busts
of all the Australian prime ministers. A vintage
electric tramway operates along Wendouree
Parade between the Botanical Gardens and
lake foreshore.
The Ballarat region has a temperate climate of
cool to mild temperatures with four distinct
seasons.
Other notable attractions include Creswick
National Park, Skipton Rail Trail ( 55 kilometre
trail which goes through native grasslands),
Season
Average maximum
Average minimum
Summer (December to February): warm to hot
24°C
12°C
Autumn (March to May): mild
17°C
7°C
Winter (June to August): cool to brisk
9°C
3°C
Spring (September to November) cool to mild
16°C
6°C
Cultural attractions
Ballarat has enjoyed a rich and prosperous
heritage thanks to the Gold Rush which began
in 1851. History comes to life in Sovereign
Hill, a recreated gold township of the 1850s
with regular demonstrations, street theatre
performances, gold panning, mine tours and
shopping experiences of the era. The Eureka
Centre is situated close to the site of the 1854
Eureka Stockade Rebellion where miners
and officials engaged in a bloody battle over
miner’s rights.
7
Enfield State park and the Great Dividing
Range.
Notable buildings include Ballarat’s Town Hall
(built between 1870 and 1872), Her Majesty’s
Theatre (1875) and Craig’s Hotel which was
built in several stages between 1853 and
1891. Other cultural attractions include The
Art Gallery, Gold Museum, the medieval Kryal
castle and the Aviation Museum.
The Ballarat Bird World and Wildlife Park
is a great attraction for families, as is the
Ballarat show, a three day event held at the
showgrounds.
LIVING AND WORKING IN Ballarat, AUSTRALIA. Information Pack
Housing and property
Once you have decided on working and
settling in Ballarat, your next step is to find
somewhere to live. Generally, people rent
or buy a house or an apartment through a
licensed real estate agent.
Properties for sale or rent are advertised in
daily newspapers, usually on Saturdays, as well
as various internet sites and through estate
agents. Some popular real estate websites are:
www.realestate.com.au and
www.domain.com.au
Local real estate agents can help you to
find houses or units in your price range
and preferred location. The websites above
provide agent details under ‘Find an Agent’.
Temporary residents are generally restricted
from purchasing property unless the
temporary visa is valid for more than
12 months. The restrictions in place for
temporary residents are governed by the
Foreign Investment Review Board (FIRB)
and you will need to apply to this Board for
approval if you wish to purchase property.
Please refer to: www.firb.gov.au for more
information.
If you will be renting a unit or house, you will
need to sign a written agreement with the
landlord or real estate agent so any terms and
conditions are agreed to and documented.
This is known as a lease or a residential
tenancy agreement, which is a legal
contract between a tenant and a landlord
and will usually be for a fixed period of six
or 12 months. However, you are entitled to
negotiate the time period of the lease before
you sign. You may be able to renew a lease at
the end of a fixed-term period.
The lease will also set out the weekly or
monthly rent payable as well as additional
payments, such as one month’s rent in
advance and a rental bond. A bond is a
deposit paid to the landlord and is generally
the equivalent of one month’s rent unless it
is a furnished property. The landlord or realestate agent must lodge your bond with the
Residential Tenancies Bond Authority.
Schools and education
Ballarat is in a class of its own with some of
the finest primary and secondary schools in
Australia and several high-quality tertiary
educational institutions.
The city boasts two Universities, (including
ACU), a TAFE Institute, nine secondary schools
(four government and five private) and over 50
primary schools.
If you have school-aged children, you should
enrol your children in a school as soon as
possible. All children aged between six and
17 must attend school. Primary school is for
children from Grade Prep (the preparatory
year) to Grade 6 in VIC. Secondary school (also
known as high school) is from Year 7 to Year
12. To attend a government school in Victoria,
your child must be five years of age by 30 April
of the year they start school.
Victorian children usually begin secondary
high school at 12 years of age. It is a legal
requirement that students attend school until
they complete Year 10. In the final two years,
students complete the Victorian Certificate
8
of Education (VCE) or the Victorian Certificate
of Applied Learning (VCAL) to graduate from
secondary school.
Other useful websites for schools and
education in VIC: www.education.vic.gov.au ;
www.eduweb.vic.gov.au
Students attend school on weekdays, Monday
to Friday, usually between the hours of 9.00am
to 3.00pm. However, some independent
schools may have compulsory activities
on Saturday mornings, such as school
representative sport.
The school year runs on the calendar year,
beginning in late January and ending in
December for the summer holidays. Students
attend school for about 40 weeks per year,
divided into four school terms. Holidays
between each term typically last for two
weeks, while the summer holiday break,
from mid-December to end January, is for six
weeks.
There are two major types of school in Victoria
for both primary and secondary level:
• public schools (also known as state schools
or government schools)
• independent schools (non-denominational
or religious schools, including Catholic
schools).
Details about State government (public)
schools can be located at:
www.study.vic.gov.au
Details about Independent Schools Victoria at:
www.independentschools.vic.edu.au
LIVING AND WORKING IN Ballarat, AUSTRALIA. Information Pack
Public schools are fully funded by the
government and free to attend. However, you
are usually asked to pay a voluntary school
levy per student per year. You will also need
to pay for uniforms, some books and extracurricular subjects. Independent schools
are fee-paying schools and you will need to
apply directly to the school of your choice to
see if your child is accepted and then pay the
annual fee. Some independent schools offer
scholarships or bursaries.
Photo: Ballarat City Council
Getting around Ballarat
Getting around Ballarat is easy; the city is well
signposted and easy to navigate, as the central
business district is built around a well planned
grid.
Public transport
An extensive local bus network and a fleet of
taxis make Ballarat accessible without the need
to drive. Regular and reliable rail services run
between Ballarat and Melbourne through
V/Line services that run from and to Southern
Cross station in Melbourne. Services depart
Melbourne regularly for the 119-kilometre
trip that takes approximately 1 hour and 15
minutes.
V/Line offers travellers affordable ticket
options, including inexpensive off-peak and
family tickets. Pre-purchase your V/Line ticket
and on the day of travel you can take public
transport from your front door all the way to
your destination. Your ticket includes travel on
Melbourne metropolitan services and local bus
services in Ballarat.
For more information about Ballarat’s public
transport system, visit:
www.metrotrains.com.au or
http://ptv.vic.gov.au or www.vline.com.au
9
Driving yourself
The most important rule for driving in
Australia is that we drive on the left-hand side
of the road. You must also wear a seatbelt and
have your licence with you when driving or
you will be fined. In Ballarat, the speed limit
on the open road rises to 100 kilometres per
hour and, in some sections of freeway, 110
kilometres per hour.
The Western Freeway (A8) radiates out
of Ballarat and is dual carriageway which
bypasses the central city to the north of the
urban area, providing a direct road connection
to Melbourne. Road transport and motor
vehicles are the main form of transport.
Drivers’ licences are issued by state and
territory governments and usually require
applicants to pass a knowledge test, a
practical driving test and an eyesight test. A
person cannot drive without a valid licence.
Holders of temporary visas may drive in
Australia on their overseas licence, provided
they have a current driver’s licence from
another country in English (or with an official
translation). Qualified NAATI translators can
assist in the translation to English.
LIVING AND WORKING IN Ballarat, AUSTRALIA. Information Pack
Permanent resident visa holders are allowed to
drive in Australia for the first three months after
arrival on their overseas licence, provided they
have a current driver’s licence, which has been
translated into English if in another language.
After this time, they need to apply for an
Australian state or territory driver’s licence.
Go to the VicRoads website www.vicroads.vic.gov.au for more information.
Cost of living
One of the concerns for anyone wishing to
move to a new country is the cost of living and
whether they will have a better standard of
living if they make the move. To assess this you
need to do your own research.
Your research should include an assessment of:
• your current situation - how much money
you have to bring in, whether you are selling
property overseas and your expectations in
terms of where you will live and the size and
type of accommodation
• your future situation - how much you will
earn after tax and day-to-day cost of living to
maintain the standard of living you expect
• standard of living or quality of life - many
people moving to Australia are looking for
a higher standard of living while others
are looking for a better quality of life. You
need to decide what it is you are looking for
and whether the balance is right for you in
making the move.
In the most recent Mercer Cost of Living report
from March 2012, most of Australia’s major
cities – Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth and
Canberra – ranked in the top 30 most expensive
cities in the world. Melbourne is currently
ranked 15th. However, while some things are
relatively expensive in Australia compared
to other countries, there are a lot of leisure
activities that are free or very affordable. If you
want to compare the costs of living in Ballarat
with the cost of living in your home city, you
can obtain a copy of the Mercer Cost of Living
Report on www.mercer.com.
There is a Victorian Government website www.liveinvictoria.vic.gov.au that contains
information on the cost of living, as well as
information on housing, education and child
care. Expenses that you should consider before
moving to Ballarat include the following:
Household
• Rent or mortgage costs
• Food and groceries
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• Clothing and shoes
• Personal care and cosmetics
• Medical costs and health insurance.
Family
• Childcare
• Education costs including school fees, books,
uniforms, camps, excursions.
Other
• Debt expenses including repayments on
personal loans, car loans, credit cards
• Expenses involved in owning your own
home – such as home and contents
insurance, council rates and water rates
• Savings including superannuation
contributions and regular investments
• Utilities such as electricity, gas and water
• Sports and hobbies
• Telecommunications, including telephone,
mobile phone and internet access costs
• Entertainment including films, theatre,
newspapers, magazines, books and music
• Furniture and appliances.
• Holidays
Transport
• Gifts
• The cost of buying, registering, servicing and
running a vehicle
• Car insurance
• Public transport costs.
More information about Ballarat
LIVING IN BALLARAT
BALLARAT CAMPUS (AQUINAS) DETAILS
www.liveinvictoria.vic.gov.au
www.acu.edu.au/about_acu/our_campuses/
ballarat_campus/
www.cometolifeballarat.com
Personal
LIVING AND WORKING IN Ballarat, AUSTRALIA. Information Pack
• Take-away food and restaurants