High-quality education and training, plenty of support services, a desirable lifestyle and up to four years of post-study work rights for international students—there’s never been a better time to study on the Gold Coast (GC).
Whether you’re just starting out on your adventure or you’re about to make the finish line, there are student support services available to you at every point on your journey.
Gold Coast Student Hub
Study Gold Coast has built the GC’s reputation as a study destination through advocacy, education and partnership to make it Australia’s favourite classroom. Their initiatives include the Gold Coast Student Hub—a networking, collaboration and study space designed by students for students.
Services in the Hub include:
- Careers support
- Mental health and wellbeing care
- Accommodation/rental advice
- Help with adjusting to life in Australia
- Referrals to Legal, Social or Community Organisations
Student support appointments are available for all current students from Monday to Wednesday through your preferred method of communication.
Student support officers
Nicole Berstein is a student support officer at the Hub who empowers students by helping them overcome a range of practical and personal problems. Nicole moved from Argentina over 11 years ago and has a wealth of knowledge and advice to share. We spoke to her to gain her insights on all the services the Hub has to offer.
Nicole’s number one piece of advice for international students: “Ask for help early.” The key, she explains, is to challenge yourself and be proactive in improving your situation. The most successful students are the ones who make more than one appointment with a support officer. “Especially because it’s a free service – a ‘no brainer’ like you would say!”
So, what are the most common issues you might encounter as an international student, and how can you resolve them?
Employment support
According to Nicole, about four out of every five appointments are about seeking employment support. She and other support officers can help in a number of ways, such as:
- Resume writing
- Interview practice
- Industry-specific job readiness e.g. getting a Responsible Service of Alcohol (RSA) certificate for working in hospitality
- Career pathways
- Networking opportunities
- LinkedIn presence
While it may be frustrating when you begin this employment journey, support officers like Nicole are incredibly experienced in navigating through it: “It is challenging to communicate in two pages who you are and your story, especially if English is your second language!”
Study Gold Coast offers some great resources that can help get you started on your search:
- Use the Gold Coast Careers Explorer to see what opportunities are available
- Have a look at their list of Online Career Tools for planning and research
- Secure your next job with interview tips and resume templates here
- Gold Coast Student Jobs offers some exciting internships and job openings
Mental health and wellbeing
Student support officers are a great ear for when you simply need someone to listen. “[It isn’t] a flawless journey, I am there for students when they struggle…when they are confused, lonely, homesick and when they question their decision to ultimately be in Australia.”
Your mental health and wellbeing are incredibly important. There are free and confidential resources you can use at any time, such as:
- Lifeline Australia— (+61) 13 11 14
- Beyond Blue— (+61) 1300 224 636
- Headspace— (+61) 1800 650 890 (for under 25s)
As an international student, some of the cost of seeing a psychologist may be covered by your Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC). Get in contact with your provider for more information.
Homesickness
Experiencing homesickness is a perfectly normal part of being an international student. “I experience homesickness very often myself”, Nicole says, “even after 11 years of living here.” Her advice is twofold: don’t go silent when you are struggling, speak to your loved ones when you miss them and be honest; and secondly, take action to create a nurturing community of people around you.
Friendships and socialising
Making friends in a new place may feel like a daunting task, but there are many social events and activities in the GC to get you started. “The opportunities are there,” Nicole explains, “but you have to get yourself out there with your very limited English and try your best to create a meaningful life abroad.”
- Check out the Hub calendar to see what events are coming up
- Try a website like Meetup to find groups who share your hobbies
- See what sporting clubs are available to join at your university
- Join a Parkrun event (it’s free!) and meet some likeminded runners
Read more: A Step-By-Step Approach to Making New Friends
Housing support
QSTARS is a free independent advice and referral service for all Queensland renters. They can assist you with:
- Understanding your rights and responsibilities
- Support with resolving tenancy issues
- Help with rental administration e.g. writing letters, filling in forms
- Help with preparing for tribunal hearings
Check out the Hub calendar to see the events they’re hosting each Tuesday in October.
Have a look at Study Gold Coast’s breakdown here to see the different types of accommodation available to you.
Life abroad
Living abroad in the GC is not without its challenges, but it comes with some awesome perks. “In Argentina, I kept saying, ‘I am moving here because there are lots of opportunities in Australia’ but I underestimated how much it is up to us to make what we want to make of our life abroad.” With a little courage, optimism and using the resources and support available to you, studying in the GC is an incredibly rewarding experience.
