Time difference
Victoria is within the Australian Eastern Standard Time GMT+10 (AEST) international time zone. In October of each year, clocks are moved forward for one hour for Daylight Saving. Clocks are moved back in April of the following year.
Water
Tap water in Australia is completely safe to drink so there is no need to purchase bottled water. You can use a reusable bottle and fill up at taps in the School, out in public and in your homestay provider home.
Activities, Trips, Adventures and Excursions
If you are boarding at Corio Campus, your House staff will offer opportunities for excursions and activities on the weekends and evenings, both on and off the campus. This may include trips to the beach, activity centres, movies, shopping centres, and theatre or exhibitions.
There is much to do in Geelong and Melbourne (and around Victoria and Australia) on weekends, exeats and school holidays, including shopping centres, movie cinemas, food and drink, festivals, exhibitions, sporting matches, and day trip opportunities. Some further examples of things you may do, by yourself, with your family or homestay provider are included on the Overseas Student Programme Hub.
Climate and Weather
The Victorian climate is mild and comfortable. Weather can change quickly though, sometimes more than once a day. Like all countries in the southern hemisphere, Australia’s seasons follow the sequence as follows:
- Summer – December to February
- Autumn: March to May
- Winter: June to August
- Spring: September to November
The minimum and maximum temperatures may vary by location, including proximity to mountains. The Timbertop Campus location is ordinary far colder in winter than the locations of other campuses, and may see temperatures close to 0, including snowfall during winter.
You can find more Victorian weather information at the Bureau of Meteorology website.
Bushfires
During the summer, and particularly during days of high temperatures and wind, Victoria is at high risk for grassfires and bushfires to occur.
GGS is alert to the risk, however, the GGS campuses have not to date been impacted by a bushfire or grassfire. GGS has an emergency management plan (EMP) in place for each of its individual campuses, which includes details of the responses in the case of a bushfire or grassfire at or near a campus. The School also undertake regular fire evacuation drills at each of its campuses, to ensure staff and students are aware of what to do in the case of an emergency. GGS will communicate with staff, students and families if an emergency occurs.
Please advise the Overseas Student Manager if you would like further information about your campus EMP.
Working in Victoria
If you are aged over the age of around 14 years old, your student visa lets you work while you study in Australia.
While your study and co-curriculars at School may not leave much time for you to work during School Term time, you may choose to do so in school holiday times. Because working during the School Term may affect your studies and opportunities to engage in co-curriculars and sport, if you do wish to work during the School Term, you should discuss this with your Head of House and Head of School before commencing a job.
If you decide to take a part-time or casual job, you must begin your studies before starting work. You can then work up to 48 hours per fortnight during the School Term, and full-time during school holidays.
If you have further queries about work, please speak to the Overseas Student Manager. They can assist you to ensure you have the necessary items to commence work (including a Tax File Number) and also assist you to ensure that any employment is with a ‘reputable’ employer and that you understand your rights at work. If you are working, and you are worried about your work conditions or anything happens that you feel is not right, you should contact the Overseas Student Manager immediately.
For more information on working in Australia, please see Fair Work Ombudsman.
Insider Guides
Insider Guides are comprehensive, free guides for international students, carefully researched and created by expert locals and fellow international students. This is for older students (entering University) however provides some good information and guidance on life in Australia and Melbourne. https://insiderguides.com.au/international-student-guides/