Japanese
Brazilian (Portuguese)
Spanish (Espanol)Frequently Asked Questions
When can I start?
What happens when I arrive at QIBA?
Where is QIBA?
What can I do on the Gold Coast?
What is the weather like?
I have heard about the wonderful beaches What should I bring / be aware of?
If I get sick, what happens?
How do I phone home?
Will I need a bank account so I can transfer money?
Can I get a job in Australia?
How will I get around on the Gold Coast?
What do I do if I have a problem?
I want to attend religious services in Australia, what do I do?
How do everyday prices compare between Australia and my home country?
When can I start?
Any Monday, QIBA accepts students to begin ENGLISH COURSES. Please check the QIBA calendar for term dates and holidays.
What happens when I arrive at QIBA?
When you first arrive for classes, you will be met and welcomed by Simone Short, the Registrar. You will be taken through a short induction process, explaining to you the rules of the Academy, who to go to for help and where your class is. If you are an International Student, you then meet the Director of Studies, Helmer Lich who will assess your English level so that we can place you in the correct class. Business and Australian students are taken directly to class where you meet your teachers and fellow class mates.
Some additional orientation information is given on days 2 and 4 of the course so that students gradually become familiar with the QIBA routine.
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Where is QIBA?
QIBA is located in Coolangatta which stands on the Queensland - New South Wales border beside Tweed Heads. This is where the Gold Coast begins and offers a combination of cultural and environmental parks, together with the entertainment of major theme parks, Dreamworld, Seaworld and Movieworld. QIBA is in Showcase on the Beach Shopping Centre which provides students with ready access to local transport, shopping, banking, police, hospitals and local doctors.
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What can I do on the Gold Coast?
- Enjoy swimming, surfboard riding, windsurfing, boating fishing and crabbing from clean uncrowded beaches, estuaries and rivers.
- Driving within one hour of Coolangatta offers breathtaking scenery of tropical fruit plantations, sugar cane fields and lush rainforests and football clubs.
- Golf, tennis and football clubs welcome casual and serious players
- Shopping Centres in the Twin Towns, Robina City and Pacific Fair allow you to shop until you drop!
- A day visit to Brisbane, the Capital City of Queensland is only one and a half hours by car or a little longer by bus or train.
- International restaurants and nightclubs offer a wide variety of food and entertainment.
What is the weather like?
The Gold Coast region is blessed with 300 days of sunshine and blue skies each year. The climate is subtropical.
SUMMER: December, January, February
AUTUMN: March, April, May
WINTER: June, July, August
Average Temp.11 - 21°C (52 - 70°F)
SPRING: September, October, November
Average Temp. 15 - 25°C (57 -77°F)
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I have heard about the wonderful beaches What should I bring / be aware of?
SURF SAFETY
The Gold Coast has a long-standing commitment to surf safety. The Gold Coast City Council employs 24 permanent and 55 temporary lifeguards to patrol 17 beaches daily. During school holidays 26 beaches are patrolled using 4WD vehicles, a helicopter, elevated surveillance towers and in-shore rescue boats. The Council's service is backed by hundreds of volunteer Surf Life Saving Association members and their rescue equipment includes a helicopter, inflatable rescue boats and jet boats. Always remember to swim between the flags.
SUN SAFETY
Students must be aware of exposure to the sun during outdoor activities. Wear a hat, long sleeve shirt and SPF 15+ broad - spectrum suncream.
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If I get sick, what happens?
MEDICAL SERVICES
If you are on a STUDENT VISA then your Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) will cover you for the length of your VISA, not just your course. OSHC is a very cheap way of covering yourself in case of injury or illness.
There are numerous 24 hour clinics available as well as the Gold Coast Hospital, Tweed Heads Hospital, John Flynn Private Hospital plus others. Medical standards are very high in Australia. Please check the OSHC brochure for finer details. Students on tourist and working holiday visa must make their own medical insurance arrangements.
THE EMERGENCY PHONE NUMBER THROUGHOUT AUSTRALIA is
000 for Fire, Ambulance or Police and is a FREE CALL.
How do I phone home?
Local, national and international calls can be made on a public payphone. You can use 10c, 20c, 50c, $1.00 coins or a telephone card. A local call from a private telephone costs 25c or 50c from a public telephone.
Telephone cards are available from places displaying the "PHONE CARD SOLD HERE" sign. (Newsagents, Post Office, Convenience stores)
Telephone Interpreter services are available 24 hours. National 13 14 50 (local call charge). This is a FREE SERVICE.
I would like to stay in touch with people from my home country while I am in Australia. Can I do this?
The Gold Coast and Brisbane regions have numerous international clubs that offer support to their own people living outside of their country of birth. eg. Italian, Korean, Indian, Chinese, Japanese, Polish, Dutch, Austrian, Indonesian, French etc Please contact the QIBA counsellor for the latest information.
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Will I need a bank account so I can transfer money?
It is advisable to open a bank account before or after arrival to which you can transfer funds from overseas. You will need your passport and another form of identification to do this.
QIBA will assist if required.
International credit cards including Mastercard, Visa Card and American Express are widely accepted in Australia. You may also be able to use Diners Club and JCB cards.
Travellers Cheques are another safe method of carrying money. Several Banks such as National Australia, Suncorp, Commonwealth, Bank of Queensland, Westpac and ANZ are located within 5 minutes from QIBA.
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Can I get a job in Australia?
The Department of Immigration and Multicultural Affairs (DIMA) permits you to work up to 20 hours per week and full time during vacations on a student visa. This must not interfere with your studies. Working in an English speaking environment can greatly assist your language development and cultural understanding
- Tourist Visa students are not permitted to work.
- Working Holiday students are permitted to work full time
How will I get around on the Gold Coast?
The local bus services are located right outside the college. Interstate bus services are located 5 minutes walk away in Tweed Heads.
Coolangatta airport is 5 minutes’ drive from QIBA and offers flight connections to many destinations within Australia and the rest of the world. Sydney is a one hour flight from Coolangatta and Cairns is a two and a half hour flight.
Taxis and limousines offer personal transport services.
Bicycles are popular because of economy, exercise and easy bikeways along beaches and roadways.
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What do I do if I have a problem?
If a student requires counselling or wishes to make a complaint please follow the procedures below.
A. Course or Study Matters
Stage 1: Programme co-ordinators / Teachers
Stage 2: Director of Studies
B. Accommodation and Activities Matters
The accommodation and Activities Officer will be the normal resource person, with the Principal Administrator available for any extreme problems.
C. Fees, Refunds or Transfers
The Principal Administrator is the normal resource person, with the Managing Director available for extreme problems.
If a student is not satisfied with the resolution of QIBA he / she may apply to:-
The Ministerial Committee (CRICOS),
I want to attend religious services in Australia, what do I do?
In Australia everyone is free to worship in their own way. As a multicultural society most religions are represented in the Gold Coast region. Please consult with QIBA Principal or Office Manager for your religion's location.
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How do everyday prices compare between Australia and my home country?
| Item | Australia |
| Twin share accommodation in an apartment (weekly) | AUD$130 to $160 |
| Movie ticket (with student ID) | AUD$8.50 |
| Hamburger | AUD$5.00 |
| Cappuccino | AUD$3.00 |
| Steak (rump) per kilogram | AUD$20.00 |
| Bacon (per kilogram) | AUD$10.00 |
| Chicken per kilo | AUD$10.00 |
| Sausages per kilo | AUD$8.00 |
| Bread (loaf) | AUD$2.00 |
| Butter (500 g) | AUD$2.50 |
| Milk (litre) | AUD$1.50 |
| Cheese (500 g) | AUD$4.00 |
| Eggs (dozen) | AUD$3.00 |
| Sugar (kilo) | AUD$2.00 |
| Tea (50 bags) | AUD$3.00 |
| Coffee (150g) | AUD$4.00 |
| Potatoes (kilogram) | AUD$2.00 |
| Oranges (kilogram) | AUD$2.50 |
| Tomatoes (kilo) | AUD$3.00 |
| Petrol (litre) - today! | AUD$1.05 |
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Day to day living is generally much cheaper in Australia than in many other parts of the world.
The Gold Coast is one of the most beautiful, clean and easy to live in city areas in Australia. It has a wonderful climate all year round, no air pollution and beautiful beaches.