Brisbane

Brisbane is the largest city in Queensland, and a major centre for business, education and recreation. With a sub-tropical climate and open learning environment, it is an ideal place to begin your Australian adventure. 

Brisbane Australia

Climate

One of Brisbane’s most appealing traits is its beautiful weather.  With the state’s slogan being “Beautiful one day, perfect the next”, it is little wonder why Brisbane has become one of Australia’s most attractive places to live and study.

Summer December – February 21 - 29.8 °C
Autumn March – May 17 - 26 °C
Winter June – August 10 - 21 °C
Spring September – November 16 - 26 °C

Visit Australian Government Bureau of Meteorology website for more information.

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Health Facilities

If you came to Australia on a student visa, you have already paid for health insurance together with your tuition fees. This gives you insurance cover with OSHC Worldcare for basic medical and hospital fees all over Australia. When you visit the doctor, pay the bill and keep the receipt. Apply online (www. oshcallianzassistance.com.au) for a refund of the standard doctor’s fee set by the Government (this may be less than the fee you paid the doctor). If you haven’t received your OSHC Worldcare card yet, (it could take 3-4 weeks to arrive), keep the doctor’s receipts until it arrives and then apply for a refund. Direct Billing means that if you hold a current OSHC Worldcare policy and attend one of the providers listed, the bill will be sent directly to OSHC Worldcare for payment and you will not have to submit a claim. Some Medical Providers may charge you a co-payment. A ‘co-payment’ is an amount that you will have to pay and that cannot be claimed for a refund. We recommend that you download the app: www.oshcallianzassistance.com.au/app.
If you ever have an emergency and need help from FIRE, POLICE or AMBULANCE SERVICES dial (free) 000 from ANY public telephone or mobile telephone.
Brisbane offers many doctors and dentists to choose from should you need to be treated. There are also chiropractors, physiotherapists, podiatrists, dieticians, optometrists, Chinese medicine, natural therapies, and many more specialists. A very useful tool to help find any of the services you require is the yellow pages website (https://www.yellowpages.com.au/).
Remember to bring your health care card with you to any appointment if you currently hold one.

Entertainment & Places to Visit

The most popular festival in Brisbane is The Ekka which is held in August each year and runs for about two weeks. There is also the famous River fire festival along South Bank Parklands which lights up the Brisbane River with its spectacular fireworks display. The Caxton Street Seafood and Wine Festival always brings the streets alive, which is full of entertainment, fresh seafood and a great place to make new friends.  Some of the most popular places to visit in Brisbane include City Botanical Gardens, Roma Street Parklands, Steve Irwin’s Australia Zoo, Mt Cootha and of course the beautiful Gold Coast (which is only a 45-minute train ride away).

There are also major theme parks which attract millions of visitors each year:

 

In addition, there are several attractive places near Brisbane which are only a ferry or short flight away:

Public Transport

Brisbane’s public transport network is very extensive, comprising of train, bus and ferry services.  This includes the free City Loop Buses, and are all easily connected by purchasing a GoCard via Translink. By downloading the Translink app, you can also receive real-time updates about when the next train, bus or ferry will arrive. However, Brisbane locals are known for their love of the great outdoors and cycling is a big part of life.  The roads have been modified to include cycle paths and there are also various cycle paths around Brisbane. In addition there are also City Cycle terminals where you can hire a bike and leave it at another cycle centre of your choice.

Driving

If you have had a licence in your own country for more than a year, you can apply for an Australian Driving Licence, but you must pass a driving test. If you are on a Student or Working Holiday visa and studying for 10 weeks or less you can drive using your International Licence, if you already have one.

For more information please visit Department of Transport and Main Roads website.

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