Contents!

Hello My Second Home! - All about Brisbane - The University of Queensland - UQMSA - MASCA Queensland Getting Started - The Checklist - Its Time to Pack! Brisbane Here We Are! - Transportation in Brisbane - Settling Down - Jalan-jalan! Who should I contact in Brisbane?

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Hello My Second Home!

All about Brisbane
Better known as Brissy or Bris Vegas especially among Brisbanites, Brisbane is the most populous city in Queensland, as well as the third most populous city in Australia. Its metropolitan region extends along the Brisbane River, which is one of its most iconic landmarks.

Its consistent development is attributed to its wide range of retails, Port of Brisbane, ecotourism, good working opportunities and also comprehensive facilities.
Similar to the districts in Malaysia, there are many geographical subdivisions in Brisbane, which are called suburbs. Among these are St Lucia (where University of Queensland is located), Toowong, Indooroopilly, Sunnybank, South Brisbane and West End. To know more about Brisbanes suburbs, please refer to http://www.brisbane.qld.gov.au/about-council/councilinformation-and-rates/brisbane-suburbs/

The Culture

Founded: 1824 State: Queensland (a.k.a. Sunshine State) Area: 5950 km2 Population: 2.2 millions (as in June 2012) Time Zone: Australian Eastern Time Zon (UTC+10:00) Climate: Humid subtropical

Will I just come across Ang mohs (Caucasians) in Brissy?? Although English is the universal language here, Brisbane is a multicultural city just like Malaysia. About 30% of its population was born overseas, particularly from the United Kingdom, New Zealand, India and China. In 2011, Malaysia was the foreign country with the 9th most population in Brisbane, which was near 10,000. Approximately 18% of the households in Brisbane speak a language other than English, including Mandarin, Vietnamese, Cantonese, Samoan and Spanish. Among the variety of nations, Asian Australians are the largest ethnic minority in Brisbane. Hong Kong and Taiwanese-born Australians predominate areas such as Sunnybank, Sunnybank Hills, Stretton and Robertson. In fact, Sunnybank and its surrounding suburbs are known as Taiwan Town or Little Taipei due to the large population of Taiwanese. On the other hand, Asians from China, Malaysia and other Southeast Asian countries are more commonly found in metropolitan areas. Korean Australians also comprise a significant proportion of Brisbanites.

The Landmarks
Queenslanders Interesting enough, Queenslander is ambiguous it may refer to a person from Queensland or, in this case, the characteristic architecture style of Queensland. It is primarily used for residence, distinguishing Brisbanes suburbs from other capital cities. A Queenslander is constructed using timber, usually with vertical stumps that make the main living spaces off the ground. Such architecture style serves to cool the building by means of ventilation and also to protect the building from termites and other pests.

Wheel of Brisbane The Wheel of Brisbane is a transportable Ferris wheel erected at the northern entrance to South Bank Parklands, which is just across the river from the Brisbane City. It is about 60 meters tall with 42 airconditioned capsules which can accommodate up to six adults and two children each. A ride of approximately 12 minutes offers you an awesome 360 view across the city.

Do You Know?
The designer of the Wheel of
Brisbane is Ronald Bussink, a leading designer for giant Ferris wheels in in Australia, Canada, Paris, UK, USA and many other places for over 25 years. The Eye on Malaysia, which used to operate in Kuala Lumpur in 2007 and then in Malacca from 2008 to 2010, is also one of his masterpieces!

Brisbane River
With a length of 344km, Brisbane River is the longest river in the Southeast Queensland. Situated along the river are the many metropolitan suburbs of Brisbane, making it strategic to travel from one suburb to another by ferry. There are by far 16 bridges crossing the Brisbane River, among which the more renowned ones are Story Bridge, Goodwill Bridge and Victoria Bridge. 5 new bridges will be established in coming years for better accessibility.

Story Bridge
The Story Bridge is a heritage-listed steel cantilever bridge, which is the longest in Australia. Connecting Fortitude Valley to Kangaroo Point, it allows passage for vehicles, bicycles and pedestrians. It is named after John Douglas Story, a prominent public servant in Brisbane.

Do You Know?
John Douglas Story entered the Queensland Public Service in 1906. He contributed to the establishment of the University of Queensland and was a government representative on the University senate. UQ J. D. Story Building (Building 61) was named in his honour.

Founded: December 10, 1909 Commencement of Classes: March 14, 1911 Motto: Scientia ac Labore (Latin for by means of knowledge and hard work) Area: 1,376 hectares Main Campuses: St Lucia Ipswich Gatton Herston Total Students: 48,716 Undergraduate Students: 36,196 Postgraduate Students: 12,520 International Students: 11497 from more than 142 countries Top 3 International Source Countries: China Malaysia Singapore

With its 105th anniversary drawing nigh, the University of Queensland (UQ) is the oldest and largest university in Queensland. It is also the fifth oldest university in Australia, hence being regarded as a Sandstone University.

UQ is one of the members of the Australias Group of Eight, as well as Universitas 21, which is the leading global network of research universities for the 21st century. It is currently ranked in the top 100 universities worldwide owing to its contributions to the nation and the globe.

Do You Know? UQ In 2013

World University Ranking

Top 1%
QS World University Rankings

43
Meet The Chancellors! Chancellor: Mr John Story Australian National University Ranking

3
Graduate Job Rate

Top 3 Programs by Enrolment: Doctor of Philosophy Bachelor of Arts Bachelor of Engineering

Deputy Chancellor: Adjunct Professor Mary Mahoney AO

President & Vice-Chancellor: Professor Peter Hj

81.6%
Awards Received

10785

Info updated as in 2013

Services & Facilities

Student Centers
Each campus of UQ has a student center which provides a comprehensive range of services for all students. In St Lucia campus, the student center is situated at Level One, J.D. Story Building, which is just directly at the back of Chancellors Bus Stop. It is open from 8.30am to 5.00pm on weekdays.

UQ Union Complex
Albeit its official name Relaxation Block, this Building 21 of UQ St Lucia campus is better known as UQ Union Complex. This place is touted the hub of UQ student life, as it houses a variety of facilities including eateries, bank, ATMs, student services, photocopy and printing shop and so on. The student services here operate from 8.30am to 4.30pm on weekdays, catering to the students as well as the staffs personal, career, welfare and learning issues. A UQ student is automatically a member of the Union with free membership. An interesting fact about UQ Union is that it does not rely on contributions from students at all to run, but still provides support and funding to UQ clubs and societies.

Libraries
UQ has 15 libraries with up to 2 million volumes. 7 of them are located in St Lucia campus. An undergraduate student can borrow a maximum of 30 items with a standard loan period of 28 days (subjected to the type of item borrowed). There are ample studying spaces in each library equipped with computers for free usage. There are also Group Rooms available for online booking at certain libraries in St Lucia campus.

Security
There is a 24-hour security on all campuses. Below are the emergency numbers: Extension 53333 for internal calls, or +61 7 3365 3333 if external General enquiries +61 7 3365 1234 Free call 1800 800 123. For more information please go to http://www.pf.uq.edu.au/security.html.

Healthcare
Success can never be achieved sans healthy body. UQ also prioritizes its students well-being besides academic excellence. There is a clinic which provides comprehensive healthcare services in each campus. In St Lucia campus, there is also a dental clinic at UQ Union Complex. For more information about UQ Healthcare please go to http://www.uq.edu.au/healthservice/.

UQ Landmarks
Great Court
Situated in the heart of the St Lucia campus is the Great Court, surrounded by cloister and buildings constructed from sandstone, carved with historical scenes, the names of great thinkers and teachers, coats of arms, grotesques and carvings of Australian flora and fauna. The 2.5-hectare open space with a spacious meadow is always a favoured place for students and staff to sit or even lie leisurely for a respite.

Do You Know?
The Great Court is listed on the Queensland Heritage Register as well as on the Register of the National Trust of Queensland.

UQ Lakes
Apart from being one of the iconic features, this freshwater lake is also a home to a myriad of aquatic lives, birds and land animals. Some are native and some are new species that originated beyond Australia. Added to the beauty of the lake is a water fountain in the middle, making it a sight for sore eyes to behold.

Art Museum
UQ Art Museum was established in 1976, housing over 3,000 artworks collected by UQ itself since the 1940s. It was formerly located in Forgan Smith Tower before being relocated to James and Mary Emelia Mayne Centre (Building 11) in St Lucia campus. It is the Queenslands second largest public art collection. It is open to public from 10am to 4pm on weekdays (closed on public holidays) with free entry.

R.D. Milns Antiquity Museum

This museum was established in 1963, when a Red-figure Attic amphora was bought from the London auction-house to facilitate the UQ program of Classics and Ancient History. Housing several thousands of classical Mediterranean antiquities, the museum serves to support UQ students and is also open to the public with free admission from 9am to 5pm on weekdays. It is located at Michie building (Building 9, Level 2).

Wanna have a virtual tour around UQ St Lucia campus beforehand? Go to http://www.uq.edu.au/maps/index.html?menu=1.

University of Queensland Malaysian Students Association

The University of Queensland Malaysian Students' Association (UQMSA) is an official student body for UQ Malaysian students, affiliated to the Malaysian Students Council of Australia Queensland Division (MASCA Queensland) as well as UQ Union. UQMSA is also a non -profit association run by Malaysian students. Our activities are based in the St. Lucia campus. However, students from other UQ campuses and universities as well as non -students are welcomed to join us too. In fact, we do have a few non-Malaysian members as well! UQMSA primarily aims to unite UQ students from diverse backgrounds by promoting Malaysian culture through fun-filled social and cultural activities. We also wish to bring a piece of home to all members through our activities whereby everyone gets to gather, have fun and share the joy together. From welcoming barbeques to outdoor excursions to Mamak Night when you have the chance to taste Malaysian authentic delicacies (Nasi lemak, Satay, Kari, Rendang, *SLURP!*), fun is on its way and homesickness goes away! So lets come together in a true Malaysian spirit and enjoy our wide array of activities alongside the awesome Malaysian food. Just come to our booth at UQ Great Court on UQ Market Day (26th Feb) and sign up as our member! Heaps of fun await you! Hope to see you there! At the meantime, check out on our updates on Facebook and give us a LIKE! :D https://www.facebook.com/UQMSA Do check out on our blogspot as well (http://uniqmsa.blogspot.com/). If you have any queries always feel free to drop us a message on our Facebook page or email us (uniqmsa@gmail.com).

Malaysian Students Organizations

MASCA Queensland MASCA stands for Malaysian Students Council of Australia. It is a non-profited student organization supported by the Malaysian Students Department of Australia (MSDA), which cares for the Malaysian students welfare in Australia. MASCA Queensland is one of the many MASCA state chapters all over Australia, which are established in New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, Tasmania, Western Australia, the Australian Capital Territory and Northern Territory. MASCA Queensland is akin to the backbone supporting and unifying 5 affiliated Malaysian students organizations in this Sunshine State, which comprise of UQMSA (University of Queensland Malaysian Students Association), UMNO Queensland, BUMA (Bond University Malaysian Association), QUT MySA (Queensland University of Technology Malaysian Students Association) and PPMQ (Persatuan Pelajar Muslim Queensland). Check out more about MASCA Queensland on http://masca.org.au/index.php/state/qld and their recent updates on https://www.facebook.com/MASCA.Queensland.

Things to be completed before youre ready to fly!

Obtain Certificate of Enrolment (CoE) from the University Apply for a student visa Apply for Overseas Student Health Coverage (OSHC) Arrange for a medical checkup Check passport expiry date (at least 6 months) Book flight ticket, print flight itinerary Bring along some cash/travelers cheque with you Sort out temporary/permanent accommodation Arrange for transport from airport Have an Australian address available for filling up the incoming
passenger card

Bring along Australian adapters

Details and guidelines in the following pages.

Getting Ready to FLY!

But wait What Should I Do or Prepare?

No worries! Here we go, step by step guide. =)

1. Confirmation of Enrollment (eCOE)
Do check with UQ or your agent for an electronic copy of your COE, which is needed for application of a student visa and for further reference. 2. Applying for Student Visa Student visa can be applied through the Australian Government Immigration and Protection Border Department (http://www.immi.gov.au/). If you are applying through an agent your helpful agent will help you with the application. What you need to do is to submit all the required documents to your agent before the due date as requested. 3. Arranging for a Medical Checkup All visa applicants must meet Australias health requirements. If you need to undergo a medical examination, the visa office will contact you. Do not do any checkup until you are asked to do so. Note that there are only certain clinics in Malaysia with approved panel doctors where you can perform medical checkup for visa application. Check out on these clinics on http://www.immi.gov.au/Help/Locations/Pages/Malaysia.aspx. 4. Flight Booking Do bear in mind that the Orientation Week starts on 24th February (Monday), and that you will have to take some time to settle down before welcoming a pretty hectic (yet FUN!) uni life. So it is advisable to arrive in Brisbane a few days or a week prior to the commencement of Orientation. If you need more guides on planning when to fly off, please visit www.uq.edu.au/international-guide/ when-to-arrive. There are a few options of airlines to come to Brisbane. But do take note of the destination MAS will reach Brisbane International Airport, whereas Airasia and Jetstar will reach Gold Coast Airport. Different destinations will have different ways of transportation to reach your accommodation, and below are some guidance. 5. Booking Airport Pickup Transport UQ provides FREE pickup transport from Brisbane International Airport to your accommodation for new international students. Please check for the terms and conditions prior to booking on http://www.uq.edu.au/student-services/accommodation/airport-reception. If your flight will be landing at Gold Coast Airport, you may resort to LINK Transfers, a shuttle bus service that covers more than 60 suburbs. For more information or to make a booking, please go to http://www.linktransfers.com.au/.

6.

Searching for Accommodation

UQ does provide services for both on-campus and off-campus accommodation (http://www.uq.edu.au/ student-services/accommodation). This link also provides information on the legal stuffs such as the responsibilities as a tenant and a landlord that you should take note of. If you wish to stay on -campus, there are 10 residential colleges in St Lucia campus for you to choose from (http://www.uq.edu.au/studentservices/st-lucia-residential-colleges). Different colleges have different datelines for applications, so please visit their respective web pages for more details. Staying on-campus is definitely more convenient to access to UQ facilities, but it also means a much higher rate compared to off-campus accommodation. If you are studying at St Lucia campus, renting a house in St Lucia itself would be of great convenience. Otherwise, staying in other surrounding suburbs like Toowong, Auchenflower and Indooroopilly are fairly convenient too with the comprehensive network of public buses.

To look for houses to rent, please go to http://www.realestate.com.au/rent. It is always recommendable to inspect the house before renting, so you will get to know the actual conditions and the exact location of the house, as well as whether it is fully, partially or non-furnished. Some agents wont mind not having inspections but the responsibility of that decision will be on you.

7.

Completing You Enrolment

You will have to add your courses to complete your course registration on mySI-net (https://www.sinet.uq.edu.au/ ). You can find the courses of your program and their codes on http://www.uq.edu.au/study/. Here are a few simple steps to follow: 1) On mySI-net homepage, click Add Course for Semester 1, 2014. 2) Enter the course code and press Enter. 3) Scroll to the bottom, click Add Course. 4) Double check your chosen course before clicking Enrol me in this course. 5) Repeat for other courses. Remember that you need to get this done by 14 March 2014. Also update your personal details under the category Personal on the Menu on the left.

8.

Classes Sign-on on mySI-net

For certain classes of certain courses, you will be automatically assigned to a class of a fixed time. For the rest, you need to register (sign-on) for classes according to your preferred time. The sign-on is usually open three to four weeks before semester begins. However before the sign-on is available, you have to arrange your timetable beforehand. 1) Check the time of classes of your courses on mySI-net. Click Courses on Menu Click Courses Timetable and Information Key in course code, press Enter Tick the box of your course Click Next Step. You will then find a table with all the information regarding your classes. 2) Go to UQRota to arrange your classes (https://www.uqrota.net/). Click Add Course on your right, and you can start arranging your timetable which best suits you. 3) Keep an eye on the sign-on date on mySI-net. You will see a hypertext Signon on the homepage of mySI-net when it is almost available. Click it and check for the date and time of the courses that you need to sign on. 4) Upon signing on, click Signon and Signon Available. Then tick the box in the row of your preferred class, and click Save.

You are advised to sign on right when it is open, since your preferred classes may be full within minutes! And do bear in mind that the sign-on time is Brisbanes time. So if the sign-on time is 9:30am, unless you are already in Brisbane, please make sure you wake up early on that day to sign on at 7:30am!

Friendly Reminder

 Malaysian Identity Card Valid Passport

Flight Ticket
Australian adapter(s) & Malaysian extension plug(s) Documents: eCOE & relevant acceptance letter, transcripts, driving license, others Clothes You may find it scorching hot at noon but freezing cold at night especially

when the piercing cold wind blows. This also happens during some winter days. You should also have come across some news regarding the extremely high temperature in Brissy this summer, in fact reaching 50C! So do pack some thin clothes for hot weather (especially if you wish to stay for summer) and some thick and windproof winter clothes.

Footwear Comfortable ones are especially important, since walking will be part of

your daily routines in Australia. For girls, fully enclosed shoes and boots are recommendable for winter. However remember to clean your shoes thoroughly before entering Australia. The government is very particular in any possibilities of bringing in soil contamination that could adversely affect Australias ecosystem.

GOOD Umbrella

If possible, look for one with strong metal ribs. Wind in Australia can be very strong and destructive to your umbrellas!

Enough Stationery (Stationery in Australia can be costly!) Medicines (if necessary) Mobile Phone, laptop and other gadgets (Dont think millennials will forget about these :P)

Personal necessities (e.g. cutlery, containers, sunscreen etc.) Enough CASH (both Australian dollars and Malaysian Ringgit)

Heres a rough estimation of your monthly expenses, but bear in mind

that it varies from person to person.

Category Rental (Including water, electricity and gas) Mobile phone & Internet Transportation Food & Groceries Entertainment Total

Weekly Expenses (AUS $) 200 20 15 50 30 315

Monthly Expenses (AUS $) 800 80 60 200 120 1260

For more information on things allowed and prohibited to bring into Australia, please refer to http://www.daff.gov.au/biosecurity/travel/cant -take.

Brisbane Here We Are!!

Settling Down
The first few weeks might be grueling for you to establish yourself in a whole new environment. Fear not. Here are some guidelines so you will have some inkling of what to start off with. But before this, you will need to have some ideas of the transportation in Brisbane in order to travel around. Public transportation here is provided by TransLink, a division within the Department of Transport and Main Roads. There are 3 types of public transport: buses, trains and ferries (a.k.a. CityCat). You can travel by all these transport with one single card, known as go card.

Do You Know?
CityCat doesnt get its name from the animal cat, but catamaran, a vessel consisting of two parallel hulls of equal

size.

Ticketing and Fare Brisbane region is divided into 23 zones, which radiate out in concentric rings from the centre of Brisbane. These zones are used to determine the travel fare for passengers. You can travel for FREE within an hour after you touch on the card (This is called Continuation). Another good thing is you can enjoy FREE transport for the rest of the week (Monday is considered the first day of the week) after using your go card for 9 times in that week! The fares for each zone are listed on http://translink.com.au/tickets-andfares/fares/current-fares.

What If Ive Forgotten My go card? You will have to buy a paper ticket on the bus or ferry or train station. You will be charged normal adult price, which is twice the concession price. So always remember to bring your go card along with you!

No Idea on How to Travel Around?

No worries! TransLink provides a very useful journey planner to help you figure out the various possible ways to reach your destination. Go to http://jp.translink.com.au/travelinformation/journey-planner.

Now you have got some ideas on how to travel around. :)

1. Get Your Student Card

It is advisable to get your student card on the first day of Orientation Week, since you need your student ID for many other applications. You can collect it at Duhig Building (Building 2), St Lucia campus from 8:00am to 4:45pm on weekdays. You will have to bring along your passport and you COE in order to collect your student card.

2.

Buy a Concession Go Card

Now youve got your UQ student ID, and you are eligible for a green go card with concession price, which means HALVED the normal adult fare. *HOORAY!* You can buy a go card at many of the Queensland Rail stations, some busway stations, selected newsagents and 7-Eleven stores where you see the buy symbol. The most convenient location would be the UQ Newsagency beside Co-op Bookshop, opposite to Commonwealth Bank in St Lucia campus. Remember to show your student ID! * Do register your go card online at https://gocard.translink.com.au/webtix/. You will then be able to check your travel history and to top up your card via bank account online. Just in case if you accidentally lose your card, you can immediately transfer your remaining credit to another registered go card. This will render your previous card unusable, and you wont suffer any lose. A win-win situation it is!

3.

Open a Bank Account

There are several banks that you can choose from, including Commonwealth Bank, ANZ (Australia and New Zealand Banking Group Limited), NAB (National Australia Bank) and Westpac. The first two are more recommendable due to their plethora of ATMs and branches especially in the centre of Brisbane city. There are also Commonwealth Bank and ANZ branches at UQ St Lucia campus, which conveniences your application for a bank account. Below are the links of each bank: Commonwealth Bank: https://www.commbank.com.au/ ANZ: http://www.anz.com/personal/ NAB: http://www.nab.com.au/ Westpac: http://www.westpac.com.au/

4. Get a Mobile Sim Card

A mobile number is needed not only to let you contact your family as soon as possible, but also when applying other stuff such as bank account. There are a few options of telecommunication companies that you may choose from, and the more commonly used ones are Vodafone, Optus, Telstra, TPG and Virgin Mobile. Just like in Malaysia, there are postpaid and prepaid plans. If you wish to purchase a brand new phone, then you would have to resort to postpaid plans, and many people would recommend Vodafone as it provides relatively cheaper packages. You can also sign up for postpaid plan without a phone. Otherwise a prepaid sim card will do too.
Something interesting about Australian mobile is that what you pay for is not equivalent to the value of credit given to you. With several tens dollars paid, you are entitled for credit worth a few hundred dollars for calling and texting, as well as mobile data in one month. Another good point is that calling to people using the same provider is FOC! About the prices? Well, it can have a wide range, depending on which package you opt for, and whether it comes with a phone or not. If it comes with a phone, the cheapest would be around $30 per month, and this can go up to more than $50 or $60. Without a phone, the cheapest plan would be TPG, which comes with its internet and home phone bundle package, and this mobile plan costs only $15 per month! However if you do not purchase this bundle package under TPG, you will not be entitled for such a cheap deal. So do check out properly on each and every mobile company and their packages. Below are the links to each companys website: Vodafone: http://www.vodafone.com.au/personal * Friendly Reminder: Vodafone is also available in UK, so do search for Australias one carefully! Optus: https://www.optus.com.au/ Telstra: http://www.telstra.com.au/ TPG: http://www.tpg.com.au/ Virgin Mobile: http://www.virginmobile.com.au/ *Again, a friendly reminder, Virgin Mobile has another network coverage in US, so be careful when searching online aight! There are Vodafone and Optus stalls at Toowong Village, a shopping center in Toowong, just about 10 minutes away from UQ St Lucia by bus. Indooroopilly and

5.

Setting Up Home Internet

Internet is a must for every uni student. If your accommodation does not provide internet, you will have to set up on on your own. Most telecommunication companies do provide ADSL internet services. Many students opt for Optus for its commonly touted better reception, or TPG for its less pricey bundle packages (ADSL + home phone). Their stores are available in Toowong, Indooroopilly and Brisbane CBD. You may also apply online on their websites.

6.

Ordering OSHC Worldcare Card Online

An Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) card provides you with the basic cover for medical and hospital care costs in Australia throughout the valid duration of your student visa. To find out more and to order your card, please go to https://www.oshcallianzassistance.com.au/. The card will be sent to your address in Brisbane for your convenience.

7.

Shopping for Groceries and Household Utensils

After dealing with so many applications, its time to make sure that you have all your daily necessities and that your home pantry has enough food to feed yourself! There are 3 supermarkets in Brisbane with many chains all over Australia Coles, Woolworths and Aldi. The first two can be found in more locations, such as Toowong, Brisbane CBD, Indooroopilly, West End and Sunnybank. There might also be small grocery stores nearby residence in certain suburbs. An example is the St Lucia Supermarket which sells some Asian groceries too. Cheaper household utensils can be found at Kmart in Toowong, Indooroopilly and Sunnybank. If you wish to look for Asian groceries, there are several Asian supermarkets around Brisbane CBD such as Formosa, Koz and Hanaro. However, Chinatowns in Brisbane Sunnybank and Fortitude Valley certainly provide more options. Some examples are Yuens Market (at both Sunnybank and Fortitude Valley), WELCOME Fresh Food Supermarket (Sunnybank), Garboro Asian Supermarket (Fortitude Valley) and Burlington Supermarket (Fortitude Valley). There is also a morning market selling vegetables, fruits, meat and also breakfast every Saturday, from 8am to 12noon at Davis Park, West End. The most convenient way to get there is by CityCat. * Friendly tips for Muslim friends: You can get Halal food from Yuen s Market and Halal meat from Ismails Butcher at Fortitude Valley. Nandos here are selling Halal meat too. For more guidelines on seeking Halal food in Brisbane please refer to http://www.halalfoodbrisbane.com/?content=groceries.

St Lucia & Surrounding Suburbs

UQ Facilities Map

When everything has been settledIts time to

Jalan-jalan!

Whereabouts to travel
1. Brisbane Central Business District (Brisbane CBD) This is the heart of Brisbane as well as Queensland, which is on the northern bank of Brisbane River. Alongside its densely concentrated buildings, there are also several parks such as Roma Street Parkland, City Botanic Garden and Wickham Park. The city can get very crowded on Friday nights and whenever there are Australian festive celebrations. The more happening streets in the city are Adelaide Street, Queen Street and Elizabeth Street. Shopping malls, boutiques, eateries, coffee shops and Asian marts are all around. A true heaven for shopaholics and food lovers! * Friendly Reminder: Shops operated by Aussies (except for those for nightlife) are usually closed around 4-5pm. They will only extend the opening hours to no later than 7 or 9pm on Thursday or Friday. So never ever do your shopping in late evening! Also do check the business hours if you wish to go late so you wont be let down. Markets and restaurants run by Asians are open until nighttime.

2. Gold Coast Being the second most populous city in the state and the sixth most populous city in the country, Gold Coast is a coastal city on the east coast of Australia. Its surfing beaches, canal and waterway systems, theme parks, nightlife, and rainforest hinterland make it a fascinating attraction for tourists. There are many beaches along the coast, including Surfers Paradise, Mermaid Beach, Rainbow Bay, Main Beach and so on. Besides visiting beaches for the breathtaking views, you will also come across shops and skyscrapers just beside the beaches. A must-go place for shopaholics is Harbour Town, the first and largest brand direct outlet shopping centre in Australia.

3. Sunshine Coast About 2-hour drive to the north of Gold Coast will lead you to Sunshine Coast, also known as the little brother of Gold Coast. This is an urban area with more laid-back lifestyle. Its pristine beaches and nature are the main captivation for tourism. Interesting places include Noosa, Coolum, Maroochydore and Mooloolaba.

4.

Mount Coot-tha

Mount Coo-tha, located 6km to the west of Brisbane CBD, is 287 meters above sea level, therefore the highest peak in Brisbane. Due to its high altitude, it is a favoured place for Brisbane lookout, where you can enjoy a panoramic view of Brisbane city. Apart from the lookout point, other places of attraction are Mount Coot-tha Botanic Gardens, the Cosmic Planetarium and Herbarium.

5.

Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary

Wish to have a close look of the Australian wildlife? Then this is where you should go! Lone Pine was founded in 1927 and is the world's oldest and largest koala sanctuary. It is located in the suburb of Fig Tree Pocket. Besides koalas, you will also be able to see kangaroos, platypus, other mammals as well as a myriad of birds and reptiles.

Who Should I Contact in Brisbane?

If you encounter any emergencies such as a crime happening right at that moment, life threatening events or if you suspect any offenders in the area, call the emergency number 000. This is the common emergency number for police, ambulance and fire brigade. If the cases are less urgent, such as willful property damage, stealing offences, break and enters, stolen vehicles and lost property, call Policelink on 131 444. If you have any queries regarding your courses or living in Brisbane, always feel free to contact UQMSA. We are more than happy to help you out.

EMAIL: uniqmsa@gmail.com FACEBOOK: www.facebook.com/UQMSA TWITTER: twitter.com/uqmsa BLOG: uniqmsa.blogspot.com.au