Living in Townsville & North Queensland

"Lifestyles of the rich and the famous"

Townsville is located approximately 1500 km north of Brisbane (Queensland's capital city) by road, or 1.5 hours by air. It is also less than one hour's flight south of Cairns. Townsville is located in the dry tropics and has on average of 300 sunny days per year with a dry cool "winter" from April to October and a hotter, humid "summer" from November to March.

There is plenty of night life and entertainment throughout Townsville. The Flinders Street East nightclub strip provides late-night entertainment throughout the week with local and national bands regularly appearing in the city and at the University.

For the culturally inclined there is professional theatre, an active classical music scene, jazz and a professional dance ensemble.

A range of part-time and casual work is available in Townsville for international students looking to support themselves or supplement their income. This is also an opportunity to meet people and gain new skills. As of the 26th of April 2008, all new student visas come with automatic work rights. Students are able to work for up to 20 hours a week while their course is in session. Students with visas issued before this date still need to apply to the Department of Immigration and Citizenship for Permission to Work.

Townsville has an excellent range of sporting facilities and access is neither difficult nor expensive. Golf club memberships start from $400 and access to most other sporting organisations are at or less than that cost. Scuba-diving is a particularly popular sport with easy access to the coral reefs that make up the Great Barrier Reef and the offshore islands, as well as a number of world renowned wreck dives.

Bushwalking and birdwatching are also very popular with over 60% of Australia's birdlife found in the North Queensland region. Whether your interest is rainforest, Savannah, coral reefs or the outback, it is all on your doorstep when you live in Townsville.

Health facilities in Townsville are dominated by the new Townsville Hospital which includes operating theatres and specialist services. This hospital is supported by two private hospitals and a range of general practice clinics. The city also hosts a number of dental clinics and other health services including physiotherapy, radiology, podiatry, optometrists and chiropractors.

Telephone and other communication services are available through a range of regional and national suppliers including fixed telephones, mobile phones, dial-up and broadband Internet access and wireless Internet access. Local telephone calls from fixed telephones are charged at a fixed rate while national and international calls and calls from mobile phones are charged by time, but at very competitive prices.

Banking services are readily available in the city and at a number of suburban locations and are provided through Australia's national banks, along with regional banks and credit unions. Automatic Teller Machines are widely available allowing access to accounts on a 24-hour basis. Most banks and credit unions offer special account services for students and it pays to shop around to find the best services and costs available. Currency conversions facilities are available from banks and also from money exchange offices located in Townsville's main city area.

The Australian taxation includes a 10% Goods & Services tax which applies to most items. To work in Australia a student needs a Tax File Number and students are considered residents for taxation purposes. If wanting to work in Australia, a tax file number is compulsory and can be obtained by application through the employer or directly from the Australian Taxation Office (which is located in the main city area).

Townsville offers a range of facilities to support people's religious beliefs and practices including churches of most Christian nominations, a Mosque and a Buddhist temple.

Accommodation

• James Cook University (JCU) Campus: Some specially designed student accommodation is available at the JCU Campus. This includes single rooms with shared bathroom and lounge facilities. It also generally includes three meals per day and weekly cleaning. This accommodation is usually only available to full-time students.
• Houses & Apartments: A wide range of rental accommodation is available close to the University and throughout the city. Students often rent together, sharing the cost of a house. Prices will vary according to the quality and style of the premises, the location and the number of people sharing. Generally expect to pay from A$80 to A$150 and allow approximately A$100 per week per person for food and other expenses. Generally, leases run for six months duration. Check newspapers, real estate agents and notice boards for rental availability.
• Homestay: The opportunity exists to live in with a local family and experience the Australian lifestyle. Homestay involves a single or shared furnished bedroom with meals provided by the host family and is an option many high school and some university students take. Prices start from around $160 per week with short and long-term stays possible.
• Hotels & motels: Townsville has a range of hotels, motels and self-contained units. Prices are very much dependent on length of stay.
• Hostels: As a budget option, Townsville has a number of hostels offering single, twin and shared dormitory style rooms. While this is low-cost accommodation, rooms are clean and basically furnished. Meals are not usually provided but access to communal kitchen, bathroom and laundry facilities is available.

• Boarding schools: Secondary students have the option of living in on-campus accommodation in one of the region's boarding schools. The facilities vary from shared dormitories to single rooms, but all provide full meals and laundry service and a well-supervised environment for under-18 year olds.

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