Financial Foundations for International Students
Adjusting to money management in Australia can feel overwhelming. We help international students build confidence with Australian banking, budgeting strategies, and practical financial skills that actually matter.
Start Your JourneyBanking Basics
Opening your first Australian bank account shouldn't be confusing. We break down account types, fees, and what documents you'll actually need when you walk through those bank doors.
Budget Planning
Living costs in Australian cities vary wildly. Learn realistic budgeting approaches that account for rent, groceries, transport, and yes — occasional weekend plans with new friends.
Student Discounts
Your student ID is worth more than library access. Discover concession cards, transport discounts, and hidden savings that many international students miss in their first year.
Learning Money Skills That Last
Most financial education feels like reading a textbook. Ours doesn't. We run workshops where you actually practice filling out tax forms, comparing phone plans, and understanding rental agreements.
The goal isn't just surviving financially — it's building habits that serve you throughout your degree and beyond. Many past participants tell us they still use the budgeting spreadsheets we created together back in 2024.
Our facilitators include former international students who remember feeling lost in Woolworths, staring at prices and trying to convert everything back to their home currency. That shared experience matters.
Your Financial Pathway
We designed our program around the actual challenges students face during their first 18 months in Australia. These aren't theoretical — they're based on conversations with hundreds of international students.
Arrival Essentials
First month priorities: setting up banking, understanding Australian tax file numbers, navigating payment systems, and avoiding common financial mistakes that cost newcomers hundreds of dollars.
Semester Management
Balancing study hours with part-time work limits. Creating realistic budgets that survive textbook costs and unexpected expenses. Learning when to cook at home versus when meal deals actually save time.
Work Rights
Understanding your visa work conditions, superannuation contributions, and what happens at tax time. Plus, recognizing fair pay rates and knowing when employers aren't following Australian workplace laws.
Long-term Planning
Building credit history in Australia, managing currency exchange for family support, and preparing financially for post-graduation decisions — whether that means staying or returning home.
"I wish I'd found fudarmoraulara during my first semester instead of my second year. The tax workshop alone saved me from making errors on my return. And honestly? Just having someone explain Centrelink in plain language helped me realize I qualified for benefits I didn't know existed."
Program Details & Next Steps
Our next international student cohort begins September 2025. Sessions run fortnightly on Saturday mornings — we chose weekends specifically because most students work or have classes during weekdays.
The program spans eight weeks with optional follow-up sessions throughout 2026. Each workshop accommodates 15-20 students maximum. We keep groups small because financial questions often get personal, and people share more openly in smaller settings.
Cost is 0 for the full program — less than what many students spend on a single textbook. Payment plans are available because we understand the irony of charging large upfront fees for financial education.
