If you plan to bring your family or dependants (wife/husband or children) with you to Australia, you will have to consider specific arrangements for their visas and living arrangements. You will also need to budget your living costs accordingly.
The decision to bring your family to Australia is a very serious commitment and you should be fully aware of what needs to be arranged for them. The staff at Macquarie International will assist you in making these arrangements, but there are many things that you will have to take care of by yourself.
Past experience has shown that it is a good idea to come to Australia without your family initially, to give yourself time to make all of the necessary arrangements for them before they arrive. This will be much less stressful for both you and your family, as you will have had some time to settle into Australia and therefore in a better position to assist them.
For further information please email iss@io.mq.edu.au
If members of your family unit who are not included in your initial student visa application would like to join you in Australia later, you must nominate them to join you and they must make a separate visa application.
You must complete the Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) Form 919 Student Dependant Nomination and send it, along with the documents you are required to provide, to your dependant(s) overseas.
Your dependant(s) should complete DIAC Form 157A Application for a student (temporary) visa and lodge it, together with your completed Form 919 Student Dependant Nomination and the documents you have provided, at an Australian diplomatic post overseas.
DIAC Website
Spouses on dependant's visas can apply for full-time study in Australia as full fee paying students and must change to a student visa status in their own right.
Spouses of postgraduate international students are entitled to work full time, while those of undergraduates are able to work only 20 hours per week.
Dependants can apply for the right to work, after their student partners have commenced studies. These regulations are set by the DIAC.
DIAC Website
Information for International Students with Children
International Students with Children guide.
(PDF - 818K B)
International students with children have unique needs and International Student Services (ISS) has provided the information in this guide to assist you and your family adjust to your new life in Australia.
A Sydney publication, you may find helpful, is a free magazine called Sydney’s Child. They also have a website. It has a lot of useful information about activities and resources for children, as well as some articles about current issues. This free magazine is usually available from schools, pre-schools, day care centres, Doctors’ offices, family friendly businesses and Public Libraries.
If you have any questions about your children’s needs that aren’t answered in this booklet, please do not hesitate to ask us and we will find the answer for you. If you have any suggestions or feedback for this booklet please email us at iss@io.mq.edu.au
If you would like to read the comments of Macquarie University students with children please visit our site of the Macquarie Globe.
