International Student Advisers (ISA's) understand the needs, concerns and interests of International Students, and provide information and assistance to students from before their arrival to Australia through to their returning home. A list of key roles includes:

Before arrival

• Pre-arrival enquiries and issues of concern
• Updating and compiling information regarding living and studying in Australia for international students
• Providing support and information for international students with dependants (families)
• Liaising with key staff within the University to plan Orientation programs and activities
• Running Getting Started Sessions and other workshops and seminars throughout the year
• Providing workshops and counselling services to AusAID during the AusAID Introductory Academic Program
• Participating in the International Education Directorate Welcome program for international students
• Assisting new international students with settling into Brisbane/Queensland and University life
• Providing assistance to international students who arrive late  

While living and studying in Brisbane

• Providing ongoing support and advice to current international students regarding welfare and well being
• Providing information regarding their student visa and Overseas Student Health Cover related issues
• Providing information for International Students who wish to work during their stay here (such as application processes for a Permission to Work Visa and Tax File Number)
• Updating and alerting international students to important information and programs
• Referring international students to appropriate support services, both within UQ and the wider community as deemed appropriate

Returning home

• Planning and running Graduation and Beyond Sessions for international students finishing their studies and planning to return home
• Providing essential information for international students following their graduations (e.g. further study options)
• Encouraging international students to keep in touch with UQ after graduation  

Workshops and Seminars

ISA's also run a variety of workshops and seminars throughout the year, some of which include:

• Getting Started Sessions (Compulsory) Includes practical information about life in Brisbane, the UQ campus, maps, how to enrol and get student ID cards
• Mini – Orientation sessions for late arriving students and Research Students (Run throughout the year)
• Safety Session for International Students (Compulsory): Personal Safety Strategies, Beach Safety, Road Safety and more (run throughout the year)
• Working while studying sessions - including Permission to Work Visas and how to obtain a tax file number - (Orientation Week each semester)
• International Students with Families (Orientation Week each semester)
• Aussie Aussie Aussie...Life Down Under: Australian Culture, culture shock, Aussie slang, sport (Orientation Week each semester)
• The Australian Health Care System plus Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) (Orientation Week each semester)
• MoneyMinded Workshops: planning and saving, financial goals and budgeting Weeks 3-4 of each semester
• Graduation and Beyond Sessions Includes Graduation, shipping goods home, moving out, reverse culture shock (run in mid semester)

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