Child (age 17) returning for Uni
#1

Hi everyone,
My daughter, age 17, will be moving back to Oz around Oct this year (if all goes well). She is hoping to find a room to rent and a job to earn enough to just cover basic expenses. She will be headed to either Brisbane or Canberra for uni and will start in March 2022. She does have citizenship and we previously lived in Oz from 2007-2010.
Questions:
1. Given that she’ll be 17 when she arrives and will turn 18 a few months later, will she have any difficulties finding a a room to rent, signing up for Medicare, etc? She will only need a temporary place for about 5 months.
2. What is the job situation like for a high school graduate? She’s just looking to make enough to cover basic expenses so she can get settled before uni starts. She’d be open to a wide variety of jobs and I’m assuming she’d be at minimum wage.
The initial plan is for her to fly into Brisbane around end of September or October and work for about 5 months and play some ice hockey before uni starts. If she gets into ANU in Canberra she’d have to move down there, and if it’s Brisbane she’d need to move into on campus accommodation.
I’m just looking for feedback on the work situation in Brisbane and Canberra and if there is any other input in general. Thanks!
My daughter, age 17, will be moving back to Oz around Oct this year (if all goes well). She is hoping to find a room to rent and a job to earn enough to just cover basic expenses. She will be headed to either Brisbane or Canberra for uni and will start in March 2022. She does have citizenship and we previously lived in Oz from 2007-2010.
Questions:
1. Given that she’ll be 17 when she arrives and will turn 18 a few months later, will she have any difficulties finding a a room to rent, signing up for Medicare, etc? She will only need a temporary place for about 5 months.
2. What is the job situation like for a high school graduate? She’s just looking to make enough to cover basic expenses so she can get settled before uni starts. She’d be open to a wide variety of jobs and I’m assuming she’d be at minimum wage.
The initial plan is for her to fly into Brisbane around end of September or October and work for about 5 months and play some ice hockey before uni starts. If she gets into ANU in Canberra she’d have to move down there, and if it’s Brisbane she’d need to move into on campus accommodation.
I’m just looking for feedback on the work situation in Brisbane and Canberra and if there is any other input in general. Thanks!

#2
Forum Regular


Joined: Jan 2021
Posts: 70












1. Her age isn't an issue (assuming she has cash for deposit) But the length may be - could be hard to find a room for that short term. Look on Gumtree etc. She might have to end up in a series of Airbnb
2. Very good. Because there is a jump in minimum wage at 21, many places only want 'juniors' Plus the lack of backpackers means lots of casual work around (cafes/ fast food/ fruit picking etc) Around 20 dollars an hour (pre tax).
2. Very good. Because there is a jump in minimum wage at 21, many places only want 'juniors' Plus the lack of backpackers means lots of casual work around (cafes/ fast food/ fruit picking etc) Around 20 dollars an hour (pre tax).

#3

1. Her age isn't an issue (assuming she has cash for deposit) But the length may be - could be hard to find a room for that short term. Look on Gumtree etc. She might have to end up in a series of Airbnb
2. Very good. Because there is a jump in minimum wage at 21, many places only want 'juniors' Plus the lack of backpackers means lots of casual work around (cafes/ fast food/ fruit picking etc) Around 20 dollars an hour (pre tax).
2. Very good. Because there is a jump in minimum wage at 21, many places only want 'juniors' Plus the lack of backpackers means lots of casual work around (cafes/ fast food/ fruit picking etc) Around 20 dollars an hour (pre tax).
I have a few friends in the Brisbane area (parents of her classmates from way back), so I can always ask around and see if anyone wants to rent a room out for a few months. Not holding my breath though, but it would be handy.
Happy to hear about the work situation though. Hopefully, she can find something quickly just to pay for rent and food.

#4

Check out flatmates and flat shares apps. Often they are pretty flexible and it is also a good way to meet new people. My son manages to live independently in a house share with part time cafe work whilst at uni.

#5
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Joined: May 2007
Location: England
Posts: 4,044












Hi everyone,
My daughter, age 17, will be moving back to Oz around Oct this year (if all goes well). She is hoping to find a room to rent and a job to earn enough to just cover basic expenses. She will be headed to either Brisbane or Canberra for uni and will start in March 2022. She does have citizenship and we previously lived in Oz from 2007-2010.
Questions:
1. Given that she’ll be 17 when she arrives and will turn 18 a few months later, will she have any difficulties finding a a room to rent, signing up for Medicare, etc? She will only need a temporary place for about 5 months.
2. What is the job situation like for a high school graduate? She’s just looking to make enough to cover basic expenses so she can get settled before uni starts. She’d be open to a wide variety of jobs and I’m assuming she’d be at minimum wage.
The initial plan is for her to fly into Brisbane around end of September or October and work for about 5 months and play some ice hockey before uni starts. If she gets into ANU in Canberra she’d have to move down there, and if it’s Brisbane she’d need to move into on campus accommodation.
I’m just looking for feedback on the work situation in Brisbane and Canberra and if there is any other input in general. Thanks!
My daughter, age 17, will be moving back to Oz around Oct this year (if all goes well). She is hoping to find a room to rent and a job to earn enough to just cover basic expenses. She will be headed to either Brisbane or Canberra for uni and will start in March 2022. She does have citizenship and we previously lived in Oz from 2007-2010.
Questions:
1. Given that she’ll be 17 when she arrives and will turn 18 a few months later, will she have any difficulties finding a a room to rent, signing up for Medicare, etc? She will only need a temporary place for about 5 months.
2. What is the job situation like for a high school graduate? She’s just looking to make enough to cover basic expenses so she can get settled before uni starts. She’d be open to a wide variety of jobs and I’m assuming she’d be at minimum wage.
The initial plan is for her to fly into Brisbane around end of September or October and work for about 5 months and play some ice hockey before uni starts. If she gets into ANU in Canberra she’d have to move down there, and if it’s Brisbane she’d need to move into on campus accommodation.
I’m just looking for feedback on the work situation in Brisbane and Canberra and if there is any other input in general. Thanks!

#6

From all of my research, she will be paying domestic fees provided she gets into a CSP (commonwealth-supported place). It sounds like all (or most) offers for undergraduate degrees are for commonwealth-supported places.
She's a citizen so it doesn't seem to matter if she's been away for a while. Also, not that it's relevant for university but her plan is to move back permanently and her degree is fairly specific to Australia and that's where her work will be.
She's a citizen so it doesn't seem to matter if she's been away for a while. Also, not that it's relevant for university but her plan is to move back permanently and her degree is fairly specific to Australia and that's where her work will be.

#7

Thank you! I had a look around and I'm feeling a lot better. There seem to be lots of affordable places and a bunch were even available on a shorter term as well.

#8
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Joined: May 2007
Location: England
Posts: 4,044












From all of my research, she will be paying domestic fees provided she gets into a CSP (commonwealth-supported place). It sounds like all (or most) offers for undergraduate degrees are for commonwealth-supported places.
She's a citizen so it doesn't seem to matter if she's been away for a while. Also, not that it's relevant for university but her plan is to move back permanently and her degree is fairly specific to Australia and that's where her work will be.
She's a citizen so it doesn't seem to matter if she's been away for a while. Also, not that it's relevant for university but her plan is to move back permanently and her degree is fairly specific to Australia and that's where her work will be.

#9
Coventry to Caloundra....





Joined: Dec 2005
Location: Caloundra, Sunshine Coast, Queensland
Posts: 534












From all of my research, she will be paying domestic fees provided she gets into a CSP (commonwealth-supported place). It sounds like all (or most) offers for undergraduate degrees are for commonwealth-supported places.
She's a citizen so it doesn't seem to matter if she's been away for a while. Also, not that it's relevant for university but her plan is to move back permanently and her degree is fairly specific to Australia and that's where her work will be.
She's a citizen so it doesn't seem to matter if she's been away for a while. Also, not that it's relevant for university but her plan is to move back permanently and her degree is fairly specific to Australia and that's where her work will be.


#10
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Joined: Jun 2003
Location: Melbourne, Victoria
Posts: 523







From all of my research, she will be paying domestic fees provided she gets into a CSP (commonwealth-supported place). It sounds like all (or most) offers for undergraduate degrees are for commonwealth-supported places.
She's a citizen so it doesn't seem to matter if she's been away for a while. Also, not that it's relevant for university but her plan is to move back permanently and her degree is fairly specific to Australia and that's where her work will be.
She's a citizen so it doesn't seem to matter if she's been away for a while. Also, not that it's relevant for university but her plan is to move back permanently and her degree is fairly specific to Australia and that's where her work will be.
