RUSU O-BOOK 2014 by Danielle Mengel

get busy.v 2014 RUSU ORIENTATION HANDBOOK

Get Busy. 2014 RUSU ORIENTATION HANDBOOK

LAYOUT & DESIGN

EDITING & WRITING

C O OR DI N AT ION

Kayzar Bhathawalla

Joshua Allen Christopher di Pasquale

Sally Christiansen Tali Polichtuk Shana Schultz

PRINTING Southern Colour 2 Southpark Close Keysborough VIC 3173 www.southerncolour.com.au

Acknowledgment of land We acknowledge the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin Nations as the traditional custodians of the land on which RMIT University stands. We pay our respects to their elders, both past and present.

ÂŠ 2014 RMIT University Student Union All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form by any electronic or mechanical means (including photocopying, recording, information storage and retrieval) without permission in writing from the publisher.

This project was made possible by the Student Services and Amenities Fee (SSAF)

“Let us pick up our books and pens, they are our most powerful weapons.” — Malala Yousafzai

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Thank you to Tali Polichtuk, Sally Christiansen, Shana Schultz and everyone who supported us from RUSU. Special thanks must also go to our families and loved ones for putting up with our deadline stress and tiredness while working on this project. We also could not have completed this book without the soul-saving benefits of coffee at Pearson and Murphyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s.

Hello there new student! Whether you’re a newbie to university or returning back to study, you’ve made a great decision to join the RMIT family. We’re not annoying little sisters or brothers, or parents who want to control your life. We’re like that cool uncle who offered to give you a ride on his motorcycle or the stylish aunt who deals out sass that’s on another level. In this little book, we’ve made a simple guide about life here at RMIT. There’s a pile of info about student services, the RMIT University Student Union (RUSU) and how you can get involved in student culture. But most of all, we want you to survive orientation. Don’t be alarmed, we simply mean that it might take you a while to recover from all the drinking, partying and joy over the choice of freebies. So much will be happening during O-Week that you may forget some key information about RMIT. But we’re here for you, it’s cool. So grab those free pens, have fun, meet new people and take it all in. With love, Joshua Allen, Chris di Pasquale and Kayzar Bhathawalla 2014 O-Book Editors

Essentials 2 Enrolment ...................................................................................................3 myRMIT ......................................................................................................5 Student Emails ...........................................................................................6 Building Numbers ......................................................................................9 Wifi ............................................................................................................10

Student services

Careers Services........................................................................................13 The Hub......................................................................................................15 IT Support..................................................................................................16 Printing......................................................................................................17 AV Loans....................................................................................................18 Library........................................................................................................19 ‘Read Like a Melburnian’ by Emily Westmoreland..............................21 Security..................................................................................................... 23 Safety Of Personal Items..........................................................................24 Housing..................................................................................................... 25 SSAF.......................................................................................................... 29 Fees.............................................................................................................31 Finance.......................................................................................................32 The Swanston Academic Building......................................................... 33 Disability Liason Unit.............................................................................. 34 Counselling............................................................................................... 35 Legal Services........................................................................................... 36 International Students.............................................................................37 Exchange & Study Abroad...................................................................... 39 Spiritual Centre.........................................................................................41 Aboriginal & Torres Straight Islander Students................................... 43 Changing Courses.................................................................................... 44 Deferring................................................................................................... 45 Leave of Absence..................................................................................... 46

RUSU 47 President’s Address ................................................................................. 50 What is RUSU?...........................................................................................51 Membership............................................................................................. 53

Orientation................................................................................................ 54 Clubs & Societies...................................................................................... 55 Education.................................................................................................. 56 Welfare...................................................................................................... 57 Womyn’s.................................................................................................... 58 Environment............................................................................................. 59 Queer Department................................................................................... 61 International............................................................................................ 62 ‘Know Your Rights’ by Patrick O’Keefe.................................................. 63 Postgraduate............................................................................................. 65 Volunteering............................................................................................. 66 Catalyst..................................................................................................... 67 RMITV....................................................................................................... 69 Syn..............................................................................................................70 Compass.....................................................................................................71 Realfoods.................................................................................................. 73 ‘There is Always Time For a Blanket Fort’ by Broede Carmody..................................................................................75

RMIT Link

What is RMIT Link?................................................................................. 80 Arts & Culture............................................................................................81 Sports & Recreation................................................................................. 83 Campus Store........................................................................................... 85 Linktopia................................................................................................... 86

Student Life

Public Transport...................................................................................... 89 ‘Cheap Eating’ by Chris di Pasquale........................................................91 Melbourne Arts Guide............................................................................. 93

campus maps

‘You Are Here’ by Paul Cumming........................................................... 97 City............................................................................................................. 99 Brunswick............................................................................................... 100 Bundoora West........................................................................................101 Bundoora East........................................................................................ 102

ESSENTIAL

Enrolment Enrolling at RMIT is a lot like putting together Ikea furniture—there’s a logic to it but if you don’t follow instructions, that’s when things get stressful. The good news is that unlike Ikea, the RMIT enrolment instructions don’t feature vague pictographs but rather clear, step-by-step guidelines on what you need to do to enrol. These instructions are in your Enrolment Pack and are posted to you when you have been accepted into a place. Your Enrolment Pack will also tell you if you can enrol online or if you’ll need to come in and attend an enrolment information session. You should also note that before the beginning of each year in your course, you’ll need to re-enrol. You can usually do this online but you need to do this by the deadline, otherwise you’ll be served a $175 fee and you’ll need to go through the rigmarole of the late enrolment process.

International Student Enrolment 1. Register with RMIT International You will not actually be able to enrol unless you attend International Registration first. So this step is pretty important. It’s best to attend the registration at least one day before your official enrolment date to allow time for your eligibility to be activated, and so you can receive important course information that you’ll need for enrolment. Best be organised with this one, as late registration/enrolment may not be allowed. 2. Attend an information session organised by your School This is basically a chance for you to learn more about the course you are undertaking from the people who teach it. You’ll be told about your program structure and enrolment, and be given a chance to get all your burning questions answered. 3. Enrol online Now comes your chance to experience the wonderful system that is Enrolment Online. It’s pretty much the same process as for domestic students, but you’ll also be given more details about this step at the information session.

myRMIT This is your online student portal and basically the best friend you’ll have while at RMIT. This is where you’ll: •

check your student emails

•

enrol online

•

access Blackboard for all of your subjects, which includes course content and readings

•

access results and academic history

•

receive subject-specific, course-specific university-wide announcements

•

access online learning tools and RMIT student forms, such as assignment cover sheets.

To login, use your RMIT username (‘s + student number’ = sXXXXXXX) and password (in the first instance, this will be ‘p’ and then your date of birth in the format year, month and date, followed by an exclamation mark, ie pYYYYMMDD! E.g. if your date of birth is 30 June 1995, your initial password will be p19950630!)

USERNAME: s1234567 password: p20140327! You can access myRMIT through the website: www.rmit.edu.au/myrmit via your computer, tablet or smartphone.

Student EMAILS People are going to be communicating with you via your student email all the time. It’s not just for official university announcements—your teachers will email you to let you know room changes, students will email you if you need to do a group assignment, other faculty members might email about job or internship opportunities—so check your student email regularly as it’s extremely important. Unlike other universities, RMIT uses an email system based on your student number. So, your student email looks like this: s + student number@student.rmit.edu.au e.g. If your student number is 7654321, your student email address will be: s7654321@student.rmit.edu.au Your default password is p + your date of birth in the format YYYYMMDD + an exclamation mark. e.g. if your date of birth is 30 June 1995, your default password will be: p19950630! You will be prompted to change this the first time you log in. Since your student email is powered by Google, you can log in either through myRMIT or through the Gmail website.

IMPORTANT DATES To avoid a complete stress overload—make it a habit to save your dates. We’re not talking about your dinner dates (but hey remember those too, you sexy thang); we’re talking about making notes and remembering when assignments are due, appointment times etc. Your RMIT student diary contains most of the university’s important dates, so it’s a good planner to start using. Of course, feel free to buy your own though. Here are some of the key dates for Higher Education and TAFE students:

SEMESTER ONE 10 February: TAFE and associate degree classes begin 10–14 February: TAFE and associate degree orientation 24–28 February: Higher Education orientation 3 March: Higher Education classes begin 31 March: University census date 18–27 April: University midsemester break 28 April: University classes resume 9–27 June: University exam period 7

SEMESTER TWO 7 July: TAFE and associate degree classes begin 7–11 July: TAFE and associate degree midyear orientation 21 July: Higher Education classes begin 21–25 July: Higher Education midyear orientation 31 August: University census date 1–7 September: University midsemester break 27 October – 14 November: University exam period 1 December: Official results release date 8

Building NumbERS If you’re reading this page very carefully, then you’re probably already running late to your first class. So let’s get straight to the point.

94.04.19

BUILDING.LEVEL.ROOM

The first digit is the building number, the second is the level number and the last is your room number. So using the above example, your class would be located in Building 94, Level Three, Room Nineteen. Move those legs and find that room. Once you become a university regular, you’ll begin to know your way around. Don’t stress. Check out the Campus Maps section of the O-Book and, when you’re ready, explore RMIT.

WIFI You can connect to free wi-fi on any RMIT Campus. Let’s be honest, it’s much cooler using free internet at uni than chilling out at McDonald’s. The default login details are pretty easy. Your username is a lowercase ‘s’ followed by your student number. Your default password is a lowercase ‘p’ followed by your date of birth backwards with an exclamation mark ‘!’ at the end.

username: s####### password: pYYYYMMDD! If you need help connecting, visit the IT Help Desk at your RMIT campus.

LET RMIT YOU... 12

CAREERS SERVICES You didn’t just come here to study and then go back to watching re-runs of Friends, right? To find interesting and rewarding work after you graduate, or even before, you’ll need to develop skills and set goals throughout your study. From day one at uni, there is a lot you can do to set yourself up with that dream job or creative project. Have a crack at volunteering, internships and part-time work while you’re still studying. Find out what type of industry you’d like to work towards and start getting a sense of career direction. RMIT even puts on the occasional careers fair and special events to offer you a range of career information. By the time you do graduate, you will have already started creating a prosperous future career path with your own professional networks, the ability to market yourself and the skills for creating successful job applications.

So start thinking about your career goals right now! Register with the RMIT CareerHub for access to all types of job and volunteer opportunities targeted at RMIT students. Bookmark the Careers Toolkit (www.emedia.rmit.edu.au/careerstoolkit) for everything you need to manage your career and to find opportunities. You can also join the careers Facebook site for more up-to-date information.

Contact www.rmit.edu.au/careers careers@rmit.edu.au City Student Services Centre, Building 14, Level 4 Monday to Friday 9 am – 5 pm 03 9925 2078 Bundoora Student Services Centre, Building 202, Level 3 Monday to Friday 9 am – 5 pm 03 9925 7280 Brunswick Student Services Centre Building 514, Level 2 Monday to Friday 9 am – 5 pm 03 9925 2078 14

THE HUB Read carefully friend: if you need help with absolutely anything, this is where you can get it. The Hub is basically the brain of RMIT. Need to get a student card? Stuck with Enrolment Online? You can even pick up your student diary here. The staff are super helpful and can assist you with most student administration issues, help you access information and refer you to other RMIT student services for support. You can call The Hub on 03 9925 8980 or visit any of the centres. If you donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t want to wait around though, you can visit The Hub online and check out their frequently asked questions or fill out an online enquiry form: www.rmit.edu.au/students/hub City Building 12, Level 4 Brunswick Building 514, Level 1 Bundoora Building 202, Level 2, Room 36

IT SUPPORT There’s nothing we can’t/won’t do online these days and studying at RMIT is no exception. While a lot of students prefer to just bring their own laptop, tablet or smartphone and connect to wifi, there are computer labs and library computer facilities on every campus for those of us who don’t want to bring that stuff in every day. Some are open 24/7, some are open to all students and some are restricted to students from particular departments. For more information visit www.rmit.edu.au/students/it For any IT help or enquiries, call (03) 9925 8888, email itservicedesk@rmit.edu.au or visit one of the face-to-face IT service points at any of the libraries.

printing If you need to print out an assignment at the last minute, then look no further than the printing resources available at the Brunswick, Carlton and Swanston libraries. For fancier printing on campus (with coloured paper, laminating and binding available), visit the Student Copy Centre located in Building 10, Level 4 next to The Hub. Each RMIT library has printing services available and all you need is a free library printing card, which you can pick up at the front desk. Before printing, make sure you add value (money) to your card by using the cash machines located near printers. To print, just access a library computer to connect to a printer and then follow the instructions. For a reliable printing resource outside of RMIT, your best option is Officeworks. Located in most suburbs, Officeworks is the most convenient store that offers affordable printing services. Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s one nearby at the QV Shopping Centre on Swanston Street.

AV Loans RMIT has a range of audiovisual equipment that both staff and students can hire. The best way to ensure the equipment is available exactly when you need it is to make a booking, either by phone, email or in person. For everything you need to know about AV Loans please head to our website and download our latest catalogue at www.rmit.edu.au/its/avloans

LIBRARY Whether you’re doing some last-minute essay writing or just looking for a good book to read, the library will be one of your most used resources at RMIT and there are a million reasons why you’d need to set foot inside one. There are five locations—one at each campus—and each is packed full of books, periodicals, videos, magazines, software, tapes, slides, films, newspapers and maps. The RMIT Library website has a catalogue search and to borrow a book, all you need is your student card. Then you’ll be able to use either the self-checkout borrowing stations or use the help desk. Generally you’ll be allowed to borrow for 14 days, but you can usually renew your loans online if you need more time. You won’t be able to borrow or renew, however, if you have any overdue items. Each overdue item racks up a fine of 50¢ a day and though that might not sound like much, say you’ve borrowed four books for an assignment and you return them a week late, that’s a $14 fine you could have avoided. If you’re more than six months overdue, the library will assume you’ve lost the items and charge you the 50¢-perday fee, plus the cost of replacing the item. In short, to avoid unnecessary library drama, it’s a good idea to be aware of when your books are due back and renew them online if you think you’ll be late. RMIT Library also subscribes to a host of electronic databases and journals. To access any of these, you simply need to log into the RMIT Library website and search. 19

The library also has ample study space, which can be useful if you’re one of those people that need to study away from distractions at home. However, beware: as it gets nearer to the end of semester, the library is teeming with what seems like 20 million other students studying, yes, but mostly just chatting, laughing, talking on their phones and generally just procrastinating. And unless you have your own laptop getting a computer —even just to print—can be a nightmare. To ensure you get a computer or study space guaranteed, log into the library website’s Book It system. It has all the terms and conditions listed there. HOT TIP: If you can’t find a quiet space to study at RMIT Library, just head over the road to the State Library. The Redmond Barry and La Trobe reading rooms are not only well-equipped with power sockets and ample desk space; the quiet, reflective atmosphere is very conducive to high distinctions.

“

read like a

”

melburnian –

emily westmoreland

If you’ve just moved to Melbourne or are looking to rekindle your amore, welcome to a literary love affair with this UNESCO City of Literature.

Bohemia in Melbourne extends beyond Sydney Road and Fitzroy. Learn this in the pages of Cairo by Chris Womersley. This novel fictionalises the theft of Picasso’s Weeping Woman and its subsequent discovery in a locker at Spencer Street train station. Womersley provides everything you could possibly want in a book: art heist, murder, love, self-discovery, art and booze. It is a five-star novel and is best read in the sunshine outside the National Gallery of Victoria or in the Carlton Gardens. If St Kilda is your hangout, you should be hanging with Girl Defective by Simmone Howell. This young adult fiction novel includes indie record shops, secret raves, Luna Park and has a music taste with more street cred than yours. Howell will give you a sneak peek into a Melbourne more hipster than your current acquaintances. While reading, listen to a whimsical mix tape featuring songs you’ve never heard of. Uni might be mentally draining at times, but you can combat this with RMIT alumni Graeme Simsion’s debut novel The Rosie Project. Set just up the road at Melbourne Uni, this feel-good novel is a rom-com with wit. Don Tillman is searching for a wife but hates dating—until he enters the Wife Questionnaire and awkward social situations ensue. This is a hilarious, clever and sweet read; so it’s best enjoyed away from company, as it’s so addictive that it will make you antisocial.

If you plan to spend a lot of time at Lentil As Anything at the Abbottsford Convent, you should acquaint yourself with The Convent by Maureen McCarthy. With an intertwining narrative that follows four women of different eras through their life-changing, difficult decisions, this novel is as emotionally poignant as its sense of place at the convent. Read it in the grass outside the Collingwood Children’s Farm or somewhere with the scent of peach blossoms in the air. Finally, if you’d prefer to lose your Melbourne V Plates in a one night stand, as opposed to being romanced in a literary embrace, get the following guides: A Casual Cyclists Guide to Melbourne for your casual affair with a bike in the CBD, The Melways and Hide and Seek Melbourne. Or you know, stick to Google Maps. Whatever. But these books are absolutely fantastic little guides of in and around the CBD. From hitting the streets during the day, to finding hidden treasures at night—these little guides will share with you what you didn’t know you were missing out on. Did you know there was a Pug Park in Melbourne? Or a Chinese Lion Dance Association? You would if you owned these books. So, what are you waiting for? Run along now to your nearest bookshop and pick up these literary gems. Before you know it, you’ll be walkin’ and talkin’ just like a Melburnian.

SECURITY Everyone has the right to feel safe at university. That’s why RMIT provides 24- hour security and CCTV on campus.

RMIT Security provides: •

24-hour campus patrol

•

provision of RMIT after hours access cards for staff and students

•

provision of a crowd-control service over large-scale events at RMIT, like activities and demonstrations

•

provision of an escort service for staff and students upon request.

To contact Security at each campus for this service, please ring: City: 0407 044 467 or 0408 146 063 Bundoora: Ext. 53895 or 57599 or 0418 551 814 Brunswick: 9925 9404 or 9925 3895 or 0439 930 165

In case of an emergency at RMIT: For emergencies on an RMIT campus, call the RMIT Security emergency number Ext. 53333 (internal phone) or 9925 3333 (external phone). If you can’t get through, call 000 and request fire, ambulance or police service.

SAFEtY OF

PERSONAL ITEMS Admit it: your possessions are almost as valuable as your life (especially your Macbook). So keep your belongings safe! Never leave your personal belongings unattended. A phone lying on a desk with no one around is going to be taken. Be extra careful during the exam period on campus, as there is a high density of students and it’s easy to get your personal items mixed up with someone else’s. Thieves can operate anywhere, sadly, and it’s important that students stay vigilant and stay safe. If something does get stolen from you, report it to the university straight away.

HOUSING Nothing beats living with Mum and Dad, rent-free, with a free laundry service and meals provided, while you finish your degree. But getting pampered isn’t always an option, so when it comes time to fly the nest, here are some avenues to help you get started with finding your own place.

RMIT Housing Service This is a free, drop-in service supported by an online database with loads of house-share and rental options. Just type in your price limit and hit ‘Search’. Visit www.rmit.edu.au/housing

Gumtree This is basically a giant, online bulletin board where you can find everything from a room in a sharehouse to furniture and appliances to fill it with. Visit www.gumtree.com.au

Student Housing Australia This has heaps of student accommodation listings (over 2500 apartments) but would perhaps be a little more pricey than something you’d find off Gumtree. Visit www.s-h-a.com.au

Gay Share While most sharehouses in Melbourne are pretty gay-friendly, if you’re LGBTI and want to be 100% safe, you can use the Gay Share website. They have hundreds of new listings weekly. Visit www.gayshare.com.au

Facebook Is there anything Facebook can’t do? Not really. The more Facebook friends you make at uni, the more you’ll come across housing ads that those friends put up, needing a room filled. You can also put up your own ad in the form of an event and invite your friends to it letting them know you’re interested in filling a room.

Setting up a house from scratch Got a couple of interested friends who are all ready to make the move? Why not look for a place together? Beware—this process is not for the faint-hearted. You’ll need solid applications, proof of income, good references and, especially if you’re a student who’s never had a proper job, you might also need a parent or guardian who’s willing to go on your lease as a guarantor. The upside is that you’ll live in a house with housemates of your choosing. Start by visiting www.domain.com.au and www.realestate.com.au, as well as the various real estate agents in your local area for their listings.

CHILDCARE Being a student is hard enough but if you have a kid, that added pressure can make things even more stressful. RMIT offers childcare services on its City, Brunswick and Bundoora campuses.

City Campus Children’s Centre Here they’ll look after your children aged 3 months to 5 years old. Staff are bilingual and have a formal qualification in early childhood education. Phone 03 9662 1295 or email childcare.city@rmit.edu.au

Dawson Street ChildCare Cooperative Located near RMIT’s Brunswick campus, this is a parentrun, community not-for-profit kindergarten, catering to children 6 weeks to 5 years old. Phone 03 9380 8668 or email dawson.st.cc@kindergarten.vic.gov.au

Bundoora Numdaji Kwei Childcare Centre The Numdaji Kwei Centre is also a community-based, parent-run cooperative. Phone 03 9925 7276 or email nk.cc@hotmail.com

PARKING Public transport is probably the most convenient way to get to and from uni but for those that need to drive, here are your parking options: Brunswick and Bundoora have on-campus parking available. The annual student fee is $180. You can purchase these, or half-yearly permits from the Hub. Otherwise, $7 buys you daily parking at Bundoora and up to five hours at Brunswick. Sorry City students, but for the convenience of being located right in the CBD, you pay for it by having no access to on-campus parking. Building 91 on Cardigan Street, Carlton, has unreserved parking for $140 per month or reserved parking for $160 per month. With rates like that, youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re better off just getting a myki. For more info visit www.rmit.edu.au/propertyservices/parkingoncampus or email parking@rmit.edu.au

SSAF At around the start of each semester, you’ll receive an invoice from RMIT in the mail. Open it up and you’ll find, as expected, your course fees listed. You’ll also find a fee for something called the SSAF or the Student Services and Amenities Fee. Now before you go crying “WTF?” here’s the lowdown on what the SSAF is.

What’s the SSAF? The SSAF is a compulsory fee collected by RMIT since 2012, after changes made by the federal government. It is used to help maintain and enhance services that improve your RMIT student experience. This includes: student services, the student union and RMIT Link. You do need to pay the fee upfront, unless you are an Australian citizen or permanent resident enrolled in a higher ed. program at RMIT—in which case you can have your SSAF payment deferred, like you do with HECS.

What is it spent on? RMIT, after consultation with students, directs the money to a diverse range of activities and services, including: •

additional student rights officers

•

Compass welfare and referral drop-in service

•

Career Health Checks: every final year higher education student will have guaranteed access to a personal Career Health Check, which includes oneto-one advice on resumes, interview skills and job search strategies

•

mental health first-aid training for student volunteers and more same-day counselling appointments

•

pop-up arts festivals

•

more grants available for student clubs

•

and of course, this O-Book!

The RMIT webpage has useful information on the SSAF, how you can pay it, how you can defer payment and what it’s allowed and not allowed to be spent on. Visit: www.rmit.edu.au/programs/fees/ssaf

FEES Once upon a time, university education was free. Yep, free. Zero, zip, zilch. But decades of both Labor and Liberal governments have undermined free education, so long story short: you need to pay fees. But for most students, you don’t need to pay these fees right away. Most students will be eligible for Commonwealth assistance, which allows you to defer your fee-payment until you can afford it. Here’s a brief guide to the fee-related acronyms you’re going to come across: HECS-HELP: for eligible Commonwealth-supported students (e.g. undergrad higher ed. students) FEE-HELP: for eligible full fee–paying students (e.g. postgrad students) OS-HELP: for eligible Commonwealth-supported students studying overseas (e.g. students undertaking student exchange) SA-HELP: for eligible students to defer paying the Student Services and Amenities Fee (SSAF) VET FEE-HELP: for eligible TAFE students All of these HELP loans, except for the OS-HELP loan, can be used to cover 100% of your tuition fees. The maximum OS-HELP loan that can be approved in 2014 is $6250. Only Australian citizens and permanent residents are eligible to apply for Commonwealth assistance. For more info visit www.rmit.edu.au/programs/fees/helploans

FINANCE You’re probably thinking: ‘What finances? I’m a student.’ Say goodbye to that attitude. Below are some simple suggestions to help you sort out your average student financial situation. •

Get in touch with Centrelink and see if you’re eligible for financial support. Dude. Suck up your pride and just look into it. But make sure you do it early. Centrelink is extremely busy throughout the year and it takes time for them to sort out information.

•

Food is awesome, but it’s more awesome when purchased cheap. Right? Right. Melbourne has several food markets where you can buy food in bulk, so stock up and start cooking meals at home. The closest market to the RMIT City Campus is the Queen Victoria Market on the corner of Elizabeth and Victoria streets. Otherwise, visit ALDI for cheap essentials.

•

This last point comes from the heart. If you can live at home, then tough it out while you’re at uni. Free meals, no bills, and people who take care of you? You’ll never get that ever again once you move out of home. Of course, if you want to be all independent and cool, then move out. But be aware that you’ll need to keep a tight student budget.

All in all, don’t stress about money. It will all be okay. If you need some support, drop in to the Compass Centre near the RUSU office in the city. They’ll be able to point you in the right direction.

THE SWANSTON academic builDing You may be wondering what that huge, colourful, hipster triangle–patterned building is on Swanston Street, opposite the City Campus. Well, it’s the university’s very own state-of-the-art facility that contains high-tech lecture theatres, classrooms and slick spaces. Known as The Swanston Academic Building (SAB or Building 80), it has 11 levels and houses RMIT students who currently study law, business, IT, economics, finance, marketing and management. Did you know that the College of Business students account for over a third of the overall student population at RMIT? But any student at RMIT can also feel free to use the spaces inside the building.

Business Central Inside the SAB is Business Central—a student portal which offers College of Business students course and program advice, credit transfer applications, program planning, student support, study tour and student exchange information. Business Central is open Monday to Friday from 9 am to 5 pm. Building 80, Level 7 03 9925 5380 www.rmit.edu.au/bus/businesscentral

DISABILITY liason unit The Disability Liaison Unit assists students with a disability, long-term illness and/or mental health condition. They can assist you with all kinds of things, like reasonable adjustments or technology to assist with your studies. To use their services, you will first need to register with them. Give them a call on 03 9925 1089 or by sending an email through to dlu@rmit.edu.au

COUNSELLING Don’t be afraid to ask for help and support. You’ve probably heard that a billion times before, but it’s the best piece of advice we can give you. You don’t have to be having a major personal crisis to see a counsellor either. Counsellors are eager to listen to anything that you have to get off your chest. Sometimes, that may be just all you need. They will help you in any way that they can. Counselling services on any RMIT campus are free of charge. To schedule an appointment, you can call 03 9925 4365 or you can just give them a visit between 9 am to 5 pm, Monday to Friday. Visit www.rmit.edu.au/counselling for more info.

City campus Building 74 (52 Cardigan Street, Carlton)

Bundoora campus Building 202, Level 3

Brunswick campus Building 514, Level 1, Room 22

LEGAL SERVICES Forgot your myki and got a fine? Neighbours playing their dubstep too loud? Or maybe you feel like your boss is screwing you over? Come and chat to Legal Services. Legal Services can offer free advice on a range of legal issues including public transport and traffic offences, employment issues, debts, drug-related offences, domestic violence and stalking, as well as police matters. Legal Services cannot help in any RMIT versus student issue, academic matters, court appearances or heavy stuff like property, commercial, family, intellectual property or migration law. However, Legal Services can provide appropriate referrals to folks who might be able to help you out. To contact Legal Services, you can visit in person at the Student Services Centre, Building 14, Level 4. You can also call: 03 9925 2078 (City) 03 9925 2280 (Brunswick) 03 9925 7280 (Bundoora) or email student.legal@rmit.edu.au or visit www.rmit.edu.au/students/legal

INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS How amazing it must be to arrive and study in a new country! Of course, it must also be pretty scary. But RMIT is probably one of the most supportive universities towards its international students. RMIT provides free, friendly and confidential support services for all enrolled students to use, including if you’re from overseas. For basic study help visit the RMIT Study and Learning Centre, the RUSU Compass Drop-in Centre or the Counselling Service for strictly confidential help and support. The international desk, located at the Info Corner, is the place to go to for assistance with: •

applying for further study or to change courses

•

leave of absence applications

•

sponsorship or scholarship enquiries

•

student visa advice.

The Info Corner is located in Building 22 at the City Campus. If you’re concerned about your visa requirements or confused about any information from RMIT, you should see a Student Advisor in your faculty, International Student Support or a Student Liaison Officer at the Student Union immediately for advice.

English language development Improve your English language skills through the free RMIT English Ready Centre (ERC). The ERC offers free workshops, classes, social activities or teaching sessions on a drop-in basis. Building 80, Level 3, Room 17 393 Swanston Street, Melbourne VIC 3000 03 9567 5800 english.ready@rmit.edu.au 37

Useful Contacts for International Students RUSU International Students Department 03 9925 3725 rusu.international@rmit.edu.au Student Rights 03 9925 5004 student.rights@rmit.edu.au RMIT International Student Support 03 9925 2078 student.wellbeing@rmit.edu.au www.rmit.edu.au/internationalsupport City Campus student support Building 14, Level 4 Monday to Friday: 9am to 4.30pm Bundoora student support Building 202, Level 3 Monday, Thursday and Friday: 9am to 4.30pm Tuesday: 9am to 11am and 3pm to 4.30pm Bundoora East student support Cafeteria, Building 251, Level 2 Tuesday: 12pm to 2pm RMIT Study and Learning Centre Building 12, Level 4, Room 20 03 9925 3600 Student Complaints Liaison Officers are located in all Academic Portfolios, Departments, Schools and Groups. Visit www.rmit.edu.au/students/complaints for more information.

Exchange Whoever said change is as good as a holiday had obviously never been on a holiday. Travelling, with its new experiences, new friends and new culture, can be just as good an education as sitting in a lecture theatre. But at RMIT, you can combine both. RMIT’s Education Abroad Office will help you make your overseas studying adventure a reality. You can:

Do a semester or two at RMIT Vietnam With campuses in both Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, RMIT offers a diverse range of subjects for you to take and it’s easy to match them up with your academic program for credit. You can also receive generous grants to study at RMIT Vietnam and with the low cost of living, you’ll have lots of leftover money for beer, yummy food and trips away.

& STUDY ABROAD Do student exchange through one of RMIT’s many partner institutions around the world There are over 150 institutions around the world with which RMIT has a reciprocal agreement, that is, you can study there without paying additional tuition fees. You’ll also be eligible for various travel grants to assist you with your finances abroad.

Try a study tour Don’t want to live abroad for a whole semester? A study tour might be for you. Study tours allow you to travel and earn credit towards your course and are offered in the winter and summer breaks, which allow you to undertake them around your regular semesters. For more info visit: Education Abroad Office at Ground Floor, RMIT Building 15, City Campus. Phone : (03) 9925 3947, Email : eao@rmit.edu.au www.rmit.edu.au/globalpassport/educationabroad

SPIRITUAL CENTRE RMIT have a chaplaincy, a team of friendly, multi-faith spiritual advisers available in a crisis or for companionship while you’re at university. The faiths they represent are Buddhist, Christian, Islamic and Jewish faiths, as well as Integral Spirituality tradition. To get in touch with the RMIT Chaplaincy, call (03) 9925 2317, email chaplaincy@rmit.edu.au or visit www.rmit.edu.au/chaplaincy

Prayer rooms and Spiritual Centre The Spiritual Centre offers a space for reflection. The Chaplaincy Lounge is located in Building 11, Level 1 and is a quiet space for students to drop in for a chat with a chaplain or to simply escape from the hustle and bustle of university and city life. Prayer rooms and meeting areas are also available throughout Building 11. It’s also a place where RMIT’s Muslim students and staff can pray at the designated Muslim prayer rooms. Dedicated Muslim prayer rooms are provided on other campuses as well.

Prayer room LOCATIONS Brunswick Prayer room for Muslim males 514.4.07 Prayer room for Muslim females 514.2.06 Bundoora East Prayer room for Muslim males 251.3.41 Prayer room for Muslim females 251.3.41A Bundoora West Prayer room for Muslim males 202.4.29 Prayer room for Muslim females 202.4.01 City (Spiritual Centre) Prayer room for Muslim males (between 11.30 am and 5.00 pm each day) 11.3.03 A Prayer room for Muslim females (between 11.30 am and 5.00 pm each day) 11.3.16

ABORIGINAL & Torres Straight Islander STUDENTS The for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples is the place for you to visit if you need any help or support. ‘Ngara willim’ means ‘gathering place’ in the language of the Wurundjeri, who are the traditional custodians of the land on which RMIT stands. Friendly staff can assist you with your studies and give you encouragement throughout your journey at RMIT. They can also provide you with guidance with regard to living and cultural needs. For more information you can call: 03 9925 5885 or 1800 054885. You can also email: ngarara@rmit.edu.au or drop into Building 12, Level 4, Room 29 in the city campus.

CHANGING Courses You are in control of your studies. After all, youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re the one paying for your education! If your course doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t turn out to be what you thought it would be, think about other options and seek out some advice. Who knows? Maybe you need to also set some new career goals or change your resolutions for the New Year. Your best source of help is a careers counsellor at RMIT. Appointments are easy to make by making a call or sending an email to careers@rmit.edu.au. All offices are open Monday to Friday between 9 am and 5 pm. City Building 14, Level 4 03 9925 2078 Bundoora Building 202, Level 3 03 9925 7280 Brunswick Building 514, Level 2 03 9925 2078

DEFERRING Uni getting too hectic and needing some time off? Funds running out and wanting to work some temporary full-time work? Found a once-in-a-lifetime cheap flight to London and think it’s time you had that gap year? Well, don’t quit university—just defer. If you’ve been accepted into a place at RMIT but don’t want to start this semester, don’t worry. You can defer online through myRMIT by selecting the Enrolment Online link. If you are eligible to defer (most students are, except international and research students), under My current programs select the Defer studies button next to the program you wish to defer. If successful, you’ll receive immediate confirmation of this in Enrolment Online. You will then receive a hard copy letter confirming your deferral for your records. If you’d like to defer your offer, you need to do this before your specified enrolment date. If you are deferring, don’t enrol into any subjects. For more info, visit www.rmit.edu.au/students/enrolment/defer

LEAVE OF ABSENCE Sometimes life gets in the way, regardless of how far you are into your course. Travel, work and other commitments can delay your study. When this happens, you can apply to take a leave of absence from your course for up to one year. You need to apply in writing and you need approval from your Dean of Studies or Head of School. You also need confirmation of approval of your leave of absence by the census date. Otherwise, youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll end up paying for subjects you donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t intend to study. For more info, visit www.rmit.edu.au/students/enrolment/loa

KNOCK, KNOCK

RUSU

President’s address I’m James. I study engineering, enjoy fast cars and 90s music and I am the president of your student union, RUSU. My one piece of advice to you is this: university isn’t just an education—it’s an experience. That means you should enjoy it and getting involved with your student union is a great way to get the most out of your time here. At RUSU, we have student clubs, collectives, campaigns, parties, lounges, a vegan café, a student magazine, a community TV group and more! There really is something for everyone. Most importantly, the RMIT University Student Union is your voice, support and representation. We ensure you get a fair go at university by working to improve university rules and policy, representing you to RMIT and the community, and standing up for your rights. We offer a free, confidential advocacy service where trained Student Rights Officers can assist or advise you. We also have Compass, our drop-in welfare centre, where you can come for a friendly chat and get advice, information or a referral if you’re experiencing any life difficulties. We run regular events and campaigns all year across every campus, so look out for our purple tent and get involved. Grab a $10 membership, sign up to volunteer, make new friends and enjoy your time at RMIT!

WHAT IS RUSU? Any university would be pretty dull without a student union. The RMIT University Student Union (RUSU) has been around for a pretty long time—since 1944 to be exact—so it’s safe to say that it knows how to help students. The union is run independently by students and can provide you with support regarding student rights or welfare issues. RUSU also coordinates many university clubs and societies that you can get involved in, hosts many events and also offers volunteering opportunities. If you want to enjoy your time as a student, then the union Info Counters should be your first stop. You can also visit the RUSU website at: www.su.rmit.edu.au

RUSU Info Counters City Building 8, Level 3 03 9925 5004 Brunswick Building 514, Level 2 03 9925 9478 Bundoora Building 204, Level 1 03 9925 7226 Carlton Building 57, Level 4 03 9925 4769

MEMBERSHIP The RMIT University Student Union is a not-for-profit organisation that solely exists to give students a voice and to enhance the quality of student life on campus. All membership fees go straight towards funding for student events and support. To join RUSU as a financial member, it will only cost you $10 for the year and it provides you with: •

members-only giveaways

•

invitations to exclusive RUSU member events (O-Week ‘Welcome Bash’ and ‘Welcome Splash’ parties)

•

discounts and free tickets to RUSU events

•

the ability to stand for election to the Student Union Council.

To sign up, visit: www.su.rmit.edu.au/signup

ORIENTATION There are many exciting moments you’re going to have during your student experience but orientation will be the most memorable (besides graduation perhaps). By becoming a student, you’re taking on work and opportunities for the next few years. That’s a big investment! And it’s all up to you to make the most of it. Of course, to make things fun, orientation is all about free stuff. There will be food stalls, a BBQ, booze and live music. Make sure you stop by the RUSU tent and sign up for membership to receive a bag of free goodies and entry to the RUSU orientation parties!

O-Week Tuesday 25 February Brunswick Campus Welcome Day Wednesday 26 February Bundoora Campus Welcome Day Thursday 27 February City Campus Welcome Day Welcome Bash O-Party — 4pm to 10pm Friday 28 February Welcome Splash O-Party — 10am to 2pm

CLUBS & SOCIETIES Want to learn how to twerk? Well, sorry. RUSU doesn’t have a Miley Cyrus club. (She can’t really twerk anyway). But RUSU does coordinate over 80 RMIT student clubs and societies and helps provide them with access to the many resources available at the university. The team at RUSU ensures that clubs can receive insurance, event equipment, planning support, training, volunteering recognition and participation in RUSU major events.

four categories of RUSU Clubs: 1. Academic 2. Spiritual 3. Political 4. Cultural Social/Special Interest. If you can’t find your perfect club match or if you have a new club idea, contact RUSU Clubs at: rusu.clubs@rmit.edu.au

Save the date Don’t forget about Clubs Day! There will be tons of stalls and free giveaways. Sign up to as many things as you can and get involved with student life at RMIT! RMIT City Campus Thursday, 6 March

EDUCATION We pay quite a lot of money for our education. The RUSU Education Department is responsible for informing students about issues and policies affecting your university education. If you want to get involved, definitely seek out the Campaigns Collective. The Campaigns Collective is a joint venture between the RUSU Welfare and Education departments that aims to focus on issues relating to, you guessed it, the education and welfare of students, including issues like the Special Consideration Policy, student poverty and housing. Joining the collective allows you to see positive changes within the universityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s education structure and to become involved in the RMIT community. Each school at the university has a Student Staff Consultative Committee (SSCC) that you can also be a part of that will allow you to engage with your fellow students and teachers about course structure and new programs. For more information or to get involved with the Education Department, drop by your RUSU information counter or email the Education Officer at rusu.education@rmit.edu.au

WELFARE The RUSU Welfare Department’s primary concern is the wellbeing of any student at RMIT. Whether it’s personal issues, such as financial hardship, healthcare or accessibility, or broader government policies regarding higher education and student welfare, the Welfare Department has your back. They make sure you’re informed and educated about changes that will affect you. The RUSU Welfare Department offers a range of other services designed to make student life easier, including the Compass Drop-In Centre, Free Weekly Breakfast, Free Weekly Yoga Classes and the bi-annual Stress Less Week. This year, the Welfare Department will be working towards offering students Free Weekly Self Defence Classes, educating students through Rad Sex & Consent Week, as well as lobbying the university to increase wheelchair accessibility for students living with disabilities. To suggest some services you’d like to see, or to get involved, contact the Welfare Officer on rusu.welfare@rmit.edu.au

WOMYN’S The Womyn’s Department represents womyn on campus and helps educate people about womyn’s rights, health and issues. The Womyn’s Department also maintains several womyn-only spaces across RMIT’s campuses and runs various activities and campaigns throughout the year. You can contact the Womyn’s Officer at rusu.womyns@rmit.edu.au

Womyn’s Rooms City Building 8, Level 3 Carlton Building 57, Level 4 Bundoora West Building 204, Level 2

ENVIRONMENT RUSU not only cares about your wellbeing, but also that of the environment around you. The cool cats in the Environment Department make it their mission to make RMIT as environmentally friendly as possible. They do so in a number of waysâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;including encouraging students to reduce their waste, manage their water usage and eat organic. Visit their Facebook page at /RUSUEnvironmentCollective or send them an email: rusu.environment@rmit.edu.au

Better Food Choices Does an apple a day keep the doctor away? You bet it does. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s amazing how eating more organic food in your diet can alter your mood and energy levels. By just making a few lifestyle changes, you could be a happier person. Seriously. And hey, the Environment Department have made it even easier for you by offering students a home delivery organic food service for just $28. Yum. Also, keep an eye out for their book series Beyond Mi Goreng which can be found at the RUSU City Info Counter. Each little recipe book is catered for students. Join the Environment Department or have a look at the RUSU Better Food Choices Campaign at: www.su.rmit.edu.au/student-life/environment

Free Furniture (Um. Yes please!) Since 2008, the Furniture Cage has been hoarding discarded furniture from RMIT University and providing it to staff and students for free. There are always interesting things to find. And hey, maybe you could turn that old computer chair into something new? Not all students can afford excessive amounts of furniture (stop teasing us Ikea) and by recycling furniture; the RUSU Environment Department stops usable items from going to waste. If youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve just moved out of home to study or need a rustic RMIT touch to your home, make sure you stop by for a visit! Electrical equipment can also be found from time to time and is available at a reduced cost.

Furniture Cage Building 8, Level 3 car park (behind the RMIT gym). For opening hours, email the Environment Department: rusu.freefurniture@rmit.edu.au

QUEER DEPARTMENT The Queer Department represents students who identify as gay, lesbian, bisexual, asexual, transgender, intersex, queer or who are uncertain about their sexuality. They believe in challenging discrimination, fighting homophobia and throwing cupcakes at heteronormativity. They also run safe spaces called Queer Lounges, where queer and queer-friendly students can relax, study and meet people without being judged. For more information visit: www.su.rmit.edu.au/student-life/queer

Queer Lounges City Building 8, Level 3, Room 6 Bundoora Campus Building 204

INTERNATIONAL Are you an international student who needs help with health, accommodation or other issues? The International Student Care Service can help. The International Student Department represents the welfare and opinions of international students. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s also a place where both national and international students can come together, make friends and learn about other cultures. The International Student Department also runs a variety of events throughout the year, including international food days, World Week and free English workshops.

International Student Care Service 19â&#x20AC;&#x201C;21 Argyle Place South Carlton VIC 3053 1800 056 449 info@iscs.vic.gov.au

“

KNOW YOUR

”

RIGHTS – patrick o’keefe

Regardless of what anyone might tell you, student life is not easy. Recent studies have found a high rate of mental illness among Australian university students. This is not isolated—throughout the US, anxiety and depression is much more prevalent among the student population than non-students of the same age. For a high percentage of people with a lifelong mental illness, the first symptoms will occur between the ages of 18 to 24—which is precisely the age of the average undergraduate university student. Furthermore, this is an age where you may be confronted with a number of challenges that you will not have previously had to contend with: bereavement, the break-up of a relationship, financial and family troubles, or housing issues. The impact of these issues can snowball and seriously undermine your mental health and your studies.

Mental illness, if left untreated, can have a debilitating impact on the ability of a student to perform at their best level. If you think that you might need help, then you should seek it as soon as you can. There are people out there who will listen to you and respect your concerns. RMIT Student Services has a free counselling service, while RUSU runs Compass (which is staffed by a social worker and student volunteers). RMIT does have policies to assist you. If you are coping with depression or anxiety and you feel that this is affecting your study, then you can seek special consideration to get an extension on an assignment or defer an exam. That is why these policies exist—to help students who need it. Make sure you know what the deadlines are so you can get your application for special consideration in on time. The special consideration form is not easy to read. If you find it confusing, call RUSU and they will help you to fill it out.

For Student Rights advice and support, please contact: student.rights@rmit.edu.au www.su.rmit.edu.au/help

City Building 8, Level 3, Room 1 03 9925 5004

Brunswick Building 514, Level 2 03 9925 9478

Bundoora Building 204, Level 1, Room 2 03 9925 7226

POSTGRADUATE There are over 10,000 postgraduate students at RMIT, making up a significant part of the student population. RUSU provides a space for postgraduate students to relax, socialise and study. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s called the Postgraduate Lounge and it is located in Building 28. There is also a Postgraduate Committee that coordinates events and services for postgraduate students across all of RMITâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s campuses. To get in touch, email rusu.postgrad@rmit.edu.au

VOLUNTEERING Do you like to be more ‘hands-on’ than just an observer and participant? Are you getting bored just travelling to and from campus for lectures and classes? Well, maybe you should get your hands dirty. RUSU offers many volunteering opportunities you can get involved with. Volunteering is a great way to boost your CV and to make some new friends, especially if you’re new to RMIT. Just by simply attending a RUSU induction session, you can branch into different areas of work. If you like people, then great! Perhaps you should help volunteer with RUSU activities and events or RUSU Realfoods. You can pick up free training such as food handling and kitchen skills and you can also receive your RSA (Responsible Service of Alcohol). If you’re studying Social Work, Youth Work or Psychology you are eligible to volunteer with Compass. This is a fantastic opportunity to develop practical skills outside your study. Compass is a drop-in welfare space that supports students and your volunteer training will be supervised and coordinated by a highly trained team. Otherwise, if you prefer an office environment you can also volunteer with the RUSU administration department. This will definitely come in handy if you’re looking for a well- paid office job. To get involved with volunteering at RUSU, just visit: www.su.rmit.edu.au/about/volunteer/ 66

CATALYST Catalyst has been RMIT’s student magazine since 1944 and contains news, opinion, visual art, creative writing and other cool stuff. It’s published six times year and is distributed free across the City, Brunswick and Bundoora campuses. Make sure you pick up a copy of the first issue (the theme is ‘Sex’ because they wanted to start with a bang … pun intended). Contributing to Catalyst is a must for media and communications students. Previous writers and editors have gone on to do fantastic things at The Age and ABC. It’s also a good place to flex your writing muscles before braving the big bad world. If you’re interested in getting involved, feel free to swing by the office and say hi (they’re located opposite the RMIT gym and near RUSU). Most likely, they’ll be interviewing a politician or subediting articles like crazy, but if you knock and present them with edible gifts they certainly won’t complain. Each year, a new team of editors takes over the magazine and 2014 is going to be a big year for Catalyst. The new design looks fantastic, so keep your eyes peeled for the first issue or come along to the first issue launch at Bella Union during O-Week (tip, if you’re a new journo student you should be there).

Theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re always on the lookout for creative types to be part of their editorial committee or for writers to contribute to the hungry beast that is your student magazine. Be sure to follow them on social media and check out their website for more information. Website: www.rmitcatalyst.com Twitter: @rmitcatalyst Facebook: /rmitcatalystmagazine Phone: (03) 9925 2884

RMITV RMITV is RMITâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s very own student-run TV station. It is aired on Channel 31 and produces a variety of shows throughout the year. Rove and Hamish and Andy started their careers with RMITV, so if you want to end up in the television industry, then this is probably the place to set up camp. RMITV membership gives you the opportunity to gain experience both in front and behind the camera (as well as some great networking opportunities). Whether you enjoy being centre stage or your talents lie in lighting, audio, directing or production, RMITV gives you the opportunity to pitch your own ideas or assist with someone elseâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s. www.su.rmit.edu.au/news-and-media/rmitv

SYN SYN is a media organisation run by a community of young people that provides training and broadcast opportunities for young Australians aged 12–25. SYN Radio is based near the RMIT City Campus and broadcasts on 90.7FM and streams online. But that’s not all! SYN also produces television content for Channel 31 and original media at www.syn.org.au SYN offers affordable training in radio and television/ film production with regular workshops to equip you with the practical skills needed for a media career. Once you’ve completed training (with discounted membership for RMIT students!), the opportunities are endless. Get involved in a flagship show or present and produce your own. You can also work with SYN’s events team, music and/or online departments! SYN is a great way to meet like-minded creative people. To get involved and volunteer at SYN visit: www.syn.org.au/getinvolved

COMPASS Being a student is pretty amazing, considering the amount of opportunities available. But it’s also pretty damn hard. We can save dates, plan our lives, study lots, and be passionate about work—but life can sometimes get in the way. It’s difficult to keep moving forward when there are things holding you back. If you find yourself running on low energy levels— whether that’s because of a bad break up or stress— Compass is a safe space where you can stop by and chat to someone. Highly trained student volunteers at Compass can help you with any problem affecting your university experience. It’s a completely confidential service run by the student union and is separate from RMIT University staff and administration. Feel free to ask for help or advice about anything, whether they are problems at university or elsewhere in your life. Compass can offer you support and also point you in the right direction by getting you in contact with the best service on-campus or in your local community. Building 8, Level 3, Room 9 compass@rmit.edu.au 03 9925 2785

Compass is open Tuesday to Friday, 10 am to 4 pm. You can make an appointment or simply drop in when you need someone to talk to. Some of the issues they can help with include: •

homelessness

•

Centrelink

•

rent or your landlord

•

employment

•

domestic and family violence

•

public transport

•

mental health

•

legal issues

•

harassment and bullying

•

drugs and substance abuse.

Compass also organises programs and activities on all campuses throughout the year, including stress-less weeks around examination time. They also have handy things like free tampons, pads, condoms and lube available at the centre. If you need to talk to someone, whatever hour of the day or night, there’s always someone ready to listen. For 24-hour advice or referrals you can call: Lifeline: 13 11 14 Suicide Line: 1300 651 251 Beyond Blue: 1300 22 4636

REALFOODS Everyone loves food. But students, well, we practically live for food. RUSU Realfoods is a social enterprise within the RUSU Environment Department that provides a café that retails delicious vegetarian and vegan food. The café sources fresh produce, ready-made foods, packaging and cleaning products through organic wholesalers that share fair-trade values. Seriously, like their Facebook page so you can drool over their menu: /RUSUrealfoods The café is open from Monday to Friday between 11 am and 4 pm. But every now and then, there are special events on outside these hours so keep in touch with their social media. Volunteers run RUSU Realfoods with the assistance of a chef. Affectionately called ‘Realfoodies’ (naww), volunteers receive accredited training and rewards. Not to mention they get to work in a supportive environment surrounded by amazing food. To get involved, you must be:

•

the next budding Masterchef (or even just an enthusiastic beginner in the kitchen)

•

interested in sustainable healthy food choices, organics and the environment

•

a passionate foodie who want to make new friends, get more out of uni life and have loads of FUN!

Save the date RUSU Realfoods will be running a big cooking demo in semester one, on Tuesday 8 April called REAL FIT FOOD. Theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll be bringing in special guest chefs and presenters to show you how to get the most out of your diet and exercise program. There will be door prizes, free food samples and lots of great information for you to enjoy on the night. Keep an eye on their Facebook page!

“

”

there is always time for

a blanket fort – broede carmody

In the past six months I have completed four unpaid internships. As a journalism student this is not a surprise—working for free is pretty much the only way to expect to get a job when you graduate. That is, if there are any jobs at all. The process of interning has been pretty gruelling. University isn’t free these days (darn those baby boomers) so on top of unpaid work, studying and a few other projects, I’ve also had to work a part-time office job in order to pay rent and subsidise my avocado addiction.

My situation isn’t unique—plenty of university students juggle the same kind of workload. But I wouldn’t have it any other way. This is probably because I am slightly crazy, and if I’m not keeping my mind ridiculously occupied I don’t know what I’d do. (Probably run naked down Bowen Street screaming about how effective the Abbott government’s Direct Action policy is, that’s what.) In saying that though, don’t overburden yourself. During your first few weeks of uni you’ll probably be overwhelmed by all the expectations, the clubs and societies you can join, as well as all the people you could be romantically involved with. Take some time to relax with friends and curl up in a blanket fort with your favourite movie or television series. Especially remember to do this during the last few weeks of semester, when everyone—including yourself—is freaking out about assessments and exams.

Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s pretty easy to motivate yourself at the beginning of your university experience, but what about when you settle in? Well, my trick is to constantly tell myself not to take university for granted. Work colleagues always tell me how their student days were the best times of their lives. And I come from north-east Victoria, where less than 60% of people have finished year 12 and less than 20% have a university degree. Besides, you spent an eternity not existing before you were born and you will spend an eternity not existing after death. What have you got to lose? Work your arse off, meet exciting people and above all have fun. You wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t regret it.

RMIT LINK CONNECT TO

OTHER THAN WIFI

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WHAT IS RMIT LINK?

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The best way to overcome the occasional boredom of university study is to get involved with stuff other than study. Obviously. RMIT Link exists for students to get creative, to get sporty, or to be superhuman and be sporty creative.

RMIT Link is responsible for: •

RMIT Link Sport and Recreation

•

RMIT Link Arts and Culture

•

The City Fitness Gym

•

RMIT Campus Store

•

Linktopia

So, what are you waiting for? Pick up that paintbrush, step on that treadmill and get active while you’re at university!

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ARTS & CULTURE

RMIT Link Arts & Culture connects any student studying at RMIT with the opportunity of creative engagement. Their programs span a multitude of disciplines: theatre, dance, music, visual arts, design, film, sound, writing and new media. Need a little cash or support to get started on a creative project? Along with their own programs, events and projects, Arts & Culture can also help you out with your own. As keen supporters of emerging artists, they will support you in any way that they can, from continuing support of a group, through their Collectives program, to Arts Funding for one-off projects. Internship opportunities are also available for RMIT students that are seeking a career pathway into the arts. For more info on everything RMIT Link Arts & Culture related, visit www.rmit.edu.au/students/arts-culture

Make sure you also check out First Site Gallery that features work by RMIT students across a range of disciplines, with new shows opening every fortnight. For more info, or to apply for an exhibition, visit www.rmit.edu.au/students/firstsiteapply

RMIT Link Arts and Culture Building 8, Level 2, City Campus 03 9925 1945 linkarts@rmit.edu.au

First Site Gallery Storey Hall Basement, 344 Swanston St

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SPORTS &

RECREATION

Why hasn’t anyone started an RMIT Quidditch Club yet? Come on guys. There’s already a Dragon Boating Club. There are so many clubs that you can join and you can check out the full list by visiting: www.rmit.edu.au/students/sport-clubs Link Sport and Rec also offer many trips and tours throughout the year. While you’re deciding what club to join, check out these as well at: www.rmit.edu.au/students/ trips-tours Take a break from your regular uni day and get fit and healthy at the City Fitness Gym. Regardless of what you may think, the gym is actually a fun place where you can get freebies and meet other people. If you get to the stage where you feel like an athletic pro (or maybe you already are one) you should compete in the annual university games! It’s nothing like the Hunger Games, so don’t worry, you’ll come out alive. If you want to show off your awesomeness then visit the webpage: www.rmit.edu.au/students/universitygames

Also, keep an eye out for weekly on campus sport activities!

RMIT Link Sport & Recreation City Campus Building 8, Level 3, Room 38 03 9925 3751

Bundoora West Campus Building 204, Level 1 03 9925 7226

City Fitness Gym Building 8, Level 3 03 9925 2874

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CAMPUS STORE

With new locations, the RMIT Campus Stores are your recommended outlets to purchase all prescribed textbooks, course packs, course materials and reference books at competitive prices. Here you can find a whole range of stationery, calculators and even medical equipment. Check out www.rmit.edu.au/store for more info or visit:

City 17–25 Little La Trobe St Monday to Friday 9 am – 5 pm 03 9925 9878

Bundoora Plenty Road, Building 202, Level 2 Monday to Friday 9 am – 2.30 pm 03 9925 7996

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LINKTOPIA

Linktopia is your official RMIT University merchandise store, where you can find an extensive range of apparel and accessories including hoodies, limited edition t-shirts, coffee mugs, notebooks and much more. Linktopia also stocks a special range of graduations gifts and souvenirs. Visit their online catalogue and discover a collection of items available for you to purchase: www.rmit.edu.au/link/shop

STUDENT LIFE Get one

PUBLIC TRANSPORT Getting to each of RMIT’s campuses is a cinch, as each is well-connected to public transport.

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The 86 tram has RMIT’s Bundoora campus as it’s final stop, so there’s no chance you’ll miss it.

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To get to the Brunswick campus take either the 19 tram to Coburg North and get off at the corner of Glenlyon and Sydney roads or catch the Upfield line to Jewell station.

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The City campus, being right in the CBD, is probably the most well-connected campus. You can catch any City Loop train to Melbourne Central station or catch any of the trams going north along Swanston Street to the RMIT tram stop.

Transport concession cards If you’re starting uni for the first time, chances are you’re eligible for a public transport concession card. You should sort this out when you’re getting your student card and diary at the beginning of the year. To be eligible for a Victorian public transport (VPT) concession, you need to: •

be a full-time RMIT student

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meet the citizenship/residency criteria

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meet all the other criteria as specified on the VPT Concessions for students web page.

Unfortunately postgrads and international students are ineligible for a VPT concession. How to apply You need to visit the RMIT Hub and apply there. You don’t need your own photo. The Hub will print out your filledin application form using your student ID photo and all you need to do is take this to a premium train station to get your concession. If you have a Centrelink concession card, like a Health Care Card, you’re automatically eligible for a public transport concession. For more info, visit: www.rmit.edu.au/students/vptconcession

“ ” CHEAP

EATING

– chris di pasquale

“If music be the food of love, then play on,” said Duke Orsino in Twelfth Night. Here the Duke wants an excess of music so he may be cured of his romantic woes, in the way stuffing your face eventually sates a big appetite.

And just like the Duke, shouldn’t we all be able to stuff our faces until our appetites are sated? But we’re not dukes: we’re students. And the thing usually stopping us from eating to our hearts’ content is a lack of funds. So how to eat on a limited student budget? Here are my Top Five Tips:

Don’t move out of home—you will never have it as good. This is the truth. Once you move out of home, you can say goodbye to a fully stocked pantry, fridge and cupboards. Say goodbye to the home-cooked meal waiting for you when you get home from uni. Arrivederci constant supply of chips, nuts, fruit and biscuits for you to freely snack on while studying or watching TV. Seriously, stay at home as long as you can. Independence is not worth it. Learn to cook—if you must move out, then the first thing you should do is learn how to cook. If you know how to cook, you won’t need to get so much takeaway. And if you learn to cook vegetarian, you’ll be able to cook a lot more cheaply. Invest in a budget or vegetarian cookbook or spend some time searching for a cooking blog you like (like A Girl Called Jack, by single mother Jack Monroe who learned to cook for her and her son with only £10 a week agirlcalledjack.com). Soon, you’ll be able to cook feasts, entertain friends and have enough leftover to take into uni the next day.

Get a job at a café—honestly, I did this for almost a decade and it’s the reason I actually ate meals sometimes. Usually you get a free meal per shift and unlimited coffees if you work at a cool café. Other pros include working in a social environment, which means, if you’re new to the city, an instant source of new friends; and also that, if you’re in a hip neighbourhood, there’ll be lots of hotties coming in. The main cons are that you’ll usually need to work weekends (which means you will definitely come into work hungover once a week); and, working in hospitality, you’ll need to deal with arseholes and their idiotic food requests on a daily basis. Date someone with money—I have never done this. I have only ever dated poor people. Please someone try this and report back to me. Dumpster dive—yes, this is a thing. No, it’s not just for anarchists, although it mostly is anarchists doing it. And believe me, with time so will you. Welcome to university. There’s a Facebook page called Dumpster Diving Melbourne and you can also check out Food Not Bombs, a group of independent collectives who serve free vegan and vego meals with ingredients gathered from the finest dumpsters in Melbourne.

MELBOURNE ARTS GUIDE Festivals, festivals and more festivals! Arts lovers, prepare yourselves. Melbourne is undoubtedly Australia’s cultural capital. There are a ridiculous amount of arts and culture events that Melburnians can attend and it can be difficult discerning which ones are worth checking out. Have no fear, baby RMIT student, we’ve put together a quick little snapshot of what we think are the highlights for 2014.

Emerging Writers’ Festival Melbourne Writers Festival

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If you are studying or interested in anything to do with writing, then you cannot miss out on attending these festivals. With a truckload of literary events—such as panel discussions, book launches and workshops— and the chance to network with many local writers, publishers and editors, you’d be an idiot to not attend. Keep an eye on their websites for program announcements and book your tickets early as they sell super fast! www.emergingwritersfestival.org.au www.mwf.com.au

Melbourne Festival The Melbourne International Arts Festival program showcases incredible artistic works from across Australia and brings in creative work from overseas. In 2013, the festival had 19 world premiere events and 13 Australian premieres. With events ranging across a variety of art media, you better keep some time free during the festival’s season in October. www.melbournefestival.com.au 93

Neon Festival of Independent Theatre and Melbourne Fringe Festival For lovers of theatre, you are in luck. Melbourne is brimming with amazing theatre talent, especially within the independent theatre scene. Neon Festival is a new initiative launched by the Melbourne Theatre Company in 2013, that reaches out to emerging theatre companies and showcases their creative work. The 2013 season was a raving success, with most shows booking out and theatre critics calling it ‘the most important initiative in Melbourne theatre’. Keep on eye on the website for event updates during May to August. The Melbourne Fringe Festival, like the Fringe festivals across Australia, always offers an adventurous journey into Australian theatre, cabaret, comedy, art and music. www.mtc.com.au/plays-and-tickets/neon www.melbournefringe.com.au Want to steal someone’s look and use the hashtag #fashun obsessively? Or are you just after a good laugh? Perhaps you want to watch something more interesting than a screen-saver. Otherwise, there’s always musicians you can scream your love at. If you enjoy comedy, fashion, film or music—there are these festivals you should also check out. Melbourne Fashion Festival (March) www.vamff.com.au Melbourne Comedy Festival (March–April) www.comedyfestival.com.au Melbourne International Film Festival (July–August) www.miff.com.au Melbourne Music Week (November) www.thatsmelbourne.com.au/whatson/music/mmw 94

C AMPUS

MAPS IN 300 METRES,

T U R N L E F T.

“ ” YOU ARE

HERE

– paul cumming

“ Towns grow, roads and railways are built, forests grow and are cut down. No map can be taken as being absolutely reliable.” —Tasmanian State Emergency Service

CHANGE OF KEY

Three years ago, when I killed things for a living, I used maps every day. Strapping a tank of poison to my back, I’d meander through the bush, annihilating every weed I happened to identify. On site I quickly memorised the map’s key, where its important features tended to lurk. Features like: blue = water, and contours converging into a single line = cliff. But despite the excitement afforded to my profession by dangerous geography, the work was dull. The greatest asset it actually provided was songwriting grist, which was what I regarded as my more full-time occupation. And full-time was right. For over ten years I was in band practice for about three days a week. I’ve calculated that I would’ve spent at least 7800 hours—almost a full year—in band practice in the last decade. Most musicians spent more. This, of course, doesn’t count the hours spent grooming social media profiles, booking and playing shows, recording, postering and travelling. It sounds like a lot, but there seemed no other way. It was all part of the plan. This plan:

MAXIMAL GRADIENT (The Plan) 1. Start band/band blog/band Facebook/write controversial tweets. 2. Buy instruments. 3. Write songs (not immediately essential). 4. Play shows with Band X (someone well known enough to be leveraged off, but not too well known, because We Don’t Care About Being Cool Anyway (WDCABCA)). 97

5. Overseas blog exposure. (If no songs, get some photos and quotes about Australia’s hottest new thing. Just make sure the photos aren’t too good though, because WDCABCA.) 6. Cannibalise Band X for new members, (making the kind of ‘superband’ that local radio will lose their shit for). 7. Stalk Triple J presenters, strike up conversation and see if they’ll play you on JJJ. (If they say yes, say you’re not really interested (WDCABCA). But give them a CD anyway.) 8. Of course Triple J airplay means instant fame and fortune. So just outsource the band blog, research some good rehab centres in advance and be famous. Pitchfork, watch out. (*At this point it’s optimal if you have one or two songs fully written and recorded, but again, not essential.)

CONTOUR INTERVALS Although the above detailed map to fame managed to get my bands exactly nowhere—which was probably for the best—it remains indicative of the kind of rigour that drives a lot of creative people to drink, or to jobs in advertising (and drink). So I just dumped the map. I love music, I love my typewriter and I really love spiced rum, soda and lime, so I started a blog where I interviewed bands and could indulge in the gratuitous enjoyment of my three most favourite things. And get paid to do it. Mostly.

MAGNETIC COMPASS You won’t find the best bands on ‘What’s On in Melbourne’. Just like there’s no building on the university map that is named ‘Building 125— Where All of the Rad Stuff Happens’. I know this for a fact—I’ve spent a lot of time in front of that map. And not unlike the music industry’s tangled limbs, RMIT University is diffuse, sprawled right in the middle of Australia’s most culturally engaged city. The best bits aren’t really on the map. You are here, now, so feel free to wander.* (*unless you happen to wander onto King Street at 3 am, in which case you should leave. Now.) 98

CITY

BRUNSWICK

100

BUNDOORA WEST t

101

BUNDOORA EAST

102

NOTES