Information for visiting international colleagues

Visa Information

ECU is not authorised to provide advice on visa information to international visitors other than to contact the Australian Immigration Department. Please suggest to your visiting international colleagues to contact the Department of Immigration and Citizenship for advice on visa applications: http://www.immi.gov.au/immigration.htm

The Visiting Academic visa (Subclass 419) is a specialist visa that has a clear and well defined purpose. It is intended for career/professional academics whose primary purpose of stay is to observe or participate in established research projects (without remuneration other than for living expenses and travel costs) at the invitation of an Australian tertiary institution or research organisation.

An invitation by an Australian academic or research organisation is not adequate evidence by itself that an individual is an academic for the purposes of this visa. It is expected that academics will be PhD qualified (PhD students including those on scholarships are not included) and be employed as a teacher or researcher at an academic institution (university or similar tertiary institution) or a research institution (including an industry research facility). Generally, it is expected that applicants for the Visiting Academic visa will be persons on sabbatical (or similar) leave from their current academic appointment.

Visiting Academics must not receive remuneration other than a contribution towards living and travel expenses. The full-time Australian Postgraduate Awards stipend rate of $19,616 pa for 2007 is an acceptable benchmark for an appropriate allowance level. Allowances should not approximate full or part-time academic salaries.

The applicant be ‘observing, or taking part in, research’ means the research project:

has already been established
is being carried on by the inviting institution
involves other academics at the inviting institution

The purpose of the stay in Australia must not be to provide lectures and seminars to present findings of research undertaken overseas.

Recent PhD graduates who have not yet established their academic credentials, that is, they cannot demonstrate experience as professional academics and are not currently employed as such, are not considered to be ‘academics’.

Therefore, the Visiting Academic Visa is not always the correct visa for “Visiting Fellows” and other visiting international colleagues.

Depending on the main purpose of stay, international colleagues and recent PhD graduates may meet the criteria for a:

Educational visa (subclass 418) if it is a full time remunerated position and may require labour market testing;
Business (Long Stay) visa (a subclass 457) if they are sponsored by the Australian organisation and paid at award rates; or
Occupational Training visa (a subclass 442) if they are enhancing their skills and establishing their credentials and their nominating Australian university provides an approved occupational training programme.

The Department of Immigration and Citizenship can give advice on the appropriate visa applications based on the details of the imminent visit.

Assistance on VISA matters

ECU is not authorised to advise anyone on the appropriate visa. Please suggest to your international colleagues to contact the Department of Immigration and Citizenship for advice on visa information and applications: http://www.immi.gov.au/immigration.htm

ECU can provide a letter of invitation to the visiting international colleague to attach as supporting documentation to their visa applications. The letter should outline the visitor’s full name, their institute and position, and details of the activities that they will be involved in with ECU. It can also outline what ECU will financially cover (airfare and living expenses) and what we will not cover (insurance, salary, etc). This should be signed off by Head of School or Director of the Research Centre. Example

Sarah Smith is the central information point for immigration matters within ECU for information on VISAs for staff. The Recruitment and Benefits Office or the HR Account Manager must be advised of any 457 applications for monitoring and reporting purposes.

Name: Sarah Smith
Position: Recruitment & Benefits Officer
Centre: Staff Recruitment, Benefits & Policy Team
Email: sarah.smith@ecu.edu.au
Phone: 6304 2708

Travel Arrangements

Travel arrangements are the responsibility of the visiting colleague. A School Administrator may be able to assist, however it is generally accepted that the visiting colleague will make their own travel and accommodation arrangements. It is also usually cheaper to purchase a return ticket from their home country.

Some relevant links that may assist in getting around Perth include:

Perth International Airport
This website provides information on getting to and from the airport, facilities and services available at the airport and other key visitor information.

Transperth WA
This website provides information on local transport services, including trains and buses to ECU campuses.

WA Tourist Commission
This website provides information on accommodation options, advice on getting around, Perth weather forecasts, as well as things to see and do.

ECU Visitor Information
This website provides some background information on ECU, including the history of ECU, and the available facilities and services on each campus.

Health and Travel Insurance

For short stays, it is recommended that the visiting colleague take our comprehensive travel insurance for the entire stay from their home country. For long stays, it is recommended that they take out travel insurance of their initial travel and then purchase health insurance for the time that they are living in Australia. There are many options for health insurance in Australia.

The ECU International Office purchases health insurance for international students living in Australia through OSHC World Care. https://www.oshcworldcare.com.au/Default.aspx OSCH World Care offer a special deal to ECU for non-students, but this is only available for purchase via the ECU International Office. This insurance must be arranged while the visiting colleague is still based in their home country. For under 35s, it is $356p.a. For over 35s, it is $712p.a. While the health insurance is quite restrictive, it does include some travel insurance benefits.

Contact: Larraine Brown
Position: Administrator
Centre: ECU International (International Partnerships)
Email: l.brown@ecu.edu.au
Phone: 9273 8125

Local companies that offer competitive health insurance include:

Health insurance is usually valid throughout Australia, however, they should consider taking out travel insurance for any state, national or international travel that they undertake whilst living in Perth. ECU staff members and research students who book their travel through ECU’s preferred supplier for travel, will normally be covered under ECU’s travel insurance policy. An ECU staff member includes anyone who is on the payroll. Therefore, a visiting colleague who is not receiving an income from ECU is not classified as an ECU Staff member for this purpose. In this instance, you may request that the visiting colleague be added as an “authorised person” by contacting ECU’s FBSC Procurement and Contracts to arrange a specific cover.

Contact Name: Mike Smith
Position: Purchasing & Contracts Officer
Centre: FBSC Procurement and Contracts
Email: m.smith@ecu.edu.au
Phone: 6304 2465

Should bookings not be made at ECU’s preferred supplier for travel bookings, staff and research students must make provisions for appropriate insurance. Please also note that ECU staff and research students are not covered by the ECU’s travel insurance for any personal travel taken in conjunction with an approved business trip.

Alternative Travel insurance can be taken out through ACE Insurance.

For questions relating to ECU’s travel insurance policy or to make a claim, please contact Mike Smith or visit the ECU strategic procurement website.

Contact details for ECU Preferred Suppliers

Travel Bookings (Free Insurance included)
Kistend Campus Travel is ECU’s preferred supplier for all bookings/reservations for travel on University business.
Contact: Barry Mone barry.mone@kistendcampus.com.au
Dick Ong dick.ong@kistendcampus.com.au
Phone: 9215 9052 (ECU speed dial 7222)
Fax: 9215 9058 (ECU speed dial 7333)
Web: http://www.kistendcampus.com.au/index.html

Travel Insurance (alternative)
ACE Insurance:
Phone: 1800 803 548
Web: http://inasuitcase.aceinsurance.com.au/edith/HomePage.aspx

Health Insurance
OSHC World Care
Contact: Larraine Brown, ECU International Office (for access to special deals)
Phone: 9273 8125
Email: l.brown@ecu.edu.au

Accommodation
ECU preferred supplier for booking accommodation is edu.GoBlue:
https://edu.goblue.com.au/edublue/CategoryPageContext?CategoryCode=Hotels&Template=Supplier.vm
See Accommodation Options for more information

For a list of a variety of other ECU preferred suppliers, visit: http://www.fbsc.ecu.edu.au/sp/html/ecu_preferred_suppliers.cfm

Accommodation Options

Immediate accommodation

edu.GoBlue
This is ECU’s preferred search engine for booking accommodation in Perth.

Good Earth
This is a centrally located, reasonably priced hotel in the city.
195 Adelaide Terrace
Perth 6000
Phone: +61 8 9492 7777 For Reservations: +61 8 9492 7781
Fax: +61 8 9221 1956
Email: stay@goodearthhotel.com.au
Web: http://www.goodearthhotel.com.au/index.site.contact.89.html

Hotel Ibis Perth
Hotel Ibis Perth is also in the heart of the city. The hotel is moderately priced, has 192 rooms and facilities such as a restaurant, bar and internet access.
334 Murray Street
Perth 6000
Phone: +61 8 9322 2844
Fax: +61 8 9321 6314
Web: http://www.accorhotels.com/accorhotels/fichehotel/gb/ibi/1773/fiche_hotel.shtml

Perth City YHA
This is excellent standard for a budget hostel.
300 Wellington Street
Perth 6000
Phone: +61 8 9287 3333
Fax: +61 8 9287 3344
Email: perthcity@yhawa.com.au
Web: http://yha.com.au/hostels/details.cfm?hostelid=234

Short and Medium term accommodation (serviced apartments)

City Stay
City Stay Apartment Hotel offers spacious and comfortable, 3 ½ star apartment accommodation on the edge of central Perth.
875 Wellington Street
West Perth 6005
Phone: +61 8 9322 6061
Fax: +61 8 9322 7348
Web: http://www.citystay.com.au/

Brooke Stone
If you are looking for accommodation closer to campus, Brooke Stone is right within the scenic surrounds of Joondalup. You can choose accommodation from studio apartments or up-market townhouses.
88 Reid Prom
Joondalup 6027
Phone: +61 8 9301 0662
Fax: +61 8 9301 0665
Web: http://www.brookestone.com.au/index.html

ECU Housing
On Campus
ECU Student Village have shared apartments and single apartments available to anyone for rent. During semester, however, they are full to capacity with long waiting lists. Outside semester (late December and January, and occasionally July), there are some rooms available for rent. Casual rates are about $60per night and the minimum stay is negotiable (usually about 5 nights).
Phone: +61 8 9370 6376
Web: http://www.ecu.edu.au/fas/village/index.php
Email: housing@ecu.edu.au

Long term accommodation (rentals)

ECU Housing
Off Campus
ECU Student Village has networks with the community on places available to rent that are nearby to ECU campuses. For more information, contact:
Mt Lawley Ph: +61 (08) 9370 6266.
Joondalup Ph: +61 (08) 6304 2306

Government Assistance

The Department of Consumer and Employment Protection provides advice and information on your rights and responsibilities as a tenant.

Money Options

Petty Cash
Payments of up to $100 can be made to the visiting colleague in advance of purchases by regularly completing a petty cash voucher and submitting to the ECU Cashier. It is not possible to arrange a Cash Advance Payment to a non-ECU staff member.

Reimbursement
Reimbursements can be made to the visiting colleague by either a Petty Cash Voucher (up to $100) or by completing a Payment Request (over $100). Payment Requests can be paid in either a cheque or electronic transfer. Contact Shared Services for advice on whether the visiting colleague needs a local bank account or if they can reimburse to an international bank account.

Forms are available at: http://www.fbsc.ecu.edu.au/ss/html/shared_services_forms.cfm

Making payments
Where possible, it is easier to pay for purchases and accommodation by ECU credit card on behalf of the visiting colleague. Contact your School Administrator.

Setting up Project Account
For awardees of the Visiting Fellow Grant, the School Administrator (Finance) should set up a project account and provide the flexi-field to the Faculty Office (Research & Higher Degrees) to request the transfer of funds.