About Brisbane

Situated on the meandering Brisbane River, Queensland’s capital is a modern, exciting and multicultural city.

Experiencing enviably long summers and warm-to-mild winters, Brisbane offers you a relaxed lifestyle centered on the water and the great outdoors.

Key attractions

• Jump on a city-cycle and explore the culturally rich (and cycle friendly!) inner suburbs of Brisbane
• Get on a bus or train and visit the beautiful beaches and hinterlands of the Sunshine and Gold Coasts
• Go to a retro movie night at the Gallery of Modern Art (GOMA)
• Check out the inspiring and sometimes controversial inner city street art
• Head to The Valley for some great eats and enjoy the cool vibes of the local pub scene

Events

January-April

• Laneway Festival
• Brisbane Comedy Festival
• Quiksilver & Roxy Pro
• BrisAsia Festival

May-August

• Redcliffe KiteFest
• Blues on Broadbeach
• Abbey Medieval Festival
• Teneriffe Festival
• GreazeFest
• Queensland Music Festival
• Queensland Poetry Festival
• Brisbane’s EKKA
• Paniyiri Greek Festival
• Brisbane Street Art Festival

September-December

• Swell Sculpture Festival
• Brisbane Writers Festival
• Riverfire
• Brisbane Emerging Art Festival (BEAF)
• Brisbane Festival
• Australian International Movie Convention
• Redcliffe Festival
• Brisbane Emerging Art Festival

Additional links and resources

• Visit Brisbane - visitbrisbane.com.au
• Visit South Bank - visitsouthbank.com.au
• The City - bnecity.com.au/VisitorInfo

Local Services in Brisbane

Emergency Services

In an emergency call: 000 (Ambulance, Fire, Police)
Poisons advice: 131126

If it’s not an emergency but it could be serious, call 13 HEALTH – qualified staff will give you advice on who to talk to and how quickly you should do it: 13 43 25 84

Legal Services

For legal advice and information, or to find a Solicitor, visit the Queensland Law Society.

Please note that serious matters should be directed to your country’s consulate.

The Australian Government Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) has a 24 hour Consular Emergency Centre. For more information visit dfat.gov.au or call the emergency consular helpline on 1300 555 135.

Accessing Money

There are a number of banks and Automatic Teller Machines (ATMs) in the West End and nearby CBD. Banks are open from Monday to Friday, 9:00am to 4:00pm (except on public holidays). ATMs are accessible 24 hours a day.

• Commonwealth Bank of Australia
• ANZ
• Westpac
• National Australia Bank (NAB)
• St George
• Bank of Queensland

Internet Access

The Internet is readily available on campus during opening hours.

You can purchase portable broadband Wi-Fi and plug and play devices (pre-paid or on a contract/plan) from the service providers below. It is worth doing your research to make sure you get a deal that suits your needs and budget.

• Telstra mobile broadband
• Vodafone mobile broadband
• Optus prepaid mobile broadband

Medical Centres

The Wesley Hospital

wesley.com.au

West End Medical Practice

wemp.com.au

CBD 7 Day Medical Centre

cbdmedical.com.au

Montague Road 7 Day Medical Centre 

montagueroadmedical.com.au

Places of Worship

Brisbane is an accepting, multicultural community and welcomes people of all religious beliefs. Below is a list of the closest places of worship to the SAE campus for several faiths.

Anglican

Buddhist

Catholic

Hindu

Jewish

Islam

Uniting

Brisbane Transport

Public transport

Around Brisbane

Getting around Brisbane and South East Queensland on public transport is easy. Buses and trains operate throughout the city, suburbs and beyond. A ferry system also services the inner city and river suburbs.

Visit TRANSlink for ticketing and timetable information, or to plan your journey.

Getting to SAE Brisbane

Frequent bus services operate near the Brisbane campus.

• TRANSlink bus: stop 8 (3 min walk to campus)
• CityGlider bus: Donkin St stop (6 min walk to campus)

Parking

Some parking stations are located near the campus, however, parking in the CBD is often limited and expensive. Street parking may be available at night; be aware of clearway regulations.

Bikes

Brisbane has many bikeways and shared pathways to allow for easy and safe cycling in and around the city. A bikeway runs from the CBD along Riverside Dr to the campus. For more information click here.

You can hire bikes through CityCycle – there are hire stations throughout the CBD and one close to campus. For more information visit the CityCycle website.

Taxis

• Yellow Cabs
• Black & White Cabs

Accommodation in Brisbane

There are a number of off-campus accommodation options if you choose to study in Brisbane. 

Students who are moving to Brisbane often stay in a hotel, hostel/guesthouse, or nearby student accommodation when they first arrive. Many students then move into shared rental accommodation when they are more familiar with the city and surrounding areas.

Hostels and Guesthouses

Hostels are usually run by organisations such as Youth Hostels Australia (YHA). Students share kitchen and bathroom facilities. This is an economical, short-term option.

Student Accommodation

Designed specifically for students, you will have the privacy of your own bedroom and bathroom in a shared apartment, with access to larger communal living areas and facilities. We recommend:

• urbanest
• Iglu
• UniLodge
• StudentOne
• Uniresort
• The Pad

Homestay Network

Homestay accommodation gives students an opportunity to live with an Australian family. This is a great way for younger international students to immerse themselves in Australian life and culture, while maintaining the familiarity and safety of a family environment. Homestay accommodation costs range from AU$160 to AU$300 per week. To find out more, visit brisbanehomestay.org.

Shared Rental Accommodation

Sharing a rental property is a popular and economic option for both international and local students. If you choose this option you will share the cost of renting a house or apartment with your ‘housemates’. The cost of shared rental accommodation varies depending on the location, size and condition of the premises; you should expect to pay between AU$165-$350 per week. Some things to remember about shared rental accommodation:

• Landlords require rent to be paid in advance
• A security bond, equal to one months rent, is required at the beginning of your lease
• Be prepared to supply your own furniture
• Cost of utilities such as electricity, water, telephone and Internet is usually in addition to rent

To search for rental properties check out the notice boards on campus, look for advertisements in the local newspapers or go online: realestate.com.au/rent or domain.com.au/rent or rent.com.au.

Living in Australia

Read about living in Australia here.