About Perth

Stretched out along the Swan River, Perth is a fast-growing, cosmopolitan and multicultural city. Within close proximity to the thriving city centre you will find pristine beaches, beautiful parks and impressive native forests.

Perth has a warm temperate climate and experiences more sunny days than any other capital in Australia. The weather and sunshine provide for an enviable relaxed, outdoor lifestyle – making Perth a year round holiday destination for visitors, and an amazing place to live for the locals.

Key attractions:

• Head out to Fremantle, Perth’s cultural hub, for great cafes, restaurants, flea markets and all things arty, hip and cool
• Get your evening groove on in Northbridge, renown for its clubs, pubs and kebabs
• Check out an art house movie at Luna Cinema
• On a warm Summer’s day make your way to Hillarys Boat Harbour – Perth’s beachside playground
• Walk in the treetops at Kings Park; take a picnic and make a day of it

Events

January-April

• Western Australian Circus Festival
• Hyundai Hopman Cup
• Perth International Arts Festival
• Nannup Music Festival
• Fremantle Street Arts Festival

May-August

• V8 Supercars Chill Perth 360
• Pinjarra Festival
• Revelation Perth International Film Festival
• CineféstOZ

September-December

• Kalgoorlie Cup
• Perth International Golf Championship
• Margaret River Gourmet Escape
• Manjimup Cherry Harmony Festival

Additional links and resources

• inthemix - inthemix.com.au/whatson/perth
• Enjoy Perth - enjoyperth.com.au
• Perth Tourism - perthtourism.com.au
• Urban Walkabout Perth - urbanwalkabout.com/perth

Local Services in Perth

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 Law Society of Western Australia.

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 numerous banks and Automatic Teller Machines (ATMs) in Perth. 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

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 Royal Perth Hospital

rph.wa.gov.au

East Perth Medical Centre

eastperthmedicalcentre.com.au

Central City Medical Centre

ccmc.net.au

CBD West Medical Centre & Corporate Health

cbdwest.com.au 

Places of Worship

Perth is an accepting and multicultural community welcoming 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

Jewish

Islam

Uniting

Perth Transport

Getting around Perth on public transport is easy. Buses and trains operate throughout the city, suburbs and beyond. 

TRANSperth offers concession tickets for tertiary students. To find out more visit the website.

Check out TRANSperth for all other ticketing and timetable information, or to plan your journey.

Getting to SAE Perth

Frequent bus services operate near the Perth campus. Ferry and trains also service the area.

The closest bus stops are:

• James St - Blue Cat 11 (2 minute walk to campus)
• Shenton St Russell Square - Blue Cat 10 (3 minute walk to campus)
• Perth Busport (5 minute walk to campus) 

The closest train station:

• Perth Railway Station (9 minute walk to campus)

Parking

Some parking stations are located near the campus, however parking in the city is often limited and expensive.

Street parking may be available at night; be aware of clearway regulations.

Taxis

• swantaxis.com.au
• bwtaxi.com.au

Accommodation in Perth

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

Students who are moving to Perth often stay in a hotel or hostel/guesthouse when they first arrive. Many students then move into shared rental accommodation when they are more familiar with the city and surrounding areas. The Accommodation for Students website is a great resource for students researching their housing options.

Hostels and Guesthouses

Hostels are usually run by organisations such as Youth Hostels Australia (YHA) and the YMCA. 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:

• Unilodge

Homestay

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$200 to AU$300 per week. To find out more, visit perthstudentaccommodation.com.

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 AU$280+ 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 you 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.

Living in Australia

Read about living in Australia here.