Getting started at GHE

New student checklist

There are a number of things you need to attend to when you first arrive at GHE:
a) contact the Office of the Registrar to make sure we have your updated address and
contact details;
b) log in to your student email;
c) collect your student card from Student Services;
d) register with the student association;
e) make sure you have the details of the Orientation Program (outlined in your Welcome
Pack) in your calendar

Support on arrival

When you arrive in Adelaide you have the option of arranging an appointment with our Student Support Officer to discuss the results of the Questionnaire and of developing a Personal Support Plan to ease your transition to postgraduate study in Australia.

Every student at GHE will be allocated a Personal Contact Team who will be the first point of contact for you for any concerns that you may have throughout your studies.

Enrolment, Orientation and Transition

From the time you accept your offer of a course at GHE we will start helping you to orient to your new life as a student with us and gaining the skills you will need to successfully complete your studies.

Enrolment is face-to-face for all new students and is conducted on GHE’s campus (with direction to online sites as required for particular components of enrolment, e.g., when applying for a Unique Student Identifier (USI) —click link here. More details and assistance related to acquiring a (mandatory) USI will provided during the enrolment process. Students are also advised to bring all important documentation with them to enrolment sessions (e.g., original passport, copy of visa, copy of health cover insurance, etc.)

Orientation

Following enrolment, the GHE Orientation Program is conducted before classes begin and is compulsory for all newly arriving students. The program provides an opportunity for you to meet key staff at GHE, your fellow students, and to find your way around the resources on campus (library, HIVE, common areas, resource areas, collaboration rooms, etc) Information will be provided about GHE student support services, facilities, and healthcare, obtaining legal advice, what to do in an emergency, and contact details of GHE staff.

You will learn about your rights and responsibilities as a student at GHE, including information about complaints, appeals and the legal requirements regarding study and residence in Australia. There will be sessions about how to study successfully at GHE and, for international students, an introduction to Australian culture, society and life.

Students who arrive after orientation will be provided with copies of and links to all resources, including a link to online orientation.

A separate Course Advice Session is provided to students to ensure students are enrolled in both the correct course and units of study to optimise academic progress. For new students, these sessions provide an opportunity to meet academic and administrative staff and managers at GHE and to have any queries or concerns resolved.

Arriving early to attend orientation gives you the chance to:
• See and talk to the most important people you will need to know at the GHE, including:
• Enrol early, which will help you to get your Student ID/Access card early. You will need your Student ID/ Access card to open bank accounts, borrow books from the library, and more.
• Meet and get advice from your Academic Course Co-ordinator based on your respective Course Study Plan, including transfer credits, arrange your timetable…and much more.

Find your way around the campus, including:
• Library
• Computer Login access
• Lecture rooms, Computer rooms, and facilities
• Meet other international students who may share your classes, share your concerns or fears. Knowing another face on campus as you become more comfortable with the routines can help you avoid any feelings of isolation.
• Find your way around the public transport/City/ to and from your accommodation.
• Feel as though you already know some of the things local students know before you get to meet them at orientation activities later and once classes start. From the time you accept your offer of a course at GHE we will start helping you to orient to your new life as a student with us and gaining the skills you will need to successfully complete your studies.

Obtain your Unique Student Identifier (USI)

All students doing nationally recognised training need to have a Unique Student Identifier (USI). Creating a USI will only take a few minutes and it is free. You only need to create a USI once and it will stay with you for life. After you create your USI, you then need to give it to each training organisation you train with when you enrol.

Although most students create their own USIs, GHE will be able to create a USI for you, with your permission. Find out more by visiting the USI website.

Early Engagement

Our Early Engagement Program will include opportunities for you to connect with the GHE community through offshore information and live chat sessions run by our academic and student support staff, opportunities to connect with your peers through social media groups, and online academic and English language skill preparation.

Our Getting Started Questionnaire will be sent to you within a week of accepting your offer at GHE. This questionnaire will help you and GHE staff determine what academic and/or personal support you might need to help you feel confident when you commence your studies with us.

Inherent Requirements and Reasonable Adjustments

To successfully complete a course at GHE all students must be able to meet the inherent requirements. It is therefore important that all students read the inherent requirements for each course or unit to make sure that they can meet them. For example, a courses or unit at GHE have inherent requirements which are core skills and activities that will be essential to your successful completion of that course or unit. They may include skills in critical thinking, interpersonal communication (both written and oral), cross-cultural awareness, teamwork and self-directed learning and they ensure that academic integrity of a course is maintained.

GHE is committed to making reasonable adjustments across the learning experience to enable all students to succeed. This may include making such adjustments for students with a disability or chronic health condition so that they may be able to participate effectively in learning activities. It is critical for all students to be aware of the inherent requirements and if you have a disability or chronic health condition it is important that you contact the Student Support Team to discuss your needs so we may help you to succeed.