If you need support while you’re living in Adelaide, there are a range of services available to help you.

• StudyAdelaide
• South Australian Skills Commission
• Overseas Students Ombudsman
• On-Campus Student Services
• Legal Aid
• Cultural and Student Groups

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StudyAdelaide

StudyAdelaide offers a range of free and discounted student support services and programs.

Our events and activities are designed to help you connect with other students, enhance your employability skills and balance your studies while enjoying all that Adelaide has to offer.

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South Australian Skills Commission

The South Australian Skills Commission has a dedicated Complaint Handling, Advocacy and Dispute Resolution Service that can assist international students with free, confidential advice and support in relation to the following:

• assistance to understand the terms and conditions of enrolment agreements with education and training providers
• how to access education and training providers’ internal complaints handling processes
• how to find course information on the Commonwealth Register of Institutions and Courses for Overseas Students
• responding to a complaint about an education or training provider: if an international student believes their education or training provider may not have met the terms of their enrolment agreement or polices and has exhausted the complaints processes of the provider, the Commission may be able to assist with advocacy on the student’s behalf. 

Where necessary, the Commission can employ the services of a translator to assist with providing support to an international student.

More Information
South Australian Skills Commission

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Overseas Students Ombudsman

The Commonwealth Ombudsman has a special role investigating private schools, colleges, institutes, and universities who teach international students. They handle complaints from overseas students for free. 

They can take complaints from international students before, during and after their study in Australia. They are independent and don’t take sides, but they look at the facts and decide if the education provider correctly followed laws, policies, and procedures.

Common types of complaint issues that International Students raise to the Ombudsman include:

• refunds of fees paid to education providers when students cancel enrolment or withdraw from study
• students wishing to transfer to another education provider (during the restricted period)
• being reported for unsatisfactory course progress or attendance
• being unhappy with a grade received and feeling that the provider didn’t follow the correct process when reviewing the grade
• being unable to access a provider’s internal complaints and appeals process.

More Information
Overseas Students - Commonwealth Ombudsman
Call: 1300 362 072

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Ombudsman SA

Ombudsman SA is an independent officer who handles complaints about South Australian State and local government and can take complaints from international students about public education providers in South Australia.

More Information
Ombudsman SA
Call: (08) 8226 8699

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On-Campus Student Services

Your university, college or education institution can offer you support to help deal with problems you may be having with your:

• Health
• Mental wellbeing
• Finances
• Personal security

Visit your education provider’s website or speak to your adviser to find out more.

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Legal-Aid

If you need assistance with a legal matter, the Legal Services Commission of South Australia can offer you legal help if you can’t afford to pay for a lawyer.

More Information
Legal Services Commission of South Australia
Call: 1300 366 424

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Cultural and Student Groups

South Australia’s multicultural community is home to people from more than 200 diverse cultural and religious backgrounds.

Cultural Groups

There are many community and cultural groups in Adelaide where you can meet new friends and join in festivities and programs.

• African Communities Council of South Australia
• Cambodian Association of South Australia
• Chinese Welfare Services of South Australia
• Indian Australian Association of South Australia
• Japan Australia Friendship Association
• Malaysian Club of South Australia
• Muslim Women’s Association of South Australia
• South Australian German Association
• Vietnamese Community of Australia

Find other multicultural organisations:

• Multicultural Affairs
• Multicultural Youth SA
• Multicultural Communities Council of South Australia

Student Groups

You can also get involved in a range of student clubs to suit your social, academic, sporting and religious interests.

• Adelaide University Union Clubs
• Flinders University Student Association Clubs
• UniSA Student Association Clubs

Ask your education provider for information on clubs and campus activities where you can socialise and have fun with your study friends.