Going home

If you are renting a unit, flat or house, you may need to move into temporary accommodation for 2-3 weeks before you leave. This will give you enough time to organise getting your bond back and pay any outstanding bills.

To do:

  • Give your landlord or real estate agent reasonable notice, in writing, of your intention to leave
  • Make sure you clean the property properly for final inspection
  • Organise the final property inspection and date to return the keys
  • Make final payments
  • Discuss the return of your rental bond money.

Issues:

Need to break your lease?

Student residence or Homestay

Give your host or manager about a month’s notice of your intention to leave and discuss any outstanding payments.

If you need help, speak to an off-campus housing accommodation officer

Cancellation of utilities

When you move out of a property you need to get all utilities, such as water, gas, electricity and phone disconnected. Look at the bills for details on how to do this.

Give each provider at least 7 days notice. Let them know the date you no longer need the service so they can finalise your bill.

Selling your belongings

There are a number of places you can sell your second hand books, furniture and other goods:

A garage sale may be worth considering. Donate any usable goods you cannot sell to charity or give to friends. Some councils have hard rubbish collections for unwanted items. Do not leave items on nature strips unless you have arranged for collection.

Shipping your goods home

Allow yourself plenty of time to organise shipping your belongings home and find out what the customs regulations are in your home country.

Many companies provide freight services. Go to the Yellow Pages online directory. Search for shipping companies, baggage agents and air cargo services. Make sure you get a few quotes as the prices and services vary. You will need to consider if you want door-to-door delivery and if the company provides insurance.

Mail redirection

Contact Australia Post to get your mail redirected to another address in Australia or overseas. Fee applies.
Consider having your mail sent to someone in Australia, this could be helpful if something comes up that needs a response within Australia.

Organising your finances

Health insurance refunds

Check if you have any outstanding Overseas Student Health Care (OSHC) claims. If you are leaving the country more than a month before your OSHC policy expires, you may be eligible for a refund.

If you have insurance with OSHC Worldcare, a refund form is available online. You will need to provide evidence of the day you plan to leave Australia, such as an airline ticket.

Tax return

You might be able to lodge a tax return before the end of the financial year if you meet the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) conditions.

If you are a non-resident of Australia and leaving Australia permanently, you will need to:

  • Get a payment summary from each of your employers
  • Complete the Taxpayer leaving Australia - Request for early assessment form
  • Complete your tax return, attach the form and send to the ATO.

See leaving Australia – early tax returns

Departing Australia superannuation payment

When you permanently leave Australia, you can apply for release of your superannuation benefits. There are restrictions and you will have to pay tax on the amount.

See superannuation for departing residents

Tourist refund scheme

This scheme lets you to claim a refund for the goods and services tax (GST) that you pay on some goods you buy in Australia.

To claim a refund, you must have spent $300 or more in one store and have a single tax invoice. You must buy the goods no more than 30 days before departure. You have to wear or carry the goods on board the plane. You must present them to a Customs Officer, along with your original tax invoice, passport and international boarding pass.

See tourist refund scheme

Preparing emotionally for your return home

Finishing university can involve as many emotional highs and lows as beginning the journey.

Sometimes people who have lived abroad find the adjustment to returning home just as difficult as their adjustment to the foreign culture.

Here are some tips to help you prepare emotionally for your return home (pdf 160kb)

Finishing university administrative tasks

Ensure that you have done all the administrative tasks to finish university.

See finishing university

Going home checklist

There may seem to be a million things to do before you can board the plane for home. This list may help you organise your time, and remind you of some things that you may have forgotten.

Going home checklist (pdf)