From: kaic@mullian.ee.mu.oz.au (David Chan)
Subject: Re: Standard of Living
Organization: Electrical and Electronic - University of Melbourne 
Date: Fri, 4 Sep 1992 07:33:18 GMT

u907736@postoffice.utas.edu.au (Edmund Chia) writes:
>
>Actually, I did not mention the costs of leisure/pleasure because I
>wasn't sure if Austudy was meant to cover 'fun-expenses' - if I 
>remembered my Dickens correctly, all a uni student needed was
>a room and coffee. 
>However, I concede the point, it would nice if Austudy also considered
>the social needs of a student. However, do such needs have to be
>costly??? Going by my experience here in Tasmania, there is a Disco
>here which is free for students(before 12 a.m. & includes 1 free drink),
>there are others which are also free though the times vary. How much
>does 'conversation' with a friend cost or bushwalking or reading(books
>from the local library) or sports(aerobics lessons cost $1/hour, badminton
>courts/tennis courts/squash courts/use of gym costs about the same amount, 
>jogging is free, computers are free, etc.

	The cost of living in Tassie must be lower than either Sydney or 
Melbourne. Free DISCO? Lucky (Tasmanian) Devils!	B-)

	To make a fair comparison, the average cost of living ought to be used.
Students living on Austudy in Sydney would be at a disadvantage, compared to
students in Hobart living on Austudy.

	[stuff deleted]

>than on perks for politicians. Anyway, thats another issue altogether. My
>interest was in whether or not overseas students tend to have a less expensive
>life-style than their Australian counter-parts. And if so, why? - are they
>'slumming' or are the reasons cultural or some other reason.

	A good number of my Australian friends live frugally - most of them
bring their own lunch to Uni, don't eat out, don't spend too much on food
etc. A friend told me that the maximum you can get on Austudy is around 
$117 dollars per week (correct me if I'm wrong). Based on that figure,
that's not much left after paying rent, transport, food, Elec & Gas bills,
Phone bill. (My estimate based on figures in Melbourne City or inner suburbs:
Rent $50-$70, average $60. Transport - $15 per week for inner suburbs & city.
Food $40. That's already $115!!!, Leaving $2 for the rest!).

	So, based on the figure of $117 per week, I would say that a person
on Austudy can live, but would practically have no social life. I certainly
would find $117 per week a little 'tight', despite being fairly thrifty
(My major expenditure apart from Rent, bills and transport is FOOD (yum!)
and BOOKS.)

	Would any Australian reading this newsgroup like to comment? It would
be good to hear a few things from the people who actually have to make do with
Austudy.

>Edmund
>
>:-) If dogs did ever take over the world, I hope they chose a REAL dog like a 
>sheepdog becomes king and not a yapping coddled 'sissy' dog like the chihuahua

Regards,
DC

==_|_=====================================================================
| \ / ~~>      David Kai C. Chan    | Tel:+613 3444650, Fax:+613 3446678 |
| _V_ <~~   Photonics Research Labs |"First, let there be optical fibres"|
|  |  PRL    Melbourne  University  |    "Then, let there be light..."   | 
==========================================================================