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General Information
& Conditions

At Massage Schools of Queensland, we specialize in providing excellence in massage training, offering nationally recognized training up to practitioner level Advanced Diploma courses. Our courses are designed to provide students with the practical and theoretical skills required to enter the massage profession. Qualifications issued by Massage Schools of Queensland are recognized within the Australian Qualifications Framework, and are accredited under the Health Training Package (HLT21 and HLT15).

Welcome to the Gold Coast

Beautiful beaches, an excellent quality of life and friendly people make the Gold Coast a popular study destination.
The school is conveniently located at 36 Kortum Drive, Burleigh Heads QLD 4220. The school is a short distance from beaches, international hotels and restaurants, airport, medical facilities, public transport, and shopping centres.
Average temperature: 15°C – 25°C
In summer (December to February) 21ᵒC to 31ᵒC; In winter (June to August) 9ᵒC to 19ᵒC
Population: More than 630,000*
300 days of sunshine a year.
Beautiful white sandy beaches spanning nearly 60km of coastline.
100,000 hectares of World Heritage-listed rainforests.
Gold Coast’s time zone is GMT+10†
Regional status means students can apply for extended post-study work rights.
* Population data supplied by City of Gold Coast goldcoast.qld.gov.au/Council-region/About-our-city/Population-data
† If you are unsure of the time difference you can use timeanddate.com to convert time differences.

IMPORTANT THINGS TO DO ONCE YOU ARRIVE IN AUSTRALIA

Phone your family to let them know you have arrived safely.
Settle into your accommodation.
Organise your transport to and from Massage Schools of Queensland.
Open a bank account.
Familiarise yourself with the local area.
Update International Student Administration with your new address, email, phone number and emergency contact details (relationship, email and phone) within seven days of arriving.
Advise your OSHC company of your new address and get your membership card.
Start classes.
Confirm commencement of your studies with International Student Administration
Get Student ID card.
Create your Unique Student Identifier (USI) and notify Massage Schools of Queensland
Apply for a Tax File Number (TFN) if you are planning to work while in Australia. Some types of jobs require you to register an Australian Business Number (ABN) e.g. working for Uber. Go to ato.gov.au for more information and to register.

Unique Student Identifier

If you are undertaking a nationally recognised program at Massage Schools of Queensland, you will need to have a Unique Student Identifier (USI). This includes the study of a certificate or diploma course.

A USI gives you access to your own online USI account. Your USI account will contain all your nationally recognised training records and results from 1 January 2015 onwards. You can create your USI online at usi.gov.au.

Once you’ve created your USI, you will need to email it to Massage Schools of Queensland along with your name and student number.

Emergency Services

Police, Fire or Ambulance: Dial 000 (alternative mobile number is 112)

Policelink: Dial 131 444 for non-emergency / life threatening assistance

The State Emergency Service (SES): Dial 13 25 00. The SES is an emergency and rescue service dedicated to providing assistance in natural disasters (floods and storms), rescues, road crashes and extreme weather conditions.

Cyclones and Severe Storms: Useful safety information and tips on cyclones and severe storms are available at qld.gov.au/ emergency/dealing-disasters/disaster-types/ cyclone-severe-storm

Accommodation; Cost of Living and Transport

Accommodation

Share Housing

In Australia, share housing, where you share a house or apartment with a number of other students, is the most common form of off-campus accommodation.

When looking for suitable off-campus accommodation you will need to consider:

The cost of rent (usually advertised as a weekly amount)
If utilities are included in your rent (electricity, water, gas)
If internet is included in your rent
If the accommodation is furnished
How close the accommodation is to your campus
Access to public transport

Homestay

Homestay accommodation gives you the option of living with an Australian family while you study. Homestay is available to students at all Griffith campuses. Some homestay providers offer independent living options such as a granny flat. Homestay is a great way to develop your English language skills and experience life in Australia and offers catered and self-catered options.

Cost of living

Southeast Queensland is an affordable and friendly place to study and offers a combination of quality education and high living standards.

The cost of living in Southeast Queensland is considered more affordable than other major Australian cities such as Sydney and Melbourne*.

The Australian Government requires students to have access to a minimum of AUD $24,505 (Australian dollars) per year to meet their living costs, and more if they will have family members accompanying them.

* In the QS Best Student Cities 2022 rankings, Brisbane and the Gold Coast are ahead of Sydney and Melbourne in the Affordability Rank.

Calculating your total cost of study

Your total cost of studying in Australia will include:

Tuition fees
Visa application fees
Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC)
Flights
Cost of living
Other personal and study-related expenses

Cost of living estimate (per week):

Type of Accommodation	Share house	Homestay
Rent	$160–$440	$235–$325
Food	$140–$280	Variable*
Transport to school	$30–$60	$30–$60
Electricity and gas	$10–$20	Included†
Mobile phone and internet	$15–$30	$15–$30
Entertainment	$80–$150	$80–$150

* Fully catered Homestay accommodation includes food. Fully catered, semi-catered or self-catered Homestay accommodation will vary.

† Students can expect to pay an additional cost for heating and air conditioning.

The information above is based on 2022 costs according to Study Australia studyaustralia.gov.au/english/live/living-costs

Please be advised it is an estimate only and individual differences mean prices will vary.

The above costs do not include arrival costs, security deposit, textbooks, clothing, and medical expenses.

Transport

Public Transport

Bus, Tram and Train services are readily available on the Gold Coast, and between the Gold Coast and Brisbane. Times vary from 24 hour to part time services depending on location and day of the week.

There are discounts available for public transport by using a Go Card or Smart Ticketing. Fares are at least 30% cheaper than a single paper ticket. Refer to translink.com.au for further information on discounting and ways to save.

Taxis and Ride Share Services

There are 2 main taxi companies operating on the Gold Coast (Gold Coast Cabs and Black & White Taxis), and numerus ride share services (Uber, DiDi, OLA. Gett etc.). All of these services have App’s available for download. The taxi services also have a local phone number that you can call (GCC 131 008, B&WT 133 222) to make bookings.

Private Vehicles

If you are intending to purchase your own vehicle there are several considerations, you need to consider:

Licensing: You are allowed to drive in Queensland with an overseas licence. There are various conditions that you must adhere to. Refer to www.qld.gov.au>licensing for further information.
Vehicle registration: Vehicle registration is expensive in Queensland. Refer to www.qld.gov.au>fees>cost for further information.
Insurance: For a cost comparison refer to www.comparethemarket.com.au
Repairs and maintenance costs.
Running costs. Currently (June 2023) the average cost of petrol in Queensland is $1.88 per litre*
Parking: On the Gold Coast there are many areas that have restricted parking. Where there is restricted parking, you must pay to park, and there will be a time limit for how long you can park. The average cost of parking varies as to the area that you are parking in, form $1.60 per hour to $3.20 per hour†

If you are living in a restricted area, you may be eligible to apply for a Resident Parking Permit. These permits are free for approved residents, and allows you unlimited parking at no cost in a designated restricted area. You can apply for the permit at www.goldcost.qld.gov.au>residentparkingpermit

* Source: Fuel Price Australia

† Source: www.goldcost.qld.gov.au>parking

Conditions For International Students

Student Visa

To be eligible for an Australian Student Visa, international students must enrol on a full-time basis, either into our Certificate IV or our Diploma courses.
The Certificate IV course takes 24 weeks to complete. The Diploma courses take 73 weeks to complete.

Students must be over 18 to apply to study at Massage Schools of Queensland.

Students must notify Massage Schools of Queensland of their Australian address and contact details within seven days of arrival. Any changes to these details must be reported immediately.

For General information about Student Visa, please check Australian Government Department of Home Affairs website.

Overseas Students Health Cover (OSHC)
Overseas students studying in Australia must have private health insurance as a condition of a Student Visa. Australia’s national health system, Medicare only covers Australian citizens and permanent residents. Check Australian Government website.

English Language Skills
International students will require a minimum IELTS (Academic Module) Score of 6.0 (or equivalent) to enroll in our courses. Sound written and oral English language skills are necessary, and a Language Literacy & Numeracy Assessment is available.

For international students who require language assessment or assistance to improve their English reading, writing and speaking skills, we are able to recommend a respected local language training facility.

Employment
International students residing in Australia under a student visa are permitted to find employment for up to 48 hours per fortnight (commencing 1 July 2023) when your course is in session, and unlimited hours when your course is not in session. Employment details are registered with Immigration. Under no circumstances is employment allowed to affect your course attendance requirements.

Part-time students studying whilst on a tourist visa are not permitted to work during that time.

Granting Course Credits
Applicants who consider that they have completed appropriate training or have through prior learning and experience gained the required skills/competencies for some of the units of the course, may be granted credit upon substantiation of that claim.

Where a student is granted credits for part of the training course prior to granting the visa the Confirmation of Enrolment will reflect the adjusted time frame.

If the course credit is granted after the visa, DIBP will be advised of the change to the Visa requirement via PRISMS.

For more information, please check our RPL page.

Special Conditions for International Students
Students must attend the school for a minimum of 20 hours a week and you cannot defer, suspend or cancel your course except under very specific circumstances.

Students must maintain an acceptable level of achievement throughout the course to ensure that all studies will be completed within the timeframe of the Visa. Massage Schools of Queensland is obliged to report to the Department of Home Affairs (DHA) any student whose attendance or academic progress is not satisfactory.

International students cannot change to another education provider until after the first six months of their principal course is completed, except under special circumstances.

All of this information is explained and detail in the Handbook for International Students. This is an important document and you must read it carefully to understand your rights and obligations as an International Student.

Find an Education Agent
You can find our authorised education agents in Australia and overseas.

Please see (MSQ Agent List)

Courses Options

Having studied for my Dip of Remedial Massage in 2010 with Massage Schools of Queensland I highly recommend anyone thinking of training with them. The School has a very friendly atmosphere. The teachers were great and so were my fellow peers. The learning gave me such depth and knowledge on the principles of massage therapy and even deeper techniques and my feel for my craft. A wonderful experience learning with the team at MSQ!

Olivia BernardAtlantis Rising Massage and Wellness

I studied Remedial Massage at MSQ around 10 years ago, I was on a mission to help people through massage. I chose to study at MSQ as it was highly recommended by several people and I only wanted to learn from the best. I loved the balance of learning practical knowledge and some spiritual teachings, each modality was unique and helped me open my mind to see where my passion was leading me. Brett Franke was my main teacher and the most amazing remedial teacher with a lifetime of knowledge to share. He was so inspiring and made anatomy fun empowering us to feel inspired to create our own massage style with all of the tools we learnt from the course. A couple of months after I finished my Diploma, I started my own successful massage business that has opened so many doors for me, I have recently co-created a spiritual healing centre teaching Lomi Lomi and yoga, offering massage and meditation. Being a qualified remedial therapist has been a big draw card for my business as we can offer health rebates for our clients. If you are considering learning remedial massage, or Cert IV, I highly recommend Massage Schools of Queensland.

Katharine Walton

I studied Diploma of Remedial Massage at MSQ and it was a great experience as I have gained knowledge and confidence to my future career. The teachers were so kind, knowledgeable and supportive. I learnt not only massage techniques but also how to work in the real world. I thoroughly enjoyed the course and would recommend it to anyone interested in Remedial Massage.

Emi Saito

I’m Ina from Taiwan. I majored in Clinical Aromatherapy and I am so lucky to have had the chance to study at MSQ, this chance was a big gift for me. I was most affected by something that was said in Rhona’s class. She said not to be so intensely goal-oriented, and allow the process of learning and growing to take place. Relax and feel more into yourself. It will make you stronger, which enabled me to face things that I was previously unsure of. The massage skills I learned at school were very useful, all the teachers are experienced. They know how to teach the “key points” for those who have no experience and then the internship experience was very rewarding for me. In addition to studying I also seized the opportunity to experience Australia’s cuisine, attractions and special activities, also making many new friends. For a student from Asia, it’s a very positive experience for learning. I am so glad to have had this opportunity.

Ina Wu

Massage Schools of Queensland changed the course of my life. I studied in 1997 and have since created my business Stonehenge Australia Massage Kits. This course also gave me the grounding to further my studies and I'm now currently working in the UK as a Psychologist Counselor. With the confidence and knowledge I received, it elevated my career and potential. Forever grateful to Rhona.

Deborah Lang HH Dip [H.C]Stonehenge Australia Massage Kits

Having completed the massage course at MSQ, this was a special and valuable learning experience for me. MSQ provides motivation and an interesting learning model to help us build solid massage knowledge as we are learning by doing. For example, teachers use the skeleton model to help us build the anatomy knowledge, physical assessment learning by practice with classmates and also performance in the student clinic. In addition, teachers also create opportunities to enlarge our range of massage knowledge by doing many case studies, which is an effective way to functioning academic training and clinical practice. Moreover, MSQ also provides a wide array of placement opportunities to help us obtain clinical experience from a wide range of clients. For instance, MSQ provides placement in the quality of student clinic, athlete training centre and sports events to support us gain the clinical experience and ready to start a career in massage industry as I applied for a job in two clinics before I graduated and got job offers from both of them. Now I am doing my tertiary education, and I feel so glad and lucky to have studied at MSQ, as the quality of their education system helped me to be better equipped with solid knowledge which makes me feel more confident to do my higher education.

Ellen Yang

As an international student I found the learning and knowledge both fun and interesting. The cohort that I was with challenged me as there were many international students, but I was proudly presented as Dux of the School when I graduated in 2013. My thanks to the trainers, staff and management for allowing us as students to be part of a family atmosphere that was very professional for which my skill level took me to university as a result of many discussions with Rhona, Head of School who recommended me to undergo further study at SCU. I have now recently graduated as a Dr in Osteopathy. For me my journey was common sense having the invaluable remedial skills that I gained at MSQ to integrate into my osteopathic learning. Thank you MSQ for my wonderful foundation.

Valery Belan

First of all, I would like to express my deep appreciation to Rhona, Head of School at MSQ, as she still supports me and gives me advice for my business and my life in Japan, even though I graduated from this school more than 10 years ago. I came to the Gold Coast to open my own massage clinic. The Gold Coast is very familiar to me as my sister lives there, and I heard from her that the Gold Coast is a great place to live. At first, I thought it would be easy for me, because I was a Judo Therapist in Japan and had a lot of experience working as a therapist that includes working with other allied health professionals, working at a hospital and teaching at a vocational school in Japan. However, I realised that I should have searched and prepared much more about the regulation in Australia. Consequently, I had been struggling about Visa to stay in Australia, and license to work as a massage therapist, for the first half year. In such a situation, I was introduced to MSQ and then things began to progress surprisingly! I remember the day I first met Rhona as if it were yesterday. She had done all procedures of my enrolment admission and solved all problems that I had at that time just in a flash. I was really impressed what a talented and compassionate businesswomen she was! What was this detour of six months? I really enjoyed the whole experience at MSQ, such as lessons and trainers. I thought my experience in Japan would be enough, but I learnt a lot of knowledge and techniques during my Diploma of Remedial Massage course. It was an invaluable time for me when I lived in Australia and met with many friends including Rhona. I recommend MSQ with confidence.

Yoshi Ashida

I completed my Certificate IV course in 2018. Most of my school days, I had lectures in the morning and practical training in the afternoon. And after school finished I needed to work in the student clinic to complete 80hours training to actual clients. All of these were not easy. I struggled every day. I’m not lying! But after it all finished, I became very confident. I’m proud of my massage skill that was given from this school. I think this school is different from others because all staff are professional, friendly, helpful and passionate. Without them, I couldn’t enjoy learning massage. If you want to be a professional therapist, this place is perfect for the first step!

Aiko Ikezaki