FAMILIES

Finding suitable accommodation is a very important part of moving to Canberra, but families have extra things to consider.

The student residences are not suitable for children and no facilities for children are provided.  Living off campus is the preferred option for families and will allow you to be closer to schools and other family oriented services. Housing Online, Renting and the ANU Rental Properties (for graduate students and new ANU staff) are the best places to look for accommodation.

We suggest that you arrive in Canberra alone in order to source accommodation before the rest of your family arrives. This is because it may take several weeks for you to locate suitable accommodation, and it is easier to find inexpensive temporary accommodation for 1 person than it is to accommodate a family. 

If you are coming to Canberra with children, in most cases you will need to look for accommodation with at least 2 bedrooms. Landlords in Canberra are often reluctant to rent anything smaller to families as one bedroom apartments and studios are considered too small for more than 2 people.

Once accommodation has been found, things like schools, day care centres and emergency services become priorities. Below you will find links to many helpful websites with suburb maps of Canberra, listings of all schools (primary and secondary) in the ACT, emergency services, hospitals, medical centres and sporting facilities.

ACT Schools - Here you will find a list of all schools in Canberra, from pre-school to high school, public and private. Canberra has over 100 schools spread over the entire city, so wherever you live, there should be a school that is accessible to you. The International Education Office has more information about schools for international students.

Day Care - Here you will find listings of a number of day care centres located around Canberra. International students will find more information about day care from the International Education Office.

Emergency Services - Canberra is services by all of the regular emergency services such as Police, Fire and Ambulance. The standard emergency number throughout Australia is 000. On this website you will also find numbers for various help lines and counceling services.

Hospitals - Canberra is service by 2 main public hospitals and 3 private hospitals. Here you will find information and contact numbers.

Doctors & Medical Centres - Canberra has a large number of doctors and medical practices located all over the city. A helpful search engine, you can search for doctors in any suburb or region in Canberra.

Sporting Associations - A great way for kids to meet and get fit. This website lists a large number of sports available throughout Canberra for kids and adults alike!

Canberra Kids - A great website with information about all of the above and more!