• For those of you who are moving out or whose rental contract is expiring soon, check how much notice you need to give your landlord or agent and thoroughly clean the house so that the landlord has no reason to seize the bond or deduct any money from the bond.
• If you have a lot of stuff or possessions that you have accumulated over the last few years it is likely that you are not going to be able to bring everything home with you. Sell any possessions via the University noticeboards or through the "Trading Post", or local paper. Make sure your notices are stamped by the University. You might want to dispose of any items that you no longer want or need by throwing them away or by giving them away to a charity or an organization. Check out for donation boxes situated near your place or ask anyone about charity organizations.
• In regard to excess baggage, you can save dollars or up to 50-80% on airline excess baggage rates by using the services of Excess baggage companies such as Jetta Express or Professional Freight Services Pty. Ltd. These companies provide inexpensive air service for unaccompanied baggage. Seafreight services are also available from Professional Freight Services. Pick up from the door and delivery to airport or port of destination are available. Just give them a call for details prior to pick-up on (03) 9335 2588 (Jetta Express, Melbourne) or (03) 9335 2499 (Professional Freight Services/PFS). Or check out their web pages: www.jetta.com.au and www.pfs.net.au

• Make sure that your University has your home (country) address by completing a CHANGE OF ADDRESS form at Customer Service counters if you are coming back to Australia later for the graduations or conferrals.
• Ask flatmates or landlords to forward any mail that may arrive after your departure to your home address or alternatively you can have your mail redirected by Australia Post by completing a redirection form at any Post Office.
• It is important to finalize any accounts with flatmates and service providers such as telephone companies. Any unpaid accounts may lead to "black marks" against your visa. Close your bank account or if it is transferable, change your address at the bank.

• Just as you took time to adjust to the Australian surroundings, you may also find the need to adjust upon returning home. Health issues faced will depend on your individualized experiences, current health status and length of stay in Australia.
• Immunizations: You may experience a loss of natural immunity to many diseases common in our home country. It has been suggested that after a period of around 6 months onwards in Australia you will experience increased immunity to the many of the infectious agents locally and a simultaneous decrease in immunity to infectious agents from country of origin such as malaria or typhoid. You might find going to the Student Health Services to find out if you need a vaccine against a disease useful.

• Another very important issue to take into account upon returning home is the psychological factor. You have to be aware of the fact that you are now not the same person as you came. You have without a doubt undergone a lot of transformations over the last few years in Australia.
• There are a number of challenges on returning home. You are highly likely to experience feelings of disorientation or alienation when you get home. There will be difficulties in reestablishing relationships and for those who are going back to their old jobs, there will be difficulties in reintegrating back into the workforce. Other challenges include family or community pressure to conform; defined male and female roles and diminished personal privacy.
• In terms of professional issues, you are probably going to ask yourself what are the goals for my degree. How will I use my knowledge? What is the relevance of my education to home situation? Are there any work opportunities in appointed field for me?

Judy (Namchaythip Souvannavong), a Media Arts and Visual Arts student at Deakin University finishing this year wants to say a few things to all returnees.
"I would say I've already got a paradox. One minute I'm dying to go home, the next I think I gonna miss so many things here. It's quite a common feeling, isn't it? I feel like I don't want to stop studying at all. The more I learn, the more I think there are so many things out there that I don't know and I want to know them. However, I'm really keen to utilize my knowledge that I've got from studying here both in my work and in my life. What I gonna miss the most is school, my campus, Rusden. I love its ambience and I really believe it's incredibly spiritual and inspiring. People at Rusden both students and lecturers are humorous and friendly. This is perhaps because we are such a very small community. Unfortunately, Rusden gonna be only a history because it's gonna join Melbourne Campus in the next two years.
Anyway, c'est la vie! Life should go on and what we can do is keeping our wonderful memories and good experiences that we've been through and telling our family and friends back home about them.
Yeah, what I'd like to suggest to other returnees is to be prepared and ready for your new life. Future is challenging and be smart whatever happens, you already knew how to deal with it. And one last thing is don't forget that most people - your family and your friends may expect to see both the same and different you.
Good luck everyone," Judy

Pepe (Phanthanousone Kennavong), an International Trade major at Victoria University also has a few things to say.
"For me, i feel great about going back to Laos. I'm looking forward to go back and start working and getting busy. Yes, i think, like many people, i'm gonna miss Australia, but any way i really feel great about it. I don't really care what will be like in Laos because what i want is working and getting really busy. I really want to experience that kinds of things.
Any way, i'm really sad about leaving Australia, and i can't believe that time is up for me in this beautiful country. Hope that i'll be back to do another degree in this country again.
For others, i want to say that think about your future in Laos and what you will be doing in Laos. If you can think of what you want to do in Laos, i'm sure that you will be happy and really want to go back to Laos. However, if you have nothing to do in Laos, just think that you will have a good opportunity doing whatever you want to do in Laos because you have a good education.
And one thing i want to say is that being with family is such a good feeling and you will be strong and confident. So that you will be able to do whatever you want to do so".

Judy and Pepe certainly have good points. For many of us completing a degree and beginning a career will be a very valuable experience and a turning point. I wish you all the best and good luck in resettling back at home and lastly have a great future.

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