Frequently Asked Questions - overseas visitors

Is it true that people coming to SPRTE from outside Australia only need to pay travel costs?

Yes. We are hoping to have enough sponsorship from Australian campus groups to cover the registration fees for our South Pacific brothers and sisters. You will only need to cover your travel costs to get to SPRTE and home again.

How do I register if I’m coming from outside Australia?

If you’re coming from outside Australia, we need some other information from you. Please cut and paste the section below into an email and fill in the answers. Then email it to sprteoverseas@afes.org.au . You will receive a confirmation email from us once we have processed your rego.

Your name:

Your address:

Your email:

A contact phone number:

Name on your passport (if different):

Passport number:

Travel details (if known): (ie, arrival times, flight numbers, etc)

Special dietary requirements:

Strand group preference:

Workshop preference:

Do I need a visa?

You will need to check with your travel agent whether you need a visa. AFES can issue a sponsorship letter if you require it for immigration purposes. If you need a sponsorship letter, please email us as soon as possible, as visas often take some time to process.

Do I need to choose a Strand?

Yes, please choose a Strand (see the Strand section for more info). If you’re not sure which one to pick have a chat with your staffworker. If you don’t choose a Strand, we’ll put you in Strand 1 by default.

If we’re flying into Sydney from overseas, how do we get to Canberra?

The easiest and cheapest option is to catch a bus from the airport.

Murrays – these tickets are as cheap as $15 from Sydney to Canberra if you book early.

Greyhound - tickets are about $28.

You could also hire a car or catch a connecting flight to Canberra, but this is likely to be quite expensive.

How do we get to ANU once we arrive in Canberra? Will you pick us up from the airport / bus stand?

You will need to catch a taxi (if a bunch of you catch the same cab you can probably spread the cost around!). It's about a 20 minute trip from the airport to ANU.

If you arrive on the bus in the city (Canberra Civic), the campus is about a 20 minute walk away. Alternatively you can catch another local Action bus to the university campus (Route 3 on weekdays, route 934 on weekends). Just ask the bus driver to tell you when you arrive at the Burton and Garran bus stop on Daley Road. For more info on these buses go to the Action Buses website.

What if my flight arrives early (ie, before Saturday morning)?

We can organise early accommodation for you in Canberra, but we must have your arrival details by 5 November so we can make the bookings.

Is there a role you want any of the overseas visitors to play?

Yes! We’re going to have a time in the programme called South Pacific Connect, which will be an opportunity for your group to ‘showcase’ your countries, to give a snapshot of what the Christian ministry in your country is like, and what it is like to be a Christian university student in your culture.

South Pacific Connect will be on Monday from 4.00 - 5.30pm at Llewellyn Hall.
It will consist of two repeated 45 minute sessions, with time for students to move between country presentations
Each country will also set up a permanent display on the 3rd floor of Llewellyn Hall at the coffee shop, which will allow students to browse these displays during the week.

Make sure you organise something with your group and staffworker before you leave home so that you’ve got stuff to bring with you (eg, photos, publications, music, etc)

When is the mission part of SPRTE?

Mission runs from Wednesday 3 December to Sunday 7 December. You will be teamed up with Australian campus groups, and your staffworker should have more information closer to SPRTE about what your mission team is going to do.

Does the mission part that follows cost more?

No, during mission your host church should organise accommodation and meals for you (usually you would be billeted to stay with families from the church). You should bring a little extra money, however, in case you need to cover food costs or other unforeseen expenses.

What happens after mission?

Your host mission team will organise to get you to the airport for your flight home. If you are planning to stay in Australia for a bit longer following mission, you will need to organise your own accommodation and transport.

If your question isn't answered here, please email us.