Why LandMate exists
Moving to Australia as an international student is genuinely hard — and the information you need is scattered across 40 government websites, outdated Facebook groups, and Reddit threads from 2018.
Vaishnavi Kavade
Co-founder, LandMate
“I wish this existed when I landed.”
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Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum. Sed ut perspiciatis unde omnis iste natus error sit voluptatem accusantium doloremque laudantium.
Nemo enim ipsam voluptatem quia voluptas sit aspernatur aut odit aut fugit, sed quia consequuntur magni dolores eos qui ratione voluptatem sequi nesciunt. Neque porro quisquam est, qui dolorem ipsum quia dolor sit amet, consectetur, adipisci velit.
At vero eos et accusamus et iusto odio dignissimos ducimus qui blanditiis praesentium voluptatum deleniti atque corrupti quos dolores et quas molestias excepturi sint occaecati cupiditate non provident — so she built LandMate to be the friend she never had when she landed.
The problem we're solving
When we looked at what international students actually needed, it wasn't another government FAQ page. It was a trusted friend who'd already done it — someone who could explain what a Tax File Number actually does, warn you about the rental bond scams targeting new arrivals, tell you that Aldi is significantly cheaper than Woolworths, and explain that your OSHC health cover is different from Medicare.
That friend didn't exist in one place. So we built LandMate.
What we believe
Information should be free
Every guide is free. We will never charge for advice, never put content behind a paywall, and never accept payment to promote a service.
Peer advice beats official advice
Government websites tell you what to do. Students who've been there tell you what actually happens. Both matter — we include both.
Trust is everything
We fact-check every guide. When Australian laws change, we update. We'd rather say we're not sure than give wrong advice about your visa.
What's here
LandMate covers 8 Australian cities with 25 practical guides organised around your journey — from before you arrive to long-term student life. Everything is ordered by when you actually need it, not alphabetically. There's a real community of students sharing experiences, and a setup wizard that gives you a personalised checklist based on your city, budget, and arrival timing.
Who this is for
LandMate is for international students on a student visa (subclass 500) studying at an Australian university or higher education provider. Whether you're coming from India, China, Nepal, the Philippines, Colombia, Nigeria, or anywhere else — if you're navigating Australian student life, this is for you.
Ready to land?
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