An area that many international students have big problems in Australia is in understanding their rights with regard to renting, housing and tenancy.
Many students are first time renters and are unaware of where they can go for advice about what they need to know, do and provide to rent a house in Australia.
Below are links to some useful websites that we recommend students access
if they are having problems with: landlords, real estate agents or just finding appropriate housing.
In addition to these organisations, first and foremost, education institutions should provide accurate and up-to-date advice and information on housing and accommodation .

This is a requirement under the ESOS Act. 2000 through the National Code of Practice 2007.
The Tenants Union of: NSW http://www.tenants.org.au/resources/ 
has extremely useful fact sheets for students living in NSW to download and refer to.
The Tenants Union of Victoria will provide advocacy and information to students
on rental rights, obligations and appeals.

The TUV website -  http://www.tuv.org.au - proivdes website links to:
Tenants Unions in WA, ACT, QLD and Tasmania.
It also lists websites to the Community Legal Centres in Victoria that will provide assistance or 
advice to renters.
The Victorian Government Consumer Affairs Department has a renter information page
that students can access for information:

http://www.consumer.vic.gov.au/CA256EB5000644CE/page/Renting?OpenDocument

and while on this page, there is a large amount of useful information on other topics.
Similar housing information can be found for other states:
SA    http://www.ocba.sa.gov.au/tenancies/
TAS  http://www.dhhs.tas.gov.au/services/view.php?id=348 
and http://www.consumer.tas.gov.au/tenancy__and__real_estates/

 NT http://www.nt.gov.au/justice/graphpages/cba/consumer/res_tenancies.shtml
 
International students are currently facing the most difficult housing problems in Australia than ever before.
This is mainly due to the extreme rental shortages throughout the country, which seem to be preventing persons who have lower incomes, are in minority groups or are first time renters from finding adequate housing. If any person experiences
discrimination or exploitation in finding housing, they should report the matter to the Tenants Union in their state or go to their education institutions housing service, student advocacy service through their student association or the state government consumer affairs department.