About Australia

Australia is the world’s smallest continent and the largest island. It is like nowhere else in the world. It has an area as big as mainland of the United States but has a population of only 20 million people.

It’s a friendly, young, adventurous and stylish nation that welcomes international students. The entire country has unique animals and a fabulous climate. Aussies like the great outdoors, they love sport, worship their beaches, having BBQs with their mates and eating out at the 1000’s of multicultural restaurants.

The population is comprised of over 130 nationalities which makes Australia one of the most multicultural countries in the world. This broad ethnic mix has created a rich cultural blend of languages, fashions, architecture and cuisines.

The Aboriginal people have lived in Australia for over 50,000 years and it is believed they are the oldest,
continuous civilisation in the world. You can enjoy a tour with an Aboriginal guide to learn about their unique relationship with the country and listen to their stories that have been handed down for generations.

You can also view their rock art which is the oldest in the world. When Aussies go to the beach they try and wear as little as possible.

Australia is a land of extremes so make sure you come prepared. Up in the mountains down in the southern part of the continent its cold and snows from June to October).

Up further north its hot and humid from November through to March. Sharpen your spirit with an Australian adventure.

Credit: Tourism Australia Copyright

There are literally endless adventures you can take including a boat ride in the tropical rivers where you’ll see crocodiles as you cruise by. You can drive for days through the red deserts in the outback where kangaroos, lizards and emus thrive.

Along the coastal plains you can visit the rainforests where there are prehistoric plants like the 200 million year old Wollemi Pine.

The tree is thought to be one of the world’s oldest and rarest plants dating back to the age of the dinosaurs.

There are less than 100 trees known to exist in the wild. The remarkable discovery of the Wollemi Pine in the Blue Mountains near Sydney was an essential factor in the park being created as a World Heritage area in December 2000.

If you’re into adventure travel you can do a vast range of thrill seeking activities like rock-climbing, white water rafting, bungy jumping, ballooning, abseiling, skydiving, scuba diving, para-sailing and horse riding.

Australia is vast with over 46,000 kms of coastline, over 3,000 national parks and 15 World Heritage sites.
Many beautiful national parks are quite close to the major cities like the Blue Mountains National Park which has incredible mountain trails, flora and fauna and is only an hour away from Sydney.
Tours run to almost all the national parks downunder.

The wildlife is often thought of as quite frankly - weird. Australia has kangaroos which bounce along at a rapid clip, wombats which look like big ungainly dogs, cuddly fluffy koalas who spend most of time asleep in gum trees, platypus that live in rivers and have a duck-like beak and fur, wild dingos, emus which are a peculiar looking animal with a long neck and a funny haircut!

There are over 1000 bird species in Australia with one of the most famous being the kookaburras which laughs almost like a human, and pretty pink galahs.

Because Australia is so multicultural you will notice there is a very sophisticated cafe society just like in Europe. Aussie restaurants provide outstanding food, wine and service. You can walk down the street and see a Thai restaurant next to an Italian trattoria alongside a Greek food house with a fish and chip shop.

Starting at the budget level there are endless accommodation options including hostels, backpacker lodges, motels, cabins, camping grounds through to boutique hotels and resorts and onto major international hotel chains.

You can also get away from it all staying in wilderness lodges, romantic tropical island resorts, B&Bs and very friendly farm and home stays.

If its entertainment your after you wont be disappointed. This is after all the country that produced such singing greats as Cold Chisel, Silverchair, Midnight Oil, INXS, AC/DC and Kylie Minogue. Its film stars include Mel Gibson, Hugh Jackman, Nicole Kidman,Cate Blanchett, Bryan Brown, Toni Collette, Anthony LaPaglia and Eric Bana

Australia is truly a gem in the South Pacific with its amazing natural and man made icons such as Uluru (Ayers Rock), the Great Barrier Reef, Kakadu National Park, the Daintree rainforest, the Opera House, the Sydney Harbour Bridge which you can walk right over the top of, the ever-popular Gold Coast and the amazing Skyrail near Cairns.

So do your self a favour. Come and visit Australia. For an international student its the adventure of a lifetime.

For more information visit www.StudyinAustralia.com

Overview of the Australian Education System

The Australia Education system offers over 12,000 courses that are recognised internationally and are of world class standards. The tuition fees and living costs to study in Australia compare better than most other countries with quality tuition being more affordable than in the UK, USA or Canada, whilst offering a safe studying environment for international students, and a standard of living that is among the highest in the world.

Australia has the third largest number of international students in the English-speaking world behind the USA and UK, but in many counties Australia is many students’ first choice for international study.

Australia Education has a standardised system of qualifications, and together with great lifestyle opportunities there is no wonder why more than 200,000 international students choose to study in Australia. This together with Australia’s long history of teaching international students is proof enough that international students at Australian universities in Australia and their parents enjoy a level of service and financial protection that is unrivalled.

Australia has a dynamic multicultural society in which students can learn and travel in an English speaking country. There is the added advantages of being in close proximity to Asia, and the fact that international students can work up to 20 hours per week during semester and full-time during vacation periods.

All institutions from Australian Schools to Australian Universities, Australian English Colleges to Australian Vocational Education and Training colleges and TAFE’s must be registered with the Australian Government and meet stringent Australian education registration conditions ensuring that courses are of high standards in both ethics and quality.

Emphasis is placed on not only understanding concepts but also on their applications and theories, and the ability to critically examine different viewpoints and arguments, to collect and analyse data, to develop an argument in a logical form and to participate in discussion and debate with other students and teachers. This is an active learning process and not a passive listening one. Should assistance to develop a student’s study skills be required most institutions offer counseling services.

Assessment methods in determining a student’s progress vary between institutions. The students should fully understand how they will be assessed at the time of registering at a particular institution.

Resources

Australian Education Living and Study Expenses
Australian Education Qualification Types
Australian Education Quality Standards and Accreditation

Travel in Australia

Australia is the smallest continent but the largest island in the world. Its size and diversity make it great for travel. Australia’s land area is about 7.69 million square kilometers, only slightly smaller than the U.S. mainland. Australia has a population of about 20 million, and is comprised of over 130 nationalities. This broad ethnic mix has made Australia one of the most multicultural countries in the world and has created a rich cultural blend of languages, fashions, architectures and cuisines.

When planning on a trip to Australia, make sure you come prepared. Snow falls from June to October in the southern part of the continent and up in the mountains. Further north, the climate is hot and humid from November through to March.

You will never run out of things to do in Australia. Aboriginal people are believed to be the oldest, continuous civilization in the world. They have lived in Australia for more than 50,000. You can learn about Aboriginal people and their unique relationship with the country directly from an Aboriginal tour guide. You can also view the oldest rock art in the world. The vast size of the country, with its broad biodiversity makes it an ideal place for adventure. For adrenaline junkies, there is a wide range of exciting activities like Rock climbing, Whitewater rafting , Bungee jumping, Ballooning , Abseiling, Skydiving, Parasailing and Horseback riding, guaranteed to keep your heart pumping with excitement.

There are a wide range of accommodation to suit each traveler’s taste, from budget-conscious hostels, backpacker lodges, motels, and camping grounds to the more luxurious boutique hotels, resorts and major international hotel chains. You could also opt to stay in wilderness lodges, romantic tropical island resorts, B&Bs (Bed & Breakfast), Farms and Home-stays.

So once you get to Australia, how do you get around? If you are planning on a short trip, it is be best to travel by air. Australia has domestic airlines, which provide extensive coverage that would allow you to hop from one city to another to see the sights. If you have more time and prefer a more leisurely pace, travel by rail or road. You could also rent cars if you choose to self-drive. An alternative option would be going on tours if you prefer someone else to do the navigating for you.

Work in Australia

Australia is known as the land of opportunities- mostly due to its low unemployment rate. Australia is open to all well-qualified individuals who are willing to work hard and give their best. Career opportunities in Australia are numerous. The Australian economy has sound industries such as Aerospace and Defense, Automotive industry, Government sector, Biotechnology, Building and Construction, IT, Logistics, Heavy industries and Infrastructure.

The main issue is that work opportunities in Australia depend on the visa granted to you. Australian immigration is the ticket to working and carving a career in Australia. Ample career opportunities are offered to Skilled immigration applicants. There are various categories of Australian visa that allow you to work. Those interested to start a career in Australia can obtain a work visa on the basis of their educational qualification, work experience and good English communication skills. Entry visa to Australia have various category and for each category, a different point system is used. For Applicants who wish to obtain a Migration visa or work permit, they must accumulate a certain number of points to be considered. These points are awarded based on employability, skills, age, and good English Language skills.

Australia is in shortage of labor in industries such as health (General practitioners, nurses radiologists, physiotherapists) , Education ( High school teachers in Science and Mathematics), Skilled and Manual labor (Chefs, Hairdressers, Farm labor and Plumbers.) Students are also allowed to have part-time jobs.A good resume (CV) is one of the factors that would make it easier for you to land a job in Australia. Thus, your resume is your marketing tool, and should persuade your employer to invite you for an interview.