ABOUT AUSTRALIA-
A vast island continent situated south of Indonesia and Papua New Guinea, Australia lies between the Pacific and Indian Oceans. The world's sixth-largest country, Australia measures some 4,000km east to west and 3,200km north to south. Much of the interior of the country is flat, barren and sparsely populated. The bulk of the population lives on the narrow, fertile eastern coastal plain and on the southeastern coast. Australia is an independent Western democracy with a population of more than 20 million. It is one of the world’s most urbanised countries, with about 70 per cent of the population living in the 10 largest cities. Most of the population is concentrated along the eastern seaboard and the south-eastern corner of the continent. Australia’s lifestyle reflects its mainly Western origins
Live
Australia is one of the best places in the world to live while you learn. The standard of living is amongst the highest in the world, yet costs remain competitive. On your breaks from study, you will have a wide choice of activities to enrich your experience - from cultural festivals, concerts and museums, to major sporting events
Learn
Australian education has a strong international reputation for excellence. Whether you study at a university, school, vocational or English language institute, you will receive a quality education that will form a strong foundation for your future success.
Grow
The benefits of living and learning in Australia are both personal and academic. Your years in Australia will give you the best platform to succeed in your career, and prepare you for the challenges of the work place. It won’t just be your mind that develops - your time in the classroom will change you as a person.
Australia is the perfect place to live, learn and grow.
CLIMATE
Australia is a continent that experiences a variety of climates due to its size. The weather can range from below zero temperatures in the Snowy Mountains to intolerable heat in the north-west. It is considered to be one of the driest continents on earth.
Nearly a third of Australia is in the tropics and the rest is in the temperate zone. The coldest areas are in the south-eastern corner of the mainland and Tasmania.
RELIGION , CULTURE & CUSTOMS-
Religion in Australia is diverse: there is no state religion, the establishment of which is prohibited by the Australian Constitution
The culture and customs consists of a rich tapestry of nationalities including traditions, legends, myths and folklore. The indigenous 'Dream time' forms the base of tens of thousands of years of spiritual aboriginal art and culture.
FOOD & DRINK-
The raw materials are superb. A glance at a catalogue from a gourmet supplier reveals exotic Australian produce such as chevre, prosciutto and marron from Western Australia, cold-pressed olive oil from South Australia, snails from Victoria, bush foods from the Northern Territory and milk-fed lamb from New South Wales. Australia’s seafood is a story in itself.
Australia has been fabulously endowed by nature. Climatic diversity enables the country to produce rambutans as well as custard apples, mangoes, coconuts, lychees, mandarins, strawberries and blackberries. Its lush coastal pastures are well suited to dairying and farmhouse cheese production; Australian rice is sold in Japan; its wines are among the worlds finest; its free-range beef is superb and its vast coastline is invested with a wealth of marine life.
Australia has a proliferation of outlets selling food – from supermarkets and specialist delicatessens through to every conceivable type of restaurant. There are numerous cafes and bistros lining the main streets in most towns and all of the major precincts in capital cities.
Australia also offers a great selection of international cuisines to suit every palate including Italian, Mexican, Thai, Malaysian, Chinese, Greek and Vietnamese.
BYO : Many Australian restaurants offer a BYO service which means that you can bring your own wine and beer. Most charge a corkage fee of $1-$2, so bringing your own booze can greatly reduce the cost of a meal out!
Smoking : Many Australian restaurants are non-smoking, although most provide outdoor seating where smoking is permitted.
LANGUAGES IN AUSTRALIA-
In Australia over 200 different languages and dialects are spoken, including 45 indigenous languages. The most commonly spoken languages (other than English) are Italian, Greek, Cantonese, Arabic, Vietnamese. |
