Overview

Geographical Conditions:

Australia, the smallest continent but one of the largest countries in the world, is located in the Southern Hemisphere of the Earth.  It is between the Pacific and Indian oceans and also the world’s largest island.  The geography of the continent is extremely diverse, ranging from the snow-capped mountains of the Australian Alps and Tasmania to large deserts, tropical and temperate forests. Australia is an island located in Oceania between the Indian Ocean and the South Pacific Ocean. The country has the largest area of ocean jurisdiction of any country on Earth. It has no land borders. The northernmost points of the continental mainland are the Cape York Peninsula of Queensland and the Top End of the Northern Territory, but the northernmost point of the country lies in the Torres Strait Islands.

Australia`s climate is governed mostly by its size and by the hot, sinking air of the subtropical high pressure belt. Due to its geography, major parts of Australia experiences temperate weather for most of the year. The largest part of Australia is desert or semi-arid. Only the south-east and south-west corners have a temperate climate and moderately fertile soil. The northern part of the country has a tropical climate, varying between tropical rainforests, grasslands and desert. The southern states experience cool winters.  

Political & Legal System:

Australia is a federal parliamentary constitutional monarchy. It follows the Westminster system of law and government, so it continues to be ruled by the Queen of England, she resides in the United Kingdom, she is represented in Australia by the governor-general at the federal level and by the governors at the state level, who by convention act on the advice of her ministers. The Prime Minister of Australia is the head of government of the Commonwealth of Australia. The individual who holds the office is the most senior minister of state, and the leader of the federal Cabinet. The office of prime minister is not mentioned in the Constitution of Australia but exists through Westminster political convention. Government in the Commonwealth of Australia is exercised on three levels: federal, states and territories, and local government.

Canberra is the Australian capital city. There are six states in Australia: New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, Western Australia, South Australia and Tasmania. Each state has its own constitution, with its own legislature (parliament), judiciary and executive. The state parliaments have plenary legislative power, except that some areas of legislative power are exclusive to the Federal Parliament, many others are exercised concurrently with it and, in case of conflict between federal and state legislation, the federal legislation prevails. A decision of a state judiciary is subject to appeal to the High Court. There are also ten territories, whose existence and governmental structure (if any) depend on federal legislation. Three internal territories: the Australian Capital Territory (ACT), the Northern Territory and the Jervis Bay Territory. There are also seven external territories, not part of the Australian mainland or of any state.

At both the federal and State levels, the substantive law of Australia is largely derived from the common law system of English law. The High Court of Australia is the highest court in Australia, and hears appeals from federal and State courts on matters of both federal and State law. Unlike the United States, there is only one common law of Australia rather than common laws for each of the several jurisdictions of the states and territories.

The law of Australia comprises many levels of codified and uncodified forms of law. These include the Australian Constitution, legislation enacted by the Federal Parliament and the parliaments of the states and territories of Australia, regulations promulgated by the Executive, and the common law of Australia arising from the decisions of judges.

The Australian Constitution is the legal foundation of the Commonwealth of Australia and sets out a federal system of government, dividing power between the federal Government and the States and territories, each of which are separate jurisdictions and have their own system of courts and parliaments. The constitutional framework of Australia is a combination of elements of the Westminster and United States systems of government. The federal legislature has the power to pass laws with respect to a number of express areas,  which apply to the whole of Australia and override any State laws to the extent of any inconsistency.  However, beyond those express areas the States’ legislatures generally have plenary power to enact laws on any subject.

Economic Status:

The world’s most economic cities viz. Sydney and Melbourne belong to Australia. Therefore Australia is a highly urbanized country with a prosperous capitalist economy. Australia is a market economy with a high GDP, per capita, and a relatively low rate of poverty. Australia overtook Switzerland and became the country with the highest average wealth.  It was identified by the Credit Suisse Research Institute as the nation with the highest median wealth in the world and the second-highest average wealth per adult.

The Australian economy is dominated by its service sector. Some of Australia`s large companies include but are not limited to: Wesfarmers, Woolworths, Rio Tinto Group, BHP, Commonwealth Bank, National Australia Bank, Westpac, ANZ, Macquarie Group, Telstra and Caltex Australia. All these industries provide employment to the people, therefore unemployment is abysmally low.

Soceity and Culture

Language:

The people of Australia generally speak English with a unique accent and vocabulary. Although Australia has no official languages, English has been entrenched as the de facto national language. Australian English is a major variety of the language with a distinctive accent and lexicon, and differs slightly from other varieties of English in grammar and spelling. General Australian serves as the standard dialect.  Majority of the population in Australia speak English. The next most common languages spoken at home are: Mandarin, Arabic, Cantonese, Vietnamese, Italian, Greek, Hindi, Spanish and Punjabi. A considerable proportion of first- and second-generation migrants are bilingual.

Cuisine:

Australia has a unique blend of culinary contributions and adaptations from various cultures around the world, including Indigenous Australians, Asians, Europeans and Pacific Islanders. Traditional Australian cuisine is inspired by its Aboriginal and British roots. Multiculturalism has contributed to the development of a diverse local cuisine in Australia. The country is also well regarded for its locally-made wine, beer and soft drinks. Barbecued meat is ubiquitous with Modern Australian cuisine.

Iconic Australian foods include ANZAC biscuits, lamingtons, Tim Tams, Chiko Rolls, fairy bread, Australian hamburger, and Vegemite. Another iconic dish is Pavlova but the origins of this meringue-based dessert are contested, with New Zealand also laying claim to its invention. Beetroot and fried onions are also common additions, and sometimes sliced pineapple. A common takeaway food is the meat pie, often found at bakeries and especially popular at AFL matches. Barbecue sausages are a common food, particularly in the form of the sausage sizzle, which has been described as both a cooking technique and a cultural event. They are served in a slice of white bread optionally with onions and tomato sauce.

There are many regional iconic foods. South Australia has pasties – based on cornish pasties, FruChocs, King George Whiting, and a range of food of German origin including mettwurst, Bienenstich (beesting), streuselkuchen (German cake) and fritz. The state has its own iconic brands such as Farmers Union Iced Coffee, YoYo biscuits, Balfours frog cakes. Jubilee cake is a specialty of South Australia. In Adelaide, a variant on the meat pie is the pie floater, which is a meat pie served in a bowl of pea soup.

Tourist Attractions:

Tourism in Australia is an important component of the Australian economy, and consists of domestic and international components. The impressive Australian nature comprises of beautiful beaches, snowy mountains, widespread deserts and other breathtaking landscapes, which add to its beauty. Australia boasts some of the world`s most beautiful natural wonders such as the Great Barrier Reef - the world`s largest coral reef system, the Heritage Listed Ayers Rock (Uluru), the Bungle Bungles in Western Australia, the Twelve Apostles along the Great Ocean Road,  Australian Alps, Flinders Ranges and many other scenic beauties.

Popular Australian destinations include the coastal cities of Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne, as well as other high-profile destinations including regional Queensland, the Gold Coast, the Australian outback and the Tasmanian wilderness. The unique Australian wildlife is also another significant point of interest in the country`s tourism. Hervey Bay is a popular tourist town with ample opportunities for whale watching, although there are plenty of other places along the Australian coastline to see whales. Apart from these, Kakadu National Park and Fraser Island are also major natural attractions. Australia is also home to man-made icons like the Sydney Harbour Bridge and the Sydney Opera House.

Lifestyle:

Australia is the fourth happiest country in the world since there is no hectic work life and one can find a perfect balance between work, family and leisure time. Due to this carefree and relaxed lifestyle, living in Australia will surely be entertaining. Australia is an ethnically diverse country which defines its divergent cultural landscape. The country’s food, lifestyle, cultural practices and heritage demonstrate its multi-cultural environment.  As per the record majority of the Australian population is a result of immigration in the last two centuries: one in four people have no Australian origin. This ensures that as a foreigner, one could never feel alienated in its society. Australia accepts its diversity and considers it to be its strength.

An Australian sense of style is regarded as anything that is practical, informal, and casual—T-shirts, practical footwear, moleskin trousers, and wide-brim hats; as an outfit thrown together without much thought. The attire in Australia is influenced by France than that of England.

Australians are quite casual and informal and they expect everyone to be treated equally. Therefore it is customary to thank service staff on their assistance. Australia is well known for its spacious environments and easy going lifestyle. The people of Australia are outdoorsy due the country’s warm weather and open spaces. They are energetic, lively and often engage in different invigorating sports and games. People from all over the world consider Australia as an experience that is out of this world.

Health Care:

Australia has a highly developed health care structure, due to its vast size, services are not evenly distributed. Health care is delivered in Australia by both government and private companies which are covered by Medicare. Health care in Australia is largely funded by the government at national, state and local governmental levels, as well as by private health insurance; but the cost of health care is also borne by not-for-profit organisations, with a significant cost being borne by individual patients or by charity. Some services are provided by volunteers, especially remote and mental health services.

Medicare insurance scheme covers much of the cost of primary and allied health care services. The government provides the majority of spending (67%) through Medicare and other programs. Individuals contribute more than half of the non-government funding.

Medicare is a single-payer universal health care scheme that covers all Australian citizens and permanent residents, with other programs covering specific groups, such as veterans or Indigenous Australians, and various compulsory insurance schemes cover personal injury resulting from workplace or vehicle incidents. The federal Minister for Health administers Australia`s national health policy, and state and territory governments.

The Australian Government has Reciprocal Health Care Agreements (RHCA) with many countries. Under this arrangement, overseas visitors from other countries can access medical treatment in a public hospital. However, there are some services for which they have to bear the costs. In case the countries concerned are not covered under this agreement, its citizens have to pay the full cost of treatment on their visit in Australia. Most visas require overseas visitors to hold private health insurance during their stay in Australia. An international student studying in Victoria is required to take out Overseas Student Health Cover.

Education in Australia

The country is considered to be the hub of education provides good career growth also. Australia has a wide range of study options for its international students at all levels of education, starting from primary school to higher education.  The country offers more than 1,200 institutions and 22,000 courses to choose from. The Australian laws promote quality education and provide protection to international students. The cost of education in Australia is relatively higher so also the cost of living. Students from overseas countries have the opportunities of availing Scholarships and Fellowships from the host and home countries, which mitigate the burden.

The Education Services for Overseas Students (ESOS) Act 2000 and the National Code of Practice lay down standard rules and regulations for providing education and training to the international students. It is required that international student, must study a course in an institution that is registered under the Commonwealth Register of Institutions and Courses for Overseas Students (CRICOS). These standard educational laws for international student education ensure quality courses and meet the high standards expected by international students.

Reasons to Study in Australia

• Australia is one of the leading global education providers, ranking third most popular international student destination in the world.
• It provides great student support services and study options in some of the world’s finest institutions. As per the report 8 out of 100 top Universities in the world are from Australia.
• Australia, ranking 8th in the global university system, has gained international reputation.
• Australian degrees are recognized globally and are renowned for their academic excellence and distinguished training and teaching methodologies.
• The Australian Government provides financial assistance to the international students in the form of grants and scholarships. The Government invests AU$ 200,000,000 annually on international scholarships. Government spends more than 5% of GDP on Education.
• The cost of living in Australia is lower than United States and United Kingdom, which ensures quality education at a lower cost.
• Australian cities have some of the lowest crime rates in the world.
• Australia has a special system of health cover for international students called Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC). It will help them pay for any medical or hospital care.
• Many Australian degrees and vocational courses include work experience programs and internships so international students can gain hands-on industry experience and grow their professional network.
• Australia provides placement opportunities to the overseas students also immediately after the studies. The open work culture of the country makes work life an even better experience.
• The new immigration policy encourages international students to study, work and stay in regional areas in Australia.
• Besides all academic reasons, Australia has its beautiful landscapes which can attract overseas for better and quality education.