 |
|||||||
Before starting your life in Australia it is important to find out information about the education in Australia. The good news is that the Australian education system is considered one of the best in the world, and is ranked very high on a worldwide scale. The education system in Australia is open to all people and offers an opportunity for all age groups and levels of ability. Pre-school in Australia is relatively unregulated, and is not mandatory. You can find daycares or a parent run playgroups. But this sort of activity is not generally considered schooling. On the other hand the school education in Australia is regulated and there is a national curriculum framework to ensure high academic standards across the country. If you arrive from a non-english speaking country, and are worried that your kids will start their life in Austrlia without understanding a word at schoool, you can relax - English language programs are offered for international students to support their studies, so your kids will recieve all the assitance they need. School education in Australia is mandatory between the ages of 6 and 16 comprises 13 years and includes:
life in Australia, Academic year - The school year is divided into four terms and runs from late January/early February until December. Most states and territories have 4 terms per year but Tasmania has a 3-term school year. There is a short holiday between terms and a long summer holiday in December and January. Students attend school from Monday to Friday each week. School hours vary slightly across Australia but are generally from 9.00 am to 3.30 pm each school day. You can choose to have your children educated in public or private schools. Education at public schools is free in most states; The Australian Government and the Australian states and territories share responsibilities for the administration and financing of education. However most schools do have a small voluntary annual fee to cover extra activities, and parents may also have to purchase such items as books and uniforms, and pay for outings, camps etc'. Note: Students holding temporary visas may be required to pay full school fees. It is recommended to check with individual schools for details before starting your life in Australia. . Private schools include religious schools (such as Catholic or Islamic schools) and schools based on educational philosophies such as Montessori and Steiner. All private schools are registered with the state or territory government education department and are subject to regular inspection. Curriculum is generally similar to government schools and government requirements must be met. Private schools have their own fee structure and receive a subsidy from both federal and state governments. Many private schools are either boys' schools or girls' schools. For more information about education in Australia please visit Australian education international website.
Driving in Australia - Overview Australia is an enormous country with unique driving conditions. It is therefore important to know what to expect before starting your life in Australia. Roads within and between the cities and towns are generally reliable and in good condition, as are the main highways that join the state and territory capital cities. However road conditions can be difficult in remote areas and in the less populated areas. Many roads are mainly two lanes and have only asphalt on them. Traffic in Australia's major cities can be congested. Some motorways, bridges, and tunnels in major cities require payment of tolls. Once you are outside the cities traffic tends to thin out and driving becomes relatively boring. Make sure you stop to rest every couple of hours. The distance between cities in Australia is huge and it can take a long time to arrive to your destination. Moreover you should be aware of the fuel level in your car as distances between fuel supplies can be extreme, even on main roads Australia land is populated with animals like kangaroos, emus and camels. Normally they just sit or stand by the road, but sometimes kangaroos can leap across roadways directly in front of your car. Therefore make sure to drive carefully and be ready to use your brakes if necessary. The road rules in Australia are strictly enforced and speed cameras are used in all states and territories. Speed limits vary depending on road conditions, area and State. In general in urban areas the speed limit stands on 50 km/h. In country areas the speed limit varies from State to State and runs from 100 to 110 km/h. life in Australia - Basic road rules for driving in Australia
Your residency and citizenship status in Australia together with your country of origin is important in order to find out how to obtain a driver license while living in Australia. Are you a permanent resident living in Australia? If you are a permanent resident visa holder and have a current driver's license from another country, in English or with an official translation, you are allowed to drive for your first three months after arrival. After the three months, if you want to drive in Australia, you will need to have the appropriate Australian driver's license. life in Australia - Application requirements for driver license:
Austria, Belgium, Canada, Croatia, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Guernsey, Ireland, Isle of Man* , Italy, Japan, Jersey, Luxembourg, Malta** , Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, U.K, U.SA. * Isle of Man is prescribed only in relation to driver licenses granted on or after 1 April 1991. **Malta is prescribed only in relation to driver licenses granted on or after 2 January 2004. You are not required to take a written road rules or practical driving test when applying for a car or motorcycle license in Australia. In Australia, drivers' licenses are issued by state and territory governments, so it is important that you check for specific requirements with your state government before processing your application. Are you a temporary resident in Australia or do you hold a temporary work visa? You are considered a temporary overseas visitor if you are a tourist, or a business person on limited duration visit, or visiting friends or relatives, or studying or working temporarily in Australia. In some states like Australian Capital Territory (ACT) you are not required to obtain an Australian driver license providing your overseas license is current. You will need to carry it with you while driving in Australia. In other states like New South Wales (NSW) you can apply for a driver license once you have been in Australia for a continuous period of at least six months. Your Australian driver license will be marked with the letter ‘Q’ and it will only be valid for 12 months. A license renewal letter will be sent to your current address approximately six weeks before your license expiry date. As you can see requirements varies between states. Therefore it is important that you check with your state government the exact requirements for obtaining a driver license for a temporary resident. Are you a Diplomat? All diplomats and accompanying dependants who wish to drive in Australia must be in possession of a current and valid driver's license issued in their origin country. The overseas license must be written in English or have with it an English translation certified by the mission.
Australian cities offer a wide range of housing options from a single house with a land in the suburb of a city, or a flat in an apartment building in the city, to a house in a rural area. Most people like to live close to where they work, go to schools, access community facilities and use leisure areas. Many Australians choose to rent a house before they buy their own house. Rental costs vary considerably between cities and within each city and also according to the size (number of bedrooms) and quality of a property, its age and the facilities provided. As a general rule, the further a property is from a large city or town, public transport or other facilities, the cheaper it is. Average rents tend to be highest in Sydney, Melbourne and Darwin. Country towns and regional cities are smaller and widely separated. life in Australia in a country town is more relaxed and less expensive than in a big city. Housing is usually more available for people who choose to work and live in towns away from capital cities You can find houses to rent in newspapers and at Australia real estate offices. But before starting your life in Australia and choosing a particular house to rent, it is important to take a number of things into consideration:
You may be asked to pay a reservation fee while the landlord is deciding whether to accept your application. If your application is accepted, the reservation fee becomes the first week’s rent. If the application is not accepted or the landlord does not make a decision within 1 week of the fee being paid, the full amount must be refunded. Once your application has been accepted, you must be offered a written tenancy agreement (or lease) by the landloard. The lease sets out the rights and obligations of all parties. You will usually be required to pay rent in advance from the first day of your tenancy. The advance payment can be between 2 to 4 weeks of rent. In addition, you will usually be asked to pay a rental bond. This is a form of security for the landlord in case you owe money for rent or damage to the premises at the end of the tenancy. The rental bond is refundable at the end of the rental. Rent payments are GST free. Before you start your life in Australia and move into a residential property you must be given the following documents by the landlord or the landlord's agent:
As a tenant, you have rights and obligations. You can get up-to-date information on rights and obligations that apply in each state or territory from the government website of the relevant sate. Disclaimer: The contents of life in Australia page are provided as an information guide only. The use of this website is at the viewer/user's sole risk. While every effort is made in presenting up-to-date and accurate information, no responsibility or liability is accepted by the owners to this website for any errors, omissions, outdated or misleading information on these pages or any site to which these pages connect or are linked. The viewer/user of life in Australia web page should use the above information as a guideline only, and should always contact the relevant sources for the most up-to-date information at that moment in time, before making a final decision.
|
 LIVING AND WORKING IN AUSTRALIA
|
||||||
|
|||||||
|
Copyright©
2007-2009. expats-moving-and-relocation-guide.com
|
|||||||
