“Even though Australia may seem very similar to the USA, it is still very different. Often over there, talking to other AFS students from other places they would ask me “why Australia, they speak English?”. But for me it was not to learn another language, it was to experience another culture and have a bit of a change in my life. Over all it was a great experience and I am glad I did it.”
(Sara, Semester Program, 2008)
Follow the jump links to learn more about Australia:
Lifestyle and Family Living
Teen Life
Dress and Appearance
Diet and Meals
Educational System
Geography and Climate
Population
Language
Government
Religion
Spending Money
Safety and Support
Fun Facts
Lifestyle and Family Living
Australians are open and straightforward. They are informal and use humor a great deal when they relate to each other.
Australians are family-oriented and attend sporting events, go to the beach, and enjoy picnics as a family.
Children are generally independent; although they are expected to respect their parents, they can disagree with them. Everyone shares in the housework.
Students may be placed in a city, a town or in the country, including the Island State of Tasmania. However, most students are hosted in rural or remote areas, not cities.
Applicants who suffer from allergies should know that virtually all families have pets that spend part of the time indoors.
Australian host families, like all AFS host families worldwide, are volunteers and are not paid. They open their homes to students in order to share their community and culture as well as to enrich their own family lives.
Teen Life
Most teens concentrate on pastimes such as spending time on the Internet, going to concerts, house parties and movie theatres.
Teens also enjoy Australian football, soccer, rugby, cricket, basketball, swimming, surfing, tennis, netball, bicycling, hiking and camping.
Teens get their driver’s licenses at the age of 17, but if they have to go far away they prefer to take a train—cars or buses are a last resort.
Many Australian teens like dance-techno, rock, hip-hop and pop music.
Teens are not allowed inside nightclubs to buy alcohol or to gamble. It is also against the law for anyone under the age of 18 years old to purchase cigarettes in Australia.
Dress and Appearance
Australian teenagers follow fashion trends similar to those in western nations and like to dress casually. Jeans, T-shirts, pants, shorts, skirts, tops and blouses, a swimsuit, sneakers and sandals are in order.
On special occasions, more formal dress is expected: for girls a dress or blouse and skirt; for boys a dress shirt and slacks.
Warm clothing is suitable during the winter months (June-August). Bring a bathrobe, several warm sweaters, a winter jacket, raincoat and boots.
Diet and Meals
Australian eating habits can vary among families.
All varieties of fish, meat and cheese are common.
Fruits and vegetables are available year-round.
Take-out and fast food are popular.
Educational System
The curricula and schedules of Australian schools vary from region to region and school to school. The school year generally runs from late January to mid-December, with four terms during the year.Required subjects include math, English, history, geography, art, physics and chemistry. Electives may include music, drama, choir and photography.
Every effort will be made to place you according to your grade level and academic interests but please note that this may not be possible. School attendance is compulsory.
While it may be possible to obtain academic credit for the coursework you successfully complete abroad, AFS cannot guarantee this. Please discuss your plans with your school before you go abroad.
Geography and Climate
Australia is the world’s smallest continent and the sixth largest country in the world. Australia separates the Indian Ocean from the Pacific Ocean. It is 4,000 km from east to west and 3,200 km from north to south. The coastline is 25,735 km all the way around.
It is the planet’s oldest continent, with little geological activity across its area for more than four billion years. The single substantial mountain range is the Great Dividing Range running down the eastern (Pacific) seaboard.
In the vicinity of the dividing range are lush tropical rain forests and rich farmlands. Toward the north lie waterways full of life.
Sixty-five percent of Australia is desert.
In winter (June-August), typical daily maximum temperatures can be from 15-24°C (68-75°F), and rain is rare. Tasmania and Victoria are often colder.
In summer (December-February), the northern states are hotter and wetter, while the southern states are simply hotter, with temperatures up to 41°C (105°F) in Sydney, Adelaide, and Melbourne but generally between 25-33°C (78-90°F). Snow is rare
Population
The population numbers about 21 million. Australian society is multicultural, and about one-quarter of the population is foreign-born.
Aborigines make up about 1.5% of the population.
Australia is a highly urbanized society; about 70% of the population lives in or near the 10 largest cities.
Language
English is the official language of Australia.
Government
Australia is a federal parliamentary democracy.
Religion
Sixty-six percent of Australians are Christians. Minority groups include Buddhist and Muslim.
Spending Money
The Australian dollar is the official currency.Your program and country information packet (provided in the months prior to your departure) will give you an idea of how much spending money is appropriate and whether you should arrive with any amount of the local currency in hand.
Host families pay only for ordinary family events in which you are expected to participate. When you do such things as shopping for yourself or going out with friends, the expenses are your responsibility. Depending on the cost of living in your host country, we recommend you budget about $100-$300 per month.
Remember: never travel with large amounts of cash. Instead, bring travelers checks or follow the advice in the country and program information packet. Another option for obtaining money while overseas is to use a debit card linked to a checking account back home (but try not to use a debit card for daily purchases since there are ATM and currency exchange fees). Or, you can transfer money using wiring services such as Western Union.
You and your parents should determine a budget and preferred money transfer plan before you depart so that you are not caught without spending money while abroad.
Be conscientious of your spending since conspicuous consumption may not be viewed favorably and spending more than your peers and family may create a distance between you and them.
Safety and Support
AFS has the utmost concern for the welfare, safety, and security of our participants. We’ve been exchanging participants throughout the world for 60 years—that’s six decades of history and experience in international education with an exemplary record of safety, security, and service.
AFS maintains a network of experienced staff and trained volunteers who provide support in each country. In the event of an emergency, 24-hour assistance is available to students, their parents, and the host families. Furthermore, your AFS tuition includes comprehensive medical insurance coverage to ensure that medical care is available to our participants anywhere in the world and at all times.
While we have the above support structures in place, we also encourage you to take responsibility for your own safety and we give you the guidance to do so. Many of the AFS orientation activities, both at home and abroad, are intended to give you the tools to stay safe. We also provide country-specific safety tips to each participant prior to departure.
Learn more about the AFS safety and support network.
Fun Facts
- The koala gets its name from an ancient Aboriginal word meaning “no drink” because it receives over 90% of its hydration from eating eucalyptus leaves.
- It is believed that emus and kangaroos cannot walk backwards, and are on the Australian coat of arms for that reason.
- Queensland is home to lung fish, a living fossil from the Triassic period 350 million years ago.
