Life In Australia         The lifestyle in Australia is relaxed and rewarding having secure democratic government, high living standards, clean, maintained and unpolluted streets, diverse landscapes, a temperate climate, freedom from oppression, with unique flora and fauna, excellent kindergarten, schools and world-class universities Australia is a federation of states and has a national Commonwealth Government. The role of the Commonwealth is to look after affairs of national importance (e.g. immigration and defense). Each of the six Australian states also has a government and is more concerned with particular state issues. Canberra is the national capital and Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide, Perth and Hobart are the state capitals. Sydney is Australia's largest city with a population of around 4 million people.   Australian Population On the 20th March 2002 the Australian population is projected to be 19,530,057. With the Australian Bureau of Statistics estimating the following growth record: one birth every 2 minutes and 10 seconds,   one death every 3 minutes and 55 seconds,  a net gain of one international migrant every 5 minutes and 50 seconds leading to   an overall total population increase of one person every 2 minutes and 38 seconds.  Australian Cultural Background People from all over the world have made their home in Australia and Australians lead a relaxed lifestyle in a multicultural society. One quarter of Australia's population were either born overseas or have a parent born overseas. .At the 1996 Census, 3.9 million people had been born overseas in one of over 200 countries. A further 3.8 million had one or both parents born overseas. There were 2.6 million people who spoke a language other than English at home. The 1996 Census classified 92 religious denominations as well as 282 major languages, including 170 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander languages.   Recreation Activities Popular culture is dominated by an emphasis on leisure activities and outdoor recreation. Great pleasure is taken in traditional backyard barbecues, bush picnics, and a wide range of organized sports, including soccer, Australian Rules football, cricket, tennis, baseball, basketball, volleyball, netball (a game similar to basketball, played by women), athletics, cycling, boating, swimming, horseback riding, and horse racing. Fishing and gardening are popular activities.   Australian Education Australia is the first choice destination of many international students. Students from all over the world come to Australia every year to take advantage of world-class universities, vocational education and training colleges, schools and world leadership in English language courses. Australia is an increasingly popular and internationally recognized source of high quality education and research excellence. Australia also offers excellent value for money, with living expenses and tuition costs in Australia considerably less expensive than the United Kingdom (UK) and United States of America (USA), and a standard of living which is amongst the highest in the world. School attendance is compulsory throughout Australia between the ages of 6 and 15 years Most children start primary school at about five years of age. Each State and Territory has developed its own approach to schooling, particularly in relation to the structure of pre-Year One education and the transition from primary to secondary schooling. Primary schooling in most States and Territories begins with a preparatory or kindergarten year, followed by six or seven primary grades, then a further five or six years to complete a full secondary course of study. In total, most States and Territories have 13 years of schooling. While the final two years of schooling generally fall outside the compulsory stage of education, in 1998 some 85% of students remained at school until Year 11 and 72% remained until Year 12. Tertiary education is mainly provided through universities, TAFE institutions and other Vocational Education and Training institutions such as secretarial colleges, theological colleges, and private business and commercial colleges. Australia's education system is subject to continuous checks and controls by government, industry and professional bodies to maintain and improve its high standards while allowing Australia to retain the best of traditional values such as student welfare and excellence in scholarship. Home   |    Services  |  Carona Links   |   About MARA   |   FAQs   |   Free Evaluation  |  Disclaimer Copyright © 2009 Carona Consultants. All Rights Reserved. Powered by Mbition Inc.