30+ INTERESTING things about Australia - the land of Kangaroos

Australia is a developed country, one of the top ideal destinations in the world, with a very large area - ranking 6th in the world. Let's learn about the country and homeland of this kangaroo.

1.1. Geographical location of Australia

1 - Territory

Australia is located in the Southern Hemisphere, located in the middle, surrounded by two large oceans, the Pacific Ocean and the Indian Ocean.

Australia is bordered by Indonesia, Papua New Guinea and East Timor to the north; It is bordered by the Solomon Islands, Vanuatu and Nouvelle Caledonie to the northeast and New Zealand to the southeast. The rest of Australia is surrounded by oceans.

2 - The capital of Australia

The capital of Australia is Canberra, located between two famous busy cities, Sydney and Melbourne. An interesting finding is that Canberra is the only city in Australia that is completely on the mainland, with a total area of about 814.2 km2.

3 - States and territories

Australia has 6 states including New South Wales, Queensland, Victoria, South Australia, Western Australia and Tasmania. In addition, Australia also has 2 main territories on most of the continent that are also very famous, namely The Australian Capital Territory and The Northern Territory.

4 - Terrain

Australia is divided into 3 main regions, each with its own unique terrain.

• Western Australia: Mostly vast plateaus with many deserts and sand dunes. Between the western high mountains and the eastern high mountains is a large low-lying land.

• Eastern Australia: Mountain ranges interspersed with basalt plateaus.

• South Australia: The mountain ranges are thousands of meters above sea level and covered in white snow.

1.2. Climate of Australia

1 - Climate

Australia is divided into 2 main climate types: Tropical climate (almost 1/3 of the territory) and temperate climate (the rest). In addition, the coldest place in the country is located in Tasmania and the southeast corner of the mainland.

However, due to the large area, the climate varies from region to region.

• Eastern, Northeastern, and Southwestern Australia: there are winds blowing in from the sea, so these areas often have heavy rainfall.

• Although it is located between two large oceans, the coastline is less cut along with the bipolar nature of coastal ocean currents, so rainfall is often concentrated in coastal areas.

• Rainfall began to decrease significantly to the west. Because of this, Australia's desert or semi-arid area is relatively large.

• The southwest of Australia has a Mediterranean climate.

1.2. Climate of Australia

1 - Climate

Australia is divided into 2 main climate types: Tropical climate (almost 1/3 of the territory) and temperate climate (the rest). In addition, the coldest place in the country is located in Tasmania and the southeast corner of the mainland.

However, due to the large area, the climate varies from region to region.

• Eastern, Northeastern, and Southwestern Australia: there are winds blowing in from the sea, so these areas often have heavy rainfall.

• Although it is located between two large oceans, the coastline is less cut along with the bipolar nature of coastal ocean currents, so rainfall is often concentrated in coastal areas.

• Rainfall began to decrease significantly to the west. Because of this, Australia's desert or semi-arid area is relatively large.

• The southwest of Australia has a Mediterranean climate.

2 - Seasons in Australia

As a country with a temperate and tropical climate, the temperature in Australia is neither too hot nor too cold, always ranging from 15 degrees to 25 degrees.

It can be seen that Australia also has 4 distinct seasons like the North of our country, but the time of the 4 seasons is different. With a fairly mild climate, Vietnamese people who want to settle or study abroad in Australia can easily adapt to the weather conditions of this country.

1.3. Australian Time Zone

Australia has the following 3 main time zones:

• Western Australian Standard Time (AWST; UTC+08:00): This is the time zone of the states in Western Australia.

• Central Australian Standard Time (ACST; UTC+09:30): This is the time zone for the territory in the central region of South Australia, the Northern Autonomous Region and the town of Broken Hill in western New South Wales.

• Eastern Australian Standard Time (AEST; UTC+10:00): This is the time zone of the Australian Capital, Sydney and the eastern states such as New South Wales, Queensland, Tasmania or Victoria.

It can be seen that the time zone of Australia will differ from the time zone of Vietnam by 1 to 3 hours. However, the Australian time zone will have seasonal changes.

• In the summer, the southern states and territories of Australia and the town of Broken Hill will adjust the hours by one hour (UTC+10:30).

• Areas of Victoria, New South Wales, Tasmania and other areas are also adjusted by one hour more than normal.

• The states of Queensland, Western Australia and the Northern Territory do not apply this status.

1.4. Economy of Australia

Australia is a wealthy country with a well-developed economy with GDP per capita always in the top high, reaching $41.7 billion in 2022 - ranking 9th in the world. In addition, Australia also ranked 8th in the Human Development Index (HDI) in 2019.

Thanks to the rapid and stable development of the economy, Australia has always been considered one of the most livable countries in the world with the 3 largest economic centers in Australia: Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane.

1.5. Laws of Australia

Most of Australia's laws are similar to those in Vietnam, of course, there are also many differences. For example:

• Wear a helmet even when riding a bicycle.

• Foreigners need an international driver's license.

• Prohibition of discrimination (due to ethnicity, origin, marital status, sexual orientation).

• Over 18 years old are allowed to buy wine, beer and cigarettes.

• It is illegal to drink alcohol, beer or smoke in public.

• It is illegal to use a phone while driving.

• Do not carry weapons in your body.

1.6. Religion in Australia

Australia has no official religion but the majority of Australians are Christian (about 52% of the population), but other religions from all over the world are still present in the country.

The Australian government respects people's freedom to choose their religion and builds and organizes many festivals in churches, synagogues, pagodas, and temples in most major cities. This also makes Australian culture increasingly diverse and colorful and somewhat alleviates the problem of racism or religious inequality.

When you want to come to Australia to study abroad or settle down permanently, you need to learn carefully about the living environment, living costs, cultural activities or famous places in this country. Please refer to the article below.

2.1. Language

Australia is a multicultural country, there is no official language, but the majority of Australians use English. According to the 2016 Australian census, the number of English speakers in the country is 73%.

The Anglo-Australian accent is quite easy to hear because the people here often pronounce it slowly and there is no big difference like the Anglo-British, British-American, British-Canadian accents.

In addition to English, Australia can also use more than 400 different languages such as Chinese (accounting for 2.5%), Arabic (accounting for 1.4%), Italian, Greek, etc.

2.2. Culture and people

Australia is a multicultural, multi-ethnic country. The people of Australia are very friendly, civilized, open-minded, ready to welcome people from all over the world such as England, Ireland, Scotland, China, Italy, Germany, India, Indigenous, Greek, Dutch, Filipino, Vietnamese, Lebanese... Because of this, racism in Australia is very rare.

According to the results of a census in Australia, about 23% of Australians live overseas and Australians with mixed cultural backgrounds account for 40% - a huge number. Australian people have the following outstanding characteristics:

• They love art and know how to enjoy their lives with a high standard of living and the organization of parties, festivals, musical performances, theatrical performances,...

• Especially fans of sports such as cricket, football, cycling, horse racing, swimming,...

• They like to communicate with their eyes, so when they first come into contact, they will feel strange, shy, and shy

• Sociable, friendly, comfortable; always give respect, care, and know how to listen to those around you.

• Extremely valuable time

Detail:Understanding Culture and People when studying in Australia

2.3. Cuisine

Because it is a multicultural and multi-ethnic country, Australia's cuisine is also very diverse, you can see the appearance of most dishes around the world right here.

One of Australia's traditional dishes you should explore is "Bush Tucker", which is a dish created by Aboriginal Australians since primitive times. The appearance of the "Bush Tucker" can be a little scary because of the wild vegetables that grow in the forest,... but have high nutritional value. So don't hesitate to try this unique dish right away.

Besides, don't miss many other famous dishes such as: Ham and Pea Soup, Tasmanian Grill, Prawn Cocktail, Vegemite, Tam Heart Cake,..

Like Vietnam, Australians are also very fond of coffee, but they rarely drink strong coffee but often drink it with a lot of milk. Another similarity with Vietnamese people is that Australian people also like to go out to the restaurant to sit and sip beer and wine and often organize a lot of special tours and food festivals.

2.4. Public transport

The public transportation system in Australia is quite convenient and easy to use. There are many means of transportation and travel here such as trains, trams, trams, and high-speed trains,... However, there are differences between cities and regions where the government of each state of Australia will manage a separate public transport system.

In general, in Australia, the majority of people use buses and trains because of their convenience and low cost, so the road and railway systems are very extensive and have a high frequency of operation. On weekdays, there will be a bus every 15 minutes, but on weekends or holidays, there will be a bus every 1 hour.

2.5. Living expenses

According to the global quality of life ranking published by the American magazine CEOWORLD, Australia's quality of life ranks 17th in the world with a score of 88.23 in 2021. However, Australia's cost of living is very reasonable.

See more:

Latest Updated Cost of Studying in Australia

Housing in Australia for international students, which type should you choose?

2.6. Famous Places

1 - Canberra with the Floriade Flower Festival

Australia hosts many unique festivals right in its capital city of Canberra, such as the Floriade flower festival which takes place in September and October every year.

2 - The Oyster Theatre in Sydney

When it comes to Australia, the first city we think of is the port city of Sydney. The Sydney Opera House is the pinnacle symbol of Sydney in particular and Australia in general. This is Australia's 1-0-2 architecture.

3 - Blue Mountains National Park

The Blue Mountains National Park, 81km west of Sydney, is one of Australia's most famous natural parks with towering sandstone blocks known as the Three Sisters.

4 - Great Barrier Reef

An Australian masterpiece that continues to be classified as a World Heritage Site is the Great Barrier Reef – one of the largest living structures on the planet.

3. Australia's education - a place to send the future

Are you planning to study abroad or settle in Australia permanently and are interested in educational issues? Australia has always prided itself on being among the top countries in education worldwide.

Are you planning to study abroad or settle in Australia permanently and are interested in educational issues? Australia has always prided itself on being among the top countries in education worldwide.

3.1. Education system

1 - Primary Education

Primary school ranks in Australia are not fixed and will vary from state to state. However, usually, the Primary level in Australia will start in Year 1 and end in Year 6 or Year 7. For this level, students will be provided with knowledge and skills in 8 main areas: English, Mathematics, Science, Human and Social Sciences, Arts, Technology, Health and Physical Education, Other Languages (other than English).

2 - Secondary Education

Secondary school will start from grade 7 (or 8) through grade 12. In particular, it can be said that the 2 years of grade 11 and grade 12 in Australia are 2 years of study that are quite important for students to get admission points to universities, vocational colleges or vocational colleges.

3 - Bachelor's education

The first condition for students to be able to attend the Bachelor's education program is to complete 12 years of study. After completing the 12 years, students can choose to study programs for a Bachelor's Degree, an Associate Degree lasting 2 years or a bachelor's program lasting from 3 to 4 years depending on each discipline (Bachelor Degree).

4 - Postgraduate Education

If after finishing the university education program, you still want to continue your education, you can completely participate in the postgraduate education program. It will take you 1 to 3 years to complete this study program. Postgraduate courses will include Master's courses, Graduate Certificates or Diploma Certificates. Postgraduate programs will be more advanced than previous levels. And at the end of the postgraduate level, students will be eligible to study for a PhD.

5 - Doctoral education

After obtaining a Master's degree or Bachelor of Honours, you can completely obtain a PhD through successfully defending the thesis you have done. A PhD thesis in Australia will require a high level of detail but will be shorter than that of the UK and the US.

6 - Vocational training and vocational guidance

This is a self-accredited education system, so it will provide educational programs on a practical level and does not require a bachelor's degree.

3.2. Outstanding quality of education

Australia is a country in the top 15 countries with the world's top quality of education. Therefore, it is the country with the highest percentage of international students per capita in the world. With a diverse and advanced education, schools in Australia offer high-value courses and qualifications in a variety of fields. Therefore, you can freely choose your favorite majors here and especially believe in the quality of education.

The outstanding result can be seen from the outstanding education system in Australia is that students after receiving the education system here have the highest percentage of university level in the world. Because of this, degrees and certificates in Australia are very popular all over the world with extremely attractive salaries.

See more:Australian Education System

3.3. Some famous universities in Australia

Along with a modern and outstanding education system, Australian universities are in the top of the world's rankings, attracting many international students with a dynamic, high-quality learning environment and equipped with modern equipment.

Here are some of the top 10 universities in Australia

You may be interested in:

• Study in Australia: Interesting things you need to know

• Best Universities in Australia

What should I pay attention to in order to be able to come to Australia? This is a question that many students and those who intend to work in Australia ask.

4.1. Immigration procedures

For international flights, you need to be at the airport 2 hours in advance to complete the exit procedures and need to prepare all the necessary documents to avoid unnecessary cases. In addition, when entering Australia, you need to present your visa to be able to enter Australia.

4.2. Currency

One thing you need to note is that when you come to Australia, you will not be able to exchange Vietnamese currency for Australian currency. Therefore, you should actively exchange money right in Vietnam. To be able to convert Vietnamese currency to Australian currency, you can exchange it at Current Exchange counters in the airport area, large supermarkets or hotels.

4.3. Carry-on baggage to Australia

When you come to Australia, you should prepare light, really necessary clothes, sunscreen and special medications that are commonly used. Another important thing to note is that Australia uses a current with a voltage of 230-240 Volts, so you need to pay attention to bring the right adapter and plug.

4.4. What not to do when visiting Australia

You should not bring items and cosmetics made from herbs and animal skins because Australians love nature and are attached to nature, so the Customs Department will temporarily collect these items when entering Australia. Besides, when coming to Australia, you need to be careful to avoid impolite actions such as pushing each other in line or shouting loudly in public places because these actions in Australia are considered against the law.

You also need to be careful not to touch children on the street without their parents' permission.

4.5. Tips

Like many countries around the world, there is also a tipping culture in Australia. Although tipping in Australia is not mandatory, it will show satisfaction and courtesy. Therefore, don't forget to tip employees every time you use a service. The tip amount will usually range between 5-10% of the value of your bill.

Currently, the Australian government has changed the immigration policy in Australia, so you need to pay more attention to the terms and requirements.

1 - Skilled immigration

To be able to settle in a skilled position, you need to have at least 1 year of full-time or part-time experience. At the same time, you also need to score a certain number of points on language tests and complete the learning process according to the standards of the skilled immigration program.

2 - Investment-business immigration

The condition to be able to settle in Australia under the category of investment and business is that you need to contribute to Australia the knowledge and experience of business or cultural diversity and capital sources.

3 - Marriage settlement

Australia has recently been very strict on immigration from outside. If you want to settle by marriage, you need to make sure you have been married to a local person for at least 9 months, have been responsible before the law and have never sponsored anyone.

4 - Settlement as a relative

This settlement status can be for the biological children, adopted children or stepchildren of the sponsored person. However, it is still necessary to strictly comply with the basic conditions set by parents and other requirements for each policy.

5 - Study abroad immigration

To settle in Australia as a student, you need to score at least 65 points on the Australian immigration scale, not break the law, receive an invitation letter or nominate an Australian state.

Currently, Australia is one of the top countries that attracts a large number of international students to study each year. So what is the reason that the country of red maple leaves is chosen by many students as a place to study and develop:

• Some schools in Australia do not require IELTS but will still offer English language programs instead.

• There is an opportunity to stay and work in Australia for about 2-5 years after graduation.

• There are various scholarships ranging from 30-100% of tuition fees for all levels of study.

• Have the opportunity to study while working with the regulation of working no more than 40 hours/2 weeks.

• Degrees are diverse with a wide range of professions and are recognized worldwide.

• Have a long-term job prospect in Australia.

• It is a country known for international students with 5 out of 30 best cities in the world.

• When coming to Australia, every international student will have the opportunity to transform themselves thanks to the unique experiences here.

Besides advanced education, Australia is also a country that attracts a lot of tourists with rich nature. Besides, Australia also has interesting facts that you probably don't know yet.

1 – Kangaroo only exists in Australia

Kangaroo, also known as kangaroo, is considered an animal that symbolizes the beautiful country of Australia. However, only in Australia can you see wild kangaroos around beaches or along suburban roads in big cities.

2 - The Great Barrier Reef in Australia is the largest coral reef system in the world

The Great Barrier Reef is the largest coral reef in the world, with more than 2900 separate reefs concentrated. Not only that, but under strict government management the world's largest coral reef Great Barrier has been spared from being affected by the effects of bleach.

3 - Supermarkets and commercial centers work according to office hours

Currently, the shopping center in Australia has a lot of rich items and is worked according to office hours. Therefore, international students when coming to Australia have the opportunity to buy a lot of extremely convenient necessities.

4 - The number of Vietnamese in Australia is the 6th largest among migrant communities

In the context that Australia is thirsty for human resources due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, Australia has attracted a large number of migrants. Among them, the number of Vietnamese residing in Australia to date has reached 256,000 people, becoming the 6th largest immigrant community in Australia.

5 – Free public phone in Australia

According to Australia's new policy, people are free to use public phone booths for free at any location across the country. However, for overseas calls, you will still lose the fare and be forced to use the "cashless" form of payment.

Australia is one of the leading countries in terms of policies for its citizens, so it attracts a lot of foreigners to study, work, and live. If you are planning to study in Australia but still have questions that need to be answered, please contact IDP's consultants for more detailed advice!

If you are planning to study in Australia and learn more about the country, contact IDP!

IDP supports you in applying to study in Australia for free!

With information about the visa application process when studying in Australia, you can refer to and prepare all visa application documents in the easiest way. If you want to save time and increase the rate of applying for an Australian student visa, contact the consultant team at IDP immediately for advice on the process of applying to study in Australia visa interview with a success rate of up to 95%

You can also participate in the Study Abroad Seminar free organized by IDP, the consultants will help you choose a school, choose the right major and course, and search Scholarships to study in Australia with a value of up to 100%. In addition to the existing offices in cities, you can consult through an online IDP office and access all online services anywhere.

To update more information about the latest information about international study abroad trends, you can access and follow the livestream, daily updated information at IDP Studying Abroad Fanpage and other social platforms of IDP such as IDP Studying Abroad YouTube or Tiktok IDP Studying Abroad.

Contact IDP for advice on studying in Australia today!