Geography
- Full country name: Australia
- Population: 21,807,000
- Border countries: none
- Climate: varies greatly - large areas of desert, tropical and sub-tropical and temperate climes
- Terrain: varies greatly - desert, tropical rainforest, coast and bush
- Natural hazards: Certain areas of Australia can be dangerous due to extreme weather and natural conditions, caution should be taken when visiting remote areas out of major cities. Hazards include bushfires, cyclones, earthquakes, floods and severe weather. Australia is also home to some deadly plants and animals.
Living in Australia
Cost of living: differs between major cities and regional centres, and relative cost will depend on the exchange rate of the pound/euro to Australian dollar. If you are living in Australian capital cities and earning Australian dollars, you will find rent, entertainment and food to be similar to living in smaller UK and European cities, yet cheaper than London.
- Utilities: there are many companies offering water, gas, electricity and telecommunication services to Australian homes. It is worth getting a quote from a few providers to ensure you get the best deal.
- Internet domain: .au
- Health: healthcare in Australia is of a similar standard to the UK, and is both public (through Medicare) and private (health insurance).
- Laws and customs: the legal age for consumption of alcohol is 18, fines and penalties apply for the possession of illicit drugs, smoking is banned in most indoor spaces including restaurants and pubs, theatres, shopping centres and some outdoor public spaces and littering is illegal.
Economy and finance
- Currency: Australian Dollar (AUD)
- Type of economy: western-style, capitalist economy
- Health of economy: Australia has had one of the strongest economies in the world, experiencing two decades of growth until 2008. The global economic crisis of that started in 2008 has had an impact on the economy of Australia, dramatically reversing the economic growth associated with the mining boom period of 2003 - 2008.
- Unemployment rate: Prior to the global economic crisis, Australia experienced a sustained period of low unemployment rates. The impact on the resources sector in particular has led to an increase in unemployment to 5.8% in June 2009
- Main exports: coal, iron ore and concentrates, education services, gold, personal travel (excluding education) services, crude petroleum, natural gas, aluminium ores (including alumina), professional technical and other business services, aluminium
Culture
- People: Australia is a modern, multicultural society with a diverse population from over 190 countries. The majority of Australians are from an Anglo Celtic origin, the 2006 census revealed the most common ancestry as Australian (37.13%) followed by English (31.65%), Irish (9.08%), Scottish (7.56%), Italian (4.29%), German (4.09%), Chinese (3.37%) and Greek (1.84%).
- Major religion: Given the multicultural nature of Australia, most world religions are practiced. Christianity is the most common religion in Australia, followed by Buddhism, Hinduism and Islam. There is no state religion, and many Australians identify themselves as having no religion.
- Local etiquette: Australia is a friendly and informal society based on social equality, respect and fairness. You will need to sign a Values statement on your visa application, which identifies the key aspects of Australian society and culture
Politics
- Type of government: The Commonwealth of Australia is a constitutional democracy with three levels of government - the Australian government (federal), state and territory government and local government (councils).
- Major political parties: The Australian Labor Party, the Coalition (the Liberal Party and the National Party)
