Schools

International students have been en-rolling in Australia’s secondary schools since the 1950s, benefiting from a stimulating learning environment with world-leading application of technology.

Schools in Australia take great care in looking after their international students, helping them to adjust to the Australian way of life. The multicultural nature of Australian society means that other students readily accept international students, while teachers are experienced in teaching classes of students from many countries. There were more than 15,000 international students in Australian schools in 2001.

Safe and caring

Schools in Australia develop the individual talents of young students in a safe, caring and culturally diverse environment. Australian schools also offer a wide range of subjects, highly trained and experienced teachers, and the use of state-of-the-art technology and specialised laboratories.

All schools provide subjects in the key learning areas of English, mathematics, society and the environment, science, arts, languages other than English, technology, health and physical education. All schools accepting international students provide, or have access to, specialist English language programs.

Australian schools are already world leaders in the application of technology to education. Advanced technology is used in classrooms to improve learning and create a stimulating learning environment. Schools in Australia are well supplied with computers, internet access, CD-ROM materials and multimedia equipment. Many international students choose a boarding school. Home-stay is another popular option allowing the student to experience Australian family life and to develop lasting friendships.

Above: music and woodworking classes at Cairns State High School; below, the tropical Cairns environment offers plenty of activities after class

Cultural exchange

Australian students are also interested in learning other languages and about other cultures. Japanese is the most popular foreign language studied in Australian schools – it was first taught at an Australian secondary school in 1918. More than 370,000 Australian students are studying Japanese language at primary or secondary school.

Australia has the highest per capita Japanese language study program at school level of any English-language nation, and is second only to Korea.

>> www.studyinaustralia.gov.au