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secondary education in Australia

What is Secondary Education in Australia?

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Are you planning to do your secondary education in Australia?

It is a certainly a great pathway to enter Tertiary education with unmatched learning experiences.

This guide will give you a quick heads up on Australia’s secondary education system.

How does Secondary education in Australia works?

Secondary education in Australia is a stage of education that follows the completion of primary school. It is known as high school also.

Secondary schools offer students the opportunity to learn more about their interests and to prepare for their future careers.

You can choose to study in a public or private schools for your secondary education in Australia.

Secondary education in Australia starts from year 7 onwards and to complete and move to tertiary education, you will need to pass year 12.

Secondary education is divided into two stages in Australia:

  • Secondary school – Depending on the state, runs for 3 or 4 years (Years 7 to 10 or 8 to 10).
  • Senior secondary school – Runs for 2 years (Years 11 and 12).

Each state in Australia has a different set up for last 2 years of the study. But all the states will require you to take a test at the end of those 2 years in senior secondary education. Scores from those tests will help you determine your ranking in the year 12 across your state. This score plays a huge role in university placements.

How long is the school year in Australia?

Australian school year starts from late January until mid-December. There are 4 terms during the year.

Each term goes for 10 weeks and then there is school holidays in-between each term.

Generally, school timings are from 9 am to 3 pm, Monday to Friday.

You must apply few months before the start of the term in order to get your application approved and other visa requirements sorted.

What are the entry requirements for secondary education in Australia?

Like education system, entry requirements for secondary education in Australia varies from state to state.

However, some of the common entry requirements include:

  • Certificates of previously completed study
  • Previous academic performance
  • English test scores
  • Other non academic achievements
  • Homestay or guardian arrangements

How much it costs to do your secondary education in Australia?

As per the Australian government’s website, Study Australia, to do your school education in Australia as an international student, it would costs you anywhere $7,800 to $30,000 per year. It depends on the city, type of schools, year level, you are choosing to study.

It is important to note if you are under the age of 18, then you will need to also arrange welfare arrangements as well. For this, you will need to have a student guardian who will look after student’s need. It could be your parents, legal custodian, or relative over 21 years of age.

It is a condition to enter Australia for international students under the age of 18 years of age that they must have welfare arrangements sorted before arriving in Australia.

You can also choose to have Homestay option with local family to meet the guardian requirement.

So, consider these cost of living expenses of your guardian or Homestay as well along with your education costs also.

Top secondary schools in Australia

Based on Cluey learning’s ranking, here are the top 10 school for secondary education in Australia:

  1. James Ruse Agricultural High School – NSW
  2. North Sydney Girls High School – NSW
  3. North Sydney Boys High School – NSW
  4. Sydney Girls High School – NSW
  5. Sydney Boys High School – NSW
  6. Baulkham Hills High School – NSW
  7. Perth Modern School – WA
  8. Hornsby Girls High School – NSW
  9. Normanhurst Boys High School -NSW
  10. Sydney Grammar School – NSW

If you liked this article, then you should consider reading our guide on the Australian grading system.

Comment below about what education level you are planning to study in Australia?



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How to apply for a student visa fee refund (and Working Holiday visa holders refund)

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International students and working holiday visa holders have recently been given a special offer by Australian Government regarding the visa application fee refund.

It was announced by the Australian Prime Minister, Scott Morrison on 19th January 2022 that student visa holders arriving in the next 8 weeks and working holiday visa holders arriving in the next 12 weeks will be able to apply for a visa application charges refund.

So, in this article, we are going to look into step by step information on how to apply for this refund.

Step 1 – Check your eligiblity

It is important to note that not all student visa holders and working holiday visa holder will be eligible. There are some eligibility requirements that you must meet in order to apply for this refund.

Let’s look at Student Visa Holders eligiblity:

To eligible for a student visa fee refund:

  • you hold a valid Student visa (subclasses 500, 560, 570, 571, 572, 573, 574 or 575), and
  • you must arrive in Australia between 19th January 2022 and 19th March 2022

Now, Working holiday visa holders

Elgibility for working holiday visa holder include:

  • you hold a valid Working Holiday/Work and Holiday visa (subclasses 417 or 462), and
  • you must arrive in Australia between 19th January 2022 and 19th April 2022

The good thing is you can apply until 31st December 2022 for your refund, so you don’t need to rush to apply it right away after arriving in Australia.

Step 2 – Collect your documents you need to apply

In order to apply for this refund, you must have few documents handy. This include

  • Passport – For your personal details and passport number
  • TRN (Transaction reference number) – For confirmation of your visa. You can find this number in your visa grant letter or in immii account, if you applied visa online.
  • Bank Account or Credit Card details – For getting your refund back into your account

A quick tip for getting your refund quicker:

Provide your Australian Bank account rather than overseas bank account

Step 3 – Creating an account on immigration refund portal

For applying for this refund, you need to go to Department of Home Affairs’s Visa Refund Portal. You can go directly to the page for student and working holiday visa holder’s visa application charges here: https://studentandwhmrefunds.homeaffairs.gov.au/vrp

Here you can check further information on

  • your eligibility
  • how to claim
  • other useful information
  • getting help

You will need to create a new account here (unless you already have an account for refunds). For this, you will need to provide the following information:

  • Email account
  • Password
  • First Name
  • Last Name
  • Password
  • Agreement to privacy policy and security statement

Once your account is created, then you will get a confirmation email for your registration. Make sure to validate your email using the link in email.

Then you will redirected to login using your email and password.

Step 4 – Complete your refund application

Once logged into your dashboard, you will be welcome with a screen title “Visa application charge refunds for students and working holiday makers”. Read the page and go to the bottom and click “Submit New Request”

After clicking submit new request, you will enter the “Visa Request Refund” page where you will need to provide the followin details and press submit after that:

  • TRN
  • Application ID
  • Visa Subclass
  • Entry Date
  • Given Name
  • Family Name
  • Date of Birth
  • Passport Number
  • Passport Country
  • Email address
  • Contact Number
  • Did you pay for your own visa
  • Bank account details
  • Agreement to terms and conditions

Step 5 – After submitting your refund application

After completing and submitting your application, you will recieve a confirmation email regarding your application recieved from the Department of Home Affairs.

Then you will need to wait for the outcome of the application.

Department of Home Affiars mentioned that they will process the refund as quickly as they can but it can vary based on the individual applications.

If your application is approved then you will recieve the refund back into your nominated back account.

However, if they refuse your application, then you can apply for a review within 21 days of a refusal.

You can read more about this here.

If you liked this content, then you might also want to read on 10 best casual jobs for student in Australia here.



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The Ultimate Guide to Valentine's Day in Australia for students

The Ultimate Guide to Valentine’s Day in Australia for Students

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We all know that Valentine’s Day is a day to celebrate love. It is not just an American thing. It is celebrated in many countries, including Australia.

If you are wondering why and how you should celebrate Valentine’s Day in Australia as a student, then read on!

What is Valentine’s day?

Valentine’s Day is celebrated on February 14th. It is a day for people to express their love to their loved ones. In 2024, it will be celebrated on Wednesday 14th, 2024.

This date has tradition behind it and is celebrated to remember the St. Valentine’s.

Check our Updated Valentines Day Gift Ideas here

The Origins of the Australian Valentine’s Celebration

The origins of Valentine’s Day in Australia are not very clear. It is believed to have started in the 19th century by the Irish Catholic settlers.

Although it is not a public holiday in Australia, there are chances that some businesses might be closed on the day.

It is a summer season during the month of February, so the temperature ranges from warm to hot.

How is it celebrated in Australia?

Valentine’s Day is celebrated in Australia with romantic dinners, cards, kisses and flowers.

There are many ways to celebrate Valentine’s Day in Australia. Australians usually celebrate it with romantic dinners, cards, kisses and flowers. You can also give your special someone a Valentine’s Day gift.

If you are struggling with what to get for your loved one, here are some ideas that might help

Gift ideas for Valentine’s Day in Australia

Check our Updated Valentines Day Gift Ideas here

What are some of the best gifts you can get on Valentine’s Day? Well, it really depends on your budget and the person you are buying for. But if you are looking for some ideas, here are a few suggestions that might help.

Gift Ideas on ultra tight budget ($30 or under)

If you are looking for some last-minute gifts, then this list of Valentine’s Day gifts under $30 is perfect for you!

Gift Ideas on low budget ($100 or under)

Gift ideas on mid to high budget ($1000 or under)

Gift Ideas for those who would like to do something special

  • A romantic dinner date at a 4-star restaurant: Book and dine a luxury dinner date with your valentine.
  • A romantic weekend getaway: Surprise your loved one by booking a romantic escape around Australia.
  • Expensive jewellery: Create a personalised necklace with their name on it.

Top 5 International Student’s Valentine’s Day Gift Ideas

  1. Buy OSA ISIC card – Perfect for international students. Your Valentine will love you for buying a year-round offer and discounts they get with this card. Buy it here. Check our student deals page for more sweet deals.
  2. Buy Timezone credits – Entertain your valentine by buying a gift to play arcade video games, laser games, bowling. They have a special deal on Saturday 17 and Sunday 18 February 2024 to get double credits. Buy $60 or $120 credits and get $100 or $200 credits. (Double the fun) Check the details here.
  3. Maskco -Try the unique and exotic Australian fragrances. We promise your valentine will love it. It’s that good. (Make sure to get Lychee and Peony as one of the fragrances). Current offer: Get 30% off + 1 MUSK Stick Refill. Buy them here.
  4. Give them box of food goodies – Many couples like to spend the night at home on this day, so cooking together can be fun (oops we are giving our Date ideas already). Why not order a box of meal kit delivered at your place to make things bit easier for yourself. Luckily, HelloFresh and EveryPlate are running an amazing deals for our followers. Get up to $210 off on your first 5 meal kit boxes with HelloFresh here. And EveryPlate is running a deal with up to $155 off for the first 6 boxes with price per serving starting from just $2.29.
  5. Gift card – Last but not the least, the easiest, laziest and a safe gift, get your Valentine a gift card. You can buy them at any retailer or online. If buying online, we suggest getting from Shopback as they have a Super Swap gift card that can be exchanged for 100’s of retailers. Sign up now to get $10 referral bonus to start.

Check our Updated Valentines Day Gift Ideas here

Affordable Valentine’s Day Date Ideas in Australia

Here are some affordable Valentine’s Day date ideas in Australia:

  • Stargazing: Choose an area far from the city lights, it could be your own backyard as well. Bring a blanket, chair, something to munch on and binoculars or telescope. Make sure to check the weather of your local city before deciding for this activity.
  • Picnic: Head toward your local park, beach or garden nearby and bring along some basic food like sandwich, fruits, cheese and drinks for a romantic picnic. Also pack up a picnic blanket, small table and something (like game) for entertainment.
  • Cooking Together: Choose a recipe that excites you both, buy ingredients and get cooking together. You can choose to do a full course menu or just the mains. Remember it is not much about the food but the experience of something you create together.
  • Scenic Walk: Great way to stay healthy and enjoying the company of your loved on a nature walk. Explore the local neighbourhood or nature trail nearby and share your stories or something interesting with your partner.
  • Movie Night In: Choose a genre of interest and watch something you both haven’t watched yet. Create a cozy environment and don’t forget to prepare some snacks like popcorns, nachos, drinks, etc.
  • Check out more date ideas on our Instagram page here.

Valentine’s Day Road Trip Ideas in Australia

Here are the Valentine’s Day Road Trip ideas in Australia you might consider to bring your Valentine Date to:

  1. Great Ocean Road (Victoria) – Without a doubt, this is one of the most popular road trip around Australia. It takes around 1 hour 30 minutes to reach Torquay (starting point for Great Ocean Road) from Melbourne city. From Torquay, you can drive along with some breath taking scenery while visiting popular towns like Lorne and Apollo Bay. You can visit Twelve Apostle in a day trip as well but it is advisable to start your trip nice and early if visiting Twelve Apostle is a part of your agenda.
  2. Grand Pacific Drive (New South Wales) – Around an hour south of Sydney is one of the other popular coastal drive in Australia, Grand Pacific Drive. Stretching from the Royal National Park to Nowra, you will be driving through many coastal towns and breathing scenery as well. And who doesn’t like to drive on the iconic Sea Cliff Bridge.
  3. Blue Mountains (New South Wales) – Around 50 minutes drive from Sydney CBD, Blue Mountains is a popular tourist attraction and day trip for many Sydneysiders. You can explore scenic landscapes, three sister’s rock formation, scenic cable ride, Wentworth Falls Lookout in the area. You can enjoy a lunch or dinner in the local area or enjoy a cozy evening in a mountain retreat with your loved one .
  4. Gold Coast to Byron Bay (Queensland) – Drive down the Pacific Highway from Gold Coast to the picturesque coastal town of Byron Bay with your loved one. A 75 minute long drive is worth every penny. And the bohemian town of Byron Bay with stunning natural attractions, world class dining and shopping is a perfect backdrop to your Valentine’s Day.
  5. Barossa Valley (South Australia) – Travelling to South Australia’s Barossa Valley on Valentine’s Day seems like a non-brainer. Only an hour’s drive from Adelaide city means you can spend the entire day exploring the region known for its vineyards, gourmet food and insta worthy countryside scenery.
  6. East Coast (Tasmania) – Why not explore the beauty of Tasmania’s east coast on Valentine’s Day. You can explore Freycinet National Park, hike to Wineglass Bay, and feast on Tasmanian seafood in coastal towns like Bicheno and Swansea. You can do a quick
  7. Pinnacles Desert and Lancelin Sand Dunes (Western Australia) – Approximately 2 hours north from the Perth city, Pinnacles Desert is otherwordly attraction that is sure to impress anyone. You can stop by at Lancelin Sand Dunes for sandboarding experience on the way back.

Tips for Loving Long Distance this Valentine’s Day

These are some of the best long-distance relationship tips that you can follow for this Valentine’s Day.

  1. Be honest with your partner about how you feel
  2. Make sure to keep in touch with your partner as often as possible
  3. Keep the romance alive by sending gifts and cards to each other

We hope this article has helped you find your way to the perfect Valentine’s Day. Let us know how you would like to celebrate Valentine’s Day in the comments.



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10 Best Casual Jobs for Students in Australia

10 Best Casual Jobs for Students in Australia

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Students have a unique relationship with money. You know that by concentrating on your studies you’ll eventually be able to earn a good living, but in the meantime you find yourself in a state of financial purgatory, looking to simply get by while completing your studies.

With a career beckoning in the near future, the work you do in the interim tends to be casual.

The team at Student Job Board are experts at connecting students with casual work, which is why we’ve teamed up with them to bring you a rundown of the best casual jobs down under.

What are the best casual jobs for students in Australia?

1.Hospitality

Working at a pub, bar or restaurant is almost a rite of passage for students in Australia. The hospitality industry relies heavily on the country’s student population on both sides of the bar!

Minimal training is needed to work as a bartender, barista, waiter or kitchen hand, and these hospitality jobs offer the sort of flexible work hours ideal for scheduling around your studies.

2.Tutoring

Are you a seasoned student with an impressive academic record? Do you enjoy sharing your knowledge with others? If the answers are yes and yes, tutoring might be for you!

Tutoring allows you to more or less set your own hours, and if you are capable of teaching specialised or high-demand material, you can charge a rather nice rate for the pleasure.

Private tutoring can also be offered over the internet, increasing the pool of students you teach and making it the most flexible of earning options.

3.Admin/ data entry

Let’s face it – the words ‘admin’ and ‘data entry’ aren’t the most exciting in the English language. That said, these words represent widely available, well-paid work that can offer a student valuable insight into the world of business or their field of study.

If you have good computer skills and an eye for detail this work can prove to be a nice money spinner, and could even be completed remotely. Some data entry work is paid at a piece rate rather than an hourly rate, so speed and accuracy are critical.

4.Social media management

You might be a highly skilled professional without even knowing it. If you’re part of the current university population, chances are you’re also part of the first generation that only knows aworld with social media.

Facebook, Instagram and Tik Tok might be second nature to you, but the same can’t be said for those who are a little older. This means social media and digital marketing jobs can represent a huge opportunity for university students in Australia, as brands attempt to grab the attention of you and your peers.

5.Casual labour

Are you physically fit? Do you like to work with your hands? Casual labour is in constant demand in Australia, with tradespeople, local governments, construction companies and
farmers needing a steady supply of help.

The emergence of the gig economy has also opened up a world of opportunities for students who aren’t afraid of hard work, as you can offer up your services on a marketplace and spend your spare time mowing lawns, moving furniture or offering handyman services.

6.Cleaning

Over the past couple of years, as the world has become far more aware of the importance of sanitation, cleaning is one of those rare industries that has seen an explosion of work. Because cleaning is often tackled after hours, you can fit this work around your studies while enjoying a healthy penalty rate!

There can also be a sense of accomplishment that comes with cleaning – it’s one of those jobs where you can see the impact of your work and get real satisfaction from it.

7.Writing/ editing

Have you ever stopped to think how the entire internet – including what you’re looking at right now – has to be written and edited? If you’re someone who loves the written word, you could get paid to contribute your own content to the World Wide Web!

With every self-respecting brand now selling through a website, publishing a blog, posting on social media and sending out marketing emails, the opportunities for writing work have never been greater!

8.Pet care

When you love what you do, you’ll never work a day in your life. If that love is for animals, why not get paid for hanging out with them? Pets need to be walked, groomed, fed and generally taken care of, and offering any one of these services can prove incredibly fulfilling work, in terms of both your heart and your wallet.

9.Babysitting

Perhaps you love little critters that are decidedly less furry, in which case childcare might be the casual job for you! If you boast years of experience guiding younger siblings through life or have a history of helping friends and family with their kids, babysitting can be a nice earner that might not feel like work at all.

This job will mostly take place over weekends and during that awkward late afternoon gap between the end of the school day and the workday, which is where your flexible university timetable comes in.

The hourly rate generally hovers around minimum wage, though you can command a higher number depending on the nature and timing of the work.

10. Film extra

Why watch TV when you could be on TV? If you’re a born performer, getting a gig as an extra can be a fascinating, exciting and surprisingly profitable move. While you won’t be the star of the show – in fact, it’s usually your job to be the opposite – you will gain insight into the inner workings of the entertainment industry and get paid to be on screen.

The well-established Australian screen industry is in constant need of extras, though you should be aware that this work often comes up at short notice, and can involve long days of filming; though that may not matter to those with stars in their eyes!

As a uni student looking for work, you should feel a real sense of freedom. You can treat your university years as a time to experiment with work – to try different things and see what you like, to gather experience and experiences, and to have fun earning that bit of extra cash. By taking on any one of the jobs mentioned above, you’ll be able to do all that and more.


About Student Job Board

Student Job Board is Australia’s dedicated job site for university students. Specialising in casual, part-time and holiday work, Student Job Board offers a wide variety of job types across many sectors. We can help you find employment that is not only flexible for your studies but is also complimentary to your chosen career path.

Visit www.studentjobboard.com.au



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7 Aussie ways to celebrate the Australia Day

A Quick Guide to Australia Day for International Students

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One of the first public holidays on Australian calendar in the new year is Australia Day public holiday.

In this blog, we are giving you a quick guide about Australia Day in Australia.

What is Australia Day?

Australia Day is celebrated on 26th January each year.

Its historical background dates back to 1788 as a commemoration of the arrival of the First Fleet of 11 British convict ships at Port Jackson NSW.

Now a days, it is celebrated as a day where we reflect on the history, its highs and its lows.

There are many ceremonies, parades, cultural events, citizenship ceremonies takes place on this day.

Why is Australia Day also called “Invasion Day”?

Many international students wonder why Australia Day is also called as an “Invasion Day”.

Australia’s indigenous people also known as First Nations People consider Australia Day celebrations as a celebration of Invasion, genocide of aboriginal people.

They consider it as a day of mourning as it marks the beginning of colonisation of their country and the loss of their land and culture.

There is a campaign to change the date to another day in the year as it is marked as an Invasion Day for the aboriginal culture in Australia.

You can learn more about this perspective by seeking out and attending events that acknowledge the history and celebrate Indigenous culture.

Many universities and other workplaces in Australia have started giving an option to their employees to work on 26th January instead of taking a day off. They are offering alternative day off to those staff members who decide to work on 26th January.

Few activities you can do on Australia Day public holiday

Many Australians these days consider Australia Day as just another public holiday. Here are some of the activities, students can do on their day off on this public holiday.

1. Attend marches and local activities

You can attend marches and events that explain about the pain and hurt of the aboriginal culture for this day. Some local governments organise activities like morning breakfast, concert, local tour and parties. Check the local council website to see what’s happening in your local area.

2. Go to beach

Australians love going to the beach and one of the favourite activity for many Australians is heading toward the beach to catch some cool waves and enjoy with friends.

3. Have a Barbie

Invite some friends over and organise a typical Australian style BBQ or barbecue. If you are vegan or vegetarian, you can also enjoy a meat-free BBQ as well. You can head to a local park or do it in your own backyard. Want to know some BBQ etiquette? Check our popular article on that here.

4. Play cricket

Summer means Cricket in Australia. Even if you are not familiar with this sport, you can join to play it with locals and they will be happy to explain the rules. Don’t be shy in asking to join if you see locals playing it. Common places to play includes beach, backyard & local parks on the day.

5. Try Aussie treats

Have you heard about Pavalova, Lamingtons, Vanilla slice, Tim Tams? No! Try them out. Treat yourself to some Aussie deserts. And if you are person, who like to stay indoors, then catching up on some Aussie flicks like The Castle, Mad Mex, Crocodile Dundee and Muriel’s Wedding is a must.

6. Buy the merchandise

You can buy plenty of True Blue merchandise from local businesses. You can even head to local supermarket to pick some merchandise as well. Want to go extreme with it? Get your face tattooed.

7. See fireworks

Local governments also organise fireworks for the residents during the evening on Australia Day. Check your local state or territories planned fireworks and make bookings, if required. Keep in mind, there are different restrictions at the moment in many states and territories.

Whatever you plan to do this Australia Day, we suggest that you to understand and be respectful about the cultural significance of this day.



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What are the requirements for entering Australia for international students?

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International Students and other temporary visa holders are allowed to return back to Australia from 15th December 2021 without needing to apply for travel exemption.

Finally! Yay!!

But there are many requirements you need to meet in order to arrive in Australia. In this article, we are going to talk about requirements for entering Australia and other states and territories as well.

Let’s go!

Basic requirements for entering Australia as an international student

In order to enter Australia, you will need to meet these basic requirements. Here are the requirements you must meet:

  • hold a valid visa to enter Australia
  • be a visa holder that is eligible to arrive in Australia without needing to apply for travel exemption
  • have a negative report of COVID-19 PCR test 72 hours before flight
  • be fully vaccinated with TGA approved vaccine
  • carry an International COVID-19 vaccine certificate
  • complete Australian Travel Declaration (ATD) 72 hours before flight time but no earlier than 7 days

Requirements for entering each state and territory in Australia

Each state and territories has different requirements for entry, quarantine and testing.

You will need to make sure that you have sufficient arrangement for your isolation or quarantine before leaving your home country. It is important you complete any specific border permits for the state or territory you are entering.

In the document below, we are sharing all the requirements for each state and territory you need to meet. (Scroll through to get all the information).

Please note that this document gets updated regularly but as the situation regarding COVID-19 changes quickly we suggest you to click on the link for each state and territory to get up to date information.

We would love to hear from you which state or territory are you studying in 2022?



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