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41 things about Australia

41 things you probably didn’t know about Australia

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41 things you didn't know about Australia

Australia is a country full of surprises. You can be amazed at the people, landscape, animals and everything around you.  We have researched some amazing things that might get you surprised about Australia. Let’s check them out.

  1. Kangaroo and Emu are on Coat of Arms as both animals can only move forward not backwards which is why they were chosen
  2. Australians love eating Kangaroo meat
  3. Australia is one of the most multicultural society in the world
  4. More than 85% of the Australian population live near the coast
  5. Australia’s first police force was made up of well behaved criminals
  6. Australia is almost similar in size to the United States
  7. Canberra, Australia’s capital city, was created as people couldn’t decide whether Melbourne  or Sydney is a capital.
  8. Australia has nearly 3 times more sheeps than people in the country
  9. Australian Alps get more snow than Switzerland

  10. Tasmania has the cleanest air in the world
  11. Australia has one of lowest density of population in the world. In Fact, there are only 3 people per square kilometer.
  12. The official name of Australia is Commonwealth of Australia
  13. Australian population is just 25 million people but there are 60 million kangaroos in the country
  14. Mount Augustus in Western Australia is the largest rock on earth rising 715m from the ground level. Although most of the people believe that Uluru is the largest rock in the world but it’s not.
  15. Great barrier reef is world’s largest reef system and it is made up of 2900 different reefs and spreads over 2300 kilometres
  16. You can find over 1,500 species of spiders in Australia and some of them has very dangerous venom
  17. Melbourne has been named as the most liveable city for seven years in row since 2011
  18. Melbourne used to be known as Batmania before it was named as Melbourne
  19. Former Australian Prime Minister, Bob Hawke, set the world record of drinking 2.5 pints of beers in 11 seconds.
  20. Ugg boots were originated in Australia and named after the inventor’s wife said they look “Ugg-ly”
  21. Australia has the longest railway track measuring 480 kilometres, longest road measuring 146 kilometres, longest golf course measuring 1.3 million metres and the longest fence covering 5400 kilometres
  22. World’s happiest animal is Quokka’s found in Western Australia 
  23. Australians love playing Poker and is home to 20% of the world’s Pokie machines
  24. Australians have proudly invented Wi-Fi, blackbox, notepad and even selfies
  25. According to the research by University of Sydney, there are 10,685 beaches in Australia
  26. Boomerangs were invented by Aboriginals for hunting animals
  27. 95% of world’s Opals (gemstone) comes from Australia
  28. Australia is ranked 55th in the world for the Internet speed with an average speed of 25.88 Megabits per second (Mbps)
  29. Dutch explorers were the first one to discover Australia in 1600’s. But it was British, Captain James Cook who claimed the island for Britain in 1788
  30. Foster’s Beer brand is not the Australian choice of Beer as Australians prefer other brands
  31. Australia is home to world’s second largest Greek population after Greece
  32. Australia has the highest number of natural world heritage sites
  33. Australia was the second country in the world to give a voting rights to women after New Zealand
  34. Fraser island is the largest sand island in the world
  35. Australia has it’s very own pink lake known as Lake Hillier in Western Australia 



  36. The largest number of camels in the world are not in the middle east but in Australia. It is estimated to be home to 300,000 Feral camels.
  37. Jellyfish is the  biggest threat to human life as it kills more people than sharks, stonefish and crocodiles combined
  38. “Burger King” is known as “Hungry Jack’s” in Australia
  39. In Victoria, there is a mountain named as Mount Disappointment after the explorers found the view very average from the top
  40. In 1975, Australia had a government shutdown and Queen intervened and she fired everyone from the parliament, Australia never has any government shutdown after that
  41. If you are Australian citizen, then you must come to vote, otherwise you will get a fine for a no show

How many of these things did you knew about it already? Let us know in the comments below.

 

 



10 work etiquettes in Australia - un

10 Work Etiquette That Will Help You Go Long Way in Your Job

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Australia provides a great opportunity for international students to study and work at the same time which not only helps to earn some extra money but helps in gaining some valuable work experience as well. But, there are some etiquette that must be follow.

Here are 10 of them:

1. Always come on time to work.

Late comers behaviour is not usually acceptable. But if you are running late, you must inform your manager about it as soon as possible. The same rule applies when attending business meetings.  

    2. Shake hands

    When you are meeting someone. It is perfectly fine to shake hands with elder people as well. Australians usually prefer firm handshake. 

    3. Have a fun but stay within limits

    Although, humor (banter) generally is part of the workplace culture. Workplace jokes that can be considered as racial, discriminatory an offensive should be avoided at all costs.

    4. Respect your boss

    But treat them equal to yourself. Australian workplaces generally tend to have less rigid organisational structures. Also, treat everyone the way you want to be treated.

    5. Respect personal space

    Keep a minimum distance when talking with your work colleagues. Coming too close can be uncomfortable for your colleagues.

    6. Minimal Directions

    Your boss or manager or supervisor might give you minimal directions on how to complete a task. If that’s the case and you are unsure, then you must look for clarification before starting a task.

    7. Eye Contact

    Having a good eye contact while conversation is very important for Australians. So make sure to look into the eyes of the person while talking, otherwise they may think that you are hiding something or not interested in talking.

    8. Be Social During Breaks

    Phone calls, text messages, social media chats can only be done during your break times. These things are usually not welcomed during the working hours. It is a very good idea to keep your phone on silent mode during work.

    9. Make “Please” and “Thank You”

    Saying “Please” and “Thank You” is a very common in Australian workplace culture. If someone has helped you in something then they would at least expect you to thank them. Also, if something went wrong then be sure to apologise.

    10. Business Cards Not that Common

    If you meet someone for work purpose, they may not give you a business card as it is becoming less common to exchange business cards in Australia. Don’t be surprised if you don’t get a business card when meeting someone as the person may not have a business card.

    Please note: You can work up to 48 hours per fortnight as per the Department of Home Affairs website.

     



    Scholarship Steps for Students - un

    List of government and university scholarships for international students

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    After learning about how to get a scholarship in Australia in the previous blog post. This blog post will focus on the comprehensive list of the government and university scholarships for international students in Australia.

    Some of the benefits that international students can receive from these scholarships include:

    • Tuition Fee Waiver or reduction in Tuition Fee
    • Airfare expenses
    • Establishment expenses
    • Health Cover (Overseas Students Health Cover)
    • Living Expenses
    • Additional academic support
    • Pre-course English fees
    • Fieldwork costs (for research students)

    Click on the links to learn more about the scholarships. Please note that these links will bring you directly to the scholarship page of the providers.

    Australian Government Funded Scholarships

     

    Australian University Specific Scholarships (State/Territory)

     

    ACT – (Australian Capital Territory)

     

    NSW – (New South Wales)

    NT – (Northern Territory)

    QLD – (Queensland)

     

    SA – (South Australia)

     

    TAS – (Tasmania)

    VIC -(Victoria)

     

    WA – (Western Australia)

     

    Did you find the relevant scholarship for yourself through these links? Let us know in the comments section. If you find any links that are broken or not working then you can get in touch with us via the contact form on our website.

     



    Scholarship Steps in Australia

    How to get a scholarship to study in Australia? Explained in 6 steps

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    How to get a scholarship for your study in Australia? (With free checklist)

    One of the key questions that we get asked quite often by international students community is “How to get a scholarship to study in Australia?”

    Did you know that your tuition fees, health cover (OSHC), airfares and living expenses can be paid as scholarships if you are eligible to apply? It’s not a dream but a reality that many students who apply for studying in Australia live.

    In 2018 itself, the Australian government has given scholarships worth $320 million to students coming from over 60 developing countries.

    Getting a scholarship is not only rewarding for your career but also helps in paying your expenses which may also mean that you may not have to work and you can focus more on your studies.

    But getting a scholarship requires planning and preparation in advance. Here are some steps that we suggest you follow if you are interested in knowing how to get a scholarship to study in Australia.

    Step 1 – Research

    Research yourself about the college/ university and lookup for scholarships page of the website to find the currently available scholarships for the international students.

    Scholarships are offered not only by the Australian government but also by universities, colleges, international organisations, and your home country governments as well. So make sure to research all your scholarship options before applying for study in Australia.

    Also, make sure to select the criteria that meet international students only as lots of universities will have scholarships available for local students only. So filter out all the scholarships that do not meet requirements for international students

    Step 2 – Check your eligibility

    There are many factors that will play an important role when applying for a scholarship. There is also no rule of Thumb that these are the only factors that play a role in scoring a scholarship or not. Some of the factors that might impact your eligibility includes:

    • Your academic record
    • Your TOEFL or IELTS or PTE scores
    • Your country of origin
    • Your financial situation
    • Area of Study

    While some of the scholarships are easy to apply, many of them that will require students to submit lots of documents before applying for a scholarships. So it is better to check your eligibility as it will save you and others lots of time.

    Step 3 – Ask your student agent or councilor

    Ask your study agent or Councillor about the possible scholarship in your preferred institution/s. Most of the students like to apply their visa through a registered migration agent or study councilor.

    It is advisable to ask them before they apply for your offer letter for a particular university or college as most of the institutions like to offer scholarships at that particular point of your application. You can apply for multiple scholarships at the same time, so don’t miss an opportunity there.

    The secret here is to apply for as many scholarships as you can as there is no limit to how many institutions or scholarships you can apply.  Also, ask if there is a possibility of getting even a reduction in fee as some universities will assess all international students for some scholarships.

    Step 4 – Australia Awards Website

    Lookup for Australia Awards website, an Australian Government scholarship for the students in need and see if your country has eligibility for applying for an Australian Government sponsored scholarship. Also lookup for the opening and closing dates and how to apply for the scholarship.

    You will need to make yourself familiar with the Scholarships Policy Handbook. After finding that information, you will need to apply for the scholarship online at https://oasis.dfat.gov.au/. If you can’t submit your application online then you can also submit the application in a hard copy via mail.

    Please note: If you apply for the Apply for Australia Award, you will need to return back home after studies and students who are intending to migrate permanently can’t apply for this scholarship.

    Step 5 – Ask for help

    It is vital that your scholarship application is free from any spelling errors, grammar mistakes, lack of details or bad presentation. So if you are unsure, always ask someone who can have a final look at the scholarship application before applying.

    If possible, ask your student agent or councillor, teachers or anyone who has a good command over the English language to check all the details like spellings, grammar, punctuation and the application details including word limits.

    To help you with this, we have prepared a handy checklist for scholarship application here:

    Step 6 – Don’t give up

    Even if you didn’t get any scholarship at your application or offer letter, don’t be discouraged. Lots of universities and colleges in Australia also provide scholarships if you do well in the first and the second term of your studies.

    So make sure to do your best in your studies and find out if your prospective university or institution has such arrangements.

    We hope these tips help you in scoring an Australian scholarship for your studies. Let us know in the comments about your experience with the scholarship experience. Also, we suggest you should check the list of all scholarships available to international students in our next blog.

     



    Flu Season in Australia

    6 important tips to help you get through the flu

    Flu season is upon us and as an International Student by yourself in Australia, it is very important to look after yourself. There may be a chance that you get caught out with the Flu. In case you do fall in sick with that, here we are bringing some tips that might help to recover from it.

    1. Flu Shot

    Get yourself a Flu Shot before you get sick (the obvious start) – The first one is so obvious but not every international student think that it is important to get a Flu shot. Some students think that it is an expensive to get a Flu shot but most of the students don’t know that OSHC insurance might cover the cost of the Flu shot but even if it is not covered the cost of Flu shot is usually around $20 to $40 which is much better than getting sick and missing out on your study, work and life.

     2. Fluids

    Drink lots of Fluids like juices, water and keep yourself hydrated – Dehydration due to Flu , cough and cold is the common problem. It is very important to keep yourself hydrated if you catch the flu. Make yourself friends with water, juices, vitamin drinks and fluids to help yourself keep going. If your urine is dark in colour, you need to drink more water. At least drink 1 glass of water per hour while you are awake.

     3. Get Rest 

    Plenty of sleep and a good rest is the most important thing to cure your flu. Sleeping of 7 to 8 hours in the night and some more during the day time. Also, try to avoid using phones, watching TV and computers. Avoid going to work or school as you may even pass the virus to the others.

     4. Steam 

    Steam does help to decongest your mucus and in reducing the inflammation. You can buy yourself a steamer or if that sounds expensive than, just fill the bathroom sink in a hot steamy water, add 1 tablespoon of menthol rub and breathe in the steam. This will help in opening up the congested chest, nose and airways.

     5. Eat well 

    It is recommended to eat well and healthy during the flu time. Don’t starve yourself and don’t eat too much either. A balanced diet of porridge, soups and light foods will help to control the virus in the body. Avoid greasy, fried, spicy and outside food and try go light on your tummy. Also increase the intake of green vegetables, mushrooms, onions and berries.

     6. Vitamin C 

    Vitamin C is linked to our immunity. Add an extra dose of Vitamin C in your diet, whether in form of liquids or tablets or fruits. Lemons, oranges and limes, the citrus fruits are good, but lemons are actually the best source. You can also use supplements to increase the Vitamin C diet for your body.

     What are your tips for getting over the Flu? Leave your comments below.

     



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