Ozi Lifestyle

Australian Schools

Schooling is compulsory in Australia for children between the ages of 5 and 15. So if your child is within this age bracket you must enrol them into a school. Australia offers government and non-government schools, where some schools are co-educational teaching boys and girls, and other schools are single gendered teaching girls only or boys only.

Education in Australia is the responsibility of each State. There is a national curriculum framework in place to ensure high academic standards across the country. Subjects are taught in the eight key learning areas: English, mathematics, studies of the society and the environment, science, arts, Languages Other Than English, technology, and personal development, health and physical education. Hence the standard of education is equal between all the States, but there are some small difference in terms of final year examinations methods and assessments, and the age students start schooling.

If your child has difficulty speaking English, don’t worry, because schools have English language programs for international students in order to support their studies. There are also dedicated Special Needs schools, and some schools offer a special needs education program within the mainstream school to cater for those students with learning difficulties.

A good way to find a school suitable for your child is via the free online school directories: www.australianschoolsdirectory.com.au or www.privateschoolsdirectory.com.au

Driving in Australia

Finally in order to sort out your drivers license you will need to apply for an Australian drivers license. You are allowed to drive using a license from another country for the first 3 months of being in the country, but after this you will need an official Australian Drivers license. This must be carried out in the state where you take up residence and must be transferred if you wish to move interstate. It requires undergoing a practical test, a knowledge test and an eyesight test. There is a cost only for doing the practical test. These tests differ for each State, so it is advisable to obtain the learners booklet applicable to your State of residence. 

Once you have obtained your drivers license it is important to note that traffic regulations and drink driving laws in Australia as they are extremely strict. The Demerit Points System is a national program that allocates penalty points (demerits) for a range of driving offences. So make sure you know the laws and regulations before you start driving around the streets of Australia. 

Listed below are some driving laws that are important:

• Drivers must stay under the 0.05% limit (0.05 Blood Alcohol Concentration)

• For men – no more than two standard drinks in the first hour and no more than one stand drink every hour after that

• For women – no more that one standard drink in the first hour and no more than one every hour after that

• Random Breath Tests (RBT’s) for alcohol are held regularly, at any place and at any time, and the results are non-negotiable

• Slower speed limits in general areas, including 40km limits in school zones

• Pedestrians at a pedestrian crossing have the right of way

• Buses have the right of way over all vehicles. So you are required to let a bus into the lane if it is ahead of you

• All passengers in any vehicle must wear a seatbelt – this rule is strictly enforced

• Talking on a mobile phone whilst driving is prohibited

• Children riding bicycles must wear their helmets all times

• Parking in a ‘disabled/wheelchair’ parking without a permit carries heavy penalties

It may also be important to note that there is an annual payment required for your Australian drivers license. 

Public Transport

Public transport is transport that is owned by someone else, and so you must pay to use it for a set journey/destination. It is usually the easiest and best way to get around, as it is easy to find and to access, and is at a good price. 

It includes busses, trains, trams and even ferries. Many of the major cities have a ‘one ticket’ pass that allows travel all day. Additionally most of the major cities offer the convenience of a free service tram or tourist bus which you can hop on and off around the city