Austraalia

Area:	7,686,850 sq km
Population:	19,546,792
Capital:	Canberra
Language:	English, Aboriginal languages
Currancy:	Australian Dollar
Religion:	Anglican (26,1%), Roman Catholic (26%), Other Christian (24,3%) non-Christian (11%)
YFU Australia`s web adress:	www.yfu.com.au

Introduction

There’s nowhere like Australia. Most people harbor a particular image of Australia, such as the Opera House or blood-red Uluru (Ayers Rock). Yet these famous icons do scant justice to the richness of Australia's natural treasures and its cultural diversity. Australia offers a wealth of travel experiences, from the vastness and drama of the outback, to the spectacle of the Great Barrier Reef and its islands, the cosmopolitanism of Sydney and arguably some of the best beaches in the world.

Short Facts

Area: At 7,686,850 sq. km, Australia is about the same size as the mainland United States, making it the world’s smallest continent as well as its largest island. Almost 70% of its land mass lies below the Tropic of Capricorn. The Australian coastline, including the island of Tasmania, runs for 36,735 km.The western half of Australia is occupied by a desert plateau that rises into barren, rolling hills near the west coast. It includes the Great Victoria Desert to the south and the Great Sandy Desert to the north. The Great Barrier Reef, extending about 2,000 km and lies along the northeast coast.

Climate: Summers (December to March) are warm to very hot. Average summer temperatures range from 35 °C (95 °F) to 11 °C (52 °F). Winter (June to September) brings good snowfalls in the mountainous areas of Victoria and New South Wales. The coastal areas rarely get very cold, even in winter. Average winter temperatures range from 12 °C (53 °F) to 2 °C (35 °F). Queensland enjoys year-round warm weather.

Population: Australia has approximately 19.3 million people. The personality of the Australian is born out of two major historical influences: First, there is the Anglo-Saxon convinct mentality—many of the population’s forbears were transported to Australia for crimes as serious as stealing a loaf of bread. They, and generations that followed, bore grudges toward the ruling classes that even to this day have not entirely disappeared. Second, during the 1950’s and 1960’s, what is now almost 40% of Australia’s current population immigrated from mainly European countries. In recent years, considerable immigration from Asia and the Pacific has enriched the Australian character.

Language: Much has been written about the differences between British English and American English. Nothing quite matches Australian English for its lively colorful phrases. Some words and expressions are quite naturally taken from British slang. Some words have completely different meanings in Australia than in Anglophone countries north of the Equator. A number of commonly-used words have been shortened considerably. Other words are indigenous to Australia and derived from Aboriginal terms, such as "boomerang” and "kangaroo". In general, however, the wonderful slang of Australian English has developed primarily because Australians take English as a game to be played, and they love to have fun with it. Some of the words and expressions are readily understandable but others can be incredibly obscure in their meanings and derivations.

Religion: Australians believe in freedom of worship and come from a variety of cultural and religious backgrounds. However, 75% are Christians, mostly Anglicans and other Protestants, Roman Catholics, and members of the Greek Orthodox church. Synagogues and mosques can also be found in major centers.

Government: Australia is an independent, self-governing member of the British Commonwealth and recognizes the British Monarch as its symbolic head. Australia enjoys a democratic system of government. Anyone over the age of 18 is required to vote during federal or state elections.

History: The first inhabitants of Australia were the Aborigines, who migrated there at least 40,000 years ago from Southeast Asia. At the time of European settlement, there may have been between a half to a full million Aborigines. Today, there are about 350,000. Dutch, Portuguese, and Spanish ships located Australia in the early 17th century. The Dutch landed there as early as 1606 and the area around where they stayed became known as New Holland. The British did not arrive until 1688. After Captain James Cook’s voyage in 1770, Great Britain claimed Australia as a colony, calling it New South Wales. A British penal colony was set up at Port Jackson (what is now Sydney) in 1788 and 161,000 transported convicts were settled there until the system was suspended in 1839. Convict labor produced crops and supply materials for England. Many convicts who completed their sentences chose to stay as farmers and laborers. Free settlers came gradually, attracted by cheap land and convict labor. Explorers opened up new country in all directions. Gold and copper discoveries during the 1850s brought a fresh influx of immigrants from Europe, China, and America. Australia was declared a Commonwealth in 1901 and government assistance in immigration to Australia increased. Today, Australia is a cosmopolitan country with many “dinky di Aussies” (born and raised in Australia) tracing their origins to Europe, Asia, or the Middle East.

Economy: Australia has a diverse economy, with major growth in the services sector, including tourism, retail, community services, construction, transport, communications, financial services, and defense. Manufacturing has grown rapidly in the last decade, ranging from electronics, plastics, and appliances to fashion and food. Australian exports, however, stem mostly from the rural and mining industries.

Education: Australians place great emphasis on education and it is compulsory for children to attend school between the ages of 5-15. Schooling is at two levels. Primary school, attended by children aged 5- 11, teaches basic literacy, arithmetic, social studies, music, sports and creative activities. Secondary school, for 12-18-year olds, offers a range of subjects that must include English and a mathematics or science subject. The wearing of uniforms is compulsory in the majority of schools, and as Australian standards of education are quite high, all students are encouraged to excel. Poor academic performance is not tolerated.

Family life: Most Australian families are homeowners. Both parents normally work and all family members are expected to assist with household chores. Politeness and family involvement are important. Curfews vary from family to family. Australian parents tend to be involved in their children’s sporting activities, often accompanying them to their various venues.

Meals: Australia has numerous specialty and exotic dishes. Seafood is abundant, including rock oysters, barramundi (freshwater fish), tiger prawns, macadamia nuts, yabbies (freshwater lobsters), and fish and chips. Beef is the most popular meat, and lamb is also of high quality. Emu and kangaroo burgers are also available. Being a country of immigrants, Australia offers an enormous variety of cuisine: Italian, French, Greek, Spanish, Chinese, Vietnamese, Malaysian, Thai, Japanese, and Indian, to name just a few.

Recreation: Australians are often accused of being sports crazy and it is true! With a pleasant climate and plenty of wide open spaces, it is not surprising that inhabitants like to take advantage of an outdoor lifestyle. Throughout Australia, approximately 30% of the population are members of a sporting organization and many others enjoy sports without belonging to a club. Most Australian school children play a sport. Football (Australian Rules and European) is the major winter sport for boys, as is Netball for girls. Tennis and cricket take precedence during the summer months. Water sports are also very popular.

YFU Australia

Throughout its short history, YFU Australia has maintained a relatively small staff, and its growth and continuing success reflect the commitment and quality of effort of its dedicated volunteers.

Exchanges with: Argentina, Benelux, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Italy, Japan, Korea, Norway, Paraguay, Sweden, Switzerland, the USA, Uruguay, and Venezuela.

Host families and placement: Host families are available in both country and suburban locations with many students living on farms and cattle stations, as well as in coastal and inland areas. Most families have pets and live an outdoor life.

Exchange activities for inbound students: Year and semester students arrive in mid-January. Arriving in Julyb is also an option for students from the Northern Hemisphere. Within three weeks of arrival, they attend an arrival orientation. Special language orientations are held for students requiring additional language experience. Eight weeks after arrival, students and host families attend a post-arrival orientation. Four to six weeks prior to departure, students attend re-entry orientation. All orientations are held on a regional basis. Each year, YFU volunteers arrange two 19-day Outback Adventure Tours called Safari, touring Central Australia, the Great Barrier Reef and the east coast. The Safari for long term and semester students coincides with Easter break. This tour is optional and those wishing to take part must cover the cost. Short term program students take part in a three-week home-stay and go on their own Safari in July, which is included in the program fee.