2.1 Introduction to Melbourne, Australia
Introducing Australia
Many people have heard thing about Australia, the country surrounded by the Indian and Pacific oceans – perhaps the kangaroos and koalas, the summer weather, or even the outback or the beach culture. Shortly you will find out that Australia is a lot more. With almost 30% of its citizens born overseas, and the fact that over 200 languages are spoken in homes across the country, Australia’s population is one of the most diverse in the world, a fact celebrated across the country several times a year throughout many of the multicultural festivals. With over 600,000 international students in Australia right now, we warmly welcome you.
Australia is the sixth largest country in the world, although the population is a disproportionate 24 million. The vast majority of Australians live near the coast in one of the many towns or cities. With six states and two territories, Australia has 8 major cities, the most well-known being Melbourne and Sydney, but each state/territory capital has its own character and charm, leaving plenty of opportunities to explore the huge continent. Popular tourist attractions are the ancient Uluru, the snow fields of Victoria and the huge amount of wildlife parks and zoological gardens around the country.
Although a young country, Australia has a rich and fascinating indigenous history dating back tens of thousands of years. Around Australia you can see evidence of the proud, culture-rich legacies of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander nations and learn of their connection and relationship with others who came to Australia during the last millennium. Moreover, with such a proudly multicultural way of life, Australians are typically used to immersing themselves in the wide range of cultures readily available in pockets of ethnic communities in major urban centres, whether it be Chinese, Vietnamese, Italian, Greek or Middle-Eastern.
Australians are proud of their country and, most of all, wish to share it with everyone who honours us by visiting. We wish you a safe journey to your second home, and hope you enjoy staying here as much as we will enjoy hosting you.
Useful links:
Australian Government: International Students
Introducing Melbourne
Congratulations on choosing to live and study in the world’s most liveable city for the sixth year in a row. Melbourne is the capital city of the Australian state of Victoria and the second largest city in Australia. It is also one of the top ten safest cities in the world, according to Economist’s Safe Cities index 2015, and is renowned for its focus on high quality education and idyllic settings for sight-seeing.
Melbourne also has an international reputation for its community feel and cohesion, its café culture, and its title as the sporting capital of Australia. Additionally, Melburnians would say the city has a cultured, artistic atmosphere, enabling people to express themselves through art, music, theatre and fashion.
Melbourne does have unpredictable weather each day, but the average temperature is a comfortable 20¡C, providing ample temperate days to explore. This also means Melbourne is one of the most comfortable cities in Australia during the hotter months.
Useful links:
The City of Melbourne for International Students
Student Cities Australia - Melbourne