Area: Western Australia’s land surface takes up roughly one third of the area of the Australian continent. Put another way it would fit into China approximately four times, Western Europe once and is about twenty five times the size of South Korea.

Climate: With such a large area, climate varies significantly from north to south. Cool wet winters and moderate to hot dry summers are experienced around Perth and to the south

Terrain: a contrast of ancient, rugged hills, rich agricultural land, desert-like areas, magnificent timber forests, and spectacular coastline and beaches. 5 million hectares (equal to half the size of Japan), is protected and includes national and marine parks and forests, make up the landscape terrain of Western Australia.

Location: Perth was built on the banks of the Swan River which flows into a busy harbour at Fremantle. Suburbs stretch some 80km along the coast from north to south (fishing and water sports are popular and accessible) and east to the Darling Scarp. Many businesses, government offices and shops are situated in the central city. There are also large suburban business centres.

Population: Western Australia has a population of almost 2 million people, with more than two-thirds the total population living in Perth, and surrounding areas. Perth has a multicultural population, with people from many different countries, and of many religious and ethnic backgrounds.

The Indigenous people are thought to have been here for around fifty thousand years or more before the coming of the Europeans. Within the indigenous or aboriginal community groups, there are many different language groups, which range from one or two dialects to around eight. A lot of work is being done amongst the groups on recording and preservation of (by book or DVD) the ‘stories’ and language to be passed down to future generations and to other people. Make efforts to learn about the indigenous Australian culture during your time in Australia.

Economy: Western Australia has extensive and varied mineral deposits including iron ore, nickel, gold and aluminium. There are also offshore deposits of oil and gas. Agricultural exports include different types of animal meats, cereals, fruit and vegetables. Other important industries are international education, pearling, fishing, wine and eco-tourism.

Perth City: was built on the banks of the Swan River which flows into a busy shipping harbour at Fremantle. Suburbs stretch some 100km along the coast from north to south (fishing and water sports are popular and accessible) and east to the Darling Scarp. Many businesses, government offices and shops are situated in the central city. There are also large suburban business centres.

Australian Lifestyle
Australia has a relaxed lifestyle which many students find to their liking, especially for study. Depending on their home locality, students will assess Perth as – large, small, busy, sleepy, noisy, quiet, friendly, unfriendly, orderly, interesting, dull, boring, etc. Whatever your reaction, give yourself time to settle in and get used to your new surroundings.

Equality: In Australia women and men are generally treated as equals, regardless of income, financial or community standing. Homestay hosts, Landlords (or ladies), waitresses, taxi drivers, gardeners, cleaners or shop assistants are not inferior and do not have servant status. In fact, many students do some of these jobs to earn money while they study.

Status of Women: Australian women may seem more independent and assertive compared to those from some cultures and countries. This is a reflection of equality in our culture. Most Australian women expect to be treated as equals and will resent any suggestion that their status is different from men. However, it is still a tradition to extend certain courtesies to a woman in some matters.

Servants: There are very few servants in Australia. If you have been used to having servants to carry your luggage, wash your clothes, cook your meals, clean your rooms, and so on, you may find difficulties at first because, mostly, you will be expected to do these things for yourself. In Australia most people, including the wealthy, do their own dish-washing, dig their own gardens, even repair their own cars and paint their own houses. Household chores are usually shared amongst family members and children learn to be self-reliant in these matters.

Informality: Australians tend to be informal, both in dress and speech. Many Australians greet each other by using a first (given or Christian) name. Older people are usually addressed more formally. You may be surprised to hear some Australian students being very informal with lecturers and other people in authority. If you are uncertain how you should address some people, the simplest method is to start by being formal and to wait for the senior person to invite a more informal address.

Good Manners: Certain behaviours which are acceptable in your home country may be considered offensive in Australia. For example spitting in public, or in a washbasin used by others, may easily cause offense to those around you, as would coughing without covering your mouth. If you are uncertain of whether something may be considered offensive, your student advisor will be able to offer some guidance. Through being mindful not to offend others, you will have a more enjoyable stay in Australia.

Code of Dress: Casual and comfortable clothing is worn on all but a few formal occasions. There are very few occasions when a student would be required to dress formally. On campus, most students wear jeans or trousers, or dresses, skirts or shorts. Ties and jackets are very rarely worn outside of business and formal events. It is suggested that you wear clothing in which you feel comfortable. Fashion in Australia, particularly for students (both male and female) usually reflects trends of the moment and season. Where Western women’s fashion is minimal, this should by no means be interpreted to suggest sexual availability or ‘easiness’ of any kind.

Bargaining: is not normally accepted in Australian shops. The prices marked are the prices at which goods are sold. ‘Garage sales’ and ‘Swap Meets’ are opportunities for people to sell their unwanted household goods either at their home, or sometimes in local community car parks. Bargaining is acceptable in these circumstances and many students have purchase some useful household goods very cheaply this way.

Tipping: is not general practice and is by no means expected. However, a tip of no more than 15% might be appropriate and would be appreciated on an occasion when the service provided is exceptionally good, for example at a restaurant. Generally, employees receive high enough wages so that tips are not needed.

Gambling: In Australia, gambling is common, especially on horse races, lotteries and card games. Here, as in the rest of the world, it is much easier to lose money than to win. The Burswood Resort Casino is the only legal casino in Western Australia. The minimum age for entry to the Casino and TABs (gambling on horses) is eighteen. People attending illegal casinos and gambling houses run the risk of police arrest and prosecution.

Gambling when it becomes frequent, may result in large financial losses. Obviously, the stresses and worry of gambling can have a disastrous effect on study. Gambling is addictive for some people. They are unable to stop even though they continue to lose large amounts of money.

Alcohol: Many Australians drink alcoholic liquor such as beer, wines and spirits, particularly at social gatherings. However, many people chose not to drink alcohol for a number of reasons and it is most acceptable to ask for non-alcoholic drinks such as soft drink or fruit juice in these social settings. People under eighteen years of age are not permitted to buy alcoholic drinks and there are heavy penalties for those who drive a car while under the influence of alcohol. Drinking alcohol has become strongly associated with Australian culture and as a consequence, some people develop problems with alcohol. Drinking excessively and/or too frequently are examples of misuse of alcohol, which can have serious negative effects on health, personal safety, relationships, finances, and studies. Help is available for individuals who think they may have a problem with alcohol. See information provided further in this book.

Illicit Drugs: As with many countries, some young people choose to engage in recreational use of illicit drugs such as marijuana, ecstasy, cocaine, methamphetamine (ICE), and heroin. No drug is safe! All can have disastrous effects on health and personality, and can also be fatal. Most illicit substances are addictive, and much crime is committed by individuals with drug addictions desperate to get money to support their drug habit. Individuals found in possession of illicit drugs will be charged by police and may be sent to jail or deported and disallowed re-entry into Australia. If you know somebody whose use of illicit drugs concerns you, you may want to put them in contact with some of the support and help available, mentioned further on in this book.

Keeping Appointments: To be "on time for an appointment" is regarded as important in Australian culture. When you are invited to attend an Australian function, make sure that you ask what time you should arrive and try to be there at that time. For a business or study appointment, it is worth arriving a few minutes early. Always make sure that you have clear directions to get to the place of your appointment, and allow a little extra time to get there.

Invitations: If you say 'yes' to an invitation it is seen as impolite if you fail to keep the appointment. It is quite acceptable to refuse an invitation. You can make your refusal polite by giving an appropriate reason (e.g. that you are too busy with exams, have another appointment, etc.). If for some reason you are unable to keep an appointment which you have arranged, you should contact your hosts and let them know before the day if possible.

If you are invited to a party and asked to "bring a plate", this means that you are expected to take along a plate of food which can be shared with the food brought by other guests. "BYO" on an invitation, stands for "Bring your own". This may include bringing your own drink as well as your own food.

Meals: Most Australians have three meals a day: breakfast at around 7-8 a.m., lunch around 12 noon - 1 p.m. and an evening meal at around 6-8 p.m. If you are invited to an Australian home for a meal, you can generally expect to eat your meal with a knife, fork and spoon; although these days with such a multi-cultural population, you could expect to eat different foods in many different ways.

Conversation: Try not to worry if at first you are not fluent in the English language. If people speak too fast, ask them to speak a little more slowly. The more you speak English, the more fluent you will become.

Some questions are not normally asked in Australia unless you know the person very well or you are related to them. Questions relating to age, income and personal wealth are not usually asked of people. If you would like to know the cost of a particular item, ask the question in a non-personal way. For example, you could say "How much does the average house cost in Perth?" or, "What is the average wage in Australia today?" This type of question is quite acceptable and will not cause embarrassment.

Relationships: Those who come from other countries with different traditions need to bear in mind that young people in this country have grown up accustomed to informality in social settings. Australian customs may be different from yours and may take some time for you to understand. Students and other young people often go out in mixed groups or with girlfriends or boyfriends without their parents.

Bullying & Harassment: In Australia nobody has to tolerate being harassed, unfairly intimidated or bullied in any social, sporting or academic setting. If you experience this type of treatment, where you feel you are the target of bullying, teasing, or other form of harassment you should go immediately to the Equity Officer or Student Adviser on your campus (who will treat this matter in confidence) and ask for help in dealing with the situation.