# ![](media/image1.png){width="1.625in" height="0.875in"}

# AUSTRALIA 

> **EducationUSA Advising Center**
>
> ![](media/image2.jpeg){width="1.5625in"
> height="0.7604166666666666in"}**U.S. Consulate General**
>
> **Level 59, MLC Centre**
>
> **19-29 Martin Place**
>
> **SYDNEY NSW 2000 Australia**
>
> **Tel: 61-2-9373-9230; Fax: 61-2-9221-0551**
>
> **E-mail: <edadvsyd@uunet.com.au>**

Web: <http://usembassy-astralia.state.gov/education>

EducationUSA Advising in Australia

The five EducationUSA Advising centers in Australia, located in
Canberra, Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth, were established in
1989. Each office is autonomous with oversight provided by the Office of
Public Affairs, U.S. Embassy, Canberra and funding (in part) from the
U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs.

Together the EducationUSA Centers serve a population of 20 million in a
country the same size as the continental U.S.   All centers are open
part time providing 60 hours of student advising a week.  A unique
feature of the EducationUSA network in Australia is that most advisers
are volunteers, several of whom have been involved with the network
since 1989.

The EducationUSA Centers provide advising through telephone, e-mail,
individual appointments and group information programs (such as
predeparture orientations) as well as outreach activities at high
schools and universities, with the aim of strengthen students'
applications and assisting them in navigating the U.S. college admission
process The majority of inquiries relate to undergraduate and graduate
study options, financial assistance, admissions tests and sports
scholarship opportunities. 

In 2002 the five U.S. centers formed *Team Australia* with the goal to
make the centers more efficient, effective, consistent and coordinated
across Australia, though the sharing of resources, knowledge, and
skills. 

In 2003 EducationUSA Australia received the ETS Excellence Award for
Overseas Educational Advising Centers. The award recognized the Centers
outstanding and innovative initiatives and the important role it plays
in the field of international educational exchange in Australia.

Australian Students in the U.S.

In academic year 2005/06, there were 2,806 students from Australia
studying in the United States (up 5.5 % from the previous year).

-   **Academic Level.** The majority of Australian students study at the
    undergraduate level. In 2005/06, their breakdown was as follows:

> 34.6% graduate students
>
> 49.6% undergraduate

15.8% other

**Historical trends.**

+-------------------+-----------------------+-------------------------+
| **Year**          | **\# of Students**    | **\# of US Study Abroad |
|                   |                       | Students Going to       |
|                   | **From Australia**    | Australia**             |
+-------------------+-----------------------+-------------------------+
| 2005/06           | 2,806                 | n/a                     |
+-------------------+-----------------------+-------------------------+
| 2004/05           | 2,659                 | 10,816 (down 5.3%)      |
+-------------------+-----------------------+-------------------------+
| 2003/04           | 2,706                 | 11,418                  |
+-------------------+-----------------------+-------------------------+
| 2002/03           | 2,777                 | 10,691                  |
+-------------------+-----------------------+-------------------------+
| 2001/02           | 2,707                 | 9,456                   |
+-------------------+-----------------------+-------------------------+
| 2000/01           | 2,645                 | 8,066                   |
+-------------------+-----------------------+-------------------------+
| 1999/00           | 2,617                 | 6,329                   |
+-------------------+-----------------------+-------------------------+
| 1998/99           | 2,436                 | 5,368                   |
+-------------------+-----------------------+-------------------------+
| 1997/98           | 2,308                 | 4,355                   |
+-------------------+-----------------------+-------------------------+
| 1996/97           | 2,206                 | 3,870                   |
+-------------------+-----------------------+-------------------------+
| 1995/96           | 2,244                 | 3,313                   |
+-------------------+-----------------------+-------------------------+
| 1994/95           | 2,247                 | 3,346                   |
+-------------------+-----------------------+-------------------------+

Note: Study abroad figures in the Open Doors report reflect credit given
by U.S. campuses in the survey year to their students who studied abroad
in the academic year just completed, including the summer term. Study
abroad in 2005/06 will be reported in the 2006/07 Open Doors, once
credit is awarded by the home campus.

Source: ***Open Doors: Report on International Educational Exchange***,
published annually by IIE with support from the U.S. Department of
State\'s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs.

Australian Education System

Schooling in Australia starts with a preparatory year followed by 12
years of primary and secondary school. In the final year of secondary
school, Year 12, students prepare for a government-endorsed certificate
that is recognized for further study by all Australian universities and
vocational education and training institutions. This Senior Secondary
Certificate of Education, recognized for entry into many international
universities. The language of instruction in Australian educational
institutions is English

Education in Australia is primarily regulated by the individual state
governments. Generally education in Australia follows the three-tier
model which includes [Primary
education](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Primary_education) (Primary
Schools grades K-6), followed by [Secondary
education](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Secondary_education) (Secondary
Schools/High Schools grades 7-12) and [Tertiary
education](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tertiary_education)
(Universities and TAFE \[Technical And Further Education\] Colleges).

**School system**

Preschool education is commonly one year in length and is not
compulsory. School education is thirteen years and divided into:

• a preparatory year before Year 1: not compulsory but almost
universally undertaken

• primary schooling: six or seven years---Years 1-6 or 1-7

• secondary schooling: five or six years---Years 7-12 or 8-12

Children start in the preparatory year at around five years of age
although in some States the

starting age is closer to four years.

School education is compulsory until the age of 15 or 16. By this age,
students usually have

completed Year 9 but more commonly Year 10.

Education is compulsory up to an age specified by legislation; this age
varies from state to state but is generally 15-17, that is prior to
completing secondary education.

The academic year in Australia varies between states and institutions,
but generally runs from late January until mid-December for primary and
secondary schools and TAFE colleges, and from late February until
mid-November for universities.

**Universities**

Post-compulsory education is regulated within the [Australian
Qualifications
Framework](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Australian_Qualifications_Framework),
a unified system of national qualifications in schools, vocational
education and training ([TAFE](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TAFE)) and
the
[University](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Universities_in_Australia).
Higher education is a nationally-consistent system offered by
Australia's 39 universities and other accredited higher education
institutions which together provide programs that lead to the following
qualifications:

-   Diplomas

-   Advanced Diplomas and Associate degrees

-   Bachelor degrees (usually 3-year degrees)

-   Graduate Certificates and Diplomas

-   Master degrees

-   Doctoral degrees

In 2006 there were 270,000 international students undertaking education
and training courses at Australian schools, universities and vocational
institutions.

\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_

Helen Reidy

EducationUSA Advising Center

US Consulate General, Sydney

May 2007