People and Society of Australia

Nationality

noun: Australian(s) adjective: Australian

Ethnic Groups

English 33%, Australian 29.9%, Irish 9.5%, Scottish 8.6%, Chinese 5.5%, Italian 4.4%, German 4%, Indian 3.1%, Australian Aboriginal 2.9%, Greek 1.7%, unspecified 4.7%

Population

21,515,754

Population (Male / Female)

male: 13,305,110 female: 13,463,488

Population Distribution

population is primarily located on the periphery, with the highest concentration of people residing in the east and southeast; a secondary population center is located in and around Perth in the west; of the States and Territories, New South Wales has, by far, the largest population; the interior, or "outback", has a very sparse population

Urban Population

urban population: 86.6% of total population rate of urbanization: 1.27% annual rate of change note: data include Christmas Island, Cocos Islands, and Norfolk Island

Population in Major Urban Areas

5.235 million Melbourne, 5.121 million Sydney, 2.505 million Brisbane, 2.118 million Perth, 1.367 million Adelaide, 472,000 CANBERRA (capital)

Age Structure

0-14 years: 18.3% (male 2,526,772/female 2,369,425) 15-64 years: 64.7% (male 8,688,023/female 8,640,671) 65 years and over: 17% (male 2,090,315/female 2,453,392)

Median Age

total: 38.1 years male: 36.9 years female: 39.2 years

Sex Ratio at Birth

at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.07 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.85 male(s)/female total population: 0.99 male(s)/female

Excellent medical care is available in Australia. Serious medical problems requiring hospitalization and/or medical evacuation to the United States can cost tens of thousands of dollars. Most doctors and hospitals expect immediate cash/credit card payments for health services. We recommend travel insurance.

Life Expectancy at Birth

total population: 83.5 years male: 81.3 years female: 85.7 years

Infant Mortality Rate

total: 2.9 deaths/1,000 live births male: 3.2 deaths/1,000 live births female: 2.7 deaths/1,000 live births

Drinking Water Source

improved: urban: 100% of population rural: 100% of population total: 100% of population

Sanitation Facility Access

improved: 100% of population

Tobacco Use

total: 13.6% male: 15.6% female: 11.5%

Alcohol Consumption

total: 9.51 liters of pure alcohol beer: 3.71 liters of pure alcohol wine: 3.67 liters of pure alcohol spirits: 1.32 liters of pure alcohol other alcohols: 0.81 liters of pure alcohol

Literacy Definition

Age 15 and over can read and write

Total School Life Expectancy

total: 21 years male: 20 years female: 22 years

Classroom

Education is a priority in Australia and is regulated by each state or territory. The teaching tends to be interactive and challenging, with much student participation. The schools place much emphasis on technology, ensuring access for students and teachers to multimedia materials, Internet access, and general computer usage. An average school lunch costs no more than US$3-4. Traditional lunches include meat pies, sausage rolls, and hotdogs, although health-conscious menus are tending more toward foods such as sushi, noodles with vegetables, sandwiches, and watermelon slices. School lunch shops are run by the Parents and Citizens’ Association, whose volunteers create menus and prepare the food.

Education Culture

Australia offers two general types of schools: government and private. Government schools provide “free” education to the children, but families and others are encouraged to make donations to enhance what each school has to offer in both its curriculum and its extracurricular activities. Private schools charge tuition fees that range widely and are often founded on alternative educational philosophies, including religious ones. Though there is some diversity between states and territories concerning the school year, most follow a general calendar of four terms with breaks in between called holidays. The longest holiday extends over Christmas, which is the major summer holiday, and usually lasts for five or more weeks. Children are required to attend school in Australia until age 15. Preschool, which is offered beginning at age 3, is not obligatory. Attendance is usually not very high until the year before entering primary school, which serves as a preparatory year. Most children participate in that year. Primary school, which covers ages 6 to 12 or 13, is mandatory. This is followed by secondary school, from ages 12 or 13 to 17 or 18, depending on the regulations of the local state or territory.

Learning

Australian schools are rigorous and expect their students to work hard in school. Most school days begin at about 9:00 a.m. and run until 3:00 or 3:30 in the afternoon, Monday through Friday. Most Australian schools require their students to wear a conservative uniform, determined by a local school council. Nearly all elementary schools will teach the core subjects of mathematics, science, arts, technology, languages, and English. Education is demanding, and most students understand that they will have a significant amount of homework regularly. Although the last two years of secondary school are not required, they do play a significant role in preparing students who desire to attend a university or advance towards a specific career. During those years, students will focus their studies on particular disciplines such as digital media, agriculture, performing arts, or applied mathematics rather than being required to study general topics. Approximately 99% of all students complete the mandatory first 10 years of school and earn a School Leaving Certificate, with slightly over 70% continuing on to finish the final two years offered.

To School

Children usually take public transportation to and from school. Unlike North American schools, there is no bus system dedicated solely to the schools, but public transportation supports the needs of students, as regulated by each state.

• Anglican26.1%
• Roman Catholic26.0%
• other Christian24.3%
• other12.6%
• non-Christian11.0%

English, native languages

English 72%, Mandarin 2.7%, Arabic 1.4%, Vietnamese 1.3%, Cantonese 1.2%, other 15.7%, unspecified 5.7%

• English

• Sir Edmund Barton

• Captain James Cook

• SIR EDWARD "WEARY" DUNLOP

• Sir John Eccles

• Annie Dorrington

• Betty Cuthbert

• John Cornforth

• Sir Marcus Laurence E. Oliphant

• Matthew Flinders

• Howard Walter Florey

• Arthur Phillip

• Pamela Lyndon (P.L.) Travers

  Author · 1899

  Pamela Lyndon (P.L.) Travers, the author of Mary Poppins series, was born Helen Lyndon Goff in Maryborough, Queensland, on 9th August, 1899.

Crime Information

Although U.S citizens are not specifically targeted for crime, travelers should be aware that robberies, burglaries, assault, and auto theft are common in Australia’s larger cities. Weapons are increasingly used in such crimes, which also may be associated with drug trafficking, gang activities, and drug or alcohol usage. Foreign visitors in popular tourist areas are targets for pickpockets, purse-snatchers, and petty thieves. Be careful when consuming alcohol with unfamiliar people, as drink spiking can occur; appropriate security precautions should be taken, especially at night, to avoid becoming a target of opportunity. Do not buy counterfeit and pirated goods, even if they are widely available. Not only are the bootlegs illegal in the United States, but if you purchase them you may also be breaking local law.

Criminal Penalties

While you are traveling in Australia, you are subject to its laws even if you are a U.S. citizen. Foreign laws and legal systems can be vastly different than our own. You may be taken in for questioning if you don’t have your passport with you. In some places, it is illegal to take pictures of certain buildings, such as inside certain areas of Australian airports, near prisons, and at military bases. If you break local laws, your U.S. passport won’t help. It’s very important to know what’s legal and what’s not where you are going. In Australia, driving under the influence could land you immediately in jail. If you violate Australian laws, even unknowingly, you may be expelled, arrested, or imprisoned. There are also some things that might be legal in the country you visit, but still illegal in the United States. You can be prosecuted under U.S. law if you buy pirated goods. Engaging in sexual conduct with children or using or disseminating child pornography in a foreign country is a crime prosecutable in the United States. If you break local laws in Australia, your U.S. passport won’t help you avoid arrest or prosecution. Penalties for possessing, using, or trafficking illegal drugs in Australia are severe, and convicted offenders can expect long jail sentences and heavy fines. Please be aware that all objectionable material is subject to declaration and inspection and may be illegal in Australia. Objectionable material includes child pornography, bestiality, explicit sexual violence, and graphic degradation, as well as terrorism-related material and anything providing instruction in or encouraging drug use, crime, or violence. It’s very important to know what’s legal and what’s not wherever you go. While some countries will automatically notify the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate if a U.S. citizen is detained or arrested in a foreign country, that might not always be the case. To ensure that the United States is aware of your circumstances, request that the police and prison officials notify the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate as soon as you are arrested or detained overseas.