School is compulsory until the age of 15 and the language of instruction is English. It should be noted that there is a private school system (fees payable) and a public school system (no fees or minimal fees payable). Jewish schools are part of the private school system.

Several English language programs cater for adults and children with varying competency levels. For children, there are a number of programs within the school system. The government's "English as a second language - new arrivals" scheme assists primary and secondary school students who require intensive language tuition. The Adult English Migration Program (AMEP) consists of morning and evening classes of 510 hours of English instruction.
More at www.immi.gov.au/living-in-australia/help-with-english/amep

The Australian Government operates an Overseas Student Program (OSP) for all non- Australian citizens and permanent residents who wish to study in Australia. Student visas are only granted to those undertaking a registered course (or part of) on a full-time basis.
More information on studying in Australia: www.studyinaustralia.gov.au

Health care
Australia has a highly subsidized health care system – Medicare - that is accessible to all permanent residents and provides help with medical expenses and hospital care. Medicare also subsidizes medicines. There is also an extensive private health system, for those wishing to pay an additional fee to receive extra benefits including optical and dental treatment.

A green plastic Medicare card printed with the holder's name (and that of any other eligible family members) and the individual Medicare number, is used when visiting a doctor, the hospital as a public patient or claiming benefits at a Medicare office. 'Direct billing' or 'bulk billing' is when the doctor charges Medicare directly and the patient pays nothing. Some doctors do bill patients, and the Medicare benefit of up to 85 per cent is claimed later. Medicare pays consultation fees for general practitioners, specialists, special tests, examinations and public hospital services. If you opt to go into hospital (public or private) as a private patient you can choose which doctor will treat you with Medicare paying up to 75 per cent of the fee. Some or all, of the remaining fee, can be covered by private health insurance.

More information on healthcare:
www.hic.gov.au
www.health.gov.au

Housing
The majority of Australians live within 50 kilometers of the coast in large cities or towns. Indeed, approximately 85 per cent of the population lives in urban areas along the seaboard. Sydney and Melbourne host 56.4% (4.4 million people in Melbourne, 4.7 million people in Sydney) of the country's population whilst other state capitals such as Adelaide, Brisbane and Perth attract populations of approximately 1-2 million each. In these larger cities there is a wide range of housing available.

70% of households in Australia own their current home, either with or without a mortgage (31% and 39% respectively)-one of the largest proportions of any nation. A further 27% of households are renting, with 74% of these households renting from a private landlord and 19% renting from a State or Territory housing authority landlord. Houses with backyards with parks and shopping centers nearby, within one hour’s travel of city centers are the dominant way of life, although inner city, apartment living has become more popular in recent years. Buses, trains and trams make commuting very accessible, and are relatively inexpensive. Housing is of a high standard and affordable in comparison to other countries.

Properties for rent are advertised in the 'To Let' section of newspapers. To secure a property, you will need a security bond (refundable deposit equal to one months rent) plus a payment of several weeks rent which has to be paid in advance. In most cases you will also be required to provide two 'references'. Homes for sale are usually advertised in newspapers, especially on Wednesdays and Saturdays. Banks and other financial institutions such as building societies, credit unions or similar organizations may lend funds for you to purchase or build a property to live in. Interests rates on mortgage loans hover between 6 and 7% (slightly higher in Sydney than in Melbourne) for owner/occupier homes, and dependent on the mortgage institution and general loan interest rates. Investments loans have similar interest rates
More information on the various mortgage lenders: www.yourmortgage.com.au

Leisure
Australians love their leisure time and visit sights stretching from the tropical far north Queensland and Northern Territory, to the cool temperate climate of the south. Beautiful beaches abound both the eastern and western coasts and Australians are active in a wide variety of sports from surfing to skiing. Additionally, Australia possesses some of the world's great wilderness areas. Even though distances are great, efficient, fast and reasonably priced transport connects all capital cities and regional centers. Australians enjoy a sophisticated culture of opera, ballet, art, music and museums, and have produced some of the best restaurants and wine in the world.

AUSTRALIA