You’re likely to notice quite a few differences between Australia and your home land, some of which you may have prepared yourself for and some may take you by surprise. Following are a few cultural differences you may experience :

Friendly attitude It’s unlikely that you’d be used to the level of informality seen in behaviours of Aussies, specially with respect to your studies, it’s common to call lecturers by their first name and while Australians approach most situations in a relaxed and friendly manner, it is still observed as good manners to say ‘please’ and ‘thank you’ and to be punctual. In Australia, all people are treated equally and respectfully, regardless of their age, gender, sexual orientation, background or occupation.

Slang Even if one has been brought up in an English-speaking country is likely to get confused when talking to Australians, since they use a lot of slang terms, even at a workplace and lecture rooms. The Australian accent can a lot of times be difficult to understand, so if you’re struggling to understand someone, just tell them. Many a times Australians don’t even realise that they’re using slang and won’t be offended if you ask them to explain something in a different way.

Multicultural society Australia as we all know is a very multicultural society, with approximately 25% of the population born overseas. As a result of the same there is availability of food and traditions from a great variety of cultures, like Chinese, French, Greek, Indian, Italian, Japanese, Mexican, Thai, Vietnamese and a lot more. Australians are allowed to follow any religion they want to, and churches, mosques, synagogues and temples are located in most major cities and centres.

Learning ways There is one thing that surprises foreign students a lot during their time in Australia and that is the learning experience in Australian classrooms. Here, students are encouraged to critically evaluate ideas put forward in class and to express their views in class discussions, even if their view differs from the lecturer’s. If you are unable to understand a topic, you are allowed to ask questions and request further explanation. You may also find yourself surprised by the number of contact hours you will have as a full-time student, only around 12 hours a week for some courses. Independent learning is encouraged a lot and you will be expected to spend time outside of class reading through course materials and researching topics and ideas.

Your student visa poses restrictions on the maximum number of hours you can work but, your workplace rights are no different to any other worker in Australia. Employees covered by the national workplace relations system are entitled to National Employment Standards (NES) which are:- - Maximum hours of work - Requests for flexible working arrangements - Parental leave and related entitlements - Annual leave - Personal carer’s leave and compassionate leave - Community service leave - Long service leave - Public holidays - Notice of termination and redundancy pay - The Fair Work Information Statement

Whether you’re anxiously preparing for your time in Australia, or studying hard to make the most of your final weeks home, there comes a time you think about your ‘must-do’ activities. Following are top 5 things to do before you finish your studies in Australia -

Explore wildlife in Australia The reptile family won’t appeal to you but a close look at one of Australia’s caressable native creatures should be high on your list. Australia has quite a few wildlife sanctuaries that allow you to meet the local wildlife. You might enjoy petting kangaroos, cuddling a koala or feeding a flock of brightly coloured lorikeets. If the larger species intrigues you, whale-watching tours, shark dives and crocodile feeding shows provide plenty of entertainment.

The must try local cuisine In Australia’s multicultural heritage, you will be able to find food from all parts of the world. However, there are a some favourite items that the natives have fondly adopted as their own. Tim Tams, meat pies, damper, pavlova, lamingtons, a sausage in bread and ANZAC biscuits are the recommended things to try. While you’re in Australia, you should also sample some of Australia’s renowned fresh produce, including seafood, fruit and vegetables, cheese and wine. A visit to the local farmers’ markets will provide a great opportunity to sample some of the best produce on offer.

Beautiful beaches Australia has no shortage of coastline and beaches since it’s an island, in fact, it is said to take you twenty seven years to visit every beach in Australia if you went to one per day. Besides the sheer number of beaches, Australia has some of the best ones in the world — so they’re definitely worth a visit. You must visit Sydney’s iconic Bondi Beach, head west to Perth’s Cottesloe Beach or enjoy the sparkling waters and soft sand of Queensland’s Whitehaven Beach. Just make sure you swim between the flags and carry enough sunblock lotion.

Go to a footy game We all know Australians are big sports fans, with the football getting the maximum attention during the winter months. Those in Victoria, South Australia, Tasmania, the Northern Territory and Western Australia will likely be surrounded by passionate AFL fans, while students in New South Wales, the ACT and Queensland, rugby league may be the sport of choice. There are games in most states each week from March to October, with a select number of regional AFL games scheduled in the Northern Territory, Tasmania, North Queensland and Canberra throughout the year.