Australia
From AFSWiki
Contents |
Country Information
- AFS Country Code: AUS
- See also http://www.usa.afs.org/usa_en/view/8243 for more on Australia.
Placement
- Age requirement: 15.0 to 18.6 years.
- Language requirement: Participants must have a basic understanding of written and spoken English before applying for this program.
- Health restrictions:
- Graduates:
- Smoking: 95% of host families require non-smoking students. It is very important for applicants requesting placement in Australia to understand our legal and cultural restrictions regarding smoking. It is against Australian Law for anyone under the age of 18 years of age to purchase or use tobacco products. Smoking is also prohibited in many public places including shopping centres, bars, restaurants and schools. Additionally, there is a strong cultural bias against smoking in Australia - our host families are very clear in their preferences and do not want to host a smoking participant. Therefore, all applicants requesting to come to Australia are expected to be non-smokers and should mark their applications accordingly. Participants who smoke should be routed to other destinations.
- Dietary Restrictions: Placement of vegetarians is often difficult, especially in rural areas. AFS AUS will make every attempt to place a participant according to their dietary requirements but can not always guarantee placement of vegetarians . Placement in a vegetarians family is highly unlikely. More commonly, one or two members of the family may follow a vegetarians diet. The family will eat a non-vegetarian diet to which they will expect the participant adapt, or they will expect the participant to eat more of the side dishes instead of the meat/fish or dairy product. Please be as specific as possible when stating a participant's dietary restrictions. For example, will the participant eat foods cooked with meat, but not the meat itself? –As in a meat and vegetable stew.
- Dress:
- Location: 5% urban, 20% suburban, 75% rural. 75-85% of AFS Australia placements are outside the well known big cities. They may be in the outer suburban areas, large country towns or rural districts;
- Other: Australia looks for applicants demonstrating tolerance, flexibility, open-mindedness, adaptability and a sense of humor.
Travel Information
- Visa:This visa is only attainable via the signed Acceptance Advice for Secondary Exchange Student (AASES) form. (refer to School Based Program Specifics). The AASES form is issued by the relevant state education department upon acceptance into the host school. This visa allows students to study within Australia for the period of time designated in the visa application. Under this visa, students must attend and undertake FULL-TIME study at nominated educational provider. FAILURE to comply with terms and conditions of the ‘Student’ visa, could result in the cancellation of visa and participants deported back to country of origin. Applicants will also incomplete this program. Further information regarding student visa applications, terms and conditions can be accessed at the following website: [www.immi.gov.au/students www.immi.gov.au/students]. Refer to visa type 571 – Schools. Students cannot apply for other visa types whilst participating within this program. AFS Australia is not responsible for participants who intend to stay beyond the end date of the student visa. Attendance Required: The Department of Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs regulate AFS Australia in relation to student visas and school acceptance of participants within this program. Students participating in a formal registered secondary exchange program , must provide a declaration from the relevant exchange organization certifying that students have adequate funds for the proposed period of exchange. The declaration is made on an official Acceptance Advice of Secondary Exchange Student (AASES) form. This form also stipulates that students will attend and undertake full-time study whilst in Australia (refer ‘Visa’ below). This form cannot be issued until the student has a host family and a host school.
- Arrival & Orientation:
- Departure:
Host Families & Daily Life
- Support Information: This program provides students the opportunity of engaging in ‘Australian’ family lifestyles and cultural diversity.
- Transportation:
- Extracurricular: Activities vary greatly from one area to another and are always organized locally however in general local groups often sponsor weekend gatherings, holiday parties, weekend trips, etc. Mandatory activities are paid for by AFS AUS, however individual volunteer groups may charge students a fee for optional activities they sponsor. AFS AUS does offer additional program activities. Please visit the AFS AUS website to view details of the AFS Safaris that are offered throughout the year. (http://www.afs.org.au/aus_en/view/1319) Activities vary year by year and participants will receive details about the options available to them soon after their arrival in Australia. AFS Safari costs vary and are payable by participants with approval required from natural parents. Spaces are limited on all Safaris, so participants are encouraged to make their participation decision quickly.
Scholarships & Sponsored Programs
See Scholarships or Sponsored Programs for Sending for more information.
Academics
- Transcript/Diploma: If participants wish to obtain academic results, they are responsible for contacting the relevant Department of Education within their host state. AFS Australia is not responsible for supplying such information. If participants wish to obtain certificates or diplomas, they are responsible for contacting the relevant Educational Institution within their host state. AFS Australia is not responsible for supplying such information.
- School: Australian schools. Students are required to attend school full-time and participate in school related activities. Students will be entered into Year 11 in Australia. In special circumstances the students may go into year 12.
- Language: English.
General Country Information
- Description:
- Religion: In most states and areas of Australia, religion does not play a large part in the life of the host family and community. Even when placed with a religious family , participants are generally not required to attend services on a regular basis but they may be expected to attend a religious service at least once, so to demonstrate awareness of the family's practice. They may also be expected to attend some social activities connected to the family's center of worship, such as a church picnic, a fundraiser, a holiday celebration or performance.
- Climate:
- Politics:
- Language: English.
Return to the Country Information page.
For information, questions or concerns, contact the Program Information Specialist or countryinfo@afs.org.
