Australian Capital Territory

The Australian Capital Territory (ACT) is located in the south-eastern region of New South Wales. Australia's capital city of Canberra sits within this territory, and is approximately four hours away from Sydney by train.

Canberra is not only the seat of government and parliament house, it is also a well-planned lakeside city of parklands, stylish restaurants, hip bars, boutique shopping, beautiful bush land, leafy suburbs, and a busy calendar of events and festivals.

Many of the public buildings display some of Australia's most innovative architecture, including those housing some of Australia's most significant cultural resource centres such as the National Gallery and the National Library.

One of the best things about Canberra and the ACT is its accessibility to the surrounding bush, forests and waterways. Whats more, Canberra is only a 1.5 hour drive from the beautiful Snowy Mountains which offer hiking, horse riding, mountain biking, skiing and snowboarding.

About 40% of the ACT is covered by the Namadgi National Park which stretches to the border of the New South Wales Kosciusko National Park. The Namadgi National Park incorporates the Gudgenby Nature Reserve and a substantial part of the Cotter River Valley. The Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve, where many Australian animals and birds have been reintroduced, adjoins the Namadgi National Park.

Canberra and the ACT offers a clean and safe urban environment, combined with easy access to nature based activities, a comprehensive education system, low living costs and affordable housing.

Education

There are four broad levels within the ACT school system:

* Preschool 4 years old

* Primary schools 5-12 years (Year 1-6)

* High schools 12-15 years (Year 7-10)

* Secondary colleges 15-17/18 years (Year 11-12)

The school year runs from late January/early February to December. By law school is compulsory from the age of 5 to 16, and while attendance at preschool and secondary college is optional, it is highly recommended.

The ACT curriculum framework focuses on eight key learning areas of knowledge. These learning areas include:

The Arts,
English language,
Health and physical education,
Languages other than English (LOTE),
Mathematics,
Science,
Studies of society and environment,
and technology.

Public (Government) schools

The ACT public education and training system aims to deliver high quality education services that provide students with a well-rounded balance of academic achievement and opportunities for intellectual, sporting, social and cultural development.

Government schools in the ACT receive funding from the ACT and Commonwealth Government. This funding is administered by the ACT Department of Education, Youth and Family Services.

While education in state schools is free, most schools invite parents to make a financial contribution towards additional resources such as computers, library books, sporting equipment and other materials. The amount varies from school to school and although payment of these contributions is voluntary, it is important for the maintenance of quality education programmes within schools.

Residential zoning does not apply for ACT government schools but priority is given to the enrolment of children living within the schools designated area. The majority of children attend their local preschool, primary school and high school/secondary college.

Private (independent) schools

The ACT's independent school sector comprises of schools from a broad range of education and religious philosophies. The variety of schooling options is a direct reflection on the diversity of the ACT community.

The majority of non government schools in the state are Catholic or religious schools, however there are also non-denominational schools.

All independent schools charge fees which can vary greatly between schools, age group and education level within schools. Many also have waiting lists due to the high demand for places. It is therefore advisable to register children as soon as possible.

Preschool and kindergarten

The ACT has one of the most affordable and effective preschool education systems operating country wide.

Within this system equal emphasis is placed on the social, emotional, physical and intellectual developmental areas. While attendance at preschool is not compulsory, it provides an opportunity for children to be initiated into a school environment on a part-time basis with children attending for 10 hours per week.

Children can attend preschool when they are four or turning four before Apri 30 of that year. Attendance at state preschools is free, however non government (independent) preschools require the payment of a fee.

Primary school

Children are eligible to be enrolled at their local state primary school when they are five, or are turning five before April 30 of that year.

Primary schools in the ACT place particular emphasis on developing the basic skills of reading, writing, language, and mathematics.

As with public preschools, there are no fees for public primary schools in the ACT. However parents may be asked to make a contribution towards the costs for books, uniforms and extra-curricular subjects and activities.

Primary schools and high schools within the state work to maintain a close relationship with each other in order to assist students to make a smooth academic, personal and social transition between primary and high school sectors.

Secondary school

High schools in the ACT provide students with four years of compulsory education (Years 7-10), followed by a further two years of optional secondary college education (Years 11-12).

Most of the students graduating from the compulsory education enter the two year secondary college. During the first year of high school students are introduced to a wide range of subjects that a particular school has to offer.

From Year 8 onwards students are given more choice regarding which subjects they focus on, although they must continue to study English, mathematics and science. Each high school offers a different choice of subjects and it is recommended that parents and prospective students contact a number of different high schools to see which best suits the interests and strengths of the child.

ACT high school and college students are awarded their Year 10 and Year 12 certificate based on the continuous assessment of their progress throughout the course of their studies, rather than just individual exams. This means the Year 10 and Year 12 certificate takes into account not just the regular exams and other forms of assessment, but reflects all of a young person's abilities, interests and achievements.

The ACT Year 10 and Year 12 certificates are highly regarded throughout Australia and have the same status as similar certificates issued elsewhere. Furthermore the ACT Year 12 Certificate is recognised by all Australian higher education authorities, therefore ACT students can gain admission to universities and tertiary institutions throughout Australia on the same basis as students from other parts of Australia.

Those students who want to continue onto higher education (such as university) are also required to take a TER exam (Tertiary Entrance Rank) in the second year of secondary college. For more information about secondary schools in the ACT visit our useful links section.

University

The ACT is home to three universities, each of which are respected internationally for the quality and range of study and research opportunities they provide.

The Australian National University (ANU) is one of the world's leading research universities, attracting leading academics and outstanding students from Australia and around the world. The University has 13 487 students, representing 94 countries.

The University of Canberra (UC) has approximately 10,000 students from some 90 countries studying across six facilities including applied science, communication, education, environmental design, information sciences, engineering, and management.

The Australian Catholic University is a public university that is open to students and staff of all religious beliefs. There are six campuses in Australia offering academic programmes in arts, education, social work and theology. The campus consists of around 40 staff and 600 students.

Employment

Key industries

As the nation's capital, Canberra's economy has traditionally been dominated by the government and public service sector.

Despite this, the economy is becoming increasingly diversified, particularly in:

Information communication technology (ICT) and knowledge based industries;
Tourism, as the city attracts large numbers of Australian and international visitors each year;
Hospitality, advanced technology, electronics and communication sectors are also experiencing strong growth;
In the agricultural sector stockbreeding, fisheries, forestry, wine, cheese, fruits such as cherries, plums, apples, apricots, nectarines, pears, and cut flowers are all very prosperous industries;
Research and development activities are also strongly represented;
Other developing areas include biotechnology-related business and environment management.

Looking for work

There are a number of resources available to jobseekers in the ACT:

The State's major daily newspaper, The Canberra Times, has a dedicated section advertising employment vacancies, with Wednesday and Saturday editions holding the most extensive employment section. Other newspaper sources include The Australian and The Australian Financial Review.
Recruitment agencies and consultancies are another key source for job leads and can be found in the Yellow Pages or the career section of local newspapers.
The internet is another key tool and there are many sites that list job vacancies in Canberra.
Many large companies also have their own websites which may outline career opportunities or list job vacancies in their organisation.

Housing

Home ownership

The ACT has high rates of home ownership with three quarters of people living in the state either owning their own home or in the process of purchasing a home.

The style of housing found there is very similar to that found in the rest of Australia with low lying detached dwellings dominating Canberra's surrounding suburbs. However, new housing developments in Canberra and the surrounding region are beginning to reflect a general Australia-wide shift towards construction of higher density dwellings such as townhouses, apartments and flats.

When searching for a home in Canberra it is important to take climatic conditions into account. Canberra can be very hot in summer and very cold in winter and therefore it pays to ensure that the property in question is well insulated and has a modern heating and cooling system.

In terms of affordability, according to the Real Estate Institute of Australia, the median house price in Canberra as at December 2004 was around AUS$350 000.

While this is higher than some other Australian states it is still well below the median price for an equivalent property in Melbourne or Sydney.

Renting

According to the Real Estate Institute of the ACT, the average rent for a three bedroom home in Canberra is approximately AUS$290 per week (as at September 2004).

As with all major cities, rental prices can vary considerably depending on the proximity of the property to the Central Business District, coastal areas and public transport facilities.

To secure a property, tenants must pay a security bond (refundable deposit) plus a deposit of several weeks rent. In many instances two references are also required.

Properties for rent are advertised in the 'To Let' section of The Canberra Times newspaper and through local newspapers. Both landlords and real estate agents place advertisements with the largest number of listings being placed in Wednesday and Saturday editions.

On average around half of available properties are usually rented within two weeks of being advertised, with the better ones often being taken within days of coming on the market.

Transport

Public transport services in Canberra is provided by a comprehensive bus-based transport system, called ACTION, (Australian Capital Territory Internal Omnibus Network).

There is no railway system in Canberra apart from an interstate service that terminates in the suburb of Kingston. There have been a number of government proposals for linking many of Canberra's tourist attractions, or one that links the new and developing district of Gungahlin with the City Centre. As yet however, nothing has come of these plans.

For those who prefer to cycle or walk, Canberra has an excellent network of bike paths and walkways that allow you to avoid the traffic almost anywhere. Given this it is not surprising that Canberra has the highest number of cyclists in Australia.

Taxis are also readily available throughout the city and its surrounding areas and fares are charged depending on distance traveled.

Population

At of June 30 2003 the ACT's resident population was estimated to have reached 323 400 people.

Around 95% of the population live in the capital city of Canberra.

Climate

Unlike many other Australian cities Canberra has four distinct seasons.

Spring (September-November) is typified by mild days, increased sunlight hours, and periodic rain, with temperatures ranging from 16-30 degrees Celsius.

The summer season in Canberra is usually hot and dry and consequently hats and clothing should be worn outside to protect skin from the harsh Australian sun.

The autumn season (like spring) is also very mild, however rain begins to fall again at odd intervals and as winter approaches rain becomes prevalent.

The winter period can be very cool and wet, with temperature ranging from 7-15 degrees Celsius.

The lowland, including the city of Canberra, has an average annual rainfall of 630mm which is unevenly distributed throughout the year. In most years there are light snowfalls in winter. Strong winds are frequent, mainly from the west and north-west.

The mean maximum temperature in Canberra is 19.7 degrees Celsius, with the highest temperature on record being 42.2 degrees Celsius.

Time zone

Canberra and the ACT operate on Eastern Standard Time (EST) meaning it is 10 hours in front of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) without daylight saving.

Throughout the summer months the ACT adopts daylight saving time (also known as Australian Eastern Daylight Time - AEDT). During daylight saving time the local clock is moved forward one hour to gain an 'extra hour' of daylight at the end of the working day.

In Canberra daylight saving begins at 2.00am on the last Sunday in October and concludes on the last Sunday of March at 3:00am when clocks are put back one hour.

Geography

The ACT is made up of three contrasting landforms.

In the north it is a low land of undulating hills that include the floodplains of the Murrumbidgee and Molonglo Rivers. This is also where the majority of urban development has taken place.

Beyond this sits forested mountain slopes rising to 1 200m, while in the south and west are highlands of steep ridges and mountain peaks rising above 1 800m.

Cost of living

The cost of living in Canberra is similar to that of other smaller Australian states, and is low when compared to other major cities such as London, Moscow, Dublin and Hong Kong.

Furthermore Canberra offers a high standard of living with no traffic pollution and a low crime rate.

Cost of goods in Canberra, as in all countries, vary widely between retail outlets and across suburbs.