Boomerang Australia Studies

Australia’s greenest universities

University of Sydney leads science rankings

GRIFFITH UNIVERSITY IN FOCUS

SOCIAL NETWORKING IN SYDNEY

Sydney e-commerce company means (big) business

Boost in graduate salaries in Australia

Australian scientist Brian Schmidt one of trio awarded Nobel Physics Prize

AUSTRALIA AT THE FOREFRONT OF SCIENCE DISCOVERY!

POSITIVE CHANGES FOR STUDENT VISAS IN 2012

The 41 recommendations made by Mr Michael Knight in the Knight Review of the Australian Student Visa Program look, in the first instance, to be very encouraging for the Australian University sector. With implementation of the streamlined visa processing times, post study work rights and improved integrity measures, the Knight Review reforms should lead to increased interest from international students looking at Australia as a study destination.

The Knight Review is still being analysed by universities . It is anticipated that it will take some time before the full implications become clear, with implementation of the recommendations not due until sometime in 2012.

The main significant change will be about granting a "Post Study Work Visa" to international students willing to work in Australia after obtaining an Australian universitiy degree. It will be only valid for full time studies and applicable to Bachelor and Master degrees only (it does not include Graduate Certificates and Diplomas). International students meeting these requirements will be able to work between 2 to 4 years in Australia. It is supposed to be implemented in 2012, we will inform you immediately when the dates of application will be published. Read more.

70,000 years of Aboriginal settlement in Australia

FIVE Australian universities have been rated among the world's top 50

Eight Australian institutions made it into the top 100 - 23 are in the top 500 - in the QS World University Rankings, released on 5 September 2011.

The outstanding result has been welcomed by sector leaders. Top of the local league was the Australian National University, ranked 26 in the world, followed by the University of Melbourne at 31.

Universities Australia chief executive Glenn Withers said: "To have something like 60 per cent of Australian universities in the top 500 shows the strength of our system by world standards, given there are some 16,000 institutions. (But) we need to maintain that strength. "

We are looking for the base funding review and the way the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency are going to operate to help us maintain that strength in the system." Griffith University's deputy director, research policy, and QS board member Tony Sheil, said the rankings were "capturing more up-and-coming universities, especially from the fast-growing economies like China, Hong Kong, Singapore and South Korea".

This was in contrast to one of its rivals, the Academic Ranking of World Universities, previously known as the Shanghai Jiao Tong, whose methodology is heavily weighted towards research performance and tends to favour older universities. "The good news for Australia is that it performs very well on both rankings - our universities conform to what some call the global university model," Mr Sheil said. "(However) QS does need to have a closer look at the data accuracy contained in several indicators."

The QS methodology allocates a 40 per cent weighting for academic reputation, gauged via a worldwide questionnaire, 10 per cent for reputation among employers, 20 per cent for student-to-staff ratio, 20 for citations per academic staff member, and 5 per cent each for international staff and international students.

"In whichever evaluations you refer to in recent times, the QS World University Rankings by Subject, The Excellence in Research for Australia initiative, or the Shanghai rankings, Melbourne keeps getting stronger," QS vice-president John Molony said. Mr Gallagher agreed that while "there are different perspectives and flaws in all rankings systems, the consistent message is that they reinforce different groupings, especially the top tier".

The field of global rankings for universities is intensely competitive. QS claims to be the most extensive of its kind, evaluating more than 700 universities. Its results are the second set to be published in the current rankings season. The recently published ARWU rankings ranked the Go8 universities at the top of the local league. The final big-name global rankings for the year, the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2011, conducted with Thomson Reuters, are due out next month.

ACT OF KINDNESS SYDNEY 2011

Sydneysiders may have a reputation for being brash, busy and preoccupied but sometimes they do go out of their way for strangers!!

Sharing Birthday food with homelessmen in the park, offering someone who's coughing at the train station a tissue and using Facebook to return an expensive smartphone it it owner are just a few stories Sydneysiders have submitted to a public art Project launching on Friday 23 September for the City of Sydney's Art and about Festival.

For the 24th Kaldor Public Art Project in partnership with Art & About, celebrated UK artist Michael Landy has created a major new work, Acts of Kindness, for Sydney. Acts of Kindness explores the meaning of kindness in today’s fast-paced world, focusing on the simple everyday gestures of compassion and generosity that occur throughout the city streets and often go unnoticed. Stories of kindness have been collected from people across Sydney to form the basis for Landy’s ambitious new artwork.

Visit lower Martin Place to see Landy’s 13-metre installation, mapping the Sydney CBD and indicating where the 200 stories of kindness have been placed throughout the city streets. Participate and send us your story of kindness for the online component of Acts of Kindness. Michael Landy is one of Britain’s best-known artists and is recognised as having created some of the most significant public art projects of the past decade. One of the Young British Artists of the 1990s, Landy became famous for his monumental project Break Down in 2001, in which he systematically destroyed all of his personal belongings, from his birth certificate to his car, in a former department store in London’s Oxford Street. Landy’s other major projects include Semi-Detached (2004) for which he reproduced his parents’ house to scale inside the galleries of Tate Britain, and Art Bin (2010) where he invited artists and members of the public to dispose of works of art, receiving contributions from fellow artists Damien Hirst, Tracey Emin and Gillian Wearing. Landy’s works explore the experience of life in a consumer world, reflecting on contemporary values, from economic worth to the importance of human relationships.

For Acts of Kindness, Landy has adapted the visual language of mapped directions, store logos and urban street signage that characterise the commerce and business of the Sydney city streets, to present his own interpretation of the city, focusing on the social interactions of its inhabitants and their stories.

Acts of Kindness, 2011
23 September - 23 October 2011
Installation in lower Martin Place, Sydney, and across 200 CBD sites
Read More

DAYLIGHT SAVING IN AUSTRALIA ON 2 OCTOBER 2011

Daylight saving ends again in Australia on Sunday 1 April 2012, at 3:00 am when clocks will be put back one hour.

For future summers, daylight saving in New South Wales begins at 2:00 am, Eastern Standard Time, on the first Sunday in October and ends at 3:00 am Eastern Daylight Saving Time on the first Sunday in April. Read More

Wayne Swan named world's best Treasurer by Euromoney magazine

Vote for Australian icons to be named world’s most wondrous!

Mentors@Macquarie on hand to ease first-year stress

Mentors@Macquarie assists over 5000 international and domestic students each year as they take their first steps into study at Macquarie University.

The program starts with a week-long Academic Orientation before classes commence in February, after which first-year students are provided regular contact and assistance from mentors throughout their entire first year.

In August, Mentors@Macquarie hosted "Drop in B4 U Drop Out" - a joint initiative with Campus Wellbeing that provided support and information for students who were considering dropping out of a unit, or out of university altogether.

Dedicated Mentors@Macquarie Program Coordinator Kelly Sharpless says initiatives like these were part of the aim of being "one of the best mentor programs in Australia."

Mentor and international student Jack Wai-Him Yip says the program benefits the mentors as much as the students they assist.

"As an international student, I try to utilise every opportunity that can help me grow from my time in Australia," he says.

Mentors@Macquarie man the Mentor help desk in the Macquarie University Library.
"Mentors@Macquarie enables me to meet and help students from all over the world. My involvement has not just enriched the diversity of the program but it has helped me gain an insight into how awesome Australian culture is."

Participation in the program also enhances a student's employment prospects after graduation by building on interpersonal, communication skills and team building skills as well as leadership abilities.

"Mentoring offers opportunities that I can't find in other programs," says Bachelor of Commerce student Grace Zheng. "You can discover and develop your talent, which is then showcased in blogs and videos, and celebrated at the Mentor Awards Night."

INCREASE IN IELTS FEES

AUSTRALIAN THE HAPPIEST PEOPLE ON EARTH!!

l'OCDE a créé ce nouvel indice interactif qui permet aux individus de mesurer et comparer leur vie en allant au-delà des chiffres du PIB traditionnels. Cet indice de "vivre mieux" permet aux citoyens de comparer les niveaux de vie dans 34 pays, en se basant sur 11 dimensions comme le logement, les revenus, l'emploi, l'éducation, la satisfaction de la vie et la santé.

Les résultats montrent que les australiens sont les plus satisfaits de leurs vies, suivis par le Canada, la Suède, la Nouvelle Zélande, la Norvège, le Danemark, les Etats-Unis, la Suisse, les Pays-Bas et le Luxembourg. La France est dans les profondeurs du classement, confirmant la réputation de mécontents des français.

Les australiens ont le taux de satisfaction global le plus élevé avec 75%, spécifiquement dans les secteurs clés du bien être. Le revenu moyen des foyers australiens reste supérieur à la moyenne des pays de l'OCDE, et ce, même s'il a tendance à diminuer avec l'augmentation des biens de consommation et du logement, même constatation pour l'espérance de vie et la qualité de la vie en général. Les femmes ont plus de chances de retrouver un emploi après un arrêt pour élever leurs enfants, ce qui laisse suggérer que l'équilibre entre la vie personnelle et la carrière est mieux respecté.

Enfin, les australiens travailleraient également moins que les autres pays de l'OCDE ce qui renforcerait l'équilibre entre la vie et le travail, concept si cher aux australiens, le fameux "work-life balance"!

Australia scores high on quality of life

An international survey has ranked Australia's lifestyle as one of the best in the world.

The Better Life Index compiled by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) ranks Australia highly in the areas of income, life expectancy, health, housing, employment, the environment, education quality and life satisfaction.

* Income: The average household income is US$27,039 (EUR18,735), well above the OECD average of US$22,284 (EUR15,441)

* Education: 70% of adults aged 25 to 64 have earned the equivalent of a high-school diploma. Australia is a top-performing country in terms of the quality of its educational system. The average student scored 515 out of 600 in reading ability according to the latest PISA student-assessment programme, higher than the OECD average.

* Employment: Almost 72% of people aged 15 to 64 have a paid job, and 71% of mothers are employed after their children begin school, suggesting that women are able to successfully balance family and career.

* Health & Environment: Life expectancy at birth in Australia is 81.5 years, more than two years above the OECD average. The level of atmospheric PM10 - tiny air pollutant particles small enough to enter and cause damage to the lungs - is 14 micrograms per cubic meter, and is much lower than levels found in most OECD countries.

* Satisfaction: 75% of people in Australia said they were satisfied with their life, much higher than the OECD average of 59%.

AUSTRALIAN VISAS ON THE RISE

BOND LAW ACHIEVES MOOTING SUCCESS ON THE WORLD STAGE

Réunions d'information par UFE Avenir à Sydney!

DENNIS NONA REPRESENTED IN LYON!

The new museum Musée des Confluences being built in Lyon at the crossing of the Rhone and Saone Rivers and with the objective to hold amazing world collections and discussions about arts has chosen an Australian Indigenous artist to commission a giant statue in front of the museum. The artist name is Dennis Nona from the Torres Strait Islands who was exhibited earlier this year in Paris at the Australian Embassy Rue Jean Rey and soon at the museum of Rochefort from 3 June to 30 september 2011.

Infos Museum

Video museum

Infos Artist

RECOGNITION OF INDIGENOUS AUSTRALIANS IN THE CONSTITUTION

Nowadays many Australians would be surprised to know that the Constitution still includes the possibility for discrimination based on your race, and ignores Australia's first peoples and their role as custodians of the world's oldest continuing culture. 

The Australian people have the power to update the Constitution through a referendum so that it better reflects our shared values. In the latest referendum, 75% of Australians have voted positively to review the constitution and include the contribution of Indigenous Australians.

In light of this, the Australian Government has appointed The Panel to consult with the people and lead a nationwide discussion on the issue.

By December 2011, after a period of consideration, discussion and consultation with all Australians, the Panel will advise the government about the options for improving the Constitution to reflect modern Australian values and for the first time formally recognising the unique place of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in the history of Australia.

You Me Unity is the national conversation about updating our Constitution to recognise our first peoples and define equality for all Australians. Infos.

ADELAIDE'S REPUTATION ON THE RISE

While Adelaide's cost of living still ranks as the number one reason students come from abroad, quality of education has risen from 14th to the second most popular motive for choosing South Australia as a study destination in the last three years.

Adelaide also ranked more highly than any other capital city when it came to international students' overall perceptions.

Employment, Training and Further Education Minister Jack Snelling said it was hard to argue with a finding that showed nearly 60 per cent of students surveyed recognised Adelaide as Australia's "learning city".

"The survey endorses Adelaide's position as one of the country's, and indeed the world's, great learning cities and goes a long way to encouraging prospective overseas students and their families to put their faith in South Australia's international education system," Mr Snelling said.

"Adelaide's cost of living has always been a key component of attracting international students but it is pleasing to see our growing reputation as a quality education provider reflected in the findings."

The 2010 StudyAdelaide Brand Health Report surveyed 3500 current and prospective students and 200 parents about their experiences and perceptions of living and studying in South Australia.

The top 10 reasons for choosing Adelaide compared to 2007 were:

Cost of living
Quality of education
Safer place to live
Better place to live
Smaller city
Lifestyle
Family / friends live there
Tuition fees are lower
Best location for my course
Friendly / welcoming

Adelaide ranked the highest among international students perceptions of all Australian capital cities. 88.6 per cent of survey respondents perceived Adelaide as a good or excellent place to study, followed by Melbourne (66.4), Sydney (60.3), Brisbane (50.2), Perth (48.1) and Canberra (38.7)

Key findings of the study also included:
Adelaide has a high retention rate with 67 per cent of current students indicating they will continue to study here;
Three-quarters of current students indicated that Adelaide was their first preference for their current studies; and
The majority of students surveyed agreed that the Adelaide community is friendly and welcoming.

Prospect Research and Marketing Principal and author of the findings Robert Lawrence said the Brand Health Study results indicated Adelaide was a very attractive destination when it comes to international study.

"We set out to determine overseas students' attitudes and perceptions of Adelaide in comparison to other Australian cities and to determine the level of satisfaction with Adelaide as a study destination," Mr Lawrence said.

"What we found was that Adelaide rates highly in regard to quality of education, cost of living and friendliness and every time affordability, safety and education were mentioned in the survey Adelaide rated highly."

The Study Adelaide brand also received strong recognition with 50 per cent of students indicating they were aware of the brand, compared to just 7 per cent three years earlier.

THE UNIVERSITY OF SYDNEY RECEIVED AN AMAZING GIFT!

The United States-based donor flew to Sydney last year to give the university the Picasso painting, "Jeune fille endormie", on the condition it was sold to fund scientific research.

The painting by the Spanish-born co-founder of cubism is expected to fetch up to $18 million when it goes to auction in June, making it one of the largest gifts to the university in its history. The artwork, only 40 centimetres wide, depicts Picasso's lover and muse, Marie-Therese Walter, in vivid colours.It was painted in 1935 at Picasso's French country home, Chateau de Boisgeloup.

Ronan Sulich, the Australian representative for Christie's auction house in London, which has the job of promoting the painting before it goes to auction, says it has rarely been seen by the public until now.

"It's a picture of Picasso's mistress Marie-Therese Walter with her arms crossed and her head sort of leaning on her arm asleep," he said.

"It was actually acquired by Walter Chrysler Jnr after it was painted and then it was sold by him to the current donor," he said. "It's only been seen in public once in the Museum of Modern Art in New York and then on tour in the US in 1941, and since then it's been tucked away in a private collection."

Sydney University vice-chancellor Michael Spence says the bequest came with three conditions.

"First, that the donor remain anonymous, second that the painting be sold and the proceeds be used for scientific research, and third, that the gift be recognised in particular ways which we will be announcing in due course," he said.

"I have learnt more about the fine art market in the last couple of months than I thought I would ever learn, and it's a very exciting and interesting world."

"This is an unusual project because it will involve everything from economics of grocery shopping all the way through to the physiology of the metabolic disorders," he said. "It's a very holistic, pan-university approach to these really pressing social problems. It's a project into which the Government has already put $95 million, the total cost of which will be around $400 million, and one we think is very important not only for Australia but also for the world more generally."

IT TOOL TO FAST-TRACK INVESTIGATIONS

The UniSA software can fast-track data extraction from the massive amounts of unstructured information in counter terrorism data bases, including hard disks and mobile phones, and identify hidden patterns and relationships.

The application will be used by Australian law enforcement agencies for criminal investigations, but could also be applicable in the commercial world. UniSA Division of IT, Engineering and the Environment research dean Jill Slay, who also heads up the university's Forensic Computing lab, says the tool could save weeks and months on investigations.

AUSTRALIA'S RUNAWAY IT SUCCESS STORY

Australian students among best in the OECD

PISA, a major international student assessment, tests the abilities of 15-year-olds in 65 countries every three years; with the focus of the assessment on one of the three major domains of reading (2000/2009), mathematics (2003) and science (2006).

PISA 2009 involved 470,000 students internationally, including 14,250 Australian students from 353 schools.

* Australian students performed well above the OECD average in all three assessment areas and are amongst the best in the OECD.
* Australia came nineth in reading; tenth in science; and fifteenth in maths, out performing the UK and USA. Of the European countries, only Finland consistently ranked higher than Australia across the three categories.

The PISA 2009 report is available at www.pisa.oecd.org. The PISA 2009 Australian national report is available at www.acer.edu.au/ozpisa.

The major reason why Australian results are high is the teaching methods combining learning and creative thinking, engaging students in debates.

STUDENTS SATISFACTION IN AUSTRALIA

International students around the world have to make some significant decisions about their education and their future. Studying a degree overseas represents a weighty investment. With so many factors to consider, choosing where to study can be both a daunting and an exciting prospect.

A recent national survey of international students studying in Australia (conducted by the Australian Government) showed the top four factors influencing tertiary students' decision of where to study were as follows: quality of teaching (94%); reputation of the qualification from their chosen education institution (93%); personal safety (92%), and reputation of the institution (91%).

This 2010 survey also confirms that international students currently studying in Australia have done the right choice: 86% of all international student respondents were satisfied or very satisfied with their overall living experience in Australia and 84% were satisfied with their study experience. 

The overall satisfaction with the information, advice and support provided to students on arrival, as reported by both HE and VET respondents to the 2010 survey, was 86%. The HE sector recorded a satisfaction rating of 86%, while the public VET sector recorded 87%, the same as for private VET.

All these figures confirm that studying in Australian universities offers students a rigorous and rewarding educational experience. Studying in an Australian university makes students globally employable, with strongly-set academic and professional skills. These skills are coupled with an enriching cross-cultural experience, brought about by the interactions and connections forged in a global classroom. Moreover Australian universities have built a strong international reputation for excellence and quality in the educational programs on offer. Australian degrees blend a good marriage between the generic nature of American undergraduate education and the specialised nature of British undergraduate educations.

As a summary, Australia is still the right study destination if you are looking at quality education, a safe country, good quality of life and excellent support during your studies.

AUSTRALIA AGAIN ON THE LIST OF BEST COUNTRIES TO LIVE IN!

QUEENSLAND FLOODS UPDATES

The Australian Government is providing assistance to communities affected by the floods and will continue to work with the Queensland Government in providing support.

While visitors are urged to avoid the flood affected areas of Queensland and other states, Australia remains open for business and continues to welcome travellers.

The Australian continent is very large and whilst the floods are widespread, they are in fact restricted to a relatively small part of the country. The vast majority of the major international travel destinations in Australia, including Cairns and the Great Barrier Reef, Sydney, Melbourne and Uluru are all completely unaffected.

Below is some up to date detailed information from Queensland and New South Wales. Please feel free to provide this to your industry partners and clients.

Customers should also be advised to contact their travel agent, accommodation or tour provider directly if they have any concerns about any current bookings, or before considering changing their travel plans.

Tourism Australia is providing daily updates and links to official Queensland Government information on its consumer website www.australia.com, as well as its trade and corporate websites. Our international offices are also providing this information to consumer, media and trade enquiries.
Queensland Flood update
Access to parts of Queensland is currently affected by flooding. If you are planning to visit southern Queensland in the immediate future you should check official sources for up to date information about access to those areas.

Parts of Brisbane, Central Queensland, the Queensland Outback, Southern Downs and Granite Belt, Toowoomba and Darling Downs, Western Downs, South Burnett and the Lockyer Valley are currently affected by flooding and access is restricted in these areas. For information on latest conditions visit www.qld.gov.au/floods or http://131940.qld.gov.au for the latest road updates.

Most tourism businesses in Bundaberg, Gladstone, Agnes Water and 1770, Bargara beaches, Lady Elliot Island and Lady Musgrave Island, are now open and returning to normal business operation. There may however be some limited local road access.

The Gold Coast, Whitsundays, Mackay, Townsville and Cairns, Port Douglas and Tropical North Queensland are currently accessible and most tourism operations in these regions are open for business. This includes beaches, island resorts, accommodation providers, tours and attractions.

Most tourism operations on the Sunshine Coast and Fraser Coast are currently open; however localised flooding has affected road access in some of these areas. For latest road conditions visit http://131940.qld.gov.au/

With the exception of Rockhampton Airport, all Queensland airports are currently open. For those travelling by road, please visit http://131940.qld.gov.au/ for the latest updates on road closures and travel information.

Please contact your travel agent, accommodation, attraction or tour provider directly for concerns about any current or upcoming bookings you may have or before considering changing your travel plans.

For the latest flood news and updates Tourism Queensland recommends visiting the Queensland Government's official Queensland floods webpage: http://www.qld.gov.au/floods/ or visit the Bureau of Meteorology http://www.bom.gov.au/ to check weather forecasts for your holiday destination.

People wishing to directly help flood victims can donate to the Queensland Government Flood Assistance Appeal at www.qld.gov.au/floods
New South Wales Flood update
Parts of northern New South Wales are currently affected by flooding which has led to the closure of some major roads and highways.
People intending to travel to northern New South Wales by road via the Pacific or New England Highways are advised to postpone their trip until flood waters subside and roads reopen.
The Pacific Highway is currently closed from Halfway Creek in the south to Maclean in the north while the New England Highway is closed north of the Queensland border. The alternative route between Coffs Harbour and Grafton, The Orara Way, is also closed in both directions.
The Gwydir Highway is closed between Grafton and Glen Innes. The Bruxner Highway is closed between Casino and Tenterfield and the Summerland Way is closed from Grevillia to the Queensland border.
In western New South Wales, the Kamilaroi Highway is closed between Bourke and Brewarrina.

For further updates on road closures visit the Roads and Traffic Authority's website at www.livetrafficnsw.com.au or contact the RTA Traffic Information Line on 132 701.
The State Emergency Service is also advising people who are camping in northern New South Wales to establish camp sites on high ground well above areas liable to flooding and that those travelling with caravans should also be parked well away from rivers and streams. The SES advises that rising rivers are likely to cut access so campers and caravanners should consider whether to find a different camping area where access will not be lost.
Further details and updates on flood emergency procedures visit http://www.ses.nsw.gov.au/ and for Emergency Assistance in Floods & Storms
Phone: 13 2500

Griffith University named best tourism educator

WELCOME TO SYDNEY SEMINAR

La Chambre de Commerce Franco-Australienne de Sydney en conjonction avec Boomerang Australia Consulting organise un séminaire d'informations le jeudi 25 novembre au Exhibition Centre de Sydney: WELCOME TO SYDNEY: un seul lieu, une seule journée, toute l'expertise dont vous avez besoin pour réussir votre installation en Australie! Cliquer ici pour plus de renseignements. Nous contacter si vous avez des questions.

Sydney still one of World's Most Liveable Cities

Sydney took out tenth place in the Mercer Quality of Living Survey, scoring 106.3 points. Melbourne ranked 18th on 104.8 points. Perth ranked 21st, Canberra 26th, Adelaide 32nd and Brisbane 36th.

The 2010 survey, covering 221 cities, is based on 39 criteria, including political, socio-economic, environmental, health, education, and transport.

In Mercer's eco-city ranking list, Adelaide was ranked at number seven. Criteria for the eco-city ranking include air pollution, traffic congestion, water availability, waste removal and sewage treatment.

Australia Defies Global Slump

ENHANCE YOUR CAREER PROSPECTS, STUDY OVERSEAS!!

A recent survey conducted by "i-Graduate Research" on the advantages of studying abroad, indicated that companies prefer to employ staff who have undertaken studies in a foreign country.

The article "Global Horizons and the Role of Employers" revealed that more and more international companies seek to employ "internationalised" graduates and, in particular, show preference for those who have undertaken a period of study abroad. According to the companies, those who have studied in another country are often more in tune with (cognitive of) cultural differences, are more adept at working in a team with colleagues of other nationalities as well as being readily available to travel for work.

Will Archer, Director of i-Graduate who conducted the survey over 15000 graduates, states: "This research should serve to inform students and parents and make them aware that. for those who study or have work experience in a foreign country, there are many more opportunities in the working world. Nowadays, it is important for each university graduate to demonstrate that they have a mind which is pliable and ready to be confronted at an international level. It would seem that the best way to demonstrate this to future employers would be to include in their curriculum, an experience of study and work abroad".

UTS MBA among the world's top 100 MBA!

UTS International believes this is further proof of the quality education that UTS provides to its MBA students and wishes to thank you for helping to realise this successful ranking, along with the Learning and Teaching Performance Fund top rating that we received from the Australian Government.

FREE SCHOOLING FOR PHD STUDENTS DEPENDENTS!!

NSW Government Announces Free Schooling for PhD Student Dependants !

The Department of Education and Training in the state of NSW has announced that NSW government school education fees will now be waived for dependants of international postgraduate doctorate students (with the exception of King Abdullah Scholarship holders). The change will be implemented for the 2010 school year. Those students who are entitled to a fee waiver and have already paid education fees for their dependants in advance will receive a refund of these fees.

The fees applicable to dependants of other postgraduate (masters by research and coursework) international students will not increase in 2010 but will continue to be charged at the 2009 rate. NSW government school education fees will continue to be waived for dependants of international students who are in receipt of a fully funded scholarship from the Australian government or from a government-funded Australian university.
Further information about fees for dependants of international students in NSW government schools can be found on the NSW Department of Education and Training website.

Contact us if you are planning to apply for a PHD.

Ne manquez pas le prochain COOEE au Side Bar mardi 4 mai !!! / Do not miss the next COOEE at the Side Bar ont the 4th of May !!!!

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=112316245470263 

AUSTRALIAN CITIES AMONG THE MOST LIVEABLE CITIES IN THE WORLD!!!

DAYLIGHT SAVING IN AUSTRALIA COMING SOON!!!

University of Sydney Nutures World Class Talkers

Steve Hind, ranked the No 2 debater in the world and an arts-law student, and Chris Croke, ranked No 5 and a student of social science and law, prevailed in the final. It was Sydney's fifth victory in the World Universities Debating Championship; the university has now won more championships than any other university.

Some 240 universities entered the competition this year, which is based on British parliamentary debating.

REUNION D'INFORMATION AVEC ACU NATIONAL LYON

Nous sommes ravis d'organiser une réunion d'information le 23 mars de 11h  à midi au café Chères Cousines avec la représentante de l'université ACU National Louise Howie. Cette université australienne publique offre des carrières dans toutes les disciplines (niveau Licence et Master) et compte 3 campus: Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane.

Merci de confirmer votre présence aupres de notre bureau de Lyon Marlene Guillemaut à france@boomerangaustralia.com ou tel: 04 78 24 22 13.

Adresse  Chères Cousines: 23 Rue Bugeaud, 69006 Lyon (métro FOCH)
Tel: 04 78 52 03 29

ICMS Sydney recognized as a leader in Sustainable Business Management!

"At the International College of Management, Sydney, we practice and promote corporate social responsibility to ensure our business leaders of tomorrow go on to have a direct and sustainable benefit to the community in which they live and work. The award for Excellence in Sustainable Business Management is particularly important to us, as it acknowledges the College's contribution to the community through projects run with charities such as Bear Cottage, and the Hop Skip and Jump shuttle service as well as our work with Djarragung College, in Australia's north," said Frank Prestipino, Managing Director of ICMS.

If you wish to enrol in this university, please contact us!

INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS PERFORM LIKE LOCAL STUDENTS!

In an analysis of 195,694 students, it was shown that international students pass 91.6% of what they attempt, while Australian students' pass rate is 92%. This proves the high academic support given to international students during their studies.

The research by IDP Education was drawn from data supplied by the Universities of Sydney, Queensland, Adelaide, Western Australia, New South Wales, and Melbourne, Monash University and the Australian National University.

SI VOUS ETES A LYON, LISEZ CE MESSAGE

Une représentante de l'université UNISA sera présente à Lyon au mois de novembre. Si vous êtes interéssés par des études à Adelaide, South Australia, merci de retrouver Melissa Waniarcha pour une réunion d'information sur les Bachelors, Masters….

le mercredi 25 novembre
au café Chères Cousines
23 Rue Bugeaud. LYON (pas loin du métro Foch)
à 10h30.

Merci de réserver auprès de Marlène Guillemaut à france@boomerangaustralia.com ou tél 06 50659970

UNIVERSITY OF WOLLONGONG in Top 2% of World Universities

The recent release of The Times Higher Education - QS World University Rankings reinforces UOW's position in the top 2% of the world's 20,000 universities. UOW Vice-Chancellor, Professor Gerard Sutton, said there were always fluctuations from year to year within the rankings tables but UOW has consistently remained within the top 2 per cent tier. Read more about UOW's QS World University Rankings result.

UOW has a campus in Wollongong and their Sydney Business School in the heart of Sydney city. If you wish to enrol in an Undergraduate or Postgraduate programme at UOW, please contact us!

IMPROVEMENTS FOR INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS IN AUSTRALIA

Up to 30 international students had the opportunity to discuss issues affecting their experience of studying in Australia at the Student Round Table to be held at Parliament House in Canberra on September 14 and 15.

Participants will reflect the wide diversity of nationalities and cultures of the 190 countries that make up Australia's international student community, and will be drawn from different education sectors, states and territories. Students will be able to put forward ideas and subsequent outcomes will be discussed with State and Territory Education Ministers at the inaugural meeting of the Ministerial Council on Tertiary Education and Employment in November.

Australia's Minister for Education, Julia Gillard, has also announced the establishment of a student hotline - 1300 363 079 - to enable international students to anonymously raise any concerns they might have during their stay in Australia.

Australian Universities actively forge their presence in Europe: Australian institutions have established 1736 formal links (up from 1413 in 2003) with European universities, covering student exchange, study abroad, staff exchange and academic-research collaboration. Just a few examples: - Monash University's Prato centre in Italy attracts students from all corners including Europe, Israel, America and Canada. Edith Cowan University (ECU) runs a joint Bachelor of Communication with Berghs School of Communication in Stockholm, Sweden, while Victoria University has a Bachelor of Business program with the Angell Business School in Freiburg, Germany. This helps the path to qualification equivalences and understanding between the Australian and European education systems.

This is the evidence that the Australian Government is committed and actively working hard so that the quality of Education in Australia is assured and that Australia is a safe and excellent study destination.

THE RULES OF STUDYING OVERSEAS

We always think that studying in neighbouring countries makes it easier but the UK government has toughened the immigration requirements for international students and it makes it easier now to study in Australia !!

Click here to read an article about the difficulties you will encounter to go and study in UK. If you choose Australia, don't hesitate to contact us here in French, English, Italian or Spanish!!

UNIVERSITY OF WOLLONGONG IN THE HEADLINES!!

AUSTRALIAN VISA FEES ON THE RISE!!

Bad news!! Most Australian visa fees will considerably increase from 1 July: the student visa will be at AU$565 and the Working Holiday Visa at AU$270.

Read more

NEW HEALTH REQUIREMENTS FOR STUDENT VISAS!

We have good news! If you come from Western European countries, the Australian Department of Immigration does not require medical examinations and X-ray whatever the length of your stay apart for French Polynesia, New Caledonia,Spain and Portugal.

Click here for further information and other countries not mentioned above.

LATEST UPDATE SWINE FLU IN AUSTRALIA

We would like to update you in details about the Swine Flu Pandemic and the situation in Australia. So far the state of VICTORIA has confirmed around 1000 cases but the other states are not hit yet . The Australian government has organised measures to protect other states. Most airports also have detectors to put people with fever or fly in quarantine.

We are based in Sydney and we can confirm that we are safe here and that most people take precautions to avoid further stress.

INCREASE IN IELTS FEES

FLIGHT DISCOUNTS TO AUSTRALIA UNTIL 31 may 2009!

GRIFFITH UNIVERSITY REGISTERED AS AACSB!

The Graduate Business School at Griffith University has joined the famous AACSB Club and is now among the best Business Schools in the world.

To top it all, the Griffith MBA has received a 5-Star rating from the Graduate Management Association of Australia (GMAA) for the 6th consecutive year, from 2002 - 2007. Griffith is the only Queensland university to have consistently been rated 5-Star since the GMAA began its independent ranking six years ago -1.5 yr program).

If you are willing to study a MBA in Australia, please contact us at study@boomerangaustralia.com !

AUSTRALIA IS AMONG THE CHEAPEST DESTINATION FOR ENGLISH TRAINING!

According to the lastest global survey organized by the Language Travel Magazine, Ireland is now the most expensive destination to learn English, by comparison with average tuition prices in other countries; the UK is pipped into second position. Meanwhile, Malta continues to offer the cheapest courses in dollar terms. Agents continue to be an important source of student recruitment for all schools, but are most important in New Zealand (78 per cent) and least important to Italian language schools (30 per cent). Australia is among the cheapest destination for English tuitions, even in front of New Zealand !

Please click here to read the details of the survey

KANGAROOS TEACHING US ABOUT GENES!!

Marsupial genomics are important in identifying the role of human genes because marsupials diverged from other mammal species about 148 million years ago, and there are large pieces of the human genome present in the kangaroo genome. And finally, after more than four years, the genome of the kangaroo has been mapped.

Early findings from the project, the first of its kind in Australia, have helped explain genetic puzzles such as the sex determination gene and the origin of human blood proteins. Clinically, the discovery of a new hormonal pathway is helping to explain rare human medical conditions such as congenital adrenal hyperplasia.

In addition, the marsupial has the ability to enter embryonic diapause in which it can suspend development for up to 11 months; scentists say the implications for cancer research are significant as the genes involved in embryonic diapause might be harnessed to switch off cancer.

BOOMERANG AUSTRALIA STUDIES ET LE 4L TROPHY

L'Australie et Boomerang Australia Studies seront au rendez vous du 4L Trophy organisé par DELOITTE et auquel participent plus de 1000 équipages, tous étudiants de France ou autres pays européens d’écoles supérieures.  Un de nos anciens étudiants Victor Glorion sera un des 1000 pilotes et nous avons décidé de sponsoriser son aventure dans  la belle Clara qui sera peinte en drapeau australien et parsemée de kangourous !!

Le but est de traverser toute la France jusqu’au fin fond du désert marocain, en 4L, à partir du 19 février, pour amener des fournitures scolaires aux enfants dépourvus. La couverture media sera quotidienne et complète.

Pour suivre les évènements et encourager Victor, cliquer sur www.4ltrophy.com ou http://lescompagnonsdelatlas.over-blog.com

L'AUSTRALIE SAMEDI 24 Janvier SUR FRANCE 5

L'émission « Echappées Belles » sur France 5 se consacrera sur l'Australie ce samedi 24 janvier à 20h35 !

Saviez-vous que Boomerang Australia Studies a été impliqué dans l'organisation de leur section sur la ville de Sydney ? Alors suivez 2 de nos étudiants venus sur un visa Working Holiday : Dorothée et Nicolas. France, directrice de Boomerang Australia Studies apparaîtra également ainsi que d'anciens étudiants maintenant résidents ou d'autre immigrants qui vous feront découvrir Sydney avec leur propre regard.

Si vous ratez l'émission, elle sera retransmise sur le net pendant 15 jours au lien suivant : http://www.france5.fr/echappees-belles/. Cliquez sur « L'émission de la semaine en vidéo ».

Australia, the movie

Don't miss the Movie Australia! It is on screen now all over the world! It will give you an idea of the amazing beauty of this wonderful country.

Blockbuster movie Australia, directed by Baz Luhrman, is the number one in Australian cinemas, drawing in AU$14.6 (EUR7.2m) at the box office. Australia's most expensive film ever made, a World War II drama about an English aristocrat, a cattle drover, an Aboriginal child and a cattle drive across Australia's stunning outback, stars Nicole Kidman and Hugh Jackman, who was recently christened "Sexiest Man Alive" by the USA's People magazine.

Luhrman previously directed Moulin Rouge, Romeo & Juliet and Strictly Ballroom. Out in France today. Christmas Eve!

For further information about the movie or see the trailer, click here

Australia Tops Prosperity Index

Australian dollar hits 2-year low!

Have a look at our website and contact us !!

5 Stars for UniSA MBA

UniSA’s Master of Business Administration (MBA) program is now the highest ranked in the State and among the country’s top ten with a five-star rating in the 2009 Good Universities Guide released this week.

The rankings are determined by the Graduate Management Association of Australia based on its assessment of the standard and value of a program, and are considered one of the nation’s most highly regarded guides to MBA selection.

The Good Universities Guide announcement follows the Australian Financial Review’s BOSS magazine’s latest ranking of MBA programs which rated the UniSA program seventh nationally.

UniSA MBA is now the highest ranked MBA in South Australia - both by the Good Universities Guide and by BOSS magazine. The strength of the program is its focus on flexibility and practical application – qualities which resonate strongly with the business world.

“The five-star ranking further recognises the benefits of our practical and student-focused approach to helping students become better managers and future business and community leaders,” the Program Director, Mr Bob Gilliver said. “We also build maximum flexibility into our study modes that fit with people’s lives. Students can complete their MBA, while working and balancing their personal lives, through a combination of night classes, intensive sessions, on-line courses and overseas studies.”

University of Wollongong tops country for learning and teaching citations!

Top stars for Swinburne

Australian Universities Ranked Third in World!!

GREAT NEWS: ONE SCHOLARSHIP AVAILABLE FOR A BACHELOR or MASTER DEGREE in Melbourne

FOR WHOEVER IS IN PERTH!!

NATIONAL CELEBRATION OF THE CHINESE NEW YEAR 2008 in AUSTRALIA!

AUSTRALIA DAY LONG WEEKEND 26 to 28 January inclusive

Agriculture Graduates To Reap Rewards in Australia!!

Australia’s greenest universities

University of Sydney leads science rankings

GRIFFITH UNIVERSITY IN FOCUS

SOCIAL NETWORKING IN SYDNEY

Sydney e-commerce company means (big) business

Boost in graduate salaries in Australia

Australian scientist Brian Schmidt one of trio awarded Nobel Physics Prize

AUSTRALIA AT THE FOREFRONT OF SCIENCE DISCOVERY!

POSITIVE CHANGES FOR STUDENT VISAS IN 2012

The 41 recommendations made by Mr Michael Knight in the Knight Review of the Australian Student Visa Program look, in the first instance, to be very encouraging for the Australian University sector. With implementation of the streamlined visa processing times, post study work rights and improved integrity measures, the Knight Review reforms should lead to increased interest from international students looking at Australia as a study destination.

The Knight Review is still being analysed by universities . It is anticipated that it will take some time before the full implications become clear, with implementation of the recommendations not due until sometime in 2012.

The main significant change will be about granting a "Post Study Work Visa" to international students willing to work in Australia after obtaining an Australian universitiy degree. It will be only valid for full time studies and applicable to Bachelor and Master degrees only (it does not include Graduate Certificates and Diplomas). International students meeting these requirements will be able to work between 2 to 4 years in Australia. It is supposed to be implemented in 2012, we will inform you immediately when the dates of application will be published. Read more.

70,000 years of Aboriginal settlement in Australia

FIVE Australian universities have been rated among the world's top 50

Eight Australian institutions made it into the top 100 - 23 are in the top 500 - in the QS World University Rankings, released on 5 September 2011.

The outstanding result has been welcomed by sector leaders. Top of the local league was the Australian National University, ranked 26 in the world, followed by the University of Melbourne at 31.

Universities Australia chief executive Glenn Withers said: "To have something like 60 per cent of Australian universities in the top 500 shows the strength of our system by world standards, given there are some 16,000 institutions. (But) we need to maintain that strength. "

We are looking for the base funding review and the way the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency are going to operate to help us maintain that strength in the system." Griffith University's deputy director, research policy, and QS board member Tony Sheil, said the rankings were "capturing more up-and-coming universities, especially from the fast-growing economies like China, Hong Kong, Singapore and South Korea".

This was in contrast to one of its rivals, the Academic Ranking of World Universities, previously known as the Shanghai Jiao Tong, whose methodology is heavily weighted towards research performance and tends to favour older universities. "The good news for Australia is that it performs very well on both rankings - our universities conform to what some call the global university model," Mr Sheil said. "(However) QS does need to have a closer look at the data accuracy contained in several indicators."

The QS methodology allocates a 40 per cent weighting for academic reputation, gauged via a worldwide questionnaire, 10 per cent for reputation among employers, 20 per cent for student-to-staff ratio, 20 for citations per academic staff member, and 5 per cent each for international staff and international students.

"In whichever evaluations you refer to in recent times, the QS World University Rankings by Subject, The Excellence in Research for Australia initiative, or the Shanghai rankings, Melbourne keeps getting stronger," QS vice-president John Molony said. Mr Gallagher agreed that while "there are different perspectives and flaws in all rankings systems, the consistent message is that they reinforce different groupings, especially the top tier".

The field of global rankings for universities is intensely competitive. QS claims to be the most extensive of its kind, evaluating more than 700 universities. Its results are the second set to be published in the current rankings season. The recently published ARWU rankings ranked the Go8 universities at the top of the local league. The final big-name global rankings for the year, the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2011, conducted with Thomson Reuters, are due out next month.

ACT OF KINDNESS SYDNEY 2011

Sydneysiders may have a reputation for being brash, busy and preoccupied but sometimes they do go out of their way for strangers!!

Sharing Birthday food with homelessmen in the park, offering someone who's coughing at the train station a tissue and using Facebook to return an expensive smartphone it it owner are just a few stories Sydneysiders have submitted to a public art Project launching on Friday 23 September for the City of Sydney's Art and about Festival.

For the 24th Kaldor Public Art Project in partnership with Art & About, celebrated UK artist Michael Landy has created a major new work, Acts of Kindness, for Sydney. Acts of Kindness explores the meaning of kindness in today’s fast-paced world, focusing on the simple everyday gestures of compassion and generosity that occur throughout the city streets and often go unnoticed. Stories of kindness have been collected from people across Sydney to form the basis for Landy’s ambitious new artwork.

Visit lower Martin Place to see Landy’s 13-metre installation, mapping the Sydney CBD and indicating where the 200 stories of kindness have been placed throughout the city streets. Participate and send us your story of kindness for the online component of Acts of Kindness. Michael Landy is one of Britain’s best-known artists and is recognised as having created some of the most significant public art projects of the past decade. One of the Young British Artists of the 1990s, Landy became famous for his monumental project Break Down in 2001, in which he systematically destroyed all of his personal belongings, from his birth certificate to his car, in a former department store in London’s Oxford Street. Landy’s other major projects include Semi-Detached (2004) for which he reproduced his parents’ house to scale inside the galleries of Tate Britain, and Art Bin (2010) where he invited artists and members of the public to dispose of works of art, receiving contributions from fellow artists Damien Hirst, Tracey Emin and Gillian Wearing. Landy’s works explore the experience of life in a consumer world, reflecting on contemporary values, from economic worth to the importance of human relationships.

For Acts of Kindness, Landy has adapted the visual language of mapped directions, store logos and urban street signage that characterise the commerce and business of the Sydney city streets, to present his own interpretation of the city, focusing on the social interactions of its inhabitants and their stories.

Acts of Kindness, 2011
23 September - 23 October 2011
Installation in lower Martin Place, Sydney, and across 200 CBD sites
Read More

DAYLIGHT SAVING IN AUSTRALIA ON 2 OCTOBER 2011

Daylight saving ends again in Australia on Sunday 1 April 2012, at 3:00 am when clocks will be put back one hour.

For future summers, daylight saving in New South Wales begins at 2:00 am, Eastern Standard Time, on the first Sunday in October and ends at 3:00 am Eastern Daylight Saving Time on the first Sunday in April. Read More

Wayne Swan named world's best Treasurer by Euromoney magazine

Vote for Australian icons to be named world’s most wondrous!

Mentors@Macquarie on hand to ease first-year stress

Mentors@Macquarie assists over 5000 international and domestic students each year as they take their first steps into study at Macquarie University.

The program starts with a week-long Academic Orientation before classes commence in February, after which first-year students are provided regular contact and assistance from mentors throughout their entire first year.

In August, Mentors@Macquarie hosted "Drop in B4 U Drop Out" - a joint initiative with Campus Wellbeing that provided support and information for students who were considering dropping out of a unit, or out of university altogether.

Dedicated Mentors@Macquarie Program Coordinator Kelly Sharpless says initiatives like these were part of the aim of being "one of the best mentor programs in Australia."

Mentor and international student Jack Wai-Him Yip says the program benefits the mentors as much as the students they assist.

"As an international student, I try to utilise every opportunity that can help me grow from my time in Australia," he says.

Mentors@Macquarie man the Mentor help desk in the Macquarie University Library.
"Mentors@Macquarie enables me to meet and help students from all over the world. My involvement has not just enriched the diversity of the program but it has helped me gain an insight into how awesome Australian culture is."

Participation in the program also enhances a student's employment prospects after graduation by building on interpersonal, communication skills and team building skills as well as leadership abilities.

"Mentoring offers opportunities that I can't find in other programs," says Bachelor of Commerce student Grace Zheng. "You can discover and develop your talent, which is then showcased in blogs and videos, and celebrated at the Mentor Awards Night."

INCREASE IN IELTS FEES

AUSTRALIAN THE HAPPIEST PEOPLE ON EARTH!!

l'OCDE a créé ce nouvel indice interactif qui permet aux individus de mesurer et comparer leur vie en allant au-delà des chiffres du PIB traditionnels. Cet indice de "vivre mieux" permet aux citoyens de comparer les niveaux de vie dans 34 pays, en se basant sur 11 dimensions comme le logement, les revenus, l'emploi, l'éducation, la satisfaction de la vie et la santé.

Les résultats montrent que les australiens sont les plus satisfaits de leurs vies, suivis par le Canada, la Suède, la Nouvelle Zélande, la Norvège, le Danemark, les Etats-Unis, la Suisse, les Pays-Bas et le Luxembourg. La France est dans les profondeurs du classement, confirmant la réputation de mécontents des français.

Les australiens ont le taux de satisfaction global le plus élevé avec 75%, spécifiquement dans les secteurs clés du bien être. Le revenu moyen des foyers australiens reste supérieur à la moyenne des pays de l'OCDE, et ce, même s'il a tendance à diminuer avec l'augmentation des biens de consommation et du logement, même constatation pour l'espérance de vie et la qualité de la vie en général. Les femmes ont plus de chances de retrouver un emploi après un arrêt pour élever leurs enfants, ce qui laisse suggérer que l'équilibre entre la vie personnelle et la carrière est mieux respecté.

Enfin, les australiens travailleraient également moins que les autres pays de l'OCDE ce qui renforcerait l'équilibre entre la vie et le travail, concept si cher aux australiens, le fameux "work-life balance"!

Australia scores high on quality of life

An international survey has ranked Australia's lifestyle as one of the best in the world.

The Better Life Index compiled by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) ranks Australia highly in the areas of income, life expectancy, health, housing, employment, the environment, education quality and life satisfaction.

* Income: The average household income is US$27,039 (EUR18,735), well above the OECD average of US$22,284 (EUR15,441)

* Education: 70% of adults aged 25 to 64 have earned the equivalent of a high-school diploma. Australia is a top-performing country in terms of the quality of its educational system. The average student scored 515 out of 600 in reading ability according to the latest PISA student-assessment programme, higher than the OECD average.

* Employment: Almost 72% of people aged 15 to 64 have a paid job, and 71% of mothers are employed after their children begin school, suggesting that women are able to successfully balance family and career.

* Health & Environment: Life expectancy at birth in Australia is 81.5 years, more than two years above the OECD average. The level of atmospheric PM10 - tiny air pollutant particles small enough to enter and cause damage to the lungs - is 14 micrograms per cubic meter, and is much lower than levels found in most OECD countries.

* Satisfaction: 75% of people in Australia said they were satisfied with their life, much higher than the OECD average of 59%.

AUSTRALIAN VISAS ON THE RISE

BOND LAW ACHIEVES MOOTING SUCCESS ON THE WORLD STAGE

Réunions d'information par UFE Avenir à Sydney!

DENNIS NONA REPRESENTED IN LYON!

The new museum Musée des Confluences being built in Lyon at the crossing of the Rhone and Saone Rivers and with the objective to hold amazing world collections and discussions about arts has chosen an Australian Indigenous artist to commission a giant statue in front of the museum. The artist name is Dennis Nona from the Torres Strait Islands who was exhibited earlier this year in Paris at the Australian Embassy Rue Jean Rey and soon at the museum of Rochefort from 3 June to 30 september 2011.

Infos Museum

Video museum

Infos Artist

RECOGNITION OF INDIGENOUS AUSTRALIANS IN THE CONSTITUTION

Nowadays many Australians would be surprised to know that the Constitution still includes the possibility for discrimination based on your race, and ignores Australia's first peoples and their role as custodians of the world's oldest continuing culture. 

The Australian people have the power to update the Constitution through a referendum so that it better reflects our shared values. In the latest referendum, 75% of Australians have voted positively to review the constitution and include the contribution of Indigenous Australians.

In light of this, the Australian Government has appointed The Panel to consult with the people and lead a nationwide discussion on the issue.

By December 2011, after a period of consideration, discussion and consultation with all Australians, the Panel will advise the government about the options for improving the Constitution to reflect modern Australian values and for the first time formally recognising the unique place of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in the history of Australia.

You Me Unity is the national conversation about updating our Constitution to recognise our first peoples and define equality for all Australians. Infos.

ADELAIDE'S REPUTATION ON THE RISE

While Adelaide's cost of living still ranks as the number one reason students come from abroad, quality of education has risen from 14th to the second most popular motive for choosing South Australia as a study destination in the last three years.

Adelaide also ranked more highly than any other capital city when it came to international students' overall perceptions.

Employment, Training and Further Education Minister Jack Snelling said it was hard to argue with a finding that showed nearly 60 per cent of students surveyed recognised Adelaide as Australia's "learning city".

"The survey endorses Adelaide's position as one of the country's, and indeed the world's, great learning cities and goes a long way to encouraging prospective overseas students and their families to put their faith in South Australia's international education system," Mr Snelling said.

"Adelaide's cost of living has always been a key component of attracting international students but it is pleasing to see our growing reputation as a quality education provider reflected in the findings."

The 2010 StudyAdelaide Brand Health Report surveyed 3500 current and prospective students and 200 parents about their experiences and perceptions of living and studying in South Australia.

The top 10 reasons for choosing Adelaide compared to 2007 were:

Cost of living
Quality of education
Safer place to live
Better place to live
Smaller city
Lifestyle
Family / friends live there
Tuition fees are lower
Best location for my course
Friendly / welcoming

Adelaide ranked the highest among international students perceptions of all Australian capital cities. 88.6 per cent of survey respondents perceived Adelaide as a good or excellent place to study, followed by Melbourne (66.4), Sydney (60.3), Brisbane (50.2), Perth (48.1) and Canberra (38.7)

Key findings of the study also included:
Adelaide has a high retention rate with 67 per cent of current students indicating they will continue to study here;
Three-quarters of current students indicated that Adelaide was their first preference for their current studies; and
The majority of students surveyed agreed that the Adelaide community is friendly and welcoming.

Prospect Research and Marketing Principal and author of the findings Robert Lawrence said the Brand Health Study results indicated Adelaide was a very attractive destination when it comes to international study.

"We set out to determine overseas students' attitudes and perceptions of Adelaide in comparison to other Australian cities and to determine the level of satisfaction with Adelaide as a study destination," Mr Lawrence said.

"What we found was that Adelaide rates highly in regard to quality of education, cost of living and friendliness and every time affordability, safety and education were mentioned in the survey Adelaide rated highly."

The Study Adelaide brand also received strong recognition with 50 per cent of students indicating they were aware of the brand, compared to just 7 per cent three years earlier.

THE UNIVERSITY OF SYDNEY RECEIVED AN AMAZING GIFT!

The United States-based donor flew to Sydney last year to give the university the Picasso painting, "Jeune fille endormie", on the condition it was sold to fund scientific research.

The painting by the Spanish-born co-founder of cubism is expected to fetch up to $18 million when it goes to auction in June, making it one of the largest gifts to the university in its history. The artwork, only 40 centimetres wide, depicts Picasso's lover and muse, Marie-Therese Walter, in vivid colours.It was painted in 1935 at Picasso's French country home, Chateau de Boisgeloup.

Ronan Sulich, the Australian representative for Christie's auction house in London, which has the job of promoting the painting before it goes to auction, says it has rarely been seen by the public until now.

"It's a picture of Picasso's mistress Marie-Therese Walter with her arms crossed and her head sort of leaning on her arm asleep," he said.

"It was actually acquired by Walter Chrysler Jnr after it was painted and then it was sold by him to the current donor," he said. "It's only been seen in public once in the Museum of Modern Art in New York and then on tour in the US in 1941, and since then it's been tucked away in a private collection."

Sydney University vice-chancellor Michael Spence says the bequest came with three conditions.

"First, that the donor remain anonymous, second that the painting be sold and the proceeds be used for scientific research, and third, that the gift be recognised in particular ways which we will be announcing in due course," he said.

"I have learnt more about the fine art market in the last couple of months than I thought I would ever learn, and it's a very exciting and interesting world."

"This is an unusual project because it will involve everything from economics of grocery shopping all the way through to the physiology of the metabolic disorders," he said. "It's a very holistic, pan-university approach to these really pressing social problems. It's a project into which the Government has already put $95 million, the total cost of which will be around $400 million, and one we think is very important not only for Australia but also for the world more generally."

IT TOOL TO FAST-TRACK INVESTIGATIONS

The UniSA software can fast-track data extraction from the massive amounts of unstructured information in counter terrorism data bases, including hard disks and mobile phones, and identify hidden patterns and relationships.

The application will be used by Australian law enforcement agencies for criminal investigations, but could also be applicable in the commercial world. UniSA Division of IT, Engineering and the Environment research dean Jill Slay, who also heads up the university's Forensic Computing lab, says the tool could save weeks and months on investigations.

AUSTRALIA'S RUNAWAY IT SUCCESS STORY

Australian students among best in the OECD

PISA, a major international student assessment, tests the abilities of 15-year-olds in 65 countries every three years; with the focus of the assessment on one of the three major domains of reading (2000/2009), mathematics (2003) and science (2006).

PISA 2009 involved 470,000 students internationally, including 14,250 Australian students from 353 schools.

* Australian students performed well above the OECD average in all three assessment areas and are amongst the best in the OECD.
* Australia came nineth in reading; tenth in science; and fifteenth in maths, out performing the UK and USA. Of the European countries, only Finland consistently ranked higher than Australia across the three categories.

The PISA 2009 report is available at www.pisa.oecd.org. The PISA 2009 Australian national report is available at www.acer.edu.au/ozpisa.

The major reason why Australian results are high is the teaching methods combining learning and creative thinking, engaging students in debates.

STUDENTS SATISFACTION IN AUSTRALIA

International students around the world have to make some significant decisions about their education and their future. Studying a degree overseas represents a weighty investment. With so many factors to consider, choosing where to study can be both a daunting and an exciting prospect.

A recent national survey of international students studying in Australia (conducted by the Australian Government) showed the top four factors influencing tertiary students' decision of where to study were as follows: quality of teaching (94%); reputation of the qualification from their chosen education institution (93%); personal safety (92%), and reputation of the institution (91%).

This 2010 survey also confirms that international students currently studying in Australia have done the right choice: 86% of all international student respondents were satisfied or very satisfied with their overall living experience in Australia and 84% were satisfied with their study experience. 

The overall satisfaction with the information, advice and support provided to students on arrival, as reported by both HE and VET respondents to the 2010 survey, was 86%. The HE sector recorded a satisfaction rating of 86%, while the public VET sector recorded 87%, the same as for private VET.

All these figures confirm that studying in Australian universities offers students a rigorous and rewarding educational experience. Studying in an Australian university makes students globally employable, with strongly-set academic and professional skills. These skills are coupled with an enriching cross-cultural experience, brought about by the interactions and connections forged in a global classroom. Moreover Australian universities have built a strong international reputation for excellence and quality in the educational programs on offer. Australian degrees blend a good marriage between the generic nature of American undergraduate education and the specialised nature of British undergraduate educations.

As a summary, Australia is still the right study destination if you are looking at quality education, a safe country, good quality of life and excellent support during your studies.

AUSTRALIA AGAIN ON THE LIST OF BEST COUNTRIES TO LIVE IN!

QUEENSLAND FLOODS UPDATES

The Australian Government is providing assistance to communities affected by the floods and will continue to work with the Queensland Government in providing support.

While visitors are urged to avoid the flood affected areas of Queensland and other states, Australia remains open for business and continues to welcome travellers.

The Australian continent is very large and whilst the floods are widespread, they are in fact restricted to a relatively small part of the country. The vast majority of the major international travel destinations in Australia, including Cairns and the Great Barrier Reef, Sydney, Melbourne and Uluru are all completely unaffected.

Below is some up to date detailed information from Queensland and New South Wales. Please feel free to provide this to your industry partners and clients.

Customers should also be advised to contact their travel agent, accommodation or tour provider directly if they have any concerns about any current bookings, or before considering changing their travel plans.

Tourism Australia is providing daily updates and links to official Queensland Government information on its consumer website www.australia.com, as well as its trade and corporate websites. Our international offices are also providing this information to consumer, media and trade enquiries.
Queensland Flood update
Access to parts of Queensland is currently affected by flooding. If you are planning to visit southern Queensland in the immediate future you should check official sources for up to date information about access to those areas.

Parts of Brisbane, Central Queensland, the Queensland Outback, Southern Downs and Granite Belt, Toowoomba and Darling Downs, Western Downs, South Burnett and the Lockyer Valley are currently affected by flooding and access is restricted in these areas. For information on latest conditions visit www.qld.gov.au/floods or http://131940.qld.gov.au for the latest road updates.

Most tourism businesses in Bundaberg, Gladstone, Agnes Water and 1770, Bargara beaches, Lady Elliot Island and Lady Musgrave Island, are now open and returning to normal business operation. There may however be some limited local road access.

The Gold Coast, Whitsundays, Mackay, Townsville and Cairns, Port Douglas and Tropical North Queensland are currently accessible and most tourism operations in these regions are open for business. This includes beaches, island resorts, accommodation providers, tours and attractions.

Most tourism operations on the Sunshine Coast and Fraser Coast are currently open; however localised flooding has affected road access in some of these areas. For latest road conditions visit http://131940.qld.gov.au/

With the exception of Rockhampton Airport, all Queensland airports are currently open. For those travelling by road, please visit http://131940.qld.gov.au/ for the latest updates on road closures and travel information.

Please contact your travel agent, accommodation, attraction or tour provider directly for concerns about any current or upcoming bookings you may have or before considering changing your travel plans.

For the latest flood news and updates Tourism Queensland recommends visiting the Queensland Government's official Queensland floods webpage: http://www.qld.gov.au/floods/ or visit the Bureau of Meteorology http://www.bom.gov.au/ to check weather forecasts for your holiday destination.

People wishing to directly help flood victims can donate to the Queensland Government Flood Assistance Appeal at www.qld.gov.au/floods
New South Wales Flood update
Parts of northern New South Wales are currently affected by flooding which has led to the closure of some major roads and highways.
People intending to travel to northern New South Wales by road via the Pacific or New England Highways are advised to postpone their trip until flood waters subside and roads reopen.
The Pacific Highway is currently closed from Halfway Creek in the south to Maclean in the north while the New England Highway is closed north of the Queensland border. The alternative route between Coffs Harbour and Grafton, The Orara Way, is also closed in both directions.
The Gwydir Highway is closed between Grafton and Glen Innes. The Bruxner Highway is closed between Casino and Tenterfield and the Summerland Way is closed from Grevillia to the Queensland border.
In western New South Wales, the Kamilaroi Highway is closed between Bourke and Brewarrina.

For further updates on road closures visit the Roads and Traffic Authority's website at www.livetrafficnsw.com.au or contact the RTA Traffic Information Line on 132 701.
The State Emergency Service is also advising people who are camping in northern New South Wales to establish camp sites on high ground well above areas liable to flooding and that those travelling with caravans should also be parked well away from rivers and streams. The SES advises that rising rivers are likely to cut access so campers and caravanners should consider whether to find a different camping area where access will not be lost.
Further details and updates on flood emergency procedures visit http://www.ses.nsw.gov.au/ and for Emergency Assistance in Floods & Storms
Phone: 13 2500

Griffith University named best tourism educator

WELCOME TO SYDNEY SEMINAR

La Chambre de Commerce Franco-Australienne de Sydney en conjonction avec Boomerang Australia Consulting organise un séminaire d'informations le jeudi 25 novembre au Exhibition Centre de Sydney: WELCOME TO SYDNEY: un seul lieu, une seule journée, toute l'expertise dont vous avez besoin pour réussir votre installation en Australie! Cliquer ici pour plus de renseignements. Nous contacter si vous avez des questions.

Sydney still one of World's Most Liveable Cities

Sydney took out tenth place in the Mercer Quality of Living Survey, scoring 106.3 points. Melbourne ranked 18th on 104.8 points. Perth ranked 21st, Canberra 26th, Adelaide 32nd and Brisbane 36th.

The 2010 survey, covering 221 cities, is based on 39 criteria, including political, socio-economic, environmental, health, education, and transport.

In Mercer's eco-city ranking list, Adelaide was ranked at number seven. Criteria for the eco-city ranking include air pollution, traffic congestion, water availability, waste removal and sewage treatment.

Australia Defies Global Slump

ENHANCE YOUR CAREER PROSPECTS, STUDY OVERSEAS!!

A recent survey conducted by "i-Graduate Research" on the advantages of studying abroad, indicated that companies prefer to employ staff who have undertaken studies in a foreign country.

The article "Global Horizons and the Role of Employers" revealed that more and more international companies seek to employ "internationalised" graduates and, in particular, show preference for those who have undertaken a period of study abroad. According to the companies, those who have studied in another country are often more in tune with (cognitive of) cultural differences, are more adept at working in a team with colleagues of other nationalities as well as being readily available to travel for work.

Will Archer, Director of i-Graduate who conducted the survey over 15000 graduates, states: "This research should serve to inform students and parents and make them aware that. for those who study or have work experience in a foreign country, there are many more opportunities in the working world. Nowadays, it is important for each university graduate to demonstrate that they have a mind which is pliable and ready to be confronted at an international level. It would seem that the best way to demonstrate this to future employers would be to include in their curriculum, an experience of study and work abroad".

UTS MBA among the world's top 100 MBA!

UTS International believes this is further proof of the quality education that UTS provides to its MBA students and wishes to thank you for helping to realise this successful ranking, along with the Learning and Teaching Performance Fund top rating that we received from the Australian Government.

FREE SCHOOLING FOR PHD STUDENTS DEPENDENTS!!

NSW Government Announces Free Schooling for PhD Student Dependants !

The Department of Education and Training in the state of NSW has announced that NSW government school education fees will now be waived for dependants of international postgraduate doctorate students (with the exception of King Abdullah Scholarship holders). The change will be implemented for the 2010 school year. Those students who are entitled to a fee waiver and have already paid education fees for their dependants in advance will receive a refund of these fees.

The fees applicable to dependants of other postgraduate (masters by research and coursework) international students will not increase in 2010 but will continue to be charged at the 2009 rate. NSW government school education fees will continue to be waived for dependants of international students who are in receipt of a fully funded scholarship from the Australian government or from a government-funded Australian university.
Further information about fees for dependants of international students in NSW government schools can be found on the NSW Department of Education and Training website.

Contact us if you are planning to apply for a PHD.

Ne manquez pas le prochain COOEE au Side Bar mardi 4 mai !!! / Do not miss the next COOEE at the Side Bar ont the 4th of May !!!!

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=112316245470263 

AUSTRALIAN CITIES AMONG THE MOST LIVEABLE CITIES IN THE WORLD!!!

DAYLIGHT SAVING IN AUSTRALIA COMING SOON!!!

University of Sydney Nutures World Class Talkers

Steve Hind, ranked the No 2 debater in the world and an arts-law student, and Chris Croke, ranked No 5 and a student of social science and law, prevailed in the final. It was Sydney's fifth victory in the World Universities Debating Championship; the university has now won more championships than any other university.

Some 240 universities entered the competition this year, which is based on British parliamentary debating.

REUNION D'INFORMATION AVEC ACU NATIONAL LYON

Nous sommes ravis d'organiser une réunion d'information le 23 mars de 11h  à midi au café Chères Cousines avec la représentante de l'université ACU National Louise Howie. Cette université australienne publique offre des carrières dans toutes les disciplines (niveau Licence et Master) et compte 3 campus: Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane.

Merci de confirmer votre présence aupres de notre bureau de Lyon Marlene Guillemaut à france@boomerangaustralia.com ou tel: 04 78 24 22 13.

Adresse  Chères Cousines: 23 Rue Bugeaud, 69006 Lyon (métro FOCH)
Tel: 04 78 52 03 29

ICMS Sydney recognized as a leader in Sustainable Business Management!

"At the International College of Management, Sydney, we practice and promote corporate social responsibility to ensure our business leaders of tomorrow go on to have a direct and sustainable benefit to the community in which they live and work. The award for Excellence in Sustainable Business Management is particularly important to us, as it acknowledges the College's contribution to the community through projects run with charities such as Bear Cottage, and the Hop Skip and Jump shuttle service as well as our work with Djarragung College, in Australia's north," said Frank Prestipino, Managing Director of ICMS.

If you wish to enrol in this university, please contact us!

INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS PERFORM LIKE LOCAL STUDENTS!

In an analysis of 195,694 students, it was shown that international students pass 91.6% of what they attempt, while Australian students' pass rate is 92%. This proves the high academic support given to international students during their studies.

The research by IDP Education was drawn from data supplied by the Universities of Sydney, Queensland, Adelaide, Western Australia, New South Wales, and Melbourne, Monash University and the Australian National University.

SI VOUS ETES A LYON, LISEZ CE MESSAGE

Une représentante de l'université UNISA sera présente à Lyon au mois de novembre. Si vous êtes interéssés par des études à Adelaide, South Australia, merci de retrouver Melissa Waniarcha pour une réunion d'information sur les Bachelors, Masters….

le mercredi 25 novembre
au café Chères Cousines
23 Rue Bugeaud. LYON (pas loin du métro Foch)
à 10h30.

Merci de réserver auprès de Marlène Guillemaut à france@boomerangaustralia.com ou tél 06 50659970

UNIVERSITY OF WOLLONGONG in Top 2% of World Universities

The recent release of The Times Higher Education - QS World University Rankings reinforces UOW's position in the top 2% of the world's 20,000 universities. UOW Vice-Chancellor, Professor Gerard Sutton, said there were always fluctuations from year to year within the rankings tables but UOW has consistently remained within the top 2 per cent tier. Read more about UOW's QS World University Rankings result.

UOW has a campus in Wollongong and their Sydney Business School in the heart of Sydney city. If you wish to enrol in an Undergraduate or Postgraduate programme at UOW, please contact us!

IMPROVEMENTS FOR INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS IN AUSTRALIA

Up to 30 international students had the opportunity to discuss issues affecting their experience of studying in Australia at the Student Round Table to be held at Parliament House in Canberra on September 14 and 15.

Participants will reflect the wide diversity of nationalities and cultures of the 190 countries that make up Australia's international student community, and will be drawn from different education sectors, states and territories. Students will be able to put forward ideas and subsequent outcomes will be discussed with State and Territory Education Ministers at the inaugural meeting of the Ministerial Council on Tertiary Education and Employment in November.

Australia's Minister for Education, Julia Gillard, has also announced the establishment of a student hotline - 1300 363 079 - to enable international students to anonymously raise any concerns they might have during their stay in Australia.

Australian Universities actively forge their presence in Europe: Australian institutions have established 1736 formal links (up from 1413 in 2003) with European universities, covering student exchange, study abroad, staff exchange and academic-research collaboration. Just a few examples: - Monash University's Prato centre in Italy attracts students from all corners including Europe, Israel, America and Canada. Edith Cowan University (ECU) runs a joint Bachelor of Communication with Berghs School of Communication in Stockholm, Sweden, while Victoria University has a Bachelor of Business program with the Angell Business School in Freiburg, Germany. This helps the path to qualification equivalences and understanding between the Australian and European education systems.

This is the evidence that the Australian Government is committed and actively working hard so that the quality of Education in Australia is assured and that Australia is a safe and excellent study destination.

THE RULES OF STUDYING OVERSEAS

We always think that studying in neighbouring countries makes it easier but the UK government has toughened the immigration requirements for international students and it makes it easier now to study in Australia !!

Click here to read an article about the difficulties you will encounter to go and study in UK. If you choose Australia, don't hesitate to contact us here in French, English, Italian or Spanish!!

UNIVERSITY OF WOLLONGONG IN THE HEADLINES!!

AUSTRALIAN VISA FEES ON THE RISE!!

Bad news!! Most Australian visa fees will considerably increase from 1 July: the student visa will be at AU$565 and the Working Holiday Visa at AU$270.

Read more

NEW HEALTH REQUIREMENTS FOR STUDENT VISAS!

We have good news! If you come from Western European countries, the Australian Department of Immigration does not require medical examinations and X-ray whatever the length of your stay apart for French Polynesia, New Caledonia,Spain and Portugal.

Click here for further information and other countries not mentioned above.

LATEST UPDATE SWINE FLU IN AUSTRALIA

We would like to update you in details about the Swine Flu Pandemic and the situation in Australia. So far the state of VICTORIA has confirmed around 1000 cases but the other states are not hit yet . The Australian government has organised measures to protect other states. Most airports also have detectors to put people with fever or fly in quarantine.

We are based in Sydney and we can confirm that we are safe here and that most people take precautions to avoid further stress.

INCREASE IN IELTS FEES

FLIGHT DISCOUNTS TO AUSTRALIA UNTIL 31 may 2009!

GRIFFITH UNIVERSITY REGISTERED AS AACSB!

The Graduate Business School at Griffith University has joined the famous AACSB Club and is now among the best Business Schools in the world.

To top it all, the Griffith MBA has received a 5-Star rating from the Graduate Management Association of Australia (GMAA) for the 6th consecutive year, from 2002 - 2007. Griffith is the only Queensland university to have consistently been rated 5-Star since the GMAA began its independent ranking six years ago -1.5 yr program).

If you are willing to study a MBA in Australia, please contact us at study@boomerangaustralia.com !

AUSTRALIA IS AMONG THE CHEAPEST DESTINATION FOR ENGLISH TRAINING!

According to the lastest global survey organized by the Language Travel Magazine, Ireland is now the most expensive destination to learn English, by comparison with average tuition prices in other countries; the UK is pipped into second position. Meanwhile, Malta continues to offer the cheapest courses in dollar terms. Agents continue to be an important source of student recruitment for all schools, but are most important in New Zealand (78 per cent) and least important to Italian language schools (30 per cent). Australia is among the cheapest destination for English tuitions, even in front of New Zealand !

Please click here to read the details of the survey

KANGAROOS TEACHING US ABOUT GENES!!

Marsupial genomics are important in identifying the role of human genes because marsupials diverged from other mammal species about 148 million years ago, and there are large pieces of the human genome present in the kangaroo genome. And finally, after more than four years, the genome of the kangaroo has been mapped.

Early findings from the project, the first of its kind in Australia, have helped explain genetic puzzles such as the sex determination gene and the origin of human blood proteins. Clinically, the discovery of a new hormonal pathway is helping to explain rare human medical conditions such as congenital adrenal hyperplasia.

In addition, the marsupial has the ability to enter embryonic diapause in which it can suspend development for up to 11 months; scentists say the implications for cancer research are significant as the genes involved in embryonic diapause might be harnessed to switch off cancer.

BOOMERANG AUSTRALIA STUDIES ET LE 4L TROPHY

L'Australie et Boomerang Australia Studies seront au rendez vous du 4L Trophy organisé par DELOITTE et auquel participent plus de 1000 équipages, tous étudiants de France ou autres pays européens d’écoles supérieures.  Un de nos anciens étudiants Victor Glorion sera un des 1000 pilotes et nous avons décidé de sponsoriser son aventure dans  la belle Clara qui sera peinte en drapeau australien et parsemée de kangourous !!

Le but est de traverser toute la France jusqu’au fin fond du désert marocain, en 4L, à partir du 19 février, pour amener des fournitures scolaires aux enfants dépourvus. La couverture media sera quotidienne et complète.

Pour suivre les évènements et encourager Victor, cliquer sur www.4ltrophy.com ou http://lescompagnonsdelatlas.over-blog.com

L'AUSTRALIE SAMEDI 24 Janvier SUR FRANCE 5

L'émission « Echappées Belles » sur France 5 se consacrera sur l'Australie ce samedi 24 janvier à 20h35 !

Saviez-vous que Boomerang Australia Studies a été impliqué dans l'organisation de leur section sur la ville de Sydney ? Alors suivez 2 de nos étudiants venus sur un visa Working Holiday : Dorothée et Nicolas. France, directrice de Boomerang Australia Studies apparaîtra également ainsi que d'anciens étudiants maintenant résidents ou d'autre immigrants qui vous feront découvrir Sydney avec leur propre regard.

Si vous ratez l'émission, elle sera retransmise sur le net pendant 15 jours au lien suivant : http://www.france5.fr/echappees-belles/. Cliquez sur « L'émission de la semaine en vidéo ».

Australia, the movie

Don't miss the Movie Australia! It is on screen now all over the world! It will give you an idea of the amazing beauty of this wonderful country.

Blockbuster movie Australia, directed by Baz Luhrman, is the number one in Australian cinemas, drawing in AU$14.6 (EUR7.2m) at the box office. Australia's most expensive film ever made, a World War II drama about an English aristocrat, a cattle drover, an Aboriginal child and a cattle drive across Australia's stunning outback, stars Nicole Kidman and Hugh Jackman, who was recently christened "Sexiest Man Alive" by the USA's People magazine.

Luhrman previously directed Moulin Rouge, Romeo & Juliet and Strictly Ballroom. Out in France today. Christmas Eve!

For further information about the movie or see the trailer, click here

Australia Tops Prosperity Index

Australian dollar hits 2-year low!

Have a look at our website and contact us !!

5 Stars for UniSA MBA

UniSA’s Master of Business Administration (MBA) program is now the highest ranked in the State and among the country’s top ten with a five-star rating in the 2009 Good Universities Guide released this week.

The rankings are determined by the Graduate Management Association of Australia based on its assessment of the standard and value of a program, and are considered one of the nation’s most highly regarded guides to MBA selection.

The Good Universities Guide announcement follows the Australian Financial Review’s BOSS magazine’s latest ranking of MBA programs which rated the UniSA program seventh nationally.

UniSA MBA is now the highest ranked MBA in South Australia - both by the Good Universities Guide and by BOSS magazine. The strength of the program is its focus on flexibility and practical application – qualities which resonate strongly with the business world.

“The five-star ranking further recognises the benefits of our practical and student-focused approach to helping students become better managers and future business and community leaders,” the Program Director, Mr Bob Gilliver said. “We also build maximum flexibility into our study modes that fit with people’s lives. Students can complete their MBA, while working and balancing their personal lives, through a combination of night classes, intensive sessions, on-line courses and overseas studies.”

University of Wollongong tops country for learning and teaching citations!

Top stars for Swinburne

Australian Universities Ranked Third in World!!

GREAT NEWS: ONE SCHOLARSHIP AVAILABLE FOR A BACHELOR or MASTER DEGREE in Melbourne

FOR WHOEVER IS IN PERTH!!

NATIONAL CELEBRATION OF THE CHINESE NEW YEAR 2008 in AUSTRALIA!

AUSTRALIA DAY LONG WEEKEND 26 to 28 January inclusive

Agriculture Graduates To Reap Rewards in Australia!!