Map of Australia
Travel Information
The U.S. Department of State provides information on traveling to various countries, including passport and visa requirements.
Australian Curriculum
Information about Australia's curriculum standards can be found on the the Australian Curriculum website maintained by the Australian Curriculum, Assessment, and Reporting Authority (ACARA). Curriculum information can be browsed by subject area (e.g., science, languages), general capabilities (e.g., literacy, critical and creative thinking), or cross-curriculum priorities (e.g., sustainability).
General information about ACARA and the development of the curriculum standards can be found on the About page. Resources related to the F-10 curriculum and the senior secondary curriculum are also available.
A resources section highlighting information about curriculum connections, STEM, and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander history and culture may also be useful to browse.
Australian Council for Educational Research (ACER)
- Australian council for Educational ResearchThe Australian Council for Educational Research (ACER) is an independent, not-for-profit research organization whose mission is to create and promote research-based knowledge, products, and services that can be used to improve learning across the life span. Their online research repository contains ACER's research available in digital form, including reports, working papers, conference papers, and newsletters
Cultural Norms
For information about cultural norms in Australia, try these resources:
Culture Shock! Australia by Publication Date: 1997"Culture Shock!" practical guides offer the inside information you need whether you're a student, a parent, a globetrotter, or a working traveler. Each "Culture Shock!" title is written by someone who's lived and worked in the country, and each is packed with practical, accurate, and enjoyable information to help you find your way and feel at home.
Living Abroad in Australia by Call Number: 919.4047 Au7813li 2014 (Oak Street)ISBN: 9781612386768Publication Date: 2013
- Library CatalogSearch for items at the University of Illinois.
Try searching using the following keywords:
- Australia -- social life and customs
- Etiquette -- Australia
- Australia -- Guidebooks
- Visitors, Foreign -- Australia
- Americans -- Australia
- Business etiquette -- Australia
Australian Department of Education and Training
Department of Education and Training Website
The Department of Education is a governmental department responsible for national policies and programs that help Australians access quality and affordable early child care and childhood education, school education, higher education, vocational education and training, international education, and research. The Department works with states and territories to provide quality early learning, schooling, and improved student outcomes through parent engagement and quality teaching and learning environments.
The Department's website provides a variety of reports and resources related to schooling, early learning, and higher education.
Education and Training Portfolio
Further information and resources can be found in the Education page on the Australian governmental directory website. This page contains contact information for the Ministers of Education, as well as links to various educational agencies' websites, including the Department of Education; the Australian Curriculum, Assessment, and Reporting Authority; and the Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies.
Background Information on Education System
For a brief overview of the Australian educational system and related topics, try the article "Australia" available in the Social Sciences, Health, and Education Library's reference book:
International Education by Call Number: Q. LB15 .I565 2013 SSHEL Reference Non-circulatingISBN: 9780765620491Publication Date: 2013-02-26
Another useful background article, "Australia" is available through the library's online collection:
International Encyclopedia of Education by Call Number: Online ResourceISBN: 9780080448947Publication Date: 2010
Publications from UNESCO and the CIA may also be of help in your research:
- UNESCO Sustainable Goals for EducationData from UNESCO's Institute of Statistics provides detailed information on education, literacy, funding, and more for each country.
- CIA World Factbook: AustraliaFor more general information about the country of Australia, try the CIA World Factbook. This resource provides information about the geography of the country, including natural hazards. Some educational information is included underneath the "People and Society" section.
Natural Disasters and School Emergency Drills
- Geoscience AustraliaInformation about school emergency drills such as fire drills or drills for other natural disasters may not be available online. However, another way to be prepared is to be aware of some of the common natural disasters that occur in Australia. Geoscience Australia is a governmental website containing more information about Australia's natural hazards, some of which are listed below:
- BushfiresBushfires and grassfires are common throughout Australia as many of the country's native plants are fire prone and combustible. Grassfires move quickly, passing in 5-10 seconds and smoldering for a few minutes. Bushfires, on the other hand, move more slowly. They pass in 2-5 minutes and can smolder for several days.
- EarthquakesAlthough Australia is not on the edge of a tectonic plate, the continent nevertheless can experience occasional earthquakes due to the placement of other tectonic plates.
- FloodingFlooding can occur due to heavy rainfall, storm surges, or earthquakes that cause damage to dams. In the flat inland regions of the continent, floods may spread over many miles and last several weeks. However, in the mountain and costal regions, flooding can happen rapidly with few hours' warning.
- LandslidesThese are most frequent in areas with high rainfall, cliffs and steep slopes, and/or unstable rock types.
- Severe Wind, Thunderstorms, and TornadoesSevere storms can occur anywhere in Australia and are the most frequent natural hazard to occur. They are most common along the east coast from central Queensland to central New South Wales. Tornadoes occur most commonly in the south western and eastern parts of the continent.
- TsunamisThe tsunami risk in Australia is relatively low along the southern coasts and is moderate along the west coast of the continent, due to more earthquake and volcanic activity in that region.
Education Periodicals of Australia
These Australian education periodicals are available through the library's collection of online journals and can be searched for relevant articles:
- AccessPublished by the Australian School Library Association, this journal focuses on collaborative curriculum development, inquiry-based learning, information technology and its integration into learning/teaching programs, information management, information literacy, and literature. Available from 2006 online.
- Australian Aboriginal StudiesThis journal is published by the Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies (AIATSIS) and aims to provide a publication outlet for Indigenous Australian authors and for researchers working in collaboration with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people across Australia. Available from 2006 online.
- The Australian Educational ResearcherThe AER is the scholarly journal of the Australian Association for Research in Education. Available from 1985 online.
- The Australian Journal of EducationThis international peer-reviewed journal publishes education research conducted in Australia and internationally to inform educational researchers, educators, administrators, and policy-makers about contemporary issues in education. Available from 1999 online.
- DiscourseThis is an international, fully peer-reviewed journal publishing contemporary research in the cultural politics of education. The journal publishes academic articles from throughout the world which contribute to contemporary debates on the new social, cultural, and political configurations in the field of education. Available from 1980 online.
General Asia-Pacific Education Journals
There are many journals focused on various aspects of education in the Asia-Pacific region. The following journals are available online through the library's website and can be searched for relevant articles:
- The Asia-Pacific Education ResearcherThe Asia-Pacific Education Researcher (TAPER) is an international journal of original research presenting empirical and theoretical studies in education, with an emphasis on successful educational systems in the Asia-Pacific region and the national educational systems in the region that up to now have been underrepresented in the research literature. Available from 2013 online.
- Asia-Pacific Education ReviewThe Asia Pacific Education Review (APER) covers all areas of educational research, with a focus on cross-cultural and comparative studies in a broad Asian-Pacific context. It aims to stimulate research, encourage academic exchange, and enhance the professional development of scholars and other researchers who are interested in educational and cultural issues in the Asia-Pacific region. Available from 2000 online.
- Asia-Pacific Journal of Teacher EducationThis journal promotes rigorous research that makes a significant contribution to advancing knowledge in teacher education across early childhood, primary, secondary, vocational, and higher education. Available from 1996 online. Most recent 18 months not available.
- Asia-Pacific Journal of Cooperative EducationThe Asia-Pacific Journal of Cooperative Education publishes peer-reviewed original research, topical issues, and best practice articles from throughout the world that deal with Cooperative Education (Co-Op) and Work Integrated Learning/Education (WIL). Available from 2000 online.
Finding More Resources in the Library Catalog
To find more information about the educational system of Australia, try these tips for searching the library catalog to find books, magazines or journals, DVDs, and many other resources:
Here are some keywords that may be useful in your search:
- Education -- Australia
- Education, higher -- Australia
- Education -- curricula
- Curriculum planning
- Curriculum evaluation