the Old Clare Hotel in Australia
Step into a world of refined elegance and captivating stories at the Old Clare Hotel in Australia. This architectural gem beautifully merges the past with the present, offering guests a serene retreat amidst the bustling city. Discover the charm and indulge in the soulful hospitality that defines this iconic establishment.
Step into a world of refined elegance and captivating stories at the Old Clare Hotel in Australia. This architectural gem beautifully merges the past with the present, offering guests a serene retreat amidst the bustling city. Discover the charm and indulge in the soulful hospitality that defines this iconic establishment.
A magnificent blend of old-world charm and contemporary luxury, the Old Clare Hotel in Australia offers an unforgettable experience in the heart of Sydney. Indulge in the city's vibrant ambience while immersing yourself in the rich history of this iconic establishment.
We all know that studying abroad gives us a great opportunity to experience life in another country, but, it can also take a while to adjust.
You’re likely to notice quite a few differences between Australia and your home land, some of which you may have prepared yourself for and some may take you by surprise. Following are a few cultural differences you may experience :
Friendly attitude
It’s unlikely that you’d be used to the level of informality seen in behaviours of Aussies, specially with respect to your studies, it’s common to call lecturers by their first name and while Australians approach most situations in a relaxed and friendly manner, it is still observed as good manners to say ‘please’ and ‘thank you’ and to be punctual. In Australia, all people are treated equally and respectfully, regardless of their age, gender, sexual orientation, background or occupation.
Slang
Even if one has been brought up in an English-speaking country is likely to get confused when talking to Australians, since they use a lot of slang terms, even at a workplace and lecture rooms. The Australian accent can a lot of times be difficult to understand, so if you’re struggling to understand someone, just tell them. Many a times Australians don’t even realise that they’re using slang and won’t be offended if you ask them to explain something in a different way.
Multicultural society
Australia as we all know is a very multicultural society, with approximately 25% of the population born overseas. As a result of the same there is availability of food and traditions from a great variety of cultures, like Chinese, French, Greek, Indian, Italian, Japanese, Mexican, Thai, Vietnamese and a lot more. Australians are allowed to follow any religion they want to, and churches, mosques, synagogues and temples are located in most major cities and centres.
Learning ways
There is one thing that surprises foreign students a lot during their time in Australia and that is the learning experience in Australian classrooms. Here, students are encouraged to critically evaluate ideas put forward in class and to express their views in class discussions, even if their view differs from the lecturer’s. If you are unable to understand a topic, you are allowed to ask questions and request further explanation. You may also find yourself surprised by the number of contact hours you will have as a full-time student, only around 12 hours a week for some courses. Independent learning is encouraged a lot and you will be expected to spend time outside of class reading through course materials and researching topics and ideas.
Entertainment and shopping
Shopping hours in Australia may be less than what you’re used to in your home country, even in city areas. Shops usually open around 9 am and close at 5 pm everyday. Some areas might have late-night shopping where shops stay open until 9 pm or later on Thursday or Friday nights. Major stores, such as supermarkets and department stores, often stay open late each night and some even operate 24 hours a day. In terms of entertainment, Australians love sport, especially Australian Rules Football also known as AFL, rugby league, cricket and tennis, and many Australians, both men and women spend their weekends watching and playing sport. You may also find that people in Australia consume alcohol more regularly than you would be used to in your home country, with bars, pubs and clubs all popular places to spend time with friends.
If you want to work during your time in Australia, you must always be abreast with certain rights you are entitled to, in terms of employment.
Your student visa poses restrictions on the maximum number of hours you can work but, your workplace rights are no different to any other worker in Australia. Employees covered by the national workplace relations system are entitled to National Employment Standards (NES) which are:-
- Maximum hours of work
- Requests for flexible working arrangements
- Parental leave and related entitlements
- Annual leave
- Personal carer’s leave and compassionate leave - Community service leave
- Long service leave
- Public holidays
- Notice of termination and redundancy pay
- The Fair Work Information Statement
Even though many of these standards apply to full-time and part- time employees only, there are some rights that are applicable to all workers, including casuals :
• Minimum wage: All workers in Australia are entitled to a minimum wage, you are allowed to be paid more than the minimum rate of pay, but it is illegal for your employer to pay you less. The Fair Work Ombudsman’s Pay Calculator can help you work out the minimum rate of pay for your field of work.
• Pay: Employers are not permitted to asked to do unpaid trial work beyond what is reasonably required to demonstrate the skills for the job (usually not more than one shift). You must also be paid for any meetings or training you attend, as well as any extra hours you’ve worked. Your employer is required to pay you at least once a month and you should be given a pay slip within one day of being paid.
• Contracts: All employees must receive a contract or agreement, and should be given the chance to read it thoroughly. The contract should include your rate of pay, when and how often you will be paid, any penalty rates or allowances you are entitled to, when you are permitted take breaks and the notice time you need to give if you want to terminate your employment. You should never be pressured to sign anything you aren’t comfortable with.
• Unfair dismissal: You must know that it is illegal for an employee to be dismissed based on their race, colour, gender, sexual preference, marital status or because they are sick or injured. It is also illegal for an employer to fire or demote you for querying any of your workplace rights (such as your rate of pay) or for submitting a complaint or request for assistance to the Fair Work Ombudsman.
• A safe workplace free from discrimination: You should feel both physically and mentally safe at your workplace and that implies that your employer must meet Occupational Health and Safety (OH&S) legislation and take steps to prevent bullying and discrimination advisable to get tips from the student services office or maybe local classmates, for suggestions.
Apart for being known for its top-quality education system, Australian life outside the classroom is more often than not, the main attraction for foreign students.
Whether you’re anxiously preparing for your time in Australia, or studying hard to make the most of your final weeks home, there comes a time you think about your ‘must-do’ activities.
Following are top 5 things to do before you finish your studies in Australia -
Explore wildlife in Australia
The reptile family won’t appeal to you but a close look at one of Australia’s caressable native creatures should be high on your list. Australia has quite a few wildlife sanctuaries that allow you to meet the local wildlife. You might enjoy petting kangaroos, cuddling a koala or feeding a flock of brightly coloured lorikeets. If the larger species intrigues you, whale-watching tours, shark dives and crocodile feeding shows provide plenty of entertainment.
The must try local cuisine
In Australia’s multicultural heritage, you will be able to find food from all parts of the world. However, there are a some favourite items that the natives have fondly adopted as their own. Tim Tams, meat pies, damper, pavlova, lamingtons, a sausage in bread and ANZAC biscuits are the recommended things to try. While you’re in Australia, you should also sample some of Australia’s renowned fresh produce, including seafood, fruit and vegetables, cheese and wine. A visit to the local farmers’ markets will provide a great opportunity to sample some of the best produce on offer.
Beautiful beaches
Australia has no shortage of coastline and beaches since it’s an island, in fact, it is said to take you twenty seven years to visit every beach in Australia if you went to one per day. Besides the sheer number of beaches, Australia has some of the best ones in the world — so they’re definitely worth a visit. You must visit Sydney’s iconic Bondi Beach, head west to Perth’s Cottesloe Beach or enjoy the sparkling waters and soft sand of Queensland’s Whitehaven Beach. Just make sure you swim between the flags and carry enough sunblock lotion.
Go to a footy game
We all know Australians are big sports fans, with the football getting the maximum attention during the winter months. Those in Victoria, South Australia, Tasmania, the Northern Territory and Western Australia will likely be surrounded by passionate AFL fans, while students in New South Wales, the ACT and Queensland, rugby league may be the sport of choice. There are games in most states each week from March to October, with a select number of regional AFL games scheduled in the Northern Territory, Tasmania, North Queensland and Canberra throughout the year.
Travel
Australia’s landscape is huge and with tons of variety. There are travel opportunities for all types of people. You can choose from one of the capital cities, the Outback, the Great Barrier Reef, sunny beach towns, winery regions, rainforests, even the snow. If you’re low on money, or time- a short road trip within your state can also give you a good experience.