Want to think out of the box? Go to Australia with me!

By Joelia Chheng, IDP Counsellor

It was on May 7 when I first joined Education Queensland International (EQI) Agent Fam Tour. This was a life-changing experience for me; Australia is a desired destination for many international students and visitors.

Before entering Australia, I was so nervous but also excited because I have never been or thought about going to such a developed country before. Luckily, my intuition told me the right things. I love and admire everything about Australia, and I am going to tell you the story of my awesome journey.

What first captured my attention was the traffic and how people obey the road regulations there. Everything looked so fresh and clean, and Brisbane’s security is excellent. My first impression of Australia’s standard of living was so impressive; people there are so loving, caring, and helpful with a very respectful attitude.

I was fortunate to be invited to not only visit but also participate in activities at two well-known high schools, Caloundra State High School and Mt Creek State High School. I also visited a few other schools. I was there to basically acquire knowledge of Australian educational standards, specific classes, and extracurricular activities.

Concerning the educational system, I would say it is the best because students who have been to the schools that I visited have joined partner universities, such as University of Griffith, James Cook University, and Central Queensland University. The performance classes impressed me the most because I saw many students acting and singing beautifully with the professional guidance of instructors.

One more amazing thing to mention about Brisbane is the peaceful environment, which really suits students. They can fully concentrate on their studies in quiet and friendly surroundings.

Now it is time to explore the Gold Coast Mini Fair. I was so thrilled to see all the 15 high schools and get to know the cost options, curriculums and study standards. I love the fact that I met expert representatives and at the same time built good networks with the hundreds of students there.

Another exciting place I visited was Cairns, which is a major city on the east coast of Far North Queensland. It ranks as the 5th-most-populous city in Queensland and ranks 14th overall in Australia. Cairns is a very attractive place for tourists. It has about 150 tourist attractions to visit. These include hot air ballooning, Great Barrier Reef cruise, reef snorkeling and many more. I went to the Great Barrier Reef where I went on a glass bottomed boat, scuba diving, and semi submarine. I felt so good diving, being underwater, and seeing lots of incredible sea creatures. I also enjoyed riding in the boat, feeding fishes, and seeing them swim around.