Session 1

Australia and Pre-Departure Essentials:

Lesson Contents

In this lesson we will discuss the follow topics:

Part 1: Introduction to Australia

Quick Guide to Australian Major Cities
Quick Guide to Austraian Iconic Animals
Grammar: review of "Wh" questions

Part 2: Getting Ready

Basic Discussion on things to Bring to Australia
Grammar: countable nouns

Review and Quiz

A quick review of the main language points
Quiz

Lesson1_Australian.and.Predeparture._CACstyle1

Part 1. Introduction to Australia

States and Capital Cities

Australia is a large continent in the Southern Hemisphere. Australia is Australia is a continent and a country, famous for its beautiful landscapes, friendly people, and diverse culture. Known for its laid-back lifestyle, love of the outdoors, and relaxed attitude, it's a popular destination for students from around the world. Let's now learn about the main parts of Australia, and their capital cities.

New South Wales (NSW): The most populated state. Its capital, Sydney, is a global city known for the iconic Sydney Opera House and Harbour Bridge.
Victoria (VIC): Known for its vibrant arts, culture, and sports. The capital, Melbourne, is often called Australia's cultural hub, with a lively cafe scene and famous street art.
Queensland (QLD): Known as the "Sunshine State." Its capital, Brisbane, is a fast-growing city with a subtropical climate, and it's a gateway to the stunning Great Barrier Reef.
Western Australia (WA): The largest state by land area, famous for its incredible natural beauty and mineral resources. The capital, Perth, is a modern and relaxed city on the west coast.
South Australia (SA): A state celebrated for its food, wine, and peaceful lifestyle. The capital, Adelaide, is a charming city with many festivals.
Tasmania (TAS): An island state with rugged wilderness and beautiful scenery. Hobart is its historic capital, and it's a base for exploring the island.
Australian Capital Territory (ACT): The home of Australia's national capital, Canberra. It's the center of government and home to many national museums and galleries.
Northern Territory (NT): A vast and remote territory with a rich Indigenous culture and stunning landscapes like Uluru (Ayers Rock). The capital is Darwin.

EXTRA NOTES: THE CITIES GOOD AND BAD:

New South Wales (NSW) - Sydney

Positive: The biggest city with the highest average salaries and most career opportunities. Great for shopping and city life, with famous places like the Opera House and Harbour Bridge.
Negative: Very expensive to live here. It is difficult to find an affordable house or apartment. The city is very busy and can be crowded.

Victoria (VIC) - Melbourne

Positive: A world-famous city for art, culture, and coffee. It's great for young people who like music and a creative lifestyle. There are lots of fun outdoor activities like sports and walking along the river.
Negative: The weather can change very quickly, with four seasons in one day. Housing is very expensive and hard to find. It can be hard to find a job because many international people want to work there.

Queensland (QLD) - Brisbane

Positive: Warm, sunny weather almost all year. Good for outdoor activities like visiting the beach or the Gold Coast. It is a good city for families and has many jobs in tourism and hospitality.
Negative: The summer is very hot and humid. Jobs in other industries can have more competition. It can be a very tourist-heavy city, which some people dislike.

Tasmania (TAS) - Hobart

Positive: Beautiful nature and a calm, quiet lifestyle. It is a very safe city and good for families. It is a very good place for practicing English because there are fewer international students. Housing is more affordable and easier to find than in Sydney or Melbourne.
Negative: Lower average salaries than the big cities. There are not as many jobs, especially in larger companies. It can feel very small and quiet if you are a person who likes a busy, fast-paced city.

Western Australia (WA) - Perth

Positive: A very relaxed lifestyle with beautiful beaches and lots of sunshine. Very good for outdoor activities and nature. The average salary is often high, especially in the mining and resource industries.
Negative: It is very far from all the other big cities in Australia, so it feels isolated. There are not many jobs outside of the mining and resources industry, and finding a house can be difficult.

South Australia (SA) - Adelaide

Positive: A friendly and peaceful city with a low cost of living, which is good for students and families. Known for delicious food, wine, and many festivals. It is a very good place for practicing English with local people.
Negative: The average salary is lower than in the bigger cities. The city can feel too quiet for people who like a lot of excitement and nightlife. Fewer big companies and jobs.

Australian Capital Territory (ACT) - Canberra

Positive: The capital of Australia, which is very safe, clean, and organized. It is an excellent city for families. Many people have good, high-paying jobs in the government sector.
Negative: Can feel boring for young people who like a lot of nightlife and parties. It can be very cold in winter. Finding a job outside of government can be difficult.

Northern Territory (NT) - Darwin

Positive: A unique, tropical lifestyle with a very relaxed feel. Great for people who love nature, wildlife (like crocodiles!), and outdoor adventures.
Negative: The weather is very hot and humid for much of the year. There are not many jobs outside of tourism and mining. It is a small city and is very far away from other places.

GAME: Which City is good for you? Try our Quiz

Australian Animals

Australia is a large nation and has a wide range of unique Animals that are only found in Australian.

How many native Australian Animals can you think of?

Let's now look at a few of the most famous animals:

Kangaroos: These are iconic marsupials that hop on two legs. You will often see them in rural areas and even on the outskirts of cities.
Koalas: These cute, fluffy marsupials are often found sleeping in eucalyptus trees. They are a national symbol and are a must-see for visitors.
Wombats: These are strong, burrowing marsupials. They are short and solid and are a common sight in eastern Australia.
Tasmanian Devil: These are famous animals only based in Tasmanian, they are small but have extremely strong jaws and eat meat; sometimes the whole animal including the hair.
Echidnas: These are spiky mammals that lay eggs. The echidna is shy and eats ants, and can be found in forest and sometimes innercity locations.

See the image below to learn about their appearance.

Grammar Point: "Wh" questions

Now let's do a quick review of some of the main question forms for finding information in English.

These are known as "wh" questions. The main "wh" questions are as follows:
what, where, when, which, why, how.

Some additional ones include: whose, how many, how much...but for this lesson we will focus on the main ones below:

Structure of Wh- Questions

Auxiliary verbs are "helping" verbs like do/does/did, will, can, and are.
The Subject is the person or thing performing the action.
The Main Verb is the action itself.
The Object is thing considered by the subject

1. Wh + be verb (is,are, am) + subject + compliment?
What is your name?

What is your nationality?
What is your passport number?

2 .Wh- word + auxiliary verb + subject + main verb?

What do you like?

Where do you live?

How do you travel?

3. Wh- word + (phrase) + Auxiliary verb + Subject + Main Verb?
What animal do you like?

Which city will you live in ?
How long will you study?

Extra: Subject questions

When who or what is the subject of the sentence, you don't need an auxiliary verb.

Examples

Who called you? (Here, "who" is the person who did the action.)
What happened?

Extra Practice

Part 2. Getting Ready to Pack

Pre-Departure Essentials: What to Pack and Prepare

Getting ready for your journey to Australia is exciting, but it’s important to make sure you have all the essential documents and items before you leave. These will help you arrive smoothly and avoid stress in your first week.

1. Travel Documents

Passport – valid for at least six months.
Visa – check your student visa approval and print a copy.
Flight tickets – keep both printed and digital copies.
Student documents – Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE), offer letter, and insurance papers.

2. Money & Banking

International credit/debit card – make sure your bank knows you’re travelling.
Cash in Australian dollars (AUD) – enough for the first week (around AUD $200–300).
Bank documents – some banks may ask for ID and proof of enrolment.

3. Health & Safety

Travel insurance / Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) – proof required at the airport.
Medicine – bring prescriptions and keep them in original packaging.
Emergency contacts – store numbers for family, your college, and Australian emergency (000).

4. Packing Smart

Clothes for the season – light clothes for summer, a jacket for winter. Australia’s climate varies by city.
Comfortable shoes – walking is common in Australian cities.
Adapter & chargers – Australia uses Type I plugs, 230V.
Personal items – glasses, toiletries, reusable water bottle.

5. Other Handy Items

Laptop & phone – with chargers and headphones.
Copy of important documents – print and save digital copies (passport, visa, CoE).
Small backpack – useful for uni and city travel.

✅ With these essentials prepared, you’ll be ready to land in Australia, pass immigration confidently, and enjoy your first days without worry.

Please review the above video about things to bring to Australia. In our next lesson we will go into more detail regarding things to bring and not to bring.

Final Review:
1. Please review "wh" questions and be ready to answer next lesson.
2. Write a list of 10 things you will bring to Australia?

Next Lesson: Arriving at the Airport and Quarantine

Click above to go to the next lesson.

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