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11. Living in Sydney

Sydney at a Glance

Living in Sydney

Living in Sydney has a lot of advantages for expats.

The residents of Sydney can consider themselves lucky in many respects: Not only have they chosen one of the 10 most livable cities in the world, but their city also ranks 20^th in the Innovation City Top 100 index. The capital of New South Wales offers many perks to everyone living in Sydney: Australia’s biggest and most populous city is a truly exciting and multi-cultural metropolis with a thriving economy, surrounded by impressive scenery and amazing beaches.

The high number of skilled migrants living in Sydney is one of the factors that make it such an attractive place for international business. While the cost of living also exceeds that of any other Australian city, the quality of life in Sydney you get in return makes the experience worthwhile for many expatriates. The high standards of education and healthcare encourage plenty of expats to bring their families to Sydney.

Education

Children living in Sydney have to attend school between the ages of 5 and 15, but most of them are sent to preschool at the age of 4. A high proportion of Sydney’s students stay in high school until grade 12; many go on to university or do vocational training. Educational facilities are excellent, whether your child wants to pursue an artistic, scientific, or technical career.

The NSW Government enforces a policy to ensure that all children in Sydney are guaranteed a place in their local state school. Thus, while you are free to apply for admission at any school of your choice, your child will only be guaranteed a place at schools within a certain catchment area.

While state education is free to permanent residents of Australia, children of temporary residents may be subject to an administration fee. Applications of international students living in Sydney are handled by the NSW Department of Education and Communities rather than the individual schools. Further information, including an online application form, can be found on the DEC International website.

If you are looking for specific information and help with choosing a Sydney state school, please consult the NSW Public Schools website.

Private and International Schools

Due to the high numbers of international migrants and expats living in Sydney, the city is full of private and international schools. While quite a few of them serve predominantly as boarding schools for students from Southeast Asia, there are also bilingual French, German, and Japanese schools in Sydney.

Quite a few schools offer an International Baccalaureate program and classes in English as a Second Language for expat children. They are a good choice for families who attach particular importance to staying in touch with their native culture and language. If you are looking for a suitable private school in and around Sydney, the Internet Schools Directory of Australian non-government schools is a good place to look into.