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australiajudy

australiajudy
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Latest post on 09 November 2013 - 10:10
At the Marina Mall. It opens early and you can walk out from the mall itself. I always go straight in off SZR and park outside Waitrose.
australiajudy
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Latest post on 08 November 2013 - 16:18
i recommend phoning Urban Energy. They have a great team of ladies who will work with all levels of fitness and will be very mindful of individual circumstances. They have a range of both male and female instructors with varying skills and passions.
australiajudy
391
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Latest post on 07 November 2013 - 10:07
As a first go - try giving it a wash in warm soapy water. The most common reason for a sticky kids buckle is a bit of dirt/food/spew! If that doesn't work then call someone like Just kidding to get a new buckle.
australiajudy
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Latest post on 05 November 2013 - 20:41
If you have plenty of money - yes, stay at Longitude 131. It is VERY expensive. $1780 AUD per night for a single tent! It would be a magical bucket list type experience. Other than that the most common place is the Ayers Rock Resort - it has a range of different rooms across the varying hotels within it (Sails and Desert Gardens), - just choose your price. It's overpriced for what you get but pretty much has the entire market to itself as there is really no where else - the rooms are generally clean but hardly luxurious. There is not much out there and obviously everything would be flown in so expensive. But don't let that put you off. Uluru and the surrounds is a magical place to visit. Just be sure to research whether you intend to climb the rock. It is strongly discouraged these days by the aboriginal people who are the landowners.
australiajudy
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Latest post on 05 November 2013 - 18:49
Okay - i'll stop posting now but I was just on another aussie forum and came across this thread. makes interesting reading... http://www.essentialbaby.com.au/forums/index.php?/topic/1112791-socio-economically-diverse-primary-schools/
australiajudy
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Latest post on 05 November 2013 - 18:12
In Australia - nutritional guidelines recommend semi-skimmed milk for all children over the age of 2 years. Not sure of other country guidelines. I've always followed this and my kids are both a healthy weight and have no issues. UHT//long life milk is nutritionally identical to fresh milk - just heated to a higher temperature and then sealed into a packet. The 'fresh' milk here is definitely not 100% fresh - over summer it has a high proportion of powdered milk in it - you can taste it. if that is the worst that it happening - i would not be upset.
australiajudy
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Latest post on 05 November 2013 - 17:45
don't forget with Australians. You are talking about a population where about 50% wouldn't even know the difference between Afghanistan and the UAE! An interesting thing is that most Aussies (except maybe in Sydney) would lump Lebanese in with Greeks and Italians. Lovingly called Wogs as opposed to putting them in the same bucket as arabs in general - which they would think of as burqa wearing, strict muslims.
australiajudy
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Latest post on 05 November 2013 - 17:42
I think you will find that there are groups of lebanese who have found each other and carry on this way - especially in certain areas. Yes - of course it is the minority but the media coverage would make it seem that it is the majority. This is why if it were me I would be looking to target a multicultural rather than lebanese immigrant enclave. Of which, of course some families will be of lebanese heritage. Lebanese aussies make up a significant portion across all of Australia.
australiajudy
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Latest post on 05 November 2013 - 17:11
I was also reading that most Lebanese in Australia are Catholic rather than Muslim. Especially ones who have been there for generations....
australiajudy
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Latest post on 05 November 2013 - 17:10
EmmaRitz - it is very true. My little sister is married to a muslim immigrant (he is a moderate and asian rather than arab). Their daughter obviously is quite dark and looks asian. His grandmothers wear a headscarf but in asian tradition in that they dress brightly rather than in black. His mother does not wear a headscarf, nor does his sister. The more moderate scarf rather than an abaya is generally socially acceptable I have found. Wearing an abaya in Australia would make you stand out heaps and you would get stares from all around. In their circle of friends mixed marriages are the norm! and their kids are all little hybrids (my sister calls her daughter a Prius). But their circle of friends all live in inner city Melbourne and they are all degree educated. As a group they would be a very tolerant circle but they are all of different nationalities, rather than a grouping of one background. And they would all earn very good money as they are mostly doctors and lawyers!
australiajudy
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Latest post on 05 November 2013 - 16:16
I agree with littleone - you need to be very careful about how you will fund a move to Australia. If your DH is sending money to Australia to support you and your kids are enrolled in school over there and he has a visa to live in Australia you may find he is considered an 'Australian resident' which means he has to pay income tax on his income wherever in the world he is - including tax free Dubai. You should get some financial advice on this. I can't imagine living on under $45,000 per year in Australia (after tax). Anything under this and you will be poor. We earnt a lot more than that and we are not rich by any stretch of the imagination! We lived in a nice, middle class suburb in a 3 bedroom house and our kids went to public school. we drove one car only. Also - depending on your visas you may not be eligible for free education or any other subsidies available. Yes - I realise the absolute gift I was given when I was lucky to have been born english speaking and Australia but it is not rosy for all new immigrants. Australia is an unforgiving place sometimes. There is little tolerance for newcomers in some places. There is an underlying tone of racism - especially against muslims - especially in Sydney and this seems to be getting worse (google Cronulla riots). Bumper stickers saying 'F### Off, We're Full' are not uncommon. If I was you I would look at some of these websites: abc.net.au - the government funded website (with a VePeN you can watch the nightly news and other current affairs programs that will give you a good feel for Australia) news.com.au - a commercial news site realestate.com.au - realestate for sale and rent that covers all of Australia myschool.edu.au - which gives an idea of different schools across Australia and their performance www.essentialbaby.com.au - a mothers webiste that looking at all things Australian and kids. There are state based forums within it and the 'where to live' is a common topic. There are also topics on politics, religion etc etc. this site is fairly moderate compared to some views in Australia though. Google 'Lebanese in Australia' to get an idea of what we are saying. Have a look at the news about 'boat people' to give a better idea of what Australians are on about. Also - remember that the school years run January to December and not from September as here and UK. The cut off dates in schools are also different (and they're different between states). NSW in particular often holds their kids back so that are turning 6 the year they start FS2 equivalent (called Kindergarten in NSW). If your intention is to assimilate into Australian culture I would stay clear of strongly lebanese areas and go for a more multicultural area. Often these multicultural areas are the inner city suburbs in all the big cities.
australiajudy
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Latest post on 05 November 2013 - 10:27
No wonder no locals want to work in the private sector - you get screwed!
australiajudy
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Latest post on 05 November 2013 - 10:25
Funny about small towns. I grew up in a very small town in north queensland. We had a very very large population of Italian and Greek families. Many first generation immigrants. often nonna didn't even speak english and the kids came to school with italian only! I wouldn't totally discount a country area that you like. sometimes small country towns can be more accepting of new people. but not all! I sometimes wish we lived in a small, quiet country town where all the kids went to the local school, where houses were cheaper, where life was slower!
australiajudy
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Latest post on 05 November 2013 - 09:48
I would definitely make some inroads on choosing a city. It would be near impossible to do any research if you don't have any idea of which city you want to live it. Perth and Sydney for example are 5 hours on a plane apart! i agree with EmmaRitz - Sydney is probably the best for Lebanese immigrants. But it depends what you are looking for. What do you see for your future? Do you want to integrate into a Lebanese Australian stronghold or mix with the wider Australian population. Assimilation is still very widely the preferred option for most Australians. EmmaRitz is right that there can be a strong racist streak in Australia - especially towards arab muslims. With the new Liberal government this will likely worsen. You only have to watch the outcry over 'boat people' to understand that Australia has a nasty underlying racist streak! Depending on which suburb you live you may find the local public school completely suitable for your children. We lived in an expensive inner city Perth suburb and our small public school was extremely multicultural and accepting. In fact, the local private schools which were often religious based would have been less multicultural. For example, local private catholic schools can be extremely intolerant of those outside of their close knit community. Most private schools in Australia have a religious connection. My sisters kids go to a catholic school and in her sons class every single child could be described as english speaking, catholic and white! If you live in an area with a strong multicultural presence than obviously the local school will reflect this. If you live in an affluent, old money, white suburb then the school will reflect this. Poor areas with cheap areas usually have under performing schools. This is the reality. 'Safety' is in reality not an issue in schools in Australia. You don't get mass school murders like in the US. News reports on incidents in schools are just as common in public as private schools. Many people choose a public school at primary level and then a private school at secondary level. Just remember that Sydney is expensive, Melbourne not far behind. Perth also very expensive. Brisbane a bit cheaper but less multicultural than Sydney and Melbourne. You will find Lebanese Australians across the spectrum in Australia. From 5th generation through to new immigrants. Australia is very different to here. Most mothers work, maids are unheard of, even a cleaning lady for 3 hours a week is considered way out of reach for the average Australia. Wages look high but the cost of living is very high also.
australiajudy
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Latest post on 04 November 2013 - 16:18
we have 2! one from Australia that we've had for a few years and one from dubai. We have some issues with them kicking each other off the network. Ie. if we use one, the other loses contact with the computer and vice versa. then we have to restart it to get it to recognise again. other than that it's easy.
australiajudy
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Latest post on 04 November 2013 - 16:03
My children would live on Japanese curry if I let them. I have made it so many times I can't stand it myself any more. It freezes well too. just don't look at the ingredients list!
australiajudy
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Latest post on 04 November 2013 - 15:59
A thing about Drivers Licences: If you have a drivers licence from the UAE or Lebanon - the Australian states will not recognise them and transfer you onto an Australian licence. You will have to do the theory and practical driving tests again. do you or your husband have a job lined up already?
australiajudy
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Latest post on 04 November 2013 - 15:43
Firstly - where in Australia are you moving? Australia is a very very big country and the individual cities are quite diverse. Australia has many Lebanese families (some new immigrants and some who have been there for generations). The biggest concentrations of Lebanese are in Sydney and Melbourne. Firstly - there are only 2 Lebanese specific schools (that I can find) in Australia - both in Sydney. One is a muslim/arabic school up to year 6 and the other is a Catholic school. Both of these would be private schools and yes you would have to fund you own way through them. All public schools in Australia are free - public schools do not discriminate on nationality, language or religion. If you choose a private school you be required to pay between $3000 and $25,000 per year in tuition. There are other muslim/arabic schools in most capital cities across the countries - again, these are private schools and not free. If you choose a free public school you will have to send your children to the one in which your house is zoned for. Usually the closest one. If you choose private you can choose any you want. True International schools in Australia are rare and usually very very expensive. There are some schools that call themselves 'International' but really they are just private schools with fancy names. As to where you live....you will not be living in a compound. They don't generally exist in the same fashion as here in Dubai. There are apartments and houses generally. Rents vary on the house size and the location. The prices will vary tremendously from as low as $200 a week for a dodgy flat in a rotten area to well over $1000 a week in a good area. Remembering that a good area will probably have a good public school. Also - the cutoff dates for schooling are different to Dubai. Children generally start a bit older than here. So you may find your children go back a year.
australiajudy
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Latest post on 04 November 2013 - 10:53
Sounds like you've got a plan. I would definitely try to teach him to roll back himself through plenty of tummy time, getting him to reach over and grab at stuff. My tiny little DS rolled one way at exactly 3 months and the opposite way at exactly 4 months. Not bad for a 4 pd, 36 weaker! Interestingly the research about sleeping on back shows that the SIDS risk is related to how the caregiver puts the baby to sleep...not to how the baby then chooses to sleep themselves. My second DS was always (and still is) a very restless sleeper. At 20 months I gave up on the cot altogether because he was always crashing into the sides, getting stuck, banging his head. HE slept so much better once he was in a bed.
australiajudy
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Latest post on 04 November 2013 - 09:49
Aids to keep babies on their backs are not recommended by SIDS groups. It is recommended that the baby is put to bed on their back, firmly tucked under a sheet/blanket depending on the temperature (or swaddled if this is what you choose). If the baby is capable of rolling this is fine and they should be allowed to move freely in the bed. Cot bumpers are considered a high risk to the baby due to the risk of suffocation. There are no cot bumpers recommended by international SIDS groups. This includes the air weave type ones. The best thing is to ensure your baby has plenty of opportunity to teach themselves to roll back over again. thus enabling them to get themselves into a position that is comfortable for them. This involves plenty of tummy time during the day. The period where they get themselves 'stuck' is usually pretty brief as they work out themselves how to get back over if they want to.
australiajudy
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Latest post on 28 October 2013 - 18:03
I had this problem. you need to get mean! Take his clothes off and make him a bit cold. Change his nappy between sides. Cold cloth on bottoms of feet. I had to do all of this as I had a very small, sleepy baby who just fell asleep.
australiajudy
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Latest post on 28 October 2013 - 18:00
I agree that the entry age is very very young. My kids are the older ones in the class. #1 is an August baby but we held back (mainly due to curriculum swapping but so glad). #2 is an October baby Even as they go through you can often see which kids are the younger ones. Do some research (UK based) that shows that the youngest babies do worst statistically. Yes, there will be children that excel - but the research shows that this is not the case overall. And often, the age issue catches up to them later down the track.
australiajudy
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Latest post on 28 October 2013 - 17:57
I was very big with my first pregnancy. Nothing ever untoward though. DS arrived and weighed only 2kg! With my second I was no where near as big. He weighed 2.8kg.
australiajudy
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Latest post on 26 October 2013 - 20:21
I have had 2 amazing births! My first was one of the most empowering experiences of my life. no drugs, natural birth taking about 6 hours. Spent most time in the shower and birthed in the shower. I used pilates breathing (counting) to get through it. He was very little and spent 2 days in special care before we went home on day 4. Ie. 4 pds 5 oz only! Second one was also pretty amazing but much faster and much more intense! Under 3 hours from start to finish. Was a very hairy ride in the car. Didn't get much time for the shower and he came very quickly. Much less time for any birthing techniques at all and no real input from any midwives who just left me to it. I was only in hospital for about an hour. The most amazing thing about my second birth was that we went home together when he was 6 hours old. I was euphoric. In both births my wishes were adhered to. No talking unless necessary, use of shower etc.
australiajudy
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Latest post on 26 October 2013 - 09:04
I agree with the school and Irooni below. Please do not start your child at school that young - especially in a british system school. He won't even be 3 years old and you want him to go to school for 5 hours a day. Schools expect full toilet independence without exception. And whilst your child might not struggle for the first year FS1 which is still very play based they will be still 3 years old when they start FS2 - where it all gets very serious very quickly. Research shows (do a quick google yourself) that there is no benefit to starting children on formal reading and teaching at such a young age. The children who are at the bottom age group do statistically worse than those that are older. European countries with fantastic educational outcomes do not start school until much later. I can see the difference between my children (who are both in the oldest groups in their class) and the really young ones who are still struggling in year 3. Not because they are stupid but they are pushed too early and end up being labelled as poor performing. My older child changed countries and curriculums at age 6.5. At this stage he could read almost nothing. Now - only 1.5 years later he has a reading and comprehension level at almost adult level. It was painless. There are still kids who are doing formal learn to read programs - which they have been struggling with for 3 years - many of these are the young ones.
australiajudy
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Latest post on 20 October 2013 - 18:30
Our little family needs a break somewhere. If we stay home DH just works the whole time and the kids end up watching TV! If you have 5 days end of November where would you go? I would have chosen Nairobi and a 4 day safari but now not an option! It must be safe and good for kids aged 5 and 8.
australiajudy
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Latest post on 19 October 2013 - 10:01
Firstly - do all 4 children go to school? Primary/secondary? Getting spots for 4 kids at the same school will be difficult as places at the better schools are hard to come by. You will have the advantage that in January only international movers can take up new spots. As far as schools for a child with aspergers/dyslexia probably the best one is Jumeirah Primary School. JPS would have children with additional needs in nearly every classroom. But....getting a place is very difficult as it has long waiting lists and all parents of special needs children will probably target this school first. Other GEMS schools are usually pretty good for extra assistance as well. I would try GEMS Royal Mirdif and GEMS Wellington Primary School which can be a bit easier to get into. Wellington Primary has smaller classes compared to JPS and Royal Mirdif. There is a new GEMS Wellington Al Khail that would definitely have spaces - but their fees are not small! Safa school may also have places and they are considered a lovely school but not sure of their set up for kids with extra needs. Another school to consider would be the new Victory Heights Primary School but again I don't know their stance on special needs. Some of the most established and most sought after schools do not take special needs children at all. In Dubai - you will essentially be responsible for all the costs associated with support. Most children with additional needs have their own full time aide in the class with them. They may also attend the dyslexia unit (extra fees), OT, PT etc. You will be responsible for every one of these costs. That said - a full time aide would be a lot cheaper than in the UK! so don't panic immediately.
australiajudy
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Latest post on 08 October 2013 - 20:31
Marrosh is correct! 4 lessons a week for 1.5 years and my kid can count to 10 and say hello and thank you! Very disappointing.
australiajudy
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Latest post on 07 October 2013 - 13:43
Ah - the good old private vs public debate of Australian schooling. MINEFIELD! There is a huge difference between the bad schools and the good schools in Australia. But not all bad ones are public and not all good ones are private. I got a fantastic OP score having attended a small country school that won't appear near the top in any league table! If you could get your child into Brisbane State High for free I can't imagine why you would send them anywhere else. Kenmore High School and Indooroopilly HIgh School are also great schools and in a nice areas too (they are adjacent to each other sort of). My cousins went to St Peters Lutheran (which appears right at the top) for 5 years as boarders and they got OPs of 20, 21 and 25! that was money well spent now wasn't it??? And they weren't stupid people - in fact after doing bridging TAFE courses 2 of them became engineers eventually. The league tables are an interesting place to start but don't tell the full story of educational outcomes. Obviously private schools are selective in who they take (ie. only those who can afford it) whilst public schools must educate whoever lives in their catchment. Public schools in good catchments across Australia are fantastic but so too are the housing prices in these areas! My children attended a state school in Australia but they were in primary school only. Also schools - private and public receive government funding to some degree. Private schools range across the spectrum too. The low fee paying ones are rarely worth it in my opinion. I don't do Catholic whatsoever so I would never even consider this for my children. Religion will be an integrated part of their education should you choose to send them to a catholic school. Usually the best private schools are the grammar or anglican ones. These are also the most expensive but religion will usually be less a part of the school life. Me personally who detests the mixing of religion and education would steer clear of any catholic, lutheran or school within the 'christian' umbrella which is the schools usually labelled X Christian College. But that is my personal opinion. For example my sister sends her kids to a low fee catholic school - but her husband is catholic. You also need to consider if you want a single gender school. And what sort of other facilities (sporting, music etc) you want. I hate that in some Australian states the best schools are single gender whereas I would prefer a co-educational school. Yes, catholic schools will give priority to catholic children. The other religious schools (anglican, lutheran, grammar etc) usually take anyone regardless of religion but everyone will be expected to do some religious stuff (but not too much compared to catholic schools). I would agree that the top private schools give a lot better value for money than the private schools in Dubai. This is a big part of why we won't be staying here for secondary schooling. I don't know if a private school would do more to settle someone in. You would find that most of the children in all schools private and public, would have been there for many years together by year 11. There are some private schools that do take an extra class for year 11 but not all. If you could find one like this I would definitely explore further. Having thought about what I would do in your position - I would probably try to approach some of the top ranked private schools such as St Margarets or Girls Grammar to see if they could take your daughter. As an international move you would probably have a good chance of getting in TBH, especially if your daughter has done well at school so far. The fees are only for 2 years and I would probably think they would be a gentler environment compared to some of the State Schools (but being all girls she might find it very bitchy with already established friendship circles). That's unless you were living in the Brisbane State High School catchment in which case it would be a no brainer!
australiajudy
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Latest post on 06 October 2013 - 21:36
which seat/s do you have? I have my nearly 5 year old in a Maxi Cosi Rodi Airprotect (has a flexible top tether but no isofix) in one car and a Maxi Cosi Ferofix (the one with isofix) in another. Both EU standard seats. My 8 year old is in an Australian standard top tethered seat. He prefers the air protect as it's cosier! The seatbelt guides on the underside of the headrest should be about 1.5 cm above their shoulders. ie clear of their shoulders and definitely not touching their shoulders. But obviously not so high that their head isn't cocooned in the headrest. The lap part of the belt should go over their hips - NOT the soft part of their belly. I find boosters install better with the seats headrests removed (whilst the child is small and the headrest on the carseat is still lower) or turned around backwards and shoved back in.
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Latest post on 06 October 2013 - 19:51
To re-iterate - yes in the UAE it is illegal to put a baby on the front seat. This has nothing to do with safety and analysis of data as such and in the past yes the front seat was more dangerous - this is not the case in todays modern cars. I would remind people that it seems quite legal to allow your child to hang out the sunroof so safety doesn't seem to be part of the equation in child safety laws. For some authoritative information on rear facing you can visit the below links. They are from Sweden where their child safety results are amazing. http://www.carseat.se/rearfacing/rear-facing-basics/ http://www.carseat.se/rearfacing/position-in-vehicle/ http://www.carseat.se/rearfacing/position-in-vehicle/front-seat-safety/ <em>edited by australiajudy on 06/10/2013</em>
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Latest post on 06 October 2013 - 18:00
I doubt you need any 'Australian specific knowledge' but obviously almost all the children will have studied within Qld for the past 10 years. The only subject that really would have australian specific stuff at the higher levels would be modern history (which would start from a basis of knowing about australian settlement etc.) I personally would seek to do at least year 10 in Australia from a settling point of view as the curriculum is quite demanding and a bad score even in the first term of year 11 will impact on your outcome. I did year 10 at a different school to the one I did years 11 and 12 at though. My parents had sent me to boarding school in year 10 to settle me in preparation for years 11 and 12 but I hated it and went home for the final years. What you study up to year 10 doesn't really impact on your choices for year 11 and 12 though. for example (back in the dark ages) I did the compulsory core subjects of Science, Maths and English plus History (we chose between history and geography), Art, Home Economics and Drama in year 10. Whereas for years 11 and 12 I did Maths, English, and the 3 core science subjects. If you hadn't done science to year 10 you would struggle with year 11 and 12 science. Same for maths. But I am assuming year 10s do science and maths everywhere. The other issue will be age as the cut off for students. You will have to check which year your child would go into as it might be different. Also obviously the school year in Australia runs January to December. So if for example you move over summer here you would have to repeat at least one term of the already completed year. just a few considerations us aussies have to think about...
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Latest post on 06 October 2013 - 16:45
Sorry BubblingCreek - but you are incorrect. Volvo (the world leader in car safety) has stated publicly that rear facing in the front is equally as safe as rearfacing anywhere else in the car. Rear facing alone is the gold standard - whether you choose to rearface in the front or back is not as important. I would agree that SOME third rows in certain types of MPVs and SUVs are not as safe but this is not the case across all car types.
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Latest post on 06 October 2013 - 16:16
In Queensland - when I did it - English is like English Literature but is really what we would call 'literacy' rather than focussed on reading literature only. So - writing of all types and reading and interpretation as such.
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Latest post on 06 October 2013 - 16:16
English is separate to history and geography. Which are studied as separate subjects.
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Latest post on 06 October 2013 - 16:14
Queensland is still doing their OP system - yes, over the next few years the subjects will merge from the QSA subjects to the National Curriculum subjects but this hasn't happened as of yet in total. It appears that some subjects have been done under the national curriculum whilst others are still being developed. But at this stage it won't change the way that Qld delivers their OP system. There is a really good fact sheet on the Qld Studies Authority website which also lists all the applicable subjects. Not all schools will offer all subjects. The biggest difference between Qld and lets say NSW and Vic is the way that they examine students. NSW and Vic put most emphasis on standard testing - ie. same test delivered to every student in the state doing the same subject on the same day. While Qld does school based testing which is moderated to ensure similar levels. As far as I can see from the Qld Studies Authority page they are still using the QCS test which is an achievement test rather than an IQ test. Ie. it tests how much you learnt in 12 years but is not an IQ test as such. It includes a mix of short writing, long writing, mathematics and logic kind of stuff. EmmaRitz is correct in that schools will discourage some students to not do the QCS test to ensure they don't drag others down - as this is the way that subjects and schools are levelled as such. At the lower years the national curriculum is more developed and being adopted although some states (like WA) are still resisting somewhat.
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Latest post on 06 October 2013 - 15:43
To add... Some students do 5 subjects (including English) but this means every single subject will count. Other students will do non counting subjects - such as Animal Husbandry (I grew up in the country), outdoor education etc. Students who do 'easy' subjects - lets say like home economics will often do worse in their final score - not because they do poorly - but because as a group students who do home economics do less well on the moderating exam the QCS. So you want to choose subjects with good students!
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EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 06 October 2013 - 15:40
The calculation is very tricky to explain - but in my opinion one of the fairest systems in the World. There is no external assessment and assessment across the full 2 year counts to your outcome. It is very onerous for teachers though in terms of marking and moderation requirements because of this. It is also very transparent because your marks over the 2 years are published for you to see and question if you need to. My understanding (and I did an OP a long time ago now). Qld students choose 6 subjects - one of which much be English. As far as I know students also do at least one maths subject. Maths A is the easiest of the Maths, Maths B next and Maths C is the optional one. To do maths C you must also do Maths B. Students do the same 6 subjects for 2 full years - year 11 and 12. There top 5 subjects count towards the calculation of the OP (ie. you drop your lowest score). The assessment of the subjects is completely school based with extensive external moderation. The only standard testing done is the Core Skills Test (QCS) which gives a score between A and E. The results of this standard test have little bearing on the individual students final OP Score. The QCS is the moderator for schools and subjects. In the eyes of weighting all subjects are equal. But the QCS test provides a way of saying which subjects are harder in reality. Ie. The smartest students do Maths C so as a group across the state and within the school they score highest on the QCS test and therefore the subject will hold out better for the students. Ie. if you do the subjects that other smart students do you will get a better score than if you do subjects that less able students do. However, if you whip the others in your year - ie. you do REALLY well at history whereas the rest of the students do poorly you can still do well even though as a group they will score on average less on the QCS. The scores are bell-curved between 1 and 25 - 25 being the highest. You can do a calculation to convert directly to other states scores though. Only about 1.6% of students get a 1 or a 25, whereas more get 12's for example. I was a nerd student so I did - Maths B, Maths C, Physics, Chemistry, Biology and English! It was a hard 2 years. This combination is considered the best chance to get the highest score because the top students do it. It also allowed me to drop English - which at age 16 was my weakness!
australiajudy
391
Posts
EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 06 October 2013 - 12:47
Whether you can disable it will depend on the standard of your car (EU or US). Disabling of the airbag isn't so common in the US. You may be able to have it reset by an authorised service place.
australiajudy
391
Posts
EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 06 October 2013 - 12:08
It depends what you mean by 'discipline'. I have seen teachers who pride themselves on 'discipline'. but in fact they are simply cranky cows who yell a lot and can't engage with children on an individual level. I have also seen wonderful teachers who are nurturing, caring educators with a passion and understanding of children who rarely have to raise their voices.
australiajudy
391
Posts
EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 06 October 2013 - 12:05
There are so many misconceptions around carseats and seating arrangements in cars... For an otherwise correctly restrained child the front is not less safe than the back. In new cars especially, the front passenger seat can now be safer. Rearfacing seats on the front passenger seat are extremely safe (as long as the airbag is turned off). Children rearfacing in the front seat in Sweden survive crashes that in the rest of the world are unsurvivable. The Audi Q5 for example has isofix points in the front passenger seat. The Volvo website actually states that the front seat is suitable for a child as long as they are in an age appropriate seat. Isofix/Latch is not inherently safer than seatbelt buckle installed seats. Some seatbelt installed seats well and truly outperform latch and isofix seats in testing. Rigid installation does perform better than flexible installation (belt system and flexible belt Latch) in side impact but in forward/rear accidents this is not the case. True rigid fix Isofix is the easiest to use so prevents wrongful installation - this is it's biggest benefit rather than accident safety. The flexible Latch method (with a strap and clips) is no safer than the seatbelt. A top tether system does improve safety but this is not that common outside of Australia. The EU standard subjects their seats to much more rigorous testing than does the US system. Particularly in side impact testing. i'd prefer that parents here put there kid in the front seat with a seatbelt than bouncing around in the backseat where they don't feel the need to strap them in at all.
australiajudy
391
Posts
EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 02 October 2013 - 18:58
I am looking for the quintessential evening. i have a friend coming and we want to do fountains + a drink + arabic meal! Can it be done? Is there somewhere at the address maybe or in Souk al Bahar?
australiajudy
391
Posts
EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 19 September 2013 - 19:21
All 5 of our devices (iPads, iphones and iPod) have been updated now without issue. We use etisalat but none of our devices are UAE bought and we use Aus iTunes.
australiajudy
391
Posts
EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 12 August 2013 - 08:16
I'd be going with one stop. Have you booked the 1 year old their own seat? Or just hoping for a spare? I would dread the though of not getting a seat for the 1 year old.
australiajudy
391
Posts
EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 23 July 2013 - 14:00
The latch and isofix part in the car is the same. The fixation points in the car are essentially anchor points to which u attach the seat. The seats themselves are different. The US latch uses flexible tethers to Connaect to the cars points. The European isofix uses metal teeth to grab onto the anchors. Neither needs the seatbelt for installation although most can use a seatbelt as an alternative. In short an isofix seat purchased in dubai will connect to your anchors labelled as latch. What age and size is your child? I might be able to make some recommendations.....
australiajudy
391
Posts
EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 27 June 2013 - 08:59
Yep - it's totally unreliable here. We have had limited success getting stuff. We usually go the courier route when we need something. This is after numerous important packages going missing. the only mail we seem to reliably get is the Etisalat and DEWA bills. It is a stark reminder that you are not living in a developed country despite the pretty buildings. We get our oz post redirected/sent to my mum. she opens my mail for me and scans and emails me anything important like all the bills relating to our house etc. stuff like new credit cards that come randomly she couriers or brings over when she visits. I try to arrange all our online shopping for this time of the year and I have heaps of packages awaiting me in oz for over the summer. takes an extra suitcase to bring it all back.
australiajudy
391
Posts
EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 19 June 2013 - 19:53
My understanding. As an Australian citizen who is NOT a resident of Australia you are not entitled to Medicare. If you submit your tax returns and claim non-resident status you are not a resident and not entitled. That said.....if your medicare card is still valid you can probably rock up to any GP and use it. The systems are probably not sophisticated enough to pick it up in most likelihood. But....if you get audited by the ATO in the future this could be investigated and used against you in determining residency. And if you fail the audit you could be in a VERY big tax bill (unless you don't earn any money). When I go to Australia I do not use my Medicare card. I pay myself for any treatment and you can generally claim it against your insurance here in the UAE (well we generally can as it's a worldwide policy). The only time I did use it was when I wanted my DS immunised to the Australian schedule and wanted to have the data recorded on the immunisation register. I figured I could explain this should we be audited down the future.
australiajudy
391
Posts
EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 05 June 2013 - 21:31
i'm of the view I choose my car, DH chooses his car! We have a small 4x4 (mine) and Mercedes C63 (his). I have driven his about 3 times. The only stipulation i put on him when he was buying is that is had to fit 2 kids in the backseat. I would not buy a Golf. We loved our Golf Gti in Australia. DH firstly bought a Golf R here in Dubai. It had a nasty habit of stopping on SZR..... Just do a quick google on golf issues with the transmission and the recalls occurring all over the world at the moment. no way would I buy one at the moment - the 2 times DH's went into limp home mode while travelling at 100km/hr scared the **** out of him.
australiajudy
391
Posts
EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 03 June 2013 - 19:48
FS1 7.30 - 12.30 FS2 - Yr6 7.30 - 2.15 (1.15 on Thursday)
australiajudy
391
Posts
EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 03 June 2013 - 19:43
yes - it's all my family uses in tropical north queensland. it's an oil from memory.
 
 
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