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With its beautiful blue skies, perfect coastline and ever-evolving food and wine scene, there’s no doubt that Western Australia (WA) is one of the best places to live. Outside of the bustling capital of Perth, there are some incredible regional towns throughout the state to be discovered.
Studying in regional WA can provide you with a unique opportunity to experience the amazing natural beauty of WA. The Western Australian (WA) Regional TAFE International Student Bursary 2023–2024 gives international students a chance to experience life in regional and remote Australia while receiving high quality education and training.
Here are six of the best places to live in regional WA.
Bunbury
Located two hours south-west of Perth, Bunbury(opens in a new tab) is considered Western Australia’s “second city”, with a population of close to 90,000. In the warmer months, Bunbury comes alive with aquatic activities such as swimming, surfing, stand up paddle boarding and boating, which all make for great ways to spend time with friends and family.
Other attractions that make Bunbury a great place to live include its award-winning cafés, restaurants and bars, the Bunbury Farmers Market(opens in a new tab), and the Bunbury Regional Entertainment Centre(opens in a new tab).
If you’re moving to Bunbury as an international student, South Regional TAFE’s Bunbury campus offers a wide range of courses in hospitality, cookery and tourism, and early childhood education and community services.
Albany
Albany is a regional city (of over 40,000 people) located on the beautiful south coast of WA, boasting amazing beaches, plenty of modern facilities and a wealth of historic sights to see. With a large selection of retail hubs, eateries and entertainment venues all within walking distance of the town square, Albany is a well-connected community that’s easy to explore.
TAFE International Western Australia (TIWA) students attending the South Regional TAFE Albany campus will be equally spoilt for choice when it comes to learning facilities; impressive trade workshops, hair and beauty salons, computer rooms, a certified organic nursery and an extensive library are just some of the features of the regional campus.
Outside of studying, students can join sports and athletics clubs by checking out the Albany Community Directory(opens in a new tab).
Broome
Not only is Broome one of the top tourist destinations in WA, but it’s also a fantastic place to live if you enjoy a laidback, tropical lifestyle. This charming town of less than 15,000 people moves at a pace of its own, so you can enjoy a balance between study, work and life. If you’re studying at the North Regional TAFE Broome campus, just minutes away from the iconic Cable Beach, you’ll be able to complete practical, job-ready training for a variety of industries.
When it comes to finding work, jobs are generally plentiful during the dry season — from late May until October — and at other times take a look at the Broome Visitor Centre’s job vacancy board(opens in a new tab).
Northam
Situated in WA’s Avon Valley region(opens in a new tab), a short drive from Perth, Northam(opens in a new tab) is a quiet, charming town of less than 10,000 people. The perfect place to call home for those who enjoy getting out and about in nature, Northam is full of gorgeous scenery, hiking trails and the magnificent Avon River.
Northam is known for its agriculture and farming; the grain, wheat, barley, sheep and cattle industries are prominent in this region. Because of this, international students at Northam campus can expect plenty of part time and casual job opportunities. With the extra income, you can spend time discovering more of WA!
Kalgoorlie
Kalgoorlie(opens in a new tab) is a modern outback city of more than 30,000 people, and despite being primarily known as a mining town, it is actually a well-established community full of opportunities for people from all walks of life. Kalgoorlie’s city centre has everything you need, while outside of the town you can explore the iconic red outback.
Central Regional TAFE’s Kalgoorlie campus offers training in early childhood education and community services, which have great job prospects within Kalgoorlie.
Geraldton
If you love the beach, the coastal town of Geraldton(opens in a new tab) is the perfect place for you to call home. Located four hours north of Perth, this seaside town experiences warm weather all year round, so it’s the ideal location to live if you enjoy swimming and water sports.
As a town of just over 40,000 people, it has all of the facilities and attractions you’d expect in a larger city, as well as three TAFE campuses that provide education in health, community services, aquaculture, information technology and environmental management.
If you’re interested in finding out more, you can contact TIWA for advice on how to navigate your study journey. Apply now for the Western Australian (WA) Regional TAFE International Student Bursary 2023–2024!