Western Australia is Australia's largest state in area, covering the western third of the mainland, and is bordered by South Australia and the Northern Territory. It is, after the Sakha Republic in Russia, the largest subnational entity (statoid) in the world. The capital city, Perth, is one of the most isolated cities of its size on the planet, being closer to Jakarta, Indonesia (3,007 km/1,868 mi) than to Sydney (3,284 km/2,041 mi).

West Australians are often colloquially referred to as sandgropers due to the sandy soils around Perth.

Education in Western Australia consists of one year of pre-school at age 5, followed by seven years of primary school education, ie Years 1 through 7. Students move into Year 8 at age 13 and five years of secondary education. The final two years of secondary education are currently changing to compulsory. All students who completed Year 10 in 2005 are now required to undertake further studies in yr 11. Students are required to complete the year in which they turn 16 (usually yr 11).

Commencing in 2008 all students will be required to complete 12 years of study before leaving school. Students will have the option to study at a TAFE college in their eleventh year or continue through high school with a vocational course or a specific University entrance course.

The major universities in Western Australia are the Curtin University, Murdoch University, Edith Cowan University, University of Notre Dame and the University of Western Australia. (Ref Wikipedia)