You need to prepare the below documents first:
1. Original passport with at least two blank visa pages and a photocopy of their current passport (photo page only).
2. One completed Visa Application Form with a recently-taken passport photo stuck on it
3. Applicants who have not been to mainland China, should provide copies of photo page of current passport as well as other ID, e.g. previous passport, driver license, etc. Applicants under 16 can be exempted.
4. Applicants who have been granted Chinese visa(s) before, should provide copies of recent Chinese visa with entry record. In case they are not on the current passport, copies of the previous passport with the above data are required.
5. the copy of your Australian student visa or residence permit

then pay attention to the consular districts of China embassy/consulates in Australia and the notice about the Chinese Visa Application Service Center in Brisbane, Melbourne, Sydney.