A City by City Guide to Living and Working in Australia

by Roberta Duman

Overview

Migration to Australia is not always straightforward, nor is it the right choice for everyone. This book is designed to assist people in making an informed decision ahead of taking the huge step to relocate. It will equip readers with enough information to prepare them for the day-to-day realities of living and working in Australia, as this often turns out to be very different from what was expected. Part One is a general overview to Living in Australia and details the complex visa process, finance, healthcare, lifestyle, property and education. It also contains up to date information on the current economic situation, which industries are on the rise and decline, how to go about your job search from the UK and Australia, where to look for work and how to increase your opportunities and secure the correct visa. Part Two examines Australia's main cities (Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide, Canberra and Tasmania) and provides comprehensive information about what to expect from each in terms of lifestyle, employment opportunities, recreation, residential options and information on education and childcare for those with families. Written from personal experience, this book seeks to reduce some of the stress involved in making the momentous decision to live / work in Australia and offers valuable advice and tips on how to save time and money.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781848036475
Publisher:	Little, Brown Book Group
Publication date:	01/27/2006
Sold by:	Hachette Digital, Inc.
Format:	eBook
Pages:	300
File size:	1 MB

Table of Contents

Preface     xiii
Living In...     1
Why Australia?     3
Why leave the UK?     3
Cost of living in Australia     4
Average wage     8
Unemployment     8
So why live and work in Australia?     9
Australia - An Introduction     10
The place     10
The history     11
Attractions     14
Useful general information     16
The Australian Way of Life     18
The people     18
Gay and lesbian Australia     19
The Aussie language     19
The life style     20
The animals     21
Australians and sport     22
Food and drink     25
Getting Around Australia     28
In the air     28
On the ground     29
Obtaining an Aussie driving licence     31
Owning a car     32
Finance     33
Tax     33
Superannuation     36
Banking and finance     37
The Australian Healthcare System     43
Medicare     43
Private healthcare     46
Dental services     47
Education and Childcare     48
Education     48
Guide to the Aussie education system     49
Differences between UK and Australia     52
Public v private     51
Further education     52
Childcare     53
Renting Your Australian Home     54
An overview of the current rental market     54
Choosing where to live     55
How to start your search for a rental property     56
Once you have found somewhere     58
The application process     59
Lease terms and conditions     60
What to expect when renting a property     61
When you first arrive     62
Useful terminology     64
Utilities     65
Telecommunications     65
Water     68
Gas and electricity     68
A useful shortcut     69
Television     69
Shopping Guide - How to Save Time and Money     71
Furnishing your home     71
Electricals     72
Supermarkets     73
Department stores     73
Secondhand      74
Working In...
The Job Market in Australia     79
Managing your expectations     79
The realities     79
Where to begin     80
An overview of the current job market     81
Growth and decline areas     82
Unemployment     84
Prospects     84
Researching the Australian Job Market from the UK     86
Sourcing information     86
Prior to departure from the UK     90
International recruitment agencies     91
Working holidays     91
Starting Your Job Search     93
Online tools     93
Recruitment agencies     94
Publications     94
Centrelink     95
Your resume     95
Job interviews     96
Salary expectations     96
Working conditions     97
Visas and Immigration
An Overview     101
The categories     101
Temporary Residence     103
The International Relations Stream     103
A guide to the Working Holiday Visa     103
Sponsorship     106
Permanent Residence     112
The migration programme     112
Skill migration stream     112
Family migration stream     120
The application process     121
Implications of returning to the UK     122
City-by-City Guide
Living in Sydney and NSW     127
The State     127
Sydney's history     128
The climate     129
The people     129
The attractions     131
Getting around     132
Cars and driving     135
Renting a Home in Sydney's Suburbs     138
An overview     133
The Inner West     140
The Eastern Suburbs     141
Southern Beaches     141
North Sydney     142
Northern Beaches     143
To find out more     143
Recreational Sydney     145
In the water     145
On the water     145
Out and about     146
Cultural Sydney     147
Sport     148
Food and drink     150
Shopping     151
NSW attractions     152
Useful information     153
Working in Sydney     154
Cost of living     154
Employment     155
Opportunities and limitations for skilled migrants     156
How to find out if your occupation is in demand     156
Education     158
Living in Melbourne and Victoria     160
Victoria     160
Melbourne     160
The history     161
The climate     161
The people and culture     162
The attractions     162
Guide to Melbourne's suburbs     165
Renting a home in Melbourne     168
Getting around     170
Childcare     171
Recreational Melbourne     172
Cultural Melbourne     172
Gay and lesbian     174
Sport     174
Food and drink     177
Shopping     178
Victorian attractions     179
Useful information     180
Working and Studying in Victoria and Melbourne     181
Cost of living     181
Quality of life     182
Employment opportunities for migrants     182
Main industries     183
Education     184
Living in Brisbane and Queensland      186
Queensland     186
Brisbane     187
The history     187
The people     188
The climate     188
The culture     189
The attractions     189
Shopping     191
Food and drink     192
Getting around     192
A guide to Brisbane's suburbs     194
Renting a home in Brisbane     195
Childcare     196
Queensland attractions further afield     196
Working and Studying in Brisbane     199
Cost of living     199
Profile     200
Employment opportunities for migrants     200
Individual skilled migration     201
Starting your job search     202
Education     203
Living in Perth and Western Australia     205
Western Australia     205
Perth     206
The history     207
The climate     208
The culture     208
The attractions     209
Sport     210
Food and drink     211
Shopping     211
Getting around     212
Residential guide     214
Finding a property     216
Childcare     217
Western Australian attractions     217
Useful information     218
Working and Studying in Perth     220
Cost of living     220
Current economic overview     220
Employment opportunities     221
Education     222
Living in Adelaide and South Australia     224
South Australia     224
Adelaide     225
The history     226
The people     227
The climate     227
The culture     228
The attractions     228
Shopping     229
Food and drink     230
Sport     231
Getting around     232
The suburbs     233
Renting a home in Adelaide     235
Further afield     236
Useful information     237
Working and Studying in Adelaide     238
Cost of living     238
Current economic overview     239
Employment opportunities     239
Education     241
Childcare     242
Living in Canberra and Australian Capital Territory     243
Australian Capital Territory     243
Canberra     243
The history     244
The climate     244
The attractions     245
Food and drink     247
Shopping     247
The suburbs     248
Getting around     248
Renting a home in Canberra     249
Useful information     250
Working and Studying in Canberra     251
Cost of living     251
Current economic overview     251
Employment opportunities     252
Education     253
Tasmania     254
Tasmania     254
The climate     257
The attractions     257
Getting around     257
Cost of living     258
If you are considering migrating     258
Working in Tasmania     258
Education     260
Useful Information     260
Making the Move     261
Seeking professional help     261
Time line     263
Budget     263
If you have children     263
Customs      264
Removal companies     264
Paperwork     265
Further information     266
Slang     267
Top three expressions     267
A-Z of common Aussie slang     268
Index     273