In terms of land mass, Australia is enormous. At 7.68 million square kilometres, it’s comparable in size to the whole of Western Europe or the USA, but its population is less than 20 million. There’s a reason for this: much of the interior of the country is harsh, uninhabitable desert, so the vast majority of people live within 20 kilometres of the coast.

The population is most densely concentrated in the southeastern corner where Sydney and Melbourne are situated. Other major cities are Adelaide on the south coast, Brisbane on the east coast, and the most isolated city on Earth, Perth, which is on the west coast. Rural locations include the island of Tasmania, the harsh “outback” and the tropical “top end”.

The climate varies significantly, from tropical in the north to temperate in the south. Most places are agreeably sunny for much of the year. Sydney, Melbourne and Perth all have hot and sometimes humid summers. Adelaide has a milder climate and is popular with British immigrants for this reason. In Darwin and the “top end”, the seasons are restricted to hot and wet, or hot and dry.

Australia is a moderately safe nation, but drug-related burglaries are a problem in the cities. Violent crime is rare, and it is generally safe to walk in the cities late at night, although some parts of inner cities are considered no-go areas.

Education

Australia has one of the highest standards of education in the world, with about 80 percent of school students going on to higher education. Forty-two percent of the working-age population has a university degree, diploma or trade qualification. There are variations between states, but generally children start school at about five years old and, by law, have to remain in education until 15 years old. Primary education usually lasts six or seven years, with secondary education beginning in “Year 7” and continuing until “Year 12”, when a Senior Certificate of Secondary Education (the precise name varies between states) is taken. Roughly equivalent to A levels, this covers a broad base of subjects and is a mix of classroom studies, written assessments and exams.

The school year comprises four terms (three in Tasmania) and runs from late January or early February to early December. The summer holidays are in December and January. (Australia is in the southern hemisphere so the seasons are opposite to the UK.) It should be noted that state-run schools are known as public schools in Australia.

Healthcare

Australia has an advanced public healthcare system called Medicare. British nationals, and people from many other countries, are automatically covered under reciprocal agreements, so it’s not strictly necessary to purchase private health insurance, although it is available. Medicare is funded by the Medicare levy (see Taxes section below).

Lifestyle

The relaxed “beach and barbie” lifestyle is what attracts many people to Australia, and once immigrants have settled in, it’s easy for them to while away the weekends relaxing with friends. It’s a very active country offering many outdoor pursuits. Hiking through the wilderness, or “going bush”, is popular, as are watersports, such as sailing and scuba diving. Surfing is for many a way of life.

Australians are fanatical about their sports, particularly cricket, rugby league and Australian rules football.

Food And Drink

Although Australia doesn’t have much of a cuisine it can call its own, the multicultural influx means that there are restaurants catering for every taste in even the smallest towns. Eating out is cheap and relaxed. Most restaurants allow you to bring your own alcohol – known as BYO – and the corkage charge, when levied, isn’t usually more than a dollar.

Australian wine has really made its mark internationally in the past decade or so. There are many wine-growing areas in southern and eastern Australia, which provide ideal growing climates. Prices for wine start at just a few dollars a bottle from the local “bottle shops”. These are often attached to a pub and usually offer an extensive range of local wines and beers. International varieties are harder to come by. Supermarkets do not sell alcohol in Australia.

Expat Communities

Of course, a big draw for British and Irish migrants is the fact that English is the native tongue, thanks to its British colonial history. But modern Australia is a multicultural place with more than a quarter of the population fluent in a second language. It’s an easy society into which to integrate (the majority of Australians are a mere generation or two removed from their European roots), and although “pommie-bashing” is a popular pastime, it’s usually good-natured.

Pets

There are stringent quarantine procedures for pets going into Australia. Dogs and cats from the UK must go into quarantine for 30 days. You will be liable for all quarantine costs (he cost does go down for additional animals), although you will be liable for any additional veterinary care that may be required. Certain breeds of “dangerous” dogs, including pit-bull terriers, cannot be taken into the country. Your pets will have to be microchipped and you will have to provide vaccination certificates for a range of common diseases. Animals may arrive in Australia only via Sydney, Melbourne or Perth airports. The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (www.affa.gov.au) is responsible for all matters relating to quarantine.

Economy

Australia's economy is largely based on the service industries. Only 6.5 percent of the land is suitable for cultivation, butthe country is able to produce much of its own meat and cereals, and there are several wine-producing regions. Australia doesn’t have much of a manufacturing base, largely due to its relatively small population and its proximity to Southeast Asian countries, which have lower labour costs.

Labour Market

In addition to the usual array of service jobs, certain professions, such as nurses, doctors, chefs, and panel beaters, qualify for bonus points on the Skilled Migration Program. Australia is particularly short of IT professionals.

Main Employment Centres

Sydney and Melbourne could be called the service centres of the southern hemisphere, but the states of Western Australia and Queensland have seen the most new jobs created in recent years. There are government initiatives to attract workers, particularly in the medical and teaching professions, to more rural areas.

Finding A Job

All major cities have employment agencies, and there are several job sites where you can begin your search before you leave British shores. it's worth registering your CV with many sites because it's normally a free service for jobseekers.

Visas And Permits

Things have changed dramatically since the “populate or perish” days after the Second World War, when Australia operated a mass immigration policy. Nowadays, Australia’s immigration policy is more concerned with keeping people out. Emigrating to Australia is a long, complicated and expensive affair, and success is far from guaranteed.

For the majority of people looking for permanent residency in Australia, there are two main routes: sponsorship or application under the Skilled Migration Program.

Sponsorship

To be sponsored by an employer, the company sponsoring must show that they’ve been unable to fill the position with an Australian resident. There are various categories of family sponsorship, such as Australian residents sponsoring their parents, parents sponsoring children, and even sibling sponsorship. You can apply for a spouse visa if you’re married to (or live in a de facto relationship with) an Australian. If your partner is applying for residency through his or her job, you can be included automatically in that application.

Skilled Migration Programme

If you don’t have a sponsor, you can apply under the Skilled Migration Program, otherwise known as the “points system” because points are allocated to factors such as profession, age and education. The greater the shortage of workers of a particular profession, the higher the number of points awarded. Check your profession against the Skilled Occupations List. If it’s not on the list, you won’t be able to apply under the system. You also need to be under 45 years of age. The cost to apply under this system is $1,845 (£743), and you’ll have to pay for medicals, police character checks and other expenses. This is nonrefundable, so you should be absolutely certain of your chances before going ahead. You can obtain further information from (and even submit your application to) the Australian Immigration Service website, (www.immi.gov.au). However, the information is far more accessible at www.liveinaustralia.com, where you can also get a rough assessment of your chances. You can lodge your application directly with the Australian Immigration Service, but you’re likely to get a faster and easier ride if you use an Australian immigration lawyer. He or she will be able to advise you of the best way forward in your particular case, and will be able to assist, even if you don’t immediately qualify. Once you’ve been awarded residency, you must move to Australia within a certain time, and spend at least two of the following four years in the country. Then you're eligible to apply for full Australian citizenship.

Taxes

In order to work in Australia, you will need a Tax File Number. Applying for this is a simple process that can be done online from the UK once you have been granted residency. You can access the website at:

http://ato.gov.au/individuals/content.asp?doc=/content/38760.htm

You can also apply by post. You’ll need to supply an address for the information to be sent to. Forms are available from tax offices in Australia, or online from the Australian Taxation Office website (although if you can get online, you really ought to register online, too!).

In addition to this, there is Medicare levy on taxable income to support Australia’s version of the National Health Service. This is typically 1.5% of taxable income, although this varies depending on your circumstances. Tax is paid at source by your employer, but work-related deductions can reduce this figure. The total payable on a salary of $62,000 (£25,000) would be: tax – $15,252; Medicare – $930 = $16,182 or 26% of income. For non-residents, there is no $6,000 tax-free threshold, but there’s no requirement to pay the Medicare levy.

Employment Hotspots

From Sydney to Perth, each Australian city has something different and exciting to offer, and you are never far away from a beach ...

1) Sydney

Founded as a penal colony in 1788, Sydney has become a cultured and cosmopolitan city with a magnificent harbour dominated by its opera house. It’s responsible for 25 to 30 per cent of Australia’s economy.

Jobs vary from bar work to banking or finance.There has been a 55 per cent increase in the number of people employed in legal and accounting sectors, IT has skyrocketed and the tourism industry is booming.

Due to land shortage and the rising demand for homes, the city is a low-risk centre for property investors. Trends have turned towards apartments over houses, so family homes are difficult to find and expensive. Property in the city centre and inner city suburbs is 40 per cent cheaper than that on the coast.

KEY FACTS

Population: 4,000,000
Airport: Sydney Airport Corporation Limited, Tel: 00 61 296 679 111
Medical: Sydney Private Hospital, Tel: 00 61 297 970 555
Schools: Abbotsford Public School, Tel: 00 61 971 6220/9713 6419
Rentals: Healthy market driven by long-term rentals and safe investment
Buy-to-let market: strong

Pros:

• Number one Australian city for investors and developers.
• Packed with bars, restaurants, clubs, museums and galleries.
• Plenty of jobs available in different fields.

Cons:

• Property is the most expensive in Australia.
• Expensive for family living.

2) Melbourne

This is Australia’s second largest city and the most European. Popular areas are the Riverside and Bayside, and there are new developments at Southgate, New Quay and the Docklands. This is a sociable city renowned for its sport and culture, with numerous galleries, museums, gardens, cafés and bars.

In 2001, business investment in Melbourne grew at twice the national rate. Aerospace industries, car-manufacturing, financial services, IT and telecommunications are all strong industries here. Television and film production is prominent.

Apartments are over-supplied and more expensive than houses, so investment may not be the best option at present. For those relocating, property is affordable and 30–35 per cent cheaper than in Sydney.

KEY FACTS

Population: 3,200,000
Airport: Melbourne International Airport, Tel: 00 61 321 723 6227
Medical: The Royal Melbourne Hospital, Tel: 00 61 393 872 211
Schools: Melbourne High School, Tel: 00 61 870 368 4500
Rentals: Long-term rentals are the trend
Property demand: is for apartments

Pros:

• Houses are cheaper than apartments
• Unemployment rates are low

Cons:

• Apartments market is unstable.
• Jobs market is fairly restrictive, with seasonal work offering some of the main opportunities.

3) Brisbane

Brisbane was created in the early 19th century as an alternative penal colony to Sydney. It is now Australia’s third largest city with a large expat community. It is a relaxed city, and is an easy place to find temporary work.

A wide range of jobs are available, especially in IT. Manufacturing has grown by
2.3 per cent, and opportunities are arising in aviation and biotechnology. The tourist sector is healthy – the nearby Gold Coast is a tourist magnet.

Housing costs are 20 per cent cheaper than in Sydney, and 96 per cent of properties are occupied. Analysts think prices will rise by up to 50 per cent over the next four years.

KEY FACTS

Population: 1,500,000
Airport: Brisbane Airport, Tel: 00 61 734 063 000
Medical: Royal Brisbane Hospital, Tel: 00 61 732 538 222
Schools: Brisbane Grammar School, Tel: 00 61 738 345 200
Rentals: Demand is high for long-term rentals because this is Australia’s fastest growing city.
Short-term rentals market: not healthy
Lettings market: primarily domestic

Pros:

• Jobs market is diverse and the economy is expanding.
• Property is affordable and is constantly increasing in price.
• Plenty of jobs available.

Cons:

• Climate is quite wet for Australia.
• The city is a jumble of old and new with no real structure and many high rise buildings.

OTHER HOTSPOTS

Perth: Recognised as offering property 40 per cent cheaper than Sydney, Perth remains one of the cheapest entry points into the Australian market

Adelaide: Low cost of living and cheap real estate.

Useful Websites

www.australia-migration.com - Australian migration specialist
www.immi.gov.au Australian - Immigration Service’s website
www.seek.com.au - Claims to be the biggest Australian jobs site. You can put your CV on here, and the site will automatically match it with employers.
jobsearch.gov.au - Run by the Australian government, this is more like an on-line job centre than an employment agency.