Immigrant Lifestyle In Australia
August 14, 2008 by Mira · Leave a Comment
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The smallest continent on planet Earth, surrounded by the Pacific and the Indian Oceans, is number one on the list of places people want to relocate to when thinking of a full relocation.
Why here?
Australians are fiercely proud of their country, the wealth and infrastructure, the culture and the stability. As people they are helpful, friendly and have a great sense of humor. In Australia you will find deserts, mountains and, of course, the sea.
Australia is considered a place where one can live quietly, enjoy the wide open spaces and do something with one’s life in this land of opportunities. People are always on the lookout for a better, happier and more exciting lifestyle and today Australia is one of the most preferred locations to migrate to. The Australians are a friendly lot and theirs is a very rich and diverse culture. More languages are spoken in Sydney than in any other place. Australian industry has seen a phenomenal growth in the last decade or so, which has encouraged people to want to live, work and play in Australia.
Their educational institutions compare well with their counterparts across the globe and finding a job is not too difficult if you are able to speak reasonably good English. A minimum wage has been set by the government in each state and payment is as per those rules. The economy is growing in leaps and bounds and skilled professionals are very welcome.
Immigrants in Australia will find they are able to live their life the way they like to but of course you have to keep in mind that the rules and regulations that govern the Australians, govern you too. There are lots of things to do on the weekends like going to the beach which is a favorite Australian activity. Sports are yet another well developed industry, and you will find that all Australians love some sport or other.
Immigrants must keep in mind that Australians are very particular about the environment and they spend a lot of time preserving, cleaning and maintaining their surroundings. Damage to the environment or nature is attended to immediately. Law and order is very essential so you have to ensure that you don’t break the law.
For permanent residency in Australia, one has to be issued with a permanent residency visa which is just short of being a citizen of Australia. Applying for a permanent residency visa requires that skilled people are working in a metropolitan area for at least 2 years and then this is subject to the rules and regulations governing visas.
Once this visa is issued then the persons are eligible for subsidized or free legal help, education, health services etc. there are a lot of privileges that are extended to these visa holders similar to those of a proper citizen.
So living in Australia is a dream come true, most will agree. Everyone is welcome and you can choose the lifestyle you want to live. Can you really ask for more…
Brought to you by the Australian Immigration Experts at Synch1
Increases to the Minimum Salary Level
August 12, 2008 by Mira · Leave a Comment
The Australian government announced increases to the minimum salary level (MSL) paid to temporary migrant workers from August 2008. The increase will be paid to all holders of a 457 visa including those already working in the country.
These increases are part of a reform package intended to strengthen the temporary skilled migration (457 visa) program.
Some of the Key Features of the Reforms:
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increases the safety net for skilled migrant workers
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protects them from unscrupulous employers who may wish to exploit them
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if a prescribed salary level is higher than the MSL, then it must be paid
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there will be an information campaign to ensure existing visa holders are aware of the changes
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the 457 visa scheme is important to the Australian economy and the community is encouraged to support it
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strong monitoring of the processes and penalties for employers failing to do the right thing
There are rights and responsibilities on both 457 visa holders and employers and it is important that everyone plays their part. The Department for Immigration and Citizenship plans a comprehensive information strategy to ensure everyone knows what they should be doing. So there will be no excuse for those who get it wrong.
The salary increases are only part of the reform package which aims to strengthen the Australian economy with the help of sponsor employers and skilled migrant workers.
Brought to you by the Australian Immigration Experts at Synch1
Housing In Australia
August 10, 2008 by Mira · Leave a Comment
Are you moving to Australia? Have you thought about or made arrangements for accommodation there? Here are a few tips for you to finalize that.
When you land in Australia you will be astonished to see the wide range of housing there. The designs are based on American or European style. You will find terrace houses and “Queenslanders” which are based on the weather and lifestyle of the regions. Most of the houses will have large backyards, swimming pools, parks and shopping centers which provide a comfortable living for the people.
You will find on analysis that houses in country towns and regional cities are cheaper and more easily available than those in popular capital cities. Mostly people live in the suburbs of the state capital which are closer to the place of their work, and schools.
Renting a House
Usually when you want to rent a house, you will enter into lease or ‘residential tenancy agreement’. This is usually for a period of 6-12 months. It is always advised that you first understand the terms and conditions of this agreement since you will be bound by the terms once signed. You will be paying a rental advance of 4-6 weeks. You are expected to keep the accommodation clean and without any damage to the structure. Sometimes the Government also helps by offering Rent Assistance which helps you to rent a house in the private rental market.
Buying a House
If you are interested in buying a house, realtors will come to your help and if you are buying a home for the first time, you may get Commonwealth First Home Buyers grant. You may also borrow money from a bank or other financial institution. You will require a solicitor for checking the legal documents and other paperwork. It is a dream for Australians to buy a house for their own. Buying a house costs a lot and so they obtain a loan for the purpose. You can even buy land and get a house built according to your plans.
If you are not a permanent resident of Australia then you should get permission from the Foreign Investment Review Board.
Public Housing
If you are a recipient of Centrelink payment, you will be eligible to apply for public housing. Various factors will be taken into consideration on allocating a house depending on where you are looking. These may include things like the size of your household as well as any other necessary requirements.
Government owned housing units are made available to low-income individuals at a nominal rent or no cost. You will find single houses, or flats in a high-rise block. A group of friends can make an application for public housing.
If you require a house urgently then you can apply with proof of the urgency and you will be allotted a house before others in the line. Recurring homelessness is given top priority here. You could be allotted a house anywhere within your chosen areas. If any medical problem is to be treated only at a specific hospital or doctor, you can apply for a house nearby. Waiting times depend on areas. The rent is decided by the authorities. You may have to get permission from the authorities to keep pets.
Australians usually want to own their own land or house. You will find advertisements in local dailies about availability of property for sale and rent. Because of the huge migration, there is a housing shortage in Australia and this makes rents high and availability difficult. Housing is usually more available for people who choose to work and live in towns than cities.
According to a state press release, a “Labor government would spend an extra $400 million to build 11,350 new homes over four years to ease Australia’s public housing shortage, Federal Opposition leader Mark Latham said today“. The Government is making every effort to meet the three main areas of housing in Australia, i.e., land supply and demand, infrastructure, and land taxes. Once these are met, then the demand for houses in Australia should come down. At the moment, if you are flexible about where you live, you should have no problem about getting a good house.
Brought to you by the Australian Immigration Experts at Synch1
Transportation In Australia
August 9, 2008 by Mira · Leave a Comment
When you reach Australia, the first thing you will want to look for is transportation. There are all the usual options: train, air and bus services to get you around. The most economical ways are likely to be the train or bus services. If you are from Europe or America you may not find them very convenient but still they are good and economical.
Train
You will find train services like the Airport Link, which plies between Sydney Airport and the city centre in 13 minutes, is the most economical way to reach Sydney’s suburban stations. Metro Light Rail and Mono Rail provides city travel in Sydney.
The CountryLink network reaches 334 destinations in New South Wales, Queensland, and Victoria. QR (Queensland Rail) offers safe and economical transport services within Queensland and interstate. The Ghan offers travel from Sydney to Melbourne. The Overland makes your travel from Melbourne to Adelaide enjoyable while V/Line offers transportation throughout Victoria, and Western Australian Government Railways around Western Australia.
Indian Pacific offers the longest cross-country train journeys from Sydney to Perth.
One visitor to Australia says, “As a frequent traveler to Sydney, as well as other parts of the world, I would give the trains an above average score for entertainment value, but a bit below average for convenience, timeliness, and cleanliness…”
Bus
You will find services such as the Brisbane-based Brisbane Buslines has scheduled services within Queensland; Eastline Buses which operate in Melbourne; Firefly Express which offers luxury interstate express coaches, and many more services that ply in and around various states in Australia. Most of them have flexi travel options. Many buses leave every 10-15 minutes to the major destinations, so if you plan your travel, you could well save a few dollars using these buses. (Why not!!)
Ferry
There are ferry services to Tasmania.
And a ‘must-do’ when visiting Sydney is the ferry to Manly. Surprisingly many locals have missed this delight.
Air
The Australian airline, Qantas, flies to all major Australian cities. You can enjoy a wide range of discounts like random discounting and internet fares. Virgin Blue is another airline that flies all over the country at very competitive fares. As there is not much long-distance transportation, you may prefer to take the airlines to reach farther destinations.
Concession Travel
Students up to 16 years of age can often travel free on buses, however do check to confirm this in the areas you will be.
Concession cards are available for students in many areas - again, check if this applies to where you will be. If they are not, then the most economical way to buy tickets is usually a weekly or monthly ticket rather than by journey.
Other ways to travel
Taxis in Australia are probably not in a student’s budget as they are very expensive!!
The elderly and unemployed often get half fare cards to assist them in getting around.
Cars are the most commonly found mode of transportation in Australia. Remember to drive on the left side of the road and watch out closely for speed restrictions as fines are heavy and better avoided! Other rules like wearing a seatbelt are stictly enforced. And you must have a license to drive!
As you can see there are multiple options for transportation in Australia. Opting for public transportation may be the best option open to you. Find what suits your purse and make the most of the opportunities.
Brought to you by the Australian Immigration Experts at Synch1
Major Staffing From UK In Australia
August 8, 2008 by Mira · Leave a Comment
United Kingdom plays a major role in filling many job roles in Australia.
If you are a person with engineering skills, or skilled trades residing in United Kingdom and on the look out for a job in Australia, you are sure to land up with the best jobs available. This is because there are many vacant positions for these roles in Australia. Immigrants from the United Kingdom secure the majority of these positions. Other nationalities successful in securing jobs are Chinese and South Africans - in second and third positions respectively.
Australia is a major source of jobs for many countries like Singapore, Hong Kong, Japan and India in addition to United Kingdom, China and South Africa. There are many reasons which contribute to people in United Kingdom moving to Australia for employment.
One major reason everyone knows is that the cost of living in the United Kingdom, especially in London, has drastically increased. This has made people look for places to live with more affordable cost of living, and a good work environment. Australia stands first in line!
The other main reason that you can notice for people of United Kingdom occupying a major chunk of staffing positions in Australia is the lag in education and training in Australia. This results in Australian employers facing skill shortages and hence the need for importing labor.
Since people from United Kingdom are skilled and often interested in migrating to Australia, a high proportion of Australia’s skills shortfall is made up by United Kingdom immigrants.
TV series like ‘Neighbors’, and advertisements shown on Australian television, play a major role in creating interest among the British to migrate to Australia. This is easily confirmed by talking to directors of specialist overseas recruitment firms.
Last but not the least, another influence which plays a major factor is that we all prefer to move to a place where and friends and relatives have already migrated.
If you are a graduate from United Kingdom and working for an international company, you are permitted to work in the Australian branch for a period of time. Australia features a nourishing and competitive western-style, capitalist economy. This competes on a global level and attracts people from countries like United Kingdom for Australian jobs. The Australian government always extends a welcoming hand to people having outstanding skills and attributes from any country to fill its shortage of skilled workers.
If you submit all the relevant documents and details properly filed for visa processing, the visa processing system in Australia is fast and efficient.
There is also eVisitor service launched by the Australian Visa department which will further enhance the convenience and speed of online applications. This helps people migrate more quickly to Australia without any hindrance and take up their job faster. All these factors play an important role in United Kingdom’s contribution towards providing staffing solutions in the Australian job market.
Brought to you by the Australian Immigration Experts at Synch1
Sydney Scored Highest For Best Quality Living In World
August 7, 2008 by Mira · Leave a Comment
In a recently conducted analysis on the best living city in world, Sydney marked the highest score. I read this in a recently published newspaper which stated that the above analysis was done by the Worldwide Quality of Living Index.
A range of factors for best Quality of Living were taken into account to arrive at the final result:
- economic performance
- environmental factors
- education facilities available in the city
- ease of access and class of transport
- other public services
- political and social conditions
- medical and health facilities provided in the city
In fact, Sydney exceeded the score established as the international standard of quality of living, which made it rank as the best city to live in, in the world! Now, who wouldn’t want to live in Sidney after this?!
You’ll find world class housing facilities in Sydney - anyone residing in Sydney cannot deny this fact. Sydney scored highest for housing, and with climatic and weather conditions also superb pushed it to even greater hights. Other two important attributes - namely socio-cultural environment and economic environment - are also good and so the scoring in this was near perfect.
Sydney occupied the second place the previous year but could top the first place for best living in the world in 2008 with people and Australian government contributing for improvement in the city.
The result of analysis was achieved only after collecting data consistently for a period of three months covering the above mentioned factors for best living with final monitoring also made on the same.
The availability of goods and services without any difficulties marks the good position of consumer industry and the reduced personal risk with an efficient infrastructure also makes Sydney reach the highest score for world’s best living city.
You can realize that any city in Australia would generally have the best standards of living in the world as Australians prefer to enjoy the same! In fact, the analysis recorded four other Australian capitals in the top thirty five positions of best cities for living in world. Among this the top ranking was occupied by Sydney. This paves the way for many multi-national companies and job seekers to make their way to Australia to enjoy the same. Australia also benefits by attracting workers and companies by filling skilled workers in shortage job positions.
You are sure to enjoy the natural beauty at Sydney as it is abundant there with its perpetual blue sky, well maintained harbor with yachting, surfing, sail boarding, swimming and water-skiing available, stunning beaches, fantastic wildlife and much more.
Sydney is a friendly city offering visitors a variety of attractions and activities. There are many nature rich national parks with many natural bush lands, making Sydney full of greenery for a healthy living.
Australian government also contributes a lot in terms of investment in infrastructure, high-quality housing, low crime, strong media for making Sydney the best city for living in the world.
One more beneficial and attractive point which would make your living at Sydney comfortable is though Sydney is ranked as the best city in the world, the cost of living at Sydney is not much and is very affordable. So enjoy!
Brought to you by the Australian Immigration Experts at Synch1
Australia - A Top Travel Destination?
August 6, 2008 by Mira · Leave a Comment
Many people like me who live in Australia would surely rate New Zealand as the top ‘must-see’ destination. It is always true that many people would not want to go too far out of their cultural comfort zone.
Like Australians preferring New Zealand as the top ‘must-see’ destination, many people living in New Zealand prefer Australia as their top ‘must-see’ destination. There are various reasons for this and the one that strikes my mind is that Australia is like New Zealand with the difference being only in bigger size, more diverse and with better weather.
However, in the whole Asia Pacific region Australia ranks top among travel destinations preferred by many people.
The above statement was confirmed by Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA). They survey reported that about 2.7 million people already visited Australia in 2007 and also this number is confidently forecast to increase in future.
The above statistics are based on door-to-door interviews conducted among various people of nine countries and territories. The survey asked people to list their top five ‘must-visit’ travel destinations in Asia Pacific region in order of priority and among this, a majority responded with Australia as their top ‘must-see’ destination.
There are various reasons for majority of people preferring Australia. Before residing in Australia, I had visited Australia about seven to eight times… What drew me back, time and again?
- amazing scenery
- fascinating Aboriginal history
- an land of contrasts
- remarkable variety in nature
- dramatic night skies
There are various places in Australia - like Kimberley - which bear testimony to the above beauty and features. One more vital reason is these factors remain unaltered for years and are sure to be there for keeps!
Though I have lived in Australia for so many years there are yet a lot of great places for me to see. Australia is a diverse country which contains lots and lots of cities, towns, rock formations, beaches, forests, deserts and islands to be explored which cannot be finished in just one travel visit.
I liked Sydney in Australia which has a moderate climate with warm summers, mild winters and rainfall that is spread throughout the year. The climatic conditions in Australia also make people prefer it as a top destination.
There are many nature lovers like me for whom the best place would be Gold Coast in Queensland. This area is a perfect blend of man made and natural attractions which is an eye-catching treat for nature lovers and is sure to make them prefer it as their top ‘must-see’ destination - even the next time round!
During my travels to Australia, I stayed in Melbourne where I found cost of living is cheap and less crowded than other places.
My visit to Tiwi islands is surely an unforgettable cultural experience and anyone would definitely have this in the top of their travel list each time. All these above factors like amazing scenic beauty, excellent climatic conditions, options for cheaper cost of living, great cultural experience, and abandon natural beauty contribute towards majority of people preferring Australia as their top ‘must-see’ destination.
Being such a cornucopia of natural beauty and such a melting pot of cultures, its no wonder that Australia is fast emerging as the dream destination - not only to travel to, but also to live in!
Brought to you by the Australian Immigration Experts at Synch1
Impact On HIA Due To Booming Immigration
August 5, 2008 by Mira · Leave a Comment
I have been living in Australia for the past 7 years and I now find that the boom in immigration has a greater impact on some industries and sectors than on others. One such sector is represented by the Housing Industry Association, or HIA, for short.
1,000,000 New Homes!
Economic forecasters’ projections indicate that demand for new houses is sure to outstrip supply, largely due to increases in the number of immigrants. They estimate that more than one million new homes will be needed in the next five years to meet the demand due to current booming immigration.
Along with mushrooming immigration, additional factors which drive the growth in housing needs are:
- rising population - needs more houses
- rate of construction is below demand
- current interest rates
I read the latest news from the Housing Industry Association is that although there is sudden increase in the immigration numbers, the housing numbers ishows no sign of catching up.
With current social trends, many people - especially immigrants - prefer to live alone or at least with fewer people sharing a house. Nowadays people don’t like to be crowded in the same house and I feel that this decline in the number of people per house could also be a reason driving the need for housing - to meet the demand of a flood of immigrants.
Other factors that contribute towards the shortage in supply of housing are:
- release of land for housing is very limited
- investment funds available for housing is declining
Though demand for housing continues to rise, the supply of new houses is falling behind. There are various factors contributing to this but the primary reason is high interest rates in the property market.
Due to the recent record interest rates, there has been a greater slow down in the building of new houses. I have a house because I built it 7 years ago. Now in this current financial climate, its getting more and more difficult to think of owing even a small house.
My friend recently brought land for about $200K, then found that the estimated cost of building the house had jumped to about 300K. Since he could not afford to pay the higher prices of both land and house, the result is that the land is now vacant, without housing, and he still has high rents for accommodation, as well as paying mortgage costs.
We live in a major city in Australia and find that house prices grow rapidly day by day. Same with house rents which are on the increase. I feel it is vital that major steps must be taken towards meeting the housing demands due to increasing immigration - aimed at cutting these high prices - and would prevent people from facing a homeless future.
This also would increase the need for skilled construction workers and engineers to construct homes for meeting the needs of immigrants.
Brought to you by the Australian Immigration Experts at Synch1
Real Estate In Australia - New And Resale Homes
July 31, 2008 by Mira · Leave a Comment
Things To Keep In Mind About New And Resale Homes
The thought of living in your dream possession that has been furnished with new gleaming furnishings is thoroughly an exhilarating feeling. We all are aware of the fact that purchasing a home in a place like Australia can be a fund draining experience. Hence, you must not give up the option of looking at resale homes in your look-out for your dream house.
Dilapidated?
The very thought of resale homes may bring in to your mind a house that is almost in a dilapidated condition with damaged windows, cracked ceiling and floors, rusted wires and broken pipes. No, this might not be the actual case of all resale homes! You can be successful in enjoying some additional benefits while going in for resale homes instead of freshly constructed houses.
The most important factor to be considered is the cost. It is well known that pre-existing houses tend to be comparatively less expensive than newly built houses. The additional difference in the cost of a new home might be attributed to factors like current cost of the land, prices of construction materials, labor costs etc. Hence, if you locate a resale home that suits yours requirements, you may think seriously about buying it.
Another common problem that is encountered with to-be-completed homes is that of noise pollution. Many of these projects are slated to accommodate hundreds of homes and take some years to be fully complete and ready for possession. Hence, if you happen to be one of the first early occupants, you will be forced to face the problem of traffic congestion, construction hazards and noise pollution. These issues are totally absent in the case of resale homes.
However, if you are buying a brand new home, the other major accessories like the furnishings, bath and kitchen fittings, and floor tiling can be decided well in advance to suit your styling requirements and budgetary limitations. In the case of resale homes, you might face stiff opposition from the rest of the neighbors in case of undertaking complete renovation of the interiors of the house.
While considering resale houses, please remember to go through the records of previous payment made by the earlier owner towards all amenities. In case of arrears being built up, you might face acute problems while moving ahead of your furnishing plans in the home.
Can You sell Easily if You Want To?
If you purchase a home which is a part of a major construction project that spans over a couple of years and you decide to sell your property even before the entire project is completed, you must bear in mind that you will be competing with the real estate developer. This might have its impact in the time taken to sell and the price quoted for your brand new home.
Hence, while embarking upon your dream journey of buying yourself a cozy and comfortable home, consider both newly constructed and resale houses. Weigh the pros and cons of both options and make the life-time decision a wise and happy one.
Brought to you by the Australian Immigration Experts at Synch1
Real Estate In Australia - 7 Essential Buying Tips
July 30, 2008 by Mira · Leave a Comment
7 Things To Remember Before Making A Real Estate Purchase
Becoming the proud owner of a dream home can very well be a truly nerve-wracking experience. However, in order to make the process start in an easier fashion, you need to ask yourself certain questions before looking out for a property in Australia.
Please bear in mind that these are not the only factors to be considered before embarking upon your hunt for homes. But, paying a little attention to the following issues will certainly provide you the clarity of the entire situation and equip you with the requisite knowledge to proceed further towards your ultimate goal.
- You need to be clear about your needs. Try to come to a clear decision about the size of the house and the facilities that may come with it. This will prevent future regrets about the space crunch, lack of amenities etc.
- The next very important factor to be considered is the location. Choose the area that suits yours requirements and your financial limitations. Ensure that all pockets in this area are thoroughly searched before moving on to the next preferred location. By doing this, you avoid any confusions that may otherwise arise due to the location of your home and the distance you need to cover for outside facilities like school, office, hospital, shopping malls etc.
- Find out about flexibility levels of the house owner. One easy way of doing this is to check out for how long the house has been empty. A relatively less duration is an indicator that the owner might not show great signs of flexibility.
- I know that you will certainly visit the house to have a good look at it. Try to gauge the level of repairs to be done, the age of the building, the condition of the electrical and plumbing wires etc. This will give you added clarity as far as your budget is concerned.
- Ask the owner to provide complete details of the final price quoted. This should include any associated charges that are being levied. You must also inquire about the tax on property to be paid to ensure that there have been no previous shortfalls in payment.
- Having children in the family will definitely persuade you to prefer locations that are closer to educational institutions. In that case, try to assess the accessibility levels of your home from school and vice-versa. This is undoubtedly one compelling element of house-hunting in case of a family-man.
- Go through the documents of the house with the able guidance of a professional. Try to find out if there are any other related issues like zoning or easement problems. These troubles may arise if your property is the midst of a vast residential neighborhood. Overlooking these factors might take you by surprise later on after possession of the property.
- Be practical while weighing all options of buying the house. Transportation is an important factor to be considered prior to purchasing any property. Try to analyze the time taken for commutation between your prospective home and the most commonly driven places (school or office).
The above discussed issues are just the starting point in your journey towards your dream home. However, giving these factors a deep thought will certainly ease the initial confusions and illusions that are associated with house-hunting. Good Luck!!!!
Brought to you by the Australian Immigration Experts at Synch1
