Expat Life Down Under
Not just a country, but a continent, Australia has, since the 1950s, seen a steadily-rising influx of immigrants, initially recruited by the Australian Government from the United Kingdom and Europe in a drive to expand the population and the skills-base of the country. Today, Australia has become the destination of choice for thousands of people who are looking to relocate. It is a vibrant, democratic, multi-cultural country offering great opportunities and a superior life-style.
Why Australia?
With a small population, currently estimated by the Australian Bureau of Statistics at about 25 million people (roughly equivalent to the population of Shanghai), Australian cities are less congested and polluted than their counterparts elsewhere in the world.
Australia has a vast and varied landscape with a variety of climatic zones, from the dry, hot Outback, to the more temperate climate of the coastal regions. Most expats gravitate to the major cities on the seaboard, such as Sydney, Perth, Melbourne, Brisbane and Adelaide, unless they are required by their jobs to live elsewhere.
A high standard of state education is on offer, and good Medicare, which is available to both citizens and permanent residents. Expats are required by law to take out private health insurance.
While many countries in the world face the challenges of an aging population and a low birth-rate, the median population of Australia is young, owing to the influx of hundreds of thousands of young families in recent years. This provides a growing tax-base to support the social services that give Australia such a high standard of living.
Australia also appeals to those who love the great outdoors, with unique wildlife and World Heritage Sites such as the Great Barrier Reef.
Australians are known as direct, friendly people, who socialise in a relaxed, informal manner.
Immigration today
Possibly as many as half of Australian citizens come from an expat background, either through their parents or grandparents, as the expat of today tends to become the Australian citizen of tomorrow. Current immigration figures show the largest growth of immigrants from Asia, India and China, and there is still a steady influx from many other countries, including the USA, Europe, the United Kingdom, New Zealand and South Africa. It is estimated that 70% of these are skilled people, who have entered Australia to fill positions advertised on the Skilled Occupation List released by the Australian Government, and updated according to the changing needs of the country. As Australia is an English-speaking country, expats must be proficient in English, and are required to take a Skills Assessment Test in their professions.
In line with the migrant crisis in the world at large, Australia has recently amended the visa requirements for immigrants. The 4-year 457 visa has been discontinued and replaced by the Temporary Skill Shortage Visa (TSS), with more stringent requirements.
Challenges for expats
Expats would be naïve to expect a life of sunshine and blue sky: the cost of living is high, with Sydney rated as the 14th and Melbourne the 15th most expensive cities to live in out of 133 cities surveyed by the Economist in 2017; social services are funded through high taxes; housing is expensive, and rental properties – often preferred by expats – are in short supply. For many expats, the great distances from home are difficult to deal with.
Job opportunities
Many expats work in the medical profession, with opportunities as General Practitioners, Resident Medical Officers and registered nurses; the construction industry requires structural steel and welding workers; academics, too, remain in high demand. The decline in the mining industry means that expats working in the mining sector may be posted to remote locations, while their families remain close to the amenities of the cities. There is also a multiplicity of other jobs at all levels on the Skilled Occupation List.
Adapting to expat life
Some immigrants have turned being an expat into a career, by creating websites that offer help, advice and support to other immigrants. The common thread running through these initiatives is similar: do your research thoroughly before immigrating, particularly in terms of salary offered and cost of living; be pro-active and create friendships with fellow expats and native Australians; embrace what the country has to offer, while preserving and celebrating the best aspects of your own culture.
SOURCES:
LIVING IN AUSTRALIA: A guide to moving to Australia as an expat
australia.gov.au
www.news.com.au
