Australia or “The Land Down Under” is a country with a diverse and multicultural population, where people enjoy a relatively high quality of life. More commonly known as the 'Commonwealth of Australia', it is a federation of six states and two territories; Victoria, Queensland, New South Wales, South Australia, Western Australia, Tasmania, Northern Territory, and Australian Capital Territory. Tasmania is separated from mainland Australia by the Bass Strait... More
Although it is the smallest continent in the world, Australia is the biggest Oceanic country and the world's 6th largest country, with an area of 7.6 million square kilometres. Australia is made up of diverse landscapes; beaches, rainforests, mountains, reefs, deserts, lakes, rivers, tropical islands, and snow-capped mountains. The closest neighbouring countries to Australia are New Zealand, Indonesia, East Timor, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, and Vanuatu. The Capital of Australia is Canberra, and the largest city is Sydney. Popular metropolitan cities in Australia include Melbourne, Perth, Brisbane, and Adelaide.
Australia has a population of 25 million, made up of a diverse range of cultures with people from over 150 countries calling it “home”. More than 30% of the Australian population have been born overseas, with most of them being from UK, New Zealand, China, India, and Vietnam. About 40,000 - 60,000 years prior to the first British settlement in New South Wales in 1788, Australia was populated by indigenous Australians; Aboriginals and Torres Strait Islanders. Today indigenous Australians only make up about 1.5% of that population. Australia follows a system of Parliamentary Democracy. The Australian Head of State is Queen Elizabeth the 2nd and is represented by Peter Cosgrove; the Governor General of Australia. Since 2018, Scott Morrison has been the Prime Minister of Australia, and the leader of the liberal party, the largest party in the coalition government.
The country has over 500 national parks and more than 2,700 conservation areas, from wildlife sanctuaries to Aboriginal reserves as well as man-made icons like the Sydney Opera House, and the Sydney Harbour Bridge. It is also renowned for comprising some of the world's greatest natural wonders, and home to seventeen UNESCO World Heritage Sites, including the Great Barrier Reef, Kakadu National Park, and Fraser Island to name a few. Australia has a sophisticated public transport network; a widespread bus and train network in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide, and Perth, over 200 airports, a tram network in Melbourne, ferry services in Sydney and Brisbane, a light-rail network, and a metro line in Sydney. In addition, taxis and uber cab services operate throughout all major towns, cities and inner suburbs of the country.
Australia has an extremely low unemployment rate, low levels of air pollution, world-class education system, top-notch healthcare system, efficient public transport, and the highest minimum wage worldwide; providing great incentives for those wishing to live, work, and study in Australia.
Australia has one of the highest living standards in the world; The global liveability index, contnuously ranks several Australian cities, including Melbourne, Sydney, and Adelaide within the world's top 10 “Most Liveable Cities”.
When you plan to migrate overseas, one of the primary worries that you have is, “Where am I going to live?”. Finding new accommodation is a daunting task and would require you to devote hours and hours of your time into researching, fact-finding, and verifying, before you can find something you like. We have tried to make that process simpler for you, by compiling a list of short-term and long-term accommodation options in Australia.
Short-Term Accommodation
Short-term accommodation is a great way to settle into your new life, get to know more about Australia, its people, and adapt to your new culture, before you can decide on a more permanent accommodation solution. Short stay accommodation options range from:
Budget Hotels/ Motels
Australia has plenty of budget hotel and motel options that you could choose from, especially located around central business districts. You could find suitable options through:
Short Stay apartments
Short stay apartments are fully furnished, and most include access to regular cleaning services. The average nightly price of a short stay apartment would be around $120-$300.
You could utilize the following sources to find suitable short stay apartments:
Flat Sharing
If you like to mix and mingle with others, and don't mind sharing accommodation facilities, you could always find shared accommodation facilities to suit your needs. Flatmates.com is a good source for finding this type of accommodation; all listings are broken down by rent, city, room type, amenities, and more.
Most listings would have a minimum stay requirement, which can be anywhere between one week to a few months. You would also be required to pay a bond deposit when you sign the contract, which would include a months' worth of rent. The bond is returned to you when your contract is over. If there are any damages to the property during your lease, then a certain amount will be deducted from the total bond, for the repair of these items.
Indianroommates.in is another good source for finding shared accommodation. Despite its name, the website is not only limited to Indians looking for accommodation.
The cost of shared living varies, depending on how big the accommodation facility is, how many people are sharing, location, and whether utilities (gas, water, electricity, internet) is included in the cost. Generally, it would cost between $150 - $400 per week for shared accommodation.
Private Rentals- Apartments and houses
If you like your privacy and prefer to live by yourself, then private rental accommodation is the best option for you. You could look at renting a property, from units and apartments to small or large houses. The cost of the property would depend on several factors, including; size of the property, facilities (number of rooms, bathrooms, other amenities), proximity to the CBD, access to public transport, how old the property is, and other factors.
On average:
Sources of Short-Term Accommodation
Furnishing
Although some houses come furnished, usually the properties only come with basic amenities. You would be required to source your own pots, pans, couches, beds, and more. You can buy cheap new furniture through finder.com.au (deals page). If you are on a budget and cannot afford to buy brand new furniture, you can search for second-hand furniture through websites like gumtree.com.au.
Real Estate Agents
If you are planning to rent your own apartment or house, it is recommended that you go through a licensed real estate agent. Australia has several real estate agencies, based in the city, town or suburb that you are looking at. The following websites are useful when trying to find a good real estate agent:
Long-term accommodation
Once you have been in Australia for a few weeks/months, you may be ready to change from short term accommodation into long term accommodation. If you are living by yourself, the best option would probably be renting an apartment; 6-12-month lease with a possibility of further renewal.
If you are accompanied by your partner/spouse, and children it would be more beneficial to look for a house than an apartment. Before buying a home in Australia, you would need to ensure you have the proper visa, documentation, and work permits. Both Permanent Residents and Temporary Residents can purchase properties in Australia.
Once a contract has been signed, you will need to pay a deposit on your new home. You should try and get a home loan through an Australian lender; bank/other financial institution. You need to ensure that you have records of your credit history, and current financial documents (bank statements, pay slips, etc) with you, when applying for a loan. It would be beneficial if you are earning a regular income, to assure the lender that you would be able to manage your loan repayments in a timely manner. If you do not have a regular income, the chances of being approved a loan would be low.
If you cannot secure a loan from a financial lender, you could reach out to the Department of Human Services Australia for payment assistance. Every state and territory has several government agencies that would be able to assist low-income individuals to secure alternative payment plans.
It is important to remember that in addition to paying a mortgage, there would be other costs and taxes associated with owning a home. On average, the additional costs/taxes would be equivalent to about 5% of the total value of the property. You will need to be mindful of costs, including land transfer registration fees, legal fees, mortgage, local taxes, insurance, and variable costs, like pest inspections, and strata inspections.
Sources of long-term accommodation
The following individual Australian State websites would be an additional source for finding suitable accommodation:
Important facts to note:
Due to the vast and diverse landscape covering Australia, the climate varies dramatically in different parts of the country.
Australian Capital Territory (ACT)
ACT has a dry, continental climate, and experiences four distinct seasons due to its elevation and distance from the coast.
Summer (December - February) tends to be warm and hot, and January is considered to be the hottest month, with an average daily high of 27 degrees Celsius during the day, and a low of 13 degrees Celsius at night.
Winter (June - August) is cold with the occasional frost and fog, resulting in the closure of the airports from time to time. July is the coldest month, with average temperatures of 10-11 degrees during the day and 0-2 degrees at night.
Rainfall is frequent and unreliable, with cycles of drought and flooding; large storage reservoirs are needed to ensure the proper drainage of excessive storm water. The annual recorded rainfall is 25 inches.
New South Wales (NSW)
New South Wales has a temperate, humid climate, accompanied by several days of sunshine a year. The city experiences more blue skies during winter than in summer. Smog is quite common on hotter days during the summer. Sydney does not experience snowfall, but regional parts of NSW experience snowfall, including the Blue Mountains, Orange, and the Upper Hunter region.
Summer (December - February): The average temperature in summer is between 18.6 - 25.8 degrees Celsius, with a humidity level of around 65%. Ocean water temperatures during summer ranges between 22-24 degrees Celsius.
Autumn (March - May): is probably the mildest period in Sydney, with low levels of humidity. Temperatures range between 14.6- 22.2 degrees Celsius.
Winter (June - August): During winter, the temperature averages between 8.8 - 17 degrees Celsius. The highest level of rainfall is during June, while July is the coolest month of the year.
Spring (September - November): The average temperatures in Spring is between 11-23 degrees Celsius, with mild levels of humidity.
Northern Territory (NT)
The Northern Territory has two distinct climate zones; the wet season (October - April) and the dry season (May - September). The temperature remains approximately around 30 degrees Celsius for most of the year. However, certain parts of the Northern Territory experience monsoon weather, including hurricanes and typhoons.
During the dry season, almost every day is warm and sunny with a humidity level of 30%. May and September months have mild rainfall, and June and July are the coolest months; the weather can drop as low as 14 degrees Celsius.
The wet season brings monsoon rains and tropical cyclones, with maximum rainfall during December - March, accompanied by frequent thunderstorms.
Queensland
Queensland experiences a subtropical climate, where most of the year is warm and humid, with around 2,800 hours of annual sunshine. Most rainfall occurs during the summertime, and can be accompanied by thunderstorms, including torrential rain. Winter is generally dry, with clear, blue skies.
Brisbane, Queensland is the ideal city for those who enjoy the outdoors. The city has a subtropical oceanic climate, with an average of 8 hours of sunshine per day. Due to its proximity to the Pacific and Coral seas, the overall temperatures are generally mild, neither too hot nor too cold.
Winter (June- August): is usually mild and generally dry. Average temperatures range between 10-22 degrees Celsius.
Spring (September - November): is usually warmer, and temperatures range between 16-26 degrees Celsius.
Summer (December - March): The average summer temperatures are between 21-30 degrees Celsius. Due to the ocean currents, Brisbane does not experience extremely hot weather in summer like other Australian cities.
Autumn (April - May): is quite warm and includes a fair bit of rain. The average Autumn temperatures are 16-26 degrees Celsius, but nights can get a bit chilly.
South Australia
Adelaide experiences a Mediterranean climate, with four distinct seasons. Summers are generally hot and long, and winters are cool and mild; without snowfall. Adelaide gets over 2,500 hours of sunshine per year, and lower humidity compared to other Australian cities.
Summer (December - February): average temperatures range from 15-29 degrees Celsius. Rainfall is infrequent in summer, and very light. During summer, the sea water temperatures range between 19-21 degrees Celsius, making it ideal for swimming and other water sports.
Autumn (March - May): temperatures range from 12 - 23 degrees Celsius, with very little rainfall.
Winter (June - August): temperatures range from 7-16 degrees Celsius. Frost is uncommon, but occasionally occurs in the Adelaide Hills. Some winter days are accompanied by wind chills, and make the weather seem cooler than it is.
Spring (September - November): Temperatures range from 11-22 degrees Celsius; rainfall is low, but nights become cooler.
Tasmania (Tas)
Tasmania has a cool and temperate climate, with four distinct seasons, and shares a similar climate to the UK, New Zealand, and Canada. In Tasmania, residents experience the harshest and coldest conditions during winter, accompanied by hail and snow. The weather in Tasmania is quite unpredictable, so you should always be prepared, and carry an umbrella and a raincoat/jacket for added measure.
Spring (September - November): temperatures range between 7.9 - 16.9 degrees Celsius.
Summer (December - February): temperatures range between 11-21 degrees Celsius. The average ocean temperatures during this time ranges between 15-16 degrees Celsius.
Autumn (March - May): average temperatures are between 8.9 - 17.3 degrees Celsius.
Winter (June - August): daytime temperatures are between 5-12.3 degrees Celsius, while night-time temperatures can drop as low as 0 degrees Celsius.
Victoria (Vic)
The Victorian climate is known to be extremely volatile and unpredictable, with temperatures fluctuating from extremely hot, to extremely cold. In general, the Victorian climate can be described as quite pleasant in Spring, warm in Summer, mild during Autumn, and crisp and cold in Winter.
Summer (December - February): in Victoria is known for its extreme heat, especially during the months of January and February, with highs of 35-42 degrees, and lows of 25 degrees.
Winter is extremely cold, accompanied by harsh winds, and the occasional hail and snow in regional and mountainous areas of the state. Average temperatures in Victoria during Winter (June - August) is between 0 Degrees to 12 degrees Celsius.
Autumn (March - May) and Spring (September - November) has milder weather, with averages of 10-18 degrees. October is known as the “wettest” month in Victoria, averaging an annual rainfall of 600mm.
Western Australia (WA)
Western Australia has a Mediterranean climate, and on average experiences about eight hours of sunshine per day. It is the sunniest Australian city, with over 135 clear days a year. Summers are usually hot and dry, with the occasional rain and thunderstorms. Winters are generally cool and wet.
The hottest month is usually February, and July and August are the coolest months. Most of the city's rainfall occurs between May and September, with an average annual rainfall of 880mm. Swimming in the ocean is mostly acceptable from January - May, when the water temperatures are around 22-23 degrees Celsius.
Summer (December - February): is usually devoid of rain, with the occasional thunderstorms. It is hot and sunny during with day, and cool at night. The average temperatures in summer ranges from 18-40 degrees Celsius.
Autumn (March - May): Average temperatures are between 12 - 21 degrees Celsius and the weather is quite pleasant.
Winter (June - August): is mild and wet. On the rare occasion, the temperature drops below zero degrees, accompanied with the formation of frost. Light snowfalls have also been recorded in the outer suburbs of Perth, like Perth Hills, Kalamunda, Roleystone, and Mundaring. Average temperatures in Winter are between 9-18 degrees Celsius.
Spring (September - November): average temperatures are between 12-30 degrees Celsius. The weather during this period is mild and unstable, with chances of wind and rain.
Language
Although English is the official language of Australia, there are over 200 different languages spoken across the country. The most common languages include; Mandarin, Italian, Arabic, and Greek.
Australians are also famous for their unique Australian (Aussie) slang and phrases, including:
Food
Popular Australian food and snacks include, Vegemite on toast, Lamington, Barramundi, Meat pies, Chicken Parmigiana, Tim Tams, Barbeque Snags (sausages), a burger with 'the lot', and Pavlova to name a few.
Eating out is a popular Australian pastime, and due to Australia's multicultural society, the country has several restaurants, cafes, pubs, and bars, serving a wide-range of global cuisine from Chinese, Japanese, Thai, French, Greek, Indian, Turkish, Italian, Lebanese, Sri Lankan, Vietnamese, Indonesian, to Mexican food. Australians are also famous for their love of the outdoors, and never miss an opportunity to enjoy a great outdoor BBQ, or picnic with family and friends
Sports
Sport is a major Australian past-time, and Aussie's are avid lovers of Australian Football League (AFL), Australian-Open Tennis, Rugby, Horse Racing, Cricket, Golf, and Formula One Grand Prix.
Australians also love the outdoors, with an abundance of national parks, tropical forests, walking tracks, cycling paths, amusement parks, zoo's, deserts, mountains, and beaches, offering a diverse range of activities to keep you entertained.
Coffee and pub culture
Australia is popular for its coffee culture, from its lattes, short blacks, long blacks, cappuccinos, skinny lattes, to espressos. It is also big on its pub and bar culture, from old style pubs, lounge bars, rooftop bars, beer gardens, clubs, to elegant tea rooms.
Arts and performing arts
Australia is dotted with an extensive range of art galleries and museums, featuring everything from modern art, traditional, to aboriginal art. Australia is home to several theatres, concert halls, and performing arts venues, featuring a range of local and international music, art, dance, comedy, and other acts. Australia also regularly features several Broadway productions like Mamma Mia, Aladdin, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, Annie, and other famous Broadway productions. Major Australian cities also host yearly arts and cultural festivals, music festivals, and so much more.
Shopping
Australians love to shop, and have a wide-spread network of department stores ( Myer, David Jones) , popular retail chains, discount stores ( Target, Big W, K-Mart), farmers markets, supermarkets ( Coles, Woolworths, Aldi, IGA) , shopping centres, malls and outdoor shopping districts, offering late night shopping options on weekends, and 24 hour convenience stores, like 7-Eleven.
Australia is comprised of a mixed market economy, with a GDP of AUD $1.69 Trillion. They are the second wealthiest nation in terms of wealth per adult, following Switzerland.
The service sector, which comprises of 61.1% of the GDP, dominates the Australian economy, and employs close to 80% of the labour force.
The Australian economy has remained stable and resilient despite declines in certain sectors, like mining, and has not experienced a recession or economic decline for over 25 years.
Some of the top performing Australian organizations include: Commonwealth Bank, Telstra, Woolworths, BHP Billiton, Caltex, Macquarie Group, Westpac, National Australia bank, and Wesfarmers, to name a few.
GDP growth has increased in the first quarter of 2018, due to significant fixed investments, benefitting from a significant growth in housing construction, and commodity exports. It is estimated that the economy will continue to grow at around 3%. Business investment is expected to increase, together with public infrastructure investment.
Due to an increase in job creation, the employment and participation rates have significantly risen in the last few years. (Participation rates are calculated based on the number of persons currently employed, or actively looking for work).
The increase in the number of skilled migrants can be attributed to the rise in the participation rates. The up skilling of the workforce, and the increase in the number of hours worked, per worker, has additionally contributed to an increase in the overall economic performance of Australia.
The participation rates as at June 2018, was 65.70 %, which is a 0.20% increase from the previous month. On average, Australia's labour participation rates have remained between 63.80% and 65.80% since 1978. The participation rates for the past year are depicted in the chart below.
The Australian Education system is structured as follows:
*It is compulsory for children aged between 6-16 years to be enrolled in school.
Primary Language
The official language practiced in Australia is English. However, there are several schools which offer education programs in other languages.
In Australia, there are three types of Healthcare schemes available for residents, including:
Medicare
This is a government run medical scheme, operated by Medicare Australia, which is the primary health care funder in Australia, covering 70% of healthcare costs of an individual.
Medicare provides healthcare for Australian PR holders and Citizens. Through Medicare, Australian residents are entitled to subsidized treatment from health professionals, medical practitioners, midwives and nurses, as well as receive treatment from public hospitals.
Who is eligible?
To be eligible for Medicare:
The Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS)
The PBS is an Australian program, which together with Medicare, ensures that a diverse range of medicines are available, affordable, and easily accessible to the residents of Australia.
Private Health Insurance
The balance 30% of healthcare benefits not covered by Medicare, falls under private health insurance schemes. Therefore, it is recommended that residents include a private health insurance plan, in addition to their Medicare schemes, to ensure they have a 100% medical coverage.
There are several health schemes available in Australia, each with a unique coverage plan. For those considering private health insurance, it would be beneficial to go through websites like iSelect and Bupa, which offer comparisons of different healthcare schemes, and would enable you to select the plan that would best suit your budget and needs.
*It is essential that you bring any past medical records, including x-rays, dental records, etc for yourself and any family members migrating with you to Australia.
As at June 2018, the following jobs are in high demand in Australia:
Before considering migration, it is always best that you are prepared for the financial costs associated with living and working in Australia.
The following costing is only an approximate guideline. The actual costs could vary, depending on where you are located within Australia.
Average Monthly expenses (per person)
| Accommodation cost | Groceries | Utilities (Water/Gas/ Electricity) | Phone & Internet | Public Transport | Personal expenses (Eating out/Shopping) | Miscellaneous |
|
$1,000 - $1,500 |
$350-400 |
$150- $200 |
$120 |
$150 |
$350 |
$200 |
Minimum cost of living (Annual)
According to the Department of Home Affairs, the annual, minimum cost of living for Australian residents and migrants are as follows:
| Yourself | Partner/spouse | Per Child |
| $20,290 | $7,100 | $3,040 |
Studying in Australia
Australia has been ranked as the 3rd most popular study destination in the world, with 16% of its Universities ranked in the world's top 100.
With a highly regulated, world-class education system, Australian University courses are Internationally recognized and fiercely sought after. It is a safe environment, offering a high quality of life for those that live, work, and study in Australia.
All students are allowed 40 hours of work per fortnight while studying, and unlimited number of work hours during semester breaks.
Australia has:
Before studying in Australia as an International student, a candidate would need to first:
Before submitting an application to study in an Australian University or College, a student will have to meet minimum entry requirements. The Entry requirements differ for each University and depends on the type of program you wish to follow.
Popular University Courses
Inclusive of study areas in Languages, Philosophy, History, Literature, Religion, Geography, Economics, Politics, Psychology, Sociology, Media, Communications, and Foreign Affairs. Two of the best art faculties and programs in Australia can be found at the University of Melbourne, and Monash University.
Areas of study include Health and Nutrition, and Policy Development and Marketing. The top two Universities for a health sciences degree are Deakin University, and La Trobe University.
Nursing is one of the most popular courses followed by students in Australia. The best nursing courses can be found at Victoria University, and Federation University in Melbourne.
Engineering degrees obtained in Australia are equivalent to those obtained in the US, UK, and Japan. This is due to the high standards set by the accreditation body, Engineers Australia (EA). The best engineering courses are offered by the University of Melbourne, and University of Southern Queensland.
Degrees in IT and Computer Science include study areas that cover programming, software design, algorithms etc. Popular IT Universities include RMIT, Charles Sturt University, and University of New South Wales (UNSW).
With the demand for skilled teachers on the rise, Australian Universities are offering a wide variety of teaching courses, covering Early Childhood, Primary, Secondary, and Special Needs education. The best teaching courses are taught at Macquarie University, and the University of South Australia.
The following Universities offer some of the best Business Degrees and Post graduate courses: RMIT, University of Melbourne, Monash University, Victoria University, La Trobe University, and Swinburne University.
Hospitality is one of the most popular courses undertaken by International students. Institutions that offer the best hospitality courses include, Melbourne Polytechnic, William Angliss Institute, La Trobe University, University of Wollongong, Edith Cowan University, James Cook University, University of Southern Queensland, University of Adelaide, and Victoria University.
Australian qualifications in this field are globally recognized, although the entry requirements to study medicine at an Australian Institute are quite high. A medical degree in Australia takes about 5-6 years to complete. The University of New South Wales (UNSW), University of Melbourne, and Charles Sturt University, offer some of the best Medicine courses in Australia.
Due to the construction boom in the past few years, there has been a rise in demand for skilled builders and construction workers in Australia. RMIT University in Melbourne offers one of the best degrees in this field of study.
Students are eligible to work up to 40 hours per fortnight during the semester, and full-time during semester breaks. The average wage for part time work would range between $17-$21 an hour.
As a student, the following industries would be the ideal opportunity for you to work in either casual or part-time work and earn some extra cash.
How can I find work?
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