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Moving to Australia

Things to consider

Australia is a very large and diverse country.  Although the population is relatively small - around 21 million - the land area is over thirty times the size of the UK. It takes around 5 hours to fly from one side of the country to the other. Each major city is unique, from the laid back beachside city of Perth, to the sporting and cultural hub of Melbourne, to the historical political centre that is Canberra - so it is important that you make sure you know what your drivers are for emigrating, in order to assess which city will most feel like home.  Sydney is the largest city by population, and is the nation's economic capital; however the cost of living is high relative to the rest of the country. 

If you are moving to Australia for lifestyle reasons, you should be aware that whilst Aussies pride themselves on leading a more relaxed lifestyle overall l - and very much enjoy their leisure and outdoor time - they still work hard. Contrary to popular belief, the majority of professional roles will still likely require you to work more than the standard hours of 9-5, and we don't turn up to the office in shorts and flip flops!

The Department of Immigration and Citizenship  website details the different VISA's on offer; typically a 457 and 417 are the most relevant for people looking to relocate temporarily with the right to work but you need to do your research and ensure that you are legally allowed to work in Australia before you book anything. Check out all of the limitations associated with each VISA before you apply.

Keep in mind that most companies and recruitment agencies will not commence the interview process with you for specific jobs until you have arrived in the country.  Once you have conducted your research and have obtained the correct VISA, you may need to take a risk and just book your flight.  Unless you have a very specific skill set that can not be sourced from the local market, it is very rare to be offered a role without first attending a face to face interview. You can maximise your chances of success by making contact with a recruitment consultant in advance who is a specialist in your market to discuss and allow you to understand the demand for your specific skill set. 

Weigh up the salaries on offer for your role type, and compare them against the cost of living, to ensure that you can afford all of the costs associated with your move, as well as costs of securing accommodation, and the living in the time taken for you to find the right role.  Have a detailed discussion with your recruitment consultant about any variances in salaries relative to skill set in order to gain an understanding of what you can expect. More on a comprehensive Australia wide salary and market review .

Further information about planning your move to Australia .

*The above information was current as of May 2011

Information by Capital City

For further information, please contact Andrew Wills, Hudson, Director - Accounting and Finance, Sydney on +61 (0)2 8233 2192 or email.

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