There are a variety of different visas you can apply for depending on your resident status, your skills and your age. It is always best to contact the embassy of the country you are hoping to work in to get the full picture. Here is a brief summary of the types of visa available for Australia:

Working Holiday Visa

If you are a resident of the United Kingdom, Ireland, Canada, Germany, Japan, the Netherlands, the Republic of Korea or Malta you are eligible for a working holiday visa for Australia. To obtain this visa you will usually need to be aged between 18 and 30 and not have children. The visa allows you to stay in Australia for 12 months and you are allowed to work the whole time you are here, but only for 3 months with each employer. To stay in the country longer requires your employer to sponsor you or for you to obtain a business sponsorship visa. You can also seek permanent immigration through the points system or spouse system. You can get more information from the Australian Government site. www.immi.gov.au.

Employer Sponsored Visa

It can be the case that your employer can facilitate a visa for you to work in another country with your company. It is best to approach your company to discuss this possibility and their internal guidelines with regard to overseas secondments.

Business Sponsorship Visas

There are now specialist agencies which can assist you in obtaining a 4 year business sponsorship visa. For further information please visit the following websites:

www.gnaustralia.com.au
www.freespirit.com.au
www.pendragon.net.au

Living in Australia

Australia is a very affordable country, especially if you are bringing in foreign currency such as the British Pound or US Dollar to get set up. Most people visiting Australia tend to migrate towards the major capital cities of Sydney and Melbourne, although Perth is a close third. The cost of living doesn't vary much between Sydney and Melbourne, and generally speaking Perth is about 10% cheaper.

N.B. For UK residents planning to travel to Australia, earning approximately 2.1 times your UK salary for a similar role is a commonly used formula.

It is relatively easy to set up a bank account in Australia. However, you will need to provide several forms of identification such as your passport, a utilities bill with your local address on it, your employment details, another credit or bankcard or a driver's license. Travellers Cheques are readily accepted and it is easy to access your money through ATM's (Cashpoints), located in all areas.

Australia has a free medical service called Medicare (it is the equivalent of the NHS in the UK). You are entitled to medical care in Australia whilst you are visiting and don't need to apply for this card until you need medical attention.

Food

Due to its proximity to Asia and its European roots, Australia has an amazing eclectic mix of restaurants, cafes and the traditional take-aways. You can get some fantastic reasonably priced meals in restaurants as well as exquisite cuisine in more up-market restaurants. The main supermarkets are Coles and Woolworth's although many areas have fresh fruit stores, delicatessens and butchers where bargains can be found.

As a guide you can expect to pay the following:

Coffee: $2.00 - $3.00
Snack/Sandwich: $4.00 - $7.00
Moderate Restaurant Meal (no drinks): $15.00 - $25.00
Top-end restaurant meal (no drinks): $25.00 +

Accommodation

Accommodation in Sydney is the most expensive in Australia and inner suburb rentals are in demand. Melbourne is also experiencing a property boom with rents creeping up to Sydney standards. To counter the cost, most people share rental properties. The Sydney Morning Herald or Melbourne Age newspapers are good sources of rental properties. In the popular Eastern suburbs of Sydney The Wentworth Courier also carried properties for rent. Expect to pay around $250 - $350 for a nice one-bedroom in the Inner East or Inner West in Sydney and around $450 upwards for a two bedroom terrace or house in the same areas (a bit less in Melbourne's popular inner areas).

Expect to pay the following for temporary accommodation:

Budget room: $30.00 - $50.00
Moderate Hotel: $80.00 - $120.00
Top-end Hotel: $120.00 upwards

General

Schooner of Beer: $3.50
Glass of wine: $6.00
Soft drink (in a pub): $2.00

VAT (Value Added Tax) of 10% is added to all meals or included in the price. A tip of 10% is usually expected at good restaurants, unless the service is disappointing.

Public Transport

Public transport in Australia is excellent. A network of buses, trains, ferries or trams are in use in all the major cities. However, be aware that due to the long distances between cities in Australia, coach and rail travel can be long and uncomfortable, although it is the cheapest and most scenic way to travel. With the entry into the Australian market place of discount airlines such as Virgin Blue and Impulse, air travel has become a much more viable option between States.

Buses/Trains/Trams: $2.00 - $4.00 for a one way trip from an inner city suburb.

Ferries (City to Manly in Sydney): $4.00 -$7.00.

Taxis: there are several networks of taxi services in Australia. You should always have a general idea of where you are going, as Australian Taxi drivers will not always know exact locations and some have only very basic English. Tipping is discretionary with taxis.

Weather

One of Australia's best features is its weather, allowing a myriad of activities; many focused around the beach and outdoor life. Summer (November to February) reaches temperatures of between 24 and 35 degrees depending where you are. Humidity is more prevalent in the North (where it is the wet season), whereas Sydney and Melbourne both catch cooling sea breezes.

Winters can be very cool, especially in the Southern States and temperatures range from 10 - 18 degrees. Australia's ski fields are located in NSW and Victoria, and although not as high as European Alps, offer some good slopes for the ardent skier. Spring and Autumn are the best times to travel, as the weather is mild in most areas.

For further information on living in Australia, please visit:
www.liveinaustralia.com

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