Relocation
LIVING AND WORKING IN AUSTRALIA
AUSTRALIA
http://www.australia.com/
RECRUITMENT PROCESS
The normal process is for 1 or 2 telephone interviews. Sometimes a video call (Skype) is required. The next step would be for the candidate to receive a verbal offer. At this stage the candidate will be required to provide at least 2 referees that can be contacted. These need to be people that the candidate has reported to. For instance team leaders or Managers. They can in some circumstances be clients for who you have done work for. If references are satisfactory then a formal written offer will be made.
COST OF LIVING
It can be very hard to make an accurate comparison of cost of living between two places.
I find that accommodation is normally the big cost so this is a good starting point.
Check out some options on www.domain.com.au , let me know if you need any advice on this. Instructions below.
Please consider that renting out any property will include giving the landlord a security deposit which might equal 4-6 weeks rent value. This will be returned at the end of the tenancy as long as the property is undamaged and clean.
SYDNEY - NEW SOUTH WALES
http://www.visitnsw.com/
Click the rent option.
Click NSW on the map.
Tick 'North Shore - Lower', highlight the suburbs Milsons point, McMahons point, Kirribilli.
I picked these are they are very central and nice but also expensive so you get an idea of the top price range. Other suburbs will be much more competitive.
Highlight 'All property types and also bedrooms 1,2 and studio.
Click search
Here u will find a good range of furnished and unfurnished accommodation. I would welcome your feedback on what you find and any further questions.
MELBOURNE - VICTORIA
http://www.visitvictoria.com.au
Follow this same process for VIC (Victoria) but choose Inner City. For suburbs try Melbourne, Port Melbourne, St Kilda Road. This again will give you a good guide. Again these are all the expensive places. You can get much cheaper.
BRISBANE - QUEENSLAND
http://www.queenslandholidays.com.au
Same for QLD, Choose Brisbane City, Im not sure of what suburbs to try but I'm sure any here are very central.
PERTH - WESTERN AUSTRALIA
http://www.experienceperth.com
ADELAIDE - SOUTH AUSTRALIA
http://www.southaustralia.com/
NEW ZEALAND
http://www.newzealand.com/
The main site for accommodation in NZ is www.trademe.co.nz
SALARY
The salaries in Australia are usually quoted as base + super.
Super (Superannuation) is a contribution that your employer makes to a pension fund. It is set at 9% of base salary.
For info as to how u can access this once u leave please visit:
http://www.ato.gov.au/super/content.asp?doc=/content/29516.htm&mnu=4078&mfp=001/007
TAX
Most companies are also able to process LAFHA (living away from home allowance) which can reduce your tax. This needs to be confirmed with individual clients.
To work out your tax go to this link:
http://calculators.ato.gov.au/scripts/asp/simpletaxcalc/InputDetails.asp
Enter a salary of 75K for 2007 and tick resident for full year. This says you will pay almost 20K in tax. You should be able to reduce this with LAFHA which SHOULD bring your tax down to around $14K. This is just an example. You can calculate for any salary.
Here are the actual tax rates in Australia.
http://www.ato.gov.au/individuals/content.asp?doc=/content/12333.htm&mnu=5053&mfp=001
RELOCATION
Most companies employing from O/S offer for a flight and 4 weeks initial accommodation. It is often required for the individual to pay for these costs up front and produce receipts upon starting which will then be reimbursed.
MEDICAL
Medical cover in Australia is always the responsibility of the individual. If you are sponsored on a 457 working visa it is essential that you take out health insurance. It isnt too expensive.
http://www.iman.com.au or http://mbf.com.au/main/products/overseas_visitors/
http://www.iselect.com.au is a good site to help with choosing health insurance.
Even citizens have to pay for their health treatment here (if you earn over AUD$70K as an individual or 140K as a family)
VISA
At an appropriate time you will need to make an appointment with a registered doctor to have health checks. See link below. It is likely you will be sponsored on a 457 visa.
Please note that it is usually required for the candidate to give notice to their current employer before the visa is approved. I have not yet known of a case where a visa has been refused. If candidates wait until visa approval before giving their notice this can delay the start time for the new employer. It is important that you alert me if you are not comfortable giving your notice before visa is approved.
http://www.immi.gov.au/contacts/panel-doctors/index.htm
Here are some answers to some Frequently asked questions regarding 457 visas
http://www.immi.gov.au/skilled/skilled-workers/sbs/index.htm
LEAVE ENTITLEMENT
The employee in a permanent position will be entitled to 20 paid annual leave days per annum.
The employee will be entitled to a maximum of 10 paid days personal leave per annum.
All officially recognised public holidays are observed.
http://www.industrialrelations.nsw.gov.au/holidays/index.html
WORK HOURS
The employee agrees to work Australian standard working hours, i.e., Monday to Friday, 8:30am to 5:30pm, excluding weekends and public holidays, plus such additional hours as are necessary to fulfill the requirements of the role. No additional payment will be made to the employee for additional hours worked. At least a one-hour rest period is available to the employee each day.
BANKS
http://www.westpac.com.au
http://www.anz.com.au
http://www.nab.com.au
http://www.commbank.com.au
OPENING AN ACCOUNT
http://www.westpac.com.au/internet/publish.nsf/content/PBIT+Migrant+Banking
CARS
There are probably two main car sites.
http://www.carsales.com.au
http://www.carpoint.com.au
Both car sites have new and used cars
Here are two of the bigger insurers but there are lots of others. I think I pay around $AUD300pa but it depends on driving record and type of car and also the excess you are willing to pay.
Car Insurance
http://www.aami.com.au/
http://www.racv.com.au/
Car Registration
Initial registration is around $400
http://www.vicroads.vic.gov.au/Home
Car Licence
http://www.rta.nsw.gov.au/licensing/newtonsw/international_drivers.html
SCHOOL FEES
This information may have changed so I advise you double check this information.
NSW
http://www.schools.nsw.edu.au/
Fees for students who hold Temporary Resident Visas or Bridging Visas are payable 12 months in advance.
The fees for a 12-month period are:
Years 11 - 12 Senior High School A$5,500.00
Years 7 - 10 Junior High School A$4,500.00
Years K - 6 Primary School A$4,500.00
Administration Fee: A$110 (non-refundable and GST inclusive) for initial enrolment
What do the fees cover?
The Temporary Visa Holders Education Fee includes most tuition costs and access to student support services. It does not include the cost of excursions or the provision of school uniforms.
Each school may request voluntary school contributions and charge additional fees for certain subjects or optional extension activities. These charges apply to all students, including those who have paid the Temporary Visa Holders Education Fee.
Individual applications for an exemption based on capacity to pay must be submitted in writing to the TVHU. Applications will be considered on a case-by-case basis in relation to an applicant's capacity to pay.
It is probably worth looking into this as you might be able to pay the fees in two instalments. One instalment for each semester.
VIC
There are no school fees in Victoria
http://www.education.vic.gov.au/
Email: edline@edumail.vic.gov.au
http://www.eduweb.vic.gov.au/schoolsonline/search.asp
EXTERNAL LINKS
http://www.immi.gov.au
http://www.gomatilda.com/calculator/index.cfm
http://www.yesaustralia.com/Estilo-custosing.htm
http://www.workingin-australia.com
http://www.pomsinoz.com
http://www.gday.ru
PETS
Quarantine
http://www.daff.gov.au/content/output.cfm?ObjectID=D2C48F86-BA1A-11A1-A2200060A1B01896&contType=outputs
RELOCATION
Please note that Dynamo Recruitment are not a relocation company. We help people to find work and as an immigrant myself I will do my best to advise and assist with the relocation process. If you feel you need additional help we suggest you look to engage a firm of professional relocation experts such as
http://www.ossworldwidemovers.com/
If you would like to make contact with an Australian based immigration agency:
All effort if made to make sure this information is accurate and up to date however due to the constantly changing situation no responsibility can be taken for mistakes or out of date information. It is advised that each applicant makes their own checks on vital information.