Living in Australia

Visas and Immigration

For people wishing to visit, work, study or live in Australia, visa and immigration information is available from the Australian Government Department of Immigation and Citizenship.

The Country

Australia is a natural wonderland of beautiful beaches, crystal blue waters, amazing ancient rock formations and pristine rainforests.

Australia is the sixth largest country in the world and has the lowest population density per square kilometre.

Australia has 16 world heritage listed properties with its historic townships, bustling cities, vivid landscapes and exotic flora and fauna all adding to its unique appeal.

Much of Australia's exotic flora and fauna cannot be found anywhere else in the world and the lifestyle is one second to none.

Culture and Customs

The culture and customs consists of a rich tapestry of nationalities including traditions, legends, myths and folklore. The indigenous 'Dream time' forms the base of tens of thousands of years of spiritual aboriginal art and culture.

Language

In Australia over 200 different languages and dialects are spoken, including 45 indigenous languages. The most commonly spoken languages (other than English) are Italian, Greek, Cantonese, Arabic, Vietnamese and Mandarin.

States and Territories

Australia is made up of six states and two territories.

Education

The education system in Australia is open to all people. It offers an opportunity for all age groups and levels of ability. You can get into any level of education if you have the entry requirements. If at first you do not reach the entry standard, then you can do other study to get to the standard. Help is available for all people who may suffer disadvantage.

School is compulsory for all children aged between five and fifteen years. These ages may vary slightly in some states. The government provides public schools. Churches and other groups provide private schooling. Public schooling is free and users pay fees for private schooling.

The positions in higher education have entry levels that students must achieve to get them. The people most likely to succeed get the positions first. Some students start when they finish school. Other students start study later as an adult.

Many employers provide training that helps their employees to do their job. You may do a study course for interest only. People living in Australia are encouraged to join in and gain more education throughout their life.

Family Life

In all parts of Australia, people place a lot of importance on family life. We value family and the family regulates much of the way we live our day-to-day life. There are many groups close to where you live that offer help for families. The groups are government, church and community based. The support services that are on offer relate to all aspects of life and are too many to list here. Instead, this page gives you some useful links to web pages where you will find more links to further sources of help. You can also search on Family or Community in the yellow pages to find details of services in your part of Australia.

Health

Australians enjoy a high level of good health. The nation has quality housing, water and sanitation, and an adequate supply of food and medicines. Health care in Australia follows western traditions with technical and scientific skills used to prevent, examine and treat ill health. People coming to Australia have heath checks before entering the country as another way to keep us as a healthy nation.

Housing

Australian cities offer a wide range of housing options. The range is from a single house on a block of land in the suburb of a big city or a flat in a high-rise block in an inner city area to a house on a large block of land in a rural area. Typically, Australians want to have their own house and land. They will often rent before they choose to buy a home or decide where to live. The price of housing will vary a lot between cities and within each city. Most people live in the suburbs of the state capital cities. They like to live close to where they work, go to schools, access community facilities and use leisure areas.

Country towns and regional cities are smaller and widely separated. Life in a country town is more relaxed and less expensive than in a big city. Housing is usually more available for people who choose to work and live in towns away from capital cities.

Recreation

Australians live in a country of wide-open spaces with a good climate that makes outdoor pastimes easy to enjoy. Sport and outdoor recreation are a way of life to share with family and friends; a way of life that is a healthy balance between work and play. Australians live in a country of cities with theatres, museums, sports fields and galleries; where people can meet to enjoy sports events and artistic shows. Australians are a land of people who have come from other countries and brought their music, dance, art and other fun parts of their culture with them.

The recreation and cultural pastimes on offer are many, diverse and are too many to list here. Instead, this page gives you some useful links to web pages where you will find more links to further sources of help. You can also search for 'Recreation' or 'Tourism' in the yellow pages to find details of services in your part of Australia. Local media will advertise current events held where you live.

Transport

Australia is a vast nation with many of its cities and towns separated by large distance. Even within cities and towns, there is a need for transport to get from place to place. Public transport is transport that someone else owns and you pay to use it for a set journey. Many forms of public transport exist. They are easy to find, to access and at a good price. Private transport is transport that you own and use as you wish. Most Australians have cars and motor bikes that they use with our road system, for private transport. Walking and cycling are other options that you have. Most people regard hitchhiking, that is getting a free ride with a stranger in their car, as an unsafe form of transport.

Work

Everyone in Australia has the right to share in and enjoy the Australian lifestyle. This includes the right to work and earn wealth. That wealth helps you to enjoy the pleasure of a free and equal society. We all expect each other to contribute to and share in Australia's wealth. The government taxes the income that you earn to provide for the common good of all Australians.

The Australian labour market can be very competitive. How quickly you can find a job in Australia depends on economic factors, qualifications and skills, the type of work you are seeking, and particular circumstances which may affect the availability of certain types of work in different parts of the country.

The government sets laws on wages and work conditions. The laws ensure a fair and just work life. The laws are about the types of legal agreements that define the work relationship between employers and employees. They vary between collective bargaining of unions to individual common law contracts. The agreements determine the amount paid to an employee, the hours worked and conditions such as safety, leave, allowances, training, anti discrimination and more. Australia has a long tradition of strong support for work laws. This makes the work place fair, safe and productive so that both employers and employees earn rewards for their effort.

If you do not already have a source of income or a job available, and provided your visa allows it, you will need to look for work. Approval to migrate does not guarantee a job.

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