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If you are going to live, or are living, in Australia, this section is for you
Live in Australia
In this section, you will find information on what you will find in Australia at your arrival as a resident or when you become a citizen
Go through your migration process to obtain your visa. We evaluate your case to define the viability of your visa.
Below you will find what you must consider when preparing your budget:
Life Quality
Education
Transportation
Health
Pensions
Social Assistance
Housing and Properties
Life Quality
Australia is one of the countries with better life standards worldwide. Australia’s geographic location has helped to make this country a very safe place, relatively separate from the dangers that affect other countries. The access to first level services in health, transportation, education, and social assistance, among others, has made that this country is the selected destination by millions of people to migrate and start a new life.
For many years, several Australian cities have been placed by the prestigious magazine ‘The Economist’ among the 10 Most Livable Cities in the World. A clear example is Melbourne, which for 7 consecutive years has held the title as the first city of the world. In the last edition of this Ranking, in 2017, 3 Australian cities were placed among the 10 best ones.
Australian economy is considered one of the 20 biggest economies in the world, which is reflected in the high life level of the population. Australian economy is considered one of the 20 biggest economies in the world, which is reflected in the high life level of the population. This wellbeing of the economy is recognized around the world by countries and organizations like Passport Index, placing the Australian passport as the sixth strongest of the world.
This is because that is how you live in Australia.
Education
Among its services, Australia has a first level public education system, almost integrally covered by the taxpayers. That are private schools, as well, for whoever can afford them.
General Description of the Australian Education System
Australia’s Commonwealth has six states and two territories: The Territory of the Australian Capital, New South Wales. Northern Territory, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria and Western Australia. There are four levels in the Australian government: Australian (federal), state and territory, and local. Education and training area the responsibility of the Australian and state governments.
School Education
School education structure is similar in all Australia, with minor variations among the states and territories. School education takes 13 years and is dived into:
- Primary school that takes seven or eight years: Foundation year to year 6 or 7
- Secondary School that takes three or four years (7-10 or 8-10)
- High School takes two years, 11 and 12
Post-secondary School: Post-secondary school is known as tertiary school. Tertiary school includes higher education and professional and training education. https://www.austrade.gov.au/edtech/the-australian-education-system https://www.austrade.gov.au/edtech/the-australian-education-system/
International Education in Australia
Instruction language: English is Australia’s official language and the main instruction language. Some schools provide courses or bilingual courses in other languages. Indigenous languages may also be used in some regions.
Most schools provide the students with a selection of foreign language courses that include Arab, Bahasa Indonesian, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Mandarin, Modern Greek and Spanish.
Academic year: The school year goes from February to December. Most of the states and territories have four terms per school year.
Tasmania has a three-periods school year. In VET (technical education), the academic year goes from the end of January to mid-December. In some states and territories, the academic year divides into two semesters. Others use a three terms or a quarter system.
The academic year for higher education goes from February to November. Most institutions use the semester system where a semester lasts for 16 weeks, including a mid-semester break and an exams period. Some institutions have a quarters system or summer and winter sessions.
Australia provides high quality education and training to foreign students with a student visa and to students abroad. Foreign students may be enrolled in higher education, vocational education and training, Intensive English Courses for Foreign Students (ELICOS), school education and non-award courses such as bridge courses or core courses.
Worldwide recognition of Australian grades
Australian grades are well appreciated and widely accepted at international level. The guarantee of quality in higher education, professional education and training and schools, and their respective grades takes place through a multi-level framework interrelated in several key bodies, including the Australian government and the governments of states and territories.
Australian education system is also based on internationally accepted quality guarantee principles. The Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) supports the transparency in the recognition of the Australian grades abroad and the mobility of Australian graduates. Recognition of Australian grades out of Australia is a responsibility by the competent authority of such country.
The countries that are part of UNESCO’s recognition agreements, such as the Lisbon Recognition Convention or the Asia-Pacific Regional Convention, observe the best practices contained by said conventions. The Department of Education and Training provide information to facilitate the recognition of authorities abroad, in order to guarantee that the Australian grades are adequately recognized.
In Australia, the grades recognition methodology is based in the research and analysis of qualitative and quantitative factors. Other countries may differ on their approach.
Transportation
Public Transportation in the Australian cities is one of the most affordable worldwide, according to the newspaper The Sydney Morning Herald.
Australia’s transportation system is reliable, safe and accurate, but its modalities vary according to the cities. Trains, buses, tramways and ferries comprise the system and access to them is through the use of pre-paid cards (Opal Card in Sydney; Myki in Melbourne, etc.)
Public transportation systems are managed by the state governments and individual territories. The links may include schedules, maps, route planners and information on tariffs and the issuance of electronic tickets.
Select your state or territory to obtain specific information.
Health
The health system is one of the best in the world. The hospital infrastructure could only compete with others in equally developed nations.
Medical attention in Australia is provided by private and government organizations Australian Government observes a national health policy with key elements (like the management of hospitals), operated by the state governments. Medicare is the medical attention system supported by public funds for everybody in Australia. It coexists with a private health system.
Medical care is entirely covered by the state and its use free of charge is reserved for the Australian residents and citizens, who may use the system through the Medicare’s national plan. Whoever is not a resident of the country, yet, may also access the system, although through private medical insurance. Medications are subsidized by the public system, turning them into very affordable for the population.
The states and territories are the main responsible parties for the public hospitals, community and public health. ambulances, public dental services and the mental health programs. Links provided for information on state and territorial health.
Select the state or territory you wish the get information on:
Below, you may find information on:
- Medicare: https://www.servicesaustralia.gov.au/individuals/medicare
- Pharmaceutical benefits:https://www.humanservices.gov.au/individuals/services/medicare/pharmaceutical-benefits-scheme
- Hospitals:https://www.humanservices.gov.au/individuals/services/medicare/pharmaceutical-benefits-scheme
- Related topics: http://www.australia.gov.au/information-and-services/health
Pensions
Australia’s retirement plan is among the best in the world. Australia’s pension system has become the fourth biggest in the world.
Thee pension system lays on the superannuation funds, equivalent to the pension funds in Latin America. These private entities compete among them, in search for the best profitability for the benefit of their affiliates. individuals that legally work in Australia, regardless of their migration status, pay a percentage close to 10% that is destined to this fund. In the case of foreigners that contribute and later decide to return to their home countries, they are reimbursed the amount contributed through a transfer after they leave the country.
In the following link, you may find all aspects related to Australia’s retirement system (elder’s support, taxes, pensions, etc.).
http://www.australia.gov.au/information-and-services/jobs-and-workplace/retirement
Know how the pension system operates.
Social Assistance
The Australian Government provides a range of benefits, payments, pension and support services through the Department of Human Services: external site (Medicare, Centerlink and Maintenance of children) and the external site of the Department of Veteran Affairs.
In the case of social assistance, Centrelink is the entity that provides financial aid to Australian residents and citizens that are unemployed, as well as the payment for maternity and subsidy for nursery school.
In CENTERLINK you may find benefits topics on:
Caregivers, families, Indigenous Australians, job applicants, elder Australians, people with disabilities, rural and remote Australians, students and apprentices, visa holders.
Housing and Properties
One of the main challenges for a migrant when he/she arrives to the country, is to find a home. Lease contracts in Australia are made through a real estate agent. A direct lease with the property’s owner is rarely found.
The search is mainly made through the internet and there are two well-known sites around the country for this purpose:
http://www.realestate.com.au and http://www.domain.com.au
For the purchase, sale and lease of houses, properties and lands, find government information:
http://www.australia.gov.au/information-and-services/family-and-community/housing-and-property
First Home Owner Grant (FHOG): First Home Owner Grant (FHOG) was introduced on July 1, 2000 to offset the effect of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) on the house property.
It is a national scheme funded by the states and territories and managed under their own legislation.
Under this scheme, a single grant is paid to the first owners that meet all the illegibility criteria. Further information:
If you would like to live in Australia and want to receive your resident visa, contact us Here to assess your case and determine the feasibility to obtain your visa and live in Australia.
