Australia’s summer weather predictions looking hot!

According to predictions released at the end of last year by the Australia Bureau of Meteorology the coming summer months are looking HOT!
The chances that the temperatures will be above average between December and February are high for the southeast and far north regions.
It looks like this summer could be the perfect time [...]

‘Australia’ The Movie Hoped to Be the Australian ‘Lord of the Rings’

The Australian tourist authorities are hoping that Baz Lurman’s soon to be released film ‘Australia’ is going to do for tourism and skilled migrants what ‘Lord of the Rings’ did for New Zealand.
Starring Nicole Kidman, ‘Australia’ is set in 1942, on the eve of the bombing of Darwin by the Japanese and is the story [...]

Citizenship Test ‘Flawed’ Says Review

A report delivered to Senator Chris Evans, commissioned to review the Australian citizenship test, has described it as flawed, discriminatory and due for a major overhaul.  Richard Woolcott, chairman of the review committee commented that, “The standout recommendation would be that the present test is flawed and seen by some as intimidatory and by others as [...]

Australia Needs Green Fingers And More

Rather surprisingly, one of the most sought after skills listed on Australia’s Migration Occupations in Demand List (MODL) is landscape gardeners.  A search today of the popular job advertising site www.seek.com.au, reveals nearly 300 landscape gardening jobs on offer.
And it isn’t just the green fingered that are in demand in Australia at present.  The economic boom has generated demand [...]

Charity offers driving training to migrants

The Geelong based charity, Diversitat, has launched a programme aimed at enhancing migrant’s driving skills in Australia.  The Driving Practice Programme is designed to upskill migrants for Australian roads, particularly those migrants that are used to a different driving system.  The scheme will be available to any Australian Visa holder and will be offered by voluntary instructors.
It [...]

Surge in South African Migrants to Australia

An article in South Africa’s The Times Newspaper has focussed on the increasing numbers of skilled South Africans leaving the country, the vast majority of them to Australia.  Emigration consultants and removals firms are experiencing record numbers of enquiries, with one company estimating a 500%-600% increase in enquiries since this time last year. 
Political stresses, power [...]

Aussie character test under scrutiny

Under Section 501 of Australia’s Migrant Act 1958, applicants and holders of Australian Visas are bound to prove that they are of sound character.  Failure to do this can, and sometimes does, mean a Visa is not granted or is cancelled.  However, a report recently by the Australia Institute has warned that the government may have [...]

Australia – top spot for Scots

60% of Scottish migrants choose Australia for their new life.  Emigration expert, Richard Greegan, recently disclosed during a radio interview on Talk 107, that Scots are most likely to choose Australia because of the lifestyle afforded there.  He suggested that the idea of trading a three bedroomed house on an estate in Scotland for a five bedroomed [...]

$34 million fund to aid settling migrants

The Australian government plans to invest $34 million on services to ease the settlement of migrants to the country.  Laurie Ferguson, Secretary for Multicultural Affairs and Settlement, says the funds will be shared throughout 230 nationwide projects whose focus is helping migrants get to grips with their new life in Australia.
“These projects will assist migrants [...]

Early settler data reveals links to 25% of Brits

A genealogy website, www.ancestry.co.uk, has just released the details of millions of early Australian free settlers who arrived in Australia between 1826 and 1922.  It has revealed that the details could link around 16 million Brits to their pioneering ancestors.
Ancestry.co.uk’s Managing Director, Simon Harper, noted  ”Australia’s free settler heritage is often overlooked in favour of its [...]