People & Places
Work rest and play
Ben Lewis examines what the some of the easternmost states in Australia have to offer those looking for a healthy work and play balance in their new life away from the UK
If you have ever thought that Australia is a big country then you would be, well, right. It is, in a word, huge. In fact, it is the second largest country in the world covering an area of 7,741,220 square kilometres. What's more it has a population of 2.65 people in every square kilometre.
To put that in perspective, the UK covers an area of 244,820 square kilometres and is home to 60 million people, a population density of 246 people in every square kilometre. The long and short of it all is that, when it comes to emigrating, Australia has an awful lot of space to choose from. So, which of the six states or two territories will you choose to be your new home?
Most decisions will be based on experiences of a previous visit or possibly because you have a relative or friend in a certain area. However, it is important to realise that this could be the biggest move you will ever make so it is vital you get it right. The first thing you need to do is figure out the reason for your move. Are you looking for a better quality of life? If so, what do you consider a better quality of life? If you are due to retire soon you might want somewhere peaceful where you can enjoy long walks, fabulous golf courses and a slower pace of living. However, if you are planning to move your young family out there then it is going to be vital that you find somewhere that will offer you the employment opportunities you are going to need. Otherwise that better quality of life will never be realised. Most people would agree that there is not necessarily one right destination or reason for emigrating for everyone, it's very much down to personal needs, wants and desires. Picking a destination shouldn't be based on just going to an area because you had a terrific time there on vacation, or from a 'just in case' comfort zone point of view alone, to rejoin family.
So what are your options? Those who have been most successful at establishing themselves in Australia are those that have invested time and money and researched more than one or two locations before making the decision. They have assessed, first, what lifestyle expectations can be met or happily compromised on, and balanced this with their need for work. Obviously, we would all like to be millionaires with the option of any remote outpost in Australia as a bolt-hole for both work and fun, but in reality this is rarely the case and compromises will have to be made somewhere along the line. So where are the best places for that work/play balance that we all crave but so rarely achieve?
New South Wales
New South Wales (NSW) would be a strong contender for you interest if you were looking to move solely for employment purposes. It is Australia's most populous state and tends to draw all types of people into a wide variety of business. In fact, NSW has a gross domestic product (GDP) equal to that of the United States and above most major European Union economies.
With a population in excess of four million, Sydney is the main draw for jobs in much the same way that London is in the UK. According to David Montoya, a British emigrant who moved to the Sydney area from Basingstoke with his family in 2002, the demand for work is considerable. Says David, "The main industries vary considerably, but one thing is for sure, there is a big skills shortage crisis and, (as an immigrant) if you have a skill that is required you will get work"
So with all that working will you get a chance to relax and enjoy yourself? Well, as you would expect of the country's most populous state there is a lot to do in your spare time. Whether you are learning to surf on one of the state's stunning beaches or visiting one of the numerous cultural attractions around the State, in NSW there are plenty of opportunities for that perfect weekend. "Our perfect weekend now consists of Saturdays doing the mundane shopping along with chilling with friends, having a barbecue and drinks," says David. "We bought a boat a few months ago so Sunday is our boating day. We go out on the Hawksbury River, I have yet to face the challenge of the (Sydney) harbour. I also try to find time to ride my motorcycle (which used to be a Sunday before the boat came)." For those with children, the outdoor lifestyle prevalent in NSW means there is plenty to keep them entertained. "Family outdoor life is the key here, the weather is great most of the year and there is so much for kids to do in the way of parks, walks, rides, rivers, boating and so on," he adds.
Queensland
With so much on offer in NSW, it is hard to imagine why anyone would look at living anywhere else. However, it would not be a sensible idea to write off the other states just yet. As the fastest growing state in Australia, Queensland is filled with work opportunities and business potential. In 2005 the population grew to over four million people and is continuing to expand at a rapid rate. Although there are extremely large areas that lie uninhabited, Brisbane , the state's largest city, happens to be the most populous government area in Australia.
Like much of the rest of the country Queensland suffers from skills shortages, and this can make employment easy to find if you offer the right qualifications. Major industries include farming, mining, retail and tourism but the state is also very short of accountants, town planners, engineers and trades people to name just a few. Rob Lloyd migrated to Australia from London six years ago. After some time in Perth and Melbourne the Lloyd family finally settled in Brisbane and found work as intensive care paramedics.
"I have found it easy to remain employed because my profession is quite portable", says Rob. "There seems to be plenty of work available for trades people. The health service and teaching profession are also major employers. The Gold Coast offers primarily retail and hospitality employment. There are around 4–5 per cent of people unemployed here in south-east Queensland and this gives a good indication of the fact that if you want to work then employment is available."
So with employment easy to find, the next thought should be how you are going to make the most of your time off. When it come to relaxing, Queenslanders certainly know a thing or two about reducing stress with a bit of old fashioned physical activity. Says Rob, "Brisbane is sports mad with rugby, football and Aussie rules football all very popular. It's good for kids to get involved in a team game as it helps them to settle and make friends. Local clubs are abundant and cater for most sports and levels of skill, as well as all ages." And if team sports isn't really your thing, there are plenty of 'alternative' sports that could spark an interest. "Brisbane also has rock climbing at Kangaroo Point cliffs, surfing, kayaking, water skiing and so on. Most things are relatively cheap to participate in," says Rob.
Outside of the sporting arena there is plenty of cultural activities to keep you absorbed. "There is good entertainment in Brisbane. I have seen Coldplay recently and we've also seen well known theatre productions such as The Producers and Mamma Mia. Good quality modern venues are available. For theme parks the Gold Coast offers several, we travelled to Disney years ago and the parks here are just as good. They include Sea world, Dream world, Movie world, Wet and wild and so on." All in all Queensland offers the opportunity for a well balanced lifestyle and with good employment the chance are you will be able to afford them.
Victoria
Victoria is the smallest, most urbanised and most densely populated of all Australia's states. Despite this it still has plenty to offer any Brit with an eye of the good life.
Although the state lagged behind New South Wales and Queensland when it came to attracting Brits last year, with Melbourne as its capital Victoria can claim to be home to one of the nation's most exciting cities.
When it comes to working, the major industry is the community, personal and social services sector which employs around 27 per cent of the working population. The retail and trade sector makes up a further 20 per cent of jobs with the financial and manufacturing sectors chipping in by employing 15 per cent each. Much like New South Wales, leisure time in Victoria is spent in true Aussie fashion enjoying a barbecue at the beach or catching a good wave on your surfboard. Sport is major passion for Melbournites particularly when it comes to Aussie Rules football. Victoria is home to ten of the 16 major league Aussie rules clubs and is the state that originally invented the game. Surfing comes a close second in the popularity stakes and even if you are not into riding waves, the annual Rip Curl world championships is a show that shouldn't be missed.
When it comes to the east coast of Australia, there is very little to separate the three states we have covered. That said research is still vital as it is likely to be the little things that finally make up your mind as to where you will live.
Read other articles about Australia:
Aussie house prices slump
NSW: More than just Sydney
Queensland wants you
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