Immigration to Australia
Geography and Climate:
Australia's geography is a testament to its remarkable
diversity. The country offers a breathtaking tapestry of
landscapes, from its majestic mountains to meandering
rivers, vast deserts to lush rainforests, and pristine coral
reefs to remote islands. Covering an expansive landmass of
approximately 7,617,930 square kilometres, it is the world's
smallest continent while ranking as the sixth largest
country by total area. Geographically, Australia resembles
an island due to its location on the Indo-Australian Plate
and its encirclement by the Indian and Pacific oceans,
earning it the moniker "island continent."
Australia is administratively divided into six states: New
South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania,
Victoria, and Western Australia. Additionally, it
encompasses two major mainland territories, namely the
Australian Capital Territory and the Northern Territory.
The country's climate is profoundly influenced by ocean
currents, resulting in a range of weather patterns. These
variations include periodic droughts, cyclones predominantly
in the northern regions, and fluctuations in rainfall. Due
to its vast expanse, Australia experiences striking
differences in climate between its northern and southern
regions. The north typically enjoys warmer tropical and
grassland climates, while southern areas exhibit more
temperate conditions. Australia's positioning in the south
hemisphere also flips the conventional calendar, making June
the winter month and December the summer month, eliminating
the concept of a "White Christmas."
Environment:
Australia boasts an environment renowned for its purity.
Visitors and residents alike can relish fresh air and clean
water, with clear blue skies dominating the landscape most
days. However, the country lies beneath an ozone depletion
zone, contributing to one of the world's highest rates of
skin cancer, a reminder of the importance of sun protection.
Being the driest inhabited continent, Australia faces
chronic water shortages stemming from factors like droughts
and urban population pressures, including pollution, sewage,
and fertilizers. In response to these challenges, some
Australian cities periodically enact water restrictions to
manage water resources effectively.
Demographics:
Australia's official language is English, and its population
primarily descends from British and Irish origins, with over
80% of the populace having European ancestry. The remainder
consists of individuals of Asian heritage and a smaller
minority of Indigenous (Aboriginal) background. Principal
ethnic groups include English, Native Australians, Irish,
Scottish, Italian, German, Chinese, and Indian.
In terms of religion, over 60% of Australians identify as
Christian. However, Australia upholds a secular tradition,
as its constitution prohibits the federal government from
establishing an official religion, imposing religious
observance, or restricting the free exercise of any
religion. That guarantees the freedom to practice the
religion of one's choice when immigrating to Australia.
As of 2021, Australia's population is around 25 million,
with an estimated annual growth rate of 1.7%. The highest
population density is concentrated in the states of New
South Wales and Victoria, where the capital cities, Sydney
and Melbourne, also thrive as the country's largest urban
centers. The coastal regions from Adelaide to Cairns host
most of the population, with Perth in Western Australia
serving as another notable urban hub, while Australia's vast
interior remains sparsely inhabited.
Economy:
Australia boasts a robust capitalist economy with a 2020 GDP
of $1.38 trillion. The country's economic landscape is
dominated by the services sector, contributing to 57% of its
output. Other significant industries include mining (9%),
construction (8%), manufacturing (7%), and retail trade
(5%). As of May 2021, the unemployment rate in Australia was
a mere 5.1%, with most job opportunities concentrated in
major cities. However, employment prospects can be limited
in suburban and rural areas.
Australia maintains one of the world's largest capitalist
economies, with the Australian Securities Exchange in Sydney
serving as the largest in the South Pacific. The currency
used is the Australian dollar (AUD), and the nation actively
participates in international economic organizations such as
APEC, G20, OECD, and WTO.
Australia imposes taxes at the state, federal, and local
levels. The maximum personal tax rate hovers around 45%,
with additional levies for Medicare and a sales tax of
approximately 10% on most goods and services.
Social System:
Australia boasts a strong social support network, offering
various welfare benefits and social stability. Income
support programs include age pensions, unemployment benefits
(Newstart Allowance), youth allowances, Indigenous education
support (AUSTUDY Payment), disability support pensions,
sickness allowances, carer payments, and parenting payments.
The country also provides a publicly funded universal
healthcare system, known as Medicare, which covers a
significant portion of hospitalization costs, general
practitioner fees, and specialist services, even after
retirement.
Australia's commitment to healthcare and social support
contributes to a high quality of life, with a life
expectancy at birth of 82.8 years, ranking among the world's
highest, according to a 2019 study conducted by the
Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development
(OECD).
Education in Australia is compulsory, requiring children to
attend school from ages 5 to 16. Elementary and secondary
education is provided free of charge and funded by the
government.
Immigration:
To immigrate to Australia and achieve permanent resident
status, individuals must apply for and receive a visa that
grants indefinite leave. The primary category for
immigration is the Family Stream, designed for reuniting
Australian citizens, permanent residents, and eligible New
Zealand citizens with their close family members. However,
some visa classes within the Family Stream may have caps and
queues, leading to extensive waiting periods.
Another common pathway to immigration is through the
Professionals and Other Skilled Migrants category, which
includes various visa options for skilled professionals
seeking to contribute to Australia's workforce and society.
The following
visas are the most common type:
Skilled Independent Visa
(Subclass 189)
Aged Parent Visa
(Subclass 804)
Sponsored Parent (Temporary) Visa (Subclass 870)
Carer Visa (Apply in Australia) (Subclass 836)
Carer Visa (Apply outside Australia) (Subclass 116)
Special Category Visa
(Subclass 444)
Business Innovation
and Investment (Permanent) Visa (Subclass 888)
Please press the links above to view the different
requirements and rights of the visas.