Overseas Candidates

Overseas Candidates

Want to Work in Australia?

If you are considering relocating to Australia or New Zealand to live and work you may find the following information will assist you in evaluating your options. Please note that the information provided has been specifically tailored to those coming from the UK.  However, if you are from another country you should also find this information useful as a general guide.  

We would also encourage you to contact your local Australian High Commission or Consular Office for more specific and relevant information.

Australia – the “Lucky Country”

Australia is a vibrant and diverse country with a thriving economy and a population of over 20 million people.

Despite the lure of beautiful beaches and better climate, it is Australia’s relaxed lifestyle and relatively high standard of living that seems to appeal to most people.  For example the cost of living alone in Australia is approximately one third that of England.

Although the recruitment consulting industry in Australia is smaller than in the UK, there is a wide array of opportunities to earn excellent incomes depending on your area of specialisation and expertise.

Climate

Australian seasons are the complete opposite to those in the Northern Hemisphere:

Spring - Sept to Nov
Summer - Dec to Feb
Autumn - Mar to May
Winter - Jun to Aug

A word of warning - the sun in Australia can be very fierce, so if you plan on arriving in the summer time, pack plenty of high factor sun cream and wear a hat and T-shirt.

Visas

If you do not have an Australian passport and you are not a permanent resident, you will require sponsorship in order to work in Australia.  Normally, candidates arrive on a working holiday visa (this is only granted to those under the age of 30) and this will enable you to work for up to six months for an employer, before having the opportunity to apply for a 457 visa. The 457 visa is effectively a four year working visa which can ultimately lead to permanent residence status, and thereafter citizenship.

If you are not arriving on a working holiday visa, then the sponsorship application needs to be lodged as soon as an offer of employment has been made.  This can take anywhere from eight to 12 weeks to process and will depend on the volume of applications that are lodged with the Immigration Office, at the time.

It is important to note that there are some conditions attached to a 457 visa.  For example, if you leave the sponsoring company within the first 12 months you may forfeit the sponsorship fee the company has paid on your behalf (approximately AU$3,500.00).  Furthermore, you will only have 28 days to secure an alternative position with another company or you will have to leave the country. 

In other words, it is important that you make the right decision the first time around in your company of choice.  With our knowledge of the market and our relationships with our clients we feel confident that we can assist you with this important decision!

For up to date information on visas and classifications we recommend you visit the Department of Immigration’s website – http://www.immi.gov.au/ or contact our Immigration Consultant Hitchcock & Assoc on +61 2 84408330 or immigration@hitchcock.com.auThis e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Some of our clients do sponsor employees from overseas directly, and some elect to use a third party.  In either case, it is worth knowing what is involved.  Incidentally, recruitment companies, generally, will not charge you a fee for the sponsorship process.

If you are not being sponsored directly, then it may be worth looking at the agencies listed below who are known as intermediaries.  They will arrange your 457 visa, the recruitment company will then pay them your salary, and the intermediary will then pay you and take out a small fee for doing so.

1. Free spirit             http://www.freespirit.com.au/
2. Geoffrey Nathan  http://www.geoffreynathan.com/
3. VisaFirst                 http://www.google.lnk.visafirst.com

Tax

Generally speaking, taxes are high in Australia. To get a better understanding of your potential tax liabilities, we suggest that you visit the Australian Taxation Office website and use the calculator to determine the amount. 

http://calculators.ato.gov.au/scripts/asp/simpletaxcalc/main.asp

LAFHA

There can be an added benefit to working in Australia from overseas, as you may be entitled to LAFHA (Living Away From Home Allowance).  This can make a significant difference to your net disposable income and can be very attractive financially!

For more information please visit - http://www.brainbox.com.au

Salaries

Our website has a dedicated survey of what you can expect to earn in
Australia in relation to your years of recruitment experience and the sector in which you have worked.  The information is based on current market indicators and should only be used as a guide.

www.salary.com.au 

How we can work with you

We deal with a large number of recruitment clients who range from specialist boutique companies to large international recruitment agencies.  We have a thorough understanding of the various commission structures and the differing training and development programs that are offered by our clients, and we can assist you to make an informed decision which will align your career aspirations with the best company in the market for your needs.

NB: We only deal with ‘Employers of Choice’.

Other Useful websites

http://www.shelteroffshore.com/index.php/living/more/living_in_sydney_australia/
http://www.pomsinoz.com/
http://www.trinity.wa.edu.au/plduffyrc/subjects/sose/economics/liv.htm
http://www.gumtree.com.au/
http://www.sydneybuses.info/
http://www.discoversydney.com.au/sydney/transport.html
http://www.mapsdownunder.com.au/cgi-bin/mapshop/UBD-66907.html
http://www.whereis.com/whereis/home.do;jsessionid=0EB4DF18CCB215B4B41B1700BE99D0AB.server3-1