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Working DOWN UNDER ities n u t r o Opp lled i k s r o f ts migran
g n i k r o w ays holid Guide to
working Taking a lia in Austra holiday
Expat profile Huw’s story
Migration news, Ask the Expert, South Australia, What’s on…
PLUS
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EDITORIAL Editor: Ian Armitage Writers: Colin Chinery Chris Farnell Jane Bordenave
BUSINESS General Manager: Andy Ellis Research Manager: Andy Williams Researchers: Nicholas Davies Elle Watson Dave Hodgson Chris Bolderstone Sales Administrator: Abby Nightingale
ACCOUNTS Financial Controller: Nick Crampton Accounts: Margaret Roberts, Alexandra Buchlakova PRODUCTION & DESIGN Magazine Design: Optic Juice Production Manager: Jon Cooke Pictures: Getty Images News: AAP, SAPA, NZPA DIGITAL & IT Head of digital marketing and development : Syed Ahmad TNT PUBLISHING CEO: Kevin Ellis Chairman: Ken Hurst Publisher: TNT Publishing Ltd Australia and New Zealand Outlook, The Royal, Bank Plain, Norwich, Norfolk, UK. NR2 4SF TNT Magazine, 10 Greycoat Place, London. SW1P 1SB Tntmagazine.com ENQUIRIES Tel: +44 (0)1603 3432267 Fax: +44 (0)1603 283602 Email: ian.armitage@tntmagazine.com SUBSCRIPTIONS Call: +44 (0)1603 343267 Email: subscriptions@anzoutlook.com
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Christchurch recovery hampered by further quakes
We received a wonderful response to our last issue, in particular our focus on Christchurch. Unfortunately, just as it seemed the city was on the road to recovery, it suffered further setbacks. On June 13, a series of earthquakes hit the beleaguered city, almost four months after a tremor devastated the area and killed 181 people. The latest quakes left about 50,000 people without power. The most powerful tremor, measured at magnitude 6.0, caused the evacuation of shopping centres, office blocks and Christchurch airport. Christchurch cathedral has been damaged beyond repair. Our thoughts go to the people of Christchurch and we wish them well. This month we look at working down under, working holidays, South Australia, backpacker ghettos (ideal for stopovers) and the beer can regatta, a bizarre Australian event. We’ve also got news, essential travel information, expert advice and top tips for making a new life Down Under. Ian Armitage Editor AUSTRALIAANDNEWZEALAND
OUTLOOK
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CONTENTS
PAGE
26 PAGE
22
PAGE
44
PAGE
34 PAGE
40
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CONTEN
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06 News 12 Migration Update 16 Ask the expert
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g n i k r o W DOWN UNDER
Stoyan Dimov of Taxback.com and Declan Clune from Visafirst.com answer your questions
20 What's on...
Our guide to the unmissable events, holidays and celebrations in Australia and New Zealand this month
22 Expat profile
Huw Turner and his family decided to move to New Zealand 15 years ago, and they haven’t regretted it a day since
26 Working Down Under
There has never been a better time to look to Australia with the fantastic opportunities on offer for highly skilled migrants.
30 Traveller's guide... South Australia
Chris Farnells discovers why you should check out this fantastic region
34 Beer can regatta
ANZOutlook talks to Des Gellert, President of Darwin Lions Beer Can Regatta Association
ies rtunit Oppo killed s for ants migr
g woridkainys hol to Guide
ng
ki a wor Taking ay in holid lia Austra
Expat profile
Huw’s story Expert, n news, Ask the PLUS Migratio , What’s on… South Australia
38 Backpacker ghettos
Five of the best backpacker ghettos (ideal for stopovers)
40 Discover
North Fiji
Carol Driver discovers lesser-travelled North Fiji’s hidden gems
44 Working
Holidays
Getting a working holiday in Australia AUSTRALIAANDNEWZEALAND
OUTLOOK
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NEWS NZ Cricket changes selection system The selection panel for the NZ cricket team has been ditched under a new system announced by New Zealand Cricket (NZC). The system includes the creation of a fulltime national selection manager responsible for men’s and women’s international cricket from age-group level through to the Black Caps and White Ferns. Introduced by new NZC director of cricket John Buchanan, the system would give the head coach of each team responsibility for final team selection. He said the new system would allow for close consultation with all national team head coaches and first-class head coaches and improve accountability. “It is my experience it is important to streamline the number of people who impact on team decisions and team dynamics,”
said Buchanan. “We have therefore sought to simplify the selection process to ensure greater consistency of selections, feedback and integration of playing pathways from youth, through first-class to international cricket.” NZC chief executive Justin Vaughan said the NZC board supported the new system but praised the input of the outgoing selectors. Former Black Caps coach Mark Greatbatch, who chaired the national selection panel, will act as acting national selection manager until a permanent appointment is made. His role will include overseeing the selection of the 2011-12 contract list.
Pacific Blue suspends services
into and out of Auckland and Hamilton Pacific Blue, an airline of the Virgin Australia Group of Airlines, on June 16 suspended services into and out of Auckland and Hamilton in New Zealand, effective immediately because of the volcanic ash plume. Group Executive Operations Sean
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Donohue said the plume that had been in the Christchurch, Wellington and Dunedin regions had moved further north, necessitating the schedule changes. These cancellations are in addition to the six flights cancelled June 15 to from Australia to Christchurch and Wellington.
ALL THE LATEST NEWS FROM AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND
Former PM Bob Hawke in hospital Former Australian prime minister Bob Hawke is reportedly in hospital with a severe case of pneumonia. Mr Hawke, 81, was admitted to St Vincent’s Private Hospital in Sydney. He is reported to be suffering from a severe case of pneumonia. However, health department sources said they did not believe his condition was serious.
Foster's rejects SABMiller takeover bid Foster’s Group has rejected a non-binding, conditional proposal from the world’s second-largest brewer, SABMiller, saying the deal “undervalues the company”. SABMiller made an offer of A$4.90 a share in cash for Foster’s, which subsequently rejected the A$9.51 billion takeover offer. The beverage giant hopes to engage with Foster’s Group board to understand why it reached that decision. “We note the rejection of our proposal by the Foster’s board,” SABMiller chief executive Graham Mackay said in a market briefing. “We seek to continue to engage for the purposes of understanding their perspective on value.” Melbourne-based Foster’s rejected the all-cash SABMiller proposal, saying the bid “significantly” undervalued the company. The SABMiller proposal “significantly undervalues the company in the context of a change of control and, as such, it (Foster’s) does not intend to take any further action in relation to it”, Foster’s said. Foster’s is Australia’s leading brewer with seven of the top 10 beer brands.
A I L A R T S U A AARTHQUAKE PRODUCTION T YESO O T RESUM PRE-E s
pan earthquake ha
Ja “The impact of the le, na lto A ’s essure on our peop ia pr al nt tr ed significa ac Toyota Aus pl been s ha n It ant is agai and customers. manufacturing pl suppliers, dealers gl r obal at time for us and ou producing vehicles an unprecedented vels. he said. pre-earthquake le Toyota colleagues,” stralia dealers d been reduced ant ha Toyota Au Production at the pl Harrod confirmed age an m to stock arriving in ay M 9 ve ce ve more new- hicle ha ll by 50 percent sin wi n pa Ja ly following the increase in July. available parts supp June and a further stralia will receive nami. “In July Toyota Au earthquake and tsu tor rec Di imported cars we ecutive Toyota Australia Ex ost the full quota of alm es s ye plo em well before Japan’ Harrod said dered for the month Manufacturing Chris or id. to once again rs occurred,” he sa were looking forward th. natural disaste on m a rs ca 00 9,0 ately producing approxim AUSTRALIAANDNEWZEALAND
OUTLOOK
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NEWS Ash cloud returns, causes fresh chaos Thousand of air passengers again had their travel plans disrupted after ash from a Chilean volcano re-entered Australian airspace on June 21. It had been hoped that Australia would be spared a second round of significant flight disruptions caused by the ash plume from Chile’s Puyehue-Cordon Caulle volcano. However, as the ash cloud continued to circumnavigate the globe, it got caught up in a low-pressure system and again caused havoc for air travel in much of southeast Australia. Head of the Bureau of Meteorology’s Volcanic Ash Advisory Centre, Andrew Tupper, said the ash cloud was caught up in a jet stream that was wrapped around the lowpressure system affecting southern Australia. “If the low wasn’t there the ash wouldn’t
have come anywhere near the Australian continent,” he said. “It would have stayed in the Southern Ocean, thousands of kilometres away.” It’s hoped that when the low moves away it will take the ash with it. “The low pressure system, although it is annoying, it does have that one beneficial effect that it’s helping to break up the cloud itself, perhaps stopping it from coming around a third time,” Dr Tupper said. The volcano began erupting on June 4, shooting a plume of ash into the air which made its way across the Atlantic and Indian oceans before reaching Australian and New Zealand airspace. It caused six days of flight chaos in early June as it moved across southeast Australia, New Zealand and Western Australia.
NEWSINBRIEF An 18-year-old has been charged with harassing police through a popular social networking site. A man from Port Macquarie allegedly posted a statement about a police officer on a social networking site about 1.20am (AEST) on May 5 this year. The site is believed to be Facebook. Zoos SA chief executive Chris West has said there is no risk Adelaide zoo would close. Speaking to ABC radio, he said jobs weren’t under threat either and 08
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revealed that the financial problems at the zoo were linked directly to the global financial crisis. “There isn’t a threat to Zoos South Australia and there are no planned job cuts,” West said.
An elderly widower who gave a Melbourne prostitute more than A$100,000 to build a house has failed in a court bid to get her to repay the money. The County Court heard Michele Nesci, 76, began weekly sessions with a prostitute Wanita Knell, 34, at his East Keilor home in July 2005.
ALL THE LATEST NEWS FROM AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND
CHRISTCHURCH EARTHQUAKES
Three big quakes hit
Christchurch On June 13 New Zealand’s earthquakedevastated southern city of Christchurch was rocked by yet another huge quake, the most violent and destructive series of aftershocks to hit since the February 22 disaster killed 181 people. Buildings shook and liquefaction bubbled up through the streets in the 6.0 quake, which hit about 2.20pm (1220 AEST). It followed a 5.5-magnitude quake that hit about 1pm (1100 AEST) and was centred 10km southeast of Christchurch at a depth of 11km. A quake measuring 4.4-magnitude hit about half an hour earlier. GNS Science spokesman Kevin Fenaughty said the biggest aftershock was “over six” in magnitude. The GNS Science website put the quake at 6.0, at a depth of 9km, and said it was centred 10km south east of Christchurch. Emergency Services say there were no reports of deaths but have confirmed that six people have been taken to Christchurch hospital with moderately serious injuries.
Christchurch stress as high as war zone The strung-out residents of New Zealand’s quake city have started to display signs of extreme stress usually only seen war zones as they recover from their third powerful earthquake, experts say. The double whammy of quakes measuring 5.7 and 6.0-magnitude have left residents with the grim and all-to-familiar task of sweeping up silt and calling their insurance company. The physical toll was considerable. An elderly man died, 45 others were injured, a further 50 buildings collapsed and the number of homes to be abandoned has been pushed into the thousands. The financial toll is also steep, with risk analyst Eqecat estimating the latest disaster could add $NZ6.1 billion ($A4.67 billion) to the region’s insurance losses. But it is the emotional toll that many, including New Zealand’s prime minister John Key, are warning is of most concern. On the back of September’s damaging 7.1-magnitude quake and February’s devastating 6.3-magnitude jolt, which killed 181 people, June’s violent tremors have left many people at the end of their tether. Support services across the South Island city say they have been overwhelmed with exhausted, anxious people struggling to cope. Canterbury Charity Hospital has been offering counselling for stressed residents since February and far from slowing, the numbers seeking help have been rising steadily.
AUSTRALIAANDNEWZEALAND
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NEWS CHRISTCHURCH
CATHEDRAL DAMAGED B EYOND
R E PA I R
Christchurch’s most iconic building -- its beloved cathedral -- may have been damaged beyond repair in the latest round of earthquakes to hit the South Island city.
Officials had been determined to restore the cathedral, which was seriously damaged in Febr uary’s 6.3-magnitude earthquake, as a sym bol of Christchurch’s strength in the face of adversity, but that may no longer be possible. The twin tremors that struck on June 13 damaged its already flimsy frame and destroyed the rose stained glass wind ow, the cathedral’s most recognisable feature. “The rose window has now complete ly come down and about 75 percent of the west wall has now come down, so it’s pret ty sad,” cathedral dean Peter Beck said. “And we anticipate that obviously mor e structural damage has happened to the building as a result of the quakes.”
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If the building, a major tourist attraction, was to be restored it would now need to be taken down first. “We will be rebuilding in some form or another,” Beck said. It would be some time before the fate of the building would be known. “It takes a long time to get the kind of structural analysis you need to make the kind of decisions we have to make. There are lots of things we don’t know.”
migration update Qld power bills
to rise A$117 Queensland’s average annual household electricity bill will rise by A$117 after a decision to jack up prices by 6.6 percent. The Queensland Competition Authority (QCA) announced the price hike in June, a bigger jump than the 5.8 percent it initially forecast. It said the rise reflected the ongoing need for investment in distribution networks, changes in the price of power generation, increased operating costs and growth in customers.
The QCA said the rise would have been 8.31 percent if the Queensland government hadn’t moved to limit the amount of revenue Energex and Ergon Energy were allowed to collect in 2011-12. Energy Minister Stephen Robertson said he was disappointed by the rise, which is higher than the consumer price index (CPI), “but it could have been far worse”. “It will have an impact on Queensland household budgets,” he told reporters. “For an average electricity user, an average family in Queensland, it represents a further increase of around about A$29.40 to the average quarterly bill.”
Reserve Bank highlights
European concerns Federal Treasurer Wayne Swan is concerned about the unfolding Greek debt crisis, but he believes Australia is shielded by the economic strength of the Asia-Pacific region. The Reserve Bank’s June 7 board meeting minutes highlighted its concerns over Europe’s debt problems, which economists believe wipes out the chance of an interest rate rise until August at the earliest. “Downside risks to the international economy had become a 12
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little more prominent over the past month, especially in the case of sovereign debt problems in Europe,” the minutes said. Greece’s debt currently tops 350 billion euros ($A475 billion). Eurozone finance ministers will meet on July 3 to finalise a second financial rescue package for Greece to avert a loan default.
Keep track of the latest news and developments on moving Down Under
Mortgage demand picks up NZ building
work
Demand for mortgages in Australia has picked up, a tentative sign that consumers may be starting to loosen their purse strings in a stable interest-rate environment.
falls
Following a surprise jump in retail spending data, a new report shows more than 47,300 home loans were approved in April, a 4.8 percent increase compared to the previous month. The housing market has been under a cloud since last November’s rise in lending rates, with home building approvals also sinking and house prices easing. This summer’s spate of natural disasters has also taken its toll on consumers, with the latest national accounts showing households continue to prefer to save rather than spend. Still, the latest housing finance data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics showed Queensland leading the way in the month of April as the rebuild got under way after the floods. Mortgage approvals there jumped 6.2 percent, with solid increases also recorded in Victoria and Western Australia, but the ACT was the standout with an 8.8 percent increase in the month. There were also signs that new homebuyers were growing in confidence about the interest rate outlook, shying away from the security of fixed-rate loans, which accounted for just 5.6 percent of approvals in April. This was down from 6.8 percent in the previous March.
NZ building sector activity was weak in the first quarter of the year, as the industry awaits the expected boost from the rebuilding of quakestricken Christchurch. The seasonally adjusted volume of building work fell 6.3 percent in the March quarter following a 0.6 percent rise in the previous three months, Statistics New Zealand (SNZ) said. Non-residential work fell 10.4 percent in the March quarter after a 9.2 percent rise in the December quarter, while residential building work was down 2.1 percent in the latest quarter, the third consecutive decrease.
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migration update Jobs figures point
to soft economy Aus employment growth has slowed to a crawl, according to the latest official estimates, hosing down fears of an imminent interest rate rise. The number of people employed in May was 7,800 or just under 0.1 percent higher than in April, after seasonal adjustment, Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) figures showed. That was below the estimates of financial market economists. Within the total, full-time employment fell by an estimated 22,000, after a bigger drop of 57,200 in April more than offset the 42,200 rise recorded for March. Full-time employment, generally seen as an indicator of the underlying strength of the labour market, was slightly lower in May than six months earlier. Part-time employment was up by 29,800 in May after a similar rise in April, to be up by 33,800 from six months earlier. Total employment was up by a healthy 258,200 over the year to May but, illustrating the sharpness of the slowdown in demand for
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labour, only 29,900 of that rise was recorded in the six months to May, with the remaining 228,400 increase seen over the six months to November. The slowdown is consistent with the reduction in economic growth through 2010. The annualised growth rate of gross domestic product (GDP) slowed to 1.7 percent - about half the long-run average - in the second half from an above average 3.8 percent pace over the first half of 2010. The subsequent fall in GDP in the March quarter and signs that the recovery may be slower than hoped, suggest the trend in employment will be weak for quite a few months yet. There is a caveat to go with these figures they are sample survey-based estimates and seasonal adjustment is imperfect. Not too much ought to be made of just one month’s data.
Keep track of the latest news and developments on moving Down Under
Economy is on the mend, Swan says Aus Treasurer Wayne Swan has pointed to new economic data t hat indicates the economy is getting back on its feet after taking a massive hit from recent natural disasters. Retail spending surged in April by its biggest margin in 17 months, while another solid trade surplus was recorded in the same month, albeit below economists’ expectations. This more upbeat data followed national accounts that showed the economy shrank by a whopping 1.2 percent in the first three months of the year as floods and a cyclone hit the exports sector, particularly coal. This was biggest quarterly decline in gross domestic product (GDP) since the early 1990s recession.
“The good news is that mines are reopening and affected communities are getting back on their feet, as is our economy,” Mr Swan told parliament. New data showed a A$1.6 billion trade surplus was recorded in April, less than the A$2 billion forecast by economists, and around A$1 billion shy of the surplus seen in March. But this followed a A$295 million deficit in February, as the impact of the floods were felt, that ended a 10-month run of surpluses. Retail spending also jumped by 1.1 percent to A$20.7 billion in April, almost three times larger than economists’ expectations, after a 0.3 percent decline in March. The strongest growth was in department stores, rising 3.6 percent.
Australia visa application fees to increase by 15% on 1 July As part of the Australian federal budget, the Australian Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) will be putting fees up for a number of visa subclasses from 1 July, 2011. Many visas will have their application fees go up by 15 percent. The increase will not apply to Australian tourist visas, Australian student visas, second instalment investor retirement visas, second
instalment contributory parent visas, and humanitarian protection visas lodged in Australia, which are charged at a rate of A$30 and not indexed. There have not yet been any official announcements of how much the new fees will be.
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ASK THE EXPERT Expert advice on all things visas, migration and more
A
Q
In Australia, what are the tax obligat ions for overseas nationals? I live in Britain now, but I’m actually South African, an d was thinking ab ou t moving to New Zealand to he lp rebuild Christch urch.
Australia: residents The tax obligations for Australian and citizens are as follows:
Tax rates 2010-11 Taxable income 0 - A$6,000 A$6,001 - A$37,000 A$37,001 - A$80,000
Tax on this income Nil
15c for each A$1 over A$6,000 A$4,650 plus 30c for each A$1 over A$37,000 37c for each A$1 A$80,001 - A$180,000 A$17,550 plus over A$80,000 A$180,001 and over
start a new job. KiwiSaver is voluntary. For more information visit www.kiwisaver.govt.nz You may also be eligible to take out a student loan or receive Working for Families Tax Credits. If you’re thinking about moving to New Zealand and staying there for the long term you can find out additional
A$54,550 plus 45c for each A$1 over A$180,000
information at www.ird.govt.nz/ yoursituation-nonres/
move-nz/ erannuation if you You will be also liable to pay Sup The tax rates for an more than A$450.00 are working in Australia and earn individual tax payer in New loyer will generally per month. In this case your emp land are as follows: percent of your wages into a Zea contribute an amount equal to 9 Tax rates 2010-11 superannuation account for you. visit tax a trali Aus ut abo tion rma info Income tax rates For more oc=/ x?d .asp tent con als/ vidu indi .au/ (excluding ACC http://www.ato.gov Taxable /002 001 fp= &m 661 earners’ levy) income content/64150.htm&mnu=43 New Zealand: that you intend to stay Depending on the length of time be treated differently and work in New Zealand you may ive income from for tax purposes. However, to rece need to apply for an employment (salary or wages) you r IRD number, you will IRD number. Once you receive you laration (IR330) with your need to complete a Tax code dec correct amount of tax that employer, which will indicate the they will collect from your pay. land residents and Since 1st July 2007, most New Zea in KiwiSaver when they citizens are automatically enrolled
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up to NZ$14,000
10.50 percent
NZ$14,001 to NZ$48,000
17.50 percent
NZ$48,001 to NZ$70,000 NZ$70,001 and over
30 percent
33 percent
Q
re Do I need to show my tax records befo have I do long how immigrating? And to keep records of income from my s investments in case there are question from the tax authorities?
A
The immigration process is very different for each country. In some countries you may be required to show your current tax records when you are applying for a visa whereas in other countries, this may not be obligatory. Records of income from investments shou ld be kept as per the tax requirements in the country they are made and also as per the tax requ irements in the country they are declared in (if diffe rent).
Q A
I’m moving do wn under and buyi ng a house there. W ill I have to lodge a tax return even though I’m no t an Australian resi dent?
If you move permanently to Australia and acquire income under the Pay as you go scheme, you will most likely be required to file a tax return. In relation to the property you intend to invest in, the tax filing obligations depend on what purpose you intend to use it for. If you intend to rent out the property, you automatically incur the obligation to file an annual tax return and report your renta l income. However, if you own the property for another purpose, you will need to check if and what your tax and filing obligations are with the Australian Taxation Office or by seek ing an advice from a certified tax agent.
Q
I’m taking a lot of tax advice from my employer about my move Down Under (it’ll be a placement with my current firm) – is that wise? Should I seek alternative advice? I’ll be worried I’ll be left to foot the bill if something goes wrong.
lways use You can a of e sources alternativ the s on such a informati n Office – n Taxatio ment of Australia u, Depart .a v o .g to – www.a itizenship d on and C ti ra t a certifie ig c m ta n Im , or co u .a v o x g i. ta come and www.imm lan your in p to t x returns n e g tax a annual ta r u o y e is rgan ith your matters, o ht track w g ri e th n you o and keep s. tax affair
A
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ASK THE EXPERT
Q
Australian Minist er for Immigratio n and Citizenship Bowen, has anno , Chris unced a new poin ts test for skilled mig visa applications ration proposed to take effect in July 2011 the key points of . W hat are the new policy, ho w will things chan the proposals good ge an d are for those thinking of moving Down Under?
tion. longer attributed to your occupa equal Hence all occupations are given em. syst new importance under the The English language requirements points will be tightened. Under the new to system, you can score between 10 e uag lang lish Eng 20 points for your at ing scor by sitting an IELTS test and e thos least seven in each subject. For e with English as their first languag this , UK the including people from meet. should be an easy requirement to of You still need to have a minimum in the 12 months work experience with ever, How . ible elig be last 24 months to nt Subclass 885 Skilled Independe from mpt overseas students are exe two Onshore this requirement if they satisfy the nt nde epe Ind lled Ski 175 s Subclas ly years study requirement and app ible. Offshore elig ng omi bec of within six months Onshore ing Subclass 886 Skilled Sponsored prov for ts You now obtain five poin Offshore k Subclass 176 Skilled Sponsored at least three of past five years wor Subclass 487 Skilled Regional at least experience, 10 points for proving e hor Ons nce, Sponsored five of past seven years work experie t Subclass 475 Skilled Regional eigh t leas at and 15 points for proving ts Poin Sponsored Offshore of past 10 years work experience. k wor can also be attained for Australian ts for 15 The key changes relate to the poin to ve fi from re whe experience – any e ability, your occupation, English languag of l leve points depending on the and age. work experience, qualifications work experience. for study em Points will continue to be awarded Another change in the points syst munity rded in Australia, regional study, com awa g bein now is that points are completing a languages, partner skills, and for for your qualifications. Those with hip, ices an approved Professional Year. recognised offshore trade apprent mark will pass the em, syst new the er Und AQF Cert III/IV, or diploma are now have an be reduced to 65. You still must able to obtain 10 points for their points are no eligible occupation to apply but
A
The Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) are implementing a new to admit the points test on 1 July 2011 in a bid s to deliver best and brightest skilled migrant ration mig eted targ a more responsive and nges are cha program for Australia. The new applicants. beneficial to many UK and Irish ed The new points system can be view only will and site web on the Visafirst.com the skilled affect the following visas under migration program:
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Q A
Some friends have mentioned something to me called the 183 days rule. What is it?
or masters qualification. Those with a degree le those whi ts, poin 15 qualification can score points se The ts. with a PhD can score 20 poin were not available previously. the cutThe new points system also sees to 50 45 from d ease off age limit being incr ts poin e scor ’t years of age. While you don still now from the age of 45 to 49, you are in this is Aga . visa the for ly entitled to app ld have wou that e welcome news for thos the for old previously been deemed too . General Skilled Migration program d The new points system will be goo n Dow d hea to ing for new applicants look will it em, Under but as with the old syst ing on affect applicants differently depend 45-50 can their circumstances. People aged they nd reha befo now still apply whereas ked wor e hav were not eligible. Those who ons cati lifi hard to get trade papers and qua system. new the er und d are also rewarde e for uag lang rst fi And as English is the for es scor UK nationals, achieving high easy. ly points in English should be relative s mean Although for UK applicants, it doe r native having to pay to sit a test in you rre. biza language which seems a bit It is important that you clearly get advice understand your visa options and when from a registered migration agent t Visi ad. you’re planning to move abro lan www.visafirst.com or contact Dec to find out Clune at dclune@visafirst.com ut visas everything you need to know abo and working abroad.
For Australia - The 183 day rule is a residency test which determines the residency status of a a. Under person currently present in Australi in Australia this test, if you are actually present r, whether for more than half the income yea may be said you continuously or intermittently, tralia Aus to have a constructive residence in unless it can be established that: side your usual place of abode is out Australia, and you have no intention to take up residence in Australia not be Your presence in Australia need 183 day continuous for the purposes of the sically phy are you test. All days in which me year inco the present in Australia during that note will be counted. It is important to to the the183 day test applies in relation year. r nda cale the income year, and not
ABOUT THE EXPERTs Stoyan These questions were answered by Zealand New & Dimov, Team Leader – Oz ne, Tax, taxback.com , and Declan Clu first.com. Registered Migration Agent, Visa com at Contact details: Freephone taxback. 2389 8 080 at om 0808 2381 611, visafirst.c t visi 911, email uk@taxback.com, or www.taxback.com/anzoutlook
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What’s on... Cup Carnival st Darwin Darwin, Northern Territory The Darwin Cup Carnival officially kicks g u A y l off on Saturday 2 July 2011 and culminates u J
2-1
in the running of the Darwin Cup on Monday 1 August 2011. The programme also features Ladies Day, where the ladies can show off their finery and enjoy a sumptuous lunch and a glass of bubbly. www.darwinturfclub.org.au
1Ju 0 ly
Lions Beer th Darwin Can Regatta Darwin, Northern Territory A regatta like no other, with boats primarily built entirely from aluminium beer cans, this annual family event is a spectacle for all who line Mindil Beach and cheer on the home-made boats as they flounder and sink in the shallows. There are loads of activities and competitions for everyone to do which are held throughout the day. www.beercanregatta.org.au
21-7 thMelbourne International Ju ly Aug Film Festival
Melbourne, Victoria This iconic event has a devoted audience. The Melbourne International Film Festival is a feast of cinema, heavily garnished with parties and special events that envelop the CBD. It turns 60 this year, making it one of the oldest film festivals in the world (one year younger than Cannes!). www.melbournefilmfestival.com.au 20
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Our guide to the unmissable events, holidays and celebrations in Australia and New Zealand this month Coffs Coast Cycle Challenge Coffs Harbour Jetty, Coffs Harbour,
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New South Wales Rotary Coffs City is holding the bcu Coffs Coast Cycle Challenge. The event is a ride of 100 kilometres starting and finishing at the Coffs Harbour Jetty Foreshores. The 2011 Challenge will have eight different categories to enter suiting all cyclists. www.coffscoastcyclechallenge.com
Audi Hamilton Island Race Week
th
aug
19-27 th
aug Aug
Hamilton Island, Queensland Spectators and yachties from around the globe sail to Hamilton Island in August for Audi Hamilton Island Race Week, Australia’s largest annual offshore keelboat regatta. Race Week is one of Australia’s favourite yachting events and a firm fixture on the international sailing calendar. www.hamiltonisland.com.au/events
Tri Nations (Bledisloe Cup): Australia vs New Zealand
27 th
40 Castlemaine Street, Brisbane City, Queensland This, the final match of the 2011 Tri Nations, is less than two weeks before the opening game of the Rugby World Cup in New Zealand. The only other Tri Nations Test to be played in Australia will be when the Wallabies take on the Springboks (South Africa) at Sydney’s ANZ Stadium on 23 July. The 2011 Tri Nations will be played over two rounds, home and away, as opposed to the current three rounds. Tickets available at Ticketek from 19 July. www.ticketek.com.au AUSTRALIAANDNEWZEALAND
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Expat PROFILE
Story Huw’s By Chris Farnell
Expat in brief
M
oving halfway across the planet is a huge decision, especially when you’re moving with your whole family. Huw Turner and his family decided to move to New Zealand 15 years ago, and they haven’t regretted it a day since. Huw describes his family’s reasons for moving as “Wanderlust, the need to get out of a rut in the UK.” They decided to move to New Zealand as there were a lot of teaching jobs available there at the time.
NAME: Huw Turner Occupation: Teacher Moved from: Leicester, UK Moved to: Getting a Teaching Job in d n a l k c New Zealand Waipu, Au
Getting a teaching job in New Zealand today involves four main steps. Firstly, you’ll need to get your qualifications assessed by the New Zealand Qualifications Authority 22
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so that they can sort out your teacher registration and work out your starting salary in state schools. At the same time, you can register with the New Zealand Teacher’s Council. Once these steps are completed and you are registered, you can apply for any teaching position in New Zealand. Once you’ve found and been accepted for a job, you’ll need to obtain a work permit from immigration New Zealand. Since arriving in New Zealand, Huw has had a good deal of luck with his teaching career. “We moved in January 1997,” Huw explains. “I have mostly worked as a teacher, Head of English at two high schools, Head of Drama in a third.”
Waipu Of course, as well as finding a way to earn a living in New Zealand, the Turner family would also have to decide where
they were going to live. Once they had arrived in New Zealand, and completed the sale of their house back in Britain, they settled in Bream Bay on the north east coast on the Pacific side, roughly 120 kms north of Auckland in a small place called Waipu. Waipu started out as a settlement by Scottish Presbyterians in the 1850s, and the community’s Scottish heritage can still be see today- one of the town’s annual highlights is the Highland Games held every New Year. However, despite starting off as a Scottish settlement, the town’s population today is actually very diverse. “It is a surprisingly cosmopolitan place considering its geographical isolation and the fact that it's a fairly traditional New Zealand dairy farming community,” Huw says. “For example, my yoga class is mostly Californians, Germans and poms!” One of Waipu’s other highlights is,
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Expat PROFILE naturally, the weather. Huw tells us, “It's semi sub-tropical, known as the Winterless North. We don't really have winters, it can rain and blow but frosts are a rarity - perhaps three a winter and they are gone by 9.00 am. Haven't had a frost so far and I was walking on the beach yesterday in shorts and barefooted in temperatures of about 20 degrees.” Of course, nice weather in New Zealand is hardly a rarity, and there were other reasons the Turner’s chose to live in Waipu. “My wife, Alison really chose it and she made a good decision. It was a good place for our children, Elen, Hywel and Isabelle to grow up - in walking distance of the sports clubs, on the school bus routes and in easy reach of amazing beaches with the Pacific Ocean just five minutes away.” Today Huw has plenty to do in Waipu, and not surprisingly given the climate, a lot of those activities involve getting out and about. Huw says, “Pastimes are to do with the outdoors - swimming, fishing , surfing , biking, but I also do lots of yoga, pilates, tai chi , chi kung.” 15 years on from the move, Huw is well settled in New Zealand, and waxes lyrical about the country’s space, the scenery and the friendly locals. When it comes to the UK, Huw says he can't think of anything that he misses from the homeland. On first arriving in the country it was a challenge being so far away from family and friends, “but as we made new friends that became less of a problem,” he says. At the end of the day, Huw only has one piece of advice for other Brits who are thinking about making the move themselves. Put very simply, all he has to say is “Yes, do it!” 24
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working down under Opportunities in Oz for
HIGHLY SKILLED
MIGRANTS By Declan Clune, Registered Migration Agent with Visafirst.com
T
here has never been a better time to look to Australia with the fantastic opportunities on offer for highly skilled migrants. Increases in the number of skilled migration places available and huge investments within the Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) to speed up the processing of certain visa classes are set to clear the way for Australia to get the right people they need to come to Australia – highly skilled migrants. With so many recent and upcoming changes, it can be difficult to know which visa option best suits the needs of you and your family. The General Skilled Pathway has been a popular way for overseas skilled migrants to achieve permanent residency in Australia. Chris Bowen, Minister for Immigration, revealed that the net migration intake will increase to 185,000
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places for the next financial year 20112012. Of these places, over 125,000 will be reserved for skilled migrants including 16,000 for “regional areas”. The increase is aimed to help meet the expected demand for skilled migrants right across Australia given the strong employment growth. The drive is on to encourage highly skilled migrants of all types to go to where the work is – this includes construction trades of all types (carpenters, bricklayers, plumbers, electricians etc), metal trade workers (welders, metal fabricators, fitters etc), engineers, project managers, site managers, and architects to name a few. This has a knock on effect on demand for highly skilled migrants in other sectors too. The federal budget has earmarked A$4.3 billion investment for regional projects in healthcare, roads and schools in an attempt to encourage regional migration, thereby creating new towns across the country. This is resulting in a high demand
for chefs, teachers, nurses, accountants, IT professionals and other professionals which are required to cater for the infrastructural needs of workers in these new towns. Unemployment in Australia is at historically low levels and with large new mining projects set to kick off in QLD and WA, employers are finding it increasingly difficult to recruit highly skilled workers from the local labour market. It is clear that getting the right people with the right skills is of fundamental importance to Australia’s immigration policy. A new model for selecting skilled migrants will be introduced in July 2012. Under the new model, the government will be able to select the best candidates and alter the skill composition as required.
Visa Options Naturally DIAC want to encourage people to go to where the work is and there are different visas with work rights and conditions attached to them. For those aged 18 – 30 years old there is the one year working holiday visa which will enable you to get out to Australia very quickly. The purpose of this visa is primarily to holiday in Australia and any work carried out should be incidental. However, you can work for an employer for up to six months and the employer may be willing to sponsor you to remain working in the company. If you do have a job offer, the temporary Sponsorship (457) visa will allow you to work for an employer for up to four years. The processing timeframe averages between one – two months but DIAC AUSTRALIAANDNEWZEALAND
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working down under have invested heavily in staff and are aiming to get this timeframe down to approximately two weeks. While it is a temporary visa, there is the possibility of obtaining permanent residency through different pathways. The government is set to fast-track permanent residency for 457 visa holders who have spent two years in regional Australia and where their employer will continue to sponsor them for a further two years under the Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme (119/856) visa. This will make it easier for 457 visa holders to remain in the region where they have been living and working. Alternatively the Employer Nomination Scheme (121/857) visa is a route to gain permanent residency if you have an eligible job offer from an Australian employer. The employer must hold the position open for you for three years but there are no limitations on where the employer should be based. For those lucky enough to have an eligible job offer, DIAC has given 28
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top priority to the processing of the Employer Nomination Scheme visa and the Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme permanent residency visas. In addition, 16,000 places have been specifically allocated to the RSMS visa scheme for the next financial year – something never done by DIAC previously. General Skilled Migration programme is the most relevant program for migrants that are outside of Australia and looking to apply for permanent residency. There is no job offer required for these visas – the Independent Skilled (175) visa and the State Skilled (176) visa. Most focus is on the State Sponsored Migration (176) visa because of the undetermined timeframe of the 175 visa class. The State Sponsored Migration visa requires you to live and work in a nominated state for two years – thereafter you are free to live and work anywhere across Australia for life. Once granted you and your family are permanent residents of Australia. This is a points-based visa. You attain points for certain attributes including age, English language ability, and work experience qualifications. The points test is set to change come 1st July 2011.
New Points Test DIAC are implementing a new points test on 1st July 2011 which will apply to the General Skilled Migration programme (including the Skilled Independent (175) visa and Skilled Sponsored (176)
visa). This will tighten the eligibility requirements so that DIAC get a higher calibre of skilled migrants. The full table can be viewed on the Visafirst.com website. Under the new system, you must have an eligible occupation (check with Visafirst.com) to apply but points are no longer attributed to your occupation. Hence all occupations are given equal importance under the new system. The English language requirements will be tightened. Under the new points system, you must sit an English test and score seven points in each subject to obtain points for your English language ability. For those with English as their first language including people from the UK, this should be an easy requirement to meet. While you still need to have a minimum of 12 months work experience within the last 24 months, you now obtain points for having 3/5 years work experience and the more work experience you have, the more points you obtain. Those with at least 1/2 years Australian work experience can obtain points. The more work experience they have, the higher the points achieved. Another change in the points system is that points are now being awarded for your qualification. Those with a recognised offshore trade apprenticeship, AQF Cert III/ IV, or diploma are now able to obtain 10 points for their qualification. Those with a degree or masters qualification can score 15 points while those with a PhD can score 20 points. These points were not available previously. The new points system also sees the cut-off age limit being increased from 45 to 50 years of age. While you don’t score points from the age of 45 to 49, you are now still entitled to apply for the visa. Again this is welcome news for those that would previously have been deemed to be too old for the General Skilled Migration programme. It is important to clearly understand your visa options and get advice from a registered migration agent. Contact Declan Clune of Visafirst.com now for a free assessment to find out all your visa options and what you need to do to meet the visa requirements.
ABOUT THE
author Declan Clune is a registered migration agent for Visafirst.com Tel +44 207 6599186 Free phone 0808 2389911 E-mail dclune@visafirst.com Web www.visafirst.com
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TRAVELLER'S GUIDE
South A Guide to
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By Chris Farnell
S
outh Australia is a nice place to visit, but you might also want to live there. We’re going to talk you through just some of the great reasons you should check out this fantastic region. If you’re going to start exploring South Australia, there are few better places to start than the city of Adelaide, a spacious garden city still bearing the mark of the “Light’s Vision” that the city was originally built to many years ago. Regularly named the most liveable city in Australia, and ranking pretty high among the most liveable cities in the world, as you explore the city you’ll discover some great museum such as the South Australian Museum or the Rodney Fox Shark Museum, as well as the perfect family day out at Adelaide Zoo. If you like spending a day by the way, Adelaide naturally has a host of great beaches, but you can also take paddleboats or bike trips along the River Torrens. More than this though, Adelaide is the perfect launch pad for exploring the rest of South Australia, so that you can discover things such as:
South Australia's Wine Country South Australia is famous for producing some truly amazing wines, and it would be a crime to come down here without taking a look at the beautiful country those wines come fromand maybe try a few for yourself! The best place to start your wine odyssey is undoubtedly Barossa Valley, known as Adelaide’s Wine Capital. This country is riddled with vineyards and wine cellars. Highlights include the famous Lyndoch Lavender Farm, the Barossa Historical
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TRAVELLER'S GUIDE Museum and of course the world renowned Penfolds Barossa Valley Winery. Another must-see destination for wine lovers is the historical town of McLaren Vale. There are more than 40 wineries working out of this town, and you can spend days here wandering the vineyards and enjoying tasters of some of the very best wine. South Australia’s climate and countryside are perfect for winegrowing, but that’s not all that it has to offer. Once you’ve had your fill of the wine, you should also take a look at:
South Australia's National Parks
South Australia Statshot Area: 984,377 square kilometres (12.8 percent
of the total Australian land mass) You don’t have to travel far from Adelaide before you 1.6 million (June 2009) come across some amazing fantastic sites of natural beauty. Visit bird-watching the splendour of places site, or Long Adelaide, population 1.2 million such as Innes National Point, which (June 2009) Park, a reserve with some is a great place ace camping grounds, from to do some which you’re able to explore fishing. You at your own leisure, enjoying the walking can also enjoy the amazing views from Jacks trails and observing the park’s carpet of Point, and if you have a permit you can even wildflowers and breathtaking coastlines. For camp out at Salt Creep of Meningie. a history lesson while you’re here you can While they’re in South Australia nature visit the Inneston Village. Once upon a time lovers should also take a ferry out to this village was totally self-sufficient, and Kangaroo Island, which home to, you while you’re here you can see where they guessed it, lots and lots of kangaroos. had their own school, bakery, post office, and However, you’ll also find the island occupied even tennis court! by koalas, penguins, seals and all sorts of Coorong National Park is another other wildlife. highlight. Using the river town of Murray On top of the huge menagerie of Bridge as your base, you can head off animals on the island, you can also visit to beauty spots such as Pelican Point, a the lighthouses scattered across the island’s
Population:
Capital city:
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coastline, and explore Kangaroo Island’s vast network of underground cave systems at Kelly Hill. If you like caves, you need to get to the Naracoorte Caves National Park, the only world listed heritage site in South Australia and home to the Southern Bentwing bat. You’ll find the Naracoorte Caves near Mount Cambier and Coonawarra. Here you’ll find not just the awe inspiring caves, but also impressive fossils offering you a window into Australia’s pre-history. You can learn more about the fossils at the Wonambi Fossil Centre. South Australia is full of amazing sites of natural wonder and brilliant experiences to be had- far too many to fit into just one visit, and after just one visit, you may find you don’t want to leave!
Not Just a Great Place to Visit South Australia is a growing state, and that means the opportunities here are growing too. Not just a pretty place, this region supplies the globe with minerals, cars, cereals, meat, seafood and of course, the all important wine. In fact, over half of all Australian wine exports from South Australia, which is the world’s sixth largest producer of wine. Wine isn’t the only thing going on here however. The state is seeing a booming defence industry that has recently won a A$10 billion dollars in contracts creating a vast array of career opportunities. Meanwhile, companies in Adelaide are also the cutting edge of the IT and biotech industries. Elsewhere in South Australia the mining sector is undergoing a massive expansion. The Olympic Dam north of Adelaide is expected to create 23,000 new jobs alone. These are all jobs that likely to give you more bang for your buck, as South Australia has much lower housing costs than the eastern States, but still boasts incomes to match them. Your average Adelaide house will cost around A$392,100- compared with A$458,900 in Melbourne, A$476,400 in Brisbane, A$492,400 in Perth or a whopping A$510,800 in Sydney. If you already own a modest home in London, then prepare to be amazed at what the same money will buy for you and your family in Adelaide- and bear in mind Adelaide house prices are relatively high compared with the rest of South Australia! South Australia is a region rife with enchanting experiences and excellent opportunities. You don’t want to miss it. AUSTRALIAANDNEWZEALAND
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Fun THE
BReEeGrACTTaAn By Chris Farnell
A
ustralia is a country famous for many great sporting events. There is rugby. There is cricket. There is a whole range of prestigious sporting events that are totally lame because they lack one key ingredient- being a piratical boat race featuring water and flower bombs and vehicles made out of beer cans. In fact, and I know this will shock you as much as it shocks me, Australia has only one piratical boat race featuring water and flower bombs and vehicles made out of beer cans. That event is the Lions Beer Can Regatta in Darwin.
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When I was asked to report on the Regatta, my first thought was that it was like the chariot race in Spartacus, but on water, or Death Race 2000 if all the cars were made of beer cans. I expected a no holds barred beer can-fuelled blood fest, and the fact that small children were allowed to compete only confirmed to me how brutal it was. Seeking to get to the bottom of what I can only describe as a maritime Thunderdome, I spoke to Des Gellert, President of Darwin Lions Beer Can Regatta Association.
Q: Can you give us a quick low down on what the Beer Can Regatta is? What are the rules, and who can take part?
A: The Beer Can Regatta is a series of event both on the water and on the beach. Some events are races, and others and contests – best boat, tug-o-war, treasure hunt. There are few rules, and bribery with full beer cans is encouraged. The rules are set out in the 10 Can-mandments, with the primary rule being to participate in the right spirit and have fun. Boats must be built using empty drink containers, and those must provide the bulk of the flotation. Almost anyone can take part, and the youngest I’ve seen is a child of about three (ran her father ragged towing the boat back and forth).
Q: It sounds like the sort of idea someone would come up with after creating a large supply of empty beer cans. Can you tell us a bit about how the event got started? A: The stories about how the regatta started differ according to who you talk to, and so far, there is no corroborated evidence. The story I think might be closest to the truth is something like this. Paul Rice-Chapman, working for the local newspaper, had a deal with a beer company [Swan Breweries] to create a local festival featuring their product. Local businessman Lutz Frankenfeld had a passion for developing local tourism. These two knew each other and over a beer (or two) one night they came up with the idea of the regatta. The first regatta was an outstanding success – 63 boats and 22,000 (most of Darwin’s population) attended. AUSTRALIAANDNEWZEALAND
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Fun
Q: That was 37 years ago – why do you think the event has been so popular for such a sustained length of time? A: Where else do you have legitimate reason to throw water and flour bombs, act piratically, and be encouraged to make a public spectacle of yourself? In addition, it is great fun to participate in and most teams set out with that purpose, and pretend to be really trying to win.
Q: What are some of the weirdest boat designs you’ve seen since becoming involved in the event? A: We used to have a Viking long boat. The funniest was a boat meant to work like a canoe with an outrigger, that didn’t work. The outrigger acted more like an anchor, and they went round and around in circles. This 36
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year we will have two entries looking like large crocodiles (a common theme!) and one shaped like a turtle.
Q: Finally, if I were to take part in the Regatta, how could I really crush the competition? I mean, I if I wanted to really humiliate them with my boat building prowess? What tips and advice can you give me? A: The aim is to have fun. Enjoy accumulating (emptying) your boat building materials, and invite your mates to help. Test the boat’s flotation. Accumulate some more building materials and add those to boat. Repeat until boat floats satisfactorily. Arrive at Mindil beach. Prepare ammunition… Participate. I can only assume he meant have fun... TO THE DEATH!
nts The Ten Can-mandmeNOT DRIFT
1. THOU SHALT ENTER THE IN THE RIGHT SPIRIT EVENT To have a bloody great time.
2. THOU SHALT BUILD THY OF CANS CRAFT Which must be drink cans, open, emptied
and in more or less their original state. Any attempts to enter a submarine (i.e. a craft made of full cans) will result in confiscation and disposal by the Committee.
3. THY CRAFT SHALL FLOAT CANS ALONE BY They have to provide at least 90 percent
of your flotation. Anything can be used to stick them together, so long as it doesn’t break this rule. The outer hull must be made of cans and at two thirds of them have to be uncovered and visible.
SHALT NOT DROWN 4.AnyTHOU hull design is OK – so long as it’s safe. Everyone on board must wear a proper flotation jacket. To avoid a repeat of the Poseidon Adventure, two cans of not more than 30 imp. fl. oz. (850 mls) must be used for every pound (454 grams) weight of craft and crew.
6. THOU SHALT FROM THE STRAIGHT AND NARROWAND END UP IN RAH MARDO If anything goes wrong, we want you to get you to shore safely and without disrupting the others. Make sure you have a tow rope that’s no longer than the craft itself.
7. THOU SHALT NOT PROTEST MUCH TOO No protests regarding eligibility will be considered once a race has started.
8. THOU SHALT HONOUR COMMITTEE THY Swearing, threats, stamping of feet and
floods of tears will have NO effect on committee decisions regarding eligibility and protests. Bribes of strong drink will be accepted, but will also have NO effect on decisions.
9. THOU SHALT NOT TTEE ADULTERY COMMI Nothing really to do with the Regatta, but it gives us an air of responsibility and respect.
5. THOU SHALT NOT TAKE THE 10. THOU SHALT GO BACK OF THY CRAFT IN VAIN AND READ THE FIRST NAME Any craft bearing signs or lettering that CANMANDMENT AGAIN. may be offensive will be barred. AUSTRALIAANDNEWZEALAND
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feature
By Janine Kelso
Backpacke r gFhettos: ive of the bes t
land Thai What: Thailand is a hit with backpackers
thanks to its dreamy beaches, jungle treks, rich culture – and the fact that everything is super cheap. Whatever you want can be acquired for next-to-nothing: pancakes, beach bungalows, massages or ladyboys. The country’s most famous backpacker ghetto is Bangkok’s Khao San Road.
See: tourismthailand.org Kathmandu, Nepal
What: Back in the Sixties , Kathmandu was a haven for hippies and dope-smoker s. Fast forward a few decade s and the streets are still ful l of travellers, especially in the Thamel district. But dig deeper and you’ll find Wo rld Heritage Sites and tasty food.
See: visitnepal.com 38
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Morocco
What: Top-notch surfing, shedloads of hashish and guaranteed sun make Morocco a hit with young traveller s. The hippy beach resort of Essaouira is a pre tty spot to chill out, do a cooking course and drink mint tea.
See: visitmorocco.com
b, Egypt Daha What: Sleepy Dahab is a mecca
for backpackers thanks to its super-low prices and chilled atmosphere. When you’re not diving in the Red Sea, while away your time by sipping fruit juice in a beach cafe. You’ll come for a week and end up staying a month.
See: egypt.travel Delhi, India
What: Delhi’s Paharganj neighbourhood is where the budget-conscious traveller s head for cheap hostels, which can be tricky to find in India’s big citi es. There’s an outdoor food market, which merits exploration, but wa tch out for the hustlers.
See: incredibleindia.org AUSTRALIAANDNEWZEALAND
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TRAVELLER'S GUIDE
hidden
gems North Fiji’s
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Carol Driver discovers lesser-travelled North Fiji’s hidden gems. By Carol Driver
T
he intrusive drilling sound of our speedboat as we slice through the ocean cuts through the tranquillity as we zoom along to our secret destination. Some of Fiji’s 333 islands can be seen in the distance – they’re lush and green and with the sun beaming down, it’s like a scene straight out of Lost. Our guide Tim nods at the driver who quickly shuts off the engine – the silence is like a jolt to the senses as we silently drift along looking for the right spot. “Here,” Tim says authoritatively. We’re already kitted up in our diving gear, so we roll backwards off the tiny boat and descend into the warm, crystal-clear water. The underground world comes to life before our eyes – coral of every pastel colour is highlighted by the sunrays piercing the surface. It’s teeming with life as schools of vibrant fish dart about, not in the least bit inquisitive about their huge intruders. Tim and Simon fin along in front of me as I get distracted exploring the magical wonderland. As they turn to check I’m OK, I can see their eyes bulging behind their masks. They point behind me, motioning for me to turn around. I feel my heart pounding – I’m a keen diver, but I’ve never seen anything bigger or scarier than a trigger fish before, and I’m fearing the worst. Everything seems to happen in slow motion as I turn to face a gigantic manta ray, spanning about five metres, gliding effortlessly through the water towards us. Sensing it’s got company, it veers off, moving too quickly for us to follow.
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TRAVELLER'S GUIDE Back onboard the Tui Tai, we boast to anyone who will listen – the crew, all Fijians wearing loud shirts and salu-salus (flower necklaces) – have probably heard a similar story a thousand times before, but they’re polite enough to act as though it’s the first. I boarded the vessel at Natewa Bay on Fiji’s north island Vanua Levu. Having been reluctant to do a cruise, I was assured this is the best way to explore some of the more remote islands and some of the best diving in the world, anchoring overnight in the South Pacific Ocean. But it’s not the type
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of cruise where you watch the world go by. Days start at 6am with yoga on the deck as the sun comes up. After that, guests – of which there are only 22 – can then choose to paddleboard, kayak, snorkel, surf, dive or go hiking and biking on an island. Overnight, the boat is back on the move around the archipelago, so you wake in a new destination every morning. My group takes the bikes over to the volcanic Rabi Island. It’s inhabited by just 5000 Micronesian people, most of which relocated from Kiribati after World War II. Hordes of smiley children run beside us as we pedal along the small, dusty tracks, weaving in between tiny huts. Everyone on the island is friendly. Before long, we are the VIP guests of the village. We’re given front-row seats (after we’ve changed into respectable sulus) to a flamboyant dance as men and women don grass skirts and face paints and the beat of the drums kicks in. It’s a stunning display of custom and expression – the attention to detail put into making the costumes reflects the level of importance in which the villagers hold the tradition. My group applauds, but our hosts refuse to let us leave – apparently there’s one more part of our initiation into Fijian life. We’re told to sit cross-legged as the village chief is handed a small bowl brimming with a murky grey-brown liquid. He claps once, shouts “bula” – as an expression of gratitude – and downs the drink in one. The bilo is refilled and my grinning host passes it to me, gesturing for me to follow suit, which I do. There’s uproar from the crowd of Fijians, who laugh wildly and pat me on the back. It’s not the most unpleasant taste – a slight medicinal twang with a tongue-numbing side effect. I hand back the bowl and wait for a wave of relaxation to wash over – the reason kava, which is made from the piper methstyicum plant, is so popular. Our guide has been preparing dinner on Tavewa island for hours. We make the short speedboat journey to the shore where the sand is golden and feels like cake mix between my toes.
Essential information WHEN TO GO: Nov-Mar is humid and the wet season. April/May and Oct are the best for warm weather.
GETTING THERE: Fly from Heathrow to Nadi, Fiji, with Cathay Pacific.
VISAS: Not required. Tavewa is popular with backpackers, it’s fairly undeveloped – and it isn’t connected to the centralised power grid, generating its own electricity through diesel generators. But we don’t need any tonight. The food is being cooked in a lovo earth oven. Fish, meats and vegetables are placed in a pit, covered with soil and left to cook. Our guide informs us, before we start eating, that this was also how cannibalism was performed – a practice which is, thankfully, now extinct. After a feast fit for kings, we head back to the Tui Tai where cocktails are being served. The boat is pretty empty – there are only four of us stargazing. One of the crew beckons for me to follow him and takes me down some steep steps where I find the rest of his shipmates sitting cross-legged in a circle. There’s a huge bowl of murky-looking water in the middle, and a bilo being passed around. I sit down; the whole room is filled with smiles and chatter and I’m made to feel incredibly welcome. Soon the small bowl is handed to me. It may not taste as good as the Cosmopolitans above deck, but I know where I’d rather be. Bula!
CURRENCY: Fijian dollars. LANGUAGE: Fijian. Although the majority speak English.
ACCOMMODATION: Carol Driver travelled on board the Tui Tai. A five-night expedition cruise, which includes accommodation, food, drinks and activities (except scuba) costs from £1547 (per person, based on a couple sharing a room).
GET MORE INFO: tuitai.com or fijime.com.
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workinginholiday Australia Getting a
By Chris Farnell
T
he only thing better than the thought of travelling around the world, meeting new people, seeing new sights and embracing new experiences, is the prospect of somebody paying you to do it. This isn’t quite the impossible dream that it first sounds. So here’s our guide to exploring Australia, and getting paid along the way.
Sorting the Paperwork First things first, to get a job while you’re travelling in Australia you’ll need a Working 44
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Holiday Visa. To get a Working Holiday Visa you’ll need to fulfil several basic requirements- you must be between 18 and 30 years old and have no serious criminal convictions or health conditions. You’ll also need a valid passport at least a year away from renewal, and sufficient funds to pay your way for the opening leg of your journey. You’ll usually need around A$5,000, although it will depend on how long you intend to stay in Australia and how much travelling you plan to do while you’re there. Your application should take about eight weeks to process, but it can take longer if
there are legal or medical issues. Once you’ve got the visa, you will have up to a year to begin your trip, and once you are in Australia you’ll be able to stay there another 12 months. While you’re there you can leave the country at any time, but time spent outside the country can’t be claimed back towards your 12 month stay. While you’re in Australia you mustn’t work for any one employer for more than six months, or study on any course for more than four months. With that in mind, you’ll want to know just what sort of work is available for you. Once you’ve got your visa there are various services and agencies who’ll be happy to help you find work- however it’s important to check out the people you got to, as there’s numerous unscrupulous organisations in the business. One traveller in particular recommended avoiding sales jobs that target backpackers for commission only work, which can lead to you working for free for a fortnight before realising you’re never going to get paid.
Bar Work Bar work is a great way to earn some spending money. You get to meet lots of new people, and you get to spend your working day in a bar. I’m sure I don’t need to explain the appeal. However, in Australia they don’t let just anyone serve booze. To get any kind of bar work you’ll need to attain a Responsible Serving of Alcohol certificate, or RSA. To get this certificate you’ll need to take a short course of a few hours in length, that’ll cost you somewhere between A$60 and A$100. It’s worth shopping around for a decently priced course, but etrainu.com has some good offers. AUSTRALIAANDNEWZEALAND
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Farming There are numerous farms around Australia that will take on backpackers as manual labourers, paying you in food and accommodation rather than cash, kind of like a less depressing version Of Mice and Men. Alternatively there are plenty of places that will pay you a decent wage for picking crops. This may not be as glamorous as giving beer to drunk people, but Australia always has a wealth of agricultural jobs, and fruit picking is a great way to pick up casual work as you make your way around the country. Indeed, a lot of working holidays tend to follow a route around Australia that mirrors the harvests. It’s physically tiring work and not a job for someone who enjoys a lie in. However, there’s a lot to be said for working in the outdoors of a country with one of the most enviable climates on the planet. You will find the majority of the jobs
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available are in small rural towns, so this sort of work is a good way to get off the beaten track and get to know the locals. There are usually plenty of hostels and camping parks nearby, often with staff who’ll be happy to help you find work. Sometimes you’ll even find farms that provide their own accommodation for you.
Seasons Some places will offer fruit picking work all year round. Around the northern coast of New South Wales there are places that grow bananas all year round, and in the Riverland area you can find year-round work picking citrus and soft fruit. You can also get year round work on the south central coast near Childers and Bundaberg in Victoria, where you can find most types of fruit and vegetables being harvested. However, the majority of fruit picking jobs are seasonal work, and so it’s important to know which places are in season when.
February to April From February to April there is grape picking work in South Australia, particularly around Australia’s famous Barossa Valley winery region. March to November If you fancy a change from fruit picking, you can find fishing and processing work on the west coast of South Australia. Here you’ll be working with crayfish, prawns and scallops. May to October In the area around Kununurra in Western Australia you can find fruit and vegetable picking and packing jobs. May to November On the northern coast near the towns of Ingham and Ayre there is sugar cane, banana and even tobacco picking work. May to December Lots of different fruit and vegetable harvesting and packing jobs can be found on the central coast of Queensland near Bowen. Towards the end of the year mango farming in particular will be offering a lot of jobs. October to June During this period there is a lot of grape harvesting work in the southwest of Western Australia, as well as orchard fruit picking work. November to April In Victoria you can find a lot of fruit
picking jobs for this part of the year, particularly during February. The work is based mostly around Victoria’s northern areas near Shepparton or along the Murray River in places such as Mildura and Swan Hill. Here you’ll be picking orchard fruits, grapes, soft fruits, tomatoes and even tobacco! November to April is also the busiest period for work in New South Wales, and it also peaks in February. Here as well as orchard fruits, you’ll be picking cotton, onions and asparagus. December to March During the early part of the year there’s stone and orchard fruit harvesting work, as well as grape picking, in the area around Warwick, Queensland. If you time it right, there’ll always be good work waiting for you somewhere around the country, and plenty of surprising opportunities along the way! Willing Workers on Organic Farms - Offer bed and board for labourers: www.wwoof.com.au A Pick Jobs Website: www.pickingjobs.com Responsible Serving of Alcohol Course: www.etrainu.com
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O 22 Ju n sale ly 20 11
New Australian migration model Attracting skilled workers
The Aus economy Boom, bust or neither?
PLUS Expat stories Migration news Expert advice 48
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Do you still call Australia home? Opportunities for experienced professionals include: s Project and Program Managers s Change Managers s Enterprise Architects/Solution Architects s Applications Developers (.Net, Java/J2EE, Sharepoint) s Data Warehouse / Business Intelligence Consultants. s L&D Consultants (Instructional Designers, Trainers, Multimedia Developers) s OBIEE Consultants s Siebel Consultants (BA’s, Technical Consultants, PM’s, UCM, On Demand) s Junior and Senior Business Analysts and Business Process Specialists s Data Modellers and Database Developers s Data Management / Data Quality Consultants s Agile Consultants s Customer Experience BA’s s Systems Integration Specialists (TIBCO, Websphere, Calypso)
Homesick? Missing sand between your toes? SMS Management & Technology (SMS) is Australia’s premier home-grown IT management consulting company employing over 1600 technology and business professionals across Australia, Hong Kong and Vietnam. SMS will pay your fare home (partners and children included) to join any one of its Australian offices in Adelaide, Brisbane, Canberra, Melbourne and Sydney if you meet our requirements. SMS works across a wide range of industries, most notably financial services, government, telecommunications, health, defence, utilities, airlines and mining. Candidates from any of these industries are of particular interest, as are those with management and technical consulting experience. Would you like to join us in 2011? We’ll be conducting interviews in Manchester and London over two weeks commencing 19 March. Applications should be forwarded through the SMS website at www.smsmt.com with a detailed letter providing additional relevant information. Applicants will be advised soon after their application has been received if an interview is to be arranged. If you would like to meet us at the ‘Working In’ Australian Recruiting Expo in Manchester 19/20 March or London 26/27 March, contact us for a complimentary visitor’s pass.
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