ANZ Outlook / Issue 9

DOWN UNDER

workingholidays

Opportunities

for skilled

migrants

9

Expat profileHuw’s story

PLUS Migration news, Ask the Expert, South Australia, What’s on…holidays

workingworkingworking

Working

Guide to

Taking a working

holiday in Australia

AUSTRALIAANDNEWZEALANDOUTLOOK

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, offi ce 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 ArmitageEditor

EDITORIALEditor: Ian ArmitageWriters: Colin ChineryChris FarnellJane Bordenave

BUSINESS General Manager: Andy EllisResearch Manager: Andy WilliamsResearchers: Nicholas DaviesElle WatsonDave HodgsonChris BolderstoneSales Administrator: Abby Nightingale

ACCOUNTSFinancial Controller: Nick CramptonAccounts: Margaret Roberts, Alexandra Buchlakova

PRODUCTION & DESIGNMagazine Design: Optic JuiceProduction Manager: Jon CookePictures: Getty ImagesNews: AAP, SAPA, NZPA

DIGITAL & ITHead of digital marketing and development : Syed Ahmad

TNT PUBLISHINGCEO: Kevin EllisChairman: Ken HurstPublisher: TNT Publishing Ltd

Australia and New Zealand Outlook, The Royal, Bank Plain, Norwich, Norfolk, UK. NR2 4SFTNT Magazine, 10 Greycoat Place, London.SW1P 1SBTntmagazine.com

ENQUIRIESTel: +44 (0)1603 3432267Fax: +44 (0)1603 283602Email: [email protected]

SUBSCRIPTIONSCall: +44 (0)1603 343267Email: [email protected]

www.anzoutlook.com

03

ghettos (ideal for stopovers)

information, expert advice

99

Christchurchrecovery hampered by further quakes

www.anzout look.com04

CONTENTS

PAGE

44PAGE

22

PAGE34

PAGE

40

PAGE

26


06 News

12 Migration Update

16 Ask the expert Stoyan Dimov of Taxback.com and Declan Clune from Visafi rst.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 profileHuw 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 UnderThere 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 AustraliaChris Farnells discovers why you should check out this fantastic region

34 Beer can regattaANZOutlook talks to Des Gellert, President of Darwin Lions Beer Can Regatta Association

05

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

CONTENTSCONTENTSCONTENTSCONTENTSCONTENTSCONTENTSCONTENTSCONTENTSCONTENTSCONTENTS

Declan Clune from Visafi rst.com answer

holidays and celebrations in Australia and

CONTENTSCONTENTS

DOWN UNDER

workingholidays

Opportunities

for skilled

migrants

9

Expat profileHuw’s story

PLUS Migration news, Ask the Expert,

South Australia, What’s on…holidaysworkingworkingworking

Working

Guide to

Taking a working

holiday in

Australia

NEWS

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 fi nal team selection. He said the new system would allow for close consultation with all national team head coaches and fi rst-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,”

NZ Cricket changes selection system


Pacifi c 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

Pacific Blue suspends services into and out of Auckland and Hamilton

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 fi rst-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.

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 fl ights cancelled June 15 to from Australia to Christchurch and Wellington.

system announced by New

fi rst-class to international cricket.”

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 briefi ng. “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 “signifi cantly” undervalued the company.

The SABMiller proposal “signifi cantly 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.

Foster's rejects SABMiller takeover bidFoster's rejects SABMiller takeover bid

AUSTRALIAANDNEWZEALANDOUTLOOK 07

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.

Toyota Australia’s Altona

manufacturing plant is again

producing vehicles at

pre-earthquake levels.

Production at the plant had been reduced

by 50 percent since 9 May to manage

available parts supply following the Japan

earthquake and tsunami.

Toyota Australia Executive Director

Manufacturing Chris Harrod said employees

were looking forward to once again

producing approximately 9,000 cars a month.

Former PM Bob Hawke

in hospital

ALL THE LATEST NEWS FROM AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALANDALL THE LATEST NEWS FROM AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALANDALL THE LATEST NEWS FROM AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND

TOYOTA AUSTRALIA RESUMES PRE-EARTHQUAKE PRODUCTION

“The impact of the Japan earthquake has

placed signifi cant pressure on our people,

suppliers, dealers and customers. It has been

an unprecedented time for us and our global

Toyota colleagues,” he said.

Harrod confi rmed Toyota Australia dealers

will have more new-vehicle stock arriving in

June and a further increase in July.

“In July Toyota Australia will receive

almost the full quota of imported cars we

ordered for the month well before Japan’s

natural disasters occurred,” he said.

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 offi cer 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

revealed that the fi nancial problems at the zoo were linked directly to the global fi nancial 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.

N E W S I N B R I E FN E W S

NEWS

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 signifi cant fl ight 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 low-pressure system affecting southern Australia.

“If the low wasn’t there the ash wouldn’t

Ash cloud returns, causes fresh chaos


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 benefi cial 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 fl ight chaos in early June as it moved across southeast Australia, New Zealand and Western Australia.

Thousand of air passengers again had have come anywhere near the Australian


On June 13 New Zealand’s earthquake-devastated 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 confi rmed that six people have been taken to Christchurch hospital with moderately serious injuries.

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 fi nancial 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.

Three big quakes hit

Christchurch

Christchurch stress as high as war zone

ALL THE LATEST NEWS FROM AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALANDALL THE LATEST NEWS FROM AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALANDALL THE LATEST NEWS FROM AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND

Three big quakes hit Three big quakes hit

CHRISTCHURCH EARTHQUAKES

NEWS


CHRISTCHURCH CATHEDRAL DAMAGED BEYOND R EPAIRChristchurch’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.

Offi cials had been determined to restore the cathedral, which was seriously damaged in February’s 6.3-magnitude earthquake, as a symbol 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 fl imsy frame and destroyed the rose stained glass window, the cathedral’s most recognisable feature.

“The rose window has now completely come down and about 75 percent of the west wall has now come down, so it’s pretty sad,” cathedral dean Peter Beck said.

“And we anticipate that obviously more structural damage has happened to the building as a result of the quakes.”

If the building, a major tourist attraction, was to be restored it would now need to be taken down fi rst.

“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.”

R EPAIR

migration update

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


Qld power bills to rise A$117Queensland’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 refl ected 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.”

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 fi nance ministers will meet on July 3 to fi nalise a second fi nancial rescue package for Greece to avert a loan default.

by the economic strength of the

Reserve Bank highlights European concerns

NZ building sector activity was weak in the fi rst quarter of the year, as the industry awaits the expected boost from the rebuilding of quake-stricken 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.

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.

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 fi nance 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 fl oods.

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 confi dence about the interest rate outlook, shying away from the security of fi xed-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

work

falls

Mortgage demand picks up

loosen their purse strings in a

NZ building


Keep track of the latest news and developments on moving Down Under

migration update

Aus employment growth has slowed to a crawl, according to the latest offi cial 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) fi gures showed.

That was below the estimates of fi nancial 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

Jobs figures point

to soft economy

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 fi rst 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 fi gures - they are sample survey-based estimates and seasonal adjustment is imperfect.

Not too much ought to be made of just one month’s data.


down fears of an imminent

Jobs figures point

economy

Aus Treasurer Wayne Swan has pointed to new economic data that 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 fi rst three months of the year as fl oods and a cyclone hit the exports sector, particularly coal.

This was biggest quarterly decline in gross domestic product (GDP) since the early 1990s recession.

Keep track of the latest news and developments on moving Down Under


Australia visa application fees to increase

by 15% on 1 JulyAs 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 offi cial announcements of how much the new fees will be.

“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 defi cit in February, as the impact of the fl oods 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.

Economy is on the mend, Swan says

Expert advice on all things

visas, migration and more

ASK THE EXPERT

AAustralia:

The tax obligations for Australian residents

and citizens are as follows:

You will be also liable to pay Superannuation if you

are working in Australia and earn more than A$450.00

per month. In this case your employer will generally

contribute an amount equal to 9 percent of your wages into a

superannuation account for you.

For more information about Australia tax visit

http://www.ato.gov.au/individuals/content.aspx?doc=/

content/64150.htm&mnu=43661&mfp=001/002

New Zealand:Depending on the length of time that you intend to stay

and work in New Zealand you may be treated differently

for tax purposes. However, to receive income from

employment (salary or wages) you need to apply for an

IRD number. Once you receive your IRD number, you will

need to complete a Tax code declaration (IR330) with your

employer, which will indicate the correct amount of tax that

they will collect from your pay.

Since 1st July 2007, most New Zealand residents and

citizens are automatically enrolled in KiwiSaver when they

Q In Australia, what are the tax obligations for overseas nationals? I live in Britain now, but I’m actually South African, and was thinking about moving to New Zealand to help rebuild Christchurch.


Tax rates 2010-11

Taxable income Tax on this income

0 - A$6,000 Nil

A$6,001 - A$37,000 15c for each A$1 over A$6,000

A$37,001 - A$80,000 A$4,650 plus 30c for each A$1

over A$37,000

A$80,001 - A$180,000 A$17,550 plus 37c for each A$1

over A$80,000

A$180,001 and over A$54,550 plus 45c for each A$1

over A$180,000

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 fi nd out additional

information at www.ird.govt.nz/yoursituation-nonres/

move-nz/ The tax rates for an

individual tax payer in New

Zealand are as follows:

Tax rates 2010-11

Taxable income

Income tax rates (excluding ACC earners’ levy)

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

30 percent

NZ$70,001 and over

33 percent

QDo I need to show my tax records before

immigrating? And how long do I have

to keep records of income from my

investments in case there are questions

from the tax authorities?

QI’m taking a lot of tax advice from my employer about

my move Down Under (it’ll be

a placement with my current

fi rm) – is that wise? Should I

seek alternative advice? I’ll be

worried I’ll be left to foot the bill

if something goes wrong.

Q Q Q

from the tax authorities?

if something goes wrong.

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 should be kept as per the tax requirements in the country they are made and also as per the tax requirements in the country they are declared in (if different).

A If you move permanently to Australia and acquire income

under the Pay as you go scheme, you will most likely be required to fi le a tax return.

In relation to the property you intend to invest in, the tax fi ling 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 fi le an annual tax return and report your rental income. However, if you own the property for another purpose, you will need to check if and what your tax and fi ling obligations are with the Australian Taxation Offi ce or by seeking an advice from a certifi ed tax agent.

AYou can always use

alternative sources of

information such as the

Australian Taxation Offi ce –

www.ato.gov.au, Department of

Immigration and Citizenship –

www.immi.gov.au, or contact a certifi ed

tax agent to plan your income and tax

matters, organise your annual tax returns

and keep you on the right track with your

tax affairs.


A If you move permanently to

Q I’m moving down under and buying a house there. Will I have to lodge a tax return even though I’m not an Australian resident?

ASK THE EXPERT

Q Australian Minister for Immigration and Citizenship, Chris Bowen, has announced a new points test for skilled migration visa applications proposed to take effect in July 2011. What are the key points of the new policy, how will things change and are the proposals good for those thinking of moving Down Under?


Q the key points of the new policy, how will things change and are the proposals good for those thinking of moving Down Under?

AThe Department of

Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) are

implementing a new

points test on 1 July 2011 in a bid to admit the

best and brightest skilled migrants to deliver

a more responsive and targeted migration

program for Australia. The new changes are

benefi cial to many UK and Irish applicants.

The new points system can be viewed

on the Visafi rst.com website and will only

affect the following visas under the skilled

migration program:

Subclass 885 Skilled Independent

Onshore Subclass 175 Skilled Independent

Offshore Subclass 886 Skilled Sponsored Onshore

Subclass 176 Skilled Sponsored Offshore

Subclass 487 Skilled Regional

Sponsored Onshore

Subclass 475 Skilled Regional

Sponsored Offshore

The key changes relate to the points for

your occupation, English language ability,

work experience, qualifi cations and age.

Points will continue to be awarded for study

in Australia, regional study, community

languages, partner skills, and for completing

an approved Professional Year.

Under the new system, the pass mark will

be reduced to 65. You still must have an

eligible occupation 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 can score between 10 to

20 points for your English language

by sitting an IELTS test and scoring at

least seven in each subject. For those

with English as their fi rst language

including people from the UK, this

should be an easy requirement to meet.

You still need to have a minimum of

12 months work experience within the

last 24 months to be eligible. However,

overseas students are exempt from

this requirement if they satisfy the two

years study requirement and apply

within six months of becoming eligible.

You now obtain fi ve points for proving

at least three of past fi ve years work

experience, 10 points for proving at least

fi ve of past seven years work experience,

and 15 points for proving at least eight

of past 10 years work experience. Points

can also be attained for Australian work

experience – anywhere from fi ve to 15

points depending on the level of

work experience. Another change in the points system

is that points are now being awarded

for your qualifi cations. Those with a

recognised offshore trade apprenticeship,

AQF Cert III/IV, or diploma are now

able to obtain 10 points for their

Q Some friends have mentioned something to me called the 183 days rule. What is it?Q days rule. What is it?

AFor Australia - The 183

day rule is a residency

test which determines

the residency status of a

person currently present in Australia. Under

this test, if you are actually present in Australia

for more than half the income year, whether

continuously or intermittently, you may be said

to have a constructive residence in Australia

unless it can be established that:

your usual place of abode is outside

Australia, and you have no intention to take up

residence in Australia

Your presence in Australia need not be

continuous for the purposes of the 183 day

test. All days in which you are physically

present in Australia during the income year

will be counted. It is important to note that

the183 day test applies in relation to the

income year, and not the calendar year.

qualifi cation. Those with a degree or masters

qualifi cation 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 have

previously been deemed too old for the

General Skilled Migration program.

The new points system will be good

for new applicants looking to head Down

Under but as with the old system, it will

affect applicants differently depending on

their circumstances. People aged 45-50 can

now still apply whereas beforehand they

were not eligible. Those who have worked

hard to get trade papers and qualifi cations

are also rewarded under the new system.

And as English is the fi rst language for

UK nationals, achieving high scores for

points in English should be relatively easy.

Although for UK applicants, it does mean

having to pay to sit a test in your native

language which seems a bit bizarre.

It is important that you clearly

understand your visa options and get advice

from a registered migration agent when

you’re planning to move abroad. Visit

www.visafi rst.com or contact Declan

Clune at dclune@visafi rst.com to fi nd out

everything you need to know about visas

and working abroad.

ABOUT THE EXPERTs

These questions were answered by Stoyan

Dimov, Team Leader – Oz & New Zealand

Tax, taxback.com , and Declan Clune,

Registered Migration Agent, Visafi rst.com.

Contact details: Freephone taxback.com at

0808 2381 611, visafi rst.com at 0808 2389

911, email [email protected], or visit

www.taxback.com/anzoutlook


What’s on...


21-7th

Darwin Cup CarnivalDarwin, Northern TerritoryThe Darwin Cup Carnival offi cially kicks off on Saturday 2 July 2011 and culminates 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 fi nery and enjoy a sumptuous lunch and a glass of bubbly.www.darwinturfclub.org.au

Darwin Lions Beer Can RegattaDarwin, Northern TerritoryA 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 fl ounder 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

Melbourne International Film FestivalMelbourne, VictoriaThis 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 fi lm festivals in the world (one year younger than Cannes!).www.melbournefi lmfestival.com.au

Darwin Cup Carnival

The Darwin Cup Carnival offi cially kicks 2-1st

July Aug

July Aug

Can Regatta10 thJuly

What’s on...


Our guide to the unmissable events, holidays and celebrations in Australia and New Zealand this month

7 th

27 th

Coffs Coast Cycle ChallengeCoffs Harbour Jetty, Coffs Harbour, New South WalesRotary Coffs City is holding the bcu Coffs Coast Cycle Challenge. The event is a ride of 100 kilometres starting and fi nishing 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 WeekHamilton Island, QueenslandSpectators 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 fi rm fi xture on the international sailing calendar. www.hamiltonisland.com.au/events

Tri Nations (Bledisloe Cup): Australia vs New Zealand40 Castlemaine Street, Brisbane City, QueenslandThis, the fi nal 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

aug

aug

Spectators and yachties from around the globe sail to

19-27thaug Aug

Moving 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.

Getting a Teaching Job in New ZealandGetting a teaching job in New Zealand today involves four main steps. Firstly, you’ll need to get your qualifi cations assessed by the New Zealand Qualifi cations Authority

Mfamily. 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.

Getting a Teaching Job in New ZealandGetting a teaching job in New Zealand today involves four main steps. Firstly, you’ll need to get your qualifi cations assessed by the New Zealand Qualifi cations Authority

Expat in brief

NAME: Huw Turner

Occupation: Teacher

Moved from:

Leicester, UK

Moved to:

Waipu, Auckland

Expat PROFILE

StoryBy Chris Farnell

Huw’s



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.”

WaipuOf course, as well as fi nding 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 Pacifi c 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,

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 Pacifi c Ocean just fi ve 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, fi shing , surfi ng , 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 fi rst 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!”


SHIPPING • BAGGAGE FORWARDINGOVERSEAS REMOVALS • STORAGE

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excessbaggage_IBC_1005378.indd 1 26/10/09 11:51:37

working down under


There 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 diffi cult 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

places for the next fi nancial year 2011-2012. 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, fi tters 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

Opportunities in Oz for HIGHLY SKILLED MIGRANTS

By Declan Clune, Registered Migration

Agent with Visafi rst.com


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 fi nding it increasingly diffi cult 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

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

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 specifi cally allocated to the RSMS visa scheme for the next fi nancial 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 qualifi cations. The points test is set to change come 1st July 2011.

New Points TestDIAC 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 Visafi rst.com website.

Under the new system, you must have an eligible occupation (check with Visafi rst.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 fi rst 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 qualifi cation. Those with a recognised offshore trade apprenticeship, AQF Cert III/IV, or diploma are now able to obtain 10 points for their qualifi cation. Those with a degree or masters qualifi cation 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 Visafi rst.com now for a free assessment to fi nd out all your visa options and what you need to do to meet the visa requirements.

ABOUT THE

authorDeclan Clune is a registered

migration agent for

Visafi rst.com

Tel +44 207 6599186Free phone 0808 2389911E-mail dclune@visafi rst.com

Web www.visafi rst.com

ABOUT THE


TRAVELLER'S GUIDE


SouthSouthSouthA Guide to


By Chris Farnell

South 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 CountrySouth 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 from- and 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


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 fi ll of the wine, you should also take a look at:

South Australia's National ParksYou don’t have to travel far from Adelaide before you come across some amazing sites of natural beauty. Visit the splendour of places such as Innes National Park, a reserve with some ace camping grounds, from which you’re able to explore at your own leisure, enjoying the walking trails and observing the park’s carpet of wildfl owers and breathtaking coastlines. For a history lesson while you’re here you can visit the Inneston Village. Once upon a time this village was totally self-suffi cient, and while you’re here you can see where they had their own school, bakery, post offi ce, and even tennis court!

Coorong National Park is another highlight. Using the river town of Murray Bridge as your base, you can head off to beauty spots such as Pelican Point, a

fantastic bird-watching site, or Long Point, which is a great place to do some fi shing. You

can also enjoy the amazing views from Jacks Point, and if you have a permit you can even camp out at Salt Creep of Meningie.

While they’re in South Australia nature lovers should also take a ferry out to Kangaroo Island, which home to, you guessed it, lots and lots of kangaroos. However, you’ll also fi nd the island occupied by koalas, penguins, seals and all sorts of other wildlife.

On top of the huge menagerie of animals on the island, you can also visit the lighthouses scattered across the island’s

South Australia Statshot

Area: 984,377 square kilometres (12.8 percentof the total Australian land mass)

Population: 1.6 million (June 2009)

Capital city: Adelaide, population 1.2 million (June 2009)


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 fi nd the Naracoorte Caves near Mount Cambier and Coonawarra. Here you’ll fi nd 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 fi t into just one visit, and after just one visit, you may fi nd you don’t want to leave!

Not Just a Great Place to VisitSouth 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.

Fun


THE

REGATTA

By Chris Farnell

Australia 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 fl ower 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 fl ower bombs and vehicles made out of beer cans. That event is the Lions Beer Can Regatta in Darwin.

When I was asked to report on the Regatta, my fi rst 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 confi rmed 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.

Beer Can


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 fl otation. 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 fi rst regatta was an outstanding success – 63 boats and 22,000 (most of Darwin’s population) attended.


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 fl our 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

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 fl otation. Accumulate some more building materials and add those to boat. Repeat until boat fl oats satisfactorily. Arrive at Mindil beach. Prepare ammunition… Participate.I can only assume he meant have fun... TO THE DEATH!

Fun


1. THOU SHALT ENTER THE EVENT IN THE RIGHT SPIRIT To have a bloody great time.

2. THOU SHALT BUILD THY CRAFT OF CANS 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 confi scation and disposal by the Committee.

3. THY CRAFT SHALL FLOAT BY CANS ALONE They have to provide at least 90 percent of your fl otation. 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.

4. THOU SHALT NOT DROWN Any hull design is OK – so long as it’s safe. Everyone on board must wear a proper fl otation 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.

5. THOU SHALT NOT TAKE THE NAME OF THY CRAFT IN VAIN Any craft bearing signs or lettering that may be offensive will be barred.

6. THOU SHALT NOT DRIFT FROM THE STRAIGHT AND NARROWAND END UP IN MARDORAH 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 TOO MUCH No protests regarding eligibility will be considered once a race has started.

8. THOU SHALT HONOUR THY COMMITTEE Swearing, threats, stamping of feet and fl oods 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 COMMITTEE ADULTERY Nothing really to do with the Regatta, but it gives us an air of responsibility and respect.

10. THOU SHALT GO BACK AND READ THE FIRST CANMANDMENT AGAIN.

The Ten Can-mandmentsThe Ten Can-mandmentsThe Ten Can-mandmentsThe Ten Can-mandmentsThe Ten Can-mandmentsThe Ten Can-mandments


feature

Backpacker ghettos: By Janine Kelso

ThailandWhat: 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, NepalWhat: Back in the Sixties, Kathmandu was a haven for hippies and dope-smokers. Fast forward a few decades and the streets are still full of travellers, especially in the Thamel district. But dig deeper and you’ll fi nd World Heritage Sites and tasty food.

See: visitnepal.com

Five of the best


MoroccoWhat: Top-notch surfi ng, shedloads of hashish and guaranteed sun make Morocco a hit with young travellers. The hippy beach resort of Essaouira is a pretty spot to chill out, do a cooking course and drink mint tea.

See: visitmorocco.com

Delhi, IndiaWhat: Delhi’s Paharganj neighbourhood is where the budget-conscious travellers head for cheap hostels, which can be tricky to fi nd in India’s big cities. There’s an outdoor food market, which

merits exploration, but watch out for the hustlers.

See: incredibleindia.org

Dahab, EgyptWhat: 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


TRAVELLER'S GUIDE


gemsgemshiddenNorth Fiji’s


Carol Driver discovers lesser-travelled North

Fiji’s hidden gems. The 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 fi sh dart about, not in the least bit inquisitive about their huge intruders.

Tim and Simon fi n 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 fi sh 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 fi ve metres, gliding effortlessly through the water towards us.

Sensing it’s got company, it veers off, moving too quickly for us to follow.

hiddenBy Carol Driver


TRAVELLER'S GUIDE

www.anzout look.com

Back onboard the Tui Tai, we boast to anyone who will listen – the crew, all Fijians wearing loud shirts and salu-salus (fl ower necklaces) – have probably heard a similar story a thousand times before, but they’re polite enough to act as though it’s the fi rst.

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 Pacifi c Ocean.

But it’s not the type

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 fl amboyant 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 refl ects 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 refi lled 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.

But it’s not the type But it’s not the type My group applauds, but our hosts refuse to let us leave – apparently there’s one more part of our initiation into Fijian apparently there’s one more part of our initiation into Fijian life. We’re told to sit cross-legged as the village chief is life. We’re told to sit cross-legged as the village chief is

AUSTRALIAANDNEWZEALANDOUTLOOK43

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 fi t 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 fi nd 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 fi lled 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!

Essential informationWHEN 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 Pacifi c.

VISAS: Not required.

CURRENCY: Fijian dollars.

LANGUAGE: Fijian. Although the majority speak English.

ACCOMMODATION: Carol Driver travelled on board the Tui Tai. A fi ve-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 fi jime.com.

working down under


working holidayGetting a

By Chris Farnell

The 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 fi rst sounds.

So here’s our guide to exploring Australia, and getting paid along the way.

Sorting the PaperworkFirst things fi rst, to get a job while you’re travelling in Australia you’ll need a Working

Holiday Visa. To get a Working Holiday Visa you’ll need to fulfi l 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 suffi cient 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

in Australia


working holiday

45

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 fi nd 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 WorkBar 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 certifi cate, or RSA. To get this certifi cate 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.

working down under

FarmingThere 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 fi nd the majority of the jobs

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 fi nd work. Sometimes you’ll even fi nd farms that provide their own accommodation for you.

SeasonsSome 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 fi nd 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 fi nd 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 fi nd fi shing and processing work on the west coast of South Australia. Here you’ll be working with crayfi sh, prawns and scallops.

May to October In the area around Kununurra

in Western Australia you can fi nd 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 fi nd 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 MarchDuring 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

picking jobs for this part of the

fruits, you’ll be picking cotton,

year mango farming in particular will be

opportunities along the way!

Willing Workers on

www.anzout look.com

New Australian migration modelAttracting skilled workers

The Aus economyBoom, bust or neither?

PLUSExpat storiesMigration newsExpert advice

nextissueOn sale22 July 2011

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48

Do you still call Australia home?Opportunities for experienced professionals include: Project and Program Managers

Change Managers

Enterprise Architects/Solution Architects

Applications Developers (.Net, Java/J2EE, Sharepoint)

Data Warehouse / Business Intelligence Consultants.

L&D Consultants (Instructional Designers, Trainers, Multimedia Developers)

OBIEE Consultants

Siebel Consultants (BA’s, Technical Consultants, PM’s, UCM, On Demand)

Junior and Senior Business Analysts and Business Process Specialists

Data Modellers and Database Developers

Data Management / Data Quality Consultants

Agile Consultants

Customer Experience BA’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.

SMS Management & Technology Head Office: Level 41, 140 William Street, Melbourne VIC 3000

ADELAIDE – BRISBANE – CANBERRA – MELBOURNE – SYDNEY – HONG KONG – VIETNAM www.smsmt.com

TNT_1428_edit.indd 53 7/1/11 13:10:23

ANZ Outlook / Issue 9

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