Working in Australia

Demand for skilled professionals overseas is high. As a result, more and more people are travelling abroad for work.

Witan Jardine’s International service will help you to take advantage of these opportunities. Our team works with professionals who are relocating to Australia or returning home, advising them on the latest opportunities and market trends.

As part of the Ambition Group we have access to a network in Australia. Click on the logos below to find out more about each brand’s expertise.

We have access to hundreds of Accounting, Banking, Finance & Insurance, Sales & Marketing, Information Technology and Office Support roles.

Positions are available at all levels and in permanent, contract, interim or temporary positions, giving you the flexibility to find the right type of work for you.
 
If this is your first visit to Australia, this area of our website will help you to find your way around the country and each capital city to ensure your stay is an enjoyable one, updating you on the vital information regarding tax, health, visas and accommodation.

For any other queries you have about Australia, and to find out how we can assist you in finding employment, please visit www.ambition.com.au

 

Click on the links below to view the detailed information.

Applying for a Visa – guidance on work permits and visas

Money Matters - tax issues

Money Matters - opening a bank account

Documentation to take with you

Keeping Healthy – healthcare and dentists

Where to Stay - finding the right accommodation

Out and About – information on transport and where to go

Useful Information – holidays and contact numbers.

 

 

 

 

Applying for a Visa – guidance on work permits and visas

In order to work within Australia you need to hold a valid work permit or visa. You can obtain these from your local Australian Embassy or High Commission. For general information on the types of visa and permits available to you, your eligibility and to lodge a formal application, contact www.immi.gov.au or look at our visa and work permit section.

If you are a resident of the UK or Republic of Ireland and wish to enquire about the status of your current application, charges, payment methods and the length of processing time, please contact the Australian High Commission in London:

Post – Migration branch, Australian High Commission, Strand, London, WC2B 4LA.

Phone - +44 (020) 7379 4334 between 9am – 11am on weekdays.

Website – www.australia.org.uk

Unfortunately, Witan Jardine will not be able to consider your application unless you possess, or are eligible for, an Australian permit or visa.

Click here for our guide to Visas and Work Permits.

 

Money Matters – Tax Issues

Australian Tax File Number

If you are working in Australia for the first time, you must register for a tax file number (although this is not compulsory, you will pay more tax than necessary without one). You can do this at any main tax office and it will take approximately four weeks for you to process and receive your tax file number. In the meantime, you will be issued with a registration notice. This allows you to commence employment and be taxed at the appropriate rate.

Upon receipt of your tax file number, you should notify your consultant immediately. To find your local tax office and to find out more about the Australian tax system visit www.ato.gov.au or call on + 0061 132861 between 8am and 6pm (Australian time) during weekdays.

Superannuation

Superannuation tax payments are best explained as a compulsory pension contribution and are similar to National Insurance contributions paid in the UK. The current contribution is a minimum of 9% of your gross salary and will be paid automatically by your employer on your behalf to a Superannuation Fund once you have earned a minimum of $450 in a calendar month (earnings under this amount don’t qualify for superannuation). This still applies if you are over 70 or under 18 and are working at least 30 hours per week.

All employees (including those on a working holiday and temporary residents) are required to make superannuation contributions, which are only redeemable upon retirement. Most hourly rates will be quoted exclusive of superannuation costs so expect to hear the phrase ‘the rate is $Aus per hour plus super’ when speaking to potential employers. In these cases the pay rate you receive would be $Aus and your employer would pay an additional superannuation cost on top of your pay rate. Always check this carefully with your recruitment consultant.

Filing a Tax Return

Australian taxation law requires all wage earners to submit an annual Tax Return showing all income earned and tax paid in that tax year. The Australian tax year starts on 1st July and ends on 30th June.

Before you leave Australia, you should obtain ‘Group Certificates’ from your employers, which you will need to complete your final Tax Return. Tax Return forms are available from all Post Offices, or downloaded from the ATO’s website: www.ato.gov.au, relevant information is located under the ‘PAYG’ (Pay As You Go) and ‘Tax Pack’ sections of the website.

 

Money Matters - Opening a bank account

Whilst you are working in Australia, you will need to have a bank account set up in your name or your Limited Company name to ensure you receive your weekly earnings. These are relatively easy to open; however you may be requested to provide the following information:

• Proof of identification (e.g. passport, driving licence).
• Proof of address in Australia (e.g. telephone or utility bill).
• Copies of recent bank statements from your bank in your home country

As a precaution, a reference from your bank in your home country will always provide solid evidence of your banking history.

Most Australian banks and ATM’s (automatic teller machines) recognise international bankcards provided they have an international symbol on it, such as Cirrus or Visa which will allow you to readily access your accounts and funds in most locations. We advise that you check with your bank that you have access to international and Internet banking processes before your departure.

For more information on Australia’s leading banks please visit their websites

Westpac    www.westpac.com.au
National Australia Bank   www.national.com.au
Commonwealth Bank  www.commbank.com.au
ANZ      www.anz.com
St George Bank   www.stgeorge.com.au

 

Documentation you should take with you

Your first few days in Australia are more likely to be easy and problem-free if you arrive with the following documents:  (all documents should be originals - not copies)

• Birth certificates.
• Marriage certificates.
• Academic qualifications.
• References from previous employers.
• Up to date curriculum vitae.
• Credit references.
• An international drivers licence or permit.

Australian money in mixed denominations ($5, $10 and $20 notes; $50 and $100 notes are unusual), as traveller's cheques may not be accepted for small purchases.
  

 
Keeping Healthy 
 
Healthcare
 
Medicare is Australia's health insurance scheme and was introduced to provide affordable treatment for all permanent residents of Australia funded through income tax.
 
The Australian Government has signed reciprocal health care agreements with:

• Finland
• Italy
• Malta
• The Netherlands
• New Zealand
• Sweden
• The United Kingdom
• The Republic of Ireland. 

This agreement allows temporary visitors from these countries to take advantage of certain benefits of the Medicare scheme.
 
Residents of the Republic of Ireland and New Zealand who visit Australia are entitled to:

• free treatment as a public hospital in-patient or outpatient
• subsidised medicines under the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme.

This arrangement covers any ill health or injury whilst in Australia that requires treatment before returning home.
 
Residents of the United Kingdom, Sweden, the Netherlands, Finland, Malta and Italy who visit Australia are entitled to:

• free treatment as a public hospital in-patient or out-patient
• subsidised medicines under the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme
• medicare benefits for out of hospital medical treatment provided by doctors through private surgeries and Government Health Centres.

 
This arrangement covers any ill health or injury requiring treatment whilst in Australia. These visitors who do not have access to Medicare benefits for non-hospital medical care, are not issued with a Medicare card and need only show their passports at hospitals and pharmacies.
 
However, if you are travelling to Australia from a country that has no reciprocal medical arrangements with Australia, you are strongly advised to take out full medical insurance to cover the cost of any potential treatment once you are there.
 
For more information: 
 
http://www.medicareaustralia.gov.au & www.ozoverland.com/advice/medicare.shtml

Our International recruitment partner, Hamilton James & Bruce, has partnered with HBA to offer contractors a discount on a range of health plans.  
 
Dentists
 
If you require a dentist whilst working in Australia you will need to pay for treatment (you do not need to register with a dentist until you need dental care). The Dental Association can provide you with a list of dentists in your local area and any recommended treatments via www.dentist.com.au. Your best option is to ask for a recommended dentist at any established health organisation.
 

 
Where to Stay - finding the right accommodation
 
Finding accommodation when you first come to live in Australia can be a job in itself. It is more cost effective to rent a house or a flatshare than stay in a hotel or hostel once you have settled in an Australian city.
 
Australia does not have vastly available Internet sites dedicated to finding accommodation like the UK does. The most common approach to finding accommodation is by purchasing a copy of Saturday’s local newspaper, such as the Sydney Morning Herald, The Melbourne Age or The Courier Mail. All of these newspapers advertise lists of available properties to rent and flats to share.
 
Real estate agencies can also be a source for finding accommodation in a particular area. Like the UK, there is a strong demand for properties so you must move quickly and have a deposit and references ready to secure a place.
 
Typical weekly rates for accommodation for a flat/room may vary from anywhere between $Aus 100 and $Aus 200 per week. A three to four bedroom house will cost anywhere from $Aus 400 and upwards per week. Real estate agencies will publish lists of available accommodation within most areas. All you need to do is establish where you want to live and how much you want to spend!

Useful website include:

http://www.gumtree.com.au/
http://www.domain.com.au/
http://www.realestate.com.au/
http://www.flatmatefinders.com.au/
 
Whilst you are looking for longer-term accommodation, you may find staying in a hostel or independent backpackers for travellers the cheapest option. All major Australian cities have several hostels which can be located through the following links for more information:
 
www.yha.org.au or www.backpackers.com.au.
 
Questions you may consider asking a potential landlord to save you unnecessary stress might include:

• To avoid any confusion at a later date, ask the landlord what bills are included in the cost of the rent and what are counted as extra.
• Find out exactly how much landlords are charging per month as some advertisements mislead you by giving a weekly rate.
• Find out if the property is furnished or whether you will have to provide any or some of your own furniture.

Out and About – information on transport and where to go

By Car

If you intend on driving in Australia you will need to produce your own national driving licence or apply for an international driving permit. Only permanent residents are required to obtain an Australian Driving licence.

For car hire, Hertz, Avis, Thrifty and Budget all have offices based within all states of Australia. For more information visit:

www.avis.com
www.thrifty.com
www.hertz.com
www.budget.com

Trains/Buses/Trams

The Australian public transport system is efficient with a large network of trains, buses and trams in use in all major cities. For further information on specific transport times and destinations in each state please contact:

Sydney – The Public Transport Information Line between 6am-10pm on +00612 131 500
Melbourne –The Met/Victrip on + 00613 131 638

Other states public transport information can be accessed via their local government websites.

Taxis

There are a number of commercial taxi companies that operate locally within each major city of Australia. Taxis can be hailed, booked in advance or hired from taxi ranks and often provide the most effective form of transport, but usually also the most expensive. You are charged for the time you spend in the cab so watch the meter!

 

 
Useful Information

Useful Telephone Numbers

All of these Australian numbers are available to contact in Australia toll free 24hrs day.

Emergency Services –  000   
International Enquiries –  1225
Directory Assistance –  12455   
Yellow Pages –    12451 

Public Holidays

There are a number of fixed Australian Public Holidays that might be worthwhile noting. They include:

1 January (New Year’s Day)   
28 January (Australia Day)
25 April (Anzac Day)
2nd Monday in June (Queen’s Birthday)
25 December (Christmas Day)
26 December (Boxing Day)

If a holiday falls on the weekend, they are celebrated on the following Monday. If two consecutive holidays fall on Saturday and Sunday, they are celebrated on the following Monday and Tuesday.

Changeable Public Holidays

Good Friday   Friday 21 March 2008
Easter Monday  Monday 24 March 2008
  

State Holidays

New South Wales/Australian Capital Territory:  
10 March 2008 (Adelaide Cup)
1st Monday in August (Bank Holiday)   
1st Monday in October (Labour Day)   

Northern Territory:
1st Monday in May (May Day)
1st Monday in August (Picnic Day)

Queensland:
1st Monday in May (Labour Day)    

South Australia:
1st Monday in October (Labour Day)

Victoria:
2nd Monday in March (Labour Day)   
6th November (Melbourne Cup Day)   
Monday nearest 30th September (Queen’s Birthday)

Western Australia:
1st Monday in March (Labour Day)
1st Monday in June (Foundation Day)

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