Trevglas

From the BBC


Britons weary of life in Blighty are being encouraged to apply for visas to live in regional Australia, where they are needed to boost the population.
As of Thursday, new rules will make it easier for skilled migrants who want to live in various parts of regional Australia to get visas.

The state of South Australia has even appointed a migration specialist to tour Britain promoting the state.

South Australia says it needs more skilled workers to power its economy.



Skills needed

Until now, British people wanting to move to Australia needed 120 points on the country's immigration scale, with points awarded according to skills.

But under the new Skilled Independent Regional (Provisional) scheme, those heading to regional or low-population urban areas will be accepted with 110 points.


Everywhere apart from Sydney, Newcastle, Wollongong, the New South Wales Central Coast, Brisbane, the Gold Coast, Perth, Melbourne and the Australian Capital Territory, is included.


Applicants must have sponsorship from the relevant state or territory government.
The successful ones will get a three-year residency visa to live in regional Australia, with an option to apply for permanent residency after two years.

While Australia is densely inhabited around its coasts, in much of the rest of the country young people are moving to cities to work and birth rates are slow.

An Australian High Commission spokeswoman said: "For anybody who is thinking about moving to Australia, who doesn't mind going to a regional area and has skills to offer, this is a brilliant opportunity to go with full support."

The South Australian government is particularly keen to lure newcomers.



There's quite a strong affinity between the two countries despite what we read in the media
Agent General Maurice de Rohan
The state is four times the size of the UK, with about 2.5% its population.
Of its 1.5 million residents, 1.1 million live in its capital, Adelaide.

As well as sending a representative to tour the UK, the state's government will sponsor British applicants and help new arrivals by providing accommodation on arrival, a meet and greet service and help in finding jobs and homes.

It needs skilled people to work in the medical and construction sectors, with professionals such as engineers and accountants also likely to be needed in the next few years.

The state's Agent General in Europe, Maurice de Rohan, said: "When people are thinking of migrating, they don't necessarily think South Australia and that is what we want to get them to think."


He said British immigrants fitted in well in Australia.

BBC correspondent Phil Mercer asked some South Australia residents what they thought of the scheme.

One said: "Aussies say all poms are whingers anyway. There's plenty of whining - the sun's too hot, they don't put enough sunscreen on and they get rashes...."

Another said: "Where are they going to live? So long as its not near me it doesn't bother me."


I've heard they have a brilliant lifestyle over there and it's supposed to be a beautiful country. They like the British, there are cheap houses and good wages
Construction worker Daniel Flynn
Another woman said: "I've got a lot of English friends and they're great."
In Britain, BBC News Online asked some construction workers for their views on the scheme.

Daniel Flynn, 33, of Brighton, said: "It sounds really good.

"The visas always seem to have been the main problem for people going to work over there.

"I've heard they have a brilliant lifestyle over there and it's supposed to be a beautiful country.

"They like the British, there are cheap houses and good wages, or so I've heard."

Simon Friend, 17, of Southwick, West Sussex, said: "I would be interested in going because its a better standard of living, with better weather than we get here. It would be something different, with new opportunities.

"I think we are needed there, whereas there is a lot of competition for builders over here."

Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/h...ws/3853597.stm

anya4oz

Stop press: They just ran a short feature on this on BBC Radio 4 'Today' programme, including an interview with the Oz High Commissioner. May be available on-line off the BBC Radio 4 web site?

Anya.

Megalania

Would be nice to see a few fresh Pommie faces in the bush - but what can they do that's not being done?

Twist the arm of a few docs, nurses, cops as the price of admission?

Poms-In-The-Bush: got any ideas?

Gravyman

FrdF'li]Originally posted by anya4oz [/i]
Stop press: They just ran a short feature on this on BBC Radio 4 'Today' programme, including an interview with the Oz High Commissioner. May be available on-line off the BBC Radio 4 web site?

Anya. [/QUOTE]


Update

There was a short news feature on Sky News today.
It focused on South Australia and had an interview with one of their top guys.

Also spoke to a couple of Aussies saying what a dump Adelaide was even though they'd only been there once.

Graham

Megalania

Now if you were cast away in Peterborough, South Australia what would you do?



Welcome To Peterborough

owieb

Megalania

Pommie Bastard now a Daily Mirror journo, yer reckon?

jad n rich

Did I read that right? :scared:

Peter

Just curious; what exactly would the British get rashes from that Australians wouldn't in South Australia? Or should I fear the answer to that one?

jad n rich

Prickly Heat?? Have you seen the summer temps down that way :scared:

Peter

Even us bronzed Aussies get prickly heat. And, yes, South Australia does suffer some horrid summer weather.

simbacat

Sounds like they knew what they were talking about.
I think most places have areas which are not so nice but far is it for me to say London is a dump since there are certainly nice areas.

Simone

Exactly!

I'd go to regional Oz if there were jobs.....

Well, might end up there anyway, but better get started with a job in a city first, and then see if there's jobs elsewhere.

Megalania

The money's in the bush but the jobs are in the cities:




Here's a clue or two:

Regional Australia: Exporting to the World

Simone

I know.......... I might retrain...... But Pascal'll have to then get a job first, otherwise we can't make it...

Better check out these companies websites, see if they might need a facilities manager......
I'd live in all those places, if we had a job!
Though, Albany is a bit to far...