Australia: Articles

What Expats Need To Know About Healthcare In Australia

What do expats need to know about the healthcare system in Australia? Read our guide to find out!

Australia’s Skilled Migration Program: A Pathway to Living Down Under

Australia has always been an attractive destination for skilled workers from around the world, offering a high quality of life, competitive salaries,…

Sydney and London, more similar than you’d think?

If you stopped a few random residents in the street of either city to make that assertion, there’s a fair chance you’d…

How To Open A Bank Account In Australia

Finding reliable and trustworthy banking services is an important part of living and working abroad, and expats will find that, in most…

How To Rent Or Buy Property In Australia

Australia is a country that’s known for its combination of urbanised cities and natural wonders. Whether it’s the outback, the Great Barrier…

What Quality Of Healthcare Can You Expect In Australia?

Australian healthcare is generally of a high standard, though the quality can vary, as you may expect from a country of its…

How To Keep Your Health Insurance Costs Low In Australia

Private health insurance is a popular acquisition in Australia, as individuals and families seek to supplement their Medicare provision. However, health insurance…

Prescriptions In Australia: What Is Available And How To Ensure You Get The Right Level Of Care

In Australia, you can get medicines from pharmacies, which can also provide free health advice and information on medications and minor ailments.…

How To Register With The Health System In Australia

Australia has one of the most highly developed healthcare systems in the world, the overall standard of which is excellent. The government…

Maternity Care In Australia: What The Options Are And How To Decide On A Birth Plan

In Australia, you must register your pregnancy with a GP or midwife as soon as possible after you have received a positive…

How To Apply For A Visa In Australia

All foreign visitors, apart from those who hold a New Zealand passport, require a visa to enter Australia. For tourist purposes, most…

How To Find A Job In Australia

As an expat, your ability to work in Australia will depend on the nature of your visa, and whether it confers your…

What Might Australia’s New Sponsored Parent Visa Mean For You?

In April 2019, a new visa was introduced which allows parents of migrants in Australia to visit on a temporary basis for…

What Do The Australian Government’s New Migration Plans Mean For Expats?

Newly re-elected Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison recently promised to further reduce the number of migrants granted visas if he won the…

How To Get A Mortgage As An Expat In Australia

Australia has long been a popular choice for expats, particularly the British, given the long-shared history with our former colony, which is…

What Does Australia’s New DAMA Act Mean For You?

Australia has long had a strict immigration policy, with most expats applying for visas based on their special skills. Unfortunately for the…

What Happens To Your UK Pension When You Move To Australia?

There is a plethora of benefits to moving to Australia from the UK, from the better weather and considerably higher quality of…

What Do The Changes To Australia’s Point-Based Visa Test Mean For You?

Australia increased the pass-mark for its points-based visa test this summer. The department of immigration raised the previous mark of 60 points…

What Does The Abolition Of Australia’s 457 Visa Mean For Expats?

Until it was officially abolished on 18 March 2018, the 457 visa was the most common way for approved Australian employers to…

Life Down Under – 10 Things You Didn’t Know About Living In Australia

You might be planning to make a move Down Under alone, with family, with work, or with friends for a fresh start…

How To Add More Points To Your Australian Visa

Here in the UK, the Brexit beast is still grumbling about immigration controls, with both sides of the debate arguing their case…

How To File US Tax Returns In Australia

Ah, April… The month when spring starts to feel properly sprung. Gardens shake off the winter blues and come back to life,…

Which Australian City Would Suit You Best?

If your life’s goal is to move to Australia and you have skills that give you the pick of locations, then there…

How Will The New Australian Citizenship Reforms Affect You?

The Land Down Under has long been one of the most popular destinations for expats from across the globe because of its…

An Expat Guide To Australian Visas In 2017

This has been an interesting and at times contentious year when it comes to Australia’s visa system. The government announced the decision…

An Expat Guide To Surviving The Australian Winter

Clear blue skies, pristine beaches, a laid-back atmosphere, amazing wildlife, and the great outdoors are just a few of the images that…

An Expat Guide to the Cost of Living in Australia

Thinking about moving to Australia? There’s a lot to recommend it! With stunning landscapes, friendly people and so much to see and…

An Expat Guide To Managing Your Australian Tax Return

It’s that time of year again – tax time. The Australian financial year runs from 1 July to June 30. This is…

Australia – Recommended Expat Blogs

At Expat Focus, we like to be on the lookout for resources around the web that could help prospective expats adjust to…

How Will Changes To Australia’s 457 Visa Affect Expats?

Australia has for many years been a top destination for expats wanting to exploit work and lifestyle opportunities, but for many their…

New In Town? Explore What Canberra Has To Offer

Canberra is the capital of Australia and is also known as the ‘bush capital’ due to its abundance of nature reserves and…

Writing A Winning Resume For The Australian Job Market

Landing that job overseas – whether it be the elusive dream job, or just a position that suits you well enough to…

First Aid Tips For Expat Parents In Australia

It’s always dangerous searching for medical advice online. A query about a simple headache brings up alarmist horror stories about exploding brain…

How Much Does It Really Cost To Live In Sydney?

The cost of living in Sydney is notoriously high, and it usually makes it onto the top 10 list in the world.…

A Guide To Child Care And Early Learning In Australia

The task of finding child care and early learning options for the little ones can be daunting for any modern-day parent. In…

Is Queensland Australia’s Funshine State?

Queensland, located in northeastern Australia, is the second largest state in the country. More than half of its territory lies above the…

Australia – Recommended Social Media Accounts

At Expat Focus, we like to be on the lookout for resources around the web that could help prospective expats adjust to…

An Expat Guide To Coastal Towns And Cities In Australia

Many of the country’s most famous destinations are located on the coast. While Australia is a huge country, there are vast swathes…

How To Manage Your Money As An Expat In Australia

On top of excellent career opportunities, Australia offers a very good quality of life, beautiful natural scenery, a lovely climate and impressive…

9 Australian Urban Myths Which Aren’t True… And One Which Is

Urban myths are told across the world. These thrilling, folkloric-style tales carry dramatic twists that spread quickly through communities and societies. They…

Australia – Recommended Blogs

At Expat Focus, we like to be on the lookout for resources around the web that could help prospective expats adjust to…

The Australian £250k Lifetime Allowance: How Will It Affect Expats?

The Australian government has set a limit of $500,000 (around £250,000) for non-concessional contributions, known as ‘after-tax’ contributions, for anyone contributing to…

South Australia Needs More Expats – Could You Be One Of Them?

South Australia is an Australian state that shares its borders with all the other Australian mainland states and the Northern Territory, surrounded…

Moving To Australia? Beware Of These Creepy-Crawlies!

Australia is renowned for its sunny weather, outdoor living and beautiful beaches. However, it is also notorious for its creepy-crawlies. The country…

The Rising Cost Of Expat Healthcare In Australia

Australia is known to have a healthcare system of exceptional standards. This is one of the reasons the country’s life expectancy is…

A Guide To The Indigenous Languages Of Australia

Australia doesn’t have an official language in spite of the fact that the country is largely monolingual and English is used as…

British Expats In Australia: Here’s What You Need To Know About Pensions

Expat retirees make up a considerable portion of expat populations around the world. For a variety of reasons, many people choose to…

Australia – Recommended Blogs

At Expat Focus, we like to be on the lookout for resources around the web that could help prospective expats adjust to…

Review – Foreigner In Charge

Foreigner In Charge is the first book in a series that will focus on various expat destinations. This one looks at Australia…

Here Are Five Things Expats Love About Living In Australia, And Five Things They Hate

Take any place in the world, and you’ll find things to love about it and things to dislike. Expats tend to feel…

Padraig O’Sullivan, Managing Partner, O’Sullivan Field

Padraig, tell us a bit about yourself. What’s your background, and how did you come to set up O’Sullivan Field? I was…

Giving Birth In Australia As An Expat

If you have chosen to give birth in a country other than your home country, it is important to consider the prenatal…

5 Great Golf Courses For Expats In Western Australia

One of the major considerations for expats when looking for a new country to live in is whether they’ll be able to…

A Guide To The Indigenous Cultures Of Australia

The original inhabitants of the Australian continent are known as indigenous Australians, and are thought to have the oldest surviving culture in…

Cost of Living Facts For Expats Moving To Australia

Sydney used to be ranked as Australia’s most expensive city for expats. While that may still hold true, the good news is…

A Short Expat Guide To Food And Drink In Australia

It’s hard to fall in love with a country or a city if you can’t enjoy and appreciate the local cuisine. Expats…

Where Do Expats Choose To Live In Australia? An Overview Of Popular Locations

Property prices witnessed a boom in Australia during the latter part of 2013. Many expat investors and homeowners found it a lucrative…

Starting A Business In Australia – 5 Things You Should Know

Starting a successful business requires pre-planning. There are many factors investors must consider when establishing a business in Australia. Research Before starting…

Moving To Australia – What To Expect As A New Expat

Australia has a large population of foreign residents and continues to draw expats to its shores every year. It is a country…

5 Good Reasons You Should Move To Australia (And 1 Reason You Shouldn’t!)

Australia is a country like no other – encompassing the entire mainland of the Australian continent, plus a few surrounding islands, the…

5 Places You Might Want To Move To In Australia But Have Probably Never Heard Of

Australia, the world’s happiest country, according to the OECD report for 2013, attracts expats from across the world especially to its big…

Australia – Five Recommended Expat Blogs

At Expat Focus, we read a lot of articles about adjusting to a new country, but many of our featured bloggers this…

Why is Australia So Popular with Expat Families?

Australia is one of the most ideal expat choices for families, offering sunshine and beaches and an excellent quality of life for…

The Truth about the Cost of Living in Australia

Where personal prosperity is concerned, Australia is no joke. It is currently one of the richest nations on the globe, and –…

Affordability and the Cost of Living in South East Queensland, Australia

by Tracie HocartResidential Property Solutions Affordability, Cost of Living, GFC, Resources Boom, skills shortages, budgets, cheap holidays, strong Aussie Dollar, infrastructure spending,…

Floods and the Brisbane Property Market

by Tracie HocartResidential Property Solutions I was only 4 years old when the 1974 floods swept through Queensland and I really can’t…

Putting The Home Buyer First In Australia

by Tracie HocartResidential Property Solutions Buying a home or investment property can be hard work in your own suburb let alone in…

An Australian Christmas on the Gold Coast

by Tracie Hocart Christmas on the Gold Coast is really something special. People ask me “Are you heading away over the Christmas…

Australian Life Readiness Test

by Sarah Husselmann It’s fair to say I was unprepared for my new life in Australia. Not that I wasn’t organised on…

10 And A Half Things To Think About When Moving Your Children To An Australian School

by Lesley Snell Set out below are a list of the things you might want to think about when moving your children…

Moving to Australia and Living on the Northern Beaches, Sydney

by Lesley Snell My day starts the same way every day….I look out through my bedroom window at the trees in Garigal…

Shipping Your Stuff to Australia

Container shipping to Australia is the preferred way for immigrants to get their belongings “down under” on time and in one piece.…

The Value of Mateship

by Suzer After I got all of my spousal visa paperwork submitted for my move to Australia, a slim envelope turned up…

How to park a car – Aussie style!

by Vicky Graywww.australiauncovered.com Parking in Australia is free in most places, barring airports and Hospitals. Unlike in Essex where I was horrified…

Go Back to the UK or Stay in Australia?

by Viveca Trader Some time ago you decided to make the big move to Australia, either by yourself or as a family.…

Selling Up, Moving to Australia and Buying a New Business

Please note: The information in this article is over 12 months old. by Sarah Muxlow Selling up shop and moving to the…

Job Sponsored Visas and Finding a Job in Australia

Please note: The information in this article is over 12 months old. by Sarah Muxlow Having chosen to do what is known…

Immigrating Down Under – Starting a New Life in Australia

by Sarah Muxlow It was a big move to leave Europe; home, family, friends and ties. We decided to do it and…

Where to go in Sydney, Australia

by Dina Zavrski-Makaric Seventeen years ago, when I arrived in Sydney, it was still trying to find itself and shape its character.…

Where to go in Melbourne, Australia

by Dina Zavrski-Makaric When we migrate from one country to another we are often very soon faced with the difficulties of starting…