Australia has had its borders shut for most of the Covid-19 pandemic, but with the vaccine roll-out, people all over the world are hoping the end of travel restrictions is in sight. Since the pandemic has affected local economies, more people than ever before are thinking of moving elsewhere to start over and for many Americans, Australia is top of the list. It’s a beautiful country, an established democracy, and the language is no barrier. If you’re a resident of Maryland here is what you need to know about finding employment in the Land of Oz.
Landing a job in Australia
The safest thing you can do is start looking for a job online. Most Australian companies use online portals so you will find plenty of job offers. The important thing is to meet the criteria.
Your best chance is to have special skills that not many Australian natives have. Australian authorities welcome highly qualified workers, but for average skills, the Australian government tends to favor its own citizens.
You need a work visa
Your American passport does not mean you can move to Australia anytime you want, as the country has very strict immigration laws.
You will have to secure a work visa. This part might be a bit confusing, as Australia has some 20 types of work visas and you’ll have to figure out which one applies to you.
Here are a few examples:
- Employer Nomination Scheme (Subclass 186) is best for those who have found employment with an Australian company. This type of visa allows you and your family to settle to Australia permanently.
- Temporary Skill Shortage (Subclass 482) can be used if you’re looking for a short-term job that requires certain skills and the demand cannot be filled by local workers.
- Skilled–Recognised Graduate (Subclass 476) is for young engineering graduates, under the age of 31.
As a young American citizen, you can also travel and work in Australia on a Working Holiday Visa. If you are between the age of 18 and 30, you can apply for such a visa and stay and work in Australia for up to one year.
Be prepared for a background check
Once you find employment in Australia, you need to apply for a visa as soon as possible as this is a lengthy process. You will obviously need a passport and there will be a lot of forms to fill, mostly online so that shouldn’t be a problem.
When you apply for a visa you will have to fill a Personal Character Assessment aka Form 80, which the Australian authorities use to determine if you can be allowed into the country.
You will be asked if you have any convictions on your record and it’s in your best interests to answer truthfully, as you will also have to submit a background check. You’ll probably need one for the pre-employment screening as most Australian businesses routinely order police checks on prospective employees from services like the Australian federal police or online providers like Australian National Character Check (ANCC).
The whole process might take a few months, but in the end you will be able to finally travel to Australia and start your new life.
Maryland USA compared to Australia
It is interesting to note that the country of Australia is approximately 7,741,220 sq km in size, whereas Maryland in the USA is a total of 25,314 sq km.
This makes the state of Maryland 0.33% of the total size of the AU. Also, the total population of the country of Australia is currently a total of 25.5 million persons. This amounts to 19.7 million fewer people live in Maryland). Amazing facts right? It only comes to show the vast opportunities available in Australia in terms of fewer people competing for jobs, and the more relaxed Australian lifestyle.
It should also be noted that as of 2020, Australia is around 8.9% more expensive (Cost of living) than Maryland in the USA. However, we are pleased to advise that income levels generally tend to be higher in Australia to accommodate the higher prices.
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