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NAB Survey Revealed Australia Is the Best Choice

NAB Survey Revealed Australia Is the Best Choice

Internationally, Australia has always been preferred as one of the most liveable places all over the world. And with the recent survey conducted by the National Australia Bank (NAB) into living standards, 99% of the Australians seems to believe that their country is certainly the best place to be. This can possibly be one of the reasons people internationally are planning to migrate to Australia.

Despite revealing the results that economy and education are contributing less, it seems that Australians still continue valuing the safety and security, the climate and environment, and the diversity of living the most.

After gathering the data, the survey found Australians giving more importance to their safety and security the most. In fact, 36 per cent of the respondents considered security highest. In South Australia, 43 per cent of the respondents thought that safety is their main reason why it is more enjoyable to live in Australia. Next to safety and security, general lifestyle and friendliness make the place more enjoyable to live in for Australians.

Because Australia is now facing an economic crunch, the economic stability contributed less with this year only 18 per cent of the overall rating, which is lower from the 21 per cent in 2015.

Overall, despite the economic problem, Australians still prefer their place to be the most convenient and enjoyable place to live in.

For more information regarding the survey, please refer to this report.

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Improving the Other Sector of the Australian Economy: Trade

Improving the Other Sector of the Australian Economy: Trade

According to an interview, Steven Ciobo, Australia’s new trade minister said there is more to Australia than just commodities.

Replacing the former trade and investment minister Andrew Robb, Steven Ciobo is more than just dedicated to reinforce a couple of key messages pertaining to focusing on the services side of the economy. On an interview with Ciobo, he said that Australia is not just about resources and energy. He added that the services side represents 70 to 80 percent of the economy, however, only 20 percent of the country’s export.

Currently in the United States for the Australia-United States Business Week, Ciobo contemplated that there is a lot of things that Australia should maximize in the service sector of the country.

Despite the constant dropping of Australia’s economic position due to the collapse in commodity prices, Ciobo remains to be positive towards this matter. He is currently in the United States to promote Australia as an investment destination to American business. Ciobo, according to an interview also believes that the country’s low sovereign risk profile, common language, and the familiarity with its legal and accounting systems are some of the reasons why American investors like doing business in Australia.

Ciobo’s Goal for Australian economy

One of the goals of Ciobo is to continue the endorsement of the Trans-Pacific-Partnership. This is to pursue an ambitious trade deal among 12 Pacific Rim countries. Despite having criticism from U.S. prudential hopefuls including Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton, Ciobo reiterated that TPP is not only for the benefit of Australia, but it is also in America’s national interest.

Other than the ratification of the TPP, Ciobo is also looking forward to securing free trade agreements and economic cooperation from developing countries in Asia such as Indonesia, Taiwan and Hong Kong. According to Ciobo, he is recognizing a lot of opportunities in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)-led free trade agreement. Ciobo believes that pursuing this can be beneficial for the Australian government’s goal of improving domestic growth and employment.

Source: http://www.cnbc.com/2016/02/23/australian-trade-minister-talks-investment-tpp-and-fta.html

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Australian Population Is Constantly Increasing

Australian Population Is Constantly Increasing

It is not surprising that Australian population just reached 24 million. Based on the figures, the number of people migrating to Australia has the biggest part for 54% population increase last year.

Last Tuesday, Australia population ticked over to 24 million and more than half of that growth is because of the unstoppable growth of new migrants.

According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics population clock, the population increases in every 91 seconds combining the birth, death and migration rates. Based on the figures provided, Australian population is projected to reach 25million in 2018 and will double by 2086. According to Beidar Cho, the ABS director of demography, the number of migrants overtook the birth rate as the main source of the increase in the population in 2006.

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English Language: Why Is It Important For Australia Immigration?

English Language: Why Is It Important For Australia Immigration?

Studying, working and living in an English speaking country will be a challenge if you are unable to communicate. However brilliant your ideas may be will not matter if you cannot be understood. To enjoy the work-life balance Australia has to offer, a good command of the language is a necessity. Also, however skillful you may be, you cannot be put to good use in the economy if you do not have the ability to communicate.

If you are applying for skilled migration in order to migrate to Australia from Singapore, you must overcome the English language requirement – the only exception for those who originate from a native English speaking country. As immigration is a legal process, the Australian authorities will need evidence to prove that you have enough English skills, so that your skills may be realized. Native English language speaking countries for whom the English requirement may be weighed include citizens of the United Kingdom, Canada, the United States of America, Ireland and the New Zealand. Generally, if you hold a passport of any other country, then you need to fulfil the English language requirements.

What are the Accredited English testing Systems?

Australian Immigration acknowledge English proficiency results from the following accredited testing systems:

  1. International English Language Testing System (IELTS)
  2. Occupational English Test (OET)
  3. Test of English as a Foreign Language internet-Based Test (TOEFL iBT)
  4. Pearson Test of English and Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE)

Whichever you should undertake, you will need to achieve the relevant score for that particular component.

Improving your English

According to some theories, language acquisition skills happen in the early development of a person. Language acquisition is something that comes as a result of first, hearing. If you are deaf, it is most likely that you are going to be dumb, or you will struggle with speech. It is important to put emphasis on listening to how proper English may be spoken. Our advice to people from non-English speaking environment who are tempted to speak in their native language is that effort is have to be made for you to distance yourselves away from the native language environment by exposing your ears to proper English. One of the best resources whereby subconscious may occur happens to be listening to radio station such as British Broadcasting Corporation.

Investing your time and effort into improving your English is critical if you are going to receive a successful application for permanent residency (PR) to Australia. While English courses can be helpful, English skills for adults are something which can be quite a challenge to attain. If your English is not good, it is highly unlikely that you will struggle in attending English courses. However having said that, even if you have very good English skills, you can still end up doing poorly on English test, and that is where attending a course may become useful. English has to be something that is innate or acquired, and not something that can be taught. If you do not have the interest in the language or if you do not put much effort to acquire the language, no matter how good your teacher is, you are never going to improve your English. The courses can act as a reflection of your abilities when put in a test environment – the course can simulate the test environment to such an extent that you actually gain a reflection of what your strengths or weaknesses may be as you are taking the English test.

For many of these English testing systems, the four components; listening, reading, written and spoken, must all achieve a certain standard. If you are very strong in other three components, but you are weak in one component, it could still affect you negatively. You have to put in more effort to correct the component which you are weakest in. It is important not to overlook your English proficiency if you are really looking forward to achieving your dream life in Australia. Consult us if you feel you need to know more about the importance of English proficiency in your Australian Visa Application.

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Are You Healthy Enough For Your Australian Visa?

Are You Healthy Enough For Your Australian Visa?

Migrants applying for Australian Permanent Residential Visas are required to undergo medical assessment. Failure to meet the health criteria will most certainly result in a visa refusal.

Unlike a tourist or social visit visa, many permanent, provisional and temporary visa applicants, such as those applying to emigrate, study, work, do business, join family or loved ones who will have to undergo a full body medical examination, including a chest x-ray, blood and urine test.

The question is therefore, why should authorities be so concerned about the health of those coming to live in Australia? The answer really is twofold, firstly to protect the entire Australian community from communicable diseases and secondly to safeguard the nationwide health subsidy program Medicare.

The following are some relatively prevalent conditions and diseases or that are considered threats to the public interest of Australian:

Tuberculosis

Tuberculosis has to be one of the most contagious and serious diseases for Australians since there is no mandatory immunisation program put in place. Since just about anyone can catch this airborne disease just by being in the same room as a TB carrier, the health authorities in Australia government has to robustly ensure mandatory screening for applicants. All applicants and children over 11 years old are also required to undergo TB screening prior to having their visas approved. Since x-rays may harm an unborn child, expectant mothers will have to undertake this risk or have their applications delayed.

HIV

HIV test is also included in the health criteria when applying for permanent residency visa. Though it is not considered a big threat to public health as tuberculosis, all HIV positive applicants will be considered posing a significant cost to Australian community’s health care and community services. All migrants over 15 years of age are required to pass the HIV test. Immigration may also require applicants under the age 15 to undergo testing if the child’s parents are HIV positive or if the child is for adoption. It is advisable to seek advice from your trusted Australian migration agent, with whom you can disclose your HIV status prior to your migration application.

Hepatitis

Unlike Tuberculosis and HIV, the risk of hepatitis transmission from the migrants is not considered high. However, screening for Hepatitis B and C is still needed if the migrant is pregnant or they are intending to work as one of the medical practitioners in Australia. Hepatitis will not automatically result in visa refusal, as the case will widely depend on the severity of the applicants’ condition.

Polio

Polio has known to be very infectious, targeting the nervous system of a person. Despite having a very high vaccination coverage in the entire country, Australia immigration still implements strict screening for migrants, especially from countries identified as being high risk with polio, including Afghanistan, Syria, Pakistan and Somalia. Migrants need to present polio vaccination certificate if applying for a permanent residency visa.

Ebola Virus

Since the outbreak of Ebola Virus, Australia has strengthen its screening for migrants, especially to those from countries listed as Ebola-affected. This is to strongly protect Australian community from any associated health risk such as Ebola virus.

It is important to know that you are healthy enough and free from any serious disease if you really want to obtain Australian PR visa. Seek consultation from any Australian migration agency in Singapore and anywhere else if you have any issue concerning your health.