Living in Australia as an international employee
Australia is an alluring country. With the prospect of fair weather, beautiful landscapes and a laidback lifestyle, many international employees seek out jobs or a stint working on this antipodean island – and a number of them never leave. Amongst those foreign workers are lawyers, with the Australian legal industry receptive to international candidates.
So what can the skilled international migrants and workers that Australia accepts every year expect when living in Australia? The decision to move overseas for a role can be as much about the job as it is about the lifestyle and change that working internationally can bring. So here’s a rundown of what to expect from day to day life in Australia.
– Weather. Australia is a vast country, and as such the weather can vary significantly from one part of the continent to the other. In the tropical regions, the weather is generally continually hot and humid with distinct wet and dry seasons. The desert regions generally experience high daytime temperatures and low amounts of rain. The southern parts of the country are subject to more temperate weather conditions – the weather can range from hot to cold. In the major cities of Sydney, Melbourne and Perth, you can expect cool winters (not freezing cold!) and warm to very hot summers.
Although snowfall is not widespread, Australia’s mountainous areas in NSW, ACT and Victoria do get snow in the winter months. Australia’s generally warm and fair weather is a major draw card for many international workers. Because the weather can vary from area to area, investigate the specific area you are interested in for a more comprehensive overview.
– Lifestyle. Although it’s hard to generalise, Australians lead active, outdoor lifestyles. The majority of Australians live on the coast, meaning most Australians love to spend time at the beach, and all children are taught to swim and surf skills. Australians ‘work to live’ as opposed to ‘live to work’. Sport is a big part of the Australian lifestyle, with Saturday morning sport common for school children, and watching sport a mainstay of the weekend calendar for all ages.
– Working hours. Officially, Australia’s national working week is 38 hours; however this varies significantly depending on what industry you’re in. Lawyers worldwide notoriously work very long hours, and Australia is no different. Legal careers in Australia will generally demand additional hours to the standard 38 hour working week. Australian workers do, however, benefit from a minimum of four weeks paid holiday a year. Australians generally take this leave over the summer and Christmas holidays.
Australians and the Australian legal industry are receptive to international employees, and for many the move to Australia will be as much about the job as it is about the quality and way of life. If you’re interested in law jobs in Sydney, Melbourne, Perth or other capital cities, online job boards such as www.twosteps.com can help you begin your search.
Would you consider a legal career in Australia?
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