Australia has been attracting immigrants since the late 1700s when Great Britain and most of Europe shipped their convicts to the continent. After World War II, Australia became a safe haven and a place to start anew for many people fleeing the hardships of postwar Europe.
Australia is an incredibly diverse country for its isolated location. Today, between the indigenous people and the millions of immigrants, more than 200 different languages are spoken there, according to the Australian Government Department of Immigration and Citizenship. The geography is just as diverse as the culture, from tropical rain forests to dry deserts.
First review the Form 994i for settlement information, then apply for a visa using the immigration website www.immi.gov.au. From there, an applicant must decide what kind of visa form best fits them. The different types of visas range from skilled workers, such as doctors and nurses, to students, and finally refugees.
After securing the necessary visas and arriving in Australia, the immigrant must then register with a variety of government agencies to receive the aid needed to get settled. These things include applying for a Tax File Number (TFN), opening a bank account, securing a job and registering with Centrelink and Medicare.
Approval to immigrate does not guarantee a job upon arrival in Australia. While Centrelink, a government organization, may assist you, the unemployment rate for Australia as reported by the Australian Bureau of Statistics is at 7.7 percent, as of February 2010.
