Living and working abroadAustralia

Medacs Healthcare Group is the leading provider of healthcare recruitment services throughout the public and private sectors, with more than 20 years’ experience and a reputation for quality of service and integrity that is second to none.

Operating in the UK, Europe, Australia, New Zealand, Asia and the Middle East, Medacs Healthcare Group provides career solutions for high-calibre professionals throughout the globe.

Medacs Healthcare

Brochure contents 03 An Introduction to Medacs Healthcare

04 The country in brief

06 Health and living

07 Finance and banking

10 Relaxing

12 Culture and lifestyle

14 Communication

We recognise that we can deliver effective solutions for our candidates only if we build strong relationships and deliver world-class service. We provide a range of permanent, temporary and interim roles for healthcare professionals both nationally and internationally.

Confidence in our ability to provide a complete service stems from our team of experienced consultants who are both qualified health and recruitment professionals. Having worked in Australia and overseas, they have the specialist knowledge to help develop your career and your lifestyle.

Working in Australia can be exciting, challenging and a wonderful opportunity to combine lifestyle with career choice. We provide international candidates with every possible support at each step of the way.

Living and working abroadAustralia

Medacs Healthcare04 – 05

The country in brief

Australia is a vast country with lifestyle choices to suit all tastes. A diverse, modern, and most importantly, an affordable country.

Most of the population choose to live along the extensive coastlines – and with Australia boasting over 7,000 beaches you can see why.

It’s the sixth largest country in the world and it is made up of six states: Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, Western Australia and Tasmania and two territories; Australian Capital Territory and Northern Territory.

For nature lovers, Australia offers vast areas of national parks, filled with uniquely Australian native plants and fauna. And, with a population density a fraction of the UK, it’s very easy to find a quiet spot when you want to escape the city life.

From the prehistoric gorges of Kakadu National Park, to the white sails of the Sydney Opera House, Australia is a country as big your imagination. Kick back on a beach in Western Australia; lose yourself in the labyrinthine laneways of culture-rich Melbourne or be humbled by red desert sunsets over Uluru. Or take on Sydney, a heady mix of surf and sun and you’ll soon realise Australia is a place to be discovered.

Australia is an independent Western democracy with a population of more than 20 million. It is one of the world’s most urbanised countries, with about 70 per cent of the population living in the 10 largest cities. Most of the population is concentrated along the eastern seaboard and the south-eastern corner of the continent.

Australia’s lifestyle reflects its mainly Western origins, but Australia is also a multicultural society which has been enriched by over six million settlers from almost 200 nations. Four out of ten Australians are migrants or the first-generation children of migrants, half of them from non-English speaking backgrounds.

The country in brief

Source location: Australia

Darwin

Cairns

Brisbane

Sydney

Canberra

Melbourne

Perth

Adelaide

Applying for Bank Account To apply for a bank account you simply need your passport, visa and your home address.

Banking services When using a cash machine in Australia it is free to use your own bank ATM, however you are charged for using another bank cash machine. Opening hours are generally 9.00am – 4.00pm Monday to Friday.

Cost of living Manufactured goods tend to be expensive in Australia, particularly imported goods (automobiles, clothes etc) which are higher cost than in Europe or North America.

The price of food is similar to the US and around 25 per cent less than most European countries. Approximately $400 should be sufficient to feed two adults for a month in most areas (excluding alcohol, caviar and fillet steak).

Finance and banking

Tax To calculate the tax you will pay please visit the following website: http://www.ato.gov.au/businesses/content.asp?doc=/content/33277.htm

National Insurance Numbers The equivalent of the National Insurance Number in Australia is a Tax File Number. You must apply for this in advance of being able to begin work in Australia. To apply for a TFN you will need to visit your local Australian Taxation Office.

06 – 07 Medacs Healthcare

Health Care Health care in Australia is provided by both private and government institutions. In Australia, the current system known as Medicare, was introduced in Australia in 1984. Citizens of the Commonwealth are able to access the Medicare system due to a reciprocal agreement between the countries. Medicare is subsidized, however you’ll be asked to pay for treatment then make a claim for a portion of the charge. You might want to consider a Private Healthcare Scheme. For more information: www.medicareaustralia.gov.au/public/migrants/visitors/uk.jsp

Registering with GP Register for a Medicare card first and with this number and your home address you can register with a local GP. There are two types of practice – ‘bulk billing’ or ‘Medical’ Practices. Bulk billing practices are subsidised by Medicare therefore the cost to you is greatly reduced.

Education Education in Australia is primarily the responsibility of states and territories. Each state or territory government provides the funding and regulates the public and private schools with its governing area. The federal government funds the universities, but these set their own curriculum.

Education in Australia follows the three-tier model which includes primary education (primary schools), followed by secondary education (secondary schools/high schools) and tertiary education (universities and/or TAFE Colleges).

Finding accommodation The main websites recommended for finding homes are Gumtree Australia, Domain.com.au, realestate.com.au and property.com.au.

The Australian population has a fantastic overall health record, with life expectancy at birth set at over 81 years of age, the 11th highest in the world. There’s a wealth of information on the internet to help smooth the way.

Health and living

Money Australia uses a dollars and cents system of decimal currency with 100 cents in a dollar. The bank notes in use are $5, $10, $20, $50 and $100. Coins used are the silver coloured 5 cent, 10 cent, 20 cent and 50 cent and the gold coloured $1 and $2 coins.

Relaxing10 – 11 Medacs Healthcare

A country of cities with theatres, museums, sports fields and galleries; where people can meet to enjoy sports events and artistic shows. A land of people who have come from other countries and brought their music, dance, art and other fun parts of their culture with them. The recreation and cultural pastimes on offer to us are many, diverse and are too many to list here.

Climate With climates ranging from tropical to temperate, there is sure to be an ideal location for you, whether that involves surfing at one of Australia’s many beautiful beaches or snowboarding down a ski slope!

Every day you can find the right climate conditions that will make your Australian experience unique and memorable. The Australian summer from Dec-Feb is warm and sunny and you can enjoy lazy days on the beach and typical Aussie meals cooked on the barbecue. Summer is the rainy season in our tropical regions in the north that brings our lush rainforests to life. Spring and autumn are mild and are the best seasons for bush walks and discovering nature. The Australian winter Jun-Aug is generally mild, but offers snow on the snow fields in the southern mountain regions.

At the same time our northern states have balmy 24 degrees Celsius temperatures. The Australian sun can be quite strong, so it’s best to wear a shirt and put on a hat while enjoying the great outdoors. Sunscreen containing SPF30+ coverage is recommended.

Entertainment With lively music scenes, pubs, hotels, movie and arts industries, there is a range of entertainment for all tastes. Being a nation of sports fanatics, there is a plentiful supply of quality sporting venues.

Sports and Culture A country of wide-open spaces with a good climate that makes outdoor pastimes easy to enjoy. Sport and outdoor recreation are a way of life to share with family and friends; a way of life that is a healthy balance between work and play.

The multicultural population has provided a huge choice of affordable restaurants specialising in a variety of international cuisines. And, as eating out in Australia is only about half the price of UK restaurants, you can afford to treat your taste buds regularly!

Southern Europe has combined with Asia and the Pacific for new flavours and tastes. Italian, Chinese, Japanese, Greek, Thai, Malay, French and Vietnamese restaurants are common, particularly in the country’s capital cities. Middle Eastern flavours are emerging in greater abundance, with Moroccan and Lebanese flavours being used with local ingredients in mainstream cooking with notable success.

Traditional Australian ‘bush tucker’ is also being used to great effect in the cities’ best restaurants—chili kangaroo tail, sweet yam gnocchi and lemon myrtle linguine are just a few examples. Menus also incorporate Indigenous

Australian wild foods such as bunya nuts and Kakadu plums with specialty meats such as crocodile and Northern Territory buffalo.

The Australian wine sector is recognised internationally as producing a full range of wine styles and varieties to match any dish, from full-bodied reds and deep fruity whites, to sparkling, dessert and fortified wines. Australian wines are sold in more than 100 countries and found in the finest restaurants the world over.

Dining, tipping and service Australia is one of the most exciting destinations for ‘foodies’ in the world because of its culinary innovation and novel, healthy and fresh approach to food preparation. Australian cuisine owes its reputation to its fresh and high-quality produce; rigorous training and pride in the service and hospitality industry; the influence of Asia’s diverse cuisines; and the multitude of ethnic groups represented in Australia.

Australia is the country of contrasts... Relaxing under a palm tree on a tropical island resort, discovering the heart of the Australian outback on a camel trek or an indulgent shopping trip to Melbourne – this is just a taste of what Australia has on offer.

Relaxing

Culture and lifestyle12 – 13

Australian Central Standard Time (ACST) Covers the state of South Australia, the town of Broken Hill in western New South Wales and the Northern Territory.

ACST is equal to Coordinated Universal Time plus 9 ½ hours (UTC +9 ½).

Australian Western Standard Time (AWST) Covers Western Australia. AWST is equal to Coordinated Universal Time plus 8 hours (UTC +8).

Where Daylight Saving Time is observed:

AEST becomes Australian Eastern Daylight Time (AEDT), and clocks are advanced to UTC +11.

ACST becomes Australian Central Daylight Time (ACDT), and clocks are advanced to UTC +10 ½.

Daylight Saving Time is not observed in Queensland, the Northern Territory or Western Australia.

Public Holidays Australia has between 10 and 12 public holidays per year, depending on the state you live in, as public holidays differ state to state.

Time Zones With a land mass close to 7.7 million square kilometres, Australia is the world’s sixth largest country and is divided into three separate time zones.

Australian Eastern Standard Time (AEST) Covers the eastern states of Queensland, New South Wales (with the exception of the town of Broken Hill), Victoria, Tasmania and the Australian Capital Territory.

AEST is equal to Coordinated Universal Time plus 10 hours (UTC +10).

Culture and lifestyle

In Australia, over 200 different languages and dialects are spoken, including 45 indigenous languages. The most commonly spoken languages (other than English) are Italian, Greek, Cantonese, Arabic, Vietnamese and Mandarin.

Daylight Saving Time The practice of advancing clocks one hour during the warmer months of the year. In Australia, Daylight Saving Time is observed in New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, Tasmania, and the Australian Capital Territory.

Daylight Saving Time begins at 2am (AEST) on the first Sunday in October and ends at 2am (AEST) (which is 3am Australian Eastern Daylight Time) on the first Sunday in April.

Medacs Healthcare

Travel You can’t fly directly to Australia from the UK, however the stopovers can be as short as an hour for refuelling or you can opt to have a longer stay to visit the stop-over country. Airlines flying to Australia are:

Qantas

Emirates

British Airways

Virgin

Singapore Airlines

Malaysian Airlines

Driving in Australia Due to the size of the country, it’s most convenient to have an internal flight. There are Domestic flights throughout Australia and they are very reasonable when booked early. The airlines with the best fares are Qantas, Virgin Blue and Jet Star.

Australians drive on the left hand side of the road. The speed and distance is measured in kilometers.

Driving Licence You can use a British driving license; however you’ll have to apply for an international licence if you intend to stay for a long period of time. This can be arranged with the RTA (Road Traffic Authority).

A great source of information is the ‘Beginning a Life in Australia’ booklets which welcome newly-arrived travellers to Australia. Information is provided on the types of settlement services available and advice on where to go to for assistance. This information is available in English and is translated into 24 community languages for each state and territory.

Go to: www.immi.gov.au/living-in-australia/settle-in-australia/beginning-life/index.htm

Mobile phones Mobile providers include, Vodaphone, Virgin, Telstra and 3 in Australia. Its worthwhile checking their coverage to be sure it suits your lifestyle and travel.

Emergency numbers The national telephone number for all emergency services in Australia including AMBULANCE, FIRE, and POLICE is “000”.

For more information on Australia please see the following websites:

New South Wales www.visitnsw.com.au or www.sydney.com.au

Victoria www.visitvictoria.com.au or www.melbourne.vic.gov.au

Queensland www.qttc.com.au or www.brisbane.qld.gov.au

Western Australia www.westernaustralia.net

Southern Australia www.southaustralia.com

Northern Territory www.northernterritory.com

Tasmania www.discovertasmania.com.au

14 Medacs Healthcare

Communication