Hi Sis,
Well I think every member of the forum knows me and that I'm an Aussie. I live in Adelaide South Australia.
http://www.immi.gov.au/media/fact-sheets/06australias-multicultural-policy.htmExplains or gives links to how to start the process, illegal immigration isn't a good idea the govt is really against and it is a political hot potato so law is pretty strict.
I don't know the facts so I won't comment on them they are in that link or at least a starting point for you.
Australians tend to be friendly and outgoing, pretty tolerant of most things, OK there are racists and jerks like anywhere else but anti-discrimination laws against everything are in place and enforced.
For example I went from 'male' to me while working, didn't need anyone's permission to do anything, female toilets were no issue, not even mentioned, name changes, licences passports all easy. No same sex marriage as yet but I reckon 18 months or so. You for example could marry a guy but you couldn't marry another woman. When I get SRS I would have to divorce my wife (ye logical that).
We have missed the GFC but economy is slow, due to a political vacuum more than anything, support services are good, health and education are excellent. Climate and lifestyle couldn't be much better. You need money, jobs are around but getting hard to get.
Work skills are a big plus to get entry. On going medical problems are a no no.
Places to live?
Sydney and Melbourne reckon they are the top of the heap, but they are expensive, crowded and fun with good social life and shops. Adelaide is perfect but not according to people from Sydney and Melbourne
. Perth is great and a boom city but a long way from anywhere. Tassie is beautiful but the smallest state. NT is hot and humid.
Average income is around $60-70k and on that you can almost afford a house and raise a family with the usual average income struggles of course. There are a lot of government assistance packages as well to help.
We are by no means perfect but I've never been anywhere better, I'm an ex UK and have lived for periods and visit USA, UK, Europe and various Asian countries.
Biggest downsize is the distances, Aus is geographically larger than USA, people tend to live on the coast areas, and the distances between cities is large. Population has just cracked 23mill this week.
Cindy
