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Networking
 The Relocation Network was established 10 years ago (as a micro business, not an industry body) to provide support and promotion for, and information about, the mobility industry in Australasia.
The Relocation Network holds regular informative and networking events, and an annual National Relocation Conference. A Directory of Relocation Service Providers (member based) is printed every May, and there is a website, www.relocationdirectory.com.au on which there is general information and an Online Directory of member companies.
In many ways The Relocation Network is similar to ARP and EuRA, but is of course much smaller, reflecting the population of Australia (almost 21 million), and New Zealand (just over 4 million.)
One in twenty Australians live abroad, about one million in total, compared with one in ten Britons who live abroad. One in six New Zealanders live abroad, but the majority is in Australia rather than further afield.
The UK is still the largest source of Australasia's new arrivals, (followed by arrivals from the US) and is the main destination of departing Australians and New Zealanders. In recent years there has been a marked increase in the number of Indian arrivals, and relocation from Australasia is increasingly to China, India and the Middle East.
Within Australia the resource-rich states of Western Australia and Queensland are common destinations, but Sydney and Melbourne still attract the most expatriates.
Cross-Cultural issues for Britons relocating to Australia are reduced by the common heritage shared by both countries, but are still significant enough to warrant cultural integration assistance. Europeans definitely benefit from more extensive assistance.
Relocation service providers offer similar services to those of UK and European providers, and there are signs of a trend towards the revitalization of smaller specialist or regionally based niche providers, often sourced through the larger administration providers.
Generally, industry trends in Australasia are comparable to those in the UK/Europe, (and also those in the US and Asia) in that the skilled workforce shortage, affecting not just recruitment but also retention, is the major challenge facing the client companies of relocation service providers.
Demographic change in the two regions reflects both an ageing workforce and the nomadic inclinations of Generation Y.
Competition for scarce human resources is increasingly international, requiring of relocation industry providers a global as well as a local understanding. This need is ideally met through cooperation between members of the ARP, EuRA and The Relocation Network.
Useful websites
www.ausinternational.com – executive relocation throughout Australia
www.abs.gov.au – annual statistical review from the Australian Bureau of Statistics
www.dest.gov.au – Australian Government Department of Education
GB liners at www.gbliners.com can help with removals www.hotelclub.com is a worldwide hotel booking service
www.knowledgebox.com.au – education consulting service
www.kpmg.com.au – immigration assistance
www.liveinvictoria.vic.gov.au provides a variety of information specific to living and working in Melbourne and regional Victoria.
www.relocationdirectory.com.au contains an online directory of members of The Relocation Network
www.rentahome.com.au provides furnished homes and apartments
www.wotif.com is an accommodation website that features a large number of providers.
© 2007 of Re:locate magazine, published by Profile Locations, Spray Hill, Hastings Road, Lamberhurst, Kent TN3 8JB. All rights reserved. This publication (or any part thereof) may not be reproduced in any form without the prior written permission of Profile Locations. Profile Locations accepts no liability for the accuracy of the contents or any opinions expressed herein.
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