Snap shot of the relocation scene

We asked Annabelle Nicholas, Principal of Austrialian International Relocations, for a snapshot of the relocation scene in Australia.

Which countries do the majority of expatriates come from?

“As far as Australian International Relocations is concerned, our corporate clients have been arrivals from New Zealand, Britain and, to a lesser extent, from Western Europe and America. Increasingly, relocatees are from Asia - India in particular - and we also assist a regular number from South Africa.”

Which industry sectors do they come from?

“Our corporate clients have represented a good cross section of the major global companies, as well as Australia’s major listed companies and government organisations. The sectors represented are finance, IT, mining, engineering and pharmaceutical industries, along with a consistent number of government employees, corporate consultants and an increasing number working in research and development for both the private and public sectors.

Australian International tailors each relocation program and service to the corporate requirements of our client and the specific needs of the relocatees.”

Have you noticed any particular trends developing?

The trends in our relocation work have seen a mix of client briefs, from the traditional expat families, requiring services such as visa aquisition, home search, school searches and settling in services, to the new, younger ‘world nomad’. The latter are generally mobile singles or couples, and can be either fresh from university or with the experience of multiple international postings, often of shorter duration –examples include clients in the finance, engineering, IT and consulting sectors.

Consulting firms have particularly drawn on this ‘world nomad’ employee, showing a trend towards very short assignments, which require fully- furnished accommodation and a quick turnaround. These clients make good use of our pre-assignment briefings and the assistance of our 24-hour help desk.

What length, typically, are assignments you deal with?

“The length of assignments varies greatly on an individual and industry basis. Generally they range from very short term consulting assignments of even a few weeks, through to 3 or 4 years. But in general most are between six months and three years.”

Any top tips for relocating to Australia?

• Australian cities have a myriad wonderful lifestyles on offer, so discuss your requirements and interests with your relocation agent
• Organise visas well in advance of your expected work start date.
• Use the pre-departure information provided by your relocation agent to facilitate the planning and scheduling of your relocation, including health, insurance, banking and taxation issues.
• Pre-assignment visits are another important part of the relocation process, as they assist in:
• Managing your expectations of your new city
• Giving an idea of housing costs and styles for purchase/rental in your city.
• Outlining the requirements and options for school enrollment.
• Providing potential avenues to get involved in your communit

Above all, enjoy the move! Australia is consistently rated as one of the most desirable international destinations due to the lifestyle it offers, its climate, tourist attractions, strong economy and stable government.

Is there anything expatriates or companies should be particularly aware of?

• Leave time for shipping goods! Australia’s remoteness can be underestimated and customs and quarantine can add a number of weeks to the expected delivery times.
• Expect greater difficulty in securing a property in some capital cities and the more remote locations around Australia, due to the number of properties available and competitiveness of the market.
• And most importantly: the best way to achieve a smooth, efficient and effective relocation is to communicate with your relocation co-ordinator. For companies, this ensures their employees’ successful transition to the Australian Corporate culture and, for the relocatee, his or her specific needs are met and their new community is demystified.
• Finally, our experience is that most employees and families enjoy their time in Australia so much that they don’t want to leave!”

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