With its healthy economy, Australia has become a popular business destination. Australians are gregarious, open-minded, and laid-back, and those same characteristics in a businessperson will put someone in good stead. Because the Australian culture is more relaxed and casual than the United States, Europe, and especially other Asian countries, formal business protocol is often not observed.

Australians pride themselves on their casual, friendly attitude and this comes across in the business world as well. Many Australians prefer addressing people by their first names. Likewise, professional titles are not commonly used and often are dismissed as being pretentious. Businesspeople should speak plainly and directly without great embellishment or promises. Additionally, people should generally avoid sounding too powerful or wealthy.

Visitors should be mindful of the "tall poppy syndrome" in Australia. This refers to the Australian tendency to "cut down" people who try to stand out from the crowd or try to draw too much attention for themselves. In many cultures, respect is shown for intellectual and other significant achievements, but Australians can be somewhat derisive of people who openly and boastfully declare their own skills and abilities.

"G’day, mate" is the international call of the Aussies and an expatriate should get used to being called "mate" by everyone from a personal assistant to the local butcher. It will be easy for most English speaking expatriates to converse in Australia, but there is also a lot of slang in Australian English. One should always ask if unsure of a term or phrase. Upon arrival transferees should invest in a small guide to Australian slang, but miscommunication can still sometimes occur.

New South Wales is the most populated and industrialized state in Australia. Its largest and oldest city, Sydney, reigns as the state’s capital and also serves as the country’s most popular tourist destination. A combination of cosmopolitan flare and diverse cultural mix – Sydney is known the world over for its magnificent beaches and non-stop nightlife.

Getting in and Getting Around
The standard visa in Australia for an expatriate is known as the Sub-Class 457 Long Stay Temporary Business Visa. This visa should be applied for before entering the country and is best managed by a Registered Migration Agent in Australia or the expatriate’s sponsoring employer. Once the visa has been issued, the expatriate travels to Australia with their country’s passport, now with the visa stamp, and a Department of Immigration entry form supplied on the aircraft. A 457 visa can be valid for up to four years and the period of entry is specified at the time of application. All expatriates should allow 4-8 weeks processing time for their visa application.

The Sydney International Airport is the largest airport in Sydney and is located about 15-20 minutes south of the central business district. There are trains from the airport to the city as well as regular bus service and taxis.

Sydney has an extensive public transportation system offering riders the choice of bus, subway or ferry. In addition, taxis are plentiful and often reasonably inexpensive. Regular city buses stop just about everywhere in Sydney and conveniently connect with trains and ferries throughout the metropolitan area. Buses run every 10-15 minutes between most destinations.




Most automated teller machines (ATMs) accept major bank and credit cards and dispense Australian currency at the going rate of exchange. ATMs are located outside most banks. In addition, transferees should arrive in Australia with a sufficient amount of cash, credit cards and traveller’s checks as it can take a few days to get a local bank account set up.

Banks and foreign-exchange booths charge approximately A$0.05 per A$1 exchanged. Rates are generally more competitive in the city than at the airport.

Residing Down Under
Australia’s strong economic health has resulted in a steady increase in housing prices. Additionally, the federal government started offering subsidies of $A14,000 (approximately $US7,000) for first-time homebuyers, further motivating price increases over the past year. Major cities, such as Sydney, have experienced a housing price hike of as much as 22.8 percent.

"In 2002, we experienced a 10 percent increase in business executives relocating into Australia over the previous year," according to Mark Ellis, Crown Relocations’ Managing Director for Australia. "While this trend may include repatriation for security and budgetary reasons, the increase also reflects Australia’s strong domestic economy and seems to indicate optimism about the business opportunities here."

With this increase in relocations to Australia, some expatriates may find looking for housing a challenge. Americans especially should be aware that there is more government involvement in housing than in the United States.

For instance, if renting an apartment, a bond is required and held by the government authority, rather than a landlord, as is custom in the United States. When viewing prospective rentals, agents do not show properties on Sunday and there are only limited opportunities to view properties on Saturday, so it is advised for expatriates to set some time aside during the week.

In order to purchase a home, non-residents must obtain prior approval from the Foreign Investment Review Board (FIRB). While this is not often a time-consuming task, non-residents should be aware of this requirement. There may also be specific obligations a homeowner must fulfil before vacating the home that should be clearly understood before purchasing the home. Some of these types of obligations can include selling the property within a specific time frame of departure and the inability to rent the property to a subtenant. In general, non-residents are requested to sell their homes within 90 days after departing Australia.

In Sydney the most desirable areas for expatriates include the lower North Shore suburbs of Mosman, Balmoral and Cremorne, all three being immediately north of the Harbour Bridge and in close proximity to downtown Sydney. There are numerous high-rise developments with gorgeous views of Sydney Harbour as well as higher market semi and detached houses. Additional areas favoured by expatriates include the Garden Suburbs of the Upper North Shore, including Pymble, Killara, St. Ives and Wahroonga.

Most expatriate families take from 2-3 weeks to make a final decision on a neighbourhood, housing and schooling for their children.

Educating the Little Ankle Biters
Australian's take education very seriously, but people who were schooled in other parts of the world may find the system of teaching and school discipline very different in this country. Less importance is placed on outward discipline and memorizing and instead, the emphasis here is on self-discipline, learning through understanding, and generally encouraging a child's enthusiasm for learning. Each state is responsible for delivering its own high quality standards on education within the public school system.

Children usually enter school between the ages of four and five attending preschool or kindergarten, but all children are required to attend school beginning at the age six and at least until the age of fifteen. However, almost all children continue their studies to complete their ten-year qualifications and most continue on until their 12th year of study.

For children who are relocating with their families from non-English speaking countries, there are a number of programs within the school system. The government's "English as a second language - new arrivals" curriculum assists primary and secondary school students who require intensive language instruction. Some schools also have special programs to help classroom teachers with the English language needs of these children.

Expatriates relocating to Sydney with school-aged children should be aware that they need to do more than find the right school for their children. Transferees who hold Sub-class 457 Long Stay Temporary Visas are now required to pay a tuition fee to the Department of Education for their children to attend a public school in New South Wales.

Another option for expatriates is to send their children to an international school. These schools specialize in the classroom practices of other countries ensuring an easier transition for children when they return to their home schools. There are several international schools located throughout Australia, and one school located in Sydney is the American International School, comprised of both an American and international faculty.

Economic Bright Spot
Australia has a prosperous Western-style capitalist economy with a per capita GDP on par with the four dominant West European economies. The Australian economy has been resilient in the face of the global economic downturn in 2001 chalking up 2.3% GDP growth as the domestic economy is offsetting the external slump and consumer confidence remains robust. Canberra’s emphasis on reforms is a key factor behind the economy’s strength.

In 1983, the Labour Party came into political power and instituted major changes to the Australian economy. One of their first changes was floating the Australian dollar, which precipitated its sharp decline in value. The Australian dollar has fallen by almost two-fifths against the American dollar since 1996 ($A1.00 = $US0.61 as of February 2003).

Most economists believed this was a recipe for disaster, much like the free fall of the Mexican peso in 1994. However, the reverse was true in Australia. The weak Australian dollar made Australian commodities and workforce an attractive place for many multinational corporations given the economic downturn in traditionally dominant countries such as the United States and Japan.

Australia’s economy, unlike many other developed countries, still is firmly rooted in agriculture and commodities with its major exports consisting of gold and other metal ores, minerals, coal, petroleum, and machinery. Australia produces 70% of the world’s wool and is one of the largest exporters of beef.

Australia has been able to compete successfully against its Asian rivals in markets such as the European Union and the United States because of the low value of the Australian dollar. In turn, Australian profits increased due to payments being made in either Euros or American dollars that yielded greater investment in the Australian infrastructure and private investment.


How it All Began
The name "Australia" derives from the Latin australis meaning southern. In the sixteenth century, geographers used the name "Terra Australia" to describe a continent which they believed existed in the South Pacific. Portuguese navigators were followed by Dutch explorers and then by the English pirate William Dampier.

In 1770, Captain James Cook sailed the entire length of the eastern coast, stopping at Botany Bay. After rounding Cape York, he claimed the continent for the British and named it New South Wales.

In 1779, Joseph Banks, who was part of Cook’s earlier voyage, suggested that England could solve its problem of overcrowding in prisons by transporting convicts to New South Wales. The First Fleet set sail for Botany Bay in 1787 and arrived on 26 January 1788, but soon moved north to Sydney Cove where there was better land and water.

Free settlers became attracted to Australia over the next decades, but it wasn’t until the discovery of gold in the 1850’s that changed the face of the colony. The huge influx of migrants and several large finds boosted the economy and changed the colonial social structures. The colonies became federated as States of the Commonwealth in January 1901. In 1911 the Northern Territory was transferred from the State of South Australia to the Commonwealth administration whilst in the same year the Australian Capital Territory was acquired from the State of New South Wales and the federal capital was transferred from Melbourne to Canberra in 1927.

Bound by one parliament, one constitution and one flag, Australia celebrated its Centenary of Federation in 2001.

The Law of the Land
The Federation of six states forms the Commonwealth of Australia. Queen Elizabeth II resides as Queen of the country, or Chief of State, and is permanently represented by a Governor-General and a Governor in each of the six states. Australia has three government branches – the Executive, the Legislative and Judicial branch.

In addition to the Chief of State, the Executive branch is also home to the Governor General and Prime Minister. The governor general is appointed by the monarch and following general legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or leader of a majority party coalition is usually appointed prime minister by the governor general for a three-year term. The current Governor General is Dr. Peter Hollingsworth and the Prime Minister is John Howard who is a member of the Liberal Coalition Party.

The Aussie Layout
The Commonwealth of Australia is as diverse as it is massive. The world’s smallest continent, but sixth largest country; Australia lies between the Pacific and Indian Oceans, covering an area of 7,682,300 square kilometers – the same size as the 48 mainland states of the USA and 50% larger than mainland Europe.

For a country and continent, Australia is sparsely inhabited with a population of just under 20 million, with most living along its eastern seaboard. It is largely comprised of vast expanses of open land between large, sprawling cities.

Australia is situated in the southern Hemisphere and is approximately 3,200 kilometers from north to south and 3,840 kilometers west to east with a coastline measuring over 19,200 kilometers. Northern Australia is surrounded by the Timor and Arafura Seas; east by the Coral and Tasman Seas of the South Pacific Ocean, and south and west by the Indian Ocean.

The country is comprised of six federate States of New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, the Northern Territory and the Australian Capital Territory, which includes Canberra, the seat of the Commonwealth Government.

Macquarie Island is administered by Tasmania and is about 1,600 kilometers southeast of the state. In addition, Australia is responsible wholly or partly for certain external territories such as Norfolk Island, the Territory of Ashmore, Cartier Islands, and the Australian Antarctic Territory.

Australia features a diverse range of climatic zones from the tropical regions of the north, to the arid expanses of the interior, and the temperature regions of the south. The temperature regions have all four seasons, while those in the tropical zone have only two – summer being ‘wet’ and winter being ‘dry’.

In general, Australia enjoys a warm, pleasant climate with humid summers and mild winters. The seasons are the reverse of those in the northern hemisphere. Expatriates can enjoy the Christmas holiday on the beach and go skiing in August.

The Australian landmass is relatively arid with 80 percent of the country having a median rainfall of less than 600 millimetres.

The hottest months in Sydney are during the summer, December – February, when temperatures can reach well into the 40 degree Celsius range (100 degrees Fahrenheit). Evening temperatures are cooler – usually in the 20 degree Celsius range (70 degrees Fahrenheit). Rainfall is heaviest from February through June, with March and June being the wettest month. In the spring, September – November, Sydney can experience some of its driest months.

There are more than 70 unspoiled beaches easily within Sydney’s reach. Sydney is the mecca for sun worshippers and water-sports enthusiasts alike. From the more well-known beaches such as Bondi and Manly, to the less obscure strips of sand, the options are endless for enjoying Sydney’s long, hot summers.

Relaxing With Mates
Once work has ended, there are plenty of activities to keep the expatriate busy, while learning more about the Australian way of life. For most Australians, sports are a favourite pastime and include Rugby, Cricket, Soccer and Australian Rules football. Their involvement can range being a dedicated player in a league or to simply being an enthusiastic spectator. Sports matters usually become the topic of many office conversations and can be a great "ice-breaker" when situating into a new corporate environment.

If sporting activities don’t suffice, there are several nightclubs with dancing or live music in the city and plenty of local pubs to choose from in the suburbs. Sydney offers everything from Opera House performances to street shows and theatres, making it one of the world’s hot spots for the performing arts.

Thanks to decades of immigration, Australia benefits from a diverse and unique range of dining options. Local Australians can be found dining on Thai, Vietnamese, Malaysian, Lebanese or Italian food more often than the traditional fare.

The Darling Harbour and Circular Quay sections of Sydney are overflowing with trendy new restaurants serving everything from French cuisine to seafood. The neighbourhoods of Darlinghurst and Newtown have a high concentration of vegetarian and Asian restaurants. While Italian restaurants can be found all over, they are particularly abundant in the Paddington, Woollahra, Darlington, and Leichhardt sections. For outdoor dining options, the Manly section has a strip of cafes specializing in meze plates, seafood and modern Australian dishes.

While dining out is a popular pastime for busy professionals, the price of dinner can range from $A35 per couple for casual and inexpensive fare, to $A250 per couple for silver service fine dining. Tipping is also catching on in Australia, particularly in cafes and restaurants in bigger cities, such as Sydney where 5-15% is the norm. However, no one will be looked down upon if they don’t tip.

A Scotsman Takes on the Aussies
Relocating to Australia from the United Kingdom may sound easy, but for Steve Elliott and his family it was quite an adjustment. From deciphering the Australian slang, to adjusting to the warm climate, Steve Elliot and his family faced an interesting and exciting challenge.

Steve’s wife, Lorraine, works for a large international hotel chain and was asked to relocate from Glasgow to Sydney to implement a new reservations system for the company’s Asia-Pacific branches. Even though they had never relocated before, Steve and his wife welcomed the opportunity to live in another country.

"The biggest challenge was convincing my daughters, ages 10 and 8, to move, but they have both settled into school extremely well and have made many new friends," says Steve. "My youngest daughter has shown the most signs of being homesick, mostly when she is extremely tired after returning from a long day at the beach!"

Having children enrolled in a school has also offered Steve and his wife the chance to meet more people in their community. They were surprised and happy to meet many international families who have relocated to Sydney from all over the world.

The Elliotts arrived in Sydney in the middle of January and the whole relocation process took three months. Steve credits the use of a relocations company to making the overall move and settling in process much easier than if he were to do it on his own.

"As this was our first move abroad, we were unaware of the different types of services a relocations company had to offer," says Steve. "We assumed they would just pack up our furniture and deliver it to the destination."

The company in fact coordinated a lot more, including a site visit for Steve in early November where he was given a guided tour of the city, neighborhoods and schools. By having someone from Sydney show him the area, Steve received valuable local knowledge from his guide and from the people he met while he was there. He stresses however, that while the advice is useful, in the end the family needs to choose where to live because everyone can have different tastes.

Steve worked with the relocations company to send some of his children’s toys and other belongings ahead of time so that they were at their new residence when then arrived. The family’s belongings took 9 weeks to arrive in Sydney so by having some of his children’s favorite things already there made the settling in process much easier for them.

In addition the relocations company helped arrange furniture rental as well as arranged for people unpacking services. This was one of the most overwhelming tasks as the Elliotts belongings arrived in 174 boxes!

One of the biggest differences Steve first noticed upon arriving in Sydney was in the cost of living compared to Scotland. For a house similar in size to their one in Glasgow, they are paying twice as much rent in Sydney. However, the cost for groceries is much cheaper and Sydney offers a larger choice of goods and services particularly when dining out. Steve especially enjoys the custom in most Sydney restaurants of allowing patrons to bring their own bottle of wine.

Steve and his family are enjoying their experience in Sydney and he encourages other transferees to do the same. Planning the whole process out well ahead of time will make it easier to estimate the enormous challenge ahead. Steve feels that Australia is a great place with lots to offer international families and that the people of Australia are very helpful and friendly making the transition that much smoother.

Denise Faulkner is a relocation trends analyst for Crown Relocations in New York. She can be reached at 212-809-0110 or via email at dfaulkner@crownrelo.com

Crown Relocations, a division of The Crown Group, offers a full range of employee relocation services for multinational corporations. Crown has five offices throughout Australia including Sydney.

The Crown Worldwide Group has over 100 offices in 42 countries. The company is a leader in the management and storage of business records and provides other specialized transportation, logistics, and warehousing services for expanding international businesses. The Group provides services to over 2,000 major multinational corporations around the globe, as well as caters to the needs of private customers. Crown's website is www.crownrelo.com.