Italy is up there among the top migration destinations in the world, with immigrants representing 8.2% of the country’s population. This number gained increase having 90,000 more immigrants last year, meaning it’s still a prime spot for those who want to make a living or settle down in other countries because of its good economy and very fine culture. A commendable feat for a country still battling the effects of the recent global recession.
Today, we compare Italy and Australia side by side.
Italy is Europe’s fourth largest economy, the second largest manufacturer (behind Germany), and world’s largest wine producer. Its major industries and largest employers are tourism, automotive, steel, machinery, food processing, motor vehicles, clothing, textiles, and chemicals. Notable companies operating in the country include Fiat, Ferrari, Maserati, Lamborghini, Prada, Versace, Gucci, United Colors of Benetton, Martini & Rossi, and Nutella.
However, Italy is one of the countries massively hit by the global economic recession of the late 2000 and is still recovering from the setbacks. Industries that are majorly affected are automotive, construction, finance, and engineering. Nonetheless, green technology, food and drink mechanical engineering, and tourism are very much thriving. Unemployment rate is currently at 11.4%, with the average Italian working at 33 hours each week.
Australia’s federal structure allows it to focus on disparate economic sectors to support the country. These include manufacturing, agriculture, services, finance, tourism, media, education and the recently booming mining industry.
The country is one of the very few countries fortunate enough to suffer minimal to no economic damages during the recession. Experts pointed out to efficient policy making, effective fiscal expenditures, the mining boom, and Australia being a major source of resources for the Asia-Pacific region. Currently, unemployment rate in the country is significantly lower at 5.8%. Though the country enforces a 40-hour work week, the average working hour in Australia is lower at 32 hours per week.
World Health Organization ranked Italy’s health care system as the 2nd best in the world behind France last 2000.
It is administered to all citizens and residents by a two-pronged public and private system. Sistema sanitario nazionale (SSN) is the public system, organized under the Ministry of Health and is provided on a regional basis.
The SSN entirely pays the general practitioners (GP) and should give visiting time at least five days a week with 1500 patients as limit. Patients are allowed to select and change their GP, as subjected to availability. Prescription drugs specified by GPs are mostly subsidized, obligating only a fixed payment from the patient depending on the medicine type and income. In most regions, it is free for the poor.
Surgeries and hospitalization administered by the public hospitals or by conventioned private ones are entirely free of charge for everyone, no matter the income. For planned surgeries, waiting times can be up to many months, especially in the larger cities.
Australia’s healthcare system engages on a centralized level, and is provided by both private and government institutions. The state and territory governments manage aspects of health care within their jurisdictions, such as the operation of hospitals.
Like Italy, it is two-pronged. There is the private health system, and there is the Medicare for the public system. The latter is funded partly by a 2% Medicare levy (with exceptions for low-income earners), with the rest being supplied by government. An additional levy of 1% is imposed on high-income earners without private health insurance. Death rate from medical care in the country is reportedly one of the lowest in the English-speaking world. It is lower than that of the USA and UK.
To find out more about how Australia’s healthcare system works, check our blog here.
Renting price here is affected by various factors such as size (number of bedrooms), quality and age of the property, the facilities provided, and the region it is located. Renting a property through an agent requires an agent’s fee, usually 10% of a month or a year’s rent, depending on the negotiation. The landlord generally asks for a deposit equal to one to three months’ rent. The deposit should be refunded with interest within two months of the termination of the lease, less the amount due to the landlord for damages, redecoration, etc. Rent is usually settled one month in advance.
Also, tenants in an apartment are required to have insurance and pay service charges. These service charges include heating, rubbish removal, hot water, communal lighting and maintenance, use of lift (elevator), and caretaker’s services. Utilities like electricity, water, and gas are normally paid separately by tenants.
Like in Italy, rental prices vary depending on the region, city, neighborhood, quality of a property, size (number of bedrooms), age, and the facilities provided.
Logically, rents are more affordable in rural than urban areas. It’s also lower the further a property is from a large city or town, public transport or other facilities, the cheaper it is. The average rents are highest in Sydney, Melbourne and Darwin.
Letting agencies and estate agents will usually charge you a fee of two weeks’ rent for a one-year lease and one week’s rent for a six-month lease. These are the legal maximum fees. Also, you’re expected to settle one month’s rent in advance, depending on the type of property and the rental agreement, plus a bond (see below) which is held against damages.
Before going in with the transactions, before to make a careful inspections of the property. This will give you a feel of the house and decide wither this is the home you are looking for.
Food is a serious matter in Italy. Every region, city, or town has its own specialty dish that they are proud of. Thus the many restaurants lining up each street. An Italian meal comprises of five parts: the antipasti (appetizer), primo (first course) secondo (second or main course): contorni (side dishes), and dolce (dessert). This is followed usually with espresso or any after dinner drinks. Bills will not handed unless requested, and will come with a piece of bread. Tipping is optional since prices include taxes and service charges already.
A three-course meal for two people on a restaurant costs around AU$76.12, while dining at a less expensive café costs AU$22.84. A McDonald’s combo meal is at AU$10.89.
Australian cuisine is a hybrid native aboriginal ingenuity and British colonial influences, with mix of Asian and Mediterranean traditions contributed by wave after wave of post-colonial migrations that helped shaped their cuisine. They usually take advantage of meat available in the continent, such as lamb, kangaroo, and emu, as well as pork, beef, and chickens. Like in Italy, tipping here is also optional.
Dining out, a three-course meal for two people on a restaurant is at around AU$80.00, while dining at a less expensive café costs AU$18.00. A McDonald’s combo meal is at AU$10.00.
Italy maintains a well-developed and effective public transport system, especially its railway network. The Italian train system is so expansive, convenient, and competent, it actually makes the bus and air transport unnecessary to some extent. Their railway system includes the high speed trains, intercity trains, regional trains, and the rapid transit. Also, buses and taxis operate in the country. But despite all of these, Italy has one of highest number of vehicles per capita, with 690 per 1000 people in 2010.
A one way train ticket here costs AU$2.28, while a monthly pass is at around AU$53.31. Starting taxi tariff is AU$7.62 with AU$2.13 for the first one kilometer. A Volkswagen Golf 1.4 90 KW Trendline (Or Equivalent New Car) will set you back AU$30,460.81. Gasoline is at AU$2.27 for every litter.
Despite the very good public transport system, driving is the most used mode of transport in the country, and this number continues to rise. It is followed by train, walking (the country has a very good culture of walking), and then bus. All of Australian cities have reliable, affordable public bus networks and train lines, plus taxis operate nationwide. These train lines include commuter rail networks, trams, light rails, and rapid transits.
A one-way ticket sets you back by AU$4.00, while going for a monthly pass will increase it by AU$130.00. Taxi tariff is AU$4.00, while a kilometer ride is AU$2.17. If you want your own car, A Volkswagen Golf 1.4 90 KW Trendline (or any equivalent new car) will cost you AU$25,000.00 plus AU$1.31 for every litter of gasoline.
No single climate system precedes Italy. It varies everywhere, depending on the geographical location. Bologna, Milan Turin, and the rest of inland northern lands have a relatively cool, mid-latitude version of the Humid subtropical climate (or Cfa in terms of Köppen climate classification), the coastal areas of Liguria and the peninsula south of Florence, on the other hand, generally fit the Mediterranean climate profile (Köppen climate classification Csa).
Summer season is usually balanced here. Though thunderstorms in the afternoon/night hours and some grey and rainy days can often be experienced in the northern regions. Furthermore, while summer in south of Florence is typically dry and sunny, it tends to be more humid and cloudy in the north. Spring and Autumn weather can be very changeable, with sunny and warm weeks (sometimes with Summer-like temperatures) suddenly broken off by cold spells or followed by rainy and cloudy weeks.
The Land Down Under experiences an assortment of climates also due to its size. It can range from severely hot in the Kimberley region in the north-west of the continent to below zero in the Snowy Mountains in the south. And due to its size, there just can’t be one seasonal calendar for the whole continent.
The seasons will vary depending upon where in the continent you are each month, whether the weather is defined by the Temperate zone seasons or the tropical seasons. To find out more what is the climate and weather patterns in each of the states in the country, check our blog here.
Advantages of Italian dual citizenship are:
Advantages of Australian Citizenship include:
For a more detailed information about these benefits, check our blog here.
Italy and Australia are both land of adventures. They have food, traditions, and way of life not always seen in most western countries. Their people friendly, their lands both accommodating to migrants, and safety and health are highly valued on both countries, as characterized by their well-developed health care policies.
A very fine European lifestyle is Italy’s prime advantage. Here, the food is outstanding, culture is very refined, the transport system magnificent, and the climate generally cool and crisp. Though you have to deal with the language barrier, plus the country’s still economy still yet get back on its feet due to the vast effects of recession.
Australia, on the other hand, has English as the mother tongue, and has a very American lifestyle. The outdoor and sports culture is also superb, as well as the open and friendly reception of the citizens. If you are from a colder climate, be prepared, though. Australia sports a generally sub-tropical climate, with erratic weather conditions. Also, the food can be challenging and sometimes need an acquired taste.
Hello,
I am An education student researching comparisons between Italy and Australia in regards to early childhood education. Could you provide me with any information on this for my studies.
Kind Regards Talia
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