United Kingdom and Australia share a very long history. The Land Down Under was made a penal colony by the British Empire in 1788. For the next few centuries, Australia worked hard until it was able to set up a federal government and earned its freedom.
But that doesn’t mean it completely severed ties with the mother country. Australia is still a realm Great Britain and recognizes Queen Elizabeth as the as the ruling queen. And for many years until 1966 , the country uses the pound as its currency before switching to dollars
In our continuing effort to compare Australia with the other top migration destinations in the world, it is only fitting that we put the two countries side by side to give you a better decision for your visa applications.
The service sector is the main driving force of UK's economy, which makes up for almost 80 percent of its total GDP. Banking, business, and insurance are the most outstanding service sectors.
Despite these, the country is one of the largest manufacturing-driven economies in the world. It cradles the many vital players in the aerospace sectors, such as Rolls-Royce and BAE Systems, as well as pharmaceutical giants like Astra Zenica and GlaxoSmithKline. Construction and automotive industries were also thriving in the country, but took a hard blow from a recession.
Much like UK, The structure of the Australian economy rests on service and technology. This comprises for more than 70% of the GDP in 2008 and the industry accounts for about 20%. In the 2007 Globalisation Index which was conducted for Foreign Policy by consulting firm A.T. Kearney, the country was ranked as the third most technology-savvy country in the world.
On the other hand, agriculture and mining (which was on a boom recently) account for 4.7% of the GDP. Though they supplied to roughly 65% of the exports.
Housing affordability in the United Kingdom is driven by market factors such as the state of the local economy, supply of housing, and transport links. And it differs broadly on a regional basis.
Financial arrangements when it comes to housing here is divided in to three classifications: Owner-occupied; Private Rented Sector (PRS); and Social Rented Sector (SRS). House prices, income, interest rates, and purchase costs largely determines the affordability for the owner-occupied properties. PRS is based on house prices. While SRS rents are regulated by Local Authorities and Housing Associations or depending on what the lower income groups can afford.
An apartment in city center costs AU$ 7,988.71 per square meter while one outside the city costs AU$6,144.26.
The departments of state governments provides Public housing in Australia. It is divided into two categories: The inner-city medium to high-rise apartments and the low-density townhouses/fully detached houses located in the suburban fringes of cities and towns. The inner-city public housing is generally found in Melbourne and Sydney. They are usually 3-5 story walk-up flats and 11-22 story high-rise towers. Low-density suburban estates is located in almost every city and town in Australia.
An apartment in city center costs AU$ 8,436.67 per square meter while one outside the city costs AU$5,861.34.
Healthcare in the United Kingdom is decentralized, with England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales each operating their own healthcare systems, each funded by their governments with smaller private sector and voluntary provision.
Each of the National Health Service (NHS) system utilizes General Practitioners to give primary healthcare and to provide referrals to further medical services. Hospitals then supply more specialist services, such as care for patients with psychiatric illnesses and direct access to Accident and Emergency (A&E) departments.
A 2014 report ranking healthcare systems in developed countries listed UK as the best healthcare system in the world. Though in 2005 to 2009, cancer survival rates reportedly lagged ten years behind the rest of Europe, though survival rate is increasing constantly.
Contrary to the United Kingdom, Australia’s healthcare system operates on a centralized level, and is administered 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.
It is two-pronged. There is the private health system, and there is the Medicare. 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.
United Kingdom has a well-placed and connected transport system. Modes of commuting include metros (trains moving above ground), tubes (underground subway), buses, and taxi. The country prides itself as having the oldest rail network in the world. It comprises of two independent parts, that of Northern Ireland and that of Great Britain. Taxis service, on the other hand, is of commendable quality, since they are strictly regulated, particularly in London, where mechanical integrity and driver knowledge are of high priority.
A one way bus ticket here costs around AU$4.52, while a monthly pass is at AU$117.90. Starting taxi tariff is AU$5.90 with AU$2.78 for every kilometer. But you could also get your own car. A Volkswagen Golf 1.4 90 KW Trendline (Or Equivalent New Car) will set you back AU$33,406.09, while a litter of gasoline is at AU$2.14.
Much like in the United Kingdom, Australia has an efficient transport system, too. However, the citizens rely more on road transport, as it is a significant component of the Australian transport network. The substantial dependence on road transport is largely in part to the country’s extensive area and the low population density. As a result, Australia has the second highest level of car ownership in the world, with Melbourne as the most car-dependent city.
As for commuting and public transport, commuter rail, trams, light rail, and rapid transit systems can also be found around the country, and services the citizens adequately.
A one way bus ticket ride costs AU$3.96, with the monthly pass at AU$130. Starting taxi tariff is AU$4.00 with AU$2.17 for every kilometer. Getting your own car will set you back AU$25,000 for a Volkswagen Golf 1.4 90 KW Trendline (Or Equivalent New Car). A litter of gasoline is at AU$1.31.
United Kingdom is big, so its climate varies on each area. But it is generally described as temperate oceanic climate. Northern Ireland, Wales and western parts of England and Scotland are the windiest, wettest, and mildest regions due to their proximity to the Atlantic Ocean. The eastern regions are less windy, drier, and cooler. However, they also encounter the greatest daily and seasonal temperature difference.
The northern regions, on the other hand, are mostly wetter, cooler, and have marginally bigger temperature ranges than southern areas.
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.
The dining scene in UK is still in the process of explosion. With the past ten years, it is slowly shifting from traditional British cuisines to involve more diversity in flavors and recipes from around the world.
But more interesting is the British’s way of eating. They will usually have around six separate meals each day. This will start off with the breakfast, then the elevenses (a mid-morning snack usually tea and biscuits), and then the lunch. And then tea time follows in the afternoon, to be seconded by dinner, and capped off by desert. And then another tea.
If dining out is your thing, a three-course meal for two people in a mid-range restaurant will cost around AU$98.05. Going for a modestly-priced café clocks around AU$23.53. A McDonald’s Combo Meal is at AU$9.81.
Eating here is just as exciting, but in the wallet. According to studies, income had risen faster than food prices. Over the past 20 years, food spending has increased by 13%, while income climbed by 36%. This results to people spending a decreasing proportion of their salary to food. No to mention, food prices here are rising at a slower rate than in most parts of the world.
Also, Australia cradles an exciting food scene. It draws inspiration to British, American, aboriginal, and even Asian influence. It is home to some of the most exotic and palate-challenging food like Kangaroo meat, Burger Rings, and the infamous Vegemite (you can check here for the complete list of Australia’s weirdest food).
Advantages of British Citizenship include:
Advantages of Australian Citizenship include:
Australia is a great surprise on all aspects. Great sights. Fascinating people. Awesome holidays. And the food? Unforgettable. Most are wonderfully Instagram-worthy. Some belong to the dark recesses of our memories.
Here are the delicacies that only the Australians would come out with.
Nothing speaks Australia more than this sandwich spread that tastes either like the sweet, sweet welcome of the morning or the tears from your crushed dreams, depends on who you ask. It is concocted from yeast extract with vegetables and spice additives thrown in to give it the distinct bittersweet, salty and malty taste.
The chocolate-looking and deceivingly-tasting paste is a stale on crackers, bread, crumpets, and even pastries. It is best paired with butter or cream cheese to town down the strong flavor. Many agreed that enjoying this delicacy is a matter of acquired taste.
The Aussies might not have invented the hamburger, but they sure took it to insane levels. The burger with “the lot” is the proof of that. Not contented with just a patty, cheese, and a few greens, they also threw in a smorgasbord of other relishes.
A typical burger with the lot consists of a pair of sweet buns, charred beef patty, cheddar cheese, fried sunny side-up egg, tomatoes, bacon, pineapple, onions, lettuce, barbecue sauce, and beetroot. That last item wasn’t a typo. It’s basically a normal burger with mom’s garden salad threw in the middle.
Obviously, you can’t eat this on humongous meal the run. For that, they have the…
The Blokes want to have their burger on the way to work. And no. It’s not the one that’s dripping as they race along the walkway. They want it bit sized, wrapped in aluminum foil, and heavily processed.
Wait, what?
To hell with onion rings. Burger Rings have been a hit among the Aussies since its inception in 1974. The ingredients include rice, corn, vegetable oil, salt, sugar, and five other chemicals that’s just too much to pronounce. Burger flavor is thrown in the end.
No. ANZAC isn’t some gigantic bread-manufacturing company, it refers to the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps, the soldiers who fought during World War I at Gallipoli against the Ottoman Empire.
ANZAC Biscuits are made using rolled oats, sugar, flour, butter, baking soda, golden syrup, boiling water, and desiccated coconut. This sweet delicacy doesn’t just taste enjoyable, but it has a brilliant history as well.
Unconfirmed claims have it that these biscuits were first sent to ANZAC soldiers by their wives abroad. The ingredients were chosen because they do not spoil easily and the biscuits kept well during naval transportation.
The name stuck, and these days it’s just one of the finest Aussie treats out there.
Of course this is Australia. There will be kangaroo meat.
A staple source of protein for indigenous Australians, human consumption of Kangaroo meat was legalized in in South Australia in 1980, while all other states followed suit in 1993. It is mostly served as a steak, but could also take the form of burger patties, barbecues, pizza topping, and salad ingredient.
But some people isn’t happy about other people consuming kangaroo meat. This leads to the rise of Kangatarianism, people who abstain from eating kangaroo meat.
Just because it looks like a beefsteak, and mushrooms are generally tasty, doesn’t mean the beefsteak mushroom is the apex cuisine of vegan fine dining.
It reportedly tastes slightly sour, has an unyielding texture, and needs slow cooking to soften. Usual cooking preparations include marinating it in white wine, cloves, and parsley. Then coating it with beaten egg, herbs, and breadcrumbs. And usually served on a bed of salad.
Another indigenous aborigine staple food is the quandong. They are small, bright red, and shaped like apricots. The taste can be a bit tart, not unlike the blend of apricot and peaches. The Aussies have been pretty much creative in utilizing the fruit in various recipes, like ice creams, cakes, cockles, jams, relishes, and even beer.
You can’t just roam around in the wilds though and randomly pick quandong fruits, as they are protected by law. Only the commercialized can be consumed.
If you have been contemplating the possibility of applying for Permanent Residency in Australia, here are some of the benefits you get as a permanent resident:
Once you have obtained a permanent visa, you are now entitled to stay in Australia indefinitely and travel in and out of the country for 5 years (in line with the permanent visa). The permanent visa expires every 5 years, which you can renew as long as you accumulate 2 years of stay in Australia during the 5-year period of your permanent visa.
Obtaining a permanent Australian citizenship is the main goal for most people who started on a temporary visa. It is not easy and it demands many requirements but getting your permanent residency visa is one of the most important steps towards Australian Citizenship. In order to be eligible for Australian Citizenship, you must accumulate 4 years of stay in Australia, of which 1 year of that has to be as a Permanent Resident. You are also required to ensure that during the 12 months before you apply for Australian Citizenship, you have not been absent from the country for more than 90 days.
Medicare is the public health care system administered by the Australian government. It has an extensive coverage which encompasses a wide range of aspects of health care possible for citizens and permanent residents. With Medicare, you could be eligible for free treatment at a public hospital, as well as subsidized medicine.
To find out more how Medicare works, check our blog here.
On 1 July 2000, First Home Owner Grant (FHOG) scheme was introduced to counterbalance the effect of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) on home ownership. This national scheme is funded by the states and territories and administered under their own legislation.
Permanent Visa holders who have not owned a home prior to July 2000 may be eligible to receive a grant for building or buying their first home. Do note that the amount differs in every state.
For more information, you may check the FHOG website here.
Once you have become a permanent resident, you are eligible to work for any employer in any occupation. However, one thing to note is that if you intend to work for the Public Service or Armed forces, you may need to be an Australian citizen first.
If you are a permanent resident visa holder and your children are born in Australia, they are automatically considered Australian citizens by birth, which means they are entitled to all the benefits of an Australian citizen and can apply for an Australian passport.
We have already compared Australia with United States. But there’s something about US of A’s northern neighbor that makes it so attractive to immigrants, too. The very polite Canadians, the amenable culture, the vast opportunity for employment, efficiently health care system, and the history built on migration, and so on. In many cases, the Great White North is very similar to the Land Down Under.
Or is it? We compared Australia and Canada for you, so we can help you decide before applying for that visa.
Both countries thrive on the mining industry that saw a boom in the recent decade. But the Great White North is bigger when it comes to the manufacturing industry. Not to mention, blue collar jobs, especially nursing, offers better opportunities and bigger compensation here.
Canada might be closer to the US, but most of American-owned IT firms and their regional headquarters set up shop here. Also, white collar jobs have greater opportunities and have better payoff here.
Despite having an ultra-efficient economy, housing has yet to be relaxed and uncomplicated for Canadians. By 2007, roughly 1.7 million residents have housing affordability issues. Which is ironic since the country is considered to be one of the most affordable places to settle. Currently, eighty percent of Canadians still rely on market based housing, in which the citizens finance their own housing without help from the government.
It is reported that high cost housing gets growingly difficult for blue collar jobs e.g. nurses, police officers, teachers; despite them earning very good income.
Public housing in Australia is provided by departments of state governments, though they operate on the groundwork of the Commonwealth-State Housing Agreement, in which both federal and state governments provide the funding for public housing. The government is trying its best to make housing very affordable to encourage families to buy landed houses instead of renting.
Being the second largest country in the world (yes, even bigger than Australia), the Canadian government dedicated effort to efficient, high-capacity multimodal transport for its citizens. Of the commuters, 63.5% roam by bus, 25.0% through subway or elevated rail, 11.2% via light rail, streetcar or commuter train, and 0.3% by ferry.
Compared to Australia, fares are cheaper also. A one-way ticket costs 3.15 AU$, while going for a monthly pass will hike it up to 95.58 AU$. A taxi tariff is at AU$3.78 with AU$1.89 for each kilometer. If you want your own car, A Volkswagen Golf 1.4 90 KW Trendline (or any equivalent new car) will cost you 24,157.23 AU$ plus 1.13 AU$ for every litter of gasoline.
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. Despite this, driving is the most used mode of transport, and this number continues to rise. It is followed by train, walking (the country has a very good culture of walking), bus, and lastly, trucks.
Fares are pricier here compared to Cana. A one-way ticket sets you back by 3.93 AU$, while going for a monthly pass will increase it by 130.00 AU$. A taxi tariff is at AU$4.00 2.17 with AU$1.89 for each kilometer. If you want your own car, A Volkswagen Golf 1.4 90 KW Trendline (or any equivalent new car) will cost you 25,000.00AU$ plus 1.32 AU$ for every litter of gasoline.
Not unlike its southern neighbor, Canada has a culture of dining out well placed. What with the French, South American, Asian, and other ethnic restaurants thriving in the country. A three-course meal for two people in a mid-range restaurant will set you back by 64.05 AU$, while dialing it down to an inexpensive Restaurant will cost you 15.75 AU$. A McDonalds combo meal clocks only at 9.45 AU$.
But it doesn’t mean cooking at home is dead. Though you have to shell more (as compared to Australia). A grocery with all the basic necessities like milk, bread, eggs, potatoes, chicken breasts, beef, onion, lettuce, bananas, wine, beer, and a pack of cigarettes, among others, will set you back AU$122.92.
Just like Canada, Australia was built by the tide of immigrations. Thus becoming a melting pot of different cuisines from various cultures. But compared to Canada, dining out is pricier here. A three-course meal for two people in a mid-range restaurant will cost you 80.00 AU$, you can save by going fo an inexpensive Restaurant instead, which will cost you 18.00AU$. A McDonalds combo meal is at AU$10.00.
According to recent studies, home cooking is slowly overriding eating out. And it’s cheaper here compared to Canada. A grocery with all the basic necessities just like above will cost you only AU$ 111.92.
Canada’s health care is provided through a publicly funded system. That means it is mostly free to use with the services provided by private companies. The government ensures that citizens receives all medically necessary and hospital physician services.
While citizens have guaranteed access to hospital and medical services, it is up to each province’s preference whether to cover "supplementary" benefits, such as dental care and drug coverage. About two-thirds of Canadians take out private, supplemental insurance policies (or have an employer-sponsored plan) to cover these services.
Medicare is the Australian government’s universal health insurance scheme. It provides Australian residents free treatment as a public patient in a public hospital and free or subsidized treatment for optometrist, dental care, and psychology services as well as treatment by doctors.
Check here how the Australian Public Health Care System Works.
Much like Australia, Canada’s climate differs greatly based on geography (both countries are huge). The northern part is a complete perma-frost while the equatorial areas enjoy four distinct seasons. These regions experience varying temperature ranging from 35 degrees Celsius in the summer to a chilly -25 degrees Celsius during winter.
During late May, summer begins and this extends through September. July and August are the hottest months. The months of September and October, when autumn falls, are the best time to visit Canada as most days are cool and pleasant. The winter is the longest.
Climate also varies vastly in Australia, with snow-capped mountains in the south and arid deserts in the interior. But unlike Canada, majority of the country leans more towards the temperate, tropical rainforest climate. Australians get plenty of sun and warmth most of the year but with huge drops in temperature during winter.
The weather widely differs with every city. To find out more about the climate in each of them, check it here.
Advantages of Canadian Citizenship include:
Advantages of Australian Citizenship include:
Australia is a weird land. We have beavers that have beaks and lay eggs. Our government is a mash-up of four different types of governing system. We think beer after-work is fine all week. Our electoral process is a heaping mass of complicated work. And we experience four seasons each day.
This quirkiness spilled over to the legislative side of the country, where some of the weirdest laws in the world has been created and enforced for only God knows what reason.
Here are some of them.
(Note: Australian Weird Law articles are a dime a dozen in the Internet. We just picked those that legitimately exists.)
The Potato Marketing Corporation, the organization responsible for managing the supply of fresh table potatoes in Western Australia, is responsible for this. As mandated in the Law of 1946, the have the authority to stop and search any vehicle suspected of carrying more than 50 kilograms of spuds.
Not all hope is lost, though. If he wins the state election next year, Premier Colin Barnett promises he will dismantle the archaic Potato Marketing Corporation, so tuber fans can carry as much potatoes as they can without fear of incrimination.
In South Australia and Tasmania, that is.
Publicly advertising a reward for any property stolen with no inquiries asked whatsoever about any information, identity, or whereabouts of the thief will warrant you an offence and maximum fine of $500.
Because just getting your valuable and not seizing the perpetrator is highly discourage. In the long run, not letting the burglar off the hook is a bigger compensation.
In South Australia (Oh, hello there again!), disrupting weddings and funerals will not only earn you raised eye browns and eternal ban from social events, but also a maximum penalty of $10,000 or two years’ imprisonment.
As mandated in the Summary Offences Act 1953, any person who intentionally obstructs a funeral or a wedding, whether religious or secular in nature, is guilty of an offense.
We always have that one Facebook friend who posts weird stuff like “We are now accepting job applicants for Hydra. Hail Hydra!”
In Queensland, he/she is up for 10 penalty units or a six-month jail time. According to the Queensland Consolidated Acts, a person who publishes in print, radio, TV, or Internet that a child has been born but isn’t yet, a person died but still haven't, a particular couple are engaged but isn't yet, or an employment is available but isn't, faces a maximum of 10 penalty units or 6 months imprisonment.
The Vagrancy Act 1966 in Victoria states that being an occupier of a house or place that is frequented by alleged thieves earns you jail time. Being found inside or near said house won’t make you luckier either, even though you’re not living there.
Thankfully, this archaic law not completely fitting in modern times has been repealed. In 2005.
According to the Internet, it’s illegal in Australia to walk on the right-hand side of the road. This is not true. What is against the law is walking on the side of the road where traffic goes the same direction.
If you are walking on a road with no footpath, common sense only dictates that you walk on the side with approaching traffic for more awareness. This is goes for all Australian state and territory governments.
Violating this will warrant you a $76 fine in Victoria, a $45 expiation fee in South Australia, 20 penalty units in NSW and 20 penalty units in Queensland.
We've already established before some of the most life-changing and life-saving innovations that we enjoy today started from the Land Down Under. But since there’s quite a lot of them, giving just five inventions won’t entirely paint the picture.
So without further ado, her are five more awesome things we have to thank the blokes for.
No. We’re not talking about the Window’s writing application that you only remember using when opening Microsoft Word isn’t just worth it. We’re talking about the real deal notepads you lunge around with you when taking notes on smart phones aren’t a thing yet.
Before the 1900s, paper was just produced and supplied in loose sheets. Anybody not writing a letter or a long document usually escorted around with scrolls of paper just to carry their notes with them. In 1902, J.A. Birchall, a book store owner from Tasmania proved that invention’s other parent is humanity’s constant pursuit for not looking too burdened. He decided to cut these paper sheets into smaller sizes, back them against a firm cardboard, and bind them together at the top with a glue. Alas, the notepad is born. Though he called it the Silver City Writing Tablet because brevity is not yet a thing during that time.
And the rest is notepad-driven history.
Nope. We’re kidding. The concept, though revolutionary, was not accepted readily. Birchall had to convince his British suppliers for quite a while to provide him with paper assembled that way. A hundred years later, the notepad is the most ubiquitous, convenient, and cheapest way store information for many folks from students to reporters to even billion-dollar CEOs (Virgin Group’s Richard Branson never leaves the house without carrying one).
The first practical vapor compression refrigeration system was invented and patented by James Harrison, an Australian immigrant, in 1856. Yes, the complex cooling machine was invented half a century before someone came up with the ultra low-tech notepad.
Before that, people rely on icehouses, buildings where ice is being stored, to keep things cool. People on mountainsides drink used to drink water from melted snow to freshen up. And milkmen had to deliver milk early in the morning lest they’ll be spoiled. Refrigeration was basically the holy grail of food storage back then.
With Harrison’s innovation, storing and cooling food became possible, pushing forth a new era where ice creams, frozen goods, and Starbucks Frappuccinos are possible to the probable disgust of milkmen in the unemployment line.
Before the age of ultrasound, couples will never have an idea what their child’s sex is until it has come out (predicting it through the baby bump’s shape can be quite problematic and inaccurate). So no advance shopping for baby dresses and painting the walls blue or pink. Or worse, congenital illnesses that could have taken care during pregnancy are never discovered until birth.
In 1959, the Ultrasonic Research Section at the Commonwealth Acoustic Laboratory was set up in Sydney, with the aim of improving the current technology of the medical ultrasound. Headed by George Kossoff and David Robinson (NOT the Antonio Spurs center), the team developed the very first commercially practical water path ultrasonic scanner in 1961.
This innovation paved the way for the modern ultrasound that helped not only in pregnancies, but in detecting other illnesses like digestive problems, cancer, and kidney issues.
Despite the constant rise of credit card use, the world isn’t ready to give up cash. The rampant monetary forgeries Australia had undergone in 1967 was a proof of it. And this was on the heels of the country’s switch from British pound to the Australian Dollar, which made it more distressing.
In 1968, having enough with bogus money going around the country, the government set on a 20-year research to create money bills that will tire out forgers. They employed the help of the nation’s top physicists and chemists (it’s like the Manhattan Project, but with more monetary designing and less blowing things up) to make this possible.
In 1988, they created the world’s first plastic money that is not credit or debit card. It is more durable that the paper counterpart, is more environmentally-friendly, and less likely to carry germs and diseases (Though that last part never kept us away from money, doesn’t it?).
And since then, many other countries followed suit, like Bangladesh, Costa Rica, Brazil, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Great Britain, among others.
Our war against cancer is probably one of the toughest and longest fight humanity ever has. The illness has been upon us ever since we existed, as evidenced by the discovery of an 18th Century mummy suffering from colon cancer.
The fact that a vaccine against cervical cancer (not all cancers are the same, mind you) was invented is a crucial step in this battle. The cervical cancer vaccine was invented by Professor Ian Frazer from University of Queensland with help from American researchers. It aims to hamper infections by the human papilloma virus on its track. Infections caused by the virus can develop into cancer of certain body parts like vagina, vulva, cervix, penis, oropharynx, and anus.
The vaccine is estimated to avert 70% of cervical cancer, 80% of anal cancer, 60% of vaginal cancer, 40% of vulvar cancer, and possibly some mouth cancer.
For decades, the United States has been the land of milk and honey. The place of endless options and infinite possibilities. It is the Promised Land for anybody from a third world country trying to get out and have a better quality of life. It is the center of every dreams and goals and aspirations. It has been that way until the previous one hundred years or so.
Then the world discovered a thriving island continent smacked between South Pacific Ocean and the Indian Ocean. Like the United States, this country was also a former British colony, and unlike the United States, it merges and maintains its native identity and the influence of its former masters. Currently, Australia is one of the wealthiest counties around and provides an excellent alternative to those who are looking for a different life abroad.
And speaking of life abroad, the current events in the United States, i.e. the recent Presidential Elections which brought forth business magnate Donald Trump as the victor, caused a few to reconsider moving to a different country, Australia being one of them. These folks somehow sees the results as unfavorable to them and their future and think the life abroad is far better.
So, is moving out to Australia worth it? We have compiled the numbers for you so you may have a more sound and informed decision.
If you have a professional position, you are more likely to be paid higher here than in Australia, and with a large margin. However, do not expect the same edge if you are working in a minimum wage job. But in the general, you are more likely to make more money in the US, albeit on a small margin, with a median income US$30,616 compared to Australia’s US$29.875.
Also, as far as top notched company and dynamic job opportunities especially in the IT industry are concerned, the United Sates has Google, Facebook, and the rest of the Silicon Valley to provide excellent working environments.
If you are an independent, career-driven, corporate-ladder scaling lady, Australia is your country. The gender gap in the salary scale here (yes, it’s still a thing everywhere) is smaller, with the Australian women earning 83% of the blokes’ salary
Not to mention, you are less likely to live in poverty in Australia. The UN Human Poverty Index indicates that 12.2% of Australians live on less than half of the median income, as compared to the 17% in the United States.
The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, also known as the Obamacare, is the driving force behind the US’ efficient health care. Enacted by (soon to be former) President Barack Obama (hence the moniker) in March 2010, it aims to improve health insurance quality and affordability, decrease the uninsured rate by broadening insurance coverage and lower the costs of healthcare.
It also introduced further mechanisms including mandates, subsidies and insurance exchanges. The law requires that insurers accept all applicants, cover a specific list of conditions and charge the same rates regardless of pre-existing conditions or sex.
However, with Trump taking over the Oval Office, the future of Obamacare seems to be dismal, as the Republican champion plans to repeal the act.
The Australian health care is divided into two systems: the Private and the Public systems.
The Private system gives access to a private treatment in either a public or private hospital or specialist services. But there’s a catch. To permit them to private facilities, they need first to purchase a private health insurance, which levies a 1% tax on them. This takes off the burden and frees more room for the lower and middle class citizens to take advantage of the public system.
The Public system, on the other hand, is being taken care by Medicare. Australian citizens and permanent residents are entitled for this coverage funded both by government and tax levy. This allows them to have access to general practitioners and hospital services, for very low, if not free, costs. (For more information regarding Australia’s heath care system, check our blog here). Of the healthcare’s total expenditure, 70% of these is from the government.
Overall, Australia’s health care system is freely accessible to people no matter the income or type of insurance. And since most of the health care is disbursed for by the governing bodies (with people having health insurance on top of that) it helps to lower the overall taxation per calendar year.
The USA is one of the global leaders in medical research, modern treatment methods, and facilities. And they are continually creating discussions in pursuit of bettering this, as well as finding cures to the world’s deadliest diseases. No to mention, the culture of fitness, working out, and active lifestyle is constantly spreading across the country in various forms and methods. Gyms and fitness are also a common sight in both cities and suburban areas alike.
However, the United States still has an uphill battle when it comes to the overall heath and quality of life of its citizens. The country ranks first in the global scale when it comes to obesity, with more than one third of the population considered to be obese. This condition is known to cause fatal illnesses such as heart disease, diabetes, and cancer. Life expectancy is at 76 years old for male and 81 years old for female. Infant mortality here is 6.6 deaths for every 1,000 live births, while you have 13% probability of not reaching the age of 60. Also, there will 2.3 physicians and 3.3 hospital beds available for 1,000 people.
There are 1.2 million people living with HIV or AIDS (60 times more than of Australia). The number of teenage pregnancy is at 494,000 (ranking first in the world). And deaths due to vehicular accident is at 15.5 per 100,000 people.
Australia also got its hands on ground breaking health research projects that not only will benefit the country but also the world. These include research for healthier and safer giving births in rural areas, a humanitarian doctoral research program, and food innovations for reduction of malnutrition.
When it comes to the overall health, the Aussies are doing better. Only one in five Australians are obese. Life expectancy in men is 80 years old while for women is 84. Infant mortality is at 4.61 deaths per 1,000 live births, and you have 9% chance of not reaching the age of 60. The county has 2.5 physicians and 7.4 beds per 1,000 people.
HIV and AIDS cases is at 20,000. Teenage pregnancy is less than 12,000 births. And deaths due to vehicular accident is at 10 per 100,000 people.
Public housing here is managed by federal, state and local agencies to give subsidized assistance for low-income households. To allow people to reside in more convenient locations instead of moving away from the cities to find lower rents, public housing is priced way below the market rate. From the of one or more concentrated blocks of low-rise and/or high-rise apartment buildings, housing here has now moved to a variety of settings and formats. The United States Department of Housing and Urban Development operate and fund these complexes through the state and local housing authorities.
Much like in the US, public housing in Australia is provided by departments of state governments, though they operate on the groundwork of the Commonwealth-State Housing Agreement, in which both federal and state governments provide the funding for public housing. And like in the US, it is very affordable, which encourages families to buy landed houses instead of renting.
Mass transit here is quite diverse. It include buses, trolleybuses (like in San Francisco), trams (all across the country), and ferries (in coastal areas). Trains include rapid transit (i.e. metros, subways, undergrounds, etc.), light rail, and commuter rail.
A one way ticket costs around $2.25 while a monthly pass is at around $73. A kilometer taxi ride is at $1.62, while a litter of gasoline is at $0.59. All of these are well below the Australian pricings.
Australia relies heavily on trains. The country has electric commuter rail networks, trams, light rails, and rapid transits. Taxis are also available. But fares are much higher.
A one way ticket costs around $2.97, while a monthly pass is at around $98.89. A kilometer taxi ride is at $1.52, while a litter of gasoline is at $.95. All of these are above the American pricings. Getting your car here is a win though, as car prices are lower by 13% to 14% compared to United Sates.
Despite the constant push by health expert for home cooked meals, Americans are still finding dining outside the easiest way to nourish themselves. Which is still a win, though. Since dining out here is still more economical than in Australia.
At $50.00, you can already have a three-course fancy meal for two in a mid-range restaurant. You can dial it down by dining at an inexpensive restaurant for only $12.00. While for $7.00 can buy you a meal at McDonalds.
If your thing is cooking at home, a grocery with all the basic necessities like milk, bread, eggs, potatoes, chicken breasts, beef, onion, lettuce, bananas, wine, beer, and a pack of cigarettes, among others, will set you back $140.00.
Despite the very low unemployment rate and impressive quality of life, Australia has a very high cost of living. And that includes dining out where it has become part of their culture (the country has restaurants lining its streets, especially in Melbourne area).
A three-course fancy meal for two in a mid-range restaurant can set you back by $60.00, while dining at an inexpensive restaurant costs $14.00. A McDonalds isn’t any cheaper, either, as it costs $8.00. The same list of grocery item above clocks in at $123.08.
Taxes here are levied at federal, state, and local government level. The income tax system is progressive. Meaning the more money a person makes, the tax rate go higher. Federal income tax comes in when the person earns a certain amount. As for the corporate tax, it currently sits at 35% (higher than in Australia) and Value Added Tax is from 0% to 11.75% for the state and local taxation.
The country’s federal structure complicates the tax system here. Taxes are levied by the federal government, state government and local government. Income tax is levied only by the federal government. Personal tax allowance is AU$18,200 after which tax rates range from 19% to 45%. Capital gains are treated as part of income for taxation purposes.
As for the corporate tax, it currently sits at 28.5%–30% and Value Added Tax is at 10%, but 0% on essential items.
Just a day into a three-week special sitting of Parliament, the Senate handed Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull a double dissolution trigger in a 36-34 vote against the government, laying out the onset of a quite long 75-day election campaign which will culminate on 2 July. This period is more than double the usual election season in the country.
So how does the Australian election work? We broke down the process for you.
The Parliament Housed in Canberra, the capital of Australia.
As we have established before, Australia’s legislative branch is called the Commonwealth Parliament. It is divided into two houses.
The Lower House or the House of Representatives has 150 members. Each member is elected every three years, and represents an electorate of 140,000 people (this figure can widely vary).
The Senate or the Upper House, on the other hand, has 76 members. That’s 12 from each of the six states and two from the mainland territories, the Australian Capital Territory and the Northern Territory. Each member is elected every six years, half of which is up for reelection every three years, along with two from the territories and members of the Lower House.
Australia has a rather complicated election system, as it utilizes preferential voting. Here, no vote ever goes to waste.
For the House of Representatives, the ballot contains the names of the candidate preceded by box. You place a number on each of the box according to your preferred order. So if you prefer the Greens candidate the best, you put a “1” on it. You place “2” on the Democratic candidate, since it’s your second best. And so on. You need to number all the candidates or your vote gets “spoiled” or invalidated.
The ballot paper for the House of Representatives.
The primary votes (the ones marked as number 1) get counted first. If a candidate obtains more 50% of the primary votes, he/she gets elected. If no one in the primary vote secures the enough votes to win, the candidates with the fewest votes get eliminated. The votes get redistributed to the other candidates with the no. 2 preference. This process gets repeated until a candidate secures enough votes.
Electing members of the Senate is another story, as it utilizes a system of voting called proportional representation. There are two ways to vote with this system, "above" and "below the line."
The ballot for the Senate is divided by a line. Voting “above the line” means placing a number 1 on the box of your preferred party, and that party will decide the preferred votes for you. Voting “below the line” works just like with the House of Representatives. You place numbers on each box in the order of your preferred candidates. You need to place a number on every box, or your vote is spoiled.
The ballot paper for the Senators.
A senatorial candidate must secure only 14.3% of the votes (33% in the territories) to be elected. If a candidate fails to obtain this, a complex system of vote re-allocation comes into play.
Voting in Australia is not just a right and a privilege, but a civic duty as well. Under federal electoral law, failure to enroll and vote in federal elections, by-elections and referendums warrants a series of penalties such as criminal conviction and/or a fine of AU$170.
Compulsory voting is being enforced in the country since 1924. The government argues that voting is a civic duty not very much unlike taxation, jury duty, and compulsory education.
There are more than ten political parties in Australia, but two are currently dominating the political arena, forming a de-facto tow party system. They are the Australian Labor Party (ALP) and the Liberal Party.
The Australian Labor Party logo
Formed in 1893, ALP never climbed to being a major party until 1901. It has been in the opposition of the federal government since 2013. The left-wing party is formally linked to the Australian labor movement.
The Liberal Party of Australia logo
As opposed to ALP’s left wing stance, Liberal Party of Australia has a right-winged philosophy. It is founded in 1945 and is in collation with other smaller political parties like the National Party of Australia, the Country Liberal Party of the Northern Territory and the Liberal National Party of Queensland. It is affiliated to the International Democrat Union.
Australia isn't for everybody. It is a place where norms are flipped outside down and logic is thrown outside the window. A country where work and fun are two reconcilable priorities (yes, it is imperative that you have fun here). It is weird, quirky, and mind-blowing at the same time.
Here are ten points to find out if the Land Down Under is the perfect migration destination for you.
Australia might change its season on a daily basis, but it is overly warm. And sometimes, warm is a gross understatement. Temperatures here can reach up to 30 degrees Celsius. Sunscreen will be your best friend (check here how warm it can be in each city).
With a huge land area, there is so much ground to cover in the continent, and a lot of wonderful tourist spots, too. Aussies themselves love to roam around, whether inside or outside the country. And being able to travel also makes it easier to connect with them (check here for some of the best activities to do and places to visit in Australia).
In Australia, equality and fairness is king. Everybody is given an equal opportunity regardless of background, race, or gender. Nobody is too fortunate or bottom-scrapping. They split bills and don't go to barbecues empty-handed.
Alright. Australia is, by statistics, still full of white people (and there's a reason for that, check it here). But it’s slowly changing. With more workforce from around the globe landing ashore, it’s not a rare occurrence that you will be working with at least three Asians, two Europeans, and Middle-Eastern. If you’re a xenophobe, this place isn’t for you.
The Land Down Under isn’t just racially diverse, but sexually, too. At work, don’t be surprised if your boss is gay or lesbian or even a transgender. Everybody is being treated with respect here, no matter what their sexual orientation is. Case in point, one of the biggest street festivals in Sydney is the annual Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras, in which they totally celebrate open-mindedness.
Aussies love sports, actually, any sports. Cricket, football, tennis, soccer, golf, rugby, basketball, you name it. They like to play them, and like watching them even more either in huge stadiums or in bars and homes, cheering and jeering. If you enjoy these things, this is your home, mate.
Australians are very friendly people, in fact, they celebrate this trait as an integral part of their national identity. If a random bloke starts a gleeful conversation with you, you need to welcome it with open arms. Same goes with riding a taxi. The spirit of mateship dictates that you sit beside the driver and have a good chat.
Laziness is being looked down by Australians, as they take pride being hard workers with so much to contribute to society. Being sluggish is a big taboo, they actually have a derogative word for it: bludger. Being called a bludger is one of the worst labels here. It means you are incompetent, inefficient, and can’t pull your own weight.
Don’t be a bogan. Bogans (yes, that’s another derogative slang) are those guys who who haphazardly dress complete with mullet and creepy mustache. Australians make sure they dress smart, as this exhibits confidence, professionalism, and civility.
Living in Australia is all about driving. The country is big and one of the most sparsely populated on Earth. So not everything is within reach. Sometimes you have to drive three to five miles just to get to your favorite burger joint, or to take a walk at the beach.
“Revolutionary” would probably be the on the bottom of the list of words you would associate with Australia (on top would probably be “Aahh spiders!” and seconded by “Aahh more spiders!”). But little do you know that most of the everyday things that have made the wheels of civilization turn more efficiently started in this country you previously thought inhabited solely by kangaroos and Hugh Jackman (well at least until now).
Here are five things we have to thank the Aussies for.
In the 1800s, paid labour in Australia was a punishment reserved only for slaves. They work for 14 hours a day, six days a week. They’re not entitled to any sick or holiday leaves. And the bosses can kick them out of employment at a drop of a hat. No questions asked. Add to that the erratic climate the country has. And you’ll have workers getting sick and dying.
Because of this in 18 August 1855, The Stonemasons Society in Sydney, one of the first labour unions in the country, demanded that laborers in the city work only for eight hours a day after six months. The stonemasons working on the Holy Trinity Church and the Mariners’ Church we’re not the blokes to wait, so they preemptively went on a strike, got their eight-hour workday right, but with reduction to their wages.
The stonemasons working in Melbourne University were not the ones to get upstaged, so they upped the ante. On 21 April 1856, they marched toward the Parliament House with nothing but titanium balls to demand that they work only for eight hours a week with NO loss on pay. And won.
The other countries of the world followed suit and patterned their working structure based on this hours. Each year, the country celebrates this victory of the working masses during May as the Labour Day.
Yes. You have to thank/blame the Aussies for that nine-to-five stay inside your cubicle.
We all have that friend who keeps posting a selfie or two online every hour in case we forgot what he/she looks like after the first 50 times he/she uploaded a picture of him/her. But like it or hate, selfies revolutionized the Internet and created new forms of connections that redefines how we view our social networks.
And it started with one drunk bloke. No really.
The very first “selfie” might have taken by American pioneer photographer Robert Cornelius in 1839, but the Oxford Dictionaries' international word of the year for 2013 was coined in an Australian internet forum on 13 September 2002 by a bloke describing his rather slapstick escapade.
"Um, drunk at a mates 21st, I tripped ofer [sic] and landed lip first (with front teeth coming a very close second) on a set of steps. I had a hole about 1cm long right through my bottom lip. And sorry about the focus, it was a selfie."
That’s right, we got that word because some inebriated mate couldn’t keep his balance, almost smashed his face, and decided to be proud of it in the Internet. Despite sounding too Aussie-ish, the word is now in mainstream usage.
It is safe to say that Wi-Fi is up there with the wheel and sliced bread in the list of the greatest things mankind came up with (at the bottom are Crocs and pop-up ads). It made access to online information easier and more convenient without strapping us to a boring desktop computer.
In 1991, Australian radio-astronomer Dr John O'Sullivan, together with a couple of colleagues, developed a significant patent used in Wi-Fi as a by-product of a failed research by Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), the Australian federal government agency for scientific research based in Canberra. The research originally aimsed to detect exploding black holes the size of an atomic particles (yes, they’re into some super villain stuff that time).
Currently, Wi-Fi is being enjoyed by millions of people around the world and probably deserves to be included in Maslow's hierarchy of needs of basic living along with food, water, and oxygen. The Australian scientists might successfully weaponize black holes that will eventually destroy our planet in the future, but at least they gave us Wi-Fi. Fair trade.
Seat belts are one of the few innovations that actually save lives in automobile accidents (seconded by airbags and “not browsing Facebook while on the road”). But seat belts are just that. It won’t prevent death and injuries all by itself. People has to wear it to work. And given that it is a mild inconvenience (“it ruffles my clothes and reduces mobility”), very few took advantage of it since its inception in the late 1800s.
But do you what worked better? Seat belt legislation. And Australia was the first country on Earth who realized they need to penalize people for not protecting themselves.
The earliest form of seat belt law was passed in the states of Victoria and South Australia in 1964, though they’re for belt anchorages only. In 1970, this law was upgraded to seat belts already. In the 1980s, the rest of the nation followed suit. Following the significant decline of mortalities, countries like Canada, United States, and United Kingdom legislated their own seat belts laws, and soon the rest of the world.
Google Maps is one of those things that did a great deals of help to you including finding your way when you’re lost, checking how your roof looks like from above, and tracing your crush’s house because actually stalking her would definitely earn you a restraint order.
Google founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin might be responsible for introducing the technology to the world, but the brains behind this were two brothers, Lars and Jens Eilstrup Rasmussen. The siblings were founders of a Sydney-based company Where 2 Technologies. In 2003, they created the mapping program, then called Expedition, which was originally designed to be downloaded as an application. A year later, Where 2 Technologies was eventually acquired by Google, developed Expedition as a web based product, and rechristened it Google Maps. And the rest is groundbreaking Internet history.