When we were kids, most of us either wanted to be doctors, lawyers, accountants, and or bankers. We looked up to people who walk the paved streets of commercial centers wearing well-tailored suits and sporting leather brief cases. There weren’t many kids who dreamt of becoming wants to be wants to be mining workers, construction managers, crane operators, as these labourers are always greasy, dirty, and living a life of financial struggle.
Turns out, we got the world wrong. We have unfairly placed these labourers in bad light. Blue-collar workers have a repertoire of benefits the white-collared employees can only dream of. While some of us corporate slaves waste our lives away in our office cubicles, these manual workers are enjoying the day-to-day challenge of their jobs and appreciates the world as it is.
We rounded off some of these perks. So that if you feel like going for the blue-collar path is the best for you, then you don’t have to feel apologetic about it anymore.
Let us eliminate this on-going stereotype first, that manual workers and labourers are living inferior financial lives compared to the office-bound ones. This is not true for most occupations anymore, as they are now taking home upwards of $70,000 and even reaching $165,000. By comparison, average white-collar salary in the country is $73,000 annually, and a chunk of that hard-earned money has to go to settling your university loans.
In blue collar jobs, you will not have that dilemma, it’s because…
The world is continually changing. The technology we rely on today will be considered obsolete in two or three years from now. That’s why it is important to continue upskilling and training to catch up with the times, get ahead of others, and increase your salary.
This is good news since blue collar employees can attend trainings, obtain scholarships, and get certificates for affordable fees. And sometimes these may be settled by the Government completely. This way, you don’t have to go through sleepless nights worrying about your student loans since they are inexpensive.
Sure, companies can have the number crunching, customer service, and administrative jobs be performed by a person from the other end of the world, but good luck doing that with the tasks of repairing the pipe lines or driving the trucks.
This is one reason why blue collar jobs never run out in the country. They just keep coming. They have to be performed personally by people who are actually in the area. Also, you won’t wake up one day finding that your job already belongs to another person from another country with more economical labour rates.
And it also helps that Australia’s industries are on a roll right now with the boom in certain sectors like construction services, food processing, gas transport, and organic farming. We are seeing a secure future here.
Do you know what is the most prolific killer threatening our lives these days? The office chair. Sitting for eight hours straight causes increase in body fats (which results to heart problems in the long run) weakened muscles, lung inefficiency, increased risk of incurring diabetes, digesting issues, bad posture, and even cancer. No wonder, white collar people will tend to counter this by going straight to the gym or yoga sessions after their nine-to-five grind.
Most of the manual labourers, on the other hand, do not have to do this. Their job is already physically demanding, they are already working their muscles, pumping their hearts, and exhausting their lungs while at work. These people will only sit during their lunch or their short breaks. After that, it is non-stop walking and lifting and toiling again. After their shift ends, they just rest or pursue whatever hobbies they enjoy.
And speaking of hobbies…
Work-life balance is the Holy Grail of corporate life these days. A career cornucopia that we have yet to attain as employees and workers. The advancement of technologies allowed our work and off-work environments to merge into a heaping mass of constant confusion and ruined priorities. Smart phones and social media permitted us to attend to home duties while at work and check and write office emails while at home. There is no way to distinguish the two anymore.
The blue-collared workers’ line of work remains unchanged over the years. Most of them still have to perform things manually; repairing equipment, drilling on surfaces, and operating machines. They do not have to be wired constantly to computers and smart phones and work chat rooms. So once their work ends, they don’t have to worry about it anymore until the next day’s punch in.
As a white collar employee, it is not strange to feel like just an item on the huge company spreadsheet. After all, the corporate infrastructure is so technical, cryptically embedded within annual reports, and surrounded by hunky terms like debenture stocks, yield curves, volatility, residual values, and such. It is hard to paint a picture of how your grind actually contributes to the overall progress of the company.
On the other hand, if you work on the construction, you will see as the building gets slowly completed. The metal sheet mechanic sees the piles of steel plates they have tirelessly worked on get higher and then be delivered. The locomotive repair officer can witness as the train whistles again and move on the tracks after fixing it. And the service or welfare worker can see the people he/she has helped become happy and satisfied.
Blue collar workers end their shift with a sense of accomplishment and fulfillment because they have a firsthand perspective of what they have shared towards realizing a common goal. This is what drives them to look forward to the next day’s work because they know it is another opportunity to contribute again.
It is not uncommon for partners and spouses to be waiting for their partner visas to be processed without knowing the benefits they are entitled to in the meantime.
A bridging visa “bridges” the gap between substantive Australia visas. So if a visa expires, you are still allowed to stay in Australia until a decision has been made on your next visa. It is the transitioning stage.
A partner bridging visa allows you to stay in Australia until the decision of your partner visa has been made.
So what does a partner bridging visa allow you to do? Here are a few of the benefits.
Income stream is very important, especially if you are starting to build your life together in Australia. Having your partner be employed without any restrictions and be able to contribute to your relationship’s income pool is very essential in achieving your dreams.
Whether your spouse is an engineer or a zoologist - they will be able to build their careers in Australia. The country never runs out of skill shortages. These are brought forth by the ongoing expansion of the economy and the breakneck speed in which technological innovations are moving. Australia’s pool of workers and professionals cannot catch up because of the slow growth in the population as well as the aging demographic of employees, so the country has to rely on the flow of migrants coming in to fill in these gaps.
Your partner, whatever his or her degree, profession, or specialization is, should be able to find his or her place in Australia's talent pool and build a solid career.
As mentioned, Australia is an ever-growing country with technology, career and businesses. Whether you are looking to study to upskill further or looking to change careers or getting your first formal qualifications. A bridging visa will allow you to attend universities. However, International Student fees still apply.
YES. With a bridging visa, you (the applicant) can travel outside the country and still set your foot back in Australia. This is given that you return within the specified amount of time. You may go back to your homeland for a while or travel to other countries with your partner and Oz will still welcome you back.
That’s right. So a bridging visa will allow you to be with your loved one until a decision is made. Given the lengthy processing time, it is an advantage to not be waiting for the partner visa for months on end in order to live and be with your loved one.
The best case scenario for most couples is to stay together in Australia during the processing of their partner visa.
If you are looking to apply for a partner visa but unsure of which visa pathways have bridging visas to allow you to stay in Australia during the processing times, contact us for a free eligibility assessment by a VisaOne Visa Expert.
Otherwise, leave us a comment below for any visa questions you have unanswered.
Please note that this informative article is not a substitute for professional advice. Always seek a professional for Australian visa advice as each individual situation is different.
We have covered the benefits of considering a permanent residency in the Land Down Under, and the reasons why you should pursue Australian citizenship while you’re at it. We even showed you why studying here is the best idea ever. But we never discussed why you should even be working here in the first place. There are many reasons. Australia has a friendly climate, a stable government, and a well-structured health care, among others.
Also, there are these work-related perks and benefits that make the country the go-to place for employment-related migration.
Living in Australia might be one of the most expensive when it comes to the cost of living, but the very high minimum wage offsets that by a great degree. In fact, it is the sixth highest in the world when it comes to average wage, and the fourth lowest in terms of salary deduction, as provided by Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development’s numbers.
That means you will get a lion’s share of your gross earnings even with all the deductibles taken out. And if you’re a professional or on a white collar job, you’ll have a bigger chance of getting a better payoff.
Australia‘s economy relies on its robust sectors and industries such mining, agriculture, finance, tourism, media, education, and service; the last being the largest contributor to the country’s growth. Other huge employers include manufacturing, logistics, and information technology industry.
Because of this, the country is always on a lookout for skilled employees to support its still thriving economy. While some countries have job shortages, the country is working on its worker deficit. That means at any given time, some company is in need of your expertise and services.
Australia’s very low unemployment rate is a proof of that. At 5.8% as of March of 2016, it is one of the lowest in the world.
At an average of 1,664 hours annually (or approximately thirty-two hours a week), Australia has one of the lowest working hours in the world. It’s way lower compared to other top migration destinations such as Japan, New Zealand, and United Sates. That means you don’t usually stay two to three hours more just because your boss says so.
The country follows the 40-hour workweek. And they should. Australia is the first country to fight for such rule to give its employees more susceptible working conditions. Here, you can enjoy a good work-life balance, because you work to live, rather than the other way around.
Australia occupies the 4th spot in the US News’ list of countries with highest quality of life and the 6th spot on places to live in the world. It scores very high on life expectancy on both males and females and has a high rate of participation in sporting and fitness activities. It also ranks number five when it comes to purchasing power (see good compensation above), safety of the citizens, property price-to-income ratio, cost of living, commuting time, and pollution index.
Also, it is one of the happiest and least stressed countries in the world in terms of generosity, social support, freedom, and lack of corruption. While Adelaide, Perth, Sydney, and Melbourne were among the top ten most livable cities in the world.
If you are a sociable person who appreciates good chats (friendly banters optional), freedom, and democracy in the workplace, then Australia is for you. Aussies are inherently friendly, grateful, and polite with a knack for a sense of humor. Sternness has no place here. And everybody is welcomed with a cheerful attitude and utmost respect, from the company CEO to the office custodian.
And this extends well beyond after work, what with their after-office drinks that can go five days a week (this is not mandatory, though). Or even to weekends, where barbecues and pot lucks are a norm. Just don’t talk about anything work or business-related, though. Those are a no-no.
Close to one-third of Australia’s population are immigrants, according to a report by the United Nations. Also, one in every four Aussies were born overseas, with half of them with a parent born outside the country. The nation was basically built by immigrants (just check their history) and their economy continues to rely on skilled workers who come to their shores.
Diversity is the rule here. There are no high walls or huge barriers to keep you as an outsider. You will be treated not according to your race, color, gender, background, or religion, but based on your character. That’s how the spirit of mateship goes. A strong tradition that dictates everybody should be treated equally, and should treat everybody equally in return.
If these do not pique your curiosity yet, here are ten reasons why living in the country is one of the best decisions ever.
We’ve covered the perks of getting an Australian permanent residency (see here). You can consider applying for Australian Citizenship if you want to secure an Australian passport and also take advantage of other benefits available to Australian citizens.
Below are some of the benefits of becoming an Australian Citizen.
In Australia, no vote ever goes to waste (see here how their elections work), as they utilize the preferential system of voting. As an Australian citizen, you have the right to vote in federal, state or territory, and municipal elections, as well as in referendums. Take note though that voting here is both a right and a duty.
Australia has a very stable government (What type exactly? Check here). If you are aspiring to be a member of the Federal Parliament, you cannot hold a dual citizenship, unless you have made all efforts to have your other citizenship revoked.
Being part of the Australian Defence Force is ripe with benefits. First, you will have the honour of preserving peace in the country and protecting it. Second, you’ll have access to pensions, benefits, free medical and dental care, excellent training facilities, and subsidized accommodation, among others. Working for the government also has many perks, like good compensation, superannuation, and employment pension.
Mishaps while overseas are a prime headache, but being an Australian citizen, the embassies will take care of that. In case of accidents, injuries, natural disasters, passport loss, and other unwanted instances, you may seek aid from Australian embassies and consulates located worldwide.
As a permanent resident visa holder, your children will become Australian citizens automatically given they were born in the country. If you are an Australian citizen, children born anywhere in the world can be registered as Australian citizens by descent. They are entitled to rights, privileges, and benefits enjoyed by other Australian citizens.
Australian citizenship does not have an expiry date. As a citizen you can apply for an Australian passport and have total freedom to travel in and out of Australia (including being overseas, without any time limitations or restrictions to re-enter).
Being a permanent visa holder, you are already entitled to education subsidies to aid you in tertiary education expenses. But being a citizen gives you (and your children) more options in education cost deferrals such as HECS programs, scholarships, awards and the Student Income Support from the Australian government.
If you and your spouse are Australian citizens, you are eligible to adopt a child here. Do note that requirements may vary in every state.
You will have full travel and work rights in New Zealand (as Australia and New Zealand have a Trans-Tasman agreement).
The Olympics, Commonwealth Games, and Goodwill games are just few of the sporting events Australia always send delegates to. If you are an Australian citizen, you are eligible to participate and represent the country in these events, if you want to embark on a sporting career.