There is one major difference between people who move abroad and those who don’t, according to a recent study

• Living in another country allows people to experience new cultures and beliefs — consequently, they tend to reflect on their own values and cultural background.
• People who relocate to new country tend to have a better sense of self than those who don’t.
• The research also found that moving abroad can lead to increased satisfaction in life and reduced stress.

Living abroad has plenty of incredible benefits including getting to travel to new places, meet new people, and try new things. But, perhaps the greatest benefit of all is the brand-new sense of self you’ll discover along the way.According to a new study by Rice University in conjunction with Columbia University and the University of North Carolina, living abroad increases “self-concept clarity,” meaning those who choose to live in a new country tend to have a better sense of self than those who don’t.

The scientists came to this conclusion after conducting a total of six separate studies that surveyed 1,874 participants in the United States and in international MBA programs. The surveys included participants who lived abroad and those who did not.

According to the research team, living abroad not only provides people with a new sense of self, but can also bring greater life satisfaction and decreased stress, improved job performance and even “enhanced clarity about the types of careers that best match an individual’s strengths and values.”

So what are you waiting for? Make the leap and move somewhere new.

 

 

HOW DOES THE QUALITY OF LIFE IN AUSTRALIA COMPARE WITH OTHER COUNTRIES AROUND THE WORLD? THE SHORT ANSWER IS ‘VERY WELL’.

Australia is a member country of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OCED). This organisation promotes policies to improve the economic and social well-being of people around the world. The OCED publishes a Better Life Index which compares the quality of life of its member countries. The Better Life Index looks at areas that directly affect people’s daily lives such as healthcare, schooling, social security, how much leisure time people have, and the amount of taxes people pay.

Australia ranks among the top countries in most areas of the Better Life Index.

Some of the quality of life areas in which we excel or are above the average of other OCED countries are:

• Income– household net adjusted disposable income per capita is higher than the OCED average
• Jobs– over 72% of people aged 15 to 64 have a paid job well above the OECD employment average of 65%
• Working hours– people in Australia work 1,728 hours a year, less than most people in the OECD who work 1,765 hours
• Life expectancy– from birth the Australian life expectancy is almost 82 years of age which is two years higher than in other OCED countries
• Air quality– the level of atmospheric PM10 – tiny air pollutant particles small enough to enter and cause damage to the lungs – is 13.1 micrograms per cubic meter, substantially lower than the OECD average of 20.1 micrograms per cubic meter
• Water quality– 93% of people say they are satisfied with the quality of their water, higher than the OECD average response of 84%
• Community– 93% of Australians believe that they know someone they could rely on in a time of need, higher than the OECD average of 89%
• Life Satisfaction– 83% of Australians say they have more positive than negative experiences in an average day, more than the OECD average of 76%

With such a high standard of quality of life it is no wonder that migration to Australia is increasing. On 26 January 2014 at Australia Day ceremonies around the country 18,000 migrants to Australia became Australian citizens. More than a quarter of the country’s population are born elsewhere.  The latest figures from the Australian Bureau Statistics (ABS) show people born in the United Kingdom continue to be the largest group of Australian residents born overseas followed by New Zealand, China and India.

Australia is an attractive destination for migrants due to its affluence, quality of life and excellent job opportunities.

 

 

Once you have finished your studies

When your studies in Australia come to an end, you have a range of options. Most institutions will provide you with information about your options once you have graduated, as well as advice on returning home, migrating and gaining employment. You might choose to do one of the following:

• Complete further studies
• Return to your home country
• Extend your stay in Australia
• Apply for permanent residency

 

Complete further studies

Many international students choose to stay on in Australia to complete further studies or gain a higher qualification (progressing from a bachelor degree to an honors year or masters degree, for example). Continuing your studies will enable you to maximize your time in Australia and gain more advanced qualifications and skills that will assist you in gaining employment. You may choose to continue studying at your current institution or move to a different institution (or even a different city) to try a new experience.

Return to your home country

If you do not wish to travel, live or work in Australia after you graduate, you will most likely be returning to your home country. After years of living in Australia, it can be difficult to pack everything up and move. You will need to cancel services such as electricity, bank accounts and your mobile phone account; pay final bills; sell any large items that you can’t take home with you; and (if you are renting) end your lease and hand back the keys.

Extend your stay in Australia

If you don’t intend on completing further studies, you may wish to extend your time in Australia to work or travel. While you will no longer receive a student visa, there are a range of other temporary visa options that you can apply for through the Department of Immigration and Border Protection. You may wish to extend your stay for the following reasons; Travel, Attend your graduation ceremony, Take a working holiday, Continue working for your current employer, Gain professional work experience, Develop your skills.

Apply for permanent residency

Many international students enjoy their time in Australia so much that they apply for permanent residency so they can continue to live and work in Australia. You can express your interest in applying for permanent residency through the Department of Immigration and Border Protection’s skill select migration program, which could lead to permanent residency through a Skilled Independent Visa, the Employer Nomination Scheme or the Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme. For more information, see the Migration Australia section.

After having your skills assessed through a points test (resulting in a points score), you may then be invited to apply for a visa. Those students who do not pass the points test or meet the requirements of Skill Select may be able to complete further studies or apply for one of the temporary visa options above to stay in Australia and develop their skills.

 

November 2018 – Saturday 3, 7.00 pm to 9.30 pm 
Music Concert
“Victor & Neela Live”