All about Melbourne & Australia

Melbourne is the capital of Australia's second largest State, Victoria, and home to a vibrant, diverse culture and an equally robust business and finance community. Located around the shores of Port Phillip Bay and home to more than three million people, Melbourne is renowned for being Australia's capital of style, boasting a vast range of world-class cultural activities, festivals, restaurants, and sporting contests that are enjoyed by residents and visitors alike. The city is also a major commercial centre for the Asia-Pacific region and boasts a strong economy with abundant employment and entrepreneurial opportunities.

Like all Australians, Melburnians are friendly and, since the city's foundation in the middle of the 19th century, have been keen to share their rich lifestyle and economic prosperity with many thousands of new residents from every continent on earth. This article will give an introduction to this friendly, vibrant city and introduce the opportunities it offers to skilled and business migrants and their families.

Environment

Victoria has an environment of great, diverse beauty and boasts a mild and temperate climate. Victoria is covered by many different terrains from snow-capped mountains through to long sandy beaches. The climate is generally mild and the residents of Melbourne enjoy brisk winters, warm summers, cool autumns and fragrant springs. The climate year round is ideal for Victorians to enjoy a healthy outdoor lifestyle that incorporates hiking, skiing, surfing and countless other sporting and outdoor leisure activities.

The residents of Melbourne are ideally located to enjoy these natural delights of Victoria as many of these attractions are within only a short trip from the centre of Melbourne. Though, even in Melbourne many elements of the natural environment can be enjoyed within the city itself as Melbourne is home to spacious parklands, and beautiful beaches. Also, only a short ferry trip away is the world-famous Phillip Island Nature Park where visitors can delight in the antics of the Island's famous fairy penguins and other unique native Australian wildlife. Indeed, Melbourne is ideally located amongst many natural wonders.

Culture

Melbourne is considered by many to be the most elegant and stylish of all Australian cities, featuring grand 19th century architecture contrasted alongside glittering modern skyscrapers, all set on grand promenades. In this grand setting Melbourne offers residents and visitors a wide range of cultural activities to enjoy. Everything from opera, ballet and theatre in Melbourne's famous Arts Centre through to rock and pop concerts in Melbourne's many music clubs, is enjoyed every night in Melbourne. Melbourne also features world-class art galleries, festivals and restaurant districts where cuisines from across the globe can be sampled and enjoyed in both elegant and bohemian atmospheres.

Australia is regarded as one of the greatest sporting nations and Melbourne is referred to as Australia's sporting capital. Regularly hosting exciting Australian and international sporting contests (most notably the Olympic Games in 1956), Melbourne continues to offer sporting spectators a wide range of events to enjoy. Thrilling events such as the Australian F1 Grand Prix, the 2003 Rugby World Cup, the Australian Tennis Open and many other events such as international Cricket matches and Melbourne's favourite game, Australian Rules Football, are all crammed onto Melbourne's sporting calendar. Apart from these major sporting contests, sports ranging from Soccer and Rugby League through to Basketball and Netball can be watched in Melbourne throughout the year. Melbourne will also be welcoming thousands of athletes from around the globe when it hosts the Commonwealth Games in 2006.

Employment and Entrepreneurial Opportunities

Both Victoria and Australia enjoy stable, centrist governments that have been instrumental in Australia's economic prosperity. All Victorians over 18 vote in free and fair elections for both National and State representatives and Victoria's State democracy is one of the oldest in the world.

Both National and State governments are business friendly and actively encourage business and skilled people to migrate to Australia in order for their expertise to help continue to drive Australia's economic success. State Governments will actively seek to sponsor business migrants with special business skills and thereby encouraging them to start a business in their State. Melbourne, as a centre of commerce in the Asia-Pacific region, offers many opportunities for business people and skilled migrants to work and become successful. Indeed, Victoria is a rapidly growing State that boasts large service and technology sectors, as well as a robust manufacturing industry.

Australia has a highly educated workforce and Melbourne is home to several world-class Universities. There are many opportunities to take advantage of this world-class tertiary education system as these Universities offer qualifications that are recognised throughout the world. Victoria also has a free, public education system at both primary and secondary levels. All children who reach their final year have the opportunity to matriculate into Australia's fine public Universities by completing their VCE (Victorian Certificate of Education). University education is provided free up-front by the Australian Government on a no-interest long-term loan scheme.

How to take the Opportunity

Melbourne offers a unique lifestyle, a robust economy and a wealth of opportunity for skilled and business migrants. Not only is it an excellent place to do business, it is also an idyllic location to live and raise a family.

Migrating to Australia as a Skilled or Business Migrant is encouraged by the Australian government, but it is a complicated process. When thinking about taking the many economic and lifestyle opportunities afforded by Melbourne, talk to a specialist Australian Immigration lawyer. A specialist immigration lawyer can take you through the migration process, help you gain sponsorship, and make sure that your application for a business or skilled visa is handled right the first time. Isaac Brott & Co understands the needs of business people and are ready to handle all your migration law needs.