Welcome to Australia

"Over the past 12 months, opportunities within the construction and property market have continued to grow," he says. "We have seen a number of Australians relocating to emerging markets such as Hong Kong and Dubai, which has placed greater pressure on employers to find suitable candidates. This offers a number of opportunities for candidates from overseas because employers are now more willing and able to offer sponsorships.

"However," he warns, "competition from candidates from other countries, such as South Africa and Ireland, remains strong and remember that despite a number of lifestyle benefits, the Aussies do prefer rugby to football!"

In Building's International Zone guide to working in Australia's construction industry you'll find all you need to know about the rules and regulations governing how you go about finding a job, what you can expect when you get there, and even the low down on local etiquette. But first, a little history and background on the place that more and more construction workers are calling home.

History and geography

The very first settlers to ever set foot on Australian soil probably date back to around 50,000 years ago. It was, however, the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders who widely settled there thousands of years later. With them they brought complex social systems, as well as a multitude of languages and cultural traditions. What most of them had in common was a real respect for the often awe-inspiring environment that they had colonised.

Australia's written history, though, began with the arrival of the Europeans. Explorers from Europe arrived in New Holland, as it was then called, as far back as the 17th century, but it was not until 1770 that Captain James Cook claimed the country for the British Crown.

Originally intended for use as a penal colony, Australia saw its first influx of settlers, mainly colonists and convicts, arrive on 26th January 1788, now celebrated as Australia Day.

In 1901 the six states came together in a federation to form The Commonwealth of Australia. One of the first acts passed by the new parliament was the Immigration Restriction Act, which limited the access of non-Europeans to the country.

Still bonded to Europe, Australia was to suffer horrific losses during the First and Second World Wars, but in the post-war period, with the suspension of immigration restrictions, the country entered a time of boom and prosperity.

In the 1960s, Australia at last began to empower Indigenous Australians and seek to improve their living conditions.

Today the country is still seen as a land of opportunity, for the most part a cosmopolitan and dynamic society with a thriving international business reputation. The major population centres are still based along the more hospitable coastal areas.

Australia's state capitals are Darwin in the northern territories, Perth situated in the west, Adelaide in the South, Melbourne in Victoria, Sydney in New South Wales, Brisbane in Queensland and Hobart in Tasmania. The centre of government and capital city of Australia is Canberra, which is contained within New South Wales.

Climate

Australia enjoys many different climate conditions across its vast expanse, with the summer months generally beginning in October.

Canberra warms up to 27.7°C (81.9°F) in January with the coolest temperatures generally experienced around July at a relatively low 11.2°C (52.2°F). October is wet season and July dry in New South Wales.

The popular harbour city of Sydney generally experience its wettest month in March and driest in September, with maximum temperatures hovering somewhere around the 25.8°C (78.4°F) mark in January and falling to 16.8°C (62.2°F) in June.

Cosmopolitan Melbourne gets as hot as Sydney in January and February, but falls slightly lower to 13.4°C (56.1°F) in July, with October experiencing the most and February the least rain downfall.

Brisbane is wettest in February and driest in September. Temperature can reach 29.1°C (84.4°F) in January and diminish very mildly to 20.6°C (69.1°F) in July.

In the southern part of the island, near the city of Adelaide, maximum temperatures can reach 28.1°C (82.6°F) in February and drop to 14.9°C (58.8°F) in July. The wettest months in south Australia are generally around June and July, and the driest in January.

The northern city of Darwin is hot with temperatures rising as high as 32.6°C (90.7°F) in April and not much cooler at 30.4°C (86.7°F) in July. January is generally a wet month and July the driest time for the northern territories.

The coastal city of Perth in western Australia heats up to 31.8°C (89.2°F) in February and cools down to 17.8°C (64.0°F) in July, with the bulk of rainfall seen around June and the least is in January.

And finally, Tasmania's temperature rises to 21.6°C (70.9°F) in February and drops to 11.6°C (52.9°F) in July, with December generally experiencing the most and February the least rain.

Currency

The currency throughout the country is the Australian dollar with £1 roughly equating tot 2.4 Australian dollars.

To get an idea on how much ordinary items cost you can visit: www.auinfo.com/australia_prices.html

Health

Most Australians enjoy remarkably good health. This is predominantly an outdoor culture, where sport and physical activity are part of everyday life.

The geographical isolation of Australia and its strict quarantine laws mean that the country is generally immune from most diseases associated with unsanitary conditions or insect transferral. Australia also boasts an exceptionally high standard of medical care, though the geographical vastness of the country makes coverage over the less populated areas of the country often patchy.

The most obvious risks to the health of someone working in a town or city in Australia are likely to be caused by undercooked Barbie food, bungee burns or over exposure to the sun. Skin cancers is on the rise as global warming erodes the protective ozone layer, so cover up, and apply plenty of sun cream as a barrier whenever out in the open.

Sunstroke and dehydration are common, but travellers can also be caught unawares by the sudden and dramatic drop in temperature that can occur in more remote areas at night, which can cause hypothermia. Several areas in Australia measure their droughts in years, and subsequently sudden and intense bush fires can be a source of danger for the unwary.

Dangerous wildlife

Australia also has a ridiculously large array of animal life that could do you harm if you were unlucky enough to cross its path.

Nets generally keep the many species of shark to be found off the coast away from the public beaches, but this should not be taken for granted when away from popular areas. The box jellyfish isn't predatory, but it can grow to over three meters and its tentacles possess a potentially fatal, paralysing sting - worth remembering if you are taking a dip along the northern coast.

Saltwater crocodiles, however, are predatory and will quite happily turn you into a snack for daring to bathe in one of their rivers. Saltwater crocodiles can be found surprisingly far inland and local advice should be sought before taking a dip in any appealing looking river or waterhole.

There are around 100 venomous species of snake in Australia, among them the Taipan, Red Bellied Black, Copperhead, Eastern Tiger, Death Adder and Mulga. Most snakebites happen to people who try to interfere with a snake during the course of its everyday activity. With so many species present it is best to avoid contact with any snake. As if this wasn't enough there are also venomous seas snakes, though their bites are rare and seldom fatal.

There are around 40 species of funnel web spider to be found in the South East coastal areas of Australia. Not all are venomous, but the Sydney funnel-web spider has been responsible for several deaths in the area. Many funnel webs will bite if happened upon and prefer the coastal areas, so contact is common. Species likes the white-tail and the redback spider can also deliver a painful bite.

Last, but not least, seasoned backpackers be warn against getting into lively discussions about which country is best in small bars in small towns, unless you already happen to believe Australia to be the best place on the planet, and all English men to be effeminate.