Working in Australia

First and foremost visit the country. It may be a long flight, but it is your future. Most cities in Australia would welcome construction and property professionals from the UK. British, South African and Irish trained quantity surveyors are also sought after throughout the country.

There are a number of vacancies for contract administrators, project managers and even junior positions. Project managers, especially those who have worked on retail, healthcare, commercial and hospitality projects are also in high demand.

"A contract administrator is one of the most highly sought after individuals within the Australian construction market at the moment," says Louise Clinton, Hays Construction & Property manager in Sydney.

Sydney, one of the most popular relocation choices, in particular is currently experiencing a substantially high demand for contract administrators including quantity surveyors and project managers at all levels.

Queensland's Gold Coast and Brisbane are also undergoing a number of high-rise construction and large-scale projects, which have naturally increased demand for site managers, project managers and contract administrators.

The city of Adelaide is developing at a fast pace with a number of key government projects underway; and Melbourne and Perth are still looking for key personnel, such as project managers, site managers and contract administrators.

However, if cities are not your thing don't fret, engineers are required for remote locations throughout Australia.

Labour laws and salaries

Australian labour laws are numerous and varied. Employees should seek individual advice; your recruitment consultant can assist in this area and the Australian embassy will be able to provide further information. However, an occupational health and safety general induction card, similar to the UK CSCS card for construction work, is a general requirement by any construction employee on-site.

Investigate your visa options before you apply for jobs. Decide if you are going to apply for permanent residency, whether you will come on a working holiday visa or whether you will require sponsorship. Include friends and family in the decision as many people return within the first six months because they become homesick.

There has been a greater focus on working conditions and benefits in Australia, so despite the skills shortages, employers have generally avoided dramatic salary increases. Salary levels are often very competitive with the UK, highlighting that dramatic drops in salary levels are no longer always the case when relocating.

"There has been a definite rise in employers focusing on work-life balance. More companies recognise that this balance is important and are focusing on it in an attempt to retain staff," advices Diane Townson, manager of Hays GlobaLink.

Like in the UK, general benefits for intermediate to senior level positions include such items as mobile phones, free private healthcare and performance related bonuses. However, in contrast to the UK, all employers in Australia have to pay 9% towards their employees' pension, "a considerable selling point, because it is a generous benefit on top of a basic salary rate" says Townson.

Clinton suggests that one main cultural benefit of relocating is that "it is warmer in Australia. The culture is a lot more laid back and the cost of living is cheaper in terms of social activities."

Sought after skills

site-based candidates, the ability and knowledge to work on construction projects from conception to completion is essential. Candidates must not be specialists as they will need to gain local knowledge of set out, structure, and finishes.

For senior contract administrators and project managers, most clients seek a strong commercial awareness, healthy client development skills and the ability to add value to projects.