You should also be aware that some visas (particularly student visas) carry conditions restricting the number of hours the visa holder is allowed to work. For example, condition 8105 frequently attached to a student visa imposes a limitation of 20 hours work per week while a course of study or training is in session. A breach of this condition is grounds for IMMEDIATE cancellation of the visa.

It is also more often the case than not that employers and recruitment agencies simply will not enter into any meaningful dialogue with a person looking for a job until the person has a visa and has actually arrived in Australia. Many jobs are advertised as being for citizens and permanent residents only - if you are still waiting for your visa to be issued it will be a waste of time applying for such a position. That said, it will probably be worth contacting some recruitment agencies to find out their view of the jobs market before you leave for Australia - but we would tend to treat any promises of certain job offers on arrival with a healthy scepticism. Also, why not ask a question on the newsgroups to find out what others in your area of expertise are experiencing?

Once you have secured your first job in Australia you should make sure you have obtained a Tax File Number and have completed a Tax File Number Declaration for the employer - if you haven't you can expect to find that you have tax deducted on all your hard earned salary at the rate of 48.5%. If you have any problems in the area of tax please visit our sister site, Collett & Co Chartered Accountants or contact us.

There are literally hundreds of recruitment agencies advertising jobs in Australia and we have put together a small selection - click here for links to their websites.

If you want to recommend any other sites please contact us.

Finally, don't forget - if you want regular updates on information relating to visas register with us and tick the Visas box.

Good Luck!

Go Matilda - Your Gateway to Australia