Australia continues to be a favoured destination for many skilled workers. The current Skilled Occupation List, Schedule 1, sets out 192 occupations of high value to the Australian employment market, representing occupations that are eligible for independent and family sponsored skilled migration.

Australia is a prosperous nation with a strong economy and great wealth in natural resources. Tax rates are reasonably low, and the country offers outstanding opportunities for employment, business undertakings, and investments.

Australians generally enjoy a high living standard, low unemployment rate, and average income levels amongst the highest in the world.

Australian universities and tertiary educational institutions rank highly in international comparisons, and the large number of public and private schools present wide-ranging options for primary and secondary schooling. The Australian health care system is based on both publicly funded government schemes and private health insurers, providing affordable access to first-rate medical services.

With about 22 million inhabitants (July 2011), Australia has a very low population density and vast tracts of unspoiled pristine nature. The clean environment and healthy lifestyle may contribute to the high life expectancy of Australians.

The infrastructure is highly developed in Australia, with excellent communications including extensive road and rail networks, shipping and cruise lines, as well as domestic and international air transportation systems for passengers and cargo. Australia has a modernized agricultural sector, a variety of manufacturing industries, large-scale mining enterprises, and financial, mercantile, and banking organizations. Construction of a national broadband network is underway.

With time zones close to those of Southeast and East Asia, trading activities are convenient with countries like India, China and Japan.

Australia enjoys a stable political environment, underpinned by solid democratic processes and legal institutions. Values of democracy, equal opportunity, and good governance are fundamental to the Australian political system.

Australian society is multicultural and tolerant, and its people friendly and easy-going. Many Australians have a particular love for sports and the outdoors, such as bushwalking in National Parks, relaxing at the beach, playing tennis or cricket, or simply preparing a barbie (BBQ) in the backyard for friends and family.

A culturally diverse nation, Australian cities boast a multitude of restaurants of various culinary origins. Quality art galleries, many with indigenous art, theatres, musicals, operas, and concerts of different genres are also on offer. Sports and sporting activities take a prominent role, at both amateur and professional levels.

Australia is a country where people can feel safe and secure, and look to their future with optimism and confidence.
The large island continent features a diverse range of climate zones, varying from tropical areas to the north, arid expanses across the interior, and temperate regions in the south.

Ocean waters are inviting for swimming, surfing and scuba diving, and also serve to moderate temperatures in coastal areas relative to inland locations.

Winter sports, for example skiing and snow boarding, can be enjoyed for several months of the year in the Australian Alps, and in mountainous parts of Tasmania, whereas the capital cities of continental Australia very rarely have snow.

Australia is identified by Conservation International as one of a few megadiverse countries that have extensive biodiversity and contain a sizeable number of the Earth’s species. The scenic beauty of Australia, and its unique flora and fauna, are of such wealth and abundance that a lifetime may not be enough to discover but a small fraction of it.