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Simply click on the links below to automatically scroll down the page of the latest LIVE IN australia.com^® news. Click on 'TOP' to return to the top of the page:

1. Aussie mines need 87,000 new workers
2. Aussies at the Games
3. Staff Profile - Yuan Yuan (Maria) Liu
4. Brits and Irish 'enjoy' worst quality of life in Europe
5. How far can a migrant go? J C Williamson: Theatrical Pioneer
6. Afrikaners going east
7. Aussie Surprise of the Month - Nobel Prize for Gastric Ulcer Break-Through
8. 24% rise in temporary work visas!
9. A town like Broken Hill
10. South Australia starts talks with Philippines
11. One nation, many cultures - Ten days on the Island, Tasmania
12. So how do you like Australia? David Beehan - vet
13. Aussie Survival Guide - What's a pot?
14. Australia wants UK construction workers
15. Aussie Recipe: Braised rabbit with olives and capers
16. In Brief

Aussie mines need 87,000 new workers
With the global resources super cycle expected to continue for a decade or more, Australia's mining industry will require an additional 87,000 workers, according to research commissioned by the Minerals Council of Australia.

This figure represents a 68 per cent increase on the current workforce in the sector.  Council education and training director Chris Fraser said the research highlighted a challenge for the minerals sector.

"The labour market is already running at capacity and this extra demand will mean it is even more critical that Australia's chronic skills shortages are addressed."
The Minerals Council welcomed federal Government initiatives to increase skills training and streamline temporary visa applications for skilled migrants.

The research shows Western Australia will require the largest increase, projected at 48,000 people - or an 86 per cent increase in demand. WA will represent 55 per cent of the total national increase in labour demand.

Queensland's demand is projected to rise by 23,035 workers. The most rapid increase in labour demand will be in South Australia, with a 100 per cent rise.

The study, by the National Institute of Labour Studies at Flinders University, projects the labour demand for nine major commodities from 2007 to 2020.
The increases are projected to be in iron ore (21,000 people) and coal (19,000).

The biggest increase in the demand for labour in absolute terms by occupational category is projected to be in the trades and semi-skilled worker categories. The study says these two categories represent a total of 61,000 people.

If you have skills, experience and qualifications that suit mining, contact LIA and find out what Aussie mining offers you.

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Aussies at the Games
Australia has competed at every modern Summer Olympics. At the first modern Games in Athens, in 1896, Australia's outstanding champion was Edwin 'Teddy' Flack (1873–1935), who won gold medals in the 800 metre and 1500 metre races, a bronze in doubles tennis and competed in the marathon and singles tennis.

The Australian team had 77 members at the London Games in 1948. At the 1956 Melbourne Games, our Team numbered 325 and we won 35 medals. Australia sent a contingent of 249 to Los Angeles in 1984 and they brought back 24 medals.

Back home in Australia, we won 58 medals at the Sydney Games in 2000, with a team of 632 competitors. At Athens, in 2004, the Australian team of 482 athletes secured 49 medals, the most medals won at an away Games.

Reflecting Australia's multi-national make-up, many of our Olympic athletes were born in other countries. Brother and sister swimming champions at Melbourne, Ilsa and John Conrads, came from Latvia. Recent household name Michael Klim, hails from Poland, Tatiana Gregorieva immigrated from Russia. We've had weightlifters from Bulgaria and Greece, sprinters from Sri Lanka, basketball players from the US.

If you looked into it, many Australian Olympians were born elsewhere. That's what Australia is all about: giving the brightest and best in their fields an opportunity to rise to even greater heights in our Great Southern Land.

Edwin Flack. Australian gold
Medalist, Athens, 1896.

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Staff Profile
Name: Yuan Yuan (Maria) Liu
Position: Migration advisor
My role:
- Help people to migrate to Australia
- Help people around me and myself to be happy
Where were you born and describe your home town?
- I was born in Kunming, Yunnan, China where we eat flowers and bamboo worms
If you were competing in the Olympics, what would be your favourite event and why?
- Gymnastics because it is like dancing
What makes you laugh?
- A joke, a tickle, a cat using his tail to fish in a tank
Favourite overseas destination?
- China
Why?
- Lots of things to be discovered
- Plus: when I am running out of money during my trip, I can always go home to visit my parents who live in Kunming
Favourite hobbies?
- Outdoor activities
What do you love most about Australia?
- Beach
What's one thing that you find really strange about Australians?
- They want to have BBQ in Olympic village
In 5 words, describe why you love working at LIA?
- Passion, high quality, team work

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Brits and Irish 'enjoy' worst quality of life in Europe
Britain and Ireland have the highest average incomes in Europe but come bottom in terms of quality of life, while Spain and France are at the top of the index, according to a recent study.

Britons pay sky-high prices for fuel, food and other essentials, while having among the shortest holidays, latest retirement age and lowest life expectancy.

Ireland, is placed even worse than Britain, coming in last in the European Quality of Life Index by U-Switch, a British service comparison website.

The study assessed 19 factors affecting quality of life, ranging from income and working conditions to healthcare, education and cost of living. Britons have an average net income of more than 35,000 pounds (70,000 US dollars, 44,000 euros) a year; about 10,000 pounds more than the European average, while Ireland comes second on more than 29,000 pounds.

But they pay between six to 18 per cent more for fuel and 49 per cent more for gas, not to mention spectacularly high housing costs. Ireland's gas bills are more than twice the European average.

The findings come as Britain and Ireland face a sharp economic slowdown fuelled by the global credit crunch, which is also threatening other European countries although they have enjoyed less of a boom in recent years.

If you're Irish or British, maybe you should investigate the quality of life down-under. Contact LIA today.

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How far can a migrant go?
J C Williamson: Theatrical Pioneer

James Cassius Williamson (1845-1913) was born on 26 August 1845 in Mercer PA, USA. About 1856 the family moved to Milwaukee, WI, where he was educated and made a clandestine theatrical début in 1857.

JC and his wife visited Australia under contract in August 1874. They left in October 1875 wealthy and famous, to tour the UK, Europe and the US.

In July of 1879, with the Australasian rights to H.M.S. Pinafore, they came back to Australia, opening in August 1879 at the Theatre Royal, Melbourne. Williamson entered into partnership with Arthur Garner and George Musgrove. In December 1886 they opened the luxurious (New) Princess's Theatre in Melbourne with The Mikado.

Williamson, Garner & Co. brought Sarah Bernhardt to Australia in 1891. Williamson continued as lessee of the Princess's Theatre until May 1900. He renovated the Alexandra Theatre, Melbourne, renaming it Her Majesty's and filling it with imported stars. He also leased the Sydney Her Majesty's, and in 1902 mounted Ben Hur at a cost of £14,000. A bubonic plague outbreak temporarily closed this theatre and it later burnt down. (These theatres operate successfully to this day.

In 1910 J. C. Williamson Ltd was formed and achieved outstanding successes with tours by H. B. Irving and Dame Nellie Melba.

Williamson was Australia's most successful theatrical entrepreneur. He understood what the public wanted to see, and he retained a child's 'fairy-tale' view of the theatre's magic. He died in Paris on 6 July 1913, leaving an estate, valued for probate at £193,010 ... a lot of money before World War 1.

J C Williamson

LIA shares that determination to win, while doing the right thing. Contact LIA now and see how that helps you.

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Afrikaners going east
In the first six months of this year an increasing number of South Africans considered migrating to Australia or actually did.

The Australian high commission in Pretoria said that while no figures were available yet on how many South Africans had settled in Australia so far this year, 3996 relocated here last year, with total visitor numbers reaching 149,000.

David Randall, marketing manager of Pentravel, said inquiries and bookings of aircraft flights to Australia were up about 30% on last year.

Demand was so high that the travel group secured a special immigration fare from Qantas. "It is not only the sales of one-way fares that have increased, but tickets for people making exploratory visits to Australia," said Randall.

"Our flights between SA and Australia have been operating at very high load factors this year," says Michaela Messner, African manager for Qantas. The airline operates five flights to both Sydney and Perth each week, with plans to add an additional flight to Sydney in December due to demand for more seats.

Most inquiries are from the Afrikaans community and young families looking for a safe environment to bring up their children.

Crime and political uncertainty were high on the list of push factors. The main pull factor was enticing employment opportunities. The company said 20% of the inquiries it had were from serious applicants.

Charles Luyckx, joint CEO of removal company Elliott International, said many South Africans were taking up positions in the mining sector. Several of his colleagues had moved to Australia to take up opportunities in the transport sector.

Wherever you live now, if you have the qualifications, Australia has the jobs. An LIA advisor can explain the numerous skilled opportunities that await you.

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Aussie Surprise of the Month
Nobel Prize for Gastric Ulcer break-through

Not so long ago, peptic ulcer sufferers endured chronic and debilitating pain and ran the risk of a life-threatening gastrointestinal haemorrhage or ulcer perforation. Throughout most of the 20th century, the conventional wisdom was that peptic ulcer disease was caused by gastric juice corroding vulnerable mucosa; the dictum "no acid - no ulcer" ruled the day, and neutralisation of gastric acid was the mainstay of management.

Gastroenterologists and surgeons vigorously argued the relative merits of diverse medications and surgical procedures, while research addressed the influence of "associated" factors such as social status, smoking and stress.

All this was relegated to medical history by two Australians, Barry J Marshall and J Robin Warren. They scuttled the prevailing acid-mucosal model by showing that peptic ulcer disease is an infectious disease caused by Helicobacter pylori. For this research, Marshall and Warren who, "with tenacity and a prepared mind, challenged prevailing dogmas", were awarded the 2005 Nobel Prize for Physiology or Medicine.

The essentials of their revolutionary research include:

• being at the right place at the right time, and seeing what other people had seen but thinking what nobody else thought;
• the role of serendipity;
• a passion for research that abandons personal safety with self-experimentation; and
• the inevitable resistance of the medical establishment as research undermines current dogma.

Barry Marshall & Robin Warren

Australia needs skilled migrants with clever ideas. Contact LIA and put your brains to work in Australia.

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24% rise in temporary work visas!
Figures released by the Immigration Department (DIAC) show that the number of primary 457 applicants jumped from 46,680 in 2006-07 to 58,050 in 2007-08 - about 24 per cent.

A total of 110,570 temporary work visas were issued to workers and their dependents, an increase of 27 per cent.

The figures show that Australia is attracting doctors, nurses, IT professionals and construction workers from around the world.

While NSW imported 24,480 temporary skilled workers, Western Australia is now the program's second-biggest user, recording a 41 per cent rise in applications.

Figures show the average salary for a 457 visa-holder increased slightly by 2 per cent on last year and well above the average Australian salary. In some categories, such as mining, salaries for foreign workers have risen considerably from $95,200 in 2007-08 to $103,700.

Health and community services workers were the most sought-after professionals, with 9090 visas issued. They were followed by property and business services workers (6020) and construction (5690).

Overall, 81 per cent of visa holders were employed in professional occupations or in highly skilled jobs.

Britons were the biggest users of the program, with 13,110 visas issued. Indians were the second-largest group (8250).

Want a new life with a great career? An LIA advisor can help you secure the visa you need.

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A town like Broken Hill
Demographer Bernard Salt recently described the isolated mining town of Broken Hill in NSW's far west as Australia's second-best place for jobs.

Broken Hill is a thriving NSW community near the intersection of the state's border with Queensland and South Australia. With a population of over 20,000 people, it is the economic and cultural hub of Far Western NSW.

A thriving mining and mineral industry and over 300,000 tourists per year provide an excellent basis for strong business growth, as well as investment. With its well-developed infrastructure, good climate and many tourist attractions, Broken Hill is a great place to live or to visit. The city cherishes its heritage and has many historic buildings and monuments.

September 5, 2008, marks 125 years since Charles Rasp filed his 40-acre claim on the Broken Hill Line of Lode, which, at the time, he thought was a mountain of tin. To celebrate this anniversary, there will be a many activities including exhibitions, concerts, fireworks, street celebrations and the announcement of the Broken Hill Song Competition and Broken Hill Poster Competition.

Today, the Broken Hill Line of Lode remains the richest deposits of silver, lead and zinc in the world. Way back in 1883, Charles Rasp hardly could have imagined the greatness of his discovery and that Broken Hill would grow to become Silver City with wealth, education and a thriving community, just 9 kilometres from what is now The Living Desert Flora and Fauna Sanctuary. Broken Hill is a unique city bursting with opportunity.

Broken Hill City Council: http://www.brokenhill.nsw.gov.au/
Charles Sturt University: http://www.csu.edu.au/
TAFE NSW Western Institute: http://www.wit.tafensw.edu.au/
Broken Hill School Education Area Office: http://www.brokenhilld.det.nsw.edu.au/index.htm

If you're looking for a good job in a vigourous urban setting, think about Broken Hill. Contact LIA and start your investigations today.

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South Australia starts talks with Philippines
Over the next decade, South Australia will need some 300,000 workers, particularly in mining, construction, and manufacturing. The State has started talks with the Philippines to address this projected need, South Australia's Deputy Premier and Minister for Industry and Trade Kevin Foley said.

Foley, who finished a successful meeting with trade officials and Labor Secretary Marianito Roque, said South Australia is looking at labor-related memorandums of agreement (MoAs) between the Philippines as a possible pattern for a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the Philippines and South Australia.

"We want to send a clear signal that there are a lot of available jobs in South Australia with no population growth or ability to fill these positions," he said, adding that his government recently approved $AU45 billion worth of projects.

Foley said South Australia's labor needs are mainly for engineers, computer scientists, and electronics technicians.

The South Australian mission will be assessing local skills, particularly in the building and motor or metal trades. "This is a two-way deal. We recognise that if we want to invite a skilled work force from the Philippines, we also need to re-invest in the Philippines, in education and business investments," Foley said. "We are also asking your business people to put South Australia on the map, in your radar," he added.

According to the Australian embassy, the Philippines is South Australia's sixth largest source market for settler arrivals. An estimated 5,000 Filipinos are settled in that State.

Like to build a secure future in a wonderful state? Contact LIA and see just how South Australia suits your dreams!

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One nation, many cultures
Ten days on the Island, Tasmania

Every two years, there's a highly involving, totally exciting festival in Tasmania, Australia's Island State about the same area as England, with roughly the population of Liverpool.

So why not hop across to Tassie for Ten Days on the Island 2009, which will include a celebration of contemporary dance from other islands around the place; like Hawaii, New Caledonia, Papua New Guinea, Singapore, Japan, New Zealand, Hong Kong and the Torres Strait. On April 2009, dancers and choreographers from these islands will come together over 4 days for a special event.

Watch for more details after the official Ten Days launch in November 2008.

Images from 2007 event

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So how do you like Australia?
David Beehan - vet

Irish-born vet, David Beehan, couldn't have picked a better time to move to Victoria on the Australian Government's 457 visa programme.

David, who studied at University College Dublin, plans to stay in Australia for 18 months and gain experience in surgery, anaesthetics, medicine and reproduction.
Arriving in the lead-up to Melbourne's Spring Racing Carnival, the veterinary intern could find plenty of interesting challenges at his workplace, Goulburn Valley Equine Hospital.

According to hospital manager Libby Vasey, the practice, located at Congupna near Shepparton, is a world-renowned centre for routine and specialist horse care. 'Most Australian graduates prefer to work a mixed practice for their first job so they get a taste of what they would like to specialise in,' Libby said.

'The Australian Government's temporary business (long stay) subclass 457 visa is fantastic for us. We can attract young veterinary interns, like David, who know they want to specialise in horses.

'They can gain experience here and in return we are able to maintain a high level of operations.'

'The Goulburn Valley Equine Hospital offers a good mix of experience and I'm looking forward to my stay here,' David said. Filling the skilled labour shortage is critical for business and industry as they grow and create even more job opportunities for young Australians in the future.

David Beehan, Irish Vet

Like to build a career in vetinerary science? Or any field of medicine? Australia needs you. Contact LIA and ask about the opportunities!

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Aussie Survival Guide
What's a pot?

While lagging behind Belgium in per capita consumption, Australians are enthusiastic imbibers of beers, ales and other brewed beverages.

However, you can't just ask for a beer down under. No, that would be too easy.

Each State has its own version of standard beer glasses, and what these must be called.

For example, let's take the 10 oz glass:

• In NSW & Queensland it's called a middy.
• In South Australia you ask for a schooner. (In NSW a schooner is a 15oz glass, but don't worry about that for the minute).
• In Tasmania, Victoria and Western Australia, it's called a pot.

If you think this is confusing, after a few pots, schooners or middies, you might find it even confushinger.

More Aussie beer data here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Australian_beer#Beer_glasses

A beer glass.
Who cares what it's called ...?

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Australia wants UK construction workers
With the UK construction industry in turmoil, Australia has loosened its visa application procedures with the aim of luring migrant workers.

British construction firms have been forced to cut around 5,000 jobs in the last month alone. More redundancies are also expected, particularly in peripheral industries, such as plumbing, carpentry and among electricians.

In response, the Australian government has extended its Second Working Holiday Visa (SWHV) rules to include construction. This means 18-30-year-old Brits who work in this sector can now stay in Australia for up to two years.

Provided the work is conducted in a regional area and applicants have completed the specified work during the first 12 months of their Working Holiday Visa, UK workers remain eligible.

Rodney Harrex, Tourism Australia general manager for UK and Europe, said "There are lots of opportunities in regional Australia to work in construction and with the slowdown of this industry in the UK, now is the perfect time for 18-30-year-olds to consider living and working Down Under," said Mr Harrex.

"These visa changes come on the back of the success of the initial extension of the Working Holiday Visa which saw youngsters being eligible to apply for an additional year if they worked for three months doing seasonal work such as shearing sheep or packing fruit," he added.

The first Working Holiday Visa is available for 18-30-year-old UK and Irish citizens. The applicant must be outside Australia when the application is made and also when the visa is granted.

The second Working Holiday Visa is also available for 18-30 year old UK and Irish citizens. However, applicants can either apply either in Australia our outside of Australia.

A working holiday in Australia is a way to see this great land for yourself. Have a talk to your family and friends ... and an LIA advisor!

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Aussie Recipe: Braised rabbit with olives and capers
In 1859 a wealthy Victorian grazier released a few rabbits on his property so he could hunt them. Prior to this careless act, Australia was rabbitless. By 1950, Australia's rabbit population hit an estimated peak of 600 million, which created huge problems for Australian agriculture. However, rabbits do taste good. So here's an Aussie rabbit recipe:

1. Wash one rabbit under cold water and pat dry. Cut it into pieces.
2. Prepare 5 large green olives, roughly chopped, and 2 tbsp of capers. Heat 4 tbsp of extra virgin olive oil in a large, deep frying pan. Fry the rabbit pieces until they're well-browned and set them aside.
3. Wipe the pan clean and heat 8 tbsp of extra virgin olive oil. Fry a large white onion and 3 garlic cloves, all finely chopped. Stir until they are transparent then throw in a good handful of chopped flat-leaf parsley and a chopped celery heart. Stir for 30 seconds.
4. Add the olives and capers, as well as a cup of pureed ripe tomatoes and 3 tbsp of fresh, chopped oregano. Stir and cook for about 10 minutes. Throw in the rabbit pieces and stir everything together. Add salt and pepper to taste.
5. Put the lid on the saucepan and simmer gently for a further 10 minutes, lifting the lid occasionally to stir.
6. Meanwhile, dissolve 1 tbsp of sugar in a 1/2 cup of red wine vinegar. Add it to the rabbit, turn up the heat and keep mixing until almost all the liquid is gone. Turn off the heat, put the lid back on and leave for 2 hours, mixing every half hour, then serve.

Yummy rabbit

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In Brief
Building our construction industry
Over the three years from May 2004 to May 2007, the number of persons employed in the construction industry increased from 801,700 persons to 937,300 persons, an increase of 16.9%. Of the 937,300 persons employed in the construction industry, 30.7% were employed in General Construction and 66.7% were employed in Construction Trade Services.

Fast figures on current employment

• Employment increased by 29,800 to 10,715,700.
• Full-time employment increased by 24,000 to 7,664,600
• Part-time employment increased by 5,800 to 3,051,100.

Aussie Word of the Month
Underground mutton - basically rabbit. During the Great Depression, millions of rabbits plagued Australia. On the up side, they were a source of food for people who otherwise were going hungry and became jocularly known as 'underground mutton'.

Aussie words in action: if you migrate to Australia and run a farm, look out for the underground mutton. Good in the pot, bad for pasture!

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Best Regards,

Peter Seers
Marketing & Client Services Manager