Contracting in Sydney/Melbourne

[DiscoStu]

I'm going to Oz myself in June and have sorted a working holiday visa - however, they (the gvt) seem to be really cracking down on IT based foreign workers and begging for tradesmen.

My visa (And I'm sure its pretty standard for a 1 year working holiday (visa) says that I cannot work for 1 employer for more than a 3 month period.

Based on that, I'd say sponsorship is the only way.

I'm think it was recently amended (it may be that they're still using old visas) so that you can now do up to 6 months with one employer.

[FiveTimes]

I'm going to Oz myself in June and have sorted a working holiday visa - however, they (the gvt) seem to be really cracking down on IT based foreign workers and begging for tradesmen.

My visa (And I'm sure its pretty standard for a 1 year working holiday (visa) says that I cannot work for 1 employer for more than a 3 month period.

Based on that, I'd say sponsorship is the only way.

I don't think that is quite correct regarding sponsorship.

It certainly helps gaining entry, but there are other routes.

The jobs that are on the "in demand" list are tradesmen, but C++ has also been added.

If you are prepared to go though the application for Visa then you will need to probably join ACS and in order to do this you will need to submit your work experience/skills etc via RPL.

Have a look at www.rplhelp.com

HTH

[Moscow Mule]

There used to be agents who would sponsor you on a 457 visa in a Brook Street/Office angels temp agency kind of arrangement. Pricey though (as mentioned previously).

I would be wary of going on a skilled migration visa if you haven't worked in Oz before. It's bloody lovely when you're on holiday but gets a bit boring when you're doing a tulip job and it hasn't stopped raining for two months. Believe me this does happen in Sydney.

My advice would be to go on a working holiday visa first but at 35 you may be too old (unless the rules have changed in the last 5 years), in which case try to persuade somebody to sponsor you on a 457 first to see if you like it.

[slackbloke]

For visa purposes, a distinction needs to be made between the Skilled Occupation List and the Migration Occupations in Demand List. Both lists are for Professionals and Trades. All entries in the MODL are either the same as or subsets of the SOL. For IT Professionals, there is no requirement to join the ACS - it will not assist either your ACS skills assessment or your application.
If you have the the points necessary, the 175 visa is the best option; entry is guaranteed and your application will also be fast-tracked if you have an MODL (if you are prepared to pay the visa costs). It is open for 5 years for you to enter Australian and once you have it, you have no restrictions on what work you do. The state sponsored visas are similar except the points required are lower but you are restricted to work in the state for a certain length of time.
Regarding tax, I understood it works similar to the UK where you can set up your own company or get paid PAYE via a 3rd party. I think there are restrictive laws similar to IR35 (something about a % of revenue cannot be from the same source rings a bell).

[vhadiant]

Regarding tax, I understood it works similar to the UK where you can set up your own company or get paid PAYE via a 3rd party. I think there are restrictive laws similar to IR35 (something about a % of revenue cannot be from the same source rings a bell).

Yes you are not allowed to have more than 80% of the company income to come from 1 source. Contracting market in Australia is, as expected, much less buoyant than UK in general. But who knows, now that with most of the Aussies are currently here in UK on HSMP visa, it may creates high demand for quality people.

I've heard a few complaints from ex-colleagues saying how difficult it is to find quality people in Sydney at the moment. No surprise there, most of the good ones are here in London

[LegendsWear7]

I've been in Sydney for the last few days. Truly p!ssing down hardcore but many hotties walking round during the sunny interludes.
Contract market is weak.
Had negative feedback on contract opportunities due to visa / sponsor situation.
Intend to contact agents tomorrow.
Met one young pimp who spent more time boasting about his $125K income and 35% standard margin than being useful.

[PAH]

Seems the aussies are making it easier for the poms to move there, 5 points on the score if you have good English:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/6972076.stm

I had a friend who moved there about 7 years ago. Last time he was over he was making out oz was paradise and I should go over too. Did read up on it on the immigration websites and forums, but the poorer wages (hence all the best aussies wouldn't be over here!) and everything being poisonous/deadly puts a dampner on it.

I suppose it's more of a lifestyle choice, and therefore need to see it for myself via a holiday, to make sure the lifestyle lives up to the hype.

[AlfredJPruffock]

...and everything being poisonous/deadly puts a dampner on it.

Didnt know Pope Blair was down-under these days - he sure gets around !

[PAH]

...and everything being poisonous/deadly puts a dampner on it.

Didnt know Pope Blair was down-under these days - he sure gets around !

The aussie tourist board have employed him, to help disuade aussies from coming here for their holidays.