New South Wales

New South Wales was named by Captain James Cook when he first stepped ashore in Australia at what is now Sydney Harbour and claimed the country for the British in 1770.

The focal point of New South Wales is Australia's oldest and most vibrant major city, Sydney.

The city is characterised by its white-sailed Opera House and Harbour Bridge which spans one of the world's most famous and most beautiful harbours.

Sydney is the economic powerhouse of Australia and is viewed as the nation's capital in everything but name.

Sydney's shopping offers something for everyone and the city centre in particular is home to some of the world's biggest names in fashion. Restaurants and night life cater for all tastes and the range of multicultural dining options speaks volumes about the city's cosmopolitan attitude and willingness to embrace new cultures and ideas.

Beyond the hustle and bustle of slick city life, Sydney is also home to stunning national parks and numerous heritage areas. Outside the city itself the state of New South Wales also offers the chance to escape to the Snowy or Blue Mountains, drive through the rolling wine farm country of the Hunter Valley, enjoy getaways to the historic villages of the southern highlands or partake in whale-watching, surfing and swimming at free spirited coastal villages and towns.

Fresh, clean and appealing, Brisbane offers the best of both worlds - a modern, dynamic and sophisticated city and the gateway to south east Queensland's most spectacular natural attractions.

State Business Overview

As Australia's largest and most dynamic economy, the state offers international companies a stable, strong and politically tolerant environment in which to develop business interests.

The Australian and New South Wales economies grew strongly during the 1990s, particularly in the second half of the decade. New South Wale's economic success is built on Australia's most diversified state economy with 82% services, 14% manufacturing and 4% primary industry.

Located in the south east of Australia, New South Wales offers investors a rich range of natural and human resources to help businesses grow and prosper.

The state's traditional manufacturing, mining and agr-ibusiness activities have provided a firm foundation for diversification into high-growth sectors such as aquaculture, biotechnology, viticulture and communications.

All regional centres within the state provide the full amenities of modern cities and have major transport and communication facilities connecting business with domestic and international markets.

The state's high quality transport, utilities and real estate enable businesses to operate effectively and distribute products efficiently to metropolitan and international markets.

Regional New South Wales offers a large pool of highly qualified and skilled employees who are accustomed to undertaking new training and development opportunities. The skills base covers the spectrum of business activity, from manufacturing to agriculture, and from technology to business and community services.

State Benefits and Incentives

The NSW Department of State and Regional Development (DSRD) helps to establish businesses and assists them to develop and grow in NSW.

This includes:

Advice on strategic issues,
Information to assist feasibility studies and business plan preparation,
Help with site selection,
Other forms of support are negotiated on a case by case basis.

State Sponsorship Program

The Commonwealth Department of Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs (DIMIA) is the only agency that has authority to grant visas for entry into Australia.

However each state of Australia can participate in this process through the state/territory sponsored visa categories. These categories enable the state to attract and sponsor migrants who have skills that are of value and importance to the state. Migrants who are successful in obtaining state/territory sponsorship are then assessed by DIMIA against specific criteria.

The Commonwealth entry criteria are lower for migrants who obtain state sponsorship. However, the awarding of state/territory sponsorship is no guarantee that a visa will be granted by DIMIA.

Regional visas (business and other)

New South Wales state sponsorship is available on the following categories of provisional (temporary residency) and residence (permanent residency) business skills visas:

State Sponsored Business Owner
State Sponsored Senior Executive
State Sponsored Business Investor
State Sponsored Business Talent

Education

Education in New South Wales is broken down into four categories, details of which are outlined below:

Preschool (3-4 year olds)
Kindergarten (4-5 year olds)
Primary School (6-11 year olds, Years 1 - 6)
Secondary School (12-18 year olds, Years 7 - 12)

By law school it is compulsory from Year 1-10. Preschool, kindergarten and the last two years of High School (Years 11-12) are optional.

The school year runs from January to December and consists of four terms.

Public (Government) schools

Public schools in New South Wales provide education for around 76,000 students (70% of all school age students in New South Wales) at more than 2 200 public primary and secondary schools throughout the state.

All primary schools and the majority of secondary schools have a designated zoning area, however parents may apply to enrol their child at a school outside their enrolment zone. Schools can accept these enrolments if there is space available.

Education at public schools in New South Wales is generally free, however parents will need to provide funding for uniforms (if applicable), some school materials and school excursions.

Kindergartens and other early childhood care facilities usually charge a fee for their services.

Private (independent) schools

There are approximately 900 private schools in New South Wales, making up around 29% of the total number of schools in the state.

Private schools cater for all age ranges, from primary through to secondary school and many private schools are affiliated with church organisations.

Private school fees vary greatly between schools and range from around AUS$2,000 to over AUS$20,000 a year for a full boarding placement at a top school.

Before selecting a school for your children it pays to visit a number of different schools to discuss the type of schooling you want and determine what is best suited to your child.

Preschool

Preschool provides an introduction to the educational environment for children one year prior to them going to kindergarten.

Preschools are staffed with teachers qualified in early childhood education and parents are encouraged to participate in preschool activities.

Most preschools form part of a primary school and in general children attend for a 2.5 hour session either during the morning or the afternoon. Some preschools do however offer full day sessions for two or three days a week, usually between 9am and 3pm.

Children are able to attend preschool from the age of four, however preschools can be in high demand and as such it is advisable to register your child as early as possible.

Local councils can assist with providing a list of preschools within your local area.

Kindergarten

Kindergarten in New South Wales is for children aged four to five years old.

Attendance at government controlled state kindergartens is free and a child can be added to the enrolment list for a state kindergarten from the month of May in the year in which they turn three years old.

As an alternative to state kindergarten, there are also numerous independent kindergartens which are usually attached to a main independent primary school. Enrolment policies vary and it is advisable that you contact the individual kindergartens directly to request details of the enrolment procedure.

Attendance at independent kindergartens requires the payment of a fee and some facilities require a fee to be paid before adding a child to their waiting list. There are also community kindergartens which are not government controlled, but do receive some grants from the state. Fees are still payable but are generally lower than commercial and private facilities.

Community kindergartens are non-profit organisations and all fees go towards the running of the centre and the facilities provided.

Primary school

To attend primary school in New South Wales, children must turn five before July 31 in the year they start school and by law must have started school by the time they reach their sixth birthday.

During primary school years the focus is on building strong literacy and numeracy skills. Primary schools throughout Australia encourage self-expression and help students become adaptable and independent learners.

Children explore new ideas including the use of information and communication technologies and lessons are designed to respond to the needs, learning styles and rates of progress of individual students.

Secondary school

Students are legally required to stay at school until they reach age 15. Secondary schools provide a further four years of compulsory education (Years 7-10) and two years of post-compulsory education (Years 11-12).

While at secondary school students can complete their School Certificate assessment in year 10 and the Higher School Certificate (HSC) in year 12 if they choose to stay at school.

The HSC earns a mark out of 100 and universities and colleges set a Tertiary Entrance Requirement (TER) out of 100 that students must achieve to gain entry to courses.

Most students aim to complete the Higher School Certificate to qualify for some technical courses provided by the Technical and Further Education (TAFE) colleges and for admission to Universities.

Tertiary Education - Vocational and educational training facilities

Tertiary education in New South Wales is provided by government funded institutions and a range of private institutions.

The vocational sector provides education and training courses that award qualifications for direct employment and entry into universities in Australia or overseas.

There are over 130 Technical and Further Education (TAFE) campuses located throughout New South Wales, offering a total of over 1 200 courses in a variety of career areas.

TAFE college courses are designed for students who want to develop their vocational, technical or trade skills. Courses are usually shorter than university degree courses and tend to have a more commercial and practical focus. Some examples of courses offered include diplomas in car mechanics, building trades and plumbing.

TAFE colleges charge fees and students usually need to buy their own books and learning materials. Most TAFE courses in New South Wales have entry requirements that must be met before a student will be accepted onto a course.

The entry requirements reflect the minimum level of prior learning you need in order to have a reasonable chance of successfully completing the course. Entry requirements vary according to the particular course of study chosen.

Universities

New South Wales is home to some of the leading teaching and research universities throughout Australia, all of which have a reputation for providing high quality education and high calibre graduates.

There are ten public universities located throughout New South Wales, plus the Australian Catholic University which is a multi-state institution with several campuses throughout the state.

All universities offer a range of study and research opportunities at both undergraduate and postgraduate level.

All students must pay institution fees and charges when they enrol. The cost of studying varies depending on the course of study chosen. The costs for undergraduate university courses include student union fees, books and general administration fees.

The university year generally begins in late February/early March, often with an orientation for new students in mid or late February. Most universities and vocational institutes have two semesters with exams at the end of each semester in June and November.

There is a four to six week break between semesters with the long summer holiday from December to February.

Employment

Key industries

New South Wales has a highly diversified economy that operates across a number of key sectors.

The state generates more than 35% of Australia's goods and services and sends more than 60% of its exports to Asia, a larger amount than any other Australian state. It also attracts more than a third of all foreign investment into the country.

Of major significance is the state's focus on service industries such as:

Finance and business services
Information and communications technology (ICT) industry.

Other key industries include:

Agriculture,
Mining
Mineral manufacturing and processing,

While over recent years there has also been a marked increase in the number of contact centres located in Sydney, making it the contact centre capital for the Asia Pacific region.

Growth industries such as biotechnology and aquaculture are also starting to gain prominence throughout the State, with the aquaculture sector expected to develop into an AUS $250 million industry by 2010.

Looking for work

There are a number of resources available to jobseekers in New South Wales:

The State's major daily newspaper, The Sydney Morning Herald, has a dedicated section advertising employment vacancies, with Wednesday and Saturday editions holding the most extensive employment section. Other newspaper sources include The Australian and Australian Financial Review.
Recruitment agencies and consultancies are another key source for job leads and can be found in the Yellow Pages or the career section of local newspapers.
The internet is also a useful resource and there are many sites that list job vacancies in New South Wales.
Many large companies have their own websites, which may outline career opportunities or list job vacancies in their organisation.

Housing

Home ownership

Home ownership in New South Wales is common, with over 70% of people either owning their own home outright or in the process of owning their own home.

Given the size of New South Wales it is not surprising that real estate prices in Sydney and New South Wales vary greatly. For example properties located in or close to Sydney cost much more than those found in more rural areas of the state.

According to the New South Wales Department of Housing (as at the end of the June quarter 2004) the median house price for greater Sydney was AUS$420,000 while the average price for a house in inner Sydney was AUS$499,000. Meanwhile for the state of New South Wales as a whole the average price is around AUS$360,000.

There are two main ways to purchase a house in New South Wales.

1) 'Private treaty', whereby prospective buyers negotiate with an agent or owner to purchase a property for sale.

2) Public auction.

Another more recent development which has grown in popularity is the process of buying a house 'off the plans' prior to it being built.

Searching for a house to buy in New South Wales has been made much easier with the introduction of residential real estate websites, which can be found simply by searching for property to buy in New South Wales on the internet.

However, it is important when searching that you have some idea of the location where you would like to live. This will most often be influenced by factors such as affordability and proximity to work, schools, family and friends.

If you are not familiar with New South Wales it may be beneficial to read a guide about the State to find out as much as possible about the area in which it would be most suitable for you to live.

As an alternative to buying a home, it can also be a good idea to rent a property for the first 12 months so that you can get an appreciation for the area (and other areas within the region) before committing to purchasing a home.

Renting

Sydney and New South Wales offer a full range of rental options, from simple flats and units to luxury mansions and apartments.

According to the New South Wales Department of Housing, the average rent for an inner city property is AUS$330 per week, while for a house in the suburbs surrounding Sydney, the average rent is AUS$275 per week.

Overall the average rent across New South Wales was AUS$245 per week. (All rental prices above are as at June 2004).

To secure a property, tenants are required to pay a security bond (refundable deposit) plus a payment of several weeks rent in advance. In many instances two references are also required.

Properties for rent are advertised in the 'To Let' section of The Sydney Morning Herald. Landlords and real estate agents place advertisements in the classifieds section, with the largest number of listings being placed in Wednesday and Saturday editions.

On average around half of the available properties are usually rented out within two to three weeks of being advertised, with the better ones often being taken within days of coming on the market.

Rental properties are also listed on numerous real estate and letting agent's websites, details of which can be found by searching for rental properties in Sydney and New South Wales on the internet.

Transport

Sydney's integrated public transport system is comprehensive and offers travel by bus, train and ferry around Sydney's centre, all on the one ticket.

Furthermore the public transport system recently benefited from an upgrade in preparation for Sydney's hosting of the Olympic Games in 2000. Other transport options include the use of light rail or the inner city monorail loop, which carries approximately 40,000 people per day.

With the majority of New South Wales' population living in Sydney, much of the inter-city transport infrastructure is dedicated to taking travellers to and from Sydney and as such transport connections along major routes around Sydney are of a high standard.

Sydney's buses and ferries offer some of the most rewarding sightseeing in Australia. For example the ferry trip to Manly passes the spectacular harbour sites and heads onto the ocean past Sydney's famous North Shore beaches.

Public transport connections between other New South Wales towns are generally less convenient and although there is usually a relatively direct road route between any two New South Wales towns, public transport links are likely to be poor to non-existent, unless the two towns are on the same route to Sydney.

Hence in New South Wales there is very much a culture of making your own way by car. Taxis help to bridge the gap between private vehicles and public transport throughout New South Wales, and with nearly 6,000 taxis and over 22,000 professional drivers. New South Wales has the one of the largest taxi industries in the world.

Cyclists are also well catered for in New South Wales, with a network of cycle-ways being established in cities and towns throughout the state. There are a number of cycle-ways in Sydney, Wollongong, Newcastle, Nowra, Tweed Heads, Albury and Bourke.

Population

New South Wales is the most populous state in Australia and most of that population is concentrated in Sydney, which has 4.2 million of the state's 6.7 million inhabitants.

Newcastle is the second largest city in the state with a population of approximately 350,000, while Wollongong is New South Wales' third largest city with a population of around 220,000.

Climate

New South Wales has a temperate climate which is free from extremes of hot and cold and allows for year round outdoor living.

The weather varies considerably throughout the state, with the northern region characterised by its sub-tropical climate and the inland areas largely dry and warm.

Summer occurs between the months of September to November, while winter occupies June to August, however it should be noted that none of the seasons are as marked as they are in the Northern hemisphere.

Rainfall varies widely across the state, gradually diminishing to an annual average of 180 mm in the far north-west. Sydney itself has an average rainfall of 1223mm, however it is also renowned for its impressive amount of sunshine, with only 23 days per year when the sun doesn't shine.

Sydney's average summer temperature ranges between 18 and 26 degrees Celsius, while the temperature during winter drops to between 8 and 16 degrees Celsius.

Being close to the ocean, hot days are often tempered by cooling sea breezes and balmy evening temperatures.

As with all regions of Australia, the sun is particularly harsh and it is always advisable to protect skin at all times and if possible stay out of the sun between 11am and 2pm during the summer months.

Time zone

New South Wales is +10 hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT).

Daylight Saving Time is observed in New South Wales, where the time is shifted forward by 1 hour to gain an extra hour of daylight at the end of the working day, resulting in a 11 hour difference ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT+11).

Daylight saving begins at 2 am Eastern Standard Time on the last Sunday in October and ends at 3 am summer time on the last Sunday in March.

Geography

New South Wales is the fourth largest state in Australia with an area of 801,600 square kilometres.

It is located in the south east of Australia with the Pacific Ocean to the East, Queensland to the north and the state of Victoria to the south. Its three main cities (Newcastle, Sydney and Wollongong) all lie along the coastline from north to south.

The state is geographically split into four main sections consisting of a thin strip of 1,460 km of coastline, the mountainous areas of the Great Dividing Range, the Western Plains and the agricultural plains of the Western Slopes.

While most of the state's emphasis is placed on the capital city of Sydney, many of the state's most impressive natural sights lie well outside the Sydney metropolitan area.

New South Wales offers a wide and varied range of geographical features, including 'The Three Sisters' mountain points in the Blue Mountains, wild gum trees and rainforests, arid plains and rich rural pasture lands set amongst the rolling hills of the agricultural regions.

Cost of living

According to the William M. Mercer Cost of Living 2004 Survey, Sydney is regarded as the most expensive Australian city in which to live. Despite this Sydney compares favourably on the global stage when compared with cities such as Tokyo, London, Moscow and Zurich.

Furthermore Sydney's higher cost of living is offset by the fact the city was also ranked as the best Australian city in terms of quality of life in the 2005 Mercer Quality of Life survey.

Sydney was also ranked in the top 8 cities in the world against a number of criteria including political, social, economic and environmental factors, personal safety and health, education, transport and other public services.

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