Redundant Brits opt for Australia visa

June 12 2009 by Gareth McConnell

Mentula Madeley conducts business on Skype

Australian visa holder, Mentula Madeley

Figures from the Office for National Statistics show the number of people emigrating from the UK for a year or more rose from 230,000 in 1998 to 340,000 in 2007.

The upward trend in Brits applying for Australian visas has prompted recruitment experts in both hemispheres to agree people are more likely than ever to look for work abroad as job markets in the US and UK become increasingly limited across many industries.

A growing number of British workers are using redundancy and occupational skills as an opportunity to secure an Australian visa as advances in technology allow people to keep in contact through email, instant messaging and video conferencing.

Mentula Madeley from London is one such example. When his city financial firm, Mentula N. Duidi, went into administration in September last year, it was his wife who suggested selling up and moving to New South Wales.

"When figures didn't add up it was my wife who suggested the novel idea of moving to Australia. She is an avid bookreader and had done a lot of research," Mr. Madelely told the Telegraph.

Some jobs can literally be done from anywhere these days, with more people working from home and communicating through email. These advances, along with the slowing UK job market have provided the push needed by many people who have always dreamed of a move down under as they meet all the requirements set by Australian immigration.

"We've been in Sydney for six weeks now and my accountancy business has really taken off. The technology in our new home enables savings on rental costs and it's cheaper to contact people via the internet. We wish we had made the move to Australia years ago, the climate and environment are indescribable," added Mr. Madelely.

Analysts agree that, as a result of increasingly high taxes, which particularly affect entrepreneurs and high earners, more and more Brits will opt for the Australia visa, where employment prospects are brighter, taxes less onerous and the lifestyle more appealing.

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