Living and Working in Australia: A Survival Handbook (Living & Working in Australia) [Paperback]

David Hampshire (Author)

Book Description

Series: Living & Working in Australia | Publication Date: January 1998

-- Essential reading for those who move abroad or are relocated because of business
-- Includes chapters on finding jobs, permits & visas, working conditions and accommodations

Product Details

• Paperback: 448 pages
• Publisher: Survival Books (January 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1901130002
• ISBN-13: 978-1901130003
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.8 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,933,107 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

48 of 48 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars From someone who actually used it, June 13, 2001

By 

Brooke D Bernstein (Melbourne, VIC Australia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Living and Working in Australia: A Survival Handbook (Living & Working in Australia) (Paperback)

I bought this book when I found out that my company had actually agreed to transfer me to Australia ... but they were giving me very little help in what to expect. This book is not a "travel" guide. It's a practical guide on how to settle down in Australia - things like, how to get a drivers licence, where to apply for a tax file number, even how to do a hook turn in Melbourne. It has never steered me wrong, and I've recommended it to many expat friends.

A must-have if you're thinking about moving there.

38 of 39 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars the title says it all, January 22, 2000

By 

Ralf (Melbourne, Aust) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Living and Working in Australia: A Survival Handbook (Living & Working in Australia) (Paperback)

Having read a number of publications of similar approach I must admit this one's outstanding. The information provided is not only considering almost every single aspect of living in Oz, but most important: it's (imho) spot-on and even pretty much up-to-date. David's writing is fun and easy to read and I would recommend this book to everyone on the move down under.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Almost perfect handbook for newcomers to Australia, August 9, 2006

By 

Chukcha the Reviewer (Australia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Living and Working in Australia: A Survival Handbook (Living & Working in Australia) (Paperback)

I moved to Australia from Israel, and this book was of great help.

Cultural idiosyncrasies are explained to minimise "culture shock", and possible problems are not avoided (despite the fact that the book is associated with a migration agency as I understood). I'ld say that sometimes the warnings are more like disclaimers, but I guess better safe than sorry. "To do" lists are used where applicable - great help when you're in a new environment thinking what to do next.

Another major "pro" is that this book is not just for people from UK or US or other Anglo-Saxon background. The author takes a generic, explain-it-all approach.

One thing which I think the author should change is the migration section. This is the reason I didn't give it 5 stars. This is no author's fault, of course, but the migration laws in Australia are changing at lightning speed - so there is no point to depict them in such detail. Furthermore, as much of the information in that section was hopelessly obsolete already in 2004 (for 2004 edition), it is plain misleading. Future readers - consult official sources instead, but for the rest, you can safely rely on this book.

Otherwise, I couldn't think of a better source of information.