With its many employment opportunities, New South Wales (NSW) welcomes business and skilled migrants. Its capital city, Sydney, is a great place to live and work and do business. This vibrant harbour city offers a dynamic business environment supported by world class facilities and a quality lifestyle.

The States regions offer many similar employment opportunities to the major cities, as well as comparable benefits and services, but in a more relaxed environment.

The NSW Government supported over 1,000 skilled migrants to migrate to Sydney and regional NSW over the last 12 months.

NSW is Australia's economic powerhouse and among the most competitive business locations in the Asia Pacific. Sydney is the third largest financial centre in the Asia Pacific region. NSW has 38% of Australia's ICT employment with over 140,000 people employed. NSW is home to 80% of the multinational pharmaceutical companies in the country.

There are currently opportunities in the finance sector for accountants (particularly with experience in risk management, tax, regulatory reporting and compliance), auditors, corporate treasurers, bookkeepers, legal professionals (with M&A experience) and financial planners.

While entry level positions appear to be shrinking, in ICT more highly skilled and experienced staff with expertise in Oracle, SAP, Peoplesoft, Siebel, Unix, data warehousing and firewall/internet security are needed and are experiencing larger salary increases than the industry norm.

Research associates working in biotechnology and medical research in Sydney have found it difficult in the past to obtain permanent residence in Australia. Employers are reluctant to sponsor employees for permanent residence due to the shorter term project based nature of work and 50 points for scientists under the Australian Governments points test has made it difficult to get 120 points for a skilled independent visa. However the NSW Government now sponsors life scientists, biochemists, medical research scientists and chemists for permanent residence providing greater certainty for scientists who decide to make the move to Sydney.

For more details go to www.business.nsw.gov.au/migration

NSW Health sponsors more temporary 457 visa holders than any other Australian employer. NSW Health sponsored almost 700 nurses, doctors and allied health professionals in 2006/07 to work in the NSW public health system. Projections developed for the NSW Government have forecast strong demand for nurses and other health care professionals in NSW over the next 20 years.

The New South Wales Government’s Department of Health (NSW Health) has hundreds of vacancies for nurses and general practitioners, staff specialists, and medical officers across NSW. Details are available at www.health.nsw.gov.au/jobs

NSW Health contracts three recruiters to process overseas trained nurses to work in the NSW hospital system. These recruiters are paid by NSW Health to arrange registration and visa processing. Nurses from the UK looking to work in NSW can contact either of:

Health Staff Recruitment (www.healthstaffrecruitment.com.au)
Professional Connections/ICE Group (www.profco.com / www.icegroup.com.ie )

Doctors should look at opportunities under the NSW Areas of Need program at

www.health.nsw.gov.au/othp/

Regional NSW offers many similar employment opportunities to the major cities, particularly in health care (doctors, nurses, specialists), engineering and trades occupations. With similar salaries, but cheaper house prices, and a lower cost of living, regional NSW offers an attractive alternative to migrants from the UK.

For a list of skills in demand in different regions of NSW go to:

http://www.business.nsw.gov.au/migration/skilled_migration.asp

Houses in cities like Wagga Wagga, Albury, Orange, Dubbo, Armidale, and Tamworth can be half to one third the price of equivalent homes in Sydney. For details go to:

www.domain.com.au/real-estate/nsw/regional+nsw/6.html

The Murray is the fastest growing region in NSW, with its capital Albury, located on the NSW/Victorian border. Almost 200 skilled migrants have been supported by the Murray Regional Development Board to move to the region in the last 12 months.

Some employment vacancies in the Murray and Riverina regions are listed at:

• www.mrdb.nsw.gov.au/settle/vacancies
• www.ccchange.org.au/employment

MURRAY REGION

While famous for the magnificent Murray River, almost every industry is represented in the region. As well as being known as “Australia’s Food Bowl” due to the extent of agricultural production, it is home to everything from bio-diesel producing oil refineries to a major tourist industry. On top of that the Murray Region is beautifully located in the east between Sydney and Melbourne.

The Murray Region is full of opportunity; with thriving businesses and two major universities, but it is also just an easy place to live. Part of the lifestyle appeal is the ready availability of recreational facilities, like golf courses and water sports, and the fact it has some of the lowest crime rates in the state according to the NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research.

The pull of the Murray is strong and it isn’t unusual for recreational visitors to begin investigating ways to move permanently. Australian Bureau of Statistics figures released in February 2007 show that the first and third fastest growing population areas in NSW are in the Murray Region (the Murray and Berrigan Shires respectively). The population growth in Albury, the region’s largest centre, is also growing at well above the state average.

For more information about making your home in the Murray Region email: nicole.doughty@mrdb.nsw.gov.au or visit our websites:

Murray Regional Development Board
www.mrdb.nsw.gov.au

Murray NOW
www.murraynow.com.au

www.mrdb.nsw.gov.au/immig/wya6afhw.htm (separately attached to email)

INSERT DETAILS OF DOCTORS VACANCY IN MURRAY AT

www.mrdb.nsw.gov.au/news/7k5pz4wg.htm

In the next four years, 1,500 new positions will be created in the Northern Inland (New England) region of NSW, with the expansion of the coal and mining industries. Opportunities exist for unskilled employees to train for rewarding careers. The Northern Inland Regional Development Board is looking for a range of skilled workers.

Skilled workers can register their interest in being introduced to suitable employers in the Northern Inland region of NSW at www.nio.com.au (go to the Skilled Migration Form).

The Hunter and Illawarra regions of NSW are looking for all types of engineers – electrical, materials, mechanical, product/plant and civil engineers – to support heavy engineering and minerals processing businesses in Newcastle, Wollongong and Port Kembla. The Illawarra Regional Development Board will circulate resumes to employers in Wollongong and Port Kembla. Engineers should send their resumes to

investillawarra@irdb.com.au

Other possible back up testimonials are at:

www.mrdb.nsw.gov.au/immig/9xxedzd6.htm
www.mrdb.nsw.gov.au/immig/86hgqb23.htm
www.murraynow.com.au/news/fillskills.htm
www.murraynow.com.au/news/wgctcrej.htm
www.mrdb.nsw.gov.au/immig/wya6afhw.htm
www.mrdb.nsw.gov.au/news/zjnqk62j.htm