Australia has six states, two major mainland territories, and other minor territories. Australia is the flattest continent, with the oldest and least fertile soils, and is the driest inhabited continent. Australian visual arts have a long history, starting with the cave and bark paintings of its indigenous peoples.
Australia has one of the world's highest living standards with 85 percent living in urban areas. Australia is prone to severe drought and water restrictions are currently in place in some areas, however these shouldn't affect travellers as they mostly relate to watering gardens and washing cars. Australia has first world medical standards, and you can expect to receive treatment that is the equal of care in other industrialized countries. In 1770, James Cook sailed along and mapped the east coast of Australia, which he named New South Wales and claimed for Great Britain.
The Statute of Westminster 1931 formally ended most of the constitutional links between Australia and the United Kingdom when Australia adopted it in 1942. Queen Elizabeth II is the Queen of Australia, a role that is distinct from her position as monarch of the other Commonwealth realms.
Among well-known Australian fauna are the monotremes (the platypus and the echidna); a host of marsupials, including the kangaroo, the koala, and the wombat; the saltwater and freshwater crocodiles; and birds such as the emu and the kookaburra. In common with many other developed countries, Australia is experiencing a demographic shift towards an older population, with more retirees and fewer people of working age. The National Gallery of Australia and the various state art galleries have strong collections of Australian and overseas artworks and are highly attended by Australians.
In July 2003, Australia successfully restored order to the Solomon Islands, which had descended into lawlessness during a brutal civil war. The Australian workforce has seen many improvements over the last decade, leading to the surge in productivity in the 1990s. World famous for its natural wonders and wide open spaces, its beaches, deserts, "the bush", and "the Outback", Australia is actually one of the world's most highly urbanised countries. With rising sea levels after the last Ice Age, Australia became largely isolated from the rest of the world and the Aboriginal tribes developed a variety of cultures, based on a close (spiritual) relationship with the land and nature, and extended kinship.
Many Asian and Eastern European people also came to Australia in the 1850s, during the Gold Rush that started Australia's first resource boom.
Australia is a Civil Engineers dream - a continent of vast wealth and resources combined with the ever present dangers of earthquakes, cyclones, fires, floods, and droughts. These are the essential ingredients that ensure exciting challenges and innovative developments in civil engineering design. Yet there is a shortage of civil engineers which makes it difficult to meet the demands of Australia's ever expanding economy.
Australia's large desert region and constant water shortage risk results in a need for civil engineers specialising in water engineering - especially commercial and mining. Recently, Perth introduced a desalination plant to convert sea water into drinking water ? one of the largest facilities of its kind in the world (source: http://www.abc.net.au) ? and Sydney has just committed to a similar desalination project.
Earthquakes are an ever-present danger which continues to occupy the brightest civil-engineering minds in Australia. Australia experienced three major earthquakes exceeding 6 on the Richter scale in the 20th Century (source: http://www.usgs.gov) along with numerous smaller tremors.
Besides the need for water and earthquake specialists, Australia's continually growing economy also drives many other opportunities to practice. New South Wales is about to embark on massive ?wind farm? electricity projects, and most states are currently investing in new or upgraded roads, bridges, dams, harbors, airports and buildings.
These are classic examples of modern infrastructure that depend on the science of civil engineering. Without it Australia's growing modern society cannot function and so it is therefore not surprising that civil engineers from across the globe are highly sought after by Australian companies.
Civil engineers will, with the aid of the recently introduced and much sought after 457 Visa, find it an easy task to find work in consultancy practices, private industry or government bodies across the Australian continent. But finding work in a design office, construction or field site; or in various areas of specialization is not where the perks end for successful applicants.
Living in Australia has many positive aspects.
With luscious countryside, a maze of bustling city centres and peaceful secure urban areas, Australia has much to offer environmentally. Immigrants, visitors or students can find themselves lost for choice as any one part of the country is almost always found to offer more than other international venues. Whether they're looking for a vibey nightlife or a cultural extravaganza, people who live in Australia are never without options.
The sheer size and diversity that Australia offers should be reason enough for any self-respecting civil engineer to want to move there. And with such a vast canvas to work on many civil engineers will feel the satisfaction of seeing tangible results from hard work in much the same way as those who designed and implemented the Sydney Opera House did many years ago.
The 457 Visa is making it easier for migrants to get into Australia and civil engineers should have no issue whatsoever finding suitable and enthusiastic employers should they investigate this option. Visa holders are welcome to live in Australia for up to four years, affording them most of the rights and duties of full citizenship, including the right to study and live without fear of expulsion.
Copyright reserved, Mike Stowe, 2008. The author provides permission for this article to be republished. However, no alterations are allowed.
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