by Holly Russell

Created on: September 06, 2009

The reasons for living in Australia are many and varied. I have lived here 9 years, and previously called the Pacific Northwest of the United States my home. As I have only ever lived here as an adult, my reasons for finding this to be a wonderful place to live are practical and financial rather than nostalgic. The workplace, parenting, healthcare, community, and environment are all elements of daily life that have a dramatic impact on the quality of life. Each of these areas is discussed at length below.

THE WORKPLACE

Most of us dedicate the bulk of our adult years to the workforce. This is no different in Australia, but there are some standards in place that make all the difference.

Minimum Wage - The wages in Australia are higher. Obviously some expenses are higher as well, but not to this extreme. Wages are determined by a number of factors including age, skill level and experience. What qualifies as a minimum or entry level position in other countries attracts a wage of approximately $18 an hour here in Austrlaia.

Annual Leave and Sick Leave - Each year Australians accrue 4 weeks of vacation time. It does not matter if you don't work full time; you still get 4 weeks of paid leave based on how many hours you work each week. Whether you work part time or full time you are allotted 13 days a year of sick leave.

Roster Days Off - Many people in Australia work a 40 hour week. However, they get paid for 38 hours. This means that every 4 weeks you get to take an extra day off. This means that getting to the bank, the post office, the lawyers, the doctors, motor vehicle registration or any other places only available during business hours is not difficult. This built in system of flexibility means that people are less likely to take unnecessary sick leave.

Long Service Leave - If you work for a company for 10 - 15 years (depending on which company) you are allotted three tenths of a month of leave for each year of service. For 10 years that adds up to 3 months of leave! This keeps accruing after your initial 10 years and can be taken in conjunction with your annual leave each year. The practical impact this benefit has is huge. People are not as desperate to retire. If you want to travel through Europe, hike the pacific coast trail, learn to sail, build a straw-bale house, or anything else that might require a chunk of time off work, you can do it before you retire.

Superannuation - In every job you ever have in Australia, whether you are painting fences or

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