Western Australia Regional Profile

Famous for its awesome natural environment long days of sunshine, spotless blue skies and brilliant beaches. So if you are intending to migrate to Australia, consider Western Australia – you will not be disappointed.

Western Australia is known for its warm sunny climate, stunning sunsets, gorgeous blue skies, beaches of fine white sand and many opportunities to explore untouched natural areas. It is a land of stunning diversity where the deep reds of interior rock formations contrast with the sparkling blue of the Indian and Southern Oceans and the thriving greenery of the southern regions. Western Australia has one of the most diverse climates in Australia – from the tropical north to the temperate south. There are also two distinct seasonal variations. In the southern half of the State four seasons are observed while in the north there are just two - the ‘wet’ (October-March) and the ‘dry’ (April-September).

Western Australia is two and a half million square kilometres in area, one third of the whole Australian continent. It is a huge area of land with a diversity of climates, terrain, flora and fauna. It has a population of approximately 2.1 million which represents one tenth of Australia’s total population. Its population is among the most diverse in the world. 12% of Western Australia’s population speak a language other than English at home, with the main languages spoken being Italian, dialects of Chinese, Vietnamese, German and Australian Indigenous languages. The capital city, Perth, is home to 1.6 million people and enjoys more hours of sunshine than any other capital city in Australia. Perth’s lifestyle is easygoing with a number of inner city parks adding to the relaxed, nature-based feel. The bustling central business district is just seven kilometres from the sea and is perched on the banks of the majestic Swan River and nestled beneath the city’s 400 hectare botanical showcase, Kings Park. Housing in Perth is the cheapest of all Australia’s mainland capitals and rental accommodation is readily available and competitively priced.

Around 500,000 people live outside Perth in communities as far from the city as Kununurra, 2300 km to the north and Esperance, 720 km to the southeast. Surrounding Perth is Western Australia’s major agricultural area producing and processing a wide variety of crops and livestock products mainly for export. The southern regions are major producers of mineral sands, timber, and agricultural products while the northern regions account for most of Western Australia’s mineral, oil and gas output, nearly half the beef industry, cultured pearl production and a developing aquaculture industry.

Strong Economy

Over the last decade, Western Australia has experienced sustained economic growth. Driven largely by an expanding minerals and petroleum sector, this is creating many exciting opportunities across the State. It is also a reliable and secure place to do business with affordable office, factory and warehouse costs – in fact business costs are the lowest in Australia.

With only 10 per cent of Australia’s population, Western Australia is the nation’s premier export State, generating a quarter of Australia’s total goods and services exports. Industry is dominated by the production of basic metal, chemical, petroleum and coal products, processed foods and beverages and mining equipment. The services sector, which accounts for about 70 per cent of the State’s economic activity, is also highly competitive in the areas of education, health and biotechnology, building and construction, information technology and engineering.

State Migration Centre

Western Australia has one of the strongest economies in Australia and needs to attract people with the skills necessary to sustain its high growth rates and significant investments. The Western Australian Government has developed the State Migration Centre to attract prospective migrants and give them better information about the opportunities that exist in the State and to provide assistance in helping skilled people make Western Australia their home.

The State Migration Centre is responsible for maintaining lists of skilled occupations which are in demand in the Perth metropolitan area and in regional areas of the State. These lists are critical to ensure that the State sponsors those workers with the skills which are most in demand. To coordinate its activities and programs, the State Migration Centre uses a network of international trade and investment offices and works closely with the State's nine Regional Development Commissions.

State Sponsorship

Apart from the schemes run by the federal government, the government of Western Australia offers two pathways to immigration: Skilled Sponsored Visa (SSV) or Skilled Regional Sponsored Visas (SRSV).

The Skilled Sponsored Visa provides eligible skilled migrants with permanent residency and applies to all areas of the State. Under the Skilled Regional Sponsored Visa pathway, if your application is successful you will receive a three year provisional visa and after you have lived in a regional area for two years and worked in a skilled occupation in the regional area for 12 months, you may be eligible for a permanent skilled visa.

To apply for either type of visa you will require sponsorship from the Government of Western Australia, but please note that being granted State Sponsorship does not guarantee your visa will be approved by the Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC).

The Western Australian Government is also committed to supporting diverse business development and economic growth throughout the State. One way in which it fulfils this commitment is through the Small Business Development Corporation (SBDC) which assists and financially supports qualifying business migrants in their quest to relocate to Western Australia.

Find out more about making Western Australia your home;

Western Australia Tourism
www.tourism.wa.gov.au

Government of Western Australia
www.wa.gov.au

Government Migration Website
www.migration.wa.gov.au