Expatriate experience
NSW for expatriates
If you are thinking of moving to New South Wales, it is reassuring to consider other expatriates' experiences and the high quality of life they enjoy in Australia. NSW is the country's most multicultural state where people from many different backgrounds embrace new cultures and share their heritage in welcoming communities.
NSW Department of Industry welcomes expatriates and has created an information sheet on repatriation to Sydney and NSW, covering citizenship, health, education, social security, tax, recognition of overseas qualifications and other relevant issues.
The Australian expatriate experience in NSW
In 2013, the HSBC Expat Explorer Survey ranked Australia fifth out of 37 countries for migrants' quality of life compared to where they used to live and their experiences of relocating and integrating into the fabric of local society.
A significant majority of responding expatriates reported that their quality of life improved when they moved to Australia. In total, 81 per cent felt a strong connection with the country, compared to a much lower global average of 66 per cent for all migrants surveyed.
If you are considering moving permanently to NSW, you could join the 84 per cent of surveyed expatriates who intend to stay in Australia – a figure well above the global average of 62 per cent.
Respondents who moved to Australia said they adapted easily to the food, weather and culture, found the locals friendly and listed the country's pleasant climate and attractive scenery as major positives. Overall, Australia achieved its highest rankings in expatriates' experiences of organising finances and healthcare, fitting into the new culture and integrating into the community.
Health and quality of life
In 2013, the Economist Intelligence Unit classed Sydney in the top 10 most attractive locations for expatriate workers in a list of the world's most livable cities. Overall, Sydney ranked seventh in the world and received perfect scores for healthcare, education and infrastructure.
The HSBC Expat Explorer Survey also produced separate league tables, which revealed more than half of Australia's migrants associate the country with strong economic growth, in contrast to a global average of only one-third of all expatriates surveyed. Australia ranked seventh out of 24 countries in terms of being a good place to raise children abroad, and achieved first place for the improved health of expatriates' children.
Quality of life is vital for attracting foreign companies and migrants to specific countries, particularly in the Asia Pacific region where conditions vary widely. In Australia you can enjoy the high quality of life and multicultural societies that make it a highly attractive destination for expatriates from all over the world.
| Country | Ease of Setting Up | Ability to Integrate | Quality of Life | Overall Ranking1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thailand | 3 | 3 | 1 | 1 |
| Bahrain | 6 | 23 | 2 | 2 |
| China | 15 | 2 | 4 | 3 |
| Cayman Islands | 1 | 24 | 3 | 4 |
| Australia | 2 | 14 | 8 | 5 |
| Singapore | 5 | 26 | 7 | 6 |
| India | 28 | 12 | 5 | 7 |
| Taiwan | 24 | 8 | 6 | 8 |
| Spain | 8 | 7 | 16 | 9 |
| Brazil | 20 | 1 | 17 | 10 |
| Germany | 12 | 11 | 12 | 11 |
| New Zealand | 16 | 27 | 14 | 18 |
| Malaysia | 9 | 30 | 13 | 20 |
| France | 10 | 9 | 26 | 21 |
| United States | 17 | 19 | 23 | 23 |
| Japan | 35 | 15 | 21 | 24 |
| Hong Kong SAR | 18 | 28 | 25 | 25 |
| United Kingdom | 13 | 13 | 30 | 27 |
| Indonesia | 27 | 6 | 35 | 31 |
Footnote
1. Rankings are based on a weighted average of scores for the following three sub categories (which are in turn based on 29 indicators): setting up (16.7%), integration (16.7%), and quality of life (66.7%). For the quality of life sub-category, expats rated accommodation, food/diet, entertainment, healthcare, work/life balance, social life, commute to work and opportunities for sports and travel. For the 2013 survey, 7,000 expats from nearly 100 countries took part. A sample size of more than 30 respondents from each country was required for inclusion in each league table.
Source: HSBC, Expat Explorer Survey 2013.