A draft report by the Productivity Commission into disability proposed that those with severe disabilities will be guaranteed life-long support and care, having found that the current system is underfunded and failing to meet the needs of a large number of severely disabled individuals.

The $12 billion a year proposal will lift many families from the “life-long period” of financial constraint that caring for someone with a severe disability imposes.

The report has recommended that by 2018 two no-fault insurance schemes should be brought into action to cover those born with or who acquire through accident, injury or illness a severe disability.

The first will cover those who suffer accident injury or illness and will be based on current insurance schemes which cover those injured through vehicle accidents. The second will be a government funded scheme to cover long-term care for those born with disabilities.

An estimated 360,000 people will be covered by the proposed new schemes that will cover a range of help from respite to therapy costing the government at least double the current budget and requiring an influx of skilled carers that the report says will only be met through wage increases.

“All of us are only one accident or one illness away from living with disability ourselves,” Uniting Care director Lin Hatfield Dodds said and that the proposed funding is a strong solution. Carers Australia also welcomed the report.

“There are people falling through the cracks, the status quo isn’t working and something needs to be done,” Mr Shorten, Labor frontbencher and former disabilities minister said.

Australia is a land of Ancient tradition and equally ancient animals, it is home to some of the oldest known species on the planet. The Platypus for example has not changed for at least 100,000 years.

While Australia is home to some extraordinary animals it is at risk of losing many of them, this means that zoos and sanctuary’s play an increasingly important part in protecting endangered species and increasing awareness of the threat posed to them.

Australia Zoo

Let’s kick our tour of Australia’s zoos with the most famous of all, the zoo made famous world-wide by Steve Irwin, the Crocodile Hunter.  Australia Zoo was opened 40 years ago by Bob and Lyn Irwin with the aim of promoting a stronger relationship between the people of Australia and its wildlife.

The zoo became a popular tourist attraction upon the success of The Crocodile Hunter which quickly found millions of viewers world-wide.  Irwin captured the public’s imagination with his gung ho attitude to the wildlife documentary.

In many of his programs a typical scene would see him chasing an enraged snake, capturing it, telling us just how dangerous it is then releasing.

But Irwin also angered many wildlife groups who have said that his program promotes a culture of interference with wildlife, something that every conservation group is against. In 2006, on the 4^th September, Steve Irwin died after being stung in the chest while swimming with Stingrays in Australia’s Great Barrier Reef.

The Australia Zoo is found in Queensland on the Sunshine Coast and covers 76 acres and is now run by Terri Irwin. It is relatively expensive compared to what we are used to paying in the UK, at $58 for an adult day ticket it may stretch the wallet but it really is worth the visit.

Melbourne Zoo

Melbourne Zoo first opened in 1862 making it the oldest zoo in Australia and is home to over 320 species, botanic gardens and a number of education, research and conservation projects. The zoo is constantly evolving, with projects under way and in the pipeline.

Due to the wide variety of wildlife in Australia, the zoos take a far more active interest in educating the young than UK zoos do, there are numerous educational programmes aimed at informing young people and opening up new and exciting career paths that zoos initiate and take part in.

Werribee Open Range Zoo

If you feel like something different head on over to Werribee Open Range Zoo, just 30 minutes from Melbourne city centre for an African safari. Set in an impressive 225 hectares of open savannah. There you will be able to see lions, monkeys, hippos, rhinos, giraffes, zebras and antelopes in as close as you can get to their natural habitat, albeit on a different continent.

You can also get up and close with a number of the zoos animals including African cats, rhinos and giraffes. Adult day tickets are $24.80, to meet a rhino adults will need to pay $70 for an hour.

Perth Zoo

Perth Zoo is an institution which is actively contributing to conservation through vital research and breeding-for-release programs which aim to regularly release threatened native species back into the wild and monitor their progress.  

The Zoo is home to 190 species, a total of 1100 animals and while many other zoos are continuously growing, Perth Zoo manages to stay fairly stable due to its emphasis on breeding-for-release.

The gardens are an oasis and an integral part of the zoo because some plant species are also under threat from poor environmental management and habitat destruction.  The gardens house a wide range of local flora and the Rainforest Retreat has more than 5000 plants.

You will find the Zoo just five minutes from Perth CBD and on the Swan River and has not closed since the day it opened in 1898. Admission is reasonable at $21 for an adult day ticket.

Adelaide Zoo

Adelaide Zoo is one of the largest in Australia with over 1800 animals and 300 species to meet and learn about. From Alligators to Frogs, Big Cats to Meerkats and Snails to Spiders there is bound to be something to interest you.

As well as having perhaps the largest range of animals on show, Adelaide Zoo also works with Conservation Ark, an organisation which works, through research, education and direct intervention to protect endangered species.  

Australia currently has 37 species listed as extinct, 92 critically endangered, 156 endangered and 538 vulnerable species.

Wildlife Experiences

If going to the zoo is not for you then head to the tropical north of Queensland where there are a number of wildlife experiences that will get you up close and personal with a variety of animals in their natural environment.

Cairns Tropical Zoo is set in 6 hectares of landscaped tropical gardens and is home to the most comprehensive variety of wildlife in North Queensland. CTZ is one of the few places in the world where you can hold and cuddle a Koala for just $16, a necessary experience for an animal lover visiting Australia.

Urimbirra Wildlife Experience

The Urimbirra Wildlife Experience is in South Australia, less than an hour’s drive from Adelaide. It allows you to enjoy more than 70 different species in 16 hectares of their natural habitat. There you will be able to see animals up close and get an understanding of their behaviour.

There are fresh water and salt water crocodiles, snakes and lizards to keep you captivated. There are also a variety of Kangaroos and Wallabies that promise an unparalleled photo opportunity. The site includes 6 hectares of wetland bird sanctuary that is home to Pelicans, Herons, Egrets Black Swans, parrots, cockatoos, kookaburras and a whole host of other birds.

The park also has a child friendly farmyard with chickens, guinea pigs and rabbits.

Entry is a very reasonable $12 for adults and $6 for children aged between 4 and 14.

Healesville Sanctuary

Healesville Sanctuary is perhaps Australia’s largest wildlife sanctuary with more than 200 species in 30 hectares of Australian bush. You will be able to view native animals in their natural setting including Koalas, Kangaroos, Wombats, Emus, Dingoes, birds of prey and Platypuses.

It was first opened to the public in 1934, before that it had been used by scientists for medical research. It was the first organisation to successfully breed Platypus and saw the first ever platypus born in captivity in the 1940s.

Healesville Sanctuary is currently engaged in the conservation of a number of endangered species including the Helmeted Honeyeater, the Mountain Pygmy-possum, the Orange-bellied Parrot and the Spotted Tree Frog. All of these animals are under threat from the loss of their natural habitats.

Australia has one of the most beautiful landscapes on earth not to mention more than its fair share of geographical wonders. Sometimes seeing the country from the ground simply doesn’t do it justice. To get the best views you have to take to the air.

Helicopter Tours

Helicopter tours are one of the best ways to see a large area of Australia from the air and Down Under Helicopters is one such tour operator. Operating from Cairns, Down Under Helicopters offers a wide range of tour options throughout North Queensland including half day and full day packages that will make you thirsty for more.

One of Down Under Helicopters’ half day tours includes a 25 minute flight over rainforest covered mountains and the natural wonder that is the Great Barrier Reef, taking in miles of coral and sand cays before landing and joining Down Under Cruises for the second half of the tour.

After landing and having a bite to eat you will have the opportunity to get up close and personal with the incredible variety of marine life through snorkelling and scuba diving for two hours beneath the hot Australian sun and basking in the gloriously warm Coral Sea.

On the way back to Cairns, via a leisurely cruise you will enjoy live entertainment with a glass of wine, arriving back in Cairns at 5pm. This tour costs $299 per person and tours range between $120 and $1795.

Other tours on offer include a morning at the zoo, horse riding, bungy jumping, quad biking and skydiving. Or if you are really feeling adventurous you could have a go at flying the helicopter yourself at The Cairns Helicopter School.

Blue Sky Helicopters, based in Sydney offers a view of the city that few people ever get to see. If you are willing to share the experience with others then you can try the Share With Others Harbour Discovery Flight at $149 per person for 15 minutes and get unparalleled views of Sydney Harbour Bridge and the Sydney Opera House. If you don’t feel like sharing you can book a private charter for 3 or 4 people at the same price per person. 

If 15 minutes in the air isn’t long enough then take a look at the Best Of Sydney tour which lasts a whole hour and takes in the big sights mentioned above as well as Bondi Beach, Palm Beach, Botany Bay and much more. The tour costs $600 per person for sharing or to book the whole helicopter for up to four people you will expect to pay $2400.

For those who want to really remember the experience a 60 minute Aerial Photography Flight may be on the cards. Through expert guidance you will learn how to get the most spectacular pictures as you are flown the same way that the company flies professional photographers and if you are feeling particularly adventurous you can choose to fly with the doors off.

Again you can choose to share with others for $300 or hire the whole helicopter as private charter for up to 3 people at $900.

Hot Air Ballooning

Hot air ballooning is one of the best ways to see Australia, imagine drifting silently across a vast flat land beneath a perfect blue sky and sipping a glass of champagne.  

Balloon Aloft, located two hours north of Sydney offers sunrise flights over Hunter Valley, begin 45 minutes before sunrise at Peterson’s Champagne House in Pokolbin the flight lasts for an hour and encompasses some of the most picturesque landscape in the world.

After the flight you will be able to enjoy a gourmet champagne breakfast at Restaurant Cuvee at Peterson’s Champagne House with your fellow balloonists as well as a brief history of hot air ballooning and a flight certificate.

The sunrise flight, including breakfast costs $299 during the summer and $335 for the rest of the year, extra family members or friends are welcome at breakfast for an extra $25 per person.   

Hot Air Ballooning is a company that offers a range of flights all around Australia; you can fly from Cairns, the Gold Coast, Brisbane and Port Douglas. Flights including champagne breakfasts are popular and start early, the Brisbane flight including champagne breakfast starts as early as 5.45am and will take you across stunning scenery.

As with Balloon Aloft you will have a knowledgeable pilot and ample time to take pictures before heading back down to earth. After your flight you will be taken back to O’Reilly’s Grand Homestead & Boutique Vineyard for a freshly cooked champagne breakfast, once you’ve been fed and watered you can be transferred to a number of locations including theme parks and shopping centres.

This flight will cost you $240 which is around average for a flight with this company.

Sky Diving

To get the ultimate adrenaline rush and see Australia from the unique perspective of 14,000 feet why not jump out of a plane and take part in a sky dive. 

Companies that offer skydiving experiences include Sydney Skydivers who have facilitated 1.5 million jumps and for just $255 you could take part in a tandem jump with a highly experienced skydiving instructor. As you fall at up to 120 miles per hour you will have unparalleled views of the city, the coast and the Blue Mountains.

Jump The Beach offers tandem skydives over Mission Beach in Northern Queensland. For $334 you will be able to fall from 14,000 feet, getting incredible views of the rainforests, the Great Barrier Reef and tropical islands for a full 60 seconds. 

There are a number of other skydiving companies all around the company and prices vary but not much. However you decide to get your own perspective make sure you do it Down Under.

The largest survey of Australian secondary school students in 25 years, across 240 schools and 12,000 teenagers between 8 and 11 found that the nation is suffering from a “chronic disease time bomb” due to poor exercise and diet habits.

Chief executive of Cancer Council Australia, Professor Ian Olver has expressed concern over the results of the survey and the potential strain on the Australian health system.

“If ever there was a wake-up call for Australians, this is it,” he said “As obese kids move into adulthood the heightened risk of chronic diseases like cancer means previous gains in life expectancy may be reversed.”

The survey found that 85 percent of students surveyed do not engage in enough physical activity for it to prove beneficial, also 14 percent do not eat enough fruit and vegetables, roughly a third drink four or more carbonated drinks in the average week, 43 percent eat fast food at least once a week.

One in four are either overweight or obese; 19.2 percent of boys have been found to be overweight and 5.4 percent obese while 17.1 percent of girls are overweight and 5.5 percent obese.

 These factors will no doubt have a long term negative effect on the population as a whole. “We may see today’s teenagers die at a younger age than their parents’ generation for the first time in history.”

There is a clear trend which indicates an increase in childhood obesity, particularly in those with a lower socio economic background.

Celebrating Australia Day Down Under

Australians all over the world are back to reality today, after celebrating Australia Day on 26 January. Sydney celebrated its hottest Australia Day on record, with temperatures in the city nearing 32°C. In Perth, 32,000 people turned out to watch the Skyworks display, while even flood-devastated Brisbane – determined to continue with the celebrations despite the usual riverside site being flooded – managed to complete its annual Flag Raising Ceremony in a new location, to cheers from resilient locals in blazing sunshine.

Australia Days of yore

T’was on 26 January in 1788 that Captain Arthur Philip landed his fleet at what is now Circular Quay in Sydney, with two French exploration ships hot on his heels. Just before the First Fleet disgorged its cargo of several hundred convicts, officers and sailors onto the virgin land, the Governor claimed the land for England. There allegedly followed a right old Aussie-style knees-up on the shores of the harbour, no doubt shaking off the long confinement at sea with some of the rum supplies – and as dawn rose the next day, some semblance of order was cobbled together and the colony of New South Wales was born.

Twenty years later, the colony was sufficiently established to merit the first annual celebration of the First Fleet’s landing, with settlers toasting the land they had come to love with ‘drinking and merriment’, kicking off the on the evening of 25 January. Australia Day has been thus celebrated ever since.

In 1818 the day was declared a public holiday, and Aussies still have the day off, which is a Godsend when one’s patriotic duty has called for heavy celebrations the evening before.

Nowadays, Australians spend their day off having barbecues and picnics in the glorious January summer sun, and spending time with friends and family. There are usually plenty of events to choose from, such as race days, cricket matches and outdoor music concerts. Most major cities have public fireworks extravaganzas over the water as the sun goes down.

Melbourne residents turn out for a vast processions for the People’s March, followed by a live concert, in Sydney the ferries and tallships jostle for space on the sparkling harbour as they line up to race each other to the Heads.

It’s also the day when new Citizens are sworn in as Australians, and the Prime Minister and Governor General both make televised addresses to the nation.

But above all, Australia Day is a joyous occasion when Australians gather to give thanks for their country and celebrate its bounty, its ‘beauties rich and rare’ and the carefree existence its people are blessed with. It’s a time to wave the national flag and sing the anthem with pride… and an excellent excuse to enjoy a few Australian-brand beers.

How to celebrate Australia Day (outside Australia)

If you’re not lucky enough to be Down Under, there are pockets of Australia Day merriment all over the world. Although the January weather in the northern hemisphere is the opposite of what a traditional Australia Day would offer, certain inns and bars in most UK cities will at least mark the occasion with Aussie beers, Aussie music and perhaps some Aussie delicacies.

The occasion will be palpable on the globetrotting circuit, too – expect to find pockets of Aussie-fever in centres from Koh Samui to Khatmandu.

But wherever you are in the world, you can enter into the spirit with a cold Aussie beer (Crown, VB, Swan, Castlemaine or Tooheys), an informal barbecue (indoors with the kitchen cooker if needs be), some Australian music, a toy koala or two, a suitable movie or sporting match, and an assortment of like-minded friends who can share in the joy of raising a glass to sunny Australia.

Today is Australia Day – the one day of the year when Australians all over the world celebrate what it is to be Australian. In 1935, after separate states celebrating the day under different names for decades (Foundation Day in Victoria, Anniversary Day in NSW) the 26^th of January was officially known as Australia Day. On this date the nation, first discovered by Captain James Cook on 22 August 1770 was just 165 years old.

The reason for Australia Day has changed over the years, originally it was a celebration of the British occupation but more recently it has become a celebration designed to unite an increasingly diverse population however, despite this gradual evolution of the day the Aboriginal population continue to feel excluded as they see the day as a yearly reminder of the British invasion of their ancestral home and their subsequent dispossession of it.

There is no bigger patriotic celebration than this; today over 16,000 people have become Australian citizens and will be starting new lives as Australians at the National Flag Raising and Citizenship Ceremony in Canberra, there are concerts and parties, fireworks displays, plenty of surfing,  parades and the obligatory barbeque or two. It is a day when Australians can look at each other and see their countrymen as brothers and sisters in a country that is more united than perhaps any other on the planet.

To be part of this celebration next year, book your flight and make sure you are there. If you have been thinking of making the move down under there is no better way than this of making the beginning of your new life truly memorable. Check out our visas page to see if you are eligible for citizenship and get planning, the rest of your life is waiting!

Aussies are proud of their lingo

Australians have a well-deserved reputation for colourful speech, and the country boasts its own dictionaries, which will explain the meaning of terms such as ‘ocker’, ‘drongo’ and ‘woop woop’.

But do 21st century Aussies really go around saying ‘Crikey, me old Cobber, don’t come the raw prawn with me’?

Well, no. Definitely not.

In a recent social research poll, 7 out of 10 Aussies said they do use ‘g’day’, ‘mate’ and ‘arvo’ regularly in everyday speech, and were proud to do so. And of course the ubiquitous ‘no worries’ is going so strong that it’s being exported around the world.

Phrases such as ‘chuck us a coldie’ (pass me a beer), ‘she’ll be right’ (it’ll be OK) and ‘bloody oath’ (too right) are considered perfectly acceptable. But many of the old slang often associated with Australia (ie strewth, crikey, cobber, Sheila) are in fact no longer used by most Aussies.

Such expressions are considered common, crass and outdated, perpetuated only by foreigners trying to do take the mick out of the Aussie stereotype.

The Aussie-isms that are surviving are those that tend to encapsulate Australia’s core values of cameraderie, equality and fun, while the more negative or crude terms are falling by the wayside, ‘dunny’ among them.

The survey of 100 Australians was run by McCrindle Research. Spokesman Mark McCrindle said that the most popular Aussie words encapsulate the nation’s famously warm and down-to-earth attitude.

“There is a self-consciousness and even a cringe factor which sets in. We have affection for our quirky language but this is balanced with a 21st century sophistication,” Mr McCrindle said. Seven out of 10 use ‘arvo’ and ‘g’day’ as a matter of course, while 40 per cent thought that yelling ‘Aussie Aussie Aussie oi oi oi’ at sporting events was absolutely ghastly.

The movers and shakers of language evolution are its youth; teenagers possess a keen sense of what’s cool to say and what isn’t, and what they don’t like doesn’t tend to survive. Australia’s Herald Sun newspaper interviewed 15-year-old Ned Zaina on the subject. His vocab was rich in ‘she’ll be right’ and ‘bloody oath’, but he would never, ever ‘stone the crows’. “I use what sounds friendly,” Ned said. “Other countries stereotype us because they think we say things that we don’t.”

this may soon be a thing of the past

Australian shopping centre Westfields has launched the nation’s first online mall, signalling that the retail centre is accepting the changing trends of buyers. By grouping the same shops present in its “bricks and mortar” shopping centre into one website, Westfields is able tap into the new evolving market place.

To allow the present and potential consumers to feel comfortable with a new medium the shopping centre has recruited Alyce Cowell, a 23 year old fashion journalist who won a contest for the $100,000 job to promote the new online shopping destination through blogging, tweeting and the ultimate networking tool; Facebook.  

“Shoppers trust the advice from other shoppers,” she said, “The benefit of researching online before heading out to the shops is that customers can be much more savvy.”

The Australian Centre for Retail Studies has recognised the rush from Australian retailers to compete in the digital forum with international e-commerce brands who have left some retailers far behind.

“Online channels will come along in leaps and bounds, because consumers like the instant gratification of buying online.” Sean Sands, a research fellow said.

“Young people do like the new and emerging technologies, but there’s a larger baby boom generation that likes to shop online for convenience,” Dr Sands said.

It is important for retailers to get online as the new generation of consumer demands cheaper goods and the only way to achieve this is to remove the overheads that come with large numbers of premises.

The psychology of shopping shows that consumers who seek value for money through multi-channel shopping actually spend up to four times more than any other type.

“We see it as a logical and long-term . . . piece of the business,” Westfields director of business development, Michelle Vanzella said. “The online market in Australia has lagged the US and UK markets, but we have seen the shopper demand building.

“We have had to wait until now for the individual retailers to be in a position to be part of an online activity.”

The Australian music festival season is up and running with dozens of festivals all around the country over the next few months, that boast the best dance, rock and Indie on offer.

If you like to dance the night away to thudding bass and techno beats head on over to Good Vibrations which will be held in Sydney, Melbourne, the Gold Coast and Perth in the first half of next month and will be featuring the talent of the global dance powerhouse that is Faithless and Yolanda be Cool.

Another big festival for dance lovers is Big Day Out which will be featuring LCD Soundsystem, Rammstein and M.I.A and will be held all over the country throughout this month and creeping into the next.

Now for those of you who like your music with a melancholic edge to it there is Blues Fest in Byron Bay, this festival takes place in April but is worth the wait as headlining a strong line up is Bob Dylan, also playing will be Elvis Costello & the Imposters.

While you wait you can pop over to Laneway Festival for some alternative and Indie music that will blow your socks off. There are festivals in all major cities throughout February featuring artists such as Cloud Cover, Beach House and Cut Copy.

For anyone in the mood for some electro take a look at Future Music Festival which takes place in all major cities during March and features the likes of the Chemical Brothers, Ke$ha and Dizzee Rascal.     

So if you’re tired of standing in the rain listening to some factory cloned pop group or fringe growing emo group while trying not to be pushed up against that man with the hairy back then take a trip down under for the summer of a lifetime and enjoy music as it should be.

Sunlight being harnessed

Following the UN climate agreement in Cancun it is important for Australia to step up and be counted among those who are prepared to take action against climate change.

More than 190 countries agreed on establishing a carbon price and making real quantifiable efforts to cut carbon emissions. While the agreement is not legally binding it will have a hugely positive effect.

Major polluters such as the US and China are for the first time prepared to take Climate change seriously and this step up of intentions will hopefully kick start a global culture of competitive carbon cuts.  

“Just before dawn overnight in Mexico the UN got its mojo back in terms of taking action on pollution and climate change,” John Connor of The Climate Institute said.

“Australia is coming into 2011, the year the prime minister said would be the year of action on pollution and climate change.”

“We need now to not only meet international commitments, but to remain competitive, to put a price on pollution and to have a flexible mechanism to increase that ambition as years come.”

Australia’s target has always been to cut five percent of 2000 emissions levels by 2020 but in the face a new enthusiasm for tackling climate change Australia must up its game.  

“What’s important for us is that we get action that enables us to do the full range of our commitments to at least 25 per cent reductions on 2000 levels by 2020 and that investors in the market can see that’s potentially going to happen,” Connor said.

As well as committing to reducing emissions in their own economies, the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change established a fund of billions that will help developing countries to tackle climate change as their economies grow.

“This is important because it provides an agreed pathway to achieve major emissions cuts,” Combet said.