The council of Australian Governments (COAG) has released its second annual report on the state of Australia’s primary schools. It shows evidence of an improvement in the year 2008 – 2009 across the curriculum and also across all socio economic backgrounds.

The number of pupils in primary school achieving minimum targets in literacy increased by 4.9 percent in Queensland, the best state for reading scores. The National Assessment Programme for Literacy and Numeracy found significant improvements in both literacy and numeracy across the country and as a whole Australia met targets set by NAPLAN.

One of the key aims of NAPLAN is to reduce the disparity between the achievements of indigenous and other students. One of their targets is to have 84.7 percent year 3 students achieving above the national minimum reading standard by 2018.

Compared to the UK education system which is set to suffer from heavy handed budget cuts and has already been denied a new curriculum, the Australian schooling system is superior in almost every way. Not only is the education more dynamic and seeming to produce better results but school leavers are entering a booming job market in a growing economy.

If you are thinking of making the move down under take a look at our migration section to see what is the best option for you and your family.

Last night the Australian dollar hit an all time high as it drew level with the American dollar for the first time since 1982.

Australian economist Stephen Roberts expects the AU Dollar to achieve parity with that of the US in the long term. “It might be a bit of a patient wait for parity, but we will get there,” Roberts said.

This increase in AU Dollar value has been aided by the faltering US economy which is still struggling to recover from the global financial crisis. The US government is expected to aid recovery through further quantitative easing which will cause the US Dollar to fall in value.

The Australian economy is also in a strong position globally as it has managed to avoid the worst of the high risk lending trend that caused the financial crisis. The country is able to further insulate itself by making the most of a commodity that is sought after globally; wheat. Australia is ranked among the ten largest wheat producers worldwide.

Parity with the US Dollar will aid trading as imports with the rest of the world will be less costly and thus exports more profitable.

Australia could be facing a second skills shortage, particularly at middle management level if the number of trained jobseekers does not increase to match projected demand. This means that top graduates and executives are being sought for a premium.

“Companies are willing to pay thousands more to get the right person. If it means that the project isn’t delayed then it is viewed as money well spent because it could save millions of dollars down the track,” said Jim Hayman, global managing partner for Heidrick and Struggles.

Image courtesy of acobox.com

The list of jobs needed includes Construction project manager, project builder, structural engineer and electrical engineer. These jobs are open to both Australian nationals and migrant workers so for those thinking of making the move over take a look at our full jobs list and consider the long term job prospects.

The skills shortage means that there is a large volume of management and skilled trade positions open in the short term but prospective migrants should look at whether the projects they intend to be a part of will have longevity and allow time for visas to be processed. Remember that the Australian border control is much stricter than in the UK, just because you have a skill they need don’t expect to move and sort it out later.

Check out our information on visas and lifestyle because let’s face it, the job is only half the story.

Chris Bowen

In his first major public address as Minister for Immigration & Citizenship, Chris Bowen spoke of the importance of immigration and multiculturalism to Australia “Immigration is central to the fabric of our nation, with around two in five Australians born overseas, or with a parent who was born overseas. I’m one of them. My father’s family – the Bowens – migrated to Australia from Wales in the 1860s to mine coal. My mother came here 100 years later – in the 1960s – as a self-described ‘ten pound tourist’. So I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for Australia’s migration program”

Bowen also advocated Australia adopting a “middle position” on asylum seekers and boat people “we must comply with our refugee convention obligations but that we must have as orderly and fair process as possible, that we must rigorously check claims for asylum – will not be popular with either side of a polarised debate. But it is the only sustainable policy. Sound grabs are presented as simple solutions in this debate. The cheap talk of ‘turning the boats back’ comes easily but doesn’t mean much. Sound policy takes more thought”

Bowen added that a regional processing centre would only succeed within a regional framework “A Regional Protection Framework, in line with United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) principles, is a mechanism to bring more fairness to the treatment of asylum seekers while removing the incentive for people to undertake dangerous journeys by boat”

Mr Bowen was giving the keynote address at the opening of the opening of the Migration 2010 Conference in Sydney.

Kylie brought sunshine to the GMTV studios.

Australian sweetheart Kylie Minogue brought some sunshine to the studios of London based GMTV this morning as she became a guest weather presenter.

The Australian singer/actress had been visiting the studios to promote her new album ‘Aphrodite’. She remained on the show for the rest of the day, which was reportedly renamed KMTV for the day, and did a stint reading the weather.

Kylie joined GMTV’s regular weather forecaster, Kirsty McCabe, to present the weather forecast for Melbourne, Australia; Kylie’s hometown. In case you wanted to know what the weather is going to be like in Australia – it’s cloudy with outbreaks of sunshine and a high of 14 celsius. A far cry from the UK which is sweltering in highs of 25 today. But then it is winter in Australia!

The Australian star was clearly delighted with her stint as a weather girl – probably the most glamorous weather girl GMTV has ever had! Afterwards she raised her hands in the air and said: “That’s my first weather go! Woo hoo!”

Kylie’s sunny outlook certainly brightened up the London studios and I’m sure anyone watching in Melbourne would have had their day brightened by her enthusiastic weather report too!

Australia's bid for the 2018 World Cup is over.

Australia has dramatically pulled out of the bidding for the 2018 World Cup today, leaving England with only four rival bids.

Speculation has been rife for some time that the 2018 World Cup will go to a European country so Australia’s decision to pull out at this stage will not be of any surprise for some who now feel that the USA should also pull out of the bidding.

It was only in May that Australia unveiled their 2018/2022 World Cup bid book with Australia goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer providing a bit of sporting glam next to FFA Chief Executive Ben Buckley. Now that book looks set to be placed back on the shelf until the 2022 Fifa World Cup.

It is for the sake of the Fifa World Cup that Australia have cited as the reason for their withdrawal from the bids. Fifa secretary general Jerome Valcke said: “Their [Australia] announcement of today, therefore, to henceforth focus solely on bidding for the 2022 Fifa World Cup is a welcome gesture that is much appreciated by Fifa’s leadership and executive committee. We wish to thank Mr Lowy, the FFA and the Australian Government.”

FFA chairman Frank Lowy said of the decision: “We have been in discussion with Fifa for months and it is that trusting relationship with the leadership of the governing body that has caused us to focus on 2022 and decide to leave the field for 2018 to European contenders.”

Pressure will now be mounting on the USA to follow in Australia’s footsteps and leave the bidding to the four European contenders; England, Russia, Spain/Portugal and Holland/Belgium.

Australia will now focus all its efforts to launching a successful bid for the 2022 World Cup.

Australian economy benefitting from strong shares.

Australia’s economy isn’t just recovering after the recession, it’s literally bouncing back to full health as Australian shares outperform both the US and the UK to make the Australian sharemarket one of the best performing in the developed world for the past 110 years!

Australia has been making returns of around 7.5% each year since 1900 whereas the UK has trailed behind at 5.5%. Even the US, which has been named fourth best performing country by Fidelity International, has only managed 5.9%.

It is just another example of how the Australian economy is growing at a spectacular rate – almost as fast as the Australian population!

A report by the Reserve Bank has praised Australia’s economy and said that disposable income has increased by around 3.5%. Net worth per household also increased by 11%.

But the buoyant economy is not good news for everyone. First time buyers are struggling to get onto the property ladder due to a 10% increase in house prices. Numbers of young people owning their own homes are now at an all time low, despite government grant increases. Calls are being made upon the government to make it easier for young people to get a mortgage.

Australia has also just signed what could be the biggest gas deal ever seen with China, proving that vital economic relations with the two countries are still as strong as ever. The $54 billion deal will see China being supplied with liquefied natural gas, most of it from gas reserves in Western Australia. The current boom in the Australian state is proving good news for potential migrants to Australia as WA seek skilled migrants to fill shortages.

Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has previously stated how Australia depends upon immigration to keep the economy strong.

With low unemployment rates and rising disposable incomes is it any wonder that more people choose to emigrate to Australia than anywhere else? Yet with recent Australian immigration changes, potential migrants are advised to research types of visas carefully to strengthen their chances of having their applications accepted.

Australian house prices are still booming.

Rising house prices in Australia may be bad news for first time buyers, but for those wishing to make an investment in housing, Australia is looking like an attractive prospect.

House prices in Australia have risen by 3.7 per cent in the past three months, with Melbourne seeing the highest rise at 6.1 per cent. The average house price in Melbourne was $437,560 in September of last year, compared to the average now of $487,249.

Hobart house prices have risen by 5.4 per cent, Canberra by 4.8 per cent and Sydney by 3.6 per cent. However those living in the more expensive suburbs of the city are not benefiting from the rises. Prices in Point Piper and Bronte in Sydney have fallen by up to 30 per cent since 2007, according to APM economist Matthew Bell.

The explosion in house prices is thought to have been triggered by investors who hope to reap the rewards of a housing boom. However some economists are warning that the boom will be short-lived as first time buyers are priced out of the market.

Other factors involved in the property boom are the generous grants for new home buyers, low unemployment and a strong population growth, especially in immigration.

Immigration figures for Australia remain high, despite a fall in the number of people immigrating to Australia from the UK. Many of these immigrants to Australia are buying new houses which is fuelling demand and helping to raise prices.

The Reserve Bank of Australia will meet later this week to discuss raising interest rates again.

Despite warnings from economists that the rise in house prices will be shortlived, buying a house in Australia is still a sound investment given the strong Australian economy and it’s growing population. Whilst house prices may stabilise next year, they are unlikely to fall.

If you are looking to buying a house in Australia or are planning to immigrate to Australia, check out our guide to living in Australia and join our friendly community for further advice and discussions on all the latest immigration news.

Police were on hand to protect Tiger airways staff from angry passengers as the cancellation of flight TT567 was announced at Hobart airport last Friday.

The Hobart to Melbourne service was cancelled when a cabin crew member suddenly fell ill. The airline commented “Unfortunately we do not have a crew base in Hobart and so no replacement was available (and) we need a certain amount of cabin crew to fly each flight by law.�

“Tiger Airways apologises to affected passengers but this situation was outside our control.�

Mike Walters who was booked on the flight claimed he and his wife were effectively abandoned after the cancellation of the flight.  “We were isolated in a hotel at Cambridge airport some 17 kilometres from Hobart without any local shops or supplies,� Mr Walters said.

Mr Walters said he forked out for a flight back to Melbourne yesterday on Virgin Blue because he could not wait until today, particularly as he had run out of medication.

“To add to our irritation we had to pay for alternative accommodation, transport, interstate telephone calls to family and the Tiger call centre and meals out of our own pocket with the promise of an unspecified refund in two months’ time,â€? Mr Walters said.

“We know of other passengers on our flight who missed interstate connections to family weddings, including one best man.

An airline spokesperson  said the 140 passengers booked on the flight were offered a range of options “over and above our terms and conditions that passengers agree to at time of booking�.

These options included refunds and credits, accommodation in Hobart for non-residents and transfers to other flights.

“Some passengers opted to fly on Saturday, some on Sunday and there is a flight tonight at 9:15pm departing Hobart with spare seats,� they added.

Hulk Hogan set to take Australia by storm!

Australian wrestling fans are in for a huge treat this November as Hulkmania is set to sweep across Australia! 

Yes you heard right, the notorious wrestler Hulk Hogan comes out of retirement to tour four major cities Down Under.

Hogan is joined by a line up of wrestling superstars including his former rival Ric Flair, Eddie Fatu, known as Umaga in the ring and Diamond Dallas Page. Rumours are also rife about other high profile names joining him including, Brutus the Barber Beefcake, The Nasty Boys and Jimmy Hart.

It’s the first time Hogan has ever taken part in a wrestling match in Australia and this gives Hogan fans a once in a lifetime opportunity to see all their wrestling heroes in this week long tour of Australia.

Hogan says of his impending Aussie tour: “I’ve always wanted to perform in Australia because I hear the fans are great.â€? Obviously a man of few words, but it’s not for his eloquence that fans idolise him for, he has won the World Wrestling Federation Championships no less than six times!

The tour will start off in Melbourne on November 21, then Perth on the 24^th, Brisbane on the 26^th and finishing Sydney on the 28^th of November. Tickets go on sale on the 25 September from can be ordered from ticketek.

If you’re a Hulk Hogan fan who fancies watching their hero and other wrestling superstars tour Australia then we’ve found this incredible deal on flights that could be just up your street! Emirates are offering an adult return from Gatwick to Melbourne for just £885.70! The flights depart Gatwick on Thursday 19 November and return on Monday 30 November. See Emirates for more details!