Australia’s population is booming as Britons are lured in by incomes of up to triple what they earn at home while being able to enjoy the outdoors lifestyle.
The country is set to see its biggest-ever immigration surge with government figures revealing 650,000 migrants are predicted to arrive this financial year and next as Australia entices skilled workers to fill gaps.
Laurel Dyer, 28, is one of those who has added to the largest two-year population increase Australia has ever had.
The nurse, from the Isle of Mull, Scotland, moved to Australia last year and has undertaken roles in Western Australia and New South Wales – while fulfilling her love for the outdoors.
Laurel, who is employed by a nursing agency, told The Times her income was around triple what she earned back home and revealed some of her Scottish nursing colleagues have followed her lead.
Western Australia earlier launched an audacious bid to ‘steal’ 31,000 skilled workers to work Down Under
Nurses from the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) in England at a picket line during a strike in February
‘They came at a very similar time to me and are loving it out in Australia,’ she said.
‘I think the friends that are still at home are more settled in their life, but they are very envious of the job, the money, the lifestyle of Australia.
‘I think if it wasn’t for those roots there, they would probably be out in a heartbeat.’
Western Australia earlier launched an audacious bid to ‘steal’ 31,000 British doctors, police officers and teachers to work Down Under but it’s sparked a furious backlash.
In a nod to the post-war ‘Ten Pound Poms’ scheme, a delegation of state government and industry officials are trying to tempt workers away to fill more than 31,000 vacancies.
They have also been on the hunt for miners, plumbers, mechanics and builders, trying to sell the Australian dream in the UK.
They promise hard-working Brits can ‘have it all’ and boast Australian power bills are almost half the price of those in the UK.
Some of the positions on offer include nursing staff on a salary of $85,713 (£45,968.74) which is 58 per cent more than the average UK salary of £30,586, GPs with a salary of $232,963 (£124,940.39) compared to their UK salary of £72,070 and Civil Engineers on a salary of $120,193 (£64,460.71) compared to their UK salary of £37,398, Belfast Live reports.
Australia is predicted to see its biggest two-year population growth ever with some 650,000 migrants arriving this financial year (pictured, skilled workers)
NHS nurses and other medical workers hold placards during a strike, amid a dispute with the government over pay, earlier this year
Royal College of Nursing (RCN) general secretary Pat Cullen joined members on the picket line outside the Royal United Hospital in Bath in February
Police and defence industry minister Paul Papalia previously highlighted Western Australia’s wine regions, coral reefs and culinary scene.
‘Our wages are higher and our cost of living is lower,’ he promised. ‘Our health system is world class. You will be taken care of.
‘Many of our ancestors were sent from the UK to Australia as convicts. Now, it would be a crime not to make the move.’
Treasury officials in 2019 predicted a total of 1.2million migrants would arrive in the country by the end of 2024, but that figure has now been revised down to 950,000.
The analysis published at the end of last month means the country is expected to see 650,000 migrants start a new life in Australia by the end of the 2024 financial year.
At least 350,000 are predicted to settle in Australia this financial year with 300,000 more in the following 12 months.
