Australia has a particularly transparent and carefully constructed immigration program that has been designed to attract the very best candidates for long-term and permanent residency. The immigration program is based primarily on the economic viability and work skills of applicants. Australia has real shortages in numerous job classifications and continues to increase the cap on skilled candidates each year.
An island continent just southeast of Asia, Australia is surrounded by the Indian Ocean to its west, the Pacific to its east, the Southern Ocean to its south and the Arafura and Timor seas to its north. Australia is divided into the states of Victoria, Queensland, New South Wales, Western Australia, South Australia and Tasmania and the two territories of the Australian Capital Territory and the Northern Territory.
Australia has a very strong foundation for continued growth with low inflation, low unemployment, high gross domestic savings and a strong banking system. The World Bank (2011) ranked Australia’s nearly US$1.4 trillion Gross Domestic Product (GDP) thirteenth out of 192 countries studied. The Legatum Institute (2011) ranked the country’s economy seventh out of 110 and third on its Prosperity Index.