Considering moving? Why not go Down Under?

The Olympics may have lifted everyone’s spirits and united the country with a sense of national pride, but now it’s all over, it seems that the country is in a bit of a slump. It’s not just a national feeling though: despite the massive success London 2012 proved to be, the city itself only managed to reach number 55 in a list of the best cities in the world to live in, out of a total of 140.

The survey, conducted by the Economist Intelligence unit, rated cities on issues such as political and social stability, crime, education and access to health care, which explains why London is perhaps so far down (last year’s riots had an effect on the ranking).

Jon Copestake, the survey's editor, said: 'UK cities have seen a slight downgrade in liveability due to the mass outbreaks of civil unrest that took place last year. Although hosting the Olympics has subsequently provided a definite boost for London's profile, it was already among the world's most vibrant cities, with plenty to see and do, so has had no impact on overall lifestyle.'

However, coming out top of the survey was Melbourne, which scored 97.5% - almost a perfect score - only losing points for climate, culture and petty crime. Australia itself achieved remarkable results, with four cities in the top ten: Adelaide and Sydney were sixth and seventh and Perth was ninth.

So what is it about Australia that makes it such a great place to live? The world’s largest island and smallest continent covers an area over seven million square kilometres, with nearly 60,000 kilometres of coastline. Although it’s 25 times the size of the UK, the population stands at just 22 million: a third of the number of people living here.

Australia really does have something for everyone. It goes from tropical to chilly, transforms from stunning islands to arid deserts, and ensures you never get bored with everything from lively nightlife to magical stories of Aboriginal culture. All this combined means a lifestyle that is laid back and relaxed whilst still bringing excitement and something completely different to what you’re used to.

Stepping off the plane into the Australian heat of one of the major cities is reassuringly familiar however. The comforts of home seem to be there: transport, legislation and public services are all familiar; meaning the transition from one continent to another isn’t as difficult as you might think. Australians commute to work on the decks of boats, go surfing after work and cook their Christmas dinners on the barbeque. Who wouldn’t want that when you consider that us Brits go to work on the bus, sit and watch rubbish television after work, and eat our Christmas dinner inside, while it rains outside?

Acorn Global want to give you the best career opportunities possible. If you’re at that stage of considering a new job, why not contemplate a move abroad? With a better quality of life, year-round sun and often much better wages, Australia could be the place to start a new life and the career you’ve always dreamed of. Why not take a look at our job listings and see if there’s something for you Down Under?

Helen Lock

The world's top 10 most liveable cities:  

1. Melbourne, Australia.
2. Vienna, Austria.
3. Vancouver, Canada.
4. Toronto, Canada.
5. Calgary, Canada.
5. (Equal) Adelaide, Australia.
7. Sydney, Australia.
8. Helsinki, Finland.
9. Perth, Australia.
10. Auckland, New Zealand.

Source: The Economist Intelligence Unit's Global Liveability Survey 2012.The survey measures cities across five categories: stability, health care, culture and environment, education and infrastructure. It surveyed 140 cities worldwide.