Breaking the dominance of Northern and Western European countries for top spots in the world's most livable countries were Australia, United States, New Zealand, Canada and Singapore. The ranking was based on the most recent release of the Human Development Index by the United Nations Development Programme, according to a report on internet journal 24/7 Wall St.

According to the report, data from the Human Development Index is based on three dimensions of human progress — having a long and healthy life, being knowledgeable, and having a good standard of living. According to the index, Norway is the most livable country in the world, while Niger is the least livable.

One factor that influences a country’s development is its income. The U.N. used gross national income in its calculation of the Human Development Index to reflect the standard of living in a country. In the most developed countries, gross income per capita is generally quite high. All of the world’s 10 most livable countries had among the top 30 gross national incomes per person. The top-rated country, Norway, had the world’s sixth highest gross national income per capita of $63,909.

If income levels were higher in Australia, it would likely be ranked no. 1. Australia lost out on the top spot with a Gross National Income per capita of $41,524 which is the 20^th highest in the world but roughly on par with other highly developed countries. However, Australia had one of the longest life expectancies in 2013, at 82.5 years. Residents 25 and older had also spent more time in school than adults in any other country, at 12.9 years on average as of 2012.

Additionally, at 5.2% last year, the country’s unemployment rate was far lower than similarly developed countries in Europe as well as the United States. Australia’s economy has benefitted tremendously from a mining boom in recent years, although the economy is currently rebalancing as iron ore prices have dropped and growth in China — a major trade partner — has slowed.

Update on October intake from the NSW State Government:

NSW Nominated Skilled Migration Program-October Update

The October intake has reached the cap of 1,000 and it is closed.

The working holiday visa has been a popular stepping stone to the 457 visa and subsequently a permanent residence visa. Many skilled working holiday visa holders with carefully prepared and planned migration pathways have successfully made the transition. Australia has been promising to expand the program and has already added Greece, Poland, Spain and Portugal to the list this year. Now, Israel joins the list.

On 22 October 2014, Australia and Israel announced that a new Work and Holiday Memorandum of Understanding was signed, establishing a reciprocal Work and Holiday visa (subclass 462) arrangement between the two countries.

This arrangement, when brought into effect, will allow up to 500 young adults from Israel and up to 500 young adults from Australia to enjoy a holiday in each other’s country, during which they may undertake short term work and study, according to DIBPs media release.

In the coming months, Australia and Israel will work closely together to implement the necessary legal and administrative processes to bring this visa into effect. The work and holiday arrangement will not commence until a start date has been agreed by both countries.

Once a commencement date has been announced, eligible young adults from Israel and Australia will be able to apply for this visa.

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October 2014 Edition

Welcome to the Victorian Government's Agent Alert for migration agents and representatives.

 WHAT EVERY SIGNIFICANT INVESTOR VISA APPLICANT SHOULD KNOW ABOUT AUSTRALIAN DIVORCE AND FAMILY LAW