How the Living in Australia Study Helps Expats

In 2001 a study was begun called the Living in Australia study, it’s sometimes referred to in the press as the Household, Income and Labour Dynamics study (HILDA).

Thousands of families and individuals are contacted and questioned about life in Australia each year, including questions about their employment, family relationships, education and wellbeing. 

Information from this study has been used in many publications and has received extensive media coverage, but it also has some interesting information for expats who want to live in Australia.

Probably one of the most important results for expats from the study comes from the question “do we like where we live.”  If you are planning to live in Australia and the majority of Aussies are planning to leave, it is not a good pointer.  According to the survey, 70% of the respondents rated where they lived at 8 out of 10 or higher.  Whilst this result for cats shows that their owners shouldn’t buy any other product, in this case it means that the majority of Aussies are pretty happy living in Australia.  Satisfaction levels were highest in rural areas in Victoria, South Australia and Darwin and Canberra. 

The current view of the whole world seems to be that Aussies are carefree, globe trotting, beer swilling, bon vivuers, but Australians think very differently.  If you are thinking that living in Australia is going to mean plenty of beach time, think again.  38% of respondents to the survey in 2004 said they struggled to find any free time.  But those Aussies are nothing if not equality conscious, the average Aussie male works a fair dinkum 63 hours per week, but in their drive against discrimination they have managed to up female working hours to 64 per week, “good on ya sport!”

Despite the growing epidemic of obesity of those living in Australia, the survey found that 54% of men and 47% of women exercise for at least 30 minutes three or more times per week, with men being much more likely to be satisfied with their current weight than women.  This may be one of the factors adding to the happiness index in the Living in Australia survey.  The percentage of Aussies reporting a score of less than 5 out of 10 on overall satisfaction with life has never been more than 3%. 

The average scores for satisfaction very rarely change, pointing to the fact that life continues to be pretty good, but levels of financial satisfaction did increase in 2005 from 6.1 out of ten in 2001 to 6.4.  What the results will be like at the end of 2009 remains to be seen as living in Australia is no guarantee that the global economic situation will not bite.  Saying that however, the survey showed an increase in mean net worth of Australian households, (total assets less total debts), of AUD 207,000 between 2003 and 2007.

All in all, the Living in Australia survey makes for interesting reading for expats planning to move to this spectacular continent.  Carrying out your research is an important part of any move overseas, and the HILDA survey can help with your overview of life in Australia and also some of the best areas to consider moving to.