Category: Migration Translators

The beginning of a New Year is generally boom time for recruitment agencies as employers and employees alike start to recover from the Christmas festivities and think about the year ahead.  For many employers this is a key time for addressing recruitment gaps identified in the last year and for many employees it’s a time for thinking about long- and short-term goals.

For some people this may be a simple step along the career ladder, but for others it can be more challenging.  A Sydney-based charity called “Dress for Success” has been helping people to develop personally and professionally by offering emotional support and confidence-building as well as loaning people smart clothes to go to interviews.

Of course, in order to get an interview, you have to apply to jobs first and that means usually means sending in a CV or application form, along with a covering letter.  For people who’d like to work inAustralia, it can often be advisable to have these documents professionally translated by a NAATI translator.  A translator with experience in immigration translations will also be able to help with ensuring that key employment documents also read clearly and accurately, which is a prerequisite to getting that vital first interview.

While Russell Crowe may never make a career as an opera singer (as he freely admitted on Twitter), the Australian star has certainly had his fair share of hits, as have fellow Australian screen stars Nicole Kidman, Cate Blanchett and Hugh Jackman and in recent years it has become increasingly possible for Australian actors to gain international acceptance working out of their native country.

The Australian film industry has been steadily gaining both critical acceptance and commercial success in recent years.  Long gone are the days when the odd “Priscilla Queen of the Desert” and “Crocodile Dundee” (and its many sequels) providedAustraliawith her only international recognition in cinema.  These days, Australian stars are highly in demand for mainstreamHollywoodblockbusters, while Australian directors (notably Baz Luhrmann) are teaching international audiences how to make films that really matter.

Perhaps this is part of the reason whyAustraliais becoming increasingly popular as a tourist destination and why experienced tourist industry workers from overseas are highly in demand.  International workers often find that the process for getting a visa to work inAustraliais made quicker and easier if they use the services of a professional NAATI translator for their immigration translations.  They can then focus on getting used to the sunshine and great outdoors.

Although in many countries (including Australia) New Year officially begins on January 1^st, in many countries people celebrate the spiritual New Year at many different times.  One of the common factors in these celebrations is cleaning out the past and preparing for the new.

The Jewish New Year “Rosh Hashanah” takes place in early Autumn (usually in the month of September) and contains the custom of “ Tashlikh” or “casting off” the mistakes of the past year.  Thankfully none of our skilled Migration Translators will be casting off any of the certified translations they’ve made in the past year.  Leaving aside the fact that they’re all highly-skilled professionals, all our translations are checked and double-checked to avoid embarrassing mistakes.

The Chinese New Year is known as the “Spring Festival” even though it takes place in late Winter.  In China, on New Year’s Eve, it is customary for families to gather for a celebration meal and the importance of the festival means that people will go to strenuous efforts to be with their loved ones, even if it means traveling long distances.  With so many Chinese people now living in Australia, it’s a particularly busy time of year for people traveling between the two countries.

The Hindu New Year begins in late Autumn with Diwali – the Festival of Light.  InIndiathis is a time when the whole country is lit up with lamps and fireworks, symbolizing the triumph of good over evil and the festival is celebrated in many countries where there is a significant population of Indian immigrants.  This includes many of the large cities in Australia, especially Sydney and Melbourne where Hindus are joined by Australians of other faiths, as well as tourists, for a 5-day extravaganza of fireworks and festivities, including Bollywood dancing.

In Ethiopia, New Year is called  Enkutatash and begins in September, after the rains have finished and the earth is at its most lush.  Children hand out bunches of flowers and everyone celebrates the beneficial effects of the vital rain.  Although there are relatively few Ethiopians in Australia, many people have similar feelings about the arrival of Spring and enjoy looking at the growth of new flowers.

Australia’s own New Year’s celebration is on the night of 31^st December and 1^st January.  Although it is celebrated throughout the country, undoubtedly the most famous party is held in Sydney, where the harbor bridge is spectacularly lit up by a massive display of fireworks.  Every year, the city aims to make the event bigger and better than the year before – and so far they appear to have succeeded.  As Australia is one of the first countries to see in any new year, the fireworks are often seen by people around the world as a precursor to their own parties.  Some of these people may start thinking about emigrating to Australia in the coming year.

Once the practicalities of moving to Australia have been organized, immigrants can focus on the social aspects.  While a NAATI translator can help with immigration translations, immigrants need to find their own feet with regards to Australian social customs.

Barbecues

Barbecues, BBQs or Barbies are the typical focus of any gathering inAustralia.  The weather, scenery and general enjoyment of an outdoor lifestyle, mean that cooking outdoors is a perfectly natural activity.  Generally speaking the host will cook and serve the meat and provide salad and breads.  It is common and polite for guests to ask if they should bring anything and this offer may or may not be accepted.  Typical foods served at barbecues includes snag (sausages), chook (chicken) or sangers (sandwiches).  The host may also offer guests a tinny (can of beer).

Bringing a plate

If an invitation asks guests to “bring a plate” it means to bring a plate of food.  Usually this food should be ready to serve, for example sandwiches or cake.  Sometimes the host will actively organize for specific individuals to bring specific foods to ensure that there is an appropriate balance between the types of foods available.

BYOB – Bring your own bottle

Often inAustralia, a party host will provide food but the invitation will say BYOB, which essentially means that guests are responsible for their own drinks.  This is an easy way for the host to ensure that people can have what they want to drink without the host having to deal with the expense and hassle of organizing it.  Some cafes and even restaurants display a BYOB sign, which basically means that guests can bring their own drinks (from off-licences) and will only be charged “corkage”, which is a charge for proving the glasses.  Those who do not drink alcohol can bring soft drinks.

Shouting a round

In Australia, it is usual for people to take turns buying drinks in pubs.  The designated person “shouts a round” for everyone in their group, queues and pays for it.  Those who don’t drink alcohol can sit out this custom, although many teetotallers do choose to partipate.

Having a cuppa

In spite of the heat, Australians enjoy tea and coffee, the drinking of which is referred to as “having a cuppa”.

Needing the bathroom

While Australians do use the terms bathroom and toilet, in many situations, it’s more common to hear the slang terms loo or dunny.

Although Australia does have its own unique slang, which can prove a challenge even for native speakers of English, the fact that they are generally very accommodating to people new to their country makes it very easy for new immigrants to integrate there.

Image “Girl showing party time in laptop” by Stuart Miles from FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Christmas is one of the busiest times of year for Australia Post and it is closely followed by other major festivals where people exchange gifts.  Even outside of these times, the Australian postal service is kept busy with gifts being sent for a variety of reasons such as birthdays and weddings.

Australia has a very straightforward system for processing mail items sent to its shores.  There is no distinction made between gifts or items sent for other purposes.  If the declared (or assessed) value is over AUD1000, the items are subject to taxation and if it is less than AUD1000 they are not, unless they are alcohol or tobacco products in which case they are subject to import duty regardless of value.

The other key point to understand is that Australia has very strict (and very strictly enforced) rules on what may and may not be imported.  Some items are banned from import completely whereas others have restricted import.  For many people sending gifts to Australia (or sending goods from home as a precursor to immigration), the most important restrictions relate to food and plant and animal materials.  An exact list of prohibited products can be obtained from the Australian authorities, but as a rule of thumb commercially produced food products are likely to be acceptable, while home-made food is not.  Plant and animal products are likely to be seized (if sent) under all circumstances.

Australia allows most items to be exported (although other countries may have their own rules regarding what may be imported into their territory) but it is forbidden to export anything of significant value to Australia’s cultural or natural heritage unless a permit is arranged.

People who watch daytime TV will be well aware that there are regular attempts made to circumvent these rules and will also be well aware that getting caught attempting to do so can lead to serious trouble.  Honesty really is the best policy, particularly with regard to filling in customs declarations accurately.

In addition to overseeing the sending and receiving of gifts, the Australian customs authorities, also monitor shipments of personal items and household goods sent and received as part of the immigration process.  Essentially they are looking for any items which could pose a threat to Australia’s security or economy, in particularly any plant or animal items (including soil) or home-made food.  The keys to ensuring a successful household move to Australia are to ensure that all items are completely clean (including the packaging) and to make absolutely certain that they are correctly and accurately documented.

It may be worthwhile asking for assistance with moving personal items as part of the immigration translation process.  One of our NAATI translators can help to prepare the appropriate documentation to ensure that your move is as smooth as possible.

Image “Santa Cap” by dream designs from http://www.freedigitalphotos.net/