'When a UK candidate is placed in Australia through a recruitment agency, the employer will sponsor the successful candidate's visa application', says Paul Cushing of RPCushing Recruitment, which places MR candidates in partnership with Australian agency Market Search. 'The candidate will then have peace of mind that everything is sorted before they leave the country for their new life Down Under. Once a suitable position has been found, the process of gaining entry through the Australian Immigration Department can take between 6-8 weeks'.

Shorter visas are also available, of course, and they can be extended. 'Some people come over on a 1-year work visa' says Sally Mills of LAVOLTA Consulting, PriceJamieson's network partner in Australia. 'It's a great way to travel and fund your trip. Whilst over here the traveller may want to stay and will seek sponsorship.' Getting Permanent Residency is much harder and normally takes a lot longer to acquire. 'Australia works on a point system which will assess your qualifications, age, work experience etc and will then determine if you have gained enough points.' In addition to business visas, other options include a Migration Lawyer or other companies specialising in visa help such as www.freespirit.com.au - the latter will charge you an admin fee each month, the former usually a one-off initial fee.

Skills gained in the UK industry are still highly valued Down Under - even those with only a few years' experience will often benefit from this, whereas senior people - and quallies in particular - are 'like gold and will get snapped up in a flash' according to ENI's Joanna Vallelonga. Market Search's Lyn Tanner, based in Sydney, says that qualified quantitative and FMCG client side researchers are also highly sought after. However, she says she constantly reminds UK candidates of just how small the Australian MR market is, compared to the UK. This results in a smaller range of job opportunities to choose from, although there are opportunities available in all Australian cities.

'It's relatively easy to place candidates with at least two years' MR experience' says Lyn Tanner, 'especially if it is agency based experience. Candidates at this level can expect to be paid approximately two-thirds of a UK based salary.' The more senior your position, the more likely you are to successfully command a UK equivalent rate of pay.

Australia: www.immi.gov.au Department of Immigration and Multicultural & Indigenous Affairs This gives you general information re working in Australia, and life there generally, and you can also apply online. www.uk.emb.gov.au British High Commission In Australia Detailed information and application forms. Talk to recruitment agencies - contact details including those mentioned in the article are at: www.mrweb.com/recruiters [links for Aus and US recruiters lead off this]

Getting away from Aus may be difficult for entirely different reasons. 'We have had candidates who have taken the 457 visa route to work in Australia' says Paul Cushing, 'and decided at the end of four years to apply for Permanent Residency, as they love the lifestyle so much. In this case Citizenship, which enables a dual passport, can then also become an option.'

Asian candidates may find moving to Aus more difficult -perceptions are patchy, with some smaller and medium-sized agencies in particular seeing them as lagging in skills and technological nous, while larger agencies have been happier to recruit from Asia and their good experience may mean they favour Asian candidates in some cases.

American researchers are not always seen to have the solid grounding in techniques that British do, but they make up for it with go-getter attitude, according to one recruiter, who described them as 'blessed with personality' meaning that companies are willing to teach them the skills they need, within reason. (What you saying about us Brits then? Eh?). One result from this is that Americans are often placed in management consultancies or brand consultancies rather than the more traditional research companies. They are also regulars for client side positions.