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Business and Lifestyle
LIFESTYLE
The City of Perth provides an inspiring balance between business and nature, modernity and heritage, excitement and relaxation. It has expensive park and gardens, a multitude of outdoor activities, a vibrant cultural scene and stunning landscapes. Add to this the renowned laid-back culture, clean air, plus a safe and pristine environment, and you have a very enjoyable place to live, work and visit.
Cost of Living and Quality of life
Perth, Western Australia is continually ranked as one of the World’s Most Liveable Cities by the Economist Intelligence Unit. The study takes into account the health and safety, culture, environment and infrastructure standards of 130 cities around the world. In 2007, Perth was ranked as the fourth most liveable city in the world.
Healthcare
Australian’s are regarded as some of the healthiest people in the world. They live longer, healthier lives. Western Australia enjoys the lowest mortality rate of any capital city.
Australian life expectancy rates are comparable to France, Seden and Switzerland, where the average age is 82.3 for females and 76.4 for males. Such rates are higher than New Zealand, the United Kingdom and the United States.
The Commonwealth Government provides health care services and are responsible for the collecting a health levy – Medicare Levy. The levy is paid at 1.5% of taxable income above a certain income.
Medicare provides eligible people with access to free treatment as a public patient in a public hospital, as well as free or subsidised treatment on a private basis by doctors and other participating ancillary medical services.
Private health cover is also available from a number of private health funds. The approximate cost for private health cover (hospital and ancillary) for a family is around $150 per month. This is substantially cheaper than other countries such as the United States, Hong Kong, Singapore and the United Kingdom.
To view a list of private health funds in Western Australia or for costs and options please visit www.privatehealth.gov.au
Housing
The momentum of Perth’s Property market has began to slow and has fallen to a more sustainable level.
Perth offers a variety of accommodation options. Detached houses on individual plots are the most common form of housing available. However, in the last decade apartment for all quality levels have become available and are in demand.
Median Accommodation Cost Western Australia, September 2008
| Established House | Apartment | Land | Rental (per week) | |
| Metropolitan area | $435,000 | $352,000 | $240,000 | $350 |
| Mandurah – Murray | $372,000 | $280 | ||
| Bunbury | $352,000 | $283 | ||
| Geralton – Greenough | $321,500 | $300 | ||
| Kalgoorlie - Boulder | $325,000 | $380 | ||
| Regional | $160,000 | |||
| Source: Real Estate Institute of Western Australia - reiwa.com/res/res-marketindicators-display.cfm | ||||
ENTERTAINMENT & THINGS TO DO
Entertainment, Arts and Culture
The City of Perth is a major supporter of arts and culture in Western Australia, working with major institutions in opera, ballet and classical music, right through to the avant garde of Perth's increasing pool of exceptional local talent. Additionally, the City of Perth is the largest provider of free entertainment in Western Australia, from school holiday events for children to major events such as 'Skyworks', the largest Australia Day celebration in the country.
The City maintains a free listing of events in and around the City which can be accessed here.
To learn more about the ways in which the City of Perth supports Western Australia's arts and culture, click here.
Education
Perth offers a unique learning environment that nurtures creativity and provides access to unrivalled academic resources. Perth can offer your business the highly skilled and training professionals you need for a competitive and strong business.
Primary and Secondary Schooling
In Western Australia primary and secondary education is compulsory from the age of 6-16, with most students continuing secondary education to the age of 18. Both public and private primary and secondary schooling is available.
University
Western Australia hosts five major universities with campus across the state. These universities offer undergraduate and postgraduate courses. All universities offer excellent facilities and are well know for their academic performance and research.
- University of Western Australia – www.uwa.ed.au
- Murdoch University – www.murdoch.ed.au
- Curtin University of Technology – www.curtin.edu.au
- Edith Cowan University - www.cowan.edu.au
- Notre Dame University - www.nd.edu.au
Vocational Education and Training
Australian vocational and training and pathways are nationally recognized systems of vocational education and training courses. Vocational Education and Training course on offer in Western Australia include:-
- Australian College of Natural Medicine – www.acnm.edu.au
- Australian Institute of Commerce and Technology – www.aict.edu.au
- Australian Institute of Holistic Medicine – www.aihm.ea.edu.au
- Australian School of Tourism and Hotel Management – www.asthm.com
- Central Tafe – www.centraltafe.edu.au
- Education and Training International – www.eti.edu.au
- Curtin International College – www.cic.wa.edu.au
- Murdoch Institute of Technology – www.murdochinstitute.wa.edu.au
- Perth Institute of Business and Technology – www.pibt.wa.edu.au
- Perth Institute of Western Australian – www.perthinstitute.com.au
- Sterling Business College – www.sterlingcollege.com
Please visit www.pertheducationcity.com.au for further information about the Western Australia’s education system.