Guide to Living and Working in Cairns

This quick reference guide provides practical advice for you whilst you are researching your move to Cairns, Far North Queensland. It contains information on: visa requirements; career opportunities; real estate; education; child care; map of the region; banking; local attractions and professional networking.

Please select a link below:

Visa Requirements
CBC Staff Selection will only be able to assist you if you are in possession of a valid working visa or work permit.

For more information on eligibility for an Australian visa please visit:

Cairns Career Opportunities
It is important to be aware of your job prospects in Cairns prior to departure. The industry sectors in which CBC Staff Selection specialise in is:
- Executive & General Management
- Finance & Accounting
- Information Technology
- Legal
- Sales & Marketing
- Human Resources
- Engineering & Technical
- Secretarial
- Office Administration
- Government
- Call Centre / Customer Service

Professional Networking
There are several leading facilitators of business and professional networking events in the Far North: Cairns Chamber of Commerce; Cairns Business Women’s Club; Australian Institute of Management; Commerce Queensland and Engineers Australia. For more information please visit:

Renting a Property
The best way to find accommodation is to visit www.realestate.com.au or www.domain.com.au. Due to the strong demand for properties in the Far North, the market moves quickly, so be prepared with a deposit and references.

To enter a lease, most real estate agents require reference letters from your employer, bank and, if available, a previous landlord/lady. The team at CBC Staff Selection can supply an employment reference for you, should you need one before you start working in Cairns. Most real estate agencies will require a down payment of at least one month’s rent, which will be kept as a bond and is refundable when you move out.

For further information below are a few links to a few real estate agencies in Cairns:

While you are looking for longer term accommodation, you may want to stay in accommodation for travellers. Cairns has numerous hostels. For further information visit www.independentbackpackers.com

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Education
Cairns offers a good mix of public and private schools at both primary and secondary level. There is a TAFE institute here as well as James Cook University, which is one of the most successful research universities in regional Australia. In addition, Commerce Queensland provides a range of training courses from Workplace Health and Safety certification to leadership skills sessions.

For more information select a link below:

Child Care
There is a wide variety of childcare facilities available in Cairns. There are many child care centres as well as family day care. Many schools offer before and after school care.

For more information please select a link below:
- Australian Childcare Directory
  http://www.echildcare.com.au/search.asp
- Childcare Information Service
  http://www.families.qld.gov.au
- National Childcare Accreditation Council
  http://www.ncac.gov.au
- Family Day Care
  http://www.fdcqld.org/

Maps of the region
Trying to find your way to or around Cairns? Select a link below for a range of Cairns maps:

Setting Up a Bank Account
Bank accounts are relatively easy to open in Australia. You will require proof of identification such as a passport or driving licence, proof of an address in Australia and, as a precaution, a reference from your bank in your home country, if relevant.

Most banks and ATMs (cash machines) will allow you to withdraw from international bank accounts, provided your bankcard has an international symbol on it, such as Cirrus. Once you have your Australian Tax File Number it is important to provide this to your bank so that any interest paid to you is not taxed before you receive it.

Cairns is home to many leading financial institutions including: ANZ, Commonwealth Bank, St George, Bendigo Bank and Bank of Queensland.
Attractions in Cairns
The Cairns & Great Barrier Reef region is Australia’s premier tropical escape combining some of the world’s most breathtaking scenery with a diverse range of activities that attracts more than 2 million domestic and international visitors each year.

For more information please visit:
- www.tropicalaustralia.com.au

For information on local culture such as exhibitions, performances, local arts and crafts, street theatre and entertainment, visit http://cairns.qld.gov.au

For local news, sport and weather, visit the Cairns Post website at: www.cairns.com.au

Transport
Bus services run regularly from the City to all over Cairns. For more information on transport in cairns please visit:

Still have Questions?
Please don’t hesitate to contact us here at CBC Staff Selection. Many of our consultants have relocated from other states or from overseas and have first hand experience and knowledge of moving to paradise!

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