The Subclass 491 regional state nomination may not be the best option among today’s vast array of migration choices. But for those who already hold the visa, it may well have been the only option at the time. And for some applicants, it may be the best choice of all.

Even though the Subclass 491 has its flaws, the number of current Subclass 491 visa holders has already topped 40,000, with many more still waiting for a grant. There will still be tens of thousands of Subclass 491 state-nomination places in the new financial year, and it remains a mainstream points-based migration pathway.

For those offshore, or anyone who struggles to reach a high points score, the Subclass 491 is certainly still a pathway worth considering.

Beyond how easy or hard each state’s nomination policy is, applicants also consider just “how regional” the area really is – because that determines the quality of life and work for at least the next few years.

Perth

Australia’s largest regional city

Perth, in Western Australia, is Australia’s fourth-largest city. The top three are the urban areas of Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane (the outer areas a 30-minute drive from Brisbane’s CBD also count as regional), so rounding things off, you could think of Perth as effectively the largest regional city.

But because Perth sits alone on the west coast, it isn’t as well known as the east-coast cities. Today, a “local” will give you a complete look at “what Perth is really like”?

Perth’s population the Chinese community settles in easily

Perth is the largest city on Australia’s west coast and the fourth most populous overall. According to 2021 Australian Bureau of Statistics figures, Perth has a population of 2,117,273 and a metropolitan area of 6,417 square kilometres – a large city, yet with a relatively low population density.

Perth’s economy is driven mainly by mining, agriculture, tourism and services, with mining a key pillar. At the same time, Perth is an education and cultural centre, home to several renowned universities and arts institutions.

It isn’t that hard for Chinese newcomers to settle into Perth –

Perth already has the highest number of Mandarin speakers of any Australian city outside the top three (Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane). In the 2016 Census the figure was 5.5%, a proportion that even exceeds Brisbane’s.

A large Mandarin-speaking community means newcomers settle in more easily and enjoy a better experience across work, daily life, support and services.

Perth’s climate

every bit as good as Sydney’s

Perth lies in the transition zone between a Mediterranean and a tropical savanna climate, with warm, dry summers and mild, wet winters. The average annual temperature is 19.5°C; the hottest month is January, averaging 31°C, and the coldest is July, averaging 13°C. The seasons are distinct, never bitterly cold nor scorchingly hot – in terms of climate, it is every bit as good as Sydney.

Overall, Perth’s climate is sunny, with relatively little rainfall and pleasant temperatures, and it is a classic coastal city with stunning beaches and coastline.

Job opportunities in Perth

far more than just mining

By volume, just on the job sites Seek and Indeed, the total number of jobs in Perth is clearly and substantially higher than in other cities.

Perth is the economic and commercial hub of Western Australia, with many employment advantages. The main industries and types of employers include:

Mining: Western Australia is rich in mineral resources, so mining has always been one of Perth’s leading employment sectors. Perth is home to more than 100 resources and energy companies, and eight of the world’s 14 largest international energy and mining companies have offices here. Many world-renowned mining companies have offices or headquarters in Perth, such as Rio Tinto, BHP Billiton and Woodside Petroleum.

Construction and building materials: Perth is developing rapidly, so construction and building materials is another important employment sector. It includes many China-Australia joint ventures and foreign-owned firms, such as Lend Lease, Multiplex and John Holland.

Information technology: IT is a global industry, and Perth has a number of local IT firms and start-ups, while also attracting international IT companies into the market. For example, Perth has software-development firms such as Readify and Ignia, and has drawn in international IT giants such as Microsoft and IBM.

Tourism: Perth’s natural scenery, beautiful beaches and climate attract large numbers of tourists, making tourism another important employment sector. It includes many local tour operators and hotels, along with international hotel groups and travel companies that have branches in Perth.

Healthcare: Perth has a number of world-class hospitals and medical research institutes, so healthcare is another of its employment strengths. The sector includes many local medical institutions and clinics, as well as international healthcare providers with branches in Perth.

In addition, Perth has a number of Chinese-owned businesses, mainly in hospitality, retail and real estate. Several world-renowned companies also have branches in Perth, such as retail giant Walmart and furniture brand IKEA.

Close ties with China

In recent years, cooperation between Western Australia and China has grown steadily and borne rich fruit across trade, culture, education, technology and tourism. For example:

– There are more than 60 Chinese-invested companies in Western Australia, the main ones being Sinosteel, Baowu Steel, Ansteel, Shagang, CITIC Pacific and CNOOC, among others

– China Southern Airlines launched a direct Guangzhou-Perth route in 2011, and China Eastern Airlines began trial direct Shanghai-Perth flights in early 2020

Perth is also a top choice when it comes to study and migration policy!

Science & Technology

Looking at the ratio of international students to state-nomination places, Western Australia is far less crowded!

When you combine each city’s total international-student numbers with the 2022-23 financial-year state-nomination quotas, it is clear that study-and-migration in Western Australia is far less crowded than other states’ nomination programmes, particularly for Chinese international students.

State-nomination quotas & total international-student numbers (master table)

Competition among Chinese international students is far less intense

International students in Perth and Canberra have an edge in securing Subclass 190 places, at up to 19% – higher than other cities. However, the proportion of Chinese students in Canberra (38%) is markedly higher than in Perth (10%). In recent years, Chinese students have shown a strong inclination to migrate, fuelling fierce internal competition – the “rat race” runs hotter than among students from other countries. As a result, in the actual application process, the competitive pressure among Chinese students in Perth is relatively lower.

Overall competition among international students migrating within the state carries less pressure

Looking at the combined Subclass 190 and 491 migration quotas, international students in Canberra (37%), Adelaide (33%) and Perth (29%) all secure local state nomination at fairly high rates. But the proportion of Chinese students in Canberra (38%) and Adelaide (27%) is markedly higher than in Perth (10%). Compared with students from other countries, although Canberra and Adelaide have an edge in migration quotas, once local student proportions are taken into account, Chinese students in Perth face somewhat less pressure in securing local state nomination.

After graduating, international students naturally favour the Subclass 190, with the 491 serving as a fallback – so let’s compare the cities on those “fallback” odds.

From a policy standpoint

WA Subclass 491 vs Canberra Subclass 491

Compared with other mainstream Subclass 491 cities, Canberra has the highest proportion of Chinese students (38%). Canberra also does not use the EOI points system but a separate scoring mechanism, the Matrix, which – compared with WA’s Subclass 491 – imposes higher English and employment requirements on 491 applicants.

The policy comparison is shown below:

WA Subclass 491 vs SA Subclass 491

That wraps up today’s introduction to Perth, Western Australia. In terms of climate and lifestyle, Perth is wonderfully liveable (and there’s a 0-hour time difference with China). From study to migration, WA is an excellent choice! Come and visit this “regional” area that doesn’t feel regional at all – the largest regional city of them all~

If you’d like to know more about Perth, WA, or about studying and migrating, get in touch with me!

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Top Choice for Subclass 491 Settlement? Australia’s Largest “Regional” City – Perth! Migration-Friendly + Liveable + Diverse Jobs! A “Local” Sums It All Up for You!

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Australia has issued 124,000 skilled-migration invitations, with state nominations topping 57,000!

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