Fathers head to Australia for better work prospects "In our experience, the primary breadwinners in these situations are often men - they usually travel out four to six months before their family members to look for accommodation, schools, child-minding facilities and so on," said Edwina Shanahan, manager of Visa First. Russell Ward, an expat father-to-be living in New South Wales, moved from the UK to Canada then Australia. He says that mining industries are thriving in both countries but it was the quality of life that attracted him initially. "Canadians and Australians have always struck me as being extremely positive people in their attitudes to work and the economy - people always seem to have a 'can-do' attitude," he said. With both countries distanced from other global economic problems, such as the eurozone crisis, expats in Oz can afford to feel confident about the future. "With interest rates continuing to drop here and the exchange rate between Australia and Britain continuing to head in our favour, we feel very positive about things," Mr Ward said. There are no shortage of jobs in Sydney and house prices remain high. The Australia visa system has undergone crucial changes this month as part of the Department of Immigration and Citizenship's new SkillSelect programme. Britons now have to give an Expression of Interest (EOI), and will then be invited to lodge their Australian visa application if they meet certain requirements.