Australian Business News and Times

Business News ,Reports and Times of Australia

Perth WA

Reasons Why Skipping a Degree Course May Be a Good Idea

by Leave a Comment

university for study europe

University used to be the step you take after high school. There was hardly any way to wiggle out of it.

Not so anymore.

Indeed some of the opportunities that were previously reserved for University graduates are now available to non-graduates.

If you have been wondering why more and more people are skipping university, here are some of the reasons behind this trend.

1. There are other Equivalents

While a university degree is not the end-all, be-all, higher education is still unquestionably important.

Luckily, there are varied options today.

It gives one a broader perspective on things as well as the tools to adapt to an ever-changing world.

Alternatives such as apprenticeships and TAFE qualifications can still lead to high-paying jobs.

2. It’s Expensive

Australia attracts scholars from all over the world, thanks to its revered education standards and school systems. The downside, however, is that these institutions are expensive.

For most students, this means taking out student loans to be repaid once one gets to a certain level of income in the future.

While student loans are a great solution to help one get into college, you graduate with the thought of an unpaid loan hanging above your head.

To avoid this, young people are opting to take online courses and other forms of higher education that are significantly more affordable.

Instead of working to repay expensive loans, later on, tuition funds can be put towards purchasing a home or other large ticket items.

3. It’s Not for Everyone

There are specific career paths that absolutely require a University degree to succeed in. Some do not.

This means that for some people, going to college is not as instrumental as it would be to others. For these reasons, skipping university and getting a head start in their goals makes more sense.

For example, someone with a passion for baking and would love to go into entrepreneurship would rather much forego university and spend those 3-4 years perfecting their skills, opening their business, and learning the ropes.

 

4. You Can Still Land Great Jobs

Many blue-chip corporations are increasingly looking to hire for skill.

There are fields in which an apprenticeship or vocation training is deemed more highly than a University Degree.

Apprenticeships and vocational training aim at teaching practical skills to be used to solve everyday problems in the business world. And indeed, employers are looking to hire people who can create solutions.

In this regard, people can forego university, take up other training models, and still get similar opportunities to jobs with high pay.

5. Networking is Much Easier

Another plus for going to university used to be the socializing and networking potential.

Here, students would create and build long term networks that would support them in both their personal and career lives.

The internet has changed this.

Online courses have come a long way from what we had in the past where students would get course files, and that would end at that.

Today, an online course also provides avenues for learners to work collaboratively in group assignments, class discussions, and so on.

These classroom relationships can easily morph into personal friendships that provide the same support and networking potential that people that went to university form with their peers.

University: Yes or No?

Unfortunately, this is not a simple yes or no question as several factors must come into play when deciding to attend or forego university.

However, not getting a university degree is no longer handicaps your career or future as it once did.

Explore your options, network put in some hard work, and you will enjoy the life you always dreamt of.

How to Have a Better Ergonomics in the Workplace

by Leave a Comment

workplace design and space

It has become increasingly clear that workers in many industries are at ergonomic risk. This can lead to them doing painful and irreparable damage to their bodies. While this has long been true, it’s now a major concern for companies because workers are taking legal action against their employers for routinely making them work in inherently ergonomically risky workstations and courts and judges are awarding them large judgements. Further, wise and caring employers and concerned employees want to make sure workspaces and working conditions are not ergonomically risky and prevent work-related physical ailments from developing.

Assessing Ergonomic Risk

There are several things employers and employees can look at in the workplace to determine if spending 8 hours a day there puts the employee at great ergonomic risk. This ergonomic risk assessment can be accurately made by answering the following questions.

1. What is ergonomics?

Ergonomics is an applied science that is concerned with the design and arrangement of workspaces to ensure workers can do their jobs safely, effectively and efficiently. This area of applied science is sometimes referred to as biotechnology, human engineering or the focus on human factors in the design and arrangement of furniture and equipment.

2. What is ergonomics in the workplace?

Ergonomics in the workplace is making sure the design of the workstations doesn’t lead to unavoidable injuries to the workers and limit their productivity. Thoughtful arrangement of the tools and equipment in the workstation improves workplace ergonomics. Proper workplace ergonomics requires ensuring when the worker is seated, their feet can be flat on the floor and their hips held at an angle of between 90 and 120 degrees. For workers using computers, the height and angle of their chair, keyboard and monitor must be able to be adjusted to optimal positions for comfort and productivity.

3. What characteristics in the workstation improve employee well-being?

Ideally, it should be practical for employees to periodically stand while continuing to work. For employees using computers, the top of the monitor or screen should be level with their eyes. Plus, it’s best for the worker if the screen is at least 50 cm from their eyes and their wrists can remain flat when they’re typing. Further, the worker’s upper arms should be parallel to their torso and their shoulders should be relaxed. Items they use most should all be within easy reach. Those factors all help to improve the ergonomics of an employee’s workspace.

4. What are the dangers of poor ergonomics in the workplace?

Poorly designed workstations can cause worker fatigue and frustration. This leads to painful musculoskeletal injuries, lower productivity, as well as poor product quality. The most common workplace ergonomic risk factors are high task repetition done using forceful exertions in sustained awkward postures. That combination overloads muscles and tendons, puts excessive strain on joints and increases the likelihood of musculoskeletal fatigue and serious injury. The risk of injury is increased if workers don’t take adequate rest breaks.

To ensure employee workspaces are ergonomic, regular, ongoing, objective, scientific risk identification and reduction tests should be performed. Trained inspectors should see if workers regularly take awkward posture, use excessive force and put unsafe amounts of stress on their joints while performing their assigned tasks. Failure to do so can cause an ergonomic nightmare that endangers the health of the worker, lower the quality and quantity of their work and damage the company’s reputation.

5. What is an ergonomically-friendly workplace?

An ergonomically friendly workplace is one that uses proper workspace design and production techniques to protect worker health and enhance the quality of their work. But healthy, productive, workplaces don’t happen by accident. They require collaboration between the employers and employees to do what’s best for the long-term health of the workers and the success of the company.

An ergonomically-friendly workplace is one where regular, objective, scientific workplace analysis using ergonomic risk measuring tools are used to conduct ergonomic assessments that are accurate. Plus, engineering and administrative controls should be implemented. Engineering controls use ergonomic modifications to reduce or eliminate awkward postures. Administrative controls set procedures and processes like counteractive stretch breaks, proper body mechanics, job rotation and work practice controls to reduce the risk of MSD injury.

6. How many hours of working in a standing position is safe?

Creating an ergonomically positive workplace is also essential for workers who spend long periods of time on their feet. According to the organization Occupational Health & Safety, standing for long periods while working leaves people susceptible to hospitalization with varicose veins. Frequently changing positions from standing to sitting to walking, works best. It’s not recommended workers remain static standing or sitting if they want the most ergonomic position.

Standing for prolonged periods

Workers whose jobs call for standing for prolonged periods often have to endure heel pain and foot arch pain that may require visits to a podiatrist. Those workers who work standing and have pre-existing heart disease are more susceptible to being hospitalized with carotid atherosclerosis. Sufficient breaks, proper posture and good ergonomic practices can protect the health and reduce the incidence of musculoskeletal disorders in workers that stand or sit for long periods at work.

Final Thoughts

Poor ergonomics in the workplace negatively impacts workers’ health and their employers’ bottom line. With a clear understanding of the importance of proper ergonomics in the workplace, diligence and regular inspections, concerned employers and employees can dramatically reduce ergonomic risk and create better workplace ergonomics.

Home Renovation Ideas & Tips to Increase Home Value

by Leave a Comment

new building design interiors australia

Renovating your home makes it more attractive and comfortable. However, there are other renovations that you can undertake that increase the resale value of the home. It doesn’t matter whether you don’t plan to sell in the near future – it makes it worthwhile for you to have a return on investment from what you put in place. Not every renovation idea adds value to the property; some might give you just minimum returns. Here are renovations that give you maximum ROIs.

Home Renovation Ideas to Increase House Value

1. Remodel Your Kitchen

Whether it is a full or partial remodel, the changes you make to your kitchen will add some value to the property. This is because this is the single most room in the home and buyers consider it a priority. If your kitchen is cramped, make it spacious. Add a fresh coat of paint and clean the cabinets and other kitchen furniture. Replace any damaged appliances and install a countertop. Finally, make sure the light is bright and airy.

2. Update Your Bathroom

The bathroom also adds to the resale value of your home. Use modern styles when updating this part of the house because it has since turned from being a room for keeping clean and now it is a place of a luxury. Install new faucets and showerheads. Next, install tiles on the wall around the bathtub.

3. Invest in Interior Lighting

Lighting makes a huge difference in the way your indoors look. You need to know that buyers prefer as much natural light as possible because this saves on energy costs. Use different types of lights for various purposes. You can use lights to set the mood or use task lights to illuminate parts of your kitchen for easier handling of tasks. Move through the house and understand where changes are needed. Go online and shop for deals so that you save on costs and save more than 50 per cent on purchases.

4. Re-do Your Insulation

Redoing the insulation in your home is one of the eco-friendly renovations that you can undertake. Extra insulation makes your home more energy efficient, which means you pay less for gas and electricity. This reduces on utility bills, something that homebuyers are looking for. Work with a qualified contractor who will check the insulation and come up with an estimate depending on what you need.

5. Install New Cabinets

If working with a decent budget, go for new cabinets. Cabinets create a dramatic look that will transform your kitchen. The cabinets will add a different style and a different tone. You can also try a new layout.

Tips to Attract Lots of Potential Buyers

Now that you’ve made the decision to sell your home, the time has come to make sure people will want to buy it. Your real estate agent will tell you a little about how others have prepared their houses for sales, but ultimately the task of getting the house ready is in your hands. Here are some basics that will ensure the house presents well and attracts the right type of attention.

  1. Taking Care of the Essentials of the House

Your first task is to ensure that the structure of the home is in great condition. To this end, you want the wiring, plumbing, and the foundation checked by a professional. If there is any type of repairs needed, you’ll want to hire handyman manly services to take care of those issues. When a prospective buyer asks if the roof has been inspected recently or if the wiring is up to date, you can answer in the affirmative. That will help keep the conversation going.

2. The Clutter Goes Now

Since you are offering the property for sale, no one really wants to look at your collection of knick-knacks or stuffed animals. As much as you like them, they are preventing buyers from seeing what the house has to offer.

Before you have the first person come to look at your house, get rid of the clutter. See this as the opportunity to decide what makes the move with you and what needs to be donated or given away to friends. Pack up all but a few accent pieces to help give some character to the rooms. Everything that you plan on keeping can go into storage for now.

3. Clean Everything

Once the clutter is out of the way, every inch of the home must be cleaned thoroughly. You may not detect the scent left by the dog because you are used to it. Buyers entering the home will quickly notice the smell and begin to be turned off immediately.

Leave nothing undone when it comes to the cleaning. Wash down the walls, have the window treatments cleaned, and hire a service to steam clean all the carpeting. Don’t forget to clean all the bathrooms thoroughly and go over the hardwood floors and tiles. Even the kitchen cabinets need to be cleaned. All this hard work will leave the home smelling fresh and looking great.

Remember if you don’t have the time or are not that great at cleaning, you can always hire a professional house cleaning service to do the job. Rest assured that the money will be well spent.

4. Staging: Less is More

With the clutter gone and everything cleaned, you need to turn your attention to staging the home. This will likely mean putting some pieces of furniture in storage. Your goal is to leave enough in each room to provide inspiration for using the space while providing the opportunity for buyers to see the architectural details of each room. This provides them with the ability to envision their belongings in the space, something that could lead to receiving an offer.

Remember that while your real estate agent will do a great job of finding potential buyers and bringing them to the property, preparing the house for sale is up to you. Get things in order, and ensure that the house is always at its best. Doing so will mean receiving an offer sooner than later, and maybe even getting an offer that is a little more than your original asking price.

This article comes courtesy of Rokco Builds, trusted customer-centric services in building and construction based in Morningside, QLD.

Top 10 Best Home Security Cameras for 2019

by Leave a Comment

One always cares about the security of their house and valuables when they are away from it. Using video surveillance & Security Cameras is now a new trend around the world.

It allows homeowners to ensure visitor identification, provide evidence for insurance claims, check what is happening in the observation area, watching the activities of kids and relatives, records the facts of theft or misappropriation of property & other acts of criminal activity.

There are many companies that offer security cameras with installation Services. Let’s have a look at some popular names now.

  1. Nest Cam

clip_image002

Home security camera Nest Cam is designed for home surveillance. It offers round the clock video in real time. At 130 degrees, a wide-angle lens gives you visual access to the inside of your home all day long at 1080p. The camera will automatically send a warning or notification to your phone or email address along with an attached photo of activities. Its installation process is easy and simple.

It works perfectly with Amazon Alexa. The built-in microphone and speaker allow you to communicate with people in the room as it acts as an intercom. It also has a night vision capability, enabling you to see the room clearing during the day and at night.

There is the possibility of programming intelligent warnings, continuous recording of videos and storage on clouds and creating activity zones for more accurate warnings. You need to have a monthly subscription to access all the features of this smart camera.

  1. Vimtag VT-361

clip_image004

The Vimtag VT-361 surveillance camera offers built-in wireless video monitoring through ultra-high resolution with a 3.6mm lens and a clear video compression format. You can use this camera to monitor pets, businesses, rest homes, the elderly, and even babysitters and nannies.

You can ensure the security of your house through live video streaming through applications on your smartphone, tablet or PC.

The Vimtag home camera offers amazing functions for home security, such as a 120-degree turn, a 320-degree tilt which is controlled remotely, motion detection, a 3x digital zoom, clear night vision up to 10 meters, accompanying snapshot notifications and two-way voice communication via the built-in microphone and speaker.

It requires Internet access in order to function properly. An internal SD card slot records video conveniently. The setup is simple and is complete only in 4 steps because of the convenient scanning of the QR code.

  1. Logitech Circle Wireless HD Video Security Camera

clip_image006

The Logitech Circle Camera delivers high definition (1080p) video streaming to your home 24*7/365 days. You get instant on your smartphone or tablet for all detected activities.

With this CCTV camera, you can keep track of what’s going on inside your home and make sure everything is well in the house when you’re on vacation. This work can be performed conveniently through your phone or the Logitech app. It offers free cloud video footage and storage.

You can access those videos accessed within 24 hours from your secure private cloud. Logitech Circle has a simple setting and is portable and rechargeable.

A wide-angle lens with a diagonal of 135 degrees makes it easier for you to view what is happening in even large rooms. Companies that provide CCTV installation Services to their clients use this camera to guarantee foolproof video surveillance of houses.

  1. Lynx Indoor Home Security Camera

clip_image008

The Lynx home security camera has intelligent face recognition capabilities which allow you to choose who your security camera recognizes normally and who will be considered an impostor.

With the help of the crystal-clear stream of 1080p HD Lynx video, you can clearly see each face in the video. Night (infrared) vision allows the camera to record videos even in total and complete darkness.

Its configuration and installation process is quite simple. Its camera is equipped with two-way sound (with a built-in microphone and speaker), allowing you to record the sound and listen what is happening in your house.

Lynx also offers motion detection and instant alerts to you in quick time. With the Lynx home security camera, you get a free and secure seven-day cloud storage for life.

  1. Arlo Pro

clip_image010

It is a completely wireless camera. You can easily place it anywhere without worrying about its proximity to the nearest electrical outlet. It is waterproof, which makes it a versatile choice for indoor or outdoor surveillance. Also, the rechargeable battery supports fast charging and seamless sharing without requiring your camera to turn off.

It doesn’t start recording until you request a live channel. There is also a two-way audio function, allowing you to hear the sound coming from the room the built-in microphone and speak to individuals present there. It also has a sound recording function.

  1. Canary

clip_image011

With this excellent Camera, you can stream real-time video of your home with a high-definition 1080p HD camera as a wide-angle camera lens (147 degrees!) offers a wide field of view. So, you can cover a large area even with a small camera. Automatic night vision and high-quality sound increase its usability up to a great extent.

Canary All-in-One is more than just a camera. It has a built-in 90-decibel siren that will start making a sound when it detects suspicious activities in your house.

Motion activated recording, remote auto on/off function and instant access to local authorities ensure you are calm while you are away. Not only this but also intelligent notifications enable you to receive instant video alerts on your devices.

It is also equipped with HomeHealth technology and has the ability to control quality, temperature and humidity. You can analyse the collected data to know how your home can affect your health.

Its installation is not needed. Just plug in Canary and connect to the Internet to use it. When you purchase it, free secure cloud storage comes along with it.

  1. Nest Cam Outdoor Security Camera

clip_image013

Nest Cam security camera if fully compatible with Amazon’s Alexa- a popular home technology. Its outdoor camera provides 24/7 live video with a wide-angle lens with a viewing angle of 130 degrees.

It sends alerts and accompanying snapshots to you whenever it detects unusual activity outside your house. The camera, cable and adapter are weatherproof, which allows you to use all times regardless of the weather.

You need to have A monthly subscription to access its all features and functionalities. Even with a free trial version of Nest Aware, you can receive smart alerts and continuous cloud recording.

  1. NETATMO, NOC01-US

clip_image015

It is popular among homeowners as the smartest outdoor security camera. This outdoor security camera records videos in real time.

The live footage detects and warns you about things that happen outside your house. The camera can easily distinguish between people, cars and animals.

It has a built-in intelligent spotlight that turns on when it is necessary to prevent unnecessary happenings from taking place. It has e floodlight capability, which makes it unobtrusive and “invisible. Furthermore, recorded videos are stored on the microSD card of your home security camera with the ability to store video on Dropbox or on your personal FTP server.

It also offers infrared night vision, which increases your ability to view what is happening outside of your home 24*7/365 days.

  1. DAHUA SD22204T-GN

clip_image017

This a perfect camera for home security. It Turns almost 180 degrees as per the user’s instructions. Three hundred positions are programmed into the device memory, which can be changed if needed.

It comes with a lens with the ability to adjust the focal length to increase the scale of the image. It has small dimensions – 132x132x116 mm and performs encoding using three streams.

  1. EZVIZ MINI PANO

clip_image019

This is an excellent home security camera is in a round shape, which comes with a warranty period of 12 months.

With Maximum resolution 1344×1344, Weight- 200 grams, Dimensions -70x70x70 mm, and wireless connectivity- it is a nice camera for home security and real-time monitoring. Its 70x70x70 mm size allows the device to remain unnoticed for a long time.

Its viewing angle is 360 degrees, enabling it to capture videos from all angles.

Final Words

There are many affordable and convenient home cameras available on the market. First, identify your home security needs very well to choose the best camera. We hope you find your favourite home security camera in this list. Best of luck.

Author Bio

Lisa Cooper work as a blogger with Fixtel – an Australian owned and operated telecommunications company offers CCTV & Security System Installation in Australia. She loves to write insightful blogs & articles on the security Gadgets and Components of a Telecommunications System.

The Rewards Of Regular And Concise Performance Reviews

by Leave a Comment

work business australia

There are 2 reasons why business owners never sit through the performance reviews of their employees. The first is when they want to discipline someone, and the second is when they think someone deserves a pay increase. However, what they don’t know is that they have so much to gain when it comes to scheduling employee performance reviews on more than just these two instances.

Communicate Goals

When you sit down with your employees more than once every year, you are technically reminding employees what you expect of them in a way that motivates them to achieve this. It is possible that you may have begun to notice changes in the employee that you would like to discourage. This is the perfect time to do that before it escalates into something serious, resulting in you having to call in crisis control.

For Feedback

Regular performance reviews give employees the perfect opportunity to give you feedback on what your employees need. It helps you in correcting bad behaviour before it ultimately affects the bottom line of your company. You cannot just send in an email that says the employee is not meeting the set standards. You must review performance and set a training period for them and encourage them to attend it as part of their professional development which will help them throughout their career.

When Firing an Employee

In case you are faced with the task of terminating an employee, you can always offer them proof that they had an idea that this was coming. Your case is made strong by the regular performance reviews that you conduct so that the employee does not challenge your termination.

Set New Goals for Over Achievers

Certain employees perform above and beyond the set standards. The regular performance reviews give you a chance to set higher goals for them, and you must encourage them to advance in their career at your company if you really believe that they have the potential to do great things. If a person thinks he/she is wasted in a place where their talent is not recognized, he/she is likely going to move elsewhere.

Appreciate the Hard Work

It is important that you praise employees who consistently do a great job. By offering positive feedback on a regular basis, you will also make your employees feel like they are being truly appreciated. Your win is that now the employee is going to be encouraged to work harder and shall remain loyal towards you as they are made to feel good about their hard work.

Their Feedback Counts just as Much

Mostly, employee performance reviews are created to give feedback to the employees, and employees are also encouraged to share their thoughts about the company as well. It is important that you listen to the concerns and comments of these people. You must also consider using the valuable information you now have to improve operations.

Top 5 reasons to invest in an office fit out

by Leave a Comment

office designing and fit out

I’ll set the scene for you. You’ve been working in your office for the past five years, and of late (thanks in no small part to your hard work) you’ve started to experience incredible growth for your business. You have a dedicated team have been working diligently by your side the whole time, grafting with you, and growing your business to the point where you want it to be.

You’re a young and funky team and you know that you have a lot to offer the creative and digital space that you are moving into, but there’s just one problem. You happen to occupy and work in an office building where the cubicles are drab and atmosphere-less, the walls are special colour of grey that no one’s ever really seen before, and the atmosphere in the office building could best be described as funeral. So what do you do here?

Studies have gone a long way towards suggesting that the environment that a business operates in impacts the output, and that’s exactly what I’m suggesting here. When you have a creative team – or any kind of team at all really, you need to have exposure to natural light, greenery; at least some kind of stimulus in order to experience the kind of results and output that you are after.

If you are looking to breeze a new lease of life into your office space, you need to have a very well designed workplace in order to get the results you want. We all want maximized productivity, limited downtime and a positive work environment – they are all huge parts of productivity. A new office fitout can help you!

I want to outline for you the top 5 reasons to invest in an office fit out so that you can move forward with your business success.

A new lease on life

When your business starts to expense growth (or continues to grow), it’s important that you grow your business surround with it. Companies with the best office fitouts in Sydney are usually the successful ones who saw the value of a well-designed office space for their teams.

Creative control

When you occupy an office building that has been decorated by previous tenants or a landlord, you have to deal with the poor design decisions that have been made before you. If you choose to invest in an office fit out, you are actually investing in the future of your business. This is a great decision for anyone looking to identify or re-identify their businesses aesthetic.

Elegant updating

Part of getting a new office fitout is taking huge amount of gratification from throwing out all of the horrible shabby decorations that have been there up until now. You can be as elegant or as cutting edge as you like with your design, the fact is is that you can control all of the design elements yourself. Creative control is a powerful thing!

Clients will be impressed

If you are a business that has clients coming into your office to do business, then you will need to ensure that you have a office space that suits your style. It simply doesn’t do to have clients coming into your office and seeing shabby furniture, crummy bookshelves, or just plain old tatty furniture. You need to ensure that your office fit out suits your clientele, and the style of business that you are hoping to secure.

Employee morale

Last but definitely not least is the benefit to employee morale. The benefit to employee morale is a huge part of getting a new office fitout. Staff and people feel that you are invested in their enjoyment in the space if you spend time and money on getting the office painted and refurbished. Employees will feel a lot happier about coming to work every day in a funky, fresh environment and will be more attached to the workplace.

Setting up an office in Australia and what you need

by Leave a Comment

finding office space in australia

Looking to start your own office, but don’t know where to go. Luckily there are office solutions that exist that can help you in this area and find you the right office space for your business. Australia is a growing economy with companies in many sectors like oil and gas, mining, start up and tech companies emerging every day. The bustling economy is supported by the rapid pace of its growing population.

With the rapid growth comes the needs for more space for small offices, big offices and also serviced or executive offices where a business does not have to do much but just find or rent out a fully equipped office.

Finding the right office space can be a tedious job, because different kind of offices has different kind of requirements, a clinic office would have different requirements to a start-up technology office or an offshore oil and gas setting up a local office in your country. Different factors need to be taken into account like locations of the office, transport to office, parking availability, disabled access, security etc.

Office spaces can often also vary in prices with its proximity to the capital CBD or if it is then based in the suburbs. CBD office spaces normally tend to be higher in rent compared to office space in the suburbs. Real estate brokers or custom agents for office space would be able to give you an idea of what is most suitable to your budget and find you the right listings to choose from.

Modern office agents not only find the right space for you knew office but also manage/organise the leasing and finance to get your new office started up quickly. Top commercial office agents like CBRE, Knight Frank and Collier International often provide office space for sale or on an auction , but are not focussed on setting up an executive office as per your needs or then a serviced office for a small or medium business.

They are different commercial websites that provide listing of office space available in auction and for sale. But what do you do if you want a serviced office or then a fully functional executive office where you can just move in. This is where www.officespace.com.au comes in, they are a Australian company that can provide arrange of offices from executive offices in Sydney, serviced office space in Perth, a sophisticated location in Melbourne, furnished space in Brisbane or Adelaide or service pretty much all of Australia.

They do the work of finding the right location for you, setting up a lease with the most appropriate term suitable to you if long or short term and also doing all the paperwork – making it easy for you to just move in and start work.

If you are looking for office space in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane or Perth in Australia, you can check out the office space website to find a suitable space for your new office.

The 2014 Real Estate Forecast

by Leave a Comment

real-estate-australia

The Australian real estate market is currently only second in the world behind that of the US market in its activeness for investors. Last year saw plenty of strong investment conditions for home buyers and although many are predicting a burst to the Australian housing bubble in 2014, there are still plenty of reasons for prospective home buyers to be optimistic this year.

How Did We Get Here?

Last year we saw great growth across the country with home values rising substantially in nearly every major Australian city. Sydney saw a 15.1 percent increase while Perth was up 9.9 percent and Melbourne rounded out the year at 8.5 percent growth. This rise was due in large part to population growth, low interest rates and increases in consumer confidence. These factors all combined for a perfect mixture that lead to a much higher housing demand than previous years.

What to Expect

There are a few different polarizing views when it comes to the future of the housing market in Australia for 2014. First, we have American investment guru Harry Dent’s less than happy predictions. Dent has claimed credit for predicting the US boom and subsequent bust and the deflationary decade in Japan. He has recently made the rounds promoting his new book, The Demographic Cliff and is predicting a decline in the Australian market at anywhere from 30 to 50 percent. While that is an alarming prediction for most, Dent also states that there is a wildcard at play with China’s ultra wealthy investors who are in part to thank for the boom in 2013. If they keep investing it might help to keep Australia’s housing prices up.

Many other analysts like APM chief economist Andrew Wilson, are predicting a slowing in the housing market overall but nothing to the extent of Dent’s numbers. Wilson expects things to slow considerably in the market for both Sydney and Melbourne, of which both saw house price growth peak in December of last year. He also sees plenty of growth in the cards for both Perth and Brisbane. The market in Brisbane is still in the pivotal "catch-up" phase and is primed to reach new heights as Queensland sees a jump in the economy and an influx of job seekers. This is great for perspective investors in these regions.

Other market analysts are stating that Australia is still in the growing stage of the property cycle, which was bottomed out in mid-2012. This research shows that the housing market is moving into the "expansion" stage meaning more growth overall and an increase in property prices. Echoing predictions made by Wilson, this research shows that many states and cities will see different levels of growth but growing is they key factor here not a major decline.

What Does This Mean for You?

For the average home buyer this means that settling down and making that big purchase is still a good idea. Even with the possibility of the market slowing in certain urban areas this change will have little effect on the average home buyer as interest rates should stay low. If you are looking for great mortgage rates and customer service contact the expert team at State Custodians Mortgage today. As a leading non-bank lender, State Custodians Mortgage is committed to providing access to high quality home loans at market leading interest rates. They can help put you one step closer to taking advantage of the housing market while it is still on this generous uphill curve.

Mother dead, Daughter seriously Injured in Police car chase

by Leave a Comment

An innocent mother has died and teenage daughter seriously injured in a police car chase. A police vehicle  on a car chase in pursuit of a stolen car  rammed into  innocent civilians  causing death and serious injury.

police car chase accident australia laws

Many people have been shocked by the result of this  police chase and it emerged this afternoon according to media reports that the two officers did not have official permission to engage in the pursuit.

This police chase in pursuit of a stolen car claimed the life of a 50-year-old Dianella mother and left her 16-year-old daughter in hospital,

The Police car was chasing the stolen grey Audi sedan when they drove against a  red light and hit the Toyota Corolla travelling south through a green light on Alexander Drive at 11am.

Major Crash investigators are said to probe the crash, while internal affairs officers will examine the police conduct

In a previous incident Two officers were the subject of an internal investigation over a pursuit in Noranda last month, in which a 15-year-old male driver crashed a stolen Ford Falcon and died.he AVL recorded the police car travelling at 164km/h but this has been disputed by the officers.

 

Woman killed during Perth police pursuit‎ Ninemsn
Cops kill woman in high-speed chase‎ Adelaide Now
Woman killed during Dianella pursuit‎ The West Australian

.

Are Australian Wineries in trouble ?

by 1 Comment

Sales figures show that wine sales slipped 3.3% in 2010/11 – the first fall in 15 years and
largest drop in annual wine sales for 22 years. Australian consumers have been  spending less on the spirits ad this has affected the Australian wine market.

While the sales of Australian wines  have gone down, French wines have been doing pretty well. French wine only accounts for 1.7% of all wine sales, but the share has doubled in the past five years. Apart from the low domestic demand in Australia  the high Australian dollar and domestic over-supply of grapes have also  affected the wine markets.

Some of the more popular wine growing region s in australia  is the Hunter Valley ( NSW,VIC), Swan valley , Margaret river( WA), Port Phillip and Gippsland ( Greater Victoria)

wines australia sales production

The wine grape production for the year 2009-10 is estimated by the ABS to be 1.53 million tones, around 9 percent lower than  the 2008-2009 harvest. The wine industry has been  affected by scarce water supplies in some regions and in some parts of south eastern Australia  also by the heat wave. In Victoria many  winegrowers was affected by the floods and outbreaks of  disease due to damp and humid conditions. The Murray darling  Swan hill zone has  been affected by disease  affecting wine production  in early parts of the year.

Red wine grapes have been the farmers popular choice in cultivation of production in 2009-10 with  it accounting for the total of 55%

The Popular grape variety cultivated by farmers in 2009-10

1. Shiraz

2. Chardonnay

3. Cabernet-Sauvignon

vineyards wine sales figures 2011 2012

The forecast for   2011 –12 is for the wine  grape production to increase by 10 %  taking into account vines reaching full production, but so far the weather is playing a dampener on  good wine grape production and these results could get affected by any major disruptions in weather.

For more detailed information  on  wine grape  production statistics you can visit  www.abs.gov.au and www.abares.gov.au