A permanent resident can live, work and study without constraint in Australia.
A permanent resident has most of the rights and entitlements of a citizen, yet there are differences:
Australian Government elections can be voted in by a citizen. In most cases permanent residents cannot, yet if a permanent resident was registered to vote (as a British subject) prior to 1984, they may not remain ineligible to vote.
Qualification for both citizens and noncitizens, for Australian government services and benefits, is the duty of the government agency with policy responsibility for gain or the service.
Following are a few examples:
Social Security
Advice about eligibility for services and benefits ought to be gotten from the Department of Human Services (Centrelink). More information can be found in the Department of Human Services.
The Health Insurance Act 1973 governs eligibility for the Medicare system in Australia. In some instances visitors are eligible to some level of cover by way of a Reciprocal healthcare Agreement between Australia and another country. Eligibility ought to be verified together with the Department of Human Services (Medicare).
Education
Each state government handles the school system within their state. This means they provide resources and regulation for their schools. Both public schools and private schools exist in each state. The program taught in each state or school may vary but the learning places would be the same in all.
The national government supplies the capital for universities in all the states. Each is independent in its governance. They establish class content and their classes. A professional body must support a class for this . Generally, a university class takes four or three years.
Electoral
Eligibility to enrol to vote in federal elections or referendums is restricted to Australian citizens. Permanent residents who have been already registered (as British subjects) as at 25 January 1984 may continue to be qualified to vote. More advice is available at the Australian Electoral Commission.
Citizenship conferral
Qualification for Australian citizenship is regulated by the Australian Citizenship Act 2007. Qualification is available to a “permanent resident” as defined in that Act. More info is available on the Citizenship web site.
Migration sponsorship
Qualification to sponsor a man for a long-term visa is governed by the Migration Regulations 1994. Eligibility can be obtained to Australian permanent residents, Australian citizens and Eligible New Zealand citizens.
