FAIM is the only quality standard for the international moving industry. International Removals companies are independently audited by management consultants Ernst & Young on a set of 16 parameters in order to achieve this certification. Compliance procedures take place on-site every two years or every four years if a company qualifies for a desktop compliance procedure.

The 16 parameters include financial security, facilities and equipment, staff competence, management standards, documentation, legal compliance, risk management and customer performance survey reports.

FAIM is the sole criteria for joining FIDI, the international network of international moving companies. FIDI aims to develop and promote best practice among members and also to promote excellence within the international moving industry.

Customers who choose a FAIM accredited mover have the knowledge that every aspect of the mover’s business reaches the highest standard, providing peace of mind throughout an overseas move.

John Mason International are proud holders of the FIDI FAIM qualification, continuously scoring highly in the compliance procedures. The company continues to adhere to the programme’s strict quality standards.

The population of New Zealand increased by 1.3% in 2009 according to Statistics New Zealand. This is the greatest population increase for the country in the last five years.

The principal cause of the population rise is natural increase i.e. the number of births outweighing the number of deaths. Other factors have also come into play however including a net migration increase. 20,000 migrants were granted residency in 2009 and there was a lower rate of departures than in previous years.

The current population of New Zealand stands at over 4 million. The population of the country is estimated to increase by one person every 8 minutes and 44 seconds. There is also approximately one net migration gain every 23 and a half minutes.

John Mason International team member David Ozard is featured in the March 2010 issue of Australia & New Zealand magazine.

David, National Sales Manager for John Mason, wrote an article for the magazine providing advice on moving with children. His article, entitled ‘Taking the Kids Down Under’ is a two page feature in the magazine.

David is also featured on the ‘Find an Agent’ section of the publication.

The Australian Department of Immigration and Citizenship’s (DIAC) immigration booklet series has had over 840,000 downloads since its publication online last year. The series, entitled ‘Beginning a Life in Australia’ provide practical advice for migrants on settling in the country.

The booklets contain practical information such as things to do upon arrival, translating and interpreting options for non-English speakers, emergency services information, telephone helplines and useful numbers, Australian cultural customs and advice covering a range of topics such as housing, employment, education, public transport and healthcare.

The booklets are revised annually to ensure they contain the most up to date information available. The material is also available in over 37 different languages.

Titles available to download as PDF files include:

 Welcome to the Australian Capital Territory

Welcome to New South Wales

Welcome to the Northern Territory

Welcome to Queensland

Welcome to South Australia

Welcome to Tasmania

Welcome to Victoria

Welcome to Western Australia

Laurie Ferguson, Parliamentary Secretary for Multicultural Affairs and Settlement Services, commented:

‘ As a government, we do the best we can to provide new arrivals with the information they need to participate in the community and this publication helps new migrants with practical information as they settle in Australia’.  

A DVD, entitled ‘Australia – a new home’ is also available, specifically targeted at those migrating to Australia from Asia and Africa.

In summary, the booklets are extremely comprehensive and are very useful for anyone considering a move to Australia or those currently in the process of moving to Australia. The booklets also contain links to other useful websites with further information on the various topics highlighted in the booklet. 

The booklets can be downloaded on the DIAC website: www.immi.gov.au. The next editions are due to be published in April 2010.

Anyone visiting or planning to move to Australia will need to be aware of the Australian government’s plans for new counter-terrorist measures which may mean that obtaining a visa will be more difficult in the near future.

Australia’s Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd, made an address to the nation this week in which he emphasised the importance of security controls to protect the country.  The speech is in response to a recent white paper released in Canberra which states that Australia is at high risk of a terrorist attack.

During his speech, Kevin Rudd announced plans to introduce fingerprint and face image scanners for visitors from certain high risk countries. This information will then be cross-checked via a biometric data system. He also emphasised that the threat of terrorism is likely to come from Australian-born nationals.

The Greek government’s decision to introduce austerity measures to combat the country’s growing economic crisis is likely to affect people moving to Greece. If you are planning to work in the public sector, you will need to be aware that public sector salaries will be frozen. The retirement age is also due to be increased to 63 from 2015 and taxes on alcohol, cigarettes and petrol will also be raised.

The financial crisis in Greece has forced the country’s socialist government to introduce the new economic plan in an attempt to halt the nation’s spiralling debt. The deficit in Greece is four times higher than the European Union allows, currently standing at12.7%.

In response to the new austerity measures that have been announced, there have been large scale protests in Athens and Thessaloniki. If you are moving to Athens in the immediate future, you may be affected by consequences of the strike which include the cancellation of public transport services, emergency only staff in hospitals and the closure of public schools and public offices.  Flights in and out of Greece have also been cancelled for 24 hours, for the second time this month.

Iris Boatfield, 92, has become the oldest person to be granted Australian Citizenship. The ceremony was a small affair in Brisbane, Australia, attended by close family members but the story has attracted national media attention in the country.

Iris came to Australia from the UK in the 1960s after taking a holiday with her husband and enjoying the warmer climate. She first settled in Melbourne where she ran a Milk Bar with her husband and then moved to Redcliffe. She currently lives in a nursing home in Lawnton.

A spokesperson for the Australian Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) commented:

‘Mrs Boatfield is one of only a few people in their 90s the Department of Immigration and Citizenship is aware of who has made the pledge to become an Australian citizen.’

Dublin City council have approved plans to construct a temporary performance space and market from retired shipping containers

Point Village Market, located in Dublin’s Docklands area, is set to become a ‘Covent Garden’ made out of sea freight containers. 200 shipping containers will be used to construct the area which will be known as Point Village Square. The containers will be stacked three high and will surround a live performance area which will be used for music concerts, film screenings and other artistic and cultural events.

The square is due to open early Summer 2010 and is due to run for four years. Organisers hope that around 7 million people will visit the attraction every year. There will also be a large wheel, similar to the London Eye, in the square.

When moving overseas and sending your effects via sea freight, your belongings will be travelling in a shipping container, arranged by your international removal company. The container revolutionised shipping in the 1950s and led to globalisation and a dramatic increase in international trade. They are considered to be one of the top ten best inventions of the 20^th Century. When they can no longer be used for shipping, however, there are many alternate uses for them. Containers are generally used by shipping lines for five years before coming to the end of their useful life. Previously, most were left abandoned in shipyards and ports. With increasing worldwide environmental concerns, however, businesses and individuals are coming up with more and more creative ways to re-use containers after their life as cargo carriers has ended.

Other interesting examples of container re-cycling include container sculpture, using containers as homes, offices, coffee shops, museums, and even a hotel. The Travelodge Hotel in Uxbridge, London was the first hotel to be constructed from modified containers.

Steve is Facilities Director for John Mason International and has worked for the company for 21 years.

Steve began his lifelong passion for the moving industry working for UK removal company Brewer and Turnbull. He initially worked on removals part-time whilst training to be an engineer but when the opportunity to train as a sales representative arose, Steve realised that the moving industry was more suited to his talents and abilities.

After a few years honing his estimating and sales skills, Steve moved to Manchester based moving firm Scotpac before moving on to Bowies International where his flair for sales was fully utilised. Steve remained with the company for 14 years, during which he continued with his professional development and education.  Steve achieved many industry qualifications including the Certificate in Removals Estimating (CRE), the Ordinary Certificate in Removals Management (OCRM) and finally the Higher Certificate in Removals Management (HCRM). Steve’s career at Bowies flourished and he became General Manager and then a member of the Board of Directors in 1987.

Due to the take-over of Bowies, Steve felt it was time to move on and joined John Mason International in 1989 as General Manager of the UK Division. He then progressed to UK Director in 1995. His current role as Facilities Director involves ensuring that the premises, health and safety, personnel and telecommunications systems are maintained to the highest standard.  Steve is also responsible for the self-storage, document storage, caravan storage and lorry parking services which the company offers. Steve greatly enjoys his job as it is a challenging but rewarding position.

Industry politics has always been a significant part of Steve’s professional life and he is a very well respected member of the moving industry, becoming National Chairman of the Movers Institute in 1990, British Association of Removers (BAR) Secretary, North West Treasurer, Chairman and North West Branch Representative before eventually achieving the honour of BAR President in 1998.

Steve is married with two sons and lives in Cheshire. One son runs his own IT company and the other is an engineer for BAE systems.

Anyone moving to Australia will be aware of the migration reforms which were announced earlier this month. Minister for Citizenship and Immigration, Senator Chris Evans, revealed the changes at a speech at the Australian National University. The reforms concern several key points which are listed below.

One key change is that the Migrations Occupations in Demand List (MODL) has been removed and replaced by the Skilled Occupations List (SOL). The SOL will be handled by Skills Australia, an independent organisation which will monitor skills shortages across the country and review the list accordingly. The new list will be reviewed every six months and will prioritise trade skills and high value professions.

The Critical Skills List will be phased out. This was a list of high priority professions and skills which were required as a result of the economic downturn.

Another reform is that any Offshore GSM Visa applications lodged before 1^st September 2007 will be withdrawn and visa application fees refunded. This will affect approximately 20,000 people.

The points test will be reviewed in order to make it more of a fair system and to consider whether more points should be awarded for certain occupations.

Migration plans will be decentralised to a certain extent, meaning that State and territory migration plans will also be introduced so that each state or territory can meet the skills needs of their particular area. Applicants applying through the State Migration Plan will be prioritised ahead of non-state general skilled migration applicants.