Living in Western Australia

The State offers an attractive way of living in a multicultural environment and Perth has evolved into one of Australia’s fastest-growing and most liveable capital cities.

Perth was ranked the world’s eighth most liveable city in 2015 in the Economist Intelligence Unit’s Global Liveability Index.

Western Australia offers a comfortable lifestyle, with a great climate, world-class beaches, food and wine, a vibrant cultural heritage and leading tourist attractions.

Western Australia has more hours of sunshine than any other Australian capital city, with blue skies for most of the year.

The weather ranges across the State from a semi-arid interior to a tropical north, while Perth and the southwest of the State offer a Mediterranean-style climate.

Western Australia covers one-third of the Australian continent, spans 2.5 million square kilometres and is bordered by 12,500 kilometres of coastline.

The State has a population of more than 2.2 million people – one-tenth of Australia's total population. Its cultural mix is one the most diverse in the world, with 12% of the State's population speaking a language other than English at home.

Our Aboriginal sites are an important part of the heritage of our community. They are of immense cultural, scientific, educational and historic interest. Aboriginal heritage sites provide Aboriginal people today with an important link to their present and past culture. For information on the Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety's (DMIRS) involvement with Aboriginal heritage and culture.

World standard cultural facilities and theatres are home to the State's nationally acclaimed symphony orchestra, ballet, modern dance, opera and theatre companies.

The Festival of Perth provides a major showcase of international and local performers every year. The city also has access to numerous public and private galleries and museums with local and international exhibitions.

Playing and watching sport is part of everyday life and the State is home to large stadiums, golf courses and Olympic-size swimming pools. Cricket is popular during summer, along with sailing, surfing, swimming, tennis, golf and basketball. During winter, the Australian Football League is the predominant sport.

Sporting events in the State include The Hopman Cup (tennis), international cricket and rugby tests, and national basketball and soccer leagues.

Western Australia produces a wide array of world-class produce, including seafood, cheese, wines and an emerging trade in black truffles.

The State is home to nine wine regions, including world-renowned vineyards in Margaret River and the Swan Valley.

See the Australian Good Food Guide for up-to-date information on wineries, bars and restaurants in Western Australia.

More than 450,000 students are enrolled in Western Australia's education system. There are five universities, a statewide technical and further education system, as well as public and private schools.

Courses range from secondary schooling and vocational training diplomas to university undergraduate degrees, as well as postgraduate qualifications including masters and doctoral degrees.

In addition, Western Australia's educational institutions are able to develop and conduct customised training courses to suit individual employers and company requirements.

Western Australians are some of the healthiest people in the world.

The average life expectancy is about 78 years for men and 83 years for women.

Nationally, Western Australia enjoys the lowest mortality rate of any Australian State.

Western Australians also enjoy a high standard of health care, with a combination of public and private health insurance.

You can choose to live by the sea or by the river, in the city or in one of the many suburbs around Perth.

The median price of an established home sold in the Perth metropolitan area during March 2015 was $560,000.

The State Government recognises and values the positive economic and social contribution migrants have made and continue to make to Western Australia.

The State Migration Centre assists business migrants who wish to move to Western Australia.

Visit Living in Western Australia to find out more about migrating to WA.