I don't exactly have the opportunity *yet* , but I do have an in from by the help of an OZ friend Iliving in the area who I've known for years. Yes, getting a work visa in OZ is hard but I know it can be done. I recall when I was in the National Guard Reserves one person was hired for a full time job in OZ. Another person at my work got a job in OZ as an environmental planner.
Basically, the standard from what my friend told me is you attempt to show OZ that your expertise and background is important in you can offer something different or needed. You have to go for the angle you posses qualities which makes you desirable and unique from their own homegrown citizens.
Probably the first goal for me is to introduce myself in a letter to the mayor with an eventual followup call. Then I will pay a personal visit as a sort of vacation/job interview. Then I'll pray.
Wouldn't it be grand if big cities created some sort of planner exchange program between international cities. That is what is great if you are a college professor. The universities encourage and even expect the professors go off on sabaticals to lands far and close in public or private endeavors. It gives one a fresh persepctive from the banal microcosm called the office politics of promotions.
I really need the change of environment in many ways. Not that I don't love my job, I do. Rather i need a break from the office politics. To wit: I got a hire score on my promotional exam and interviw, but I work in a section that is considered a piriah. The city is so big we have three deputy directors. Under the deputy director in our section he is not much of an advocate for his people. So today after finding out I got passed over inspite of my score and the good quality of my work, I put in for a tranfer to the section where almost all of the people in that section land the promotions. The deputy director for that section pulls for his people. He is a bully (he has short man's syndrome methinks), but he does fight for his people to get promotions. Also, a little apple-polishing won't hurt either
The sabatical would be great for me and something I need/want both personally and professionally.