I'm sure there is a similar post somewhere on this site, so you might want to do a search as well...

You don't have to be a member of a union to get work (unlike in the UK, you don't have to show your equity card at auditions), although it does help. Many actors on this site would recommend joining. The union is MEAA, www.alliance.org.au, and you can find info on their rates and what they do at that site.

You can also find info about agents at MEAA, as well as a list of some agents. You might also want to research on this site for some stories about agents (a look at the Blackbox thread might give you an idea of what's happening in Aus with agents...)

I'm not sure about the visa thing. Perhaps you should check with someone from your English union, or find someone to help you from your side of the world...

Lastly, think seriously about coming. Without a really good background in acting, most Aussie actors have trouble finding work. With a really good background in acting, most Aussie actors have trouble finding work... Yes, that's right, there's not a lot of acting work here. If you plan on coming, either line up some work beforehand, or be prepared to find other paid work to fill your income.

Otherwise, good luck!

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If you have the standard twelve month under thirty working visa it may limit the type of work you can do and that may exclude acting. The rules are in sort of a flux at the moment so it's worth double checking with the Australian Embassy about what work you can do, In Adelaide try SA Casting (Anne Peters) what little work there is around seems to come through her.