Australia is witnessing a new wave of migration from Italy in numbers not seen in half a century, as thousands flee the economic devastation in Europe.

The explosion of numbers saw more than 20,000 Italians arrive in Australia in 2012-13 on temporary visas, exceeding the number of Italians that arrived in 1950-51 during the previous migration boom following World War Two.

The research group Australia Solo Andata (Australia One Way) is made up of Italians in Australia and has been tracking the trend using figures from the Department of Immigration and Border Protection.

Spokesman Michele Grigoletti said he has been surprised by just how many of his countrymen are making the move to Australia.

"Italians are coming to Australia in numbers we could not expect," Mr Grigoletti said.

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"We already have the first six months of data from 2013-14 and we know that the trend of Italians [arriving] is on the increase again."

Between 2011 and 2013, there was a 116 per cent increase in the number of Italian citizens in Australia with a temporary visa.

Data showed working holiday visas were the most popular visa issued to Italian citizens between the ages of 18 and 30.

Almost 16,000 of the visas were granted in 2012-13, up 66 per cent on the previous financial year.

Italy's Consul General in Sydney, Sergio Martes, said the figures were not surprising.

"We have seen similar figures in northern Europe, with Italians going to Germany and England. They are probably the two main countries receiving our young people at the moment," he said.

"It's a phenomenon that we think is probably going to smooth out as soon as the economic recovery starts in Italy."

The data revealed residents of the United Kingdom, Germany and France were issued the biggest number of working holiday visas for Australia in 2012-13.

Lucky country dream falls short for some

Silvia Pianelli was 26 when she decided to make the move from Italy to Australia four years ago after spending years trying to secure a full-time job in Italy.

"I was still living with mum and dad, I wanted to be independent, I wanted to challenge myself and I thought I need to go," she said.

"If I'm not successful I'll just come back and I'll start over again in Italy but I really wanted to give it a go."

Ms Pianelli has since secured a job in Sydney but said not all young hopefuls who make the move are so lucky.

"They try for one year, some of them try to stay longer and some miss home too much and they try to go back," she said.

"It's difficult at the start because I had very basic English and you don't learn the language which is spoken by everyday Australians. It's a big difference."

The language barrier means many new arrivals pick up jobs in Italian restaurants as waiters or cooks despite being highly qualified in their home country.

Michele Grigoletti said it was a reality that differs greatly from the lucky country dream many Italians still hold on to.

"To the eyes of the Italian person that has no work and no opportunity to obtain or maintain a job, it's an opportunity to try a new life in Australia," he said.

"It provides hope and that's what a young person wants, hope to create a future."