Elphaba is right about the Dubai Explorer. As you will discover, it will soon become your bible. Dubai Explorer is available in all good bookshops or alternatiely can be ordered online.

Your company will get a work visa for you as you are their employee. If you want your family to accompany you, it will be up to you to sponsor them and get the necessary visa to allow them to live in the UAE. Most companies are quite happy to assist their employees in getting a spouse visa for their other half (guidance provided and getting their PRO to do all the running around for you) but most will not foot the bill for it. Unless, it is specifically written in your contract that they will pay for your spouse's visa, assume that you will have to go through this process at your expense. I would advise getting your marriage certificate and children's birth certificates legalised in the country you were married and where you children were born, before movig out to the UAE, as it would otherwise cost considerably more to send the documents back home to get this process done. I would say that it would be a lot easier for your husband to try and get a job and simply come out on an employment visa. It will certainly save you a lot of hassle, especially as you have mentioned that you will not be based in the free zone.

In regards to wives sponsoring their husband, I believe that you will be able to do so, if you are a teacher, doctor or engineer. If you are taking up a post different to those mentioned, I would advise seeking advice from the UAE embassy in Australia. Your employer should also also be able to clarify the requirements for you to be able to get a visa for your husband. Bear in mind, that the law is changing soon; hence, it would be a lot more difficult for him to do a visa run if you were not able to get him a spouse visa.

Best of luck