Am I Mad???!!!!!

There are plenty of rentals in sydney for less than $500 per week if you care to google like I just did.

Getting a job at the Sunny Coast would be a very good choice. That would be a great lifestyle for a family (in my opinion anyway!). Reasonably priced housing, fabulous beaches and Brisbane close by.

I was thinking that myself. I'm usually warning people to think twice about the Sunshine Coast because it's so hard for most people to find work there, but with the new hospital there, the OP would stand a good chance of getting a job.

I'm more of a big city girl myself, but the Sunshine Coast is really everything most Brits dream about in Australia - sun, sand, beaches, blue skies, laidback lifestyle, a nice house.

So guys, am I mad as a single mum and Nurse Specialist to make the move to Sydney, just me and my 12.5 yr old??!!!!

Looking for a fresh start and a better chance for my son. So disillusioned with being a Nurse in UK. But NOT looking at move through rose colour glasses!

Any advice you can give would be really appreciated. The basic salary I will need, affordable places to rent that are ok etc?! Not too much to ask!!!!!! I have ILETS booked ready to submit AHPRA application.

In answer to your question, yes I do think you are mad, you will have to work long hours to achieve a living wage in sydney aand who will take your son to school and pick him up, who will look after him when you are at work. If you are dead set on going you must think very hard on the life you will have over there without friends and family to back you up.

Am I Mad???!!!!!

probably! but I thikn we all are a bit.

Good advice here, SYD probalby not the best to initlaly start in due to cost. Heard good things about Newcastle or Newie as I've heard people say

All the best for your move SarahG

Can we get back to the point please? Debating whether people can survive in expensive cities isn't helping the OP. The question is, if she's coming to live in Australia, would you recommend she choose Sydney? Would it be her best choice in terms of quality of life?

Well no I wouldn't advise anyone to move to Sydney personally at todays rates. There would require specific circumstances unique to the individual to warrant a move to that city in my opinion anyway. Quality of life terms are much up to the person concerned just what that means. Economics is not the be end to all considerations for all people hence some prefer, as myself London even though paid a hefty shekel for such a choice.

Ok so with everyone through Sydney bashing...

i was was a specialist nurse in the uk. I am a single mum to an 11 year old girl. And I moved to Melbourne 3 weeks ago and start as an ANUM (Jr. Sister) in a few days. Oh and I brought our cat. We live in a small unit 10 mins from the beach- although it's cold here, I'm from the north east so it's not that bad.

It is completely possible. Things to know;

ahpra are very pedantic about what they want. You will be assigned a case officer when you submit your forms- this may not be to the office you submitted, but that's fine. Keep in contact with that person and they will guide you through. You may not get specialist stasus but you can build back up to it once here. But, you have a year to turn up and activate your registration once issued or you start again. So keep in mind your time frame.

Make sure you have you're visa going through the system at the same time so your ducks line up

to get a job- you need the job to know where you're going to live so you don't have an awful commute. Need the house to get a school.

you apply to each hospital seperatly. They all have their own jobs portals (nothing like nhs jobs) put everything you can in. Look at what they want in a cover letter and make it specific to each job, don't copy and paste.

you will need as much cash as you can. Stupid stuff like realising you don't have a fridge when you move into somewhere is a pain. I'm currently sleeping on a camp bed while my daughter has a single I got from a free Facebook page (got new mattress though)

i got a car through my works lease scheme. Although I haven't started yet I managed to organise the car to get around.

Child started red school and made friends instantly (lots of expats here as the beach is so close)

it it is doable. But it's a fight. Pm me if you want more

Thanks for the inspiration!!! Will keep in touch

Sx

i was was a specialist nurse in the uk. I am a single mum to an 11 year old girl. And I moved to Melbourne 3 weeks ago and start as an ANUM (Jr. Sister) in a few days....

It is completely possible.

The OP specifically asked about Sydney which is why we've concentrated on that. I think the OP has every chance of making a success of migration IF she chooses the right part of Australia - which means almost anywhere else!

Personally I wouldn't suggest Melbourne because it's probably the second most expensive city - but even so, it's a lot cheaper than Sydney. I'd say rents are at least $100 a week cheaper than in Sydney for an equivalent property, which makes a big difference to the budget!

I haven't inspect any as yet. There's only 2 of us so we're not too worried about space. It's temporary accomodarion we kept our nice house in England. The ice heads who moved in opposite us in Oatley put us off! On the whole it's a nice suburb not enough going on there for us. There's been an incident this week with a guy trashing parked cars and shouting at the owners to come out and fight.

Personally I do think you are mad. Is your life that dreadful in the uk to want to move to the other end of the earth with your son and leave behind family support and friends. You'd still have the same daily life routine here. Same **** different country as such. I've been here almost 2 years. I live in Sydney and I do like it for diversity, city and beach life along with the stunning Blue Mountains. On the other hand I miss the beauty of the U.K. Local woodlands beautiful countryside. Culture and depth of history. The build up to Christmas, coming home to snuggle up in front of the fire. Which you can still do here June-August. I'm in a new build now but still miss having double glazing and insulation. I'm lucky as we haven't put down permanent roots and both wish to move back home at some point. But for now we are appreciating Sydney life as its a great City in my opinion.

Ok so with everyone through Sydney bashing...

 

i was was a specialist nurse in the uk. I am a single mum to an 11 year old girl. And I moved to Melbourne 3 weeks ago and start as an ANUM (Jr. Sister) in a few days. Oh and I brought our cat. We live in a small unit 10 mins from the beach- although it's cold here, I'm from the north east so it's not that bad.

It is completely possible. Things to know;

ahpra are very pedantic about what they want. You will be assigned a case officer when you submit your forms- this may not be to the office you submitted, but that's fine. Keep in contact with that person and they will guide you through. You may not get specialist stasus but you can build back up to it once here. But, you have a year to turn up and activate your registration once issued or you start again. So keep in mind your time frame.

Make sure you have you're visa going through the system at the same time so your ducks line up

 

to get a job- you need the job to know where you're going to live so you don't have an awful commute. Need the house to get a school.

you apply to each hospital seperatly. They all have their own jobs portals (nothing like nhs jobs) put everything you can in. Look at what they want in a cover letter and make it specific to each job, don't copy and paste.

 

you will need as much cash as you can. Stupid stuff like realising you don't have a fridge when you move into somewhere is a pain. I'm currently sleeping on a camp bed while my daughter has a single I got from a free Facebook page (got new mattress though)

i got a car through my works lease scheme. Although I haven't started yet I managed to organise the car to get around.

 

Child started red school and made friends instantly (lots of expats here as the beach is so close)

 

it it is doable. But it's a fight. Pm me if you want more

Nobody is "bashing Sydney" but are pointing out that it might not be the best idea for a single mum on a nurses salary. This seems like sensible advice to me and from people that have lived in Sydney and indeed maybe even love Sydney, such as myself. You appear not to be in Sydney, so I really would not draw parallels. I have often researched housing costs in other cities versus my personal experience in Sydney and similar "standard" of suburbs are hugely less expensive in Melbourne.

I have often researched housing costs in other cities versus my personal experience in Sydney and similar "standard" of suburbs are hugely less expensive in Melbourne.

I agree. One of the (several) reasons we left Sydney to go abroad was that we couldn't afford to have a nice house in a nice suburb in our retirement. When we decided the UK wasn't going to work for us, we had decided to try Hobart as our second choice. For various reasons we ended up stopping in Melbourne, and I was really worried that we'd gone from the frying pan into the fire: I'd always assumed Melbourne house prices ran a very close second to Sydney. However I've been surprised at how much cheaper it is for a comparable suburb.

@SaraG - it's great that you've made contact with @Priscilla101 and I'm sure her experience will continue to be valuable to you. Just keep in mind that she's in Melbourne, which is MUCH cheaper than Sydney (I've just moved to Melbourne, I used to live in Sydney and I'm surprised how much cheaper it is).

I notice you mention sponsorship on another thread. Do you understand how employer sponsorship works? It doesn't give you the right to live permanently in Australia, you just get a temp visa which is only valid while you're working for that employer. If that job terminates for any reason, or if you resign, you've got 90 days to leave the country! So it's not a good visa when you have a child's education to consider - Immigration won't care if he's in the middle of exams, you'll have to go, and that's not a good situation to risk.

Being sponsored won't make Sydney more affordable, in fact it will be far worse - while you're on that temp visa you are not eligible for any benefits, and you have to pay school fees.

You would be much wiser to get your PR visa first, then apply for jobs. That way you'll be entitled to full benefits and free schooling. You'll be more attractive to employers as a permanent resident, and if you take a job and find they've misrepresented it or you don't like the work, you'll have the freedom to change jobs without worrying about getting deported.

My goodness. No one got the tongue in cheek comment then? Seriously bad times all round.

No i don't live in Sydney. But I don't need to, if someone has chosen that city out of the whole world as the place they want to call home then they will do it no matter the naysayers. Finances are always tough, that does t change no matter where you go. People do live in Sydney, even those below the breadline still stay. (plenty of homeless in Melbourne who don't want to go out of the city) I drempt about moving here since I was 13. But people kept putting me off- too far away, you'll miss home, too expensive, you'll be alone. I let that rule me and was miserable thinking about the what ifs.

i di agree with marissa about the perm res visa over temp especially with a kid. You may find you do want to move back to England, but the costs of school, healthcare etc while you're here outweigh the more expensive visa. Just for the security. (Oh and make sure immunisation records for child is up to date- some admin monkey entered all my daughters immunisations on the same day when I changed practice so now she's having mmr, varicella, polio, and hep b again poor soul) didn't realise until day before we left so too late to change it.

No i don't live in Sydney. But I don't need to, if someone has chosen that city out of the whole world as the place they want to call home then they will do it no matter the naysayers.

Of course they will, but (if I understand it correctly), Sara isn't going to Sydney because she loves it better than anywhere else in the world. She's never been anywhere else in Australia, and is scared of going to other cities because she doesn't know them. As a single mum, I'm sure finances will be tough wherever she goes, but they'll be a hell of a lot tougher in Sydney than anywhere else.

We're not telling her she shouldn't come to Australia. We're telling her, come to Australia but please, please choose another city where you can have just as good a lifestyle, but where you'll be able to afford a flat that's close to school and work so you and your son don't have a horrible commute and will see more of each other, you can be closer to the beach, etc. Maybe Melbourne, for instance? :smile:

So if someone has a wish to move to Sydney you see it as your mission in life to talk them out of it.

Another poster this morning wants advice on how to move to Australia (not whether you think they should) but advice on how to do it.

What do they get, the negative spin saying all the reasons why they shouldn't.

Really it is none of anyone's business to tell them what sort of lifestyle they must have, and implore them to choose somewhere else or not go at all.

So if someone has a wish to move to Sydney you see it as your mission in life to talk them out of it..

Yes. I would not recommend any migrant, except young singles, to settle in Sydney unless they have a six figure salary.

She wants to move to Sydney because it's the only city she's visited, not because she's in love with the place. What is wrong with telling her she'll find it much, much easier to live comfortably in Melbourne or Brisbane? What am I supposed to say, "Oh yes, go for it. I'm married with no kids and I can't afford to live there, but who cares if you'll be living in a grotty suburb two hours from the beach and an hour from work, you'll still be happier there than any other city in Australia"?

If a single mum was going to the UK and saying "I''m going to live in London because I've never seen any other city in the UK", I'm sure you'd be concerned and would have advice on nice cities which would be more affordable for her. That's all we're doing.

She could choose any other city in Australia and she'll afford a nicer home in a nicer suburb with access to better schools and closer to work. If she was single I wouldn't be worrying, but with a near-teenage child I'm assuming she cares about the kind of life she can give him, and she'll be able to achieve that more easily somewhere else.

So if someone has a wish to move to Sydney you see it as your mission in life to talk them out of it.

 

Another poster this morning wants advice on how to move to Australia (not whether you think they should) but advice on how to do it.

 

What do they get, the negative spin saying all the reasons why they shouldn't.

 

Really it is none of anyone's business to tell them what sort of lifestyle they must have, and implore them to choose somewhere else or not go at all.

And they should listen to them before they make a massive mistake, people are only giving their honest opinions based on the evidence the poster gives, if they were millionaires everyone would say try it out as you can afford the hit if you dont like it. Those with a lot to lose need to hear the pitfalls with a decision which could have a huge impact on their future lives.

People don't want your opinion. They want specific advice about what they have asked.

If someone asks for advice on how to fulfill their dream of moving to Australia they do not want the usual negative posters telling them they are wrong for wanting to come.

People don't want your opinion. They want specific advice about what they have asked.

 

If someone asks for advice on how to fulfill their dream of moving to Australia they do not want the usual negative posters telling them they are wrong for wanting to come.

Actually the title of the thread 'Am I Mad???!!!' Implies that the OP is not sure it is a good idea.

Actually the title of the thread 'Am I Mad???!!!' Implies that the OP is not sure it is a good idea.

And the poor bloke this morning who asked for specific advice on how to move ?

You put him in his place didn't you GGS.

:mask: Lets not start pointing fingers or getting into having a go at each other. Really, its old, move on.

Hopefully those about to combust will be able to resist the temptation of thumping out something angry/unhelpful/personal and instead go hug a unicorn or sit on a marshmallow cloud.

Or just resist the temptation. Yeah, that.

:yes:

Agreed. When people give an informed and honest opinion on whether it's a good idea or not for a relatively low earner to move to one of the most expensive cities in the world - hardly think it's anti-Australian to suggest more appropriate alternatives