emu

Job market dies down in Dec till mid Jan. You will need time to find a flat etc and register with recruitment agents. Maybe after Xmas would be a good time.

well said! only been there on holidays. It's a small city and you get what comes with a small city. All the natural 'disasters' you mention, people live there and happily they just get used to it. Where else do u have a free pool right on the water front? They make it work. There's things you have to be cautious about but even in England there's things you need to worry about. Just not the animal kind, worst kind. its a great part of the world and see it as a great adventure if you don't like it move again in a few years. Not hard! good luck.

i don't think Melbourne is better then Sydney on the friendly stakes ... I think when we on holiday and more relaxed we tend to talk to more people. I've lived in Adelaide and now Melbourne, if anything Adelaide is more friendly, people are curious to know where u come from. I think it takes time to make friends with Aussies because they set in their own routines and with their old friends. They friendly but not inclusive. I get the part about London where people are coming and going but there's this nuclear group that stays put and keeps welcoming any newbie. Mahout workplace some places are like that. Specially big corporates. Is no excuse that because u there for a few months not to talk or engage with others. That's stupid but some people think like that. I use to work in a building with over 150 people per floor and 20 floors and your next desk colleague won't bother to say hello. Not even a year later ... The excuse was 'too many people ... Can't be bothered ... Tomorrow there will be someone new'!!! Poor form. anyway good luck. It takes forever to make good friends.

Can't answer all, but try The Emigration Group, google them, green logo. Like others said you might have a problem because of your boyfriend. If you qualify for a visa you can become permanent resident and keep French or have dual citizenship.

At the time I had a letter from my employer showing how much I earned so they could see I could afford the property I applied for. Gave mobile number of my manager in case they wanted to double check salary. Still do that. on first rental I gave them a copy of bank statements to show I had savings in case anything happened to my job. yes to say hello to the agent and ask questions, they see many people they won't remember you if you don't approach them. I often say I'm the one with that accent

This made me smile because is true. For Adelaide or Melbourne. Houses have poor insulation and no central heating. Freezing in winter and when we have heat waves is unberably hot. I never been so cold in my life (indoors). Houses in the UK are always warm and toasty. This cold I didn't expect and have to result to electric heating in a few rooms of the house.

I have seen N7 at some good chemists. Google Chemist warehouse and Priceline, they sell ranges for sensitive skin.

They have Priceland and Chemist Warehouse, just google them, but I do miss Boots, never thought I would but the range is so much better. Books are very expensive I normally order it online from the UK on Book depository.

Hi, I can't think of exact items now but here there are no one stop shops the same way we had Argos for example. So sometimes those little things are hard to find. I would not send food items you risk of getting stuck and delaying your shipping and paying fines or fumigation fees (these even can apply to wood items).

Have to agree Melb starting to feel much like London, get up is dark go home is dark, is cold and miserable and winter just started, it feels like it has been like this for months. Hardly had a summer. have to admit I haven't been able to achieve what I thought I would when I moved here, things change too.

Hi, I would avoid St Kilda, it's not safe in the evening. During the day it has lots of tourists and people that go for a walk on the beach but in the evening it has lots of homeless, drunk, druggies and even prostitution. I know quite a few people that didn't stay long there. If you want to be close to it to go for beach walks maybe try Albert park, middle park or Windsor, Prahran and Elwood. All with trams and trains. All inner city are gay friendly and specially Prahran, Windsor, Richmond and South Yarra. If u on any of these suburbs u can jump on the tram or train to go to the beach. Check the trams routes going down Swanston St on CBD they all go along St Kilda rd and to all the suburbs I mentioned apart from Richmond and then go down to the beach.

I understand where you coming from. I know everyone is saying they get paid less and I do too but what you saying is the reality. The rent you mentioned for a 2 bed in a inner city suburb is about right for most suburbs within easy reach. The houses here are cold, very cold! I never been so cold. In England all houses and I lived in some **** places are warm and toasty in winter. Mine today is 12C indoors!!! Of course I have a heater but not in all rooms. Holidays yes it's way too expensive and not all of us are into camping. Been thinking I should see more of Oz but evertime I look at a weekend away it costs almost $1000 if not more. Cheaper going somewhere in Asia! It's hard to make friends and have a community, I only had that in Adelaide and only realised after I left. Maybe try another city but I know it's hard to find work in some areas in smaller places. Adelaide can be quite hard depending what u do for work. I have thought a lot recently if I was better off there? I thought here would be easy to buy a small apartment but prices are insane even for glass fishbowls! I think is important to have our own house even if just for comfort and security. You don't mention a partner, but can your other half also work and contribute? Wish u luck.

Can I ask what type of area you work in? Might be worth contacting an agency but u have to mention up front what visa you on.

I know it sounds frustrating but most people on working holiday visas don't apply for corporate jobs, they do hospitality and farm work. If you not interested in that it will be hard to find work. A suggestion I have is to look for a recruitment agency that places people on temp and contracts. That's probably the only way to get a corporate job. When I got here I had a 3 year visa and could work full time and they were afraid I would leave ... It took me almost a year to get a permanent role and I had to get temp work. Even know that I'm permanent resident they mention often about me leaving or going back ... Anyone can leave independent if they local or not. Good luck.

Go there on a short break and stay on a self service apartment in one of those suburbs I mentioned and u will get a good idea what day to day life would be like. Even on real estate they advertise some short stay. I reckon if u stay in a suburb instead of a hotel in the CBD u will get an idea of what is it like for the locals and if u like the vibe. Is a very relaxed city. Great for families.

Adelaide is a big country town but I'm guessing it has more going on then Canberra. is a slower pace of life and better work life balance is perfect for a family, u can leave in places like Grange, Henley beach, Brighton, Somerton .... Anywhere along the coast is beautiful can be quiet at times, but can't imagine being more quiet then Canberra. Good food and wine country. i moved to Melb and considering moving back, life is more relaxed there and a lot warmer

It's hard with pets, just check on realestate most properties state if they allow pets or not. In theory if carpets is a no, if floorboards they more open to it. But hard still.

Yarraville is a cute suburb with a village feel. If anythjng it could be boring but is close to CBD and on the train line and not far from the beach. Is perfectly safe. It's a nice suburb. Look out for Cobb Lane bakery run by a British baker.

Hi there, sorry to hear about that is very hard these days to meet new people let alone someone you can date. I moved from Adel to Melb thinking it would be easier here but it isn't ... Is probably worst. I got more dates in Adel. Most Aussies are settled with their group of friends that they had forever and don't really branch out. They nice and polite but don't bring u into their groups. I did put myself out there, hate that saying but I did go to meetups, some single meet ups others about interests I have ... I think is tricky and very hard to make friends let alone date.

Hi, not sure what suburbs it refers to ... Do u have names? But those suburbs I'm sure even straight people wouldn't want to live there. Within inner city you fine! Suburbs like Richmond, South Yarra and Prahran have a large gay community. Not sure why but they do and nobody bats an eye lid. It's like in London. I have friends and neighbours that are gay and they can openly talk about it. same goes for most workplaces people are open about it and I never heard of someone being discriminated. there are dodgy suburbs here like everywhere else ... I wouldn't want to leave there or go anywhere near. There are red necks and bogans (Chavs) in every country. Inner-city and you fine or south-East down the Sandringham train line for example.

My understanding is if you leave the company you loose your visa and have to leave the country (I think 28 days) or you can try to get another sponsor but the timeframe to do that is very short. Maybe others know more ...

I haven't worked for Coles but I have colleagues that have and it's not a healthy place to work. They restructure and do redundancies almost every 6 months and it's a very tough and long hours culture. I also worked for another one on the list that was ok ... nothing to write home about They just big companies that have a high turnover of staff that doesn't necessary mean that they a desired company by others. Often people like to have them on their CVs but don't necessarily stay long. Same with Accenture.

Hi, if you do a meetup let me know. Thanks PS- the site meetup.com also has some cool events if you looking to meet new people

Melbourne is on the coast but doesn't feel like a coastal city. People don't go to the beach as they do in Adelaide or Sydney. Can't compare to Perth because I never been. There are some nice beaches like Brighton and Elwood etc but the stunning coastline is quite a few hours drive. Melbourne suits more someone after a city living type of lifestyle. Lots of culture, galleries, markets, all sort of events, cafes etc. There is definitely a café culture.

Your comment about Fitzroy made me smile, that was my first thought when I went there but I realized that the 'run down' look on Brunswick street buildings is a 'cultivated' look. I mean, it is like that because they like it like that and make it look like that ... it's considered one of the trendy inner-suburbs, very hipster. That's why. Is actually quite expensive to live there. If you working for A* you will be ok, there are a lot of people from overseas that move here, so your colleagues will be like minded people. About the CBD, is quite small and even though more people are starting to live in the city very few live in the CBD. Is mostly students, Asian students that live in the city. Most people choose to live in the suburbs. Best to decide later once you and your family is here. You quickly will get a feel for what areas interest you and what you guys like to do.