Bibbs

This is a problem. People move to "Perth", live in the 'burbs an hour out of the city and then complain it's boring. There is always something on, if you are open to it. In the last few weeks I've been the the V8SuperCars, AFL (I'm a season ticket holder), the beach (several times a week), walks along the river, out for coffee, to a few local micro-brewery bars, a cider house, a winery, a few pubs. Had a friends party (only adults) in a cricket club. Been to the cinema for some art films. Eaten out at a few great restaurants, been on a motorsport trackday. I've also had to skip other things like concerts, motorsport events, country drives in the hills etc. due to date clashes. To be honest, I'm shattered. But standing at the end of your driveway looking out for things to do, you'll get bored pretty quick. Perth is a little sterile, but for me that's nice for 'home'. When I want something else, I'll go on holiday (I've just spent 3 weeks in Europe doing exactly that).

It used to be like that. Not anymore. Very visible Police activity now makes it quite safe. Which is a shame, as it's also lost a bit of it's edge and vibe because of this.

For me, at the moment, yes. Better work, less commuting, more pay, more affordable houses, better social life, better outdoor life, cheaper hobbies. I've just come back from a break in the UK, and I'm not sure I could live there again. Not for the moment anyway. But you have to suit Australia, not every one does.

Australia isn't setup like this. It's closer to the USA with suburbs. I know of nowhere like the Thames Valley (having lived in the area for 20ish years). Currently doing IT in Perth.

Was going to say the same. I know a lot of degree qualified mechanical / industrial engineers. Ones with good experience are finding new jobs when they lose theirs, but the newly qualified are struggling.

The Swan Pub in Pangbourne. Obviously not been in 5/6 years, but it used to be nice on a summers day to watch the world go by. Aberystwyth Harbour. Lovely place (outside of term time) to unwind. Great driving roads into the town.

"no Australia experience" = "we don't like you, but want to let you down easy". I was a developer with a Degree and 10 years experience (5 in UNIX, 5 in Microsoft). Took me 4 weeks to realise recruitment agents are rubbish, and then 2 weeks to DIY the hunt and get a few offers. Went for a .NET / SQL role having never used either too heavily. Been here 5 years now. Also consider contracting. Means the companies can get rid of you easier, which makes them happier to take a risk.

Is 6000 a month before, or after tax? Does that exclude Super? What sort of lifestyle do you lead? I have a spreadsheet with all my standard expenses (just bills) and it comes to $5k a month. So then throw food, drink, socialising, holidays etc. on top. That's just me, no kids.

Oh, just to add, "an hour" doesn't really get your far. I used to Commute from Reading to Hungerford and back, was at least 30mins each way. More like an hour if you got the time wrong. I've also commuted across Reading, and that used to be 25mins. And I've done Fleet to Reading and back, and that was 45mins. These were all a while ago now, and friends in the area say it's got a lot worse of late.

Lived (kinda) in the area for 20 years. There are nice villages around Reading (and then you have to transport infrastructure that goes with it). Pangbourne, Henley to the west/north .. Finchampstead, Hartley Whitney to the south. Thatcham is nice, some areas of Newbury are too (Ball Hill) and the A34 is easy to use to get to the M4. Some areas of Wokingham are nice (and some not so) and Ascot. I also lived in Fleet for a while, just off the M3. There are some nice areas in the suburbs too - Church Crookham, Hook. Avoid Bracknell, Basingstoke, inner-Reading, Aldershot, Slough.

Long link here :- http://www.pomsinoz.com/forum/jobs-careers/153785-field-thread.html

So it's not the country, it's being stranded in a remote location. You are sat at home all day with no company apart from children. I'd suggest :- 1. Get a new car 2. Get the kids into day care 3. Get a job and start being social. Anywhere in the world will be a nightmare if you do nothing but sit at home.

Scarbs is fine if you know what you are doing. If you are not a good swimmer, go to Cott. It's more heavily patrolled too ..

Usually because one goes to work, speaks to locals, makes friendships and starts to integrate and make a new life and a new home. The other is at home, meets no-one new, feels alone with constant Skype calls "back home" and resents the new life the first is creating.

The refunds I got from any 12 month contracts, were greater than the costs in Aus. Car insurance as an example was 700 GBP x2, and in Aus was 300 AUD. So I made a 'profit'. We packed our furniture that we wanted to keep, and binned/sold the stuff we didn't. We packed crockery/cutlery/bedding etc. We also bought new stuff which we would have done anyway. Migration can be done very cheap, if you are willing. It's also why I've not got any long-term contracts here, in case I decide next month that Canada or the US looks attractive. I don't understand why people would sign a 24 month deal for a mobile phone.

But it's not true. For every bond in Aus, you should have a return of a bond in the UK. For or every mobile contract in Aus, is one you don't pay in the UK. Even for the car purchase at the Aus end, you should have car sales at the UK end. I only added that due to the large difference between car costs. I had a holiday to Bali, I wouldn't have done that if I was in the UK, should I add that too? What about my divorce? I recon that wouldn't have happened in the UK either? That's another cost then?

But .. UK mobile = Aus mobile, Sky = Foxtel, UK insurance = Aus insurance. Food is food. It's not like you'd not have these costs if you stayed in the UK. If you are thinking of migrating, why would you sign up to a 12/24 month contract for anything? In the last year of living in the UK every bill I had slowly got swapped to a month-2-month bill so there were no fees.

5 weeks with a friend till I got work.

You don't need any of that early on. It was all sorted once settled. That money came out of the the first pay cheque. So it wasn't a 'migration' cost, but 'living' costs. Why would I add the cost of extra furniture (from a 2 bed UK house to a 4 bed Aus house) or 2 expensive cars? Or insurance I didn't need or get? I did pay friends, but only a few months after I'd moved out. And it was a few hundred dollars to cover bills.

Long term, yes!

Doesn't have to be expensive. The biggest expense since moving, has been a divorce.

Strangely, I work in IT, and I'd rather speak to someone. I've booked appointments via email, and then just walked in.

x2 Adults Shipping = 2200 GBP Flights = 1100 GBP Cheap car = 7000 AUD That was it. Stayed with friends till there were two pay cheques coming in (5 weeks). Then moved into a rental. Bought missing furniture, then got a better car.

Because I've needed to go in and :- Change my Business savings account Remortgage a house Open a joint account Change my household insurance type Closing 3 personal accounts and a credit card, and then re-opening 2 accounts All required signatures and speaking to an actual person. All were done immediately and didn't require me waiting for email/post and returning forms. Having one close means you can pop in at lunch and get stuff done.

Find out where you will be working, and pick the one closest to the office. Any of the "big 4" is fine.