Chortlepuss

Of course being good is important - but for generic BA, PM, Change Manager roles it's all about contacts. I work for a consultancy that keeps me busy with contracts because I'm reliable and deliver, but mostly because I get on with everyone and they like me. Loads of the work I do is a stretch given my experience. I was referred to them after asking around. Some excellent candidates are passed to us - and if the time is not right they are considered briefly and then rejected. Age discrimination rife here in Oz - advice to keep to last 10-15 years invaluable. Have never got a proper job via agencies despite being constantly praised on the quality of my applications.

Helz you must be on your way! Best of luck with travelling and next stage in your life. Don't be a stranger - those left behind for now need these stories to inspire us!

The market is saturated with high quality candidates at a time when cut backs are starting to bite. Some with niche skills can do well but you need contacts. The skills shortage list always lags behind - I doubt for instance that there is any shortage of business analysts in Australia. I'm afraid immigration is a nice little money spinner for the Govt.

You're nearly at the 'no more Mondays, no more Tuesdays stage' V Jealous but wish you well - and don't be a stranger. These stories of people getting over the fence keep us existing inmates inspired.....

It will be what you make it. Quite a strong work ethic in Sydney compared to Brisbane but be prepared to switch the lights off of you leave at 6pm.

Which city will you be working in? Lots of experience working as consultant/contractor in government in Brisbane and TBH people (even senior positions) work far less hard than in UK public sector and nothing like the hours you'd be working in an investment bank. You may get a boss that requires their pound of flesh, but I suspect you'll find it a comparable breeze workload wise. The politics and infighting are a different thing altogether though, and I am still shocked by the immaturity.

At your age you are very much in demand in Australia - this changes as you get older, so if you're unsure now may be a good time to spend some time here, get your citizenship and keep options open for the future. Once you have kids you are more constrained - and it is very challenging for young mums (and maybe dads) to be away from their support group and network of friends once they have a new baby. If you do have a baby here though it is a good 'in' to friendship groups - but you will miss your family! It's a difficult one but right now you are pretty free to come and go as you wish - as for being selfish, so what? It's your life so go with the flow....

And not in January - If it's anything like Brissie, the job market will be closed for the hols!

in Brisbane would be around 80K - don't know how Victoria differs & not sure what you get extra (if anything) for a doctorate

Too many primary teachers here as year 7's have moved up to secondary so getting a role may be tough. I'd suggest getting a teaching assistant role anywhere, failing that volunteer at your local primary - that will put you front of mind for any vacancies - In Brisbane who you know not what you know is the rule!

Don't desert us entirely fourcorners!!

I really didn't want kids until my early 30's then came over all hormonal and started lusting over the romper suits in baby gap. Shallow I know. I know very many people who have a fulfilled life without kids. It is very tough and so expensive. I think one of the biggest tragedies of rampant house price inflation is the pressure on young couples to have to work full time just to keep a roof over their heads when they have young kids. I worked full time outside the home until my kids were at school as I was the major earner and hubby didn't want to give up his job or cut down. It was absolutely exhausting . I worked out of financial necessity, not ambition or career interest but you learn all about guilt as a mum working full time...... We talk about women's 'right' to work outside the home, and fine if that floats your boat - but I do wish mums (and dads) could have a choice to spend more time with their kids if they want to and not to be forced into this endless grind just to meet mortgage payments.

I did loads of spreadsheets before I had kids until I found some sums to make it work. Lots of things are cheaper - It's expensive going to work, commuting, buying work gear. You won't be going out for about 10 years - think of how much you'll save in pub visits!! We couldn't afford it really but at aged 32 I thought bugger it I'm not getting any younger and went for it anyway...

Same with BA's... maybe just an oversupply of people in the market?

Very informative, thanks. We are heading back to UK in 2016 but will not have retired. My hubbie can get a sabbatical for his Oz job for up to 3 years. By then he'll be able to cash in his Australian super, so we are considering the possibility of returning to Oz after 3 years, working a year or so and then cashing in the super and retiring....back to UK Alternative is to let the super run and then just have it paid from Australia (and we'll have to pay UK income tax). It's not easy!!

I'd appreciate knowing more about this too! There's a fortune to be made by clued up financial advisors in guiding all us boomers through the best options....

Good skill set . Only know Brisbane market but I wouldn't think you'd struggle.

Son has to finish final year of school and I want to return in spring time so I don't go back to a UK winter. Terrified of pingponging and husband whingeing

I really shouldn't be reading this thread - Good luck to all departing - 15 Months for me at least :frown:

you'd be super lucky to get BA work outside a major city - especially as a contractor. BA rates in Brisbane $500-$700 per day.

Rates for BAs/change managers around the $600-$800 Mark in Brisbane. Technical skills (Java, anything with 'architect' in name at top of that range and more...Haven't noticed any silly rates but assume experienced SAP professionals still earning shed loads. Fewer jobs these days but a number of Govt roles around and set to grow with Govt reform (all procurement experts could name their price I'd guess). I thought Sydney/Melbourne more roles and better rates - is this not so?

Wow - $700 for Sydney - that's poor - have you considered hitching up to a consultancy as an associate? In Brisbane at least, clients always seem much happier to pay $1200-$1400 for a consultant than $800 directly to the contractor - Not just for short term gigs too. Having said that we were seeing rates of $500-$700 last year for BA/Change Management and these seem to have risen by $100-$200, more for senior gigs....

absolutely concur. I changed my resume to hide the fact I'm in my 50's and saw a real upturn in interest. I found it so hard to get roles as a contractor as even if I managed to get an interview (BA/Change management) was constantly told I was 'too experienced', 'would get bored easily' had 'more experience than the program manager' etc etc... I was lucky enough to find a consultancy that loved my experience and am now pretty much employed full time via them - Clients are really pleased when an older person turns up in a consultancy role.... It works for you not against you, and the Brisbane market seems much happier paying a consultancy $1500/$2000 a day for a resource than engaging someone with the same skills directly for half that rate.

It is hard to describe just how appalling the driving is here in Qld. Undertaking and tailgating are two of the things that scare me most. You can't take refuge in the 'slow' lane, there is no escape from people sitting on your @rse. Leave a decent gap on the motorway and someone will just squeeze into it like you're breaking some kind of rule. Inevitable crashes when it rains as Queensland drivers can't cope with driving it the wet (just as well we only get light showers here - eh) When we went back to the UK for a holiday the M25 in rush hour seemed like the embodiment of courtesy and control. If the Qld police ever decided to reinforce laws for poor driving instead of just concentrating on speeding, they would earn a fortune and we'd all be a lot safer.

I am sure it will be a fruitful one. By all accounts, I have been told the market in Sydney and Melbourne is substantially more professional than Brisbane, and it is a much larger pond. Whilst I agree with you that IT project skills should transcend geographic location, my experience is that the market in Oz (particularly Brisbane) is more 'relationship' based than competency based. So people with great skills can be passed over for others with fewer skills and experience - and while this can happen everywhere, I have found selection of candidates can be quite shocking. For instance my friend who is a senior BA with exposure to PM wanted to apply for a junior PM role but was told not to apply as the role was going to the project admin assistant (with no project management experience) who was a mate of the program manager. This is not an isolated example! I joined a project as a change manager where the project manager had just left as he 'was having difficulties compiling a project plan' This guy (a close friend of the program manager had been in role for a year at $1K per day and was struggling to produce a project plan for a pretty small scale project! I can't think of a single project in the UK that I've worked on where he wouldn't have been sacked within a few weeks. Certificates count for a great deal here - As a change manager with 10+ years solid experience in change and no formal change qualifications, I frequently lose out to much more junior candidates with a few month's to a couple of years experience, especially if they've got a shiny new change methodology certificate. Often I'm told 'don't bother applying, you've got more experience than the program manager so you won't be considered'. In the UK this wasn't an issue, I worked for some pretty senior people who certainly wouldn't be put off by experience, here it's culturally very different and senior people seem to be threatened by competency and experience far more easily. The reason that I suggested management consultancy if you do encounter difficulties with getting a job (and chances are that you won't) is that consultancies here seem to be headed up by experienced people who appreciate your skills and are only too happy to snap you up (and work you like a dog in the case of the larger ones).