Australia Trade Connect

When I look back on the amount we lived on as a family of five when my husband was a mechanic and how much more we earn compared to 20 years ago when we first arrived in Australia. There is no doubt that the cost of living has got more expensive but with that salaries have increased. I wonder if our lifestyle just changes the more we earn and we tend to spend up. When I arrived I remember the treat was taking my boys to McDonalds for $2 meal deals, now we eat out a lot more and my very large boys still expect mum and dad to pay and it is a lot more than the $2 meal deals. Not that I am complaining I love my lifestyle and what I do know is so long as you have enough to live on and pay the bills life can be pretty good here. There is no doubt not having enough money to live on would make you miserable no matter where you live in the world. I think the link is very helpful for people to work out there own expenses but the reality is until you are here you will not know how much you are going to spend but a lot of Australians will be on similar salaries and they survive so it is all about being careful at least in the beginning. I do think some people expectations are very high and that can make the move difficult. When my mother was short of money it meant she had to make soup for dinner as there wasn't enough money to buy meat. I have heard some people complain of not having enough money because they can't afford two cars or a holiday that is a bit different! Speaking from experience I wouldn't miss my somewhat poor days as we spent a lot of time having fun without spending money and again Australia is the best place to do that. Well I think I might stop at McDonalds on the way home for an ice-cream as I haven't done that for years. Christine

Congratulations! I am so pleased for you and I am sure Perth will benefit from you and Mini Me being added to their community, from my experience the people who do it tough but are determined really contribute well to the country. I truly wish you all the success for the future and look forward to hearing how you are getting on. All the best Christine

If I was you I would look at why you are coming to Australia, if it is to earn a lot more money it is unlikely it will happen at least in the beginning. Most people move for the lifestyle. It can be cheaper to live in Australia if you have children as there are so many things you can do with children that don't involve paying out a lot of money. It isn't as easy in the UK having to go to the cinema or play centres due to the weather. It is also similar in the UK when choosing areas to live, if you live in the centre of any major city, the houses will be small or apartment style and expensive. I live about 45 mins from Melbourne and the houses are much bigger and less expensive. There are good areas in Sydney that are less expensive about 45mins - 1hour away.I go back to the UK every year and find that mostly the cost of living is the same, some things are cheaper some dearer, the difficulty is when you try and work out the exchange rates it can seem more expensive but when you live and work here you will find you stop working out the exchange rate. I hope you are really happy living in Sydney it is a great city.

In all of the jobs I worked in I always got on with the people. I started a new job in the bank when I first arrived in Australia and one of the older women was terrible. I would hear her talking about me and there was nothing I could do or say that would please her. I decided after a few weeks to confront her and ask her if I was doing something wrong. She said no and all of a sudden she started including me in her conversations. She eventually became a friend and I realised that she had worked in the same job for over 20 years and someone young and new starting intimidated her. She did the same every time we had a new staff member but I told them all to ignore her and after a few weeks she would come round which she always did. You can't always change someone else's behaviour but you can change the way you react to that behaviour. I would suggest you don't try to make her like you and you just get on with the job and show her she doesn't bother you but if she does snap or throw stuff at you I would take notes and ensure that you answer her politely but firmly. She isn't worth losing your visa over and she probably is a bit jealous of you especially if you are well liked.

Can I ask why you want to return to the UK and still retain your PR

Hi to all the Spray Painters out there who are seeking a career in Australia If you have a real pride in your work as a car or truck spray painter and love your job, we have a large employer network in most states in Australia that are keen to employ the right people; not only who are highly skilled but have a real desire to start a new lifestyle in Australia If you are really interested in moving to Australia and you are confident in your own abilities please send me your CV You will have at least six years experience in the industry and will be one of the higher paid due to your abilities The employer is interviewing throughout November

If you are looking for places to live in Melbourne, I would suggest you look at two areas, one the Mornington Peninsula which is great and point cook both areas are great for young families and have a lot to offer, depending on where the work is they are about 30-45 mins from the city and the rental house prices are reasonable. I have lived in Melbourne for 23 years so I know a bit about the different areas

I moved to Melbourne 23 years ago and I am lucky I love living here. I have known a lot of people in that time who have got home sick and moved back. The majority of them have said it was the wrong decision to go back but some people really couldn't stand being away from their family and they needed to go home. I have gone back to the UK every year for the last ten years for work and I have seen a lot of changes in the UK and in Australia. I really love where I was brought up in Scotland but have never regretted moving to Australia as it was the right place for me to bring up my family. We are very fortunate that both countries are good places to live. My advice is look at where you think the best opportunities are going to be in the future for your family. I would also recommend giving it a bit longer if you can as most people take at least a year to settle properly. If you do go back don't think of it as a failure as the experiences you have had will still make a difference and it is always better to have tried it and found out that it wasn't the right place for you than to wonder later in life. Whether your future is in Australia or the UK I wish you all the best for your future

I think there are a lot of great places to live in Australia. I agree that you should try and get cheap airfares and take a bit of a holiday to Melbourne before making the move. Having a holiday is not the same as living in a place but it will give you a good idea. Having only been in Perth for a relatively short time I would also make sure it is not that you are just feeling a bit home sick as you will feel that no matter where you are living. In my experience people take anywhere from one to two years to really settle into the Australian way of life. I also have known many people jump on a plane back home to the UK only to realise that it was a mistake and then it does cost them a lot of money. I moved to Melbourne from Scotland 23 years ago and I am very happy living there. My son moved to Perth and I think if my husband had originally got a job in Perth we would have been happy living there as well but I do understand when you feel a bit out of sorts and it is important that you are happy where you are living

We are looking for experienced panel beaters in most states in Australia preferably in the accident repair industry. Australia Trade Connections work for a large network of employers in the automotive industry If you have at least 6 years experience and are prepared to move to Australia within a 6 month time frame please contact me at christine@atcjobs.com.au for more information or go to atcjobs.com.au Interviews being conducted in November apply now with your CV, ensuring you include your age, family members, time frame and if you have any preference for a particular area in Australia Hopefully we can help make the move to Australia a bit easier for you. I moved from Scotland 23 years ago and I love living in Australia