Canada2Australia

1 hour ago, Eera said:

I'm in geotech and enviro consultancy as well, do a fair bit with TMR so I'll probably see you around the tracks somewhere!

 

Where are you based?

18 hours ago, Eera said:

With the affordability thing, Mackay is on the cusp of another big upswing in housing prices: there's been a dramatic downturn in vacancies for rentals particularly.  We always say we pay over the odds for stuff because of the "mining tax" - the assumption that everyone's working out west and has spare cash to burn.

I don't know what industry you're in but I've seen friends who appear trapped a bit in Cairns - the jobs market seems to be quote small from what they've said, and to progress they've been forced to move out of town.  however, if you're within a company structure that might not be a major concern for you.

Enjoy the glorious winter weather here, it must be really cold for you compared with Darwin!

I'm in the environment consulting industry, and all the big (and some of the small) players are in all three cities. I'm also working on secondment for QLD Transport and Main Roads, so I'm making connections there as well. All in all, I feel like I have real security in the job security and backup plans out in FNQ, and it's certainly higher and more plentiful than in Darwin or all of the NT combined!

10 hours ago, Parley said:

I do like Mackay.

Right on. 

So I will be moving to Mackay by the end of the year. I will be able to work with the team here for up to a year,  and then have the option of moving to Cairns. So I can have the best of both worlds if I so choose.

I feel very blessed to be part of a company that is bending over backwards to cater my desires. I've never had that experience with an employer before, and I must say it's a refreshing change! 

6 minutes ago, The Pom Queen said:

I’ve lived in Cairns and Townsville,  I’ve children in both, I’ve visited Mackay.

My favourite is hands down Cairns. You say it’s a tourist trap but unless you live on the front or do the tourist attractions  you won’t ever see any. 

‘If my Health was perfect I’d be back to Cairns tomorrow 

‘What you need to consider is employment opportunities, Cairns will have the least chance of work

Yeah I have been thinking about that. However there are quite a few businesses in my industry up in Cairns. In all three cities actually. It doesn't concern me at this point, but perhaps down the road may become an issue depending if my situation changes. That's the risk of living in smaller, remote cities I guess.

4 minutes ago, MARYROSE02 said:

As a champion ditherer and sufferer from "choice anxiety", I recommend thinking of it as "three right choices." More practically, maybe spend a couple of weeks in each town and see which "grabs" you. I have never been north of Gympie. After two recent trips to the Gold Coast with no preconceived ideas, I liked Surfers Paradise, liked Broadbeach even more, did not like Southport, Coolangatta or Tweed Heads. It was purely subjective.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Paradox_of_Choice

I am currently in Mackay right now, and will likely be on secondment here until the end of the year. And I do like it quite a bit, but I'm still feeling Cairns as a slight edge, and would be better for suited for my lifestyle.

I probably am acting rather anxious and panicked, simply because I've been wanting this for so long and want ro make the right choice.

That site has been dead for over a year. No one seems to post there anymore. I wonder if there is another site that acts as it's equivalent.

Okay, so I'm about to have a meeting regarding my relocation from Darwin to one of these three cities (Yay!). These are the three options. Townsville, which is my favourite out of all three, is the least likely to happen unfortunately, so it's more realistically between Cairns and Mackay. I've spent some time in Cairns (seversl weeks) and Mackay (several months). I have far more connections in Mackay, but like Cairns more overall. Mackay is a regular blue-collar working town (which I like), but it's far less connected to the world by air (which could be a problem for me when travelling being such a milkrun community). Cairns is much more accessable and has more things to do,  but is also an annoying tourist trap, I'm aware. Mackay might also be more affordable.

Ugh, this is so crazy. I want to finally pick a spot I can settle down for good, but I'm torn. Again, I prefer Cairns, but Mackay as has appeal. 

Just curious to see what anyone else who has experience living in either or both cities think. Or which would anyone choose if these were their options.

Cheers

4 minutes ago, KrisG said:

Been waiting too. 17 months

30 January 2018 I applied (Darwin). 
19 July 2018 - took the test and asked to submit 1399
To date: Nothing - status is still "Received"
Wife has the same timeline except after exams she got the approval 2-3 days after.

I am not sure if it is because I was born in Iran and grew up in the Philippines, so that means I am from an LR country(Philippines) who was born in an HR country(Iran)

 

Also read from whirlpool posted by Aus0000

 

Run,  run far away as fast as you can.

So happy to read all these wonderful stories about being home for good. Congrats to you all and best of luck on your journeys!

Happy that you are happy being back home

2 hours ago, Toots said:

I worked on a large ranch just outside San Luis Obispo, California.  It was a well paid job and I was given a little furnished cottage rent free and gas and electricity was paid by my boss.  This was in the early 70's.  When the mares were foaling I worked a 7 day week and long hours but I loved it.  I was also lucky enough to travel over a lot of the USA when yearlings were delivered to buyers.  It was a happy time in my life but at the end of a couple of foaling seasons I was ready to leave.

Overall people are treated like grunt minions down there,  and more and more companies are choosing not to pay overtime,  especially in my industry. If a company in my industry in Canada had the same mentality,  they would have no employees left. We are treated quite well in Canada. I would say Australia falls in the middle of the two countries, perhaps slightly closer to Canadian standards, and I can live with that as a minimum. 

Not completely on topic,  but I'm very happy to read all these positive stories about those returning home to the UK. 

When I joined this forum going on 5 years ago now (wow time flys!), there was so much negativity, even outright hatred, towards the UK,  and I never understood how people from a desirable first world country/region could despise their homeland so much, and for some very petty reasons like weather. I mean, I could understand the sentiment if they were American (haha! ) 

Anyways,  I'm glad to see that not all Poms are that toxic towards their home. 

Good luck with the move and all the best! 

On 25/07/2019 at 17:20, Ladok said:

Hi all,

For upcoming 491 visa, what does skilled partner exactly mean?

In which list(s) occupations should match? 

- long term/short term/ROL - OK

- Same territory list as well? I have heard 491 occupations will have one list(?) for all territories. Is it so? 

- Skills assessment providers should match as well (for both, applicant and partner)? 

What else have to be considered not to looses 10 points?

 

thanks 

What country are you from? 

14 hours ago, MARYROSE02 said:

That's an interesting point. I don't know why I came to Australia and, frustratingly, whilst I started a diary in 1978, the year I left, I never wrote down the reasons, not for better weather, nor a better job,  or better lifestyle. I think it was just to have an adventure, the only one I've really had.

Perhaps when you make the decision to come to Australia it subtly changes your mindset from being perfectly happy in the UK to "having" to make that move; you can't go back. Well, you can of course and I did, for a while.

I'm a member of two Facebook groups, both rooted in nostalgia, one for my local village in England and the other in Sydney, and I enjoy them equally. But ultimately, I live here in Sydney.

For me,  I came here through an opportunity arising from work; a chance to live an work in another part of the world and have a bit of an adventure while I was at it. I didn't come for a better quality of life as I come from a country that is generally rated on par or slightly higher than Australia globally in terms of quality of life (both being higher than the US which is all that matters!  Haha). I see it as a lateral move for myself and I honestly don't know if I will stay forever. At a minimum,  I will obtain citizenship in a year or two and see what happens.  

My ultimate dream is to spend time between both countries, but I don't know how practical that would actually be simply because of the geographical distance between Canada and here. I'll likely have to choose one over the other,  which is a bit sad for me, but I'm not getting any younger! Either way,  I have 2 countries I love passionately that I can call home,  and I feel very blessed by that! 

BTW,  I had a few opportunities to move to the US for work and had considered it,  but when I researched what the working conditions where like down there,  where you ultimately become slave labour and are not paid appropriately for that, I decided against accepting those offers, and am now very thankful that I did. 

I also have the ability to obtain my UK citizenship through a commonwealth ancestral visa scheme,  but would have to uproot myself again to go live and work there for a minimum of 5 years before I could get citizenship,  and at this stage in my life I don't really want to do that. Had I known about this when I was younger, I likely would have pursued that opportunity and adventure,  but I think I'm good with where I'm at in my life now. One day I will make it out to England and visit my relatives there 

Rugby is gaining popularity throughout Canada. Cricket is slowly catching on as well,  thanks to UK and East Indian immigration. My home city in Winnipeg just built two new permanent cricket pitches in Parc La Berriere (La Berriere Park)  

Im pretty sure any English speakimg nation will allow residents with valid licences from other English speaking nations to hire cars without needing international licences. 

If you are from a coutry where English is not the main language, then I think it's not as easy.

11 minutes ago, Toots said:

As I have said all along, the Australian media (especially those rubbish commercial TV channels) is simply the pits.  Always has been and probably always will be. 

Compared to the garbage that the US spews globally (and is forceably shoved down our throats en masse back home thanks to our pro-American CRTC),  I would say Aussie and Canadian media are a realistic dream, regardless if people clamour about it being "not as good as 'Murca!"

I am thankful for that. 

22 minutes ago, Dusty Plains said:

Darwin can be a tough place to live, even though it suits many people, I found that it was not for me.  The main issue I encountered was the oppressive tropical climate.  I spent a short time there in 1999 when the UN moved in to town, during the strife in East Timor. You are right, Darwin has a society that is markedly transient and has largely become a military town.  Darwin is a "Fort Apache" outpost, just as Canada has outposts with all the same issues, 

I could live in Darwin if the climate was more ameanable, I think you will be happier in QLD

 

Darwin is essentially the Fort McMurray of Australia in terms of a boom bust, natural resource based economy, overwhelmingly transient population, remoteness, high men to women ratio because of its natural resource based economy, and exclusive mentality. It's a very undesirable place for many upon many reasons. The only thing I like and will miss regarding the NT is the outback. It's filled with beautiful landscapes and outdoor recreational opportunities, which is my bread and butter. However,  it's not enough to keep me there any longer. 

It's not the climate that bothers me the most; it's the people there I want to get away from. 

Thought I would post a previous comment her as well since the subject matter is fairly similar:

I can relate to the feelings being shared in this thread.

I've been in Australia for 3.5 years now,  living in Darwin. I too enjoy the lifestyle but have struggled to make any long-lasting deep connections. I have one or two good Aussie friends,  but that's it. Now I also think the big part of the problem is Darwin itself. It's a very different world up here compared to anywhere else. It's very transient,  exclusive and disingenuous in nature. It's a place where people escape to when they want to escape from their problems. "Locals" are hesitant to commit to making long-lasting friendships with outsiders because chances are they will depart in a short period of time, so why bother making the effort.

I have just come out of a two-year clinical depression, mostly because of my isolation in Darwin and the horrible dealings I've had with people here. The good news is that I just received my PR so that has perked me up a little. So I've had discussions with my company and there is potential for a relocation to QLD,  where I've spent much time working and made some connections already. I'm going to give that a shot and see if things change. If not,  when I get my citizenship, I will re-evaluate my situation. I'm hesitant to write off my experience in Australia because of Darwin (a place that most people would never want to live in anyways), which I don't believe is an accurate representation of the Aussie population, but rather a bizarre and unappealing cohort. 

Australia and Canada (my two favourite countries ) have a lot in common. We are both young, multicultural, large, sparsely populated, natural resource-based countries that have similar mindsets due to being commonwealth countries. They are also two of the most popular destination countries that immigrants would do anything to call their new home. I feel more at home here than I ever could just over an hour away across the border from where I grew up (The US, they really are a different breed down there).  

I'm excited for a change and I love QLD. So I will give that a try and see how it goes. I will always be a passionate Canadian and would definitely go back if it were the right move for me. So all in all, I don't feel like I would lose out either way if I stay or go back home. I'm extremely lucky to call these two top tier countries my home. It's a win-win situation 

13 hours ago, starlight7 said:

I haven’t found that people dislike British people but I have come across tons of people who can’t stand Americans. Must be the people I mix with I guess.

Yes. Was just about to post a similar response. 

I can relate to the feelings being shared in this thread.

I've been in Australia for 3.5 years now,  living in Darwin. I too enjoy the lifestyle but have struggled to make any long-lasting deep connections. I have one or two good Aussie friends,  but that's it. Now I also think the big part of the problem is Darwin itself. It's a very different world up here compared to anywhere else. It's very transiant,  exclusive and disingenuous in nature. It's a place where people escape to when they want to escape from their problems. "Locals" are hesitant to commit to making long-lasting friendships with outsiders because chances are they will depart in a short period of time, so why bother making the effort.

I have just come out of a two-year clinical depression, mostly because of my isolation in Darwin and the horrible dealings I've had with people here. The good news is that I just received my PR so that has perked me up a little. So I've had discussions with my company and there is potential for a relocation to QLD,  where I've spent much time working and made some connections already. I'm going to give that a shot and see if things change. If not,  when I get my citizenship, I will re-evaluate my situation. I'm hesitant to write off my experience in Australia because of Darwin (a place that most people would never want to live in anyways), which I don't believe is an accurate representation of the Aussie population, but rather a bizarre and unappealing cohort. 

Australia and Canada (my two favourite countries :)) have a lot in common. We are both young, multicultural, large, sparsely populated, natural resource-based countries that have similar mindsets due to being commonwealth countries. I feel more at home here than I ever could just over an hour away across the border from where I grew up (The US, they really are a different breed down there).  

I'm excited for a change and I love QLD. So I will give that a try and see how it goes. I will always be a passionate Canadian and would definitely go back if it were the right move for me. So all in all, I don't feel like I would lose out either way if I stay or go back home. It's a win-win situation 

What kind of education does one require to become a retail buyer? I find it intriguing that this kind of profession is one that the government is willing to import foreigners to fill the role.

Why don't you just inquire with Vetasess themselves, directly? 

19 minutes ago, ramot said:

Google the Duke of Clarence and the Lord Dudley both in Sydney. The D of C has sourced almost everything from UK to make it as authentic as possible, serves good beer apparently, I don’t drink beer, good pub grub and a daily roast.

Yeah,  I've been to the Lord Dudley. There are a couple in Canada as well. They are nice, but none of them feel as authentic as any that you find in England. Nothing will ever compare to the real authentic pub.

Yeah,  those are so cool. Only in the UK!