evets

For Admin jobs, your salary will probably be on the low end of the scale. What does your partner do, hopefully that would bump you a fair bit? Rentals, esp 4 bed house, you will find to be pretty expensive unless you are prepared for a long(er) commute. Have you taken a look to see what your budget will get you and how far out you are willing to live. Do you have a budget in mind, as people could comment on locations to look at? While the job market is definitely better in Melbourne and Sydney, competition is still tough and may not be as easy as you hope. Depending on what your partner does and how much they think they could get, Sydney could probably be out of your price range. I would search domain.com.au, to get an idea of the properties and how much you could afford first. Since you have children, this some what complicates things as you would not like to disrupt them too much by moving areas and then re-schooling them. As such, I would find an area you would like to live in first, then tackle the job market. As for living, Melbourne is a nice city, lots to do, good public transport during the day and at rush hour(not great late at night, but not bad). Lots of changes happening of late, far too many small apartments being built. Weather from what I understand is not that much different from Adelaide. My first visit to Australia was spent in Sydney, loved it. Now I have been back and lived in Melbourne and visited Sydney, gotta say Melbourne wins hands down. Yes Sydney maybe have the beaches and weather, but as a city it does not compare. You have to take into account how much your budget will stretch, as in Sydney you may find you cannot afford to live within a reasonable distance to the beach to make the most of it.

So true, unless you plan to work on Neighbours or Home and Away. A large majority of Aussies actors look to move to America if they want a chance at a successful career.

Coming home depending on what station you get on in the CBD will determine how easy it is to get a seat. Melbourne has this interesting concept called the city loop. It still confuses me to this day, depending on the time of day or the weekend. Your train will start at Flinders Street and go round the loop or go direct to Richmond. At rush hour coming home, I believe it starts at Flinders street and works it's way round all the stops before hitting Richmond, by the time it gets to Parliament the train can/will be pretty full. https://www.ptv.vic.gov.au/ Will give you a good idea of travel times and the city loop. Another thing to note is Early Bird train travel, is you will not be charged for your travel at 7am, as it is before 7:15am(weekdays only): https://www.ptv.vic.gov.au/tickets/myki/myki-money/ Since you are coming in November, this year I assume, be aware of the rail works on the Cranbourne and Pakenham line: http://levelcrossings.vic.gov.au/crossings/caulfield-to-dandenong This will add to your journey until the works are completed which is a few years away, but such a welcomed change.

I agree but was trying to be somewhat optimistic. My company laid off a large number of staff all across Australia earlier this year, with the focus on cheaper cost centres to cover these roles. Based on some other forums I use, the job market is pretty saturated especially in the world of IT, accountancy and grad jobs to name a few. People in the UK are sold this dream of Australia, mcmansion on your own 1/4 acre of land, swimming pool, sunshine. The reality is really far from that especially in Sydney or Melbourne, unless you have a ton of equity already. Australia seems to be a ticking time bomb at the moment. High cost centre for many international companies due to the high wages here compared to other countries.

From what I understand would not say grim, well yet, but would not say entirely great, believe the same also would apply to Brisbane and Adelaide. I think it all really depends on what you do or would be prepared to do. Sydney or Melbourne which appear to be the most buoyant markets, but people still struggling to find work, and I see lots of people from Perth, Brisbane and Adelaide considering moving due to them finding it difficult finding work in there field. The SOL is also a little misleading with roles listed which are already have far too many applicants and should be removed. If you have your citizenship and get security clearance, then there is always Canberra which oddly has the highest paying jobs.

Yep security clearance will require citizenship, which is a few years away from you once you arrive in Oz. I do wish you the best of luck but the job market here sucks at the moment, you could be lucky with your background and being a mature student(then again that means you will be more expensive than a fresh grad). I do not know what your line of work is exactly so cannot comment truthfully. Just review as much as you can and work out what may work for you. Are you set on WA or prepared to look at other states for the interim to gain some local experience and watch how the job market progresses? Is there a possibility that Siemens would/could transfer you or at least have a job offer open in WA for you?

As mentioned, where are you moving from. Your child is probably in a important time of his education. Depending on the country and how the education system compares he could be stepped up or moved backups. Then you have to consider Uni fees. You have not mentioned what city you are planning or looking to move to. Graduate positions after qualifying may not be as easy as you think, all depends on what he wants to study. But times are tough for graduates, too many and not enough roles to fill. As Nemisis mentioned, you may have left it to late and you need to investigate that. You also need to review the job market in Australia, as times are getting tougher here. You will probably be ok as you can be flexible but your hubby may struggle in his field. This could be crap and your hubby scores an excellent job in a great city.

Hey Stevej, Was not going to add to this thread as do not work in this industry. But I am in the process of selling up and relocating to Toronto, job market is tough here all round and I work in IT but is affecting a lot of industries. One of the items I was selling a Chinese guy turned up who was also a Mech Eng graduate, albeit not Masters but did not ask so cannot confirm. He is trying to find to work in Melbourne and also saying how tough it is here, then again he is on a 457 visa which makes it harder due to the 6 month time constraint. He has just finished a 6 month contract and not hopeful how quick he may land the next one, if at all. Perth is on a bit of a downturn at present, the mining boom has died and really Sydney, most promising, and Melbourne may offer you more work and maybe even Queensland. This is just based on some forums that are populated by mainly locals and not immigrants. I can send you a PM as had the link removed once due to seeming I am promoting it. Unsure why, as people come to forums to find out advice and if another forum provides more advice, then why not provide the link. Just do not get your hopes up that finding a job will be plain sailing. The masters may help, but you are a recent graduate from it and have no work experience from gaining it.

Another thing to consider, is the climates in NSW, VIC and ACT if traveling through winter time. Would not like to be sleeping in a camper van. Spring, summer and early autumn would be good times.

Agreed. One apartment block I lived in, block of 6, my unit right between the 5 and could hear all the neighbours from going to the toilet, chopping vegetables in the kitchen many other things!

I too found that odd. I guess it has to do with the poor quality housing. The old art deco buildings are great in the summer, as very cool but in winter they feel like ice boxes. The newer build I am in at present, say built last 20 or 30 years not as bad in the winter but you do feel the cold. Some days I go outside and it feels warmer than indoors. A lot of the older places do not have any heating either, the newer builds do usually have ducted heating but that really dries the air so tend not to run it over night. Not sure about the new units being built, but reading some of the flyers that are left in my mail box, they appear to be more energy efficient and come with double glazing.

I wish I had your body temperature, as I often have to wear gloves, while not any were close to what I would in the UK.

Ah OK, I thought from some of your posts you where actually in Melbourne. My misunderstanding. Your cousins are very lucky, as I have not encountered any property with insulation or double glazing here. Guess I am unlucky. Slightly off topic, but one of my Canadian colleagues said his first winter in Melbourne felt colder than back home. I did find that ironic and quite funny. Another slight of topic thing I found, is how many thermal items of clothing I now own. Never owned any in the UK.

Also remember to inform your mortgage company as you can only redirect your mail for so long before it ends up being sent back to them

Private healthcare in Australia is a bit of a nightmare, and the costs keep rising year on year. They(private healthcare companies) know you are being forced by the government to take it out. Unlike the UK, which I believe is a luxury item. And if you are over 30 or 32, not sure of the exact age, then if you do not have it you have to pay extra tax. Catch 22! Medicare does not cover dental treatment, which the extras of private healthcare can cover some of the costs. Dental treatment, IMO, is pretty expensive in Australia. I was shocked at some of the costs for a crown(root canal already done in the UK many years prior) $5k and the cost of an implant, $7k. Maybe get a basic cheap plan, if you are over 30, to offset the extra tax. Work out if this may be of any benefit to you as if you decide to upgrade in the future it could offset the higher fees you would be hit with for not having health cover. Another thing to look at is the gap, what you get back when you make a claim. I am lucky my company provides a very good top plan which covers 90% of any extras treatments. Some plans look cheap, because they may only provide a 50% gap. I have friends that have cancelled there cover as the cost out weighed the benefits and paying the extra tax. If you decide to go with private healthcare, check the ambulance cover(does not apply to QLD). Even though I have top tier cover, I am only covered for 1 ambulance call out per year. I just noticed this year after a chat with my hairdresser about buying ambulance cover. Buying ambulance cover separately is quite cheap, less than $50/year in VIC for a single person. Again you need to decide if this an expense you want to pay.

Curious to what city/state you live in, your profile says you are in the UK, but looking at some at your posts I am assuming Melbourne? I am in Melbourne and would say this winter was cold and my heating bill proves it, had a shock when it came through. I suppose it does not help I WFH and the house is pretty typical standard build for Melbourne, no insulation and no double glazing.

Sorry to hear about your husband's loss. I cannot offer advice on similar circumstances but tend to agree from your post and many other's that I have read family is precious and Australia is far far away from the UK. This makes is hard to get back easily and quickly. For me it is around 36 hours door to door. As I have gotten older and now hearing my Dad going on about his time running out, I have similar feelings. Your hubby could still be in mourning and feeling unsettled. Being in a job he does not like is not going to help his situation, and you not being able to get a job just adds fuel. Are you PR? Could you hang on long enough to apply for citizenship, so if you change your minds in the future you still have the option to return. But being in a job he dislikes and being so far from family are probably more important to his own state of mind and well being and of course your well being. The longer you leave it, it could just get worse and you both end up never wanting to return. Good luck with your decision.

Interesting thread, and agree with all the comments provided to you Tom. These are based on peoples own experiences of the local job market. Yes your friends might have secured jobs and say everything is hunky dory but you have come across quite aggressive because you did not hear what you wanted to hear. I am not a teacher but work in the field of IT. This field is also swamped, and still on the SOL. The job market in Australia is not as rosey as the SOL suggests. I spend some time on other expat sites and some local forums and locals are not overly happy about some of the positions that are meant to be indemand as locals are struggling to find work themselves. The job market here at the moment is tough and competitive, as many recruiters have told me in the rejection emails for some of the positions I have applied for. Linkedin, is handy as it shows you how many people have viewed jobs posted, and this can get up to the many hundreds. Talking to recruiters and HR people that I have discussed roles with, they can end up with 100 to 200+ people applying for the role. Too many people that gain visas in the field of IT, come over wanting to live the dream and end up driving taxis or becoming couriers as they cannot find work. YMMV.

I have recently sat my citizenship test and mentioned this to the interviewer, as I am going away for work for a number of months. As long as you have your approval letter, he said it would be OK. The citizenship ceremony also can be rescheduled once you have a date. As long as you fulfill the requirements to attend within the 6 or 12 month period. Still not entirely clear on this part myself. Once you do the ceremony, you can apply for your Australian passport and have it fast tracked, I believe it is 2 days. Not sure how long after the ceremony you can apply, as I have read mixed posts about this. Some people have said they applied next day, others have mentioned you need to wait 2 weeks before you can apply.

It looks suspicious. I am with ING and they send you an email which from memory you can share with your friend or it has a code in it. Checking the website further, yes it would appear to be a promotional code linked to your account. As from memory, if you join both you are friend get the payment. Also given the fact it is a wordpress site and NOT an official ING website and scattered with Chinese characters probably means someone is making a nice little earner. As a side note, ING is making some changes this year. The reason I joined was the paypass cashback, which they are dropping now due to increased costs and wanting to provide free banking even though have made very good profits.

Agree with Marisawright, St Kilda is nice and iconic but in reality a bit of a dump compared to other areas of Melbourne. It may/will be nice for a couple of weeks when you arrive but long term other suburbs mentioned are much nicer. Then again it all depends what you are looking for. If you are prepared to deal with the commute to Frankston from St Kilda and want easy access to the city and the beach, it may well work for you. Lots of shops, cafes and bars within walking distance. As a side note, buying a used car is a little different from the UK. In the UK you have to get a MOT, after 3 years, every year to prove the car is roadworthy. In Australia you do not, only when you go to sell the vehicle do you have to get a RWC(Road worthy certificate) and even then some sellers will still to try to sell the car to you without it. When I was looking for used car and discussing with friends and meeting people selling cars, I was shocked at how the majority of cars are serviced and maintained. I spoke to some friends and there cars appear to be death traps as they never get them serviced and just run them with no or minimal maintenance. So just be careful on the used car market.

Am in the same boat as you Eltoro, I sat mine the 26th August. The guy interviewing me said the approval would be sent out next business day. I called the DIBP today and they told me my application was still being processed.

I agree with buzzy bee, Melbourne is a pretty awesome city. Lots of do and a far cry from what Perth is like. Inner suburbs would be ideal for you and give you a lot to do on your doorstep. Melbourne has a big latin dancing scene and the people are very friendly and welcoming to new comers. Lots of events and festivals throughout the year, in and around the CBD, St Kilda, Fitzroy. Very multicultural feel.

Is there much truth to the rumour that Australians are very reluctant to integrate new people into their friendship groups? As I said I will only know one person living over there. Again this will be subjective, but I found the guys I worked with to be friendly but not very sociable. I suppose the location of my office did not help as not CBD based so a lot of people drove to the office. Friday night social drinks which was a custom in London, suddenly did not exist. Also it would also depend if you lived in a shared house and how sociable they are, some are close knit to there friends others more open to inviting you out with them. I have certainly found they do take longer to integrate with than what I found in London. But each to there own personal experience. What does your friend say, are they Australian or did they migrate? As a side note, something you will find very different here in Melbourne coming from London. Is the bar culture. In London it is relatively easy to spot a pub. In Melbourne it is not. It may just be a door on the street, and then a flight or two stairs later you find yourself in a bar. From street level you would never know it existed.

Agree with others about sticking to the Frankston line if you are going to be using public transport. Even if it just for the first year till you get your bearings. Anywhere between South Yarra and Caulfield might be a good compromise and will also mean you can use trams also. Since you are single, think these suburbs would offer a good compromise for you in terms of being close to the city, good coffee shops, cafes, bars, etc. You do not mention if you will be working shift hours, if so then getting a car I would recommend as outside business hours trains and buses do not run as frequently and you could find your self with a long wait at the train station especially after coming from the London Underground. https://www.flatmatefinders.com.au/ is a good way to find shared accommodation. One thing I found was say 2 people wanted to rent a place, they would find a 3 bed so they could get 2 decent bedrooms, which meant the smaller bedroom was the one to find a room mate for. If you go down the route of your own unit, note that they do not come with a fridge/freezer or washing machine unlike the UK. Launderettes are pretty plentiful though. As for rents, this is subjective as depending on the area you live in. As others mentioned, moving out further does get you more value. The rents have stablised a lot in the past few years, when I moved 7 years ago it was crazy. You would have 30 to 40+ people coming for the inspection. Some people handing over completed application forms before even setting foot inside, others offering to pay higher than the rate advertised. Over hearing conversations on the train/tram people complaining landlords putting the rents up every 6 months. From what I can see at the moment, definitely not like this anymore and not for a number of years. My rent has not been put up in the last 3 years, I believe a lot more property vacancies these days. I pay $360/w for a 2 bed detached unit with garage and courtyard SE Melbourne(15km or so from CBD, 10/15 minute walk to a choice of 2 train station's and then around 15/20 mins to Flinders Street. Rents in the suburbs I mentioned, probably will not get you some thing like this but a unit in an apartment block. Then again you may get lucky. Think it all depends on much rent you want to pay. If you are going to rent a unit by yourself, try to get your application sent in as quick as possible as the REA usually processes first come first served. Any references you can bring from the UK will also help. Might also be worthwhile getting a credit check report before you leave. As you mentioned your golf clubs, quite a number of gold courses around Melbourne. Check them out on Google maps, as this may be a deciding factor in buying a car. Not sure how many are easily accessible using public transport. Regarding beaches, I found once you get to Elwood/Middle Brighton they start to become appealing as in the water is clear.