Arcadia53

8 hours ago, Marisawright said:

You'll find Perth is a place you either love or hate, no middle ground.

I’ve spent 6 months there working and living along time ago and loved it but I know things will have changed a fair bit 

7 hours ago, benj1980 said:

I think age discrimination would only depend on the job sector you are going into. Plus in WA if you get here, there's plenty of work. So we keep getting told anyway by the pollies. Nothing replaces rolling up your sleeves, being flexible and networking. So sport is a good way to meet people.

AFL is king in WA, so you'll need to purchase a purple guernsey (yes not jersey) and embrace it! I coach rugby union but it's hard to compete against AFL. NPL soccer is the highest level of state soccer and it's ok, to be honest it's pretty limited. Don't get me started on Perth Glory! Rugby League has a following but it's mainly kiwis and there's a limited amount of clubs. There was a pro club in WA once upon time, but it struggled and disappeared.

I disagree when people say there's not enough to do here, I like to explore new areas, travel around and we find new places all the time. Been here nearly 7 years. I'm naturally a country boy so big cities like Sydney and Melbourne wouldn't interest me past a vacation.

Anyway age won't be a barrier!

Brilliant thank you . Love this attitude . My wife did the ielts test yesterday and said it was hell on earth. The lady who ran it was a kiwi who was asking my wife why we would want to move to oz and in particular Perth haha 

Hi all ,

Could some one just give me an rough idea of the cost of living for a family of 4 living in WA. We know about mortgage cost but am hoping I can get a new grasp on new costs for everything else .

Thank you in advance ,

Pete 

Thank you all , massively appreciated

21 hours ago, Jon the Hat said:

Yeah we've easily spent that much.  Probably $100k all in by the time you add in living costs to first paycheck.

Out of interest what are those costs ( roughly ) . We have an idea but may be way out . Also if you have posted before re costs apologies 

5 hours ago, Jon the Hat said:

I thought he was a Freeway!  Polly Tunnel also means something different in Perth.

We moved last September at 44 and 48 and we are settling in well.  It costs more than you think, but we are enjoying it and would say go for it.

Perth is great but a long way / expensive to get anywhere.  I just did a 4 day work trip to Sydney and spent $2650 between flights, taxis, hotel and food.  Just for me.  Adelaide is much closer, but also a smaller economy.  I have got into the mining sector at the first attempt so well sorted in Perth.

Brilliant thank you . That’s fantastic to hear that you are both settling in well. How do you find the distance from parents , family etc is ? The clock is ticking for us as my wife who is the main visa applicant is 44 October so we are crossing our fingers 

1 minute ago, calNgary said:

You will meet loads of people through sport, its pretty big for kids over here so getting a job coaching shouldnt be a problem, i think a lot are voluntary positions though.

Where in Aus are you planning on going?

    Cal x

We are looking at Perth but our migration agent has asked if we would consider SA which we would . We are waiting until to July to see what the states are saying 

Yep all sounds good to me and exactly what I thought tbf . Re sport we love it , I run my daughters football team , help coach my lads rugby team . Kids play rugby , cricket , football , they swim and do athletics amongst other things . I want to carry on the coaching when I’m out there as well  . Oh and I still play football although I did find out yesterday I’m the oldest in our football group and was called gramps haha . The wife loves watching sport as well as doing the odd run as well 

Thought I’d posted this yesterday but appears for what ever reason it’s not on here .

Hoping to get some reassurance advice from any expats that moved over to oz in their 40’s . I’m currently 42 and my wife is 43 . 

How did people find the move and how are they settling now ? Abu advice we should take ? The clock is ticking on our move but I’m crossing my fingers

12 minutes ago, Phil1712 said:

And you

No fighting 

1 hour ago, Ausvisitor said:

Many of Marisa's posts are blunt and unvarnished, but if you look beyond the "didn't give me the answer I wanted" veneer, they are almost always correct and informative.

The biggest issue with forums like these is everyone wants it to be "happy clappy" and unfortunately migration rarely is.

It's better to hear the horror stories and the negatives before you get on the plane rather than 6 months after you land and you are stuck with the decision.

 

Haha Marisa has commented on my posts before . On this one she has not been as blunt and a little insightful

1 hour ago, Ausvisitor said:

We have all sort of avoided the questions you asked so far and focussed on the "will you get a job bit". For the sake of progression let's assume you do...

I think all states (but one of the MARA guys can correct) accept a 491 as not really temporary and therefore don't charge premiums for kids going to school, so that's on less to worry about.

In terms of buying a house, you can buy one whenever you want, but until you have that magic PR in hand you will pay more stamp duty type taxes and also have to apply for FIRB approval to buy, which as you've no doubt come to expect costs money (Google it for the exact amounts)

 

Good luck and if your experience is anything like mine (although in NSW) you will have a great time. 

Thank you this has been very helpful in at least making me feel better 

13 hours ago, Marisawright said:

If you're a signal engineer on the railways, have you looked at the rail network in Australia?   It's not large and most of it is on the East Coast and Victoria.  South Australia doesn't have much at all.  

Rail lines in Australia aren't owned by private companies.  Each state owns its own railways.  They do outsource some services to private companies.  In South Australia's case, it's Keolis Downer.  I'm not clear whether you would be employed by the state transport authority or by Keolis Downer.  I would suggest phoning them (even if it means getting up in the middle of the night) to find out.  That nearly always gets better response than email.   See if you can talk to someone about career prospects. 

In particular, I'd be asking them, "How many signalling design engineers do you employ?".    If it's only a handful, then you'll be reliant on one of them leaving, before you can even apply for a job.  .  

 

  https://www.keolisdowner.com.au/careers/

https://www.railpage.com.au/uploads/10/0/railway_lines_south_australia.pdf

I’m fairly up on the Aussie railway network and what you say is semi true. You are right the Aussie rail network is much like the uk rail network but is run via the state operators however the signalling design work that goes into that network is like that in the uk re private companies do carry this work out . Also like the uk the state operators have their own design offices or they at least do in Queensland . That’s my issue I know there are a lot of design houses on the east coast such as Siemens , jmd, alstom etc but not sure what there is in SA . There is also a massive government push on rail infrastructure all over Australia to the tune of tens of billions with a lot of that on the east coast . 
 

I also know like the UK they have a massive e shortage of signalling designers but also like the UK they offshore a lot of their work to India . 
 

Yep I have done a bit of research or more importantly pre covid had a few interviews just none in WA so I suppose I was hoping someone on the railway working in SA may jump on this thread . 

16 hours ago, Phil1712 said:

I have been waiting on a 491 visa grant from SA since march 2020. Not sure where and why all this news of SA needing migration. Plenty of people in the system that have paid their money and put their lives on hold and risking the future of their children. Australia have plenty of people waiting to enter to fulfill their dreams, be careful of what you commit to

Not responded to our migration agent since last week when they asked what I thought of SA as been off work so will find out more in the next week 

Thanks Marisa

Thank you as that’s very helpful

Yes I have just read re SA offering 18-35 year olds cheap travel down there to boost skilled migration but with the wife wanting time off I will be in need of a job ASAP . Think the wife will be okay but with no degree I’m unsure as to my prospects 

Hi we are looking at a 491 visa and I would like advice on selling our house and transferring 200k + to oz .

Regards,

Pete 

Hi there , 

On a 491 when can you buy a house in oz ?
Cheers,

Pete 

I have a few questions today tbf. My wife is embarking on the journey for a 491 visa and we had the view of moving to WA however with things having gone quiet over the last few years and a few nerves setting in our migration agent has asked us what we think of South Australia? 
 

What’s the current situation re the jobs market in south Australia ? My wife is a primary school head and would want a month or two off to help settle the kids into their new lives (atm 12 & and I am a signalling design engineer on the railway .

Also with a 491 when can we buy a house over there as we are unsure as to whether to rent our property here in the uk out . 

I believe we have gone down this route . It’s the wife who is the applicant . 

We’ve gone with a 491 as a principle . Just gathering paperwork for the skills assessment ... that’s taken us a year but we are as good as there . 

Haha just messaged you 

Dependent on time we are good with any day 

Been in the planning for 20 years . I got into my current job to enable me to move over there but due to circumstances we never did . Now it’s increasingly difficult to get a tsv with my skills so my wife has become the main applicant . We are hoping to have nailed the skills assessment by may which will have been 12 months in the making haha . Keep worrying we are taking to long but get the impression that the paper chase is the major issue