Goofy2018

In my opinion Aussies (for the sake of this conversation, I'm referring to people who were born and raised here) are generally friendly but it's very hard to make genuine friends here. Most Aussies I've ever known here still have the same few friends from their home town, school, uni or sports club etc. They don't really seem to let any new people into their existing friendship circle. Most of them have a partner and/or kids in addition to a busy job and family commitments so that doesn't leave a lot of time to hang out with other people. I'm not sure this is just an Australian thing though. I think there is a difference between friendships formed during childhood/teenage years/uni and friendships formed as an adult, so if you move to another country as an adult you'll always be a bit of an outsider.

Yes I agree that no city is ever 100% safe. I use common sense no matter where I live or travel, but I spend a lot of time alone and would be walking around and using public transport after dark on my own. I never know what to believe in the media, everything seems to be published just to scare people. I've also read the CBD is very unsafe, but I would find it hard to believe it's worse than any other big city. Here in Brisbane I feel quite safe and comfortable walking around the city or the area where I live at night. However, I always remain in well-lit areas and if I an unsure I'll use an uber or taxi.

After reading posts and speaking with a couple of people there seem to be a lot of conflicting thoughts on whether these suburbs are safe or not. A couple of people told me that there is a lot of crime in Melbourne in general, that there are lots of issues with several gangs and drugs and that it is not very safe for a woman to wander around the streets or catch public transport alone at night. I'm not sure whether they were exaggerating but how bad is it really?

Weigh up the pros and cons but definitely do what feels right to you regardless of what anyone else says.

Totally agree. Beautiful yes, but only for the lucky few so to speak. A lot of Australians also dream of a relaxed life by the beach, going for lunch at the surf club, going for a swim or a stroll along the beach every morning but many are stuck in or near the cities where most of the jobs are.

Wow! You've certainly fit a lot into your young life. Great idea posting photos of your experiences for others to see. I love the idea of using the alphabet as well. Lots of beautiful memories to cherish and hopefully many more to come.

Scandinavian countries are years ahead of most other countries in how they treat their people. Yes people there pay some of the highest taxes in the world, but they get a lot in return. Their governments actually spend money on their people so life there is a lot less stressful: - free or really cheap education (including university courses) - great social security benefits so if are long-term sick, disabled, retired etc. you receive enough money to have a reasonable standard of life (as opposed to a pensioner scraping by on a pension that barely covers utilities and some food or an unemployment benefit that doesn't even cover your rent) - very generous paid maternity leave - access to great healthcare without huge out of pocket expenses - lower working hours (fulltime 35 per week, although I'm not sure this applies to all Scandinavian countries). This makes people more efficient (less time to get the job done so how can we get it all done in time) and contributes to a much better work-life balance. As a result, Scandinavians generally are a lot less stressed and enjoy life more. Having said that, I think they often appear to be cranky and unhappy to foreigners because they are generally not very open with their emotions. People from cold countries tend to be like this (as opposed to people from warmer places like Italy, Spain etc. who can be a lot more openly emotional). The weather can also be a contributing factor in my opinion as it's pretty hard to smile when you're freezing your butt off. But just because they may not appear to be happy doesn't mean they aren't. Seasonal affective disorder is a thing...a cold and dark winter that goes on for months is likely to affect people's moods. I wouldn't be surprised if this is a contributing factor to the high suicide rates. I haven't looked up why Scandinavia has high suicide rates, but I think that things like loneliness, mental illness, emotional stress (redundancy, divorce, death of a partner or child etc.), being bullied or discriminated against can all be potential reasons for suicide. Just because you get free education, decent social security benefits and only have to work 35 hours per week doesn't guarantee that you'll have a partner and/or friends to share your life with, that you'll never end up with mental illness or that you'll never end up divorced and alone.

Yes I've been living here for years and still struggle with the humidity which is why I'm getting out of here. I sweat pretty much constantly from October to April/May. My aircon & fan are on for 8 months every year. I live in a small apartment and my towels don't dry in the bathroom. I don't have an outdoor area to dry washing in the sun. My hair is always a mess and usually tied back because of the humidity (long hair). I experience all of the above every day. The aircon in most shopping centres, offices I've worked in and cinemas I go to is way too cold for me to the point where I take a jumper with me. It's definitely a lot colder than 24 degrees in the places I go to. In my opinion the weather in Brisbane is intolerable from October to May (8 months) and ideal the other 4 months. Everyone is different though, some people tolerate humidity a lot better but the weather is probably the thing I hate the most here. I've had overseas friends who 'love the heat' visit and they hated the weather here as well.

Completely different climate though...dry heat vs humid heat here. I liked the heat in the UAE too but struggle to get through summer here in Brisbane. A lot of people like the heat but struggle with the humidity. A holiday is also different from living somewhere and having to dress up and go to work and function all day. No naps. Imagine you've just gotten out of the shower and you're trying to dry yourself off but you just can't get completely dry. And trying to get dressed for a corporate job and get to work without your clothes being soaked with sweat. Some modern office buildings in the CBD have shower facilities, but most don't. Not sure about workplaces on the coast. Even if you work somewhere that has these facilities, imagine having to carry a suit/trousers/shirt/toiletries/towel to and from work every day. And carry your wet clothes home. When you finally make it to work the aircon is so cold it's about 19 degrees and you sit at your desk shivering and end up with a headache from the cold. Then back into the humidity at lunchtime or after work. If you travel to/from Brisbane Central train station you'll be waiting for the train on a mostly closed in platform which traps the heat together with hundreds of other commuters. Imagine your wet bathroom towels hanging on a rail in your bathroom for 3 days and still not being dry. Imagine your hair almost permanently damp for months on end. Some people are fine living in a humid climate but it's a definitely a daily struggle for a lot of others. Be prepared ?.

Springfield Lakes might still be ok e.g. if you end up working in the CBD you could go to work by train. There is also a big hospital in Ipswich so your wife could look at job opportunities there. Ipswich is in the opposite direction, away from the CBD, so traffic wouldn't be as bad. It would only be a 15-20 min. drive for her. I know Springfield Lakes is popular with families because it's new and modern and has all the facilities you need right there. I've worked with several people who live on the Gold Coast over the years and the commute is a lot longer than 1 hour. A lot of people commute so traffic is horrendous. Driving to Brisbane CBD is more likely to take at least 1.5 hours or even longer. There are also a few train stations on the GC so you could drive to one of those and catch a train to the CBD. I believe the train from Nerang takes about 1.5 hours (not sure whether this is still the case).

Yes renting sucks in a lot of ways and it'll only get worse. I know plenty of people (usually single) who pay 40-50% of their income on rent. Having said that, as a single person it can work out better to pay higher rent and live closer to work and nightlife. Living in an outer suburb might save a littke bit in rent but your transport costs would be a lot higher. You'd also spend more time getting to and from work.

That's what I think as well. Ultimately there is always something to complain about and after a while people tend to take things for granted. I've always loved the vibe in Melbourne, much more than any other Australian city I've come to realise. I like that there are 4 seasons, sometimes in one day but that's just how it is. You follow the weather forecasts a bit more, wear layers and carry an umbrella (having said that I would really need a rental with reverse cycle aircon otherwise summer is too hot and winter is too cold). There are lots of things to see and do (sports, concerts, theatre, art galleries, museums, parks, the zoo, shopping, markets, bars, restaurants, nice areas for walking, bike riding, big events like the Melbourne Cup, Grand Prix, International Comedy Festival etc). I like how different suburbs have a totally different character. You are within easy driving distance from beaches, the snowfields, historic towns, national parks. Like anywhere, there are some dodgy areas, traffic can be horrendous, property is expensive to buy and depending on where you live public transport is not that great, but overall I still think Melbourne is a pretty awesome city. I've been in Brisbane for several years now but I'm so over it and I'm planning on moving to Melbourne. It has a lot more to offer in terms of jobs as well as things to see and do.

$85K is not a lot to support a family in my opinion. You'd have to be on a tight budget to make things work. Can be ok initially but in the long run it will wear you down and affect your ability to enjoy life here. A vague comment saying they'll review your salary once you've proven yourself doesn't mean they'll actually do this. Employers say things all the time just to get you to sign a contract. There are plenty of people here who haven't had a pay rise in years. And even if you get a pay increase it may only be a small one, not necessarily an extra $10 or $20K. If there is a clause in your contract saying your salary will increase by X% after X months or if you meet specific targets by a certain date I would consider it.

Bulimba is a great place for families but also quite expensive. Check out Wynnum, Wellington Point & Cleveland - all are popular with families too. Springfield Lakes is a very modern and young area (southside) with great facilities.

I've just had another look...yes you're right it looks like there are cheaper options on Airbnb. Saw some single rooms in CBD apartments that would be ok for a few weeks. I must've looked at whole apartments the other day. You did well finding a permanent rental in 2 weeks. That sounds allright.

Yeah those are some of the suburbs I've been thinking of. I would like to be within walking distance from shops, cafes, restaurants etc. and in an area where there are always people around. I'd like to have a few regular hangouts where I can go to alone and not feel awkward, just somewhere to go when I want to get out of the apartment. Most of the fun things I'm interested in are in the CBD and/or inner city. Rent would have to be under $400 per week and it would have to be somewhere insulated and with reverse cycle aircon. I've always loved Melbourne public transport. So easy to get around, especially on the trams.

That really sucks...the minimum seems to be between $100 & $150 per night...that's a lot for someone on a single income. And I'm not sure how long it would take to find a decent long term rental. If it was 1-2 weeks I could manage but any longer than that would be impossible. I'm a very private person so share housing is not an option. I may need to wait a few more months so I can save more money . Some hostels have private rooms but they're almost just as expensive as Airbnb.

No one? What about in other cities?

You're paying someone for a service so you have every right to let this person know he has made errors in your application and ask him to fix it. It's his job. It's important your application contains accurate information. If you don't feel comfortable doing this in person, email him instead. If you don't hear back within a few days, send a follow up email and also mention that you will have to take things further (lodge complaint with MARA) if he doesn't fix it. You're only asking him to do what you're paying him for .

Yes it is and Queensland seems more expensive also. Not sure whether this refers to buying property or general living costs but I am doing ok renting on a less than average salary in Brisbane. I have to stick to a tight budget though and won't be able to buy property.

It's technically a separate city but because Brisbane has grown so much it's part of the greater metropolitan area now (the end of a train line). It's a low socio-economic area which has had lots of issues over the years with drugs, high crime rates etc. Summers are hotter and winters are colder than Brisbane. I don't feel like it's a very safe place to live (Ipswich CBD and near there). I don't even feel safe on the train there sometimes. It is also prone to flooding so you'd have to check which suburbs would be less likeky to flood. I don't think of Ipswich as rural at all but some suburbs are definitely super quiet and have bigger blocks of land. However, it has grown a lot in recent years and it has everything you would need to get through life. You're near the highway so it's easy to go for weekend drives to country towns and national parks. I think there are lots of families with kids in the area. I know several people who live in Ipswich and really like it, but they work locally and I'm assuming they live in ok suburbs. They don't really drive to Brisbane though because they feel it's too far to go for a night out. Depending on where in Ipswich you live and where exactly you're heading to, a drive to the Gold Coast can easily take 1.5 hours one way. A drive to the Sunshine Coast would probably take at least about 2.5 hours one way.

I don't think it's easy to get a job there so I wouldn't move until at least one of you has a job lined up. A lot of people commute from the Gold Coast to Brisbane for work because opportunities on the coast are very limited. Have a look at online job sites to get a bit of an idea.

Of course work doesn't want you to go; it's an inconvenience for them to replace you. They couldn't care less whether you're happy or not; they just worry about the business. You don't feel relieved because you have been thinking about an 'adventure' for a while and that will not be happening anytime soon now you've decided to stay. So the need for an adventure is still there and is unlikely to go away. Coming here would be an adventure but it won't be quick and easy to reach the same level of quality here. It's possible though but it will take time. Sorting out visas can take a while, it's expensive to live here and it's not easy to get a decent job. So you need to do a lot of research and plan. I've heard there's an oversupply of accountants here, so even qualified accountants here can struggle to get a decent job. I'm not sure about engineering; that would depend on experience and the type of engineering. Salaries on the Sunshine Coast tend to be a bit lower than in Brisbane. Check out: immi.gov.au (immigration department) seek.com.au (jobs) careerone.com.au (jobs) realestate.com.au domain.com.au (also real estate) If you only intend to work part-time initially you'll need plenty of savings to get you through. Working part-time may barely cover rent and utilities depending on where you live. I'm not sure how salaries here compare to current UK salaries but generally speaking they are a lot lower in comparison. Check out some other posts on this forum. If you really want to come here you'll find a way to do it, just don't rush into it. And remember that an adventure is a journey, not an end destination. I often think of the following quote: "Real life is lived outside your comfort zone".

Very true...immigrating to another country is a bit of a shock to the system. It takes time to feel at home and build new social networks. In my experience Aussies are generally friendly but they don't usually invite people over. They're usually too wrapped up in their own busy world (work, commuting, partner, kids, house etc.). Try meetup.com and internations.org, join a hiking club or sports club. Find a bar/cafe/restaurant in your area that you like and go there regularly. You'll start noticing other regulars & could strike up a conversation (this has worked for me in Brisbane). Make a list of things you'd like to see and do and try to do at least one thing every week. Dating can be fun but I wouldn't focus on it for now as it can severely limit your chances of making friends. Couples tend to spend a lot of time together which can limit your chances of building a netwok of your own first.

I can imagine that traffic in Perth is much better compared to Sydney. Like you say, don't burn any bridges yet but get a feel for the place. Good luck .