Would LOVE to live in Tasmania. But........

[britsabroad2013]

Hi All,

 

I have been reading a lot of posts about Tasmania and learning lots of new things. The more I read about Tasmania the more I want to move but there's always a little bit of doubt in my mind that it may not work out so any helpful advice anyone could offer would be great!

 

My husband and I currently live in Sydney and both have great jobs that pay pretty well. We live a nice little life and have a nice little apartment and get out and about a fair bit to see bands, eat, drinks etc...We are both in our late twenties. People will think we are crazy but after four years in Sydney we have decided it's not the place we would like to settle. We are real 'outdoors' kinds of people. We love the countryside (very much miss the English countryside) and we love walking, biking and all things outdoors. We have loved having the city of the doorstep but these last 6 months it has all become a bit too much. Sydney is busy, lots of traffic (I drive a bit for work) and noisy. When we visit country NSW we love how quiet it is.

 

We spent 2 weeks in Tasmania and we LOVED it. We have big concerns about getting jobs there...we are not really qualified in anything...nothing like Doctors, Nurses or trades but my partner works in logistic inventory and I work in admin based roles.

 

From what I have read and could see there is not an abundance of jobs. Is it really that tough to find something in Hobart?

 

If Tasmania is going to prove too hard to get work then our next options could be NZ or back to the UK. We really don't like living in the city but we don't want to be too isolated. Hobart seems to be a perfect option for us.

 

Any input/advice will be greatly received!

[Skani]

We spent 2 weeks in Tasmania and we LOVED it. We have big concerns about getting jobs there...we are not really qualified in anything...nothing like Doctors, Nurses or trades but my partner works in logistic inventory and I work in admin based roles.

 

From what I have read and could see there is not an abundance of jobs. Is it really that tough to find something in Hobart?

 

....................... We really don't like living in the city but we don't want to be too isolated. Hobart seems to be a perfect option for us.

 

 

Jobs are the big problem in moving to Tasmania due to the low population base and sluggish economy at the moment. It also makes it more difficult not being "on the ground" here as the grapevine/word of mouth is a very active recruiting tool in this area. :biggrin: I did recently hear of someone who moved from Sydney - because Hobart "sang to her" - with employment but I think she was employed with a very well known travel agency and was able to transfer.

 

You don't mention what type of admin but specialist areas like hotel/tourism operation or medical/hospital/retirement home admin could be an advantage. The only things I can suggest are keeping a close eye on advertised vacancies, making contact with all the local recruiting firms or possibly...depending on your financial situation...risking the move, making yourself available for any temporary/relief vacancies with the aim of one of them becoming permanent.

 

Hobart sounds as though it would really suit you. It has all the essential facilities of a city but all within about 5 minutes of the natural environment. I live about 10 minutes from the Hobart CBD but all I can hear at the moment - apart from the occasional passing car - is birdsong in the bush around me. If you ever get a craving for huge city shopping malls or some way-out night life, it is only an hour to Melbourne by plane...and when you've had your fill you get to come home to some peace and sanity. :wink:

 

All the best...I hope things work out for you. :wubclub:

[Strick]

It's mainly the private sector that's impoverished in Tasmania, practically the whole state works for the public sector in some shape or form and jobs in this area are not particularly hard to track down. I work in disability services and got the second job I applied for. I'm snowed under with work at the moment and there are many other organisations like mine in Hobart.

 

If you are not particularly choosy about what you do and are not a slave to one particular profession, then you can do quite well in Tasmania.

[bosted clog]

Hi

I have just moved to Hobart. I am looking for work in the disability sector. In the Uk I was a Family Service Worker for children and young people.I was based at a childrens centre and worked alongside social workers. I would be really grateful for some advice! I am really keen to start work. It does seem to be word of mouth and who you know. I am open to suggestions, direction or any contacts.... I want to get a job before christmas.

In fact whilst I am looking I will do casual work. I just need to start earning and meeting people.

[Seppo]

Brits,

I wish I could help you with the job piece, but can't offer anything. However, your idea of NZ as a choice besides Tazzie is a good one. If you havent' been to NZ, you should really check it out; it's all about the outdoors, and is right up your street! As I understand it, as a UK citizen you can stay in NZ just on your passport for six months, and then work it out from there. Best of luck.

[Strick]

Hi

I have just moved to Hobart. I am looking for work in the disability sector. In the Uk I was a Family Service Worker for children and young people.I was based at a childrens centre and worked alongside social workers. I would be really grateful for some advice! I am really keen to start work. It does seem to be word of mouth and who you know. I am open to suggestions, direction or any contacts.... I want to get a job before christmas.

In fact whilst I am looking I will do casual work. I just need to start earning and meeting people.

 

Most of the disability work in Tasmania is casual. You'd be unlikely to get offers a permanent position straight away. I've turned them down as it meant losing four bucks an hour on my hourly rate.

 

The organisation I work for is crying out for staff in its child protection unit. The kids are hard work though. Drop me a private message if you're interested and I point you in the right direction. However, you won't find work before Xmas, they take the police checks and references pretty seriously, though the former come through much quicker than in London.

 

Rick

[runslikeafish]

There is work around in Tassie - Hobart especially. Nothing like the amount available in Sydney though.

 

I love Hobart as a city. We can go and see a good standard of local band every night if we wanted to - bit hard with a 5 month old for us at the moment mind! There's also a great range of eating options all around. As you mention though; the biggest draw is the outdoors. Hobart is in extremely easy reach of stunning wilderness. Any type of outdoor activity you could want is here. And as for beauty; Tasmania has that in spades.

 

Good luck with your decision.

[starlight7]

Nothing to add except good luck. Another option might be a country town somewhere - maybe Blue Mountains or somewhere in Victoria. The problem with Tassie is always the work situation , beautiful though it is.

[Squilookal]

Hi Britsabroad2013,

 

My wife and I have just moved to Hobart, it’s a return to Tassie for me as I used to live in Launceston and it is absolutely fantastic to be back!

 

 

We’re outdoors folk too and I really think it is difficult to beat Tasmania, although NZ would be one place that could but I would say only the South Island which is a significant issue because then it’s a very different proposition work wise etc to living in Auckland for example. Also, if you have any kind of interest in travel and/or general international mobility, NZ is one of the last places in the world to live, the south island even worse.

 

 

Can’t really say about the job situation in Tassie being difficult from first hand experience as my wife walked straight into a nursing job here and I’m self employed and work from home via the Internet but my feeling is that if you are in admin you will find something. There are almost endless government admin jobs and of course they have to choose to fill the positions from the available applicants so, without being rude to lovely Tasmanians, the range and possible quality of applicants is likely to often be rather more limited than you might find in Sydney for instance. A good example is our landlord, he used to work as a building labourer but now has an admin job in a government department (and a very nice investment property that we very happily live in!). As mentioned by Skani though, it’s not what you know, it’s who you know so get here, network and it will be fine I’m sure.

 

 

The government jobs pay quiet well enough for a nice lifestyle, housing costs are obviously a lot different to Sydney. We’re paying $260 per week for a lovely unit (really more like a little house) with a garden in Lenah Valley that’s 10 mins drive from the CBD and 2 minutes walk from bush at the foot of Mt Wellington. Wallaby’s in the garden, views of mountain and sea, trees everywhere. Echoing what Skani mentioned, Hobart still has good options for the best of both worlds city/rural mixture suburbs that have become gentrified and absurdly expensive in other state capitals, partly because it’s small but also because the fringe suburbs really feel like they’ve just been borrowed from the bush so you can be on the edge of town but in the trees very easily.

 

Personally, I feel more connected being on an island but in a state capital than I did when we lived in Bendigo just 150kms from Melbourne. I think living in the Blue Mountains for example or other regional area would feel the same. The island fever can be helped with a $50 flight to Melbs or elsewhere and is important I think.

 

Tassie is for sure not perfect but it is very special. I’ve visited around 50 countries and lived in 10 of them from Haiti to India to deep in the German countryside and although it isn’t for everyone, I can honestly say Tassie is an extremely special place on a global level and I would absolutely not say that for most places in Australia.

 

Hope you arrive at the best choice for you!

 

Simon.

P.S. You get a Tasmanian tiger on your car number plate here too...now come on, how cool is that!