HelensvaleHoward Posted April 19, 2015 Share Posted April 19, 2015 This is for comments from members who are now living in Australia Not lived here in years gone by (Things do change) Holidays don't count as it's totally different to experience life living here Please do post with good and bad comments as I know lots are trying to leave and return home which is for their own reasons I think this thread would be great reading for people who are new to the forum and making the move to Australia now or in the future as this will be up to date information Jobs, unemployment, housing to buy, rentals the cost of living in general Don't forget we're all different who want and live our lifes the way that suits us It's not a competition its a general feedback thread Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sustain Posted April 19, 2015 Share Posted April 19, 2015 Sun surf and sarcasm? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MARYROSE02 Posted April 19, 2015 Share Posted April 19, 2015 I'm on my second stint in Sydney. In the first, I made frequent trips back to England to see my parents, and eventually, after losing my job in Sydney, I went back to live in England for twelve years. I could have stayed there forever, but after my parents died, wanted to be closer to my brother here in Sydney. I'm now into my seventh year back in Sydney, and it is also the longest period I've spent in Australia without going to England. I've got a feeling I may never go back to England. My parents have passed away, so the only real reason to go is to sort out my house and personal effects. The house is rented out and provides me with valuable income, combined with my Royal Mail pension. I don't think life is necessarily better in Australia. I don't even think in those terms. I just 'live' here. I no longer have any reason to constantly compare the two countries. I suspect that is the way that most of us who are happy here live. It is only the ones who are not yet settled, and/or are unhappy who continue to make those comparisons. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ramot Posted April 19, 2015 Share Posted April 19, 2015 Sorry was trying to change what I wrote. Can't seem to control my iPad today meant to make my own post!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
newjez Posted April 19, 2015 Share Posted April 19, 2015 I was brought up in Australia, and have lived most of my life there, although I've spent a lot in the south of England. I reckon both places are pretty liveable if you have the money, but neither is perfect. But Australia will always be where my heart is. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bobj Posted April 19, 2015 Share Posted April 19, 2015 A love/hate relationship for me. I love living here and would hate to leave it.:yes: Cheers, Bobj. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flag of convenience Posted April 19, 2015 Share Posted April 19, 2015 Australia is declared Melbourne Age yesterday the most expensive country in the world. It gave examples of cost of living. For those longer settled with own house and preferably no mortgage wouldn't find it too bad. But by and large country is overpriced is most all things as a result of recent boom now in steady decline. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JockinTas Posted April 19, 2015 Share Posted April 19, 2015 Houses are grossly overpriced :sad: Thank goodness we bought our house years ago and have also been mortgage free for years - putting our money into saving for our old age. Now retired and living comfortably. Never splashed the cash around before so reaping the benefit now. All in all, Australia has been good to us and our two lads have good jobs and seem to be managing fine with mortgages and day to day living. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tina0101 Posted April 19, 2015 Share Posted April 19, 2015 I disagree - I don't think houses are over-priced where we are in Brisbane, but then I came from the commuter belt on the M4, where it cost an arm and a leg for a one bed flat!! I guess it depends where in the UK you are coming from and where you are moving to. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MARYROSE02 Posted April 19, 2015 Share Posted April 19, 2015 Australia is declared Melbourne Age yesterday the most expensive country in the world. It gave examples of cost of living. For those longer settled with own house and preferably no mortgage wouldn't find it too bad. But by and large country is overpriced is most all things as a result of recent boom now in steady decline. Quality always costs more! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Que Sera Sera Posted April 19, 2015 Share Posted April 19, 2015 Don't believe the hype! Good or bad. Do your research, and then do it again. Nothing should really be a shock if you do. We have kept our spending to a minimum and not got into the all to easy route of going over the top or going overboard which is very tempting. We have found that here hard work rewards. Even minimum wage jobs are $16.87 an hour, casual loading if casual, which many of these types of jobs are, is $21.00 an hour. You won't pay tax until you have earnt $18,000 per annum. Remember though that for every skilled person that comes over, the likelyhood is they will be bringing a partner who is not and that means usually lots of people scrabbling for lower paid part time work, especially within school hours. Lifes been really very kind to us here, and I certainly realise that for some it has not, and I am genuinely very sorry for them, but this does not distract from the fact that it does seem to work for the majority. Try and keep spending in particular debt to a minimum, do not over commit mortgage wise then if tough times are ahead you will put yourself in a better position. A can do, rather than a what have I done? attitude won't put food on the table but will put you in a far better position to make things work. I love my life here I make no bones about it and I refuse to apologise for it, it hasn't come without sacrifices, but positivity can make this experience a whole lot easier. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sustain Posted April 19, 2015 Share Posted April 19, 2015 Quality always costs more! But that's the issue Quality Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HappyHeart Posted April 19, 2015 Share Posted April 19, 2015 ^^^^^What she said^^^^^ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HelensvaleHoward Posted April 19, 2015 Author Share Posted April 19, 2015 Great replies so far I guess my turn... Been here nearly 5 years Had ups and downs but I'd say many more ups than downs but it aint perfect here so don't be fooled into thinking that You only get out of life what you are willing to put into it You don't get it put on a plate for you We did miss certain things from and about the UK for sure But after a time you realise this is not the UK and you have to move on You find food you like but never try and make it like you did in UK and then say it's not like it was before because that's what can make you feel homesick Food will be different even the HZ beans lol You're in a new country did you expect the UK but with more sunshine??? Cos it aint The heat and humidity (Gold Coast) can be a killer but when you move to an area that has these things guess what you'll have them and no point in moaning get used to it or move it won't change for you Do your own homework Listen to those that moan about Australia carefully but take most of it with a pinch of salt as we're all very different The UK is agreat country for sure and so is Australia but some will only be able to live in one I choose Australia Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rallyman Posted April 19, 2015 Share Posted April 19, 2015 We have been here nearly 5 years this year, I still feel this is the land of opportunity if you are prepared to roll your sleeves up and work hard. We have achieved more in this time than we would have done back in UK. As others have said its had its ups and downs but more ups than downs. I find food a better quality here Property prices in the main city's are off the scale , I am going to finally achieve a dream by building our own dream house in the hunter valley on a golf course surrounded by vine yards . the weather is a massive plus for us . Its not for everyone but my glass is always half full and I feel you get out off life what you put into it. There are certainly worse places to live. I think if you have had the guts to uproot and travel this far you are a strong person the experiences will only make you stronger and wiser if you return . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MARYROSE02 Posted April 19, 2015 Share Posted April 19, 2015 Great replies so far I guess my turn... Been here nearly 5 years Had ups and downs but I'd say many more ups than downs but it aint perfect here so don't be fooled into thinking that You only get out of life what you are willing to put into it You don't get it put on a plate for you We did miss certain things from and about the UK for sure But after a time you realise this is not the UK and you have to move on You find food you like but never try and make it like you did in UK and then say it's not like it was before because that's what can make you feel homesick Food will be different even the HZ beans lol You're in a new country did you expect the UK but with more sunshine??? Cos it aint The heat and humidity (Gold Coast) can be a killer but when you move to an area that has these things guess what you'll have them and no point in moaning get used to it or move it won't change for you Do your own homework Listen to those that moan about Australia carefully but take most of it with a pinch of salt as we're all very different The UK is agreat country for sure and so is Australia but some will only be able to live in one I choose Australia It sounds like you kept looking forward, rather than backwards, thinking of all the new experiences to be found in a new country, as opposed to thinking about the old ones you left behind? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted April 19, 2015 Share Posted April 19, 2015 Been here nearly seven years now, two years on the Gold Coast and nearly five in Melbourne. Hated it for the first three to four years, but now I find it generally ok. I know that I'm no one's idea of a sucessful immigrant, but if I could give prospective immigrants some advice it would be to make sure that you can still continue to enjoy things from your old life in Britain post-arrival in Australia. Looking back to when we came out here in 2008, I was plunged into a life on the GC which bore no resemblance to the life I'd lived in London. It was all too much too soon and I pretty much went under without any of the familiarity of home. It sounds daft but if I'd been able to find a pub selling British beer and showing Premiership football it might have eased the transition to a new country and culture! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Que Sera Sera Posted April 19, 2015 Share Posted April 19, 2015 Been here nearly seven years now, two years on the Gold Coast and nearly five in Melbourne. Hated it for the first three to four years, but now I find it generally ok. I know that I'm no one's idea of a sucessful immigrant, but if I could give prospective immigrants some advice it would be to make sure that you can still continue to enjoy things from your old life in Britain post-arrival in Australia. Looking back to when we came out here in 2008, I was plunged into a life on the GC which bore no resemblance to the life I'd lived in London. It was all too much too soon and I pretty much went under without any of the familiarity of home. It sounds daft but if I'd been able to find a pub selling British beer and showing Premiership football it might have eased the transition to a new country and culture! I dont think its daft at all. Being plunged is basically the same as being pushed. If you're pushed you kick out against it. Which isn't going to then make you accept it very easily. My OH did and still does drink imported cider and beer, and he loves the English and Irish type Pubs, he watches the Prem but his team is down in the Conference at the moment so he's not missing that :wink: He does miss going to home games though. On our recent trip back he manage to squeeze in two. He was happy as a pig in muck. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HelensvaleHoward Posted April 19, 2015 Author Share Posted April 19, 2015 I guess we all have our own coping mechanisms for tough times that you can have when making such a big move It is such a big step to take It can be hell for some in the first days, weeks, months, years and no one knows for sure how we'll handle it, some won't and maybe go back to the UK some will ping pong and some will stick it out Who's to say which is the best option I guess this boils down to the person, family to decide Just have no regrets either way This is like when you book an holiday we'll all have somewhere we'd want to go and it wouldn't suit everyone We're all so different Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
northernbird Posted April 19, 2015 Share Posted April 19, 2015 I have lived here for 10 years now and love it, it's my home. However, if I was looking at moving now with the information I now know I would not come and that is purely down to cost of living and the current job market. This is with regards to Perth only as I have no idea about the rest of the country. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HelensvaleHoward Posted April 20, 2015 Author Share Posted April 20, 2015 Thanks for keeping this thread to those in Australia only Some really great comments Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fleks Posted April 20, 2015 Share Posted April 20, 2015 Great responses for someone who has only been here for 4months. Not sure how I feel, but been great reading these. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marisawright Posted April 20, 2015 Share Posted April 20, 2015 I have lived here for 10 years now and love it, it's my home. However, if I was looking at moving now with the information I now know I would not come and that is purely down to cost of living and the current job market. I think this is the point people miss when they talk about "Aussie haters" on this forum. Yes there are a few posters who hate the place, but most of those who express reservations or concerns are just worried for families making the move now, when it's so different from when we arrived. Australia has changed a lot in the last 10 years, but you still see Brits talking about "living the dream" or expecting "a better future". Neither of which is really true these days. Whether Australia is better or worse depends hugely on what part of the UK you come from and what part of Australia you come to, what your salary is going to be like and what lifestyle you enjoy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HelensvaleHoward Posted April 20, 2015 Author Share Posted April 20, 2015 I think this is the point people miss when they talk about "Aussie haters" on this forum. Yes there are a few posters who hate the place, but most of those who express reservations or concerns are just worried for families making the move now, when it's so different from when we arrived. Australia has changed a lot in the last 10 years, but you still see Brits talking about "living the dream" or expecting "a better future". Neither of which is really true these days. Whether Australia is better or worse depends hugely on what part of the UK you come from and what part of Australia you come to, what your salary is going to be like and what lifestyle you enjoy. This is so true and a great post for those thinking about the move Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MARYROSE02 Posted April 21, 2015 Share Posted April 21, 2015 I think this is the point people miss when they talk about "Aussie haters" on this forum. Yes there are a few posters who hate the place, but most of those who express reservations or concerns are just worried for families making the move now, when it's so different from when we arrived. Australia has changed a lot in the last 10 years, but you still see Brits talking about "living the dream" or expecting "a better future". Neither of which is really true these days. Whether Australia is better or worse depends hugely on what part of the UK you come from and what part of Australia you come to, what your salary is going to be like and what lifestyle you enjoy. How do you pick the perfect time to move? No amount of research in the UK will tell you what it is going to be like "on the ground." In retrospect, I was stupid to quit a comfortable, well paid job to come to OZ in 1978, and I was equally stupid to do the same thing in 2008. I should have stayed with Royal Mail till I reached 60 and got a better pension. But I didn't know it would be difficult to get a job in either 1978 or 2008. But if you try to pick the optimum time to look for a job or when the FX rate is best, or when the cost of living is low, you will never go. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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