Offered a job in Melbourne...

[DrSMW]

Hi,

I've been offered a job in Melbourne that I am very keen on.  Before committing, I have a couple of questions that perhaps some of you can lend some insight to...

1) Salary is approx $145k - how does this stack up in terms of being good/bad?  I currently work for about £50k in West Yorks, UK, so on paper a pretty big payrise but I'm concerned about the cost of living being higher.

2) I'm looking at a notional budget of $500ish per week rent and have found a fair range of properties around the Pascoe Vale/Hadfield/Fawkner/Reservoir 'arc' north of the CBD - any recommendations in terms of where would be best for a family to settle? We'd be after a 3-bed house with garden, ideally near shopping and nice stuff like parks, cafes etc. 

3) Work location will be Brunswick, north of CBD - are there any areas I'm missing that would be reasonably easily commutable to/from?  Ideally no more than 30 mins trip either by car, public transport or bike when the weather allows.

4) I have been offered a relocation allowance of $20,000 to cover home removals and flights - anyone any recent experience of cost of home removals from UK to Melbourne?

5) Last but not least, by the time we go (assuming we do!), we'll have a 6 month old baby.  Anyone got recent experience of bringing up a baby in Oz in terms of the support available and the general baby-friendliness of Oz versus the UK.

6) Finally (no, really finally this time) what are the general job prospect in Melbourne for my wife?  She is a textile designer by qualification but has considerable experience in the interiors design specification industry and general sales and marketing roles.

Thanks so much in advance for any advice you lovely people can offer.  Any general observations about the pros and cons of moving to Melbourne would be welcome!

Stephen

[Quoll]

Making the assumption here that it’ll be a temporary visa you will be coming on. You’ll not be able to access a whole raft of family support benefits which means you’ll be paying for all child care, no subsidy.

Pay is ok but in comparable terms you’re currently on twice the average wage so to achieve Aus equivalent you’d be short and would need to be of the order of $160k. You don’t say if your package includes super or not. That could be quite a big difference. Factor in, too, the big hit of setting up costs, insurances, bonds, vehicles etc. $20k will help towards that

I’d have thought $500pw for a nice house in a nice area might be a bit on the low side but check out real estate.com.au and take the artistic photos with a pinch of salt.

On a temporary visa will your wife get work? Who knows but it is known for temporary dependents to struggle to get meaningful career based work. They’re not that attractive to employers who would have to train them up only to see them nick off with 60 day’s notice.

Bringing up a baby as a small isolated family on the other side of the world is a tough gig but as long as you are self sufficient and somewhat selfish you can do it. Don’t expect a magical “village” to help you raise your child. Most of the other young Mums will be back off mat leave with their kids in crèche trying to make ends meet. Personally I find the burbs rather barren for good quality young mums stuff but it’s a very long time since I was one.

If it’s a fabulous opportunity for a short term adventure then go for it! Take a career break from where you are, rent out your home and suck it and see.

[DrSMW]

Thanks for that Quoll.

Visa will be a temporary in the first instance but opportunity to transition to permanent after 2 years. Salary has 17.5% super on addition which I understand is very good.

In respect of bringing up a baby "on the other side of the World", I'm very mindful of that especially in terms of wanting my wife to have an active life and me wanting to be more than a bathtime dad. On the other hand where we are now our family are pretty far away (albeit in the UK) and we both have friends living in Melbourne. The wellbeing of my wife and child are my priorities. Speaking frankly we have had a difficult time over the past few years and while such a big move is a challenge, we sort of see it as an opportunity to reboot life, if you know what I mean.

Aside from that, the job is a great move in career terms. Practical concerns like cost of living etc I'm doing my best to anticipate and plan for. Thanks again for your comments

[Quoll]

If you trawl these boards for long enough you will find that emigration is one of those things that exploits any little microscopic crack in even the best of relationships - so using it as a relationship Re-boot could be a bit tricky. Be aware, too, of The Hague Convention which governs permissions for removal of children from their place of residence. Australia will not let kids go if one parent says nay. That may be an issue for either of you but it’s usually the mum who wants to take the kids home and the dad, who loves Australia, won’t let them.  Don’t underestimate a woman’s need for her extended family once she has kids, unless they’re no-hopers of course. As I said, isolated parenting is a tough gig but that, alone might make you stronger as a family. Expect nothing from anyone else and any help you might get will be a pleasant surprise.

With super in addition to your salary, that’s a better position.

Dont assume that PR is automatic, it isn’t. There are all sorts of potential hurdles which could arise between now and 2 years hence. Treat it like it says on the tin - temporary - and anything else will be a bonus. 

If it’s a great career move, go for it. Evaluate at strategic points and see which way the needle points.

[DrSMW]

Thanks again, Quoll. For clarity, I said life reboot, not relationship reboot. We have each other and that's been enough for a long time. I won't go into the details obviously but while we have a lot of 'good' things here in the UK, we both feel a change, the right change, for the right reasons, can only be a good thing - possibly our baby is the change. Moving abroad is something we've wanted to do for a long time, simply the timing of this opportunity coming up at the same moment of our little miracle arriving is either a double blessing or a bit too much too soon. I had the opportunity to go to the USA last year but the employer got evasive just as I was seeking clarity. This time, the offer is nailed down, it is an excellent position and having met the people I feel reassured professionally and personally. My only real concern is helping my wife be more than just mummy, and our baby being well and growing up, for a while at least, in a safe, pleasant place.

[NicF]

$145k plus super is a pretty good salary and my OH and I had a pretty comfortable life here in Adelaide earning a bit less than that between us.  Melbourne could be more expensive and due to tax brackets your take home pay will be slightly less but still plenty providing housing doesn’t eat up a massive chunk of it.  For housing costs have a look at realestate.com.au for the areas you are considering.  I can’t comment on areas of Melbourne as I don’t know them but I’m sure there are some other threads about Melbourne suburbs in the forum discussing suburbs that might be worth a read if you haven’t already.

It’s six years since we moved so costs have probably gone up since then but a 20ft container cost us just over £4K.  Flights you can just check on something like skyscanner, and the only other major cost you would need to factor in would be the cost of accomodation while your stuff arrives (if you ship - some people don’t).  You can check on something like Airbnb or stayz.com.au for typical prices of a self catering place when you first get there.

[Marisawright]

22 hours ago, DrSMW said:

I've been offered a job in Melbourne that I am very keen on.  Before committing, I have a couple of questions that perhaps some of you can lend some insight to...

1) Salary is approx $145k - how does this stack up in terms of being good/bad? 

2) I'm looking at a notional budget of $500ish per week rent and have found a fair range of properties around the Pascoe Vale/Hadfield/Fawkner/Reservoir 'arc' north of the CBD - any recommendations in terms of where would be best for a family to settle? We'd be after a 3-bed house with garden, ideally near shopping and nice stuff like parks, cafes etc. 

3) Work location will be Brunswick, north of CBD - are there any areas I'm missing that would be reasonably easily commutable to/from?  Ideally no more than 30 mins trip either by car, public transport or bike when the weather allows.

4) I have been offered a relocation allowance of $20,000 to cover home removals and flights - anyone any recent experience of cost of home removals from UK to Melbourne?

5) Last but not least, by the time we go (assuming we do!), we'll have a 6 month old baby.  Anyone got recent experience of bringing up a baby in Oz in terms of the support available and the general baby-friendliness of Oz versus the UK.

6) Finally (no, really finally this time) what are the general job prospect in Melbourne for my wife?  She is a textile designer by qualification but has considerable experience in the interiors design specification industry and general sales and marketing roles.

Salary sounds fine, assuming superannuation is extra. 

Public transport in Melbourne is very good whereas car commuting can be a headache, so look at suburbs based on trams/trains. Use the Directions feature on Google Maps and use the "arrive by" option so you can see how long the commute takes in peak hours.  Check out Homely.com.au for information on suburbs.  Pascoe Vale, Coburg, Fawkner, all have their nice bits and rough neighbourhoods, so sometimes the cheaper places are in the bits you wouldn't want to live in!   Also be aware the real estate agents use fish-eye lenses and retouch photos, so houses look bigger and better than they really are.  I'd recommend budgeting $600 for a nice place in reasonable commute. 

Relocation allowance - bear in mind that as well as air fares and shipping, you'll have several other costs. A few thousand to replace all the little things you left behind (it's scarey how fast it mounts up), insurance, connecting utilities, bond money, new car (you can't get a car on lease if you're only temporary, as the lease will last longer than your visa!). So I'd say $20,000 is a little stingey, unless they're going to also pay for your temp accommodation when you arrive (you'll need about four weeks to look for and secure a rental).   

Job prospects for your wife - the fact that she's attached to your temp visa will make it challenging for her to get a permanent job, but temporary or contract work should be achievable. She could always go into business for herself, I'd say she would find plenty of demand in Melbourne. It's just a case of registering for a ABN (Australian business number), no other formalities necessary.

Final comment - as others have said, be aware that there is no "opportunity to transition" to a permanent visa at the end of your temp visa.  It's a misleading term. There's an opportunity to apply for a permanent visa, but you still need to be able to get enough points, complete the application and jump through all the hoops, just like someone applying from scratch in the UK. Also, the rules are changing all the time, so it may not even be an option by the end of your contract.  Best to regard this as an adventure, and the PR visa as a bonus if it eventuates (and if you even want it, of course!).  Good luck!

[ABG]

We’re moving to SE suburbs in Sept (Mentone area) and based on costs from my brother who is already living there and in same family situation (family of 4, 2x young children), we calculated a little over $5k per month covers living expenses for the family in a 3-4 bed house (looking at $600/week rent, Foxtel, good internet etc), savings etc would be on top of that.

On moving costs, we were quoted £2.7k for 570 cubic feet shared container, £3.1k for 690 cubic feet ( half of a shared 40’ container), and £3.4k for private 20’ container (690 cubic feet).

We got flights for average £430 per ticket on Singapore airlines.

We’re budgeting on having to pay 3 months rent upfront + 6 week deposit. There are other chunky bills, like car rego ($850/car I think) but I reckon $20k relocation should be enough.

As we’ll have no credit history in Aus, we’re going to get a UK loan for car purchase as although we have the cash to cover it, I’d rather pay next to no interest and manage cash flow as we’re living off savings until I get a job.

I may have missed it, but have you been to Melbourne before? We went last year to activate our visa and it has something for everyone. Sports, arts, beaches, parks, skiing nearby in Winter etc. We can’t wait to go!

[starlight7]

You will love Melbourne, it is a lively and cultured city with heaps to do.  On that income you should be just fine and it depends on the sort of thing you like where you would want to live.  Huge variety here- from beaches to forests and pretty much everything in between. If you prefer city life the inner eastern suburbs are good but with a little child you might be better going slightly further out for the fresh air and open spaces!  Definitely look near railway stations ( not that near, but within a 10-15 minute drive) Otherwise the trams are good in the city- buses not crash hot.  Driving can be a pain because of parking difficulties unless they provide you with parking space with your job.  Of course if you have to travel around you would have to have the car with you. Traffic is bad but nothing compared with a place like London.

[kelv]

145k a year is a fantastic wage I’m half that.
We live in Melbourne it’s what you make it and I’ve never regretted moving here beaches and parks are free clean and tidy and people are so much nicer [emoji106][emoji106][emoji106]

[elderberry]

You''ll be fine on $145k. Be careful when thinking that Melbourne and it's suburbs may work the same as they often do in the UK - live further out, more family friendly etc, it's not always the case. For example I've not heard much good in respect of Reservoir, Preston is also a bit grubby! You could try looking nearer Northcote. Moonee Ponds, Ivanhoe or jump across the Yarra - I really like Templestowe and if I had a young family this looks like a great place to set up (with a good bus service along the freeway back to the city) with Warrandyte not far away to escape the city, and Doncaster shopping centre a short drive away.

[Beffers]

Get your Mrs to join UK Mums in Melbourne Facebook page. Lots of support on there.

Melbourne can be busy, traffic wise, so choose your suburb with public transport in mind. Your wife should find work but she needs to be prepared that she may not get the contract or pay she wants as a secondary applicant on your visa. Childcare is fairly pricey with places at a premium and long waiting lists, and no Childcare subsidies or help at all on a temporary visa. 

For the northern suburbs, maybe check out Templestowe, Eltham, Montmorency, and around that area. Your rental estimate is a bit on the low side and I'd be moving towards the 600/week to be more realistic. Rentals can be hideous so you'll need to choose with care. Do some basic research on realestate.com.au and check out suburbs on homely.com.au for viewpoints.  

When we came to Melbourne last year, our initial costs were flights, £1500 for family of 3 via Singapore, our 20ft container was £4500 all in, all following in $$: rental car for two weeks 500, then we got a second hand Astra for 2500 to see us thru. Rego was around 800 and insurance around 200. We had 3 weeks in an AirBandB which was about 700 all in. Then we paid months bond and months rent up front on rental which was 1716 bond and same in rent (we live in a different area) and another sum for contents insurance. We had to buy a few things whilst we waited on our container to arrive.    Make sure you also factor in private health insurance, for which we pay around 130/fortnight for a family of 3 and Ambo cover is not expensive but essential.  I think utility bills are quite high here but you can set up payment plans etc.  as a tenant, you don't pay rates, as your landlord pays those.  I think your 20K should cover a fair whack of all that.

Finally a temporary visa is just that, temporary. You need to accept that, whilst you may be able to secure PR, it's not guaranteed, the regs become tighter every year and you may be returning to UK at end of the adventure, just something to bear in mind.  The other post above about removing children is a very real one. I know two families who are stuck here as they failed to take that seriously. 

Credit history works differently here. I got a car loan without any difficulty by showing pay slips and paying a 2K deposit. It's not based on what you've done so much, but about your ability to repay. Lots of people lease here too and you can do that with a few payslips behind you.  Carsales.com.au is good for second hand cars if you wanted a cheapie to give you a runabout from the off. 

Notwithstanding all the above, we've been here a year now and have not looked back since we touched down last year. Victoria is an amazing region, and we've had a ball!! Good luck!! 

Edited June 25, 2018 by Beffers

[Beffers]

And I'm adding 2+2 together here, Brunswick + 17.5% Super sounds like RMIT - if it is, go for it. Fab uni. Have friends who work there. I used to work at Monash but have since transferred into a specialism within government. 

Edited June 25, 2018 by Beffers

[DrSMW]

Thanks all for those helpful comments - good advice there. Ideally I'd like to live closer to the beach, or at least sea shore but on the other hand from what I can see unless I take a train or tram which stops directly at Brunswick, I'd have to go into the city and then back out, which I don't want. East-west travel in Melbourne seems to be a bit of a challenge.

I'm told I'd have a parking place but I'm guessing with one car in the first instance I'd rather leave the car for milady, so public transport it will be. Thanks for those suburb suggestions, I'll look at them.

Beffers, it is RMIT. I am super excited about the job but that's just one part of life. Thanks all for your replies, keep them coming

[Beffers]

On 25 June 2018 at 22:42, DrSMW said:

Thanks all for those helpful comments - good advice there. Ideally I'd like to live closer to the beach, or at least sea shore but on the other hand from what I can see unless I take a train or tram which stops directly at Brunswick, I'd have to go into the city and then back out, which I don't want. East-west travel in Melbourne seems to be a bit of a challenge.

I'm told I'd have a parking place but I'm guessing with one car in the first instance I'd rather leave the car for milady, so public transport it will be. Thanks for those suburb suggestions, I'll look at them.

Beffers, it is RMIT. I am super excited about the job but that's just one part of life. Thanks all for your replies, keep them coming

Drop me a line with any specific questions, happy to help!