Do I confess my feelings to my boss before moving to the other side of the world?

I’d open a general conversation about how you are not sure about going for x and y reason and then throw in you’ll miss him a lot too. Then go from his reaction.

Don’t give up Australia for a relationship that isn’t even a thing yet. Keep in touch with him, invite him to come and visit you and see if he comes. That will be telling, if he feels the same he will come. Then you can decide and who knows.. he might join you.

I was once a 3rd party in a situation like this. We all worked together. He had a year abroad planned already she told me she really really liked him. I found out he really really liked her. So I organised a night out for a group of us and then mysteriously the rest of us peeled off after a while. They got together, she handed her notice in and went with him on the year abroad and they lived happily ever after.

Great that you have the Theatre - you can maybe do a pre or post drink and talk to him then.

In a way, Australia is a gift as it gives you an opening: I've been offered this opportunity but I don't know how I feel about it. Obviously I love my job here, but I also feel conflicted about leaving people behind...

That's enough of an opener for him to pick up if he wanted to, but vague enough to save face if he doesn't.

I wouldn't give up an amazing job opportunity for a man...

I can't imagine a man doing so either, tbh.

This. I don’t recall ever ‘confessing feelings’ to a bloke until well being the point where we’d accidentally-on-purpose snogged each other.
Engineer a situation where you’re dancing or need to be steadied or something and then just go in for the kill.
My eldest daughter once asked me how I used to pull (not exactly her words) back in the olden days and I admitted I couldn’t actually remember, we probably just jumped on each other at some point.😂 She was horrified!

Go to Australia OP, you will be back after your contract finishes. Then, maybe, you can tell him

But he made the move -- he asked her out! It's not his fault she thought he was joking!

If you're going to torture yourself thinking of what if's, just tell him.

Yes, what can I say......um....you live and learn ( wink)..

Six months is nothing. It will go by in the blink of an eye. A whole world of new experiences awaits out there. Don't give up on a paid for adventure for a bloke you happen to fancy. These boards are full of relationship problems and whose to say he will stay in the UK forever if he's from the southern hemisphere?

I suppose you have to find out if he feels the same way before you go, but I’d def go anyway, what an opportunity - Oz is great (well it was 27 years ago when I went!!). Assume you’ll be working in Sydney or Melbourne (or Perth).

Tell him asap. Don't mention anything about Australia yet (too much pressure). Just go on one actual date and see how you feel.

Who cares about the work dynamics, you're already spending time together anyway.

You only have to read mumsnet for five minutes to know there are no men lovely enough to be worth giving up this job for

Part of your crush maybe because you are in an anxiety quandry about accepting the Australia job. How long is the job for? Is it a year, 2 years or indefinitely? You must have had your reasons for applying for this job, so focus on those and look forward to it. At your leaving do, you can tell him how much you'll miss him and ask to keep in touch. Once you are there, confess your feelings and see how he responds. If it is mutual, you have a chance to get together on your return.

He’s your boss which is an issue, but if you leave he won’t be. So accept the Oz job and see what happens. It’s only 6 months and you can come back if you both want to get together.

Using my amazing powers of deduction I'd say he likes you (asked you out ffs!). So just woman-up and tell him you were wondering if he'd still be interested in that date? And when he says yes, say great, so you can kiss me after the theatre then. Boom. All sorted. How you ask him to move to Oz I'm not sure, but he's a kiwi so he has the right to work there ; )

Have you told him about the job? I'd see his reaction to that and then make a decision to either tell him how you feel or accept the job or hopefully both!

And now you tell us that he asked you out previously and declined!!!! That's a game changer.

I would wait until you are out socially with him (just the two of you) and tell him you have an opportunity of a job in OZ. Tell him that you realise there are a few things that hold you back from accepting it and one of those things is that someone asked you out a while back and you thought they were joking so said no, but the more you think about it the more you regret not exploring it further.

Most men are a disappointment anyway

There are thousands of men who will be compatible with you who are you are attracted to

Pick one or the other 😂

Sorry, I’m being no help to OP.

Don't give up the chance of a lifetime for a 'maybe' on a man.

The job is real and your future with him is currently imagined. I would take the job, what an amazing opportunity to see the world and meet new people.

However still go to Oz. What an amazing opportunity. I worked there for a year in my 20s and like you was worried about not knowing anyone. At 28 this is the perfect time to spread your wings.

That's cool. But they did still ended up being your ex.

I guess I shouldn't make assumptions about his level of interest.

But in my experience once you're an adult with experience you just jump in and shoot your shot.

@scaredaboutwork Take a tip from an old lady (me) and grab the fantastic opportunity in Australia whilst you're young. Things like that only happen once in your life, and that's if you're bloody lucky. Men are rarely worth throwing wonderful opportunities away for. I know to your young (and romantic) ears that sounds horribly cynical but honestly I think this would be a terrible waste of a new and exciting future for you. Don't deny yourself this amazing chance for the sake of a bloke.