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Original poster

I am considering moving to Australia...

35 replies

timetochange04 · 14/05/2023 17:55

I am turning 30 in a couple of months. I am single and I live in London, and I have been seriously considering moving to Australia for a long time when I can get the working visa before my 31st birthday. I don't like my job so the only thing that puts me off is how far away it is and that I will miss my friends and family a lot.

If you have any tips / advice / websites / videos that would be useful for me then please let me know! Even better if you ever made the move yourself!!

I would most likely go to Melbourne.

TIA.

OP posts:
chipsandpeas · 14/05/2023 18:07

Have you ever been to Australia?

RedToothBrush · 14/05/2023 18:12

timetochange04 · 14/05/2023 17:55

I am turning 30 in a couple of months. I am single and I live in London, and I have been seriously considering moving to Australia for a long time when I can get the working visa before my 31st birthday. I don't like my job so the only thing that puts me off is how far away it is and that I will miss my friends and family a lot.

If you have any tips / advice / websites / videos that would be useful for me then please let me know! Even better if you ever made the move yourself!!

I would most likely go to Melbourne.

TIA.

What type of work do you currently do?

It's harder than you think to get a young person working visa transferred to a permanent visa because a lot of employees won't take on someone on that type of visa.

You will need to be working in a field that has a need for certain skills.

It's definitely work the experience of going regardless, but keep an open mind and be aware of the limitations of the visa in practice.

Culturally there are concerns about Brits on the visa compared to other nationalities too because we have a reputation for being unreliable piss heads. To be to the point.

Original poster
timetochange04 · 14/05/2023 18:14

@chipsandpeas no never been.
@RedToothBrush I work in HR.

OP posts:
BIWI · 14/05/2023 18:15

If you've never been, then why would you choose Australia?

I can see the appeal of a holiday/extended vacation or even a gap year, but it's a really serious move without knowing more about the place.

SimonsCow · 14/05/2023 18:16

If you go there and settle down and start a family you are stuck there away from your family here. I did it and hate that my parents can’t have a relationship(other than zoom/occasional holiday) with their grandchildren. But I’d we moved back DH’s parents would be in that position. Something to consider.

RedToothBrush · 14/05/2023 18:18

You might find you struggle getting something similar at the same level in HR. Genuinely.

Look at travel companies that do packages involving recruitment agencies to see what type of work is available in Melbourne.

My companies will not consider you in competition with Australian residents and citizens.

If you want to stay long term, you need to be prepared for this as a thing. The big cities in particular have this issue.

Original poster
timetochange04 · 14/05/2023 18:20

@BIWI loads of people move to Australia without ever being there. I forgot to mention I am not considering a permanent move, but just for a year/2 maybe.

OP posts:
Okunevo · 14/05/2023 18:22

Agree with @SimonsCow, at least think carefully about the future. I moved with parents and siblings as a child and now my siblings and I have moved back one by one. It was too difficult being away from all other family.

SophiaElizabethGrace · 14/05/2023 18:22

Have you looked at the application process in respect to your specific qualifications? Are your HR skills needed and prioritised as medics and other trades are?

Fiddlerdragon · 14/05/2023 18:23

You want to move to a continent 10 thousand miles away just for a year or two? Have you considered the work that will involve just for a year of your life? Will it be worth the aggro and hassle of house hunting, job hunting, visas etc?

Nottodaysausage · 14/05/2023 18:24

Do it OP. I would say go on a couple weeks holiday there first to to be sure of where you like, what neighbourhoods have a good vibe etc and just go for it! You're only young and healthy and carefree for such a short time. Make the most of it ❤️

SunnyEgg · 14/05/2023 18:24

timetochange04 · 14/05/2023 18:20

@BIWI loads of people move to Australia without ever being there. I forgot to mention I am not considering a permanent move, but just for a year/2 maybe.

What sort of visa do you need?

BIWI · 14/05/2023 18:25

Beware though - we have two nieces who both went to Oz after university. Met their partners, settled down, got citizenship, had children. Now they're stuck there as they have their lives there, their children are Australian, they can't afford to come back. And their mum can't afford to go to live with them.

So even if you're only planning on going for a year, think very carefully about it.

Why not just go for a holiday first? You might actually hate it! Make sure you go in the summer, so you experience the real heat of an Aussie summer. And visit other cities as well as Melbourne.

isthismylifenow · 14/05/2023 18:27

Go visit first would be my advise.

I'm saying this as a southern hemisphere dweller.

Remember it can take about 2 years to truly settle into a new country, so I wouldn't think of it as a short term thing. The minimum amount of time you should consider for settling in, is 2 years.

I think you should seriously consider it, but you do need to do your homework.

Splinters05 · 14/05/2023 18:28

A few friends have completed a 2 year working visa or something similar... they all went for 2 years and had to come home.

All of them loved it. Go for it OP, you have no ties, live it up!

EngTech · 14/05/2023 18:35

Look into the house rental market, visas etc - There are a few problems about that aspect but good luck 👍👍👍👍

Zeonlywayisup · 14/05/2023 18:40

I’d do it like a shot. If you hate it come home, if you love it work to make it work or move on somewhere else.

Harebrain · 14/05/2023 18:48

Absolutely nothing to stop you from going if you want to but I’d definitely visit first. We have family there so have been a couple of times and whilst we love visiting, there’s no way we’d want to live there. You might love it but it’s a long way to go for something you might not enjoy.

RedToothBrush · 14/05/2023 18:51

timetochange04 · 14/05/2023 18:20

@BIWI loads of people move to Australia without ever being there. I forgot to mention I am not considering a permanent move, but just for a year/2 maybe.

If that's your plan just go. You have nothing to lose. It's an opportunity and really worthwhile even if you come home just because you get to live in another country. I loved it but also found it altogether a lot harder than I expected.

But adjust your expectations about what type of work you might do.

And don't get stuck in the cities which is the common thing to do. If you go, go and travel whilst there too.

19lottie82 · 14/05/2023 18:55

Bugger it, just go. You can always come back if you hate it.

you’re more likely to regret not going, than going.

RedToothBrush · 14/05/2023 18:57

Fiddlerdragon · 14/05/2023 18:23

You want to move to a continent 10 thousand miles away just for a year or two? Have you considered the work that will involve just for a year of your life? Will it be worth the aggro and hassle of house hunting, job hunting, visas etc?

Working holiday visa (or whatever they've changed the name to now) is a piece of piss.

Thousands of under 30s do it precisely because they haven't got ties and it's an experience.

You meet so many people doing similar and perhaps more like minded. There loads of other nationalities on the scheme so it's great for meeting other internationals.

It's more common to do it age 18 - 21 but I did it a bit older (I was 25) and I knew a 30 year doing it who I got on very well with. And there were others who were a bit older who weren't there just for the party vibe.

I would highly recommend.

My concern was how the OP phrased it as 'moving to Australia' as if it's a permanent thing. It's better to go on the basis of it being a gap year and then seeing how it goes when you get there.

Accommodation in Sydney in particular can be hard to come by for people on this visa - but you can stay in hostels (which is an experience in itself)

Do it.

Toomanylatenightprogs · 14/05/2023 19:00

It doesn’t have to be for ever. I think the majority of ex pats return home in 5-10 years.
Look at it as an adventure, you’re going to see all you can, experience all you can and you can return any time you want. I’m envious!!

CuriouslyDifferent · 14/05/2023 19:03

I know some people feel stuck, and there’s enough about quals and experience requirements.

on the upside.

mY friends - an HR MBA finished her mba in Oz. He worked in marketing in the gaming industry - both love it. Also, they just had permanent residency confirmed - not sure I fully understand - something to do with working all the way through Covid…. Both only come back to visit friends and fam. they do miss people but quality of life - they say is much better. They’re very well paid though.

They're Sidney.

river2 · 14/05/2023 19:07

I know personally of three families who went to Australia with the intention of moving permanently, but returned within five years.
Reasons given were:
the extreme heat
the long, long distances between places
lack of culture/history
cost of things (cost of living wasn't a vast improvement on the UK)

Choccablocca · 14/05/2023 19:15

I did - 29 yrs old when I was single and living in London too. I ended up working and living in Sydney then backpacking my way home via Asia. I had the best time! I did miss family and friends at times (Christmas) but this didn't make my experience any less enjoyable. I did have a wobble before I went but my Mum said if you don't like it come back.

Years later I'm married, teenage kids, mortgage, living back in London and I won't be living abroad for a while but I would like to one day!

Just go for it! Only you will know whether you will like it and that is by actually doing it!