Moving to Australia…?

[sunshine1037]

This is a pretty vague question but I hope the thread becomes full of lots of useful information / advice / experiences etc.

I am currently in my early 30s, living in London. I have been here for over 6 years and am from the South. I’ve never lived anywhere else except when I moved away for uni for 3 years.

I am single (trying to meet a partner but no luck). I have no children and I have no ties or loyalty to my job - infact, I am not enjoying it at all at the moment.

I’ve always considered moving abroad (temporarily, not forever) and now I just feel like it’s the right time for me to do something like this. I need a change.

I have always thought about Australia - in particular Melbourne, but I am open. I have never been, and I am aware that it is a long way away. But I know there is a big expat community there and lots of people seem to rave about it.

So, basically the point of this thread is, if you’ve lived in Australia / Melbourne, would you recommend? What was your experience like? Or even if you have close friends / family that have done this, how did they find it?

So I am from the U.K. and have lived in Sydney for 15 years. We’re currently having some time back in the U.K. to explore whether we move back or stay.
So, plus sides - Aus is beautiful, life is easy, there are heaps of things to do and nothing is ever crazy busy. Eg you can go to the Australian Open by just booking a ticket, you can go to shows at the Opera House etc. Weather is lovely for loads of the year. Yes it gets very hot for some time but in the main it’s in the 20s and sunny. Medical care is easily accessible and free/cheap. Schools are generally good. I don’t hear of the behaviour problems as much as I do over here. By and large teens are involved in sports, music, clubs, there isn’t the “hanging around” culture that there is in the U.K.

Down sides - it’s a long way from the U.K. and is expensive to travel. Depending on the things you like doing you may not find so much to do. Eg no National Trust, no castles, no old towns or villages etc. However, there are a plethora of other cultural things like galleries, museums, shows etc. It just isn’t quite so everywhere as it is in the U.K.

Cities are quite expensive but the countryside personally I would not want to live in, whereas I love the English countryside.
I do find it friendly and actually more so than where we’re currently living in the U.K. where I have found people to be nice enough but already have their friends. Luckily I have established a group here otherwise I would find it lonely. I was lucky in Aus as when we moved I worked for a large company and then had children after a couple of years so made friends through both those places. You so find Australians can be somewhat transient though, I’ve had a lot of people move through my life!

I would say, it’s worth trying for a while and see what you think. Just be prepared that you may forever feel torn between Australia and the U.K. and will find it hard to settle in either place. This has been the biggest downside for me, and even having come back this year, in some ways I think “why would I ever live here, it’s so expensive, busy and rainy” and then I’ll be out on a misty sunny morning and a deer will cross my path or I’ll go to a lovely cafe or National Trust place, or walk around an interesting part of London and think “oh yes this is my home”. It’s very difficult.

I think it's a matter of being open to new experiences and ways of doing things. I worked in a hospital here when we had a new surgical trainee each year, either from the UK or the USA, If they had decided to enjoy the experience of living in a new country, they thrived. The odd one came out and complained that things were not the same as in the UK - one complaining that the sun bleached his washing (which is why you hang it in the shade!). He kept moaning so nobody liked being around him. Well of course things are not going to be the same. The next one from the UK thoroughly enjoyed himself - an apartment with harbour views and an outdoor lifestyle!

Interestingly, the Americans seemed to respond better, I have no idea why.

If you go prepared for things to be different - some you will prefer, some not - then you will enjoy yourself.

When I lived in the UK I loved some things and missed others here in Australia.

Go and be prepared for an adventure. You can always return if you don't want to stay - but a couple of years away could be a terrific experience - and if you decide to stay, great.