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Original poster

Young People moving to Australia

86 replies

Cleabes · 09/12/2024 15:03

Those who have had Young People (relatives etc) move to Australia, what has their honest experience been?

DS has spent his whole life in London: grew up here, uni here (except for master's at Cambridge) and now works in London in a company and industry he enjoys.

He's not seriously considering a move but he is thinking to himself "what else is out there". He does like London and wants to be in a big bustling city but he does want to explore a bit more of the world.

OP posts:
LookingForAHandHold · 09/12/2024 15:04

My SIL's sister moved and loved it. My cousin moved and settled there, it's meant to be amazing

Original poster
Cleabes · 09/12/2024 15:07

DS was having a chat with me and tells me that in his head he imagines Sydney to be like London but warm all throughout the year.

DS works in renewables (if that makes any difference).

OP posts:
Needmorelego · 09/12/2024 15:08

Has he even been there? Like on holiday or something?

Lamelie · 09/12/2024 15:10

I lived in Sydney and it broke my heart to come home.
I did because of family here. All the expats I knew who were there for good had family back home that fell into one of the following three categories…
Dead
Awful
Rich and time rich enough to visit

HappyHolidai · 09/12/2024 15:10

I took 6 months off in my late 20s and travelled all round Australia and New Zealand.

I really enjoyed it but thought that if I moved, everyday life would be much the same really, only a long way from family. Not that I was particularly looking to emigrate.

He could just take some time to travel rather than moving. Or get a secondment.

Original poster
Cleabes · 09/12/2024 15:11

Needmorelego · 09/12/2024 15:08

Has he even been there? Like on holiday or something?

No. DS's been to the EU, the US and also to India.

OP posts:
strawberrysea · 09/12/2024 15:13

Cleabes · 09/12/2024 15:07

DS was having a chat with me and tells me that in his head he imagines Sydney to be like London but warm all throughout the year.

DS works in renewables (if that makes any difference).

He will be in for a shock. Sydney is nothing like London and it definitely is not warm all year round.

Has he ever visited Australia? I've both lived and worked there. It is a massive culture shock. I enjoyed my time there but wouldn't want to move there permanently.

All of the friendships that I made in my time there were very superficial and this was the experience of other British immigrants that I spoke to. The cost of living is even higher than the UK and the housing market is absolutely horrendous. I was paying £1000 a month in Queensland for a spare room in someone else's flat.

There are benefits to moving such as the weather and the beach but it isn't the paradise escape that a lot of British people think it is. My advice to him would be to take an extended trip there and see how he fits into the lifestyle and whether his job would pay him a salary that will afford him a decent quality of life.

UmbrellaEllaEllaElla · 09/12/2024 15:13

I lived in NZ and loved the way of life but couldn't handle the homesickness and being so far away.

I know many who've settled in Aus though, most happily. I do know one who is planning to come back to Europe following a divorce.

cheezncrackers · 09/12/2024 15:15

I have a couple of friends who did the Work Holiday Visa in their early 20s. It was only for a year, but there were various ways you could stay there, if you really wanted to, including getting sponsored for a visa or being in serious relationship with an Australian. They both came home, although one overstayed by a year or two and got a 10-year ban as a result! So if your DS just wants to get a taste of what it's like to live in Australia, that's one way to do it:

https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/getting-a-visa/visa-listing/work-holiday-417

Immigration and citizenship Website

Find out about Australian visas, immigration and citizenship.

https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/getting-a-visa/visa-listing/work-holiday-417

Needmorelego · 09/12/2024 15:22

@Cleabes well perhaps he should have a holiday there then 🤷
Seems an odd thing to be thinking about when he hasn't even visited the country.

HappyTwo · 09/12/2024 15:25

Both my sister and I grew up in Australia, lived in London for 10 plus years and my sister has lived in Sydney for 10 plus years. It's interesting because I think from my visits to Sydney its probably the best place for him to go if he likes London. It actually reminded me of London more than any other Australian city. Its also very beautiful surrounded by water - people catch ferries to work.

TildaTheCat · 09/12/2024 15:39

Needmorelego · 09/12/2024 15:22

@Cleabes well perhaps he should have a holiday there then 🤷
Seems an odd thing to be thinking about when he hasn't even visited the country.

You think it's odd to wonder about what it's like living in a different country?

Needmorelego · 09/12/2024 15:43

@TildaTheCat well not really but if I was seriously thinking about it I would at least have visited the country first.

YouveGotAFastCar · 09/12/2024 15:47

My DH did, as a teen. He loved it. Came back for a job but wishes he hadn't.

I know three people working there too.

Sydney is beautiful, and is quite like London. He can likely get a working visa, so he can go and try it out, if he can afford to! Just encourage him to look into next steps when it's coming towards the end - there's ways to extend but overstaying isn't a good idea.

Original poster
Cleabes · 09/12/2024 15:49

TildaTheCat · 09/12/2024 15:39

You think it's odd to wonder about what it's like living in a different country?

Show quote history

He's been watching a lot of videos about Australia and also asked friends who've visited.

Though DS has told me he's met quite a few Australians who have moved to London because they feel there's more to do here.

OP posts:
Bunnylovely · 09/12/2024 15:52

Needmorelego · 09/12/2024 15:22

@Cleabes well perhaps he should have a holiday there then 🤷
Seems an odd thing to be thinking about when he hasn't even visited the country.

Its not odd.

I think to lots of young people, Australia seems like the ultimate dream, as it is far away, sunny and the chance to try something different.

They won't know the actual reality of what it's like like until they get there. That it will have the same cost of living and expenses as everywhere else. Aus is very expensive

Olivie12 · 09/12/2024 15:52

Sydney is beautiful and great for young and active people.

It is very expensive but if he is already used to London's cost of living then he will feel like the same. Like in any country, there are cheap and expensive areas, it's up to your budget how much you spend.

There are plenty of outs activities and it is mostly warm weather.

Original poster
Cleabes · 09/12/2024 16:01

DS's company has no presence at all in Australia so he can't just ask work to let him work from an office there.

OP posts:
Bunnylovely · 09/12/2024 16:02

Cleabes · 09/12/2024 16:01

DS's company has no presence at all in Australia so he can't just ask work to let him work from an office there.

So he would have to look into the reality of moving. Would he be able to get a job. What visa would he need

iamnotalemon · 09/12/2024 16:12

Needmorelego · 09/12/2024 15:22

@Cleabes well perhaps he should have a holiday there then 🤷
Seems an odd thing to be thinking about when he hasn't even visited the country.

It's not an odd thing at all 🤣

Speaking as someone that has done it and is also living in the Caribbean without visiting beforehand...

iamnotalemon · 09/12/2024 16:15

Cleabes · 09/12/2024 15:03

Those who have had Young People (relatives etc) move to Australia, what has their honest experience been?

DS has spent his whole life in London: grew up here, uni here (except for master's at Cambridge) and now works in London in a company and industry he enjoys.

He's not seriously considering a move but he is thinking to himself "what else is out there". He does like London and wants to be in a big bustling city but he does want to explore a bit more of the world.

I did my working holiday visa in my twenties and absolutely loved it - I was heartbroken when I had to leave, though I ended up going on to NZ and did a year there too.
I appreciate its a long way from home and the time difference made it slightly harder to speak to family (though this was before smart phones and FaceTime), but it really is a great opportunity and I'd be encouraging him to do it.

yetanotherusername9183837 · 09/12/2024 16:20

I really believe you only regret what you don't do. He's young - why doesn't he move there for a year or two?

Needmorelego · 09/12/2024 16:23

When I said I thought it was odd it was because the OP described as her son "going to live there" - which I interpreted as a permanent move.
Going there for a year on a temporary work visa sounds fine.

TheSquareMile · 09/12/2024 16:43

Would he be eligible for the IECSEP scheme?

https://www.dfat.gov.au/publications/trade-and-investment/benefits-tech-entrepreneurs-and-innovators/iecsep

TizerorFizz · 09/12/2024 16:54

When people say it’s warm all year round - it’s absolutely baking for 1/4 of the year! Fires and extreme heat! It’s already been 40 degrees last month. I’m lucky. Everything I value is here. I’ve travelled a lot and don’t want to live anywhere else.

There’s another problem with Australia. It’s not a very inclusive.

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