Young People moving to Australia

[Cleabes]

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.

A lot of young Aussies move to London, so there seems to be a constant exchange going on.

My DSD is there now and she loves it. But it's very expensive and finding accommodation has been hard. She's made some lovely friends but it's quite transient so some come home quite soon.

He should give it a go. I wish I'd travelled more when I was younger.

Brits have a really weird attitude to emigration, like it's some anomalous, selfish act of rejection of your family and friends for the sake of better weather or some imaginary beach lifestyle or something.

Only Brits? I think most people of every nationality want to keep their offspring close. Unless they live in a hellhole.

It's human nature.

I went to Canada on a 1 year working holiday, stayed for 3 years. I would have went to Australia, something I always wonder about but too late now. I went with barely any money in the bank and having never visited Canada. It was great, 10 years later I’m still extremely close to two friends I met there. They both moved back to the UK and I class them as my real friends so I think there’s a chance your son will make good friends too. I haven’t made friends like those ones since, the bond you make with expats while travelling is v special.

im Irish and noticed this too, it’s a given that Irish children will travel at some point in early adulthood, nobody bats an eyelid if you do it and almost expect it from you. When I moved to the uk I was shocked at how many British young people just move to London rather than another country.

We went over on a working visa and stayed for 5 years. We had never visited there before so had no idea what to expect. We loved it.
We were in Queensland and Towards the end of our time there the summers got a bit too much as the heat was relentless and the pull of family was too strong so we came home. We're glad we did it but also glad we're back.

I know someone whose DD went over to work there last year, she's in her early 20s.....she was back to the UK within six months. Couldn't stand it as it was too expensive for a start and got homesick.

People are different. I've lived and worked in two countries id never visited before in my youth.

My brother moved out there in his mid 20s, initially for a year but he had emigrated permanently (although he is now in New Zealand.) He initially lived in Sydney and loved it, but it is cripplingly expensive.... potentially more expensive than London although if your DD is used to London prices that won't be as much of a shock. He loved the lifestyle but when he decided he wasn't coming back to the UK and realised he could never afford to buy in Sydney he moved to Perth. Then moved again to NZ.

I don't blame him at all but I know he finds it hard being so far away from family.

My brother moved out with his Aussie-born wife about 30 years ago (living in suburban Sydney and 4 years in rural NSW), so I have visited for several months in total over the intervening years. DH has family in Perth and Melbourne, who we see less often. I'd say that it helps to embrace a sporty, outdoors lifestyle.

Video calls/messaging have really changed the extent to which we keep in touch, but I know it gets difficult with elderly parents the opposite side of the world. I've known couples split because one misses family and the other doesn't want to leave.

( BTW It is about 5 hours drive to the ski slopes from downtown Sydney - yes it does snow in some bits of Oz).

Ask him to compile a list of everyday costs he pays now and the cost of the items over there, to get an idea of the cost of living, ask him to see how much the salaries are for the job he does and compare.

Ask him to watch a couple of the shows Wanted Down Under episodes
Considering a move to the other side of the world can create a massive dilemma for even the most close-knit families. For Mum perhaps constant sunshine and barbies on the beach is her lifelong dream, while for Dad and the kids it may mean leaving behind, not only everything, but everyone they know and love in the UK. BBC One's Wanted Down Under helps families and couples from across the UK make one of the biggest decisions of their lives by giving them a week-long taste of life 'down under' before they decide whether or not to make the move. Our intrepid families spend a trial week in an Australian or New Zealand city exploring property, work and lifestyle opportunities before checking out the true financial cost of living down under. After experiencing what a new life could offer, they are then shown often heart-breaking messages from their friends and families back home before voting once and for all whether they will stay ... or will they go?

If your DS would be intent on continuing to work in renewables then he needs to be aware of where the Australian industry is concentrated - a lot of the energy industry is Perth/Adelaide with a smattering of smaller companies on the east coast and the government body CSIRO in Canberra.
Depending on exactly what he does and how much experience he has, the wages are just ok given Australian cost of living.
Adelaide is one of the cheaper parts of Australia to live in - less than London - but is pretty marmite (or Vegemite). It is definitely not like London. Sydney is mind bendingly expensive, the cost of living comparison sites aren’t really up to date with the reality of it, specifically the state of the rental market. Perth is lovely but it’s a four hour flight from Sydney and a long way from anywhere else in Australia for that matter.

Same. Great to spend a year or two there but not long term. For me it was just so far from the uk. I could just about face the journey once a year but no more.

@Maddy70 I kind of misunderstood what the OP meant - I thought her son was thinking of making a permanent move there without even having been there.
Going for a short time on a temporary visa would be fine.

He wants to explore a bit more of the world and see what life would be like there.

Not just Brits - DS is in Australia and the families of his Australian friends who are planning on travelling or have travelled weren't thrilled about the prospect of them being so far away either. Most of us accept it and wish them well, while missing them terribly.

OP - DS and his GF are having a great time in Oz. They're in Melbourne and love the city. They're having some amazing trips to Asia and have seen a lot of Australia. The weather, beaches and countryside are amazing and they both have very good jobs in their degree fields. Downsides are obviously it's so far from everything and coming home is very expensive and takes ages. Food is v expensive, healthcare whilst good has to be paid for to an extent, and they say there is more overt racism even amongst younger people which surprised them. They are planning to come home in a few years to start a family, but in the meantime are having a fab experience.

Like others have said, he should definitely go for a visit and stay for a year or two if he can. As for actual emigration, it is never easy if you have family ties. It’s only the second generation who usually really benefit.

DS struggled a lot getting his current job as it is (first job out of university). How would he go about applying for jobs in Australia?

@Cleabes

Would he be eligible for this, OP?

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

I might feel that the lifestyle here is more relaxed and laid-back, especially with Australia's climate and outdoor activity culture, which are very appealing. The environment here allows me to find more balance in my life. However, due to cultural differences, I initially had some difficulty adjusting to the social norms, and the cost of living is quite high. But after settling in, I realize it’s all part of the process of adapting and facing challenges. Overall, I think it's been a pretty good experience.🤔

DS and DIL went to Sydney with the intention of staying, they had professional qualifications and jobs so no problems with residency status. Other young people we know who have gone dud find living expensive. Some stuck it out and became nationals, but strangely all are back in the UK now. Although they can return without any problems. When ours wanted to start a family they came home.

I have lived in the UK (England, though not London) and Australia (Sydney). I think a lot of what people take out of both places depends on your stage of life and what you enjoy doing. I liked that in the UK travel to Europe and other parts of the world were very accessible and enjoyed all the historical and cultural pursuits like museums and National Trust sites etc. I found groceries cheap and outside of London and parts of the south, housing costs are also quite reasonable.

However, I didn't enjoy the weather and the NHS services seemed grossly underfunded and hard to use. In Australia you can see any GP you want and I've found appointments can be gotten very easily, though you do have to pay in many places. I also prefer the heat to the cold so it works for me. Sydney is horrendously expensive and a huge sprawling city but it has amazing food and there is lots to do (though less so than London arguably), especially if you like the outdoors. Salaries tend to be much higher in Australia but the cost of living is also very high.

I know a lot of people say Australia is more racist - I'd say the UK was also racist but Australia is more overt and brash in its racism. Australia is more overt and brash in a lot of ways!

It’s hard to find work yes, and he may need to get a few crappier jobs to tide himself over until he gets the one he wants.
I wasn’t eligible for sponsorship or a role equal to what I was doing at home because I didn’t have the right qualification for Australia - although I had many years experience. Although your son has degree(s) so should be fine, once he managed to find one.

a lot of places won’t hire those on a 417 visa either (assuming that’s what he was looking at) because of the restrictions around it. You can’t work permanently, although I think the 6 month rule has now ended for UK citizens.

he really needs to be looking into this himself if he is serious about going, and not having his mum ask the questions on MN. It is a tough as country, and not as sympathetic as Ireland and you can easily be chewed up and spat out if not adequately prepared with your head screwed on.

DS had a job before he went, his GF worked in an admin job she found when she got there through an agency and then got a job in her field. DS is an engineer so they went over on an 18 month visa (can't remember what it's called - a graduate visa perhaps?) and now they're applying for permanent residency as they're being sponsored through his work. Neither of them had any difficulty getting a job in their field - they're crying out for engineers apparently, if that's what your son does.

I can get more details if your son is interested?

https://www.seek.com.au/renewable-energy-jobs. Keyword: renewable.

Just for a start.