I am 31, and considering moving to Australia…

[WhereamIgoing25]

So, as the title says: I am 31 years old, currently living in London, single (actually just been dumped by someone I was dating for a few months!), no dependents and a bit fed up with life here / in the UK… and thinking of moving to Aus for a year or so.

Don’t get me wrong - I have a pretty active social life, and I am close to my family and friends - but apart from that I don’t feel like anything is keeping me here. Especially not my job / career! It wouldn’t be a permanent move (I don’t think) but I am ready for a change.

Thought I would turn to MN for some advice! I’ve never been to Aus / NZ but I’ve always had it in the back of my mind to visit / move there.

Pros? Cons? Did you do it? Would you do it if you could? Best cities to move to? Are there really spiders and snakes everywhere?

I’m simply relating what my DH’s thoughts were. It’s fine if you don’t agree with them, but sensibly, the population density of the two countries is very different, particularly in urban areas. The styles of housing are not similar.

The racism and ignorance on these threads is astounding. Several time I’ve seen comments about ‘no culture’, ‘no old buildings’, ‘too far away from places with history’ when what they mean is that they’re only interested in white European history.
In Australia you have access to a myriad of ancient cultures, including China, south-east Asia, and Indigenous cultures in New Zealand and the Pacific.

OP, Australia is different to the UK. You might experience culture shock. But there’s every chance you’ll love it. There are so many British people here who love it.

Go for it. what have you got to lose? If you don't like it, come back.

I got accepted years ago for work there. I didn't quite have the balls to do it and I regret that I didn't at least try it.

Do it! Wish I had instead of settling for a bloke who left me with 2 children. You can only regret not doing it, not actually doing it! May meet the man of your dreams and have a great life x

If you can, I would recommend you do. Have spent a lot of time in Australia and really enjoyed it. Wouldn’t want to live there (it’s overrated in mvho), but a great place to travel and explore. Plus you’re close to Fiji/Thailand (depending where you are), so more places to explore.

I’m sure that this has already been said, but it’s just for a year (maybe with the possibility of extending on a 3 year working holiday visa as explained in one of the first posts, for which you will be eligible until you’re 35, @WhereamIgoing25), and as you’re single and feeling adventurous, footloose and fancy-free, I think it would be a great thing for you to do.
One of my neplings has just gone to Perth on a working holiday visa and is having an amazing time, enjoying the beaches and outdoor life. They went without knowing anyone and before leaving, got a place to live in a very friendly house, over Zoom. I think there are plenty of job opportunities, as well, depending on your field. I’d say go for it, if you hate it you can come back early and if you don’t, you can stay longer/see about staying permanently.
Good luck with your decision!

Do it!! I moved to Melbourne (from London) 5 years ago when I was 28 and my only regret is coming back. Currently planning a move back but have a partner who's visa situation makes it a but more complicated. I went on a working holiday visa without a job, but I had some savings and it took me 4 weeks to get a job in advertising which was what I did in London and made lots of friends via work. I had better pay, better standard of living, and generally a better lifestyle especially if you like outdoor activities (in my opinion). Coming from London, you'll find renting cheaper in Aus. Sydney was not my vibe but Melbourne was great and I stayed for a year. Obviously nowhere is perfect and everyone has different experiences, but really, what's the worst that can happen? Your friends in London will still be here when / if you come back.

Of course it's different! Your ignorance is showing.

go there for a holiday and decide?

Same legal system, same political system, same medical system (they accept our sub-standardly trained doctors without additional checks, unlike the US), same language, same road system, same educational system. Sooooo different. I could continue with the 'differences', but it would be wasted on some people.

You have no idea what you are talking about. Anyway, do people actually move to another country and then spend their time thinking about the legal system, political system, road system ( have you ever travelled long distance on an Australian road?) or even the medical system? What makes you think the education system is the same? People are generally more interested in the history, geography etc. You sound odd.

If you've ever spoken to a British doctor working in Australia, you would know that our health system is massively better resourced and more functional than the NHS.

Medicare and the NHS are both universal health systems but they operate very, very differently in everything from taxation to GP funding to Australia's large private health system and use of private health insurance in public hospitals.

I did the exact same thing you did at the exact same age.

I had however visited Oz before but not the city I first moved to. I would say you only have one life - do it. I am very very glad I did even if looking back I have mixed feelings on if I should have gone.

But I needed the experience, made lifelong friends, got a second passport. In the end I moved back as I had no family there but I know plenty others who stayed (I was there a decade.)

The only con is the distance from family and how hard it is to keep in contact with friends / family. I also lost contact with some of my “newer” friends.

Also if you don’t have the requisite skills the path to staying long term can be hard (was easy for me as I was a highly skilled migrant and it took me 4 years to get me Oz passport but others I know had to move back to the UK against their will).

As somebody who was a patient in both I actually found the NHS better and definitely covers far more without any expectation of gap payments.

Private healthcare cover is far better in the UK but Oz is miles ahead in ease of booking GPs.

You have never lived in Oz and should just say that.

It is and feels different to the UK.

Obviously less different than if OP moved to Vietnam or Iran or India.

But different nonetheless.

There are not snakes everywhere - I never saw one in a decade outside a zoo.

There are spiders outside, especially on lamposts but I don’t see the big deal regarding spiders.

Best city comes down to personal choice. My favourite Australian city is Melbourne. I never got to live there though. I like big multi-cultural hubs so Sydney and Melbourne are my top two.

I’ve also been a patient in both, and found Australian hospitals and healthcare to be infinitely better.

Downsides - personally I found Australia has a huge bro culture - moreso than the UK. Although in some other respects less sexist (they are far less disparaging of female sports.)

It is more of a nanny state than I expected and that was a huge cultural shock to me and more health and germ conscious than the UK.

Oz is far less racist than foreigners think it is (Europe inc. the UK would erupt into WWIII if it had Australian immigration rates and if 28% of their populations were foreign born) but far more racist than Australians think it is (I will never forget going to a corporate event and seeing people in blackface. In 2012!!!! This was Queensland though. But still….)

Also OP - planes travel in both directions.

I equally know plenty of people who moved to Australia and disliked it. So they moved back. I will say for me - though it has many pros I am not missing it since I moved back. The distance was tiring and I realised I cannot live without my family nearby. I also find the cultural mix in the UK was more suited to me.

So go, just GO!

Give it a minimum of 2 years. If you don’t like it - move back.

Where would I rather face old age? The answer is not the UK.

For me it has to be the UK - old age without family support. Yikes! 😀

I'm more concerned about the hospitals and GP access to be honest.

I think that would be an issue in most cases if you move somewhere as a new retiree.

Australian men are awful.