I’ve just gotten my Skilled Migrant PR and am thinking of moving Down Under, probably Perth or Melbourne (heard Sydney is expensive). I’m actually an engineer by trade (Telco background) but job applications online from abroad apparently are a little tricky, so may make the big move before a job opens up.
Any pointers or tips on best places to live, snagging a job quick, good gyms to go to, stuff like that?
I’m not too proud to work blue-collar, was a rigger in my younger days, heard that market is real good in Australia, so am considering part-time hourly work as a rigger/dogger (would be good as a second job as well), anyone into that?
With your employment background, I’d go to Perth. Plenty of well-paid mining and mining-related work over there. Being a new migrant, they might ask that you travel interstate to mine sites (and I note that Western Australia’s a HUGE state), so if you do go there be prepared to be flexible. Lots of fly-in fly-out type jobs.
For white collar jobs however, Sydney and Melbourne (where I live) are your 2 best bets, being the larger and more commercially focused cities. Sydney is only slightly more expensive than the other capitals but really, not by much. You’d probably earn a little more there anyway. I certainly wouldn’t discount Sydney as a place to stay only because of cost of living concerns.
All major Australian cities (Sydney, Melbourne, Perth, Adelaide, Brisbane) rank pretty highly in liveability in pretty much any international ratings. Each have their pluses and minuses of course but you can’t really go very wrong with any of them. All have good places to live (check out realestate.com.au for places to rent).
Melbourne and Sydney are the most ‘vibrant’ in terms of culture, sport, things to see/do.
Western Australia and Queensland have the best weather and beaches. Sydney is decent too. Melbourne and Hobart have good beaches but unpredictable weather.
Hard to give you specific advice not knowing anything more about your preferences etc, but good luck!
Edit: BTW I’ve live and travelled extensively all over Aus (including all the cities I mentioned), so if you have further questions just ask.
Im from Perth. Although soon Greece is doing a swap for me for NikSamaras.
If you have any questions just ask me. Lots of jobs from engineering here with the mining, although apparently it is quietening down a bit. And the fly in/fly out lifestyle isn’t ideal if you ask me.
Melbourne has the best gyms, Dohertys is the centre of pro bodybuilding, Derrimut gym is in the outerwest of Melbourne is the largest gym in Austraia, has dBs to 120 kilo.
Fair amount of construction work in Melb and Sydney, like justrob said appears to be a lot of work in Wa but appears to be coming off the boil.
Am sure u will like Oz, its one of the greatest countries in the world and don't the girls like a American accent, ask anything as well.
If you are going to work in mining I highly recommend pursuing the Gold industry in Western Australia. The rate of Iron Ore construction related projects has decreased markedly. My prediction is Gold is going to surge as the currency crises (and money printing) situations unfold in the EU and US. Alternatively, there still may be some work on some of the large gas projects in either WA or QLD. Longer rosters if you do rigging, usually 3/1 or 4/1. (weeks on/off)
And… don’t listen to the naysayers about how fly-in, fly-out jobs are ‘so hard, and such a bad lifestyle’ It is what you make of it… I mean 8 days working, 6 days off is a pretty good gig (common roster.) The people that whinge are pretty much bitches. You get paid well, eat well and save a lot of cash.
Plus, a lot of engineers only work 10-10.5 hour days instead of the 12 hour of the blue collar guys.
Haha nice, probably don’t see these exciting animals as often as you think. When i first came to Australia I went straight into the scrub searching for snakes. Not sure what I would have done had i found one, probably imitate Steve Irwin and try catching it which would have no doubt resulted in being bitten.
Oh and once I was out fishing and a mate stood on a stone fish. Apparently it hurt somewhat, I told him to harden the fuck up and keep fishing. Credit to him he did, however it says the pain can be so much that people need to have limbs amputated… or maybe they are just pussies! Oh and don’t try icing it afterwards, makes it a whole lot worse hey.
[quote]NotaQuitta wrote:
Any Aussies in the forum?
I’ve just gotten my Skilled Migrant PR and am thinking of moving Down Under, probably Perth or Melbourne (heard Sydney is expensive). I’m actually an engineer by trade (Telco background) but job applications online from abroad apparently are a little tricky, so may make the big move before a job opens up.
Any pointers or tips on best places to live, snagging a job quick, good gyms to go to, stuff like that?
I’m not too proud to work blue-collar, was a rigger in my younger days, heard that market is real good in Australia, so am considering part-time hourly work as a rigger/dogger (would be good as a second job as well), anyone into that?[/quote]
Find out where The Bird lives and live as far away from there as possible!
But seriously I would say Melbourne or Sydney would be your best bets for Telco. Telstra is government linked but I think it’s completely privatised now. Since you’ve got your PR I would of thought that’s a huge hurdle overcome. I’m from Melbourne and I think it’s Australia’s best city, totally biased but when you go you’ll see lol
If you wanna get into mining, Perth is your best bet buuuut most companies have a good FIFO roster, so you can work anywhere.
Places like Newcastle, north of Sydney are nice as and right on the beach, and there are mines in Singleton and also availability for FIFO. Don’t limit yourself to the capital cities.
I grew up in Adelaide and now live in Sydney. There are also bulk mines in northern South Australia, and Adelaide is possibly the greatest city on Earth. I’d move back in a heartbeat if I had the chance.
Telstra is the biggest telco here, but there’s also an extensive broadband network being laid (NBN), so there might be work available with them. I believe their offices are in Sydney and Canberra. Be warned though, that Canberra is fucking cold and full of potheads. But fireworks are legal
[quote]NotaQuitta wrote:
Any Aussies in the forum?
I’ve just gotten my Skilled Migrant PR and am thinking of moving Down Under, probably Perth or Melbourne (heard Sydney is expensive). I’m actually an engineer by trade (Telco background) but job applications online from abroad apparently are a little tricky, so may make the big move before a job opens up.
Any pointers or tips on best places to live, snagging a job quick, good gyms to go to, stuff like that?
I’m not too proud to work blue-collar, was a rigger in my younger days, heard that market is real good in Australia, so am considering part-time hourly work as a rigger/dogger (would be good as a second job as well), anyone into that?[/quote]
blue collar market is staying strong despite market downturns; having an eng degree will be a big help though.
perth is just as expensive as sydney, if not moreso (cost of living as well as residential), but a much better job market (outside of the financial sector)
there are good gyms to be found wherever you go; a lot of bigbox gyms in the suburbs and a few powerlifting/strongman setups in the central light industrial areas.
for getting a job, your best bet is to go through recruitment agencies like:
The best thing you can do before coming down is checking to see how much your going to spend on the basics of life. This is where the internet is your best friend. Take your standard grocery list and go check out the websites of any of the major Oz stores…look for names like: Coles, Safeways, Kmart. If you’re British then I’d say these are the equivalent of Sainsburies or Tescos.
Do the same thing for accomodation. You’ll obviously want to rent first off. Also be prepared to look at shared accomodation with Uni students.
I’d also say that anyone looking at a long term stay will normally love the first three months and then sink into the depths of homesickness. This will last about another three to six months. You just have to tough it out if you want to stay the distance.
Both Melbourne and Perth have some great points, you should be able to enjoy either one perfectly well. So come on down, after all a criminal record is no longer an entry requirement!
