What's Australia like?

[SK1]

Edit from OneTime - Hi guys, I created this thread from a conversation we were having in another forum and figured there's enough content there for it's own subject. SK1 mentioned looking at another country to move to and now OneTime is trying to flog Australia to him, and ICE is batting for the new Zealand side... Feel free to join in... :grin





The Australian application (equivalent to spouse visa in the UK) - now that was both expensive and extensive - 60 pages of forms, full medicals, police checks in 2 countries, testimonials, photos, etc.

Sounds hectic OneTime. So are you going to get Naturalised in Oz as well and go for 3 passports?...hehehe.

Did you always fancy to go there or did you just get fed up with the UK and it's issues? My partner wants to go back to SA in a few years time, but I'm not so keen!!!! She misses her family, I do too, but not as much.

After my studies (long story - retraining and all), I would like to think of a place we can move too, which will suit her (she likes to be around sea, water, it relaxes her) and me....but don't know where (expect SA). Any ideas?

Cheers

SK1

[ICE]

.... to think of a place we can move too, which will suit her (she likes to be around sea, water, it relaxes her) and me....but don't know where (expect SA). Any ideas?



New Zealand!

[OneTime]

Sounds hectic OneTime. So are you going to get Naturalised in Oz as well and go for 3 passports?...hehehe.

Did you always fancy to go there or did you just get fed up with the UK and it's issues? My partner wants to go back to SA in a few years time, but I'm not so keen!!!! She misses her family, I do too, but not as much.

After my studies (long story - retraining and all), I would like to think of a place we can move too, which will suit her (she likes to be around sea, water, it relaxes her) and me....but don't know where (expect SA). Any ideas?

Cheers

SK1

Heh heh, yep, I always joke with my wife (Aussie) that once I've got my aussie passport I'll leave her for an American, then I've got 4 corners of the world covered in terms of passports... :lol:

I don't think I'll ever give up my South African though.

I always thought I would return to SA. Then I met my wife in London - we considered going back to SA for a little bit, but in the end decided on Oz, where she grew up - for a better future (in terms of job prospects and crime).

I miss my family and friends in a big way, but we had to trade off. At least were in the same country as one of our families.

Well, I could defininetly recommend Oz - Although we're still getting settled, I think this is where I'd like to stay. We have everything we need here - good job prospects, we live in the outer suburbs but commute to the city, the beach is half an hour away, the mountains in the other direction...

I could write a book on the positives. I'd be happy to answer any questions you might have on Oz... :thumbs

[SK1]

Heh heh, yep, I always joke with my wife (Aussie) that once I've got my aussie passport I'll leave her for an American, then I've got 4 corners of the world covered in terms of passports... :lol:

I don't think I'll ever give up my South African though.

I always thought I would return to SA. Then I met my wife in London - we considered going back to SA for a little bit, but in the end decided on Oz, where she grew up - for a better future (in terms of job prospects and crime).

I miss my family and friends in a big way, but we had to trade off. At least were in the same country as one of our families.

Well, I could defininetly recommend Oz - Although we're still getting settled, I think this is where I'd like to stay. We have everything we need here - good job prospects, we live in the outer suburbs but commute to the city, the beach is half an hour away, the mountains in the other direction...

I could write a book on the positives. I'd be happy to answer any questions you might have on Oz... :thumbs

OneTime and ICE,

Strange thing is I never thought of going down to NZ or OZ. I know a NZ'lander here in the UK and she keeps on telling us how beautiful it is down there and that she will return after getting a UK passport and some experience under her belt.

Also, I have friends who have family in OZ and my partner's nephew is planning on making the big move to OZ. He's going with his wife for a holiday in a few months time (I think to win her on the idea), as he is sick of JHB and all it's shananigans...

I don't know if I want to go that far? And then it's the issue of securing work permits and start all over again being immigrants....LOL. Are Australians racist? (I don't like Mr Howard and his policies at all). I'm not white and my partner is a muslim (no she's not radical at all and don't wear the traditional dress either).

Any views appreciated?

SK1

[OneTime]

OneTime and ICE,

Strange thing is I never thought of going down to NZ or OZ. I know a NZ'lander here in the UK and she keeps on telling us how beautiful it is down there and that she will return after getting a UK passport and some experience under her belt.

Also, I have friends who have family in OZ and my partner's nephew is planning on making the big move to OZ. He's going with his wife for a holiday in a few months time (I think to win her on the idea), as he is sick of JHB and all it's shananigans...

I don't know if I want to go that far? And then it's the issue of securing work permits and start all over again being immigrants....LOL. Are Australians racist? (I don't like Mr Howard and his policies at all). I'm not white and my partner is a muslim (no she's not radical at all and don't wear the traditional dress either).

Any views appreciated?

SK1

Hello SK1,

I can appreciate what you mean about not wanting to go too far - it feels so much further away from home over here - it's 15 hours to get home direct and it's expensive, and being so far ahead in time really alienates you from the rest of the world. We're about to go to bed when you're preparing for lunch, sport from home is on at silly hours of the morning, you have to plan your phone calls in respect of timing, etc... I feel further away from my family than I ever did in the UK.

I guess I can only speak from my experience as a white person in Melbourne, but I find it very tolerant of all cultures over here - I look around my office and we've got white, black, pink, yellow - with many different cultures and I've not noticed any divide. Some cultures tend to stick to their own kind (but that happens anywhere, look at us South Africans on this forum) but that's personal choice.

I would say the only thing Aussies are not tolerant of is any threat to their way of life - they're happy to give anybody a "fair go" but don't come over here and talk about how wonderful it was in your own country. No problem if you're religious, but don't push it on them (that goes for any religion). The number 1 rule for South Africans coming over here (or anybody!) is - if you want to fit in, don't go on about how wonderful your own country was - you're here now and when in Rome do as the Romans do. If that makes sense?

There's all sorts here - muslims, hindus, christians, atheists, buddists and it's all accepted as long as religion is not pushed on people - Aussies like to make their own choices.

I must admit - I'm not big on Politics - but one good thing about here is that there are almost 2 different governments. The Federal government is John Howard's mob - they look after Federal, countrywide matters, then there's local government, who's labour, Kevin Rudd and co - they look after local matters, so you've got a mixture of 2 policies in most areas rather than just one all ruling power. (and that's my expert view on Australian politics for you:grin)

I can imagine that you're not keen on going through the whole immigration process - after all the visas I've applied for, I'm really sick of it.

I'm really not sure about New Zealand though - I've not been there - yet.

That's all I can think of for now... where are you originally from in SA? They say that certain cities over here remind people of certain areas in SA...

[SK1]

Hello SK1,

I can appreciate what you mean about not wanting to go too far - it feels so much further away from home over here - it's 15 hours to get home direct and it's expensive, and being so far ahead in time really alienates you from the rest of the world. We're about to go to bed when you're preparing for lunch, sport from home is on at silly hours of the morning, you have to plan your phone calls in respect of timing, etc... I feel further away from my family than I ever did in the UK.

I guess I can only speak from my experience as a white person in Melbourne, but I find it very tolerant of all cultures over here - I look around my office and we've got white, black, pink, yellow - with many different cultures and I've not noticed any divide. Some cultures tend to stick to their own kind (but that happens anywhere, look at us South Africans on this forum) but that's personal choice.

I would say the only thing Aussies are not tolerant of is any threat to their way of life - they're happy to give anybody a "fair go" but don't come over here and talk about how wonderful it was in your own country. No problem if you're religious, but don't push it on them (that goes for any religion). The number 1 rule for South Africans coming over here (or anybody!) is - if you want to fit in, don't go on about how wonderful your own country was - you're here now and when in Rome do as the Romans do. If that makes sense?

There's all sorts here - muslims, hindus, christians, atheists, buddists and it's all accepted as long as religion is not pushed on people - Aussies like to make their own choices.

I must admit - I'm not big on Politics - but one good thing about here is that there are almost 2 different governments. The Federal government is John Howard's mob - they look after Federal, countrywide matters, then there's local government, who's labour, Kevin Rudd and co - they look after local matters, so you've got a mixture of 2 policies in most areas rather than just one all ruling power. (and that's my expert view on Australian politics for you:grin)

I can imagine that you're not keen on going through the whole immigration process - after all the visas I've applied for, I'm really sick of it.

I'm really not sure about New Zealand though - I've not been there - yet.

That's all I can think of for now... where are you originally from in SA? They say that certain cities over here remind people of certain areas in SA...

Well OneTime, now that is what I call a summary. Thanks for posting.

I'm not big on Religion (though my wife is muslim, she's not staunch but liberal ), or Politics, but if anything is going to affect my life then I will sit up and listen and have a view.

I lived in the far south of JHB (A coloured township far removed from everything), but worked and mingled with all sorts during my Varsity and work life. I've never been to Oz and always told friends that I'd never move to Oz...but the more I think of it, I don't fancy staying in the UK either. I know my wife wants to go back to SA, but I want to have options and if SA don't work out, I can say, "Hey, lets go to (insert country) and try it out".

If all goes well, we'll be in the UK for the next 4-6 years, so I can complete my studies and for her to add to her skills and experience. Then we plan to go back to SA (CT preferably...not JHB). If it all works out ito jobs, quality of life, safety, affordability, etc. we'll stay. I doubt it....If it doesn't...where do we go? I thought of maybe staying somewhere in Europe, maybe France. Maybe move to USA? NZ based on what I've heard? or Oz?

Any English language country will be my first choice. Makes it easier to integrate and get settled for work, etc. So, my shortlist, would be CANADA, USA, NZ, OZ (in no particular order). Getting work and permits would be up there ito priorities, but also other factors if we going to make another big move.

SA has become soooo expensive and there are a lot of things my friends and family complain about and I wonder if we would be able to re-integrate back into that lifestyle after being out of it for over 10 years (2001 - 2012?)? Scared of course.

I just don't know anymore and to think I have to sell it to my wife....don't get me wrong she's an open minded person and always willing to have a go at something, but we are getting on in age and still want to start a family in the next few years. So, lots of thinking and planning must be done.

How's the job opportunities for mental health practitioners (social work, therapists, counsellors) in Oz and for Biomedical Science/Microbiology? I'll have to do some research.

Sorry for the long post and thanks for reading and replying.

ICE, any views on why you want to go to NZ?

SK1

[OneTime]

Just a qick reply cos I'm on a train with a bad laptop connection... I'll get back to you with a fuller response this weekend...

I know that there are a number of job shortages in Oz in certain fields, and the scientific/medical area seems to be one of them.

I'll elaborate when I get back to a proper internet connection - see you later...

[ICE]

.... a white person in Melbourne,

What?:huh:


You live in Melborne? ;)

[OneTime]

In terms of cities in Oz, a quick summary of what I think...

Melbourne - the most European of all the Australian cities. Plenty of Art, Music, Fashion. Very much a Cafe culture. Sports mad - Melbourne supporters will turn up in their thousands to any sports venue, even if they know nothing about it. Look at tomorrows rugby - where else in the world will you fill a stadium of 90,000 people in a city that knows nothing about rugby.

Sydney - The financial centre - big city, plenty of jobs, fast paced life, also quite tourist friendly. Quite expensive but a lot of money to be made.

Perth - A South African haven - reminds most people of Durban or Cape Town. Only 9 hours to SA so lots of South Africans. Currently experiencing a resources and property boom. Great city, but most would say too far removed from the rest of the country.

Brisbane - Hot and humid, laid back lifestyle - also a bit like Durban.

I can't think of anywhere that's similar to Joburg - mostly because every single major city in Australia is on the coast.

[SK1]

In terms of cities in Oz, a quick summary of what I think...

Melbourne - the most European of all the Australian cities. Plenty of Art, Music, Fashion. Very much a Cafe culture. Sports mad - Melbourne supporters will turn up in their thousands to any sports venue, even if they know nothing about it. Look at tomorrows rugby - where else in the world will you fill a stadium of 90,000 people in a city that knows nothing about rugby.

Sounds like a place I'd enjoy. How's the weather there?


Sydney - The financial centre - big city, plenty of jobs, fast paced life, also quite tourist friendly. Quite expensive but a lot of money to be made.

Not into making loads of money and don't want rat-race lifestyle either. Just want enough money to be able to enjoy life and take it easy... I gave up the rat-race when I left JHB. Worked in London, but didn't like it. Commute arrggghh...Sydney sounds nice though.


Perth - A South African haven - reminds most people of Durban or Cape Town. Only 9 hours to SA so lots of South Africans. Currently experiencing a resources and property boom. Great city, but most would say too far removed from the rest of the country.

Sounds interesting. Weather? Is it like CT? How far from Perth to say Sydney and Melbourne?


Brisbane - Hot and humid, laid back lifestyle - also a bit like Durban.

Don't like the humidity of Durbs...so a no-go for me.


I can't think of anywhere that's similar to Joburg - mostly because every single major city in Australia is on the coast.

Do you prefer Melbourne?

Thanks for yet more invaluable info...:wink:

[LongJohnny]

I'll post some more info later, but for th emoment i would like to put in a word for Adelaide.
It is one of the smaller centres, yet it has all the amenities one would expect of a big city.

I can't think of anything that i would like to have that i cannot find in Adelaide.

It reminds me a lot of Cape Town, although i would say thatth ewinters are slightly warmer and there's no South Easter.

Life is also more affordable here, althoug i believe in some industries you may have to search longwer for a job than in larger cities, e.g. the IT industry.

Cheers,

LJ

[SK1]

I'll post some more info later, but for th emoment i would like to put in a word for Adelaide.
It is one of the smaller centres, yet it has all the amenities one would expect of a big city.

I can't think of anything that i would like to have that i cannot find in Adelaide.

It reminds me a lot of Cape Town, although i would say thatth ewinters are slightly warmer and there's no South Easter.

Life is also more affordable here, althoug i believe in some industries you may have to search longwer for a job than in larger cities, e.g. the IT industry.

Cheers,

LJ

Thanx LJ.....

Adelaide, where exactly is it in Oz? West, South, North or East? Sorry for the ignorance? What's the climate there? It seems like it varies greatly depending on where you are?


Ta.

[ICE]

Adelaide is in the South.

[LongJohnny]

Thanx LJ.....

Adelaide, where exactly is it in Oz? West, South, North or East? Sorry for the ignorance? What's the climate there? It seems like it varies greatly depending on where you are?


Ta.

Like ICE said its in the South

Climate: Hot summers, wet not too cold summers

Weather patterns could be greatly localised in South Oz, it may be a moderate 26 degrees C on a summer day in January in Adelaide, while 80 km to the North people may have 35 degrees C temeperatures.

I wanted to upload a map of Oz for you, but the file type was not suitable.

Will find you something else soon.

Cheers,

LJ

[OneTime]

I wanted to upload a map of Oz for you, but the file type was not suitable.



I'll try to work on that... could be in the default permission settings... :thumbs

[SK1]

I'll try to work on that... could be in the default permission settings... :thumbs

Thanks for all the info, guys. Keep up the great work.

SK1

[OneTime]

Right, a bit late but here are some answers/opinions to your q's, SK1...

Sounds like a place I'd enjoy. How's the weather there?

Summers are hot and dry in Melbourne. The day before I arrived it was 42 degrees and 30-odd days are normal. Having said that, most places are very well equipped to deal with it - Aircon everwhere, including on the trains. A lot of people have Aircon in their houses these days, which apparently until a few years ago was not common. Winters are a bit miserable, much like the UK in terms of rain and wind, but the temparatures don't get that low. 12-15 degrees is about the average I think. Melbourne's weather is a bit like Cape Towns, but it does have a "4 seasons in 1 day" reputation.



Sounds interesting. Weather? Is it like CT? How far from Perth to say Sydney and Melbourne? Not too sure about the weather. It's 3-4 hours flight from Melbourne and only 9 hours from Johannesburg. (strange that it's closer than London)



Don't like the humidity of Durbs...so a no-go for me. I'm with you on that one for sure - it would kill me!



Do you prefer Melbourne?

So far I like Melbourne, the others I've only visited for a few days at a time so not enough to make an informed opinion. The great thing about Melbourne is that there's something for everyone - it's a very diverse city, as I mentioned before, in terms of Sports, Fashion, Art, Music, Theatre, etc.

One thing has to be said though - some of the fashions I've seen in Melbourne are ridiculous! I've never seen so many weirdly dressed people in my life, but then again, that's cos I'm not into dressing like a fairy, haha.:-P I'm not sure if that's Melbourne or Australia specific, but I certainly didn't see so many weird fashions in all my time in London. It's an acquired taste I guess.

[SK1]

Right, a bit late but here are some answers/opinions to your q's, SK1...

Sounds like a place I'd enjoy. How's the weather there?

Summers are hot and dry in Melbourne. The day before I arrived it was 42 degrees and 30-odd days are normal. Having said that, most places are very well equipped to deal with it - Aircon everwhere, including on the trains. A lot of people have Aircon in their houses these days, which apparently until a few years ago was not common. Winters are a bit miserable, much like the UK in terms of rain and wind, but the temparatures don't get that low. 12-15 degrees is about the average I think. Melbourne's weather is a bit like Cape Towns, but it does have a "4 seasons in 1 day" reputation.



Sounds interesting. Weather? Is it like CT? How far from Perth to say Sydney and Melbourne? Not too sure about the weather. It's 3-4 hours flight from Melbourne and only 9 hours from Johannesburg. (strange that it's closer than London)



Don't like the humidity of Durbs...so a no-go for me. I'm with you on that one for sure - it would kill me!



Do you prefer Melbourne?

So far I like Melbourne, the others I've only visited for a few days at a time so not enough to make an informed opinion. The great thing about Melbourne is that there's something for everyone - it's a very diverse city, as I mentioned before, in terms of Sports, Fashion, Art, Music, Theatre, etc.

One thing has to be said though - some of the fashions I've seen in Melbourne are ridiculous! I've never seen so many weirdly dressed people in my life, but then again, that's cos I'm not into dressing like a fairy, haha.:-P I'm not sure if that's Melbourne or Australia specific, but I certainly didn't see so many weird fashions in all my time in London. It's an acquired taste I guess.

Thanks once again for the valued info. I have problem with temperatures in that since I've been in the UK, I've become used to lower temperatures. Anything above 25 degrees makes me very uncomfortable, I now prefer it to be around 20 degrees in summer (which obviously won't happen again this summer in the UK - but with the current weather not too sure). And to think I lived in JHB for most my life in higher temperatures....what is wrong with me??? lol.

I must be British, as I'm more concerned with the weather, though not for the same reasons as most Brits. Ideally if I can get what I want ito career and quality of life (high standard of living, work-life balance, etc), my 3rd requirement would be climate. Not too hot summers (20 - 25 degrees, ideal) and not too cold winters (0 - 5 degrees and above still okay).

So, I guess I'll be off to Cape Town (not to sure about high quality of life) or NZ in a few years then???....

Cheers

SK1

[ICE]

So, I guess I'll be off to Cape Town (not to sure about high quality of life) or NZ in a few years then???....

Cheers

SK1

I'll see you in either NZ or CapeTown! ;)

[OneTime]

Yep, New Zealand weather should be miserable enough for you. :D

I know what you mean though - the high temparatures tend to drain you if you're not equipped for them. Because we went travelling for a few months on our way here (UK-USA-SA-OZ) we missed winter completely last year, as we followed summer around the world, I tell you, by the time Feb came this year I couldn't wait for Winter.

[SK1]

Yep, New Zealand weather should be miserable enough for you. :D

:laugh3: Thats more like it. Maybe I just like my pale look now and don't want to tan golden brown anymore....:grin



I know what you mean though - the high temparatures tend to drain you if you're not equipped for them. Because we went travelling for a few months on our way here (UK-USA-SA-OZ) we missed winter completely last year, as we followed summer around the world, I tell you, by the time Feb came this year I couldn't wait for Winter.

A little bit of winter is good for a person. So, how did you recharge after such a long summer holiday...some Corenza C anyone....:laugh3:

[SK1]

I'll see you in either NZ or CapeTown! ;)

You'd probably get there before me, so I'll have to look you up. It would be interesting to see where we and partners eventually end up.

ICE, have you got any place in mind in NZ....North or South Island? I'm leaning to the North.

SK1

[OneTime]

Maybe I just like my pale look now and don't want to tan golden brown anymore....

:laugh2:




A little bit of winter is good for a person. So, how did you recharge after such a long summer holiday...some Corenza C anyone....
:laugh3:

Eh, I kinda just eased back into it - before we left London my last two jobs were incredibly stressful and I worked long hours. The job I'm in now (which is the one I've had since I got here) is a bit of a plodder, so it's easy to get back in to the swing of things when you're not rushed off your feet. Getting a bit restless now I must admit...

[ICE]

You'd probably get there before me, so I'll have to look you up. It would be interesting to see where we and partners eventually end up.

ICE, have you got any place in mind in NZ....North or South Island? I'm leaning to the North.

SK1

West Coast of the North Island.

[LongJohnny]

Here you go SK1. Sorry for the delay. This mp is a bit small, but one can pick out the basics,

It may work a bit better if you download it and open it with a platform like Image Composer or Photo Suite, and use the Zoom to enlarge sections you want to check out.


Cheers,

LJ

[SK1]

Here you go SK1. Sorry for the delay. This mp is a bit small, but one can pick out the basics,

It may work a bit better if you download it and open it with a platform like Image Composer or Photo Suite, and use the Zoom to enlarge sections you want to check out.


Cheers,

LJ

:thanku: I'll have a look at it.

SK1

[OneTime]

How's the job opportunities for mental health practitioners (social work, therapists, counsellors) in Oz and for Biomedical Science/Microbiology? I'll have to do some research.



<---------Hey SK1, I still owe you a reply on this...

In the occupation shortages list (occupations they'd be prepared to sponsor people for) there are a number of medical related fields -


Obstetrician and Gynaecologist 2312-17
Occupational Therapist 2383-11
Ophthalmologist 2312-19
Paediatrician 2312-21
Pathologist 2312-23
Petroleum Engineer 2127-13
Physiotherapist 2385-11
Podiatrist 2388-11
Psychiatrist 2312-27
Radiologist 2312-29
Registered Mental Health Nurse 2325-11
Registered Midwife 2324-11
Registered Nurse 2323-11
Retail Pharmacist 2382-15
Specialist Medical Practitioners (not elsewhere classified) 2312-79
Specialist Physician 2312-25
Speech Pathologist 2386-11
Sonographer 2391-17
Surgeon 2312-31

The list is often updated to reflect shortages in the industries and I would be very surprised if mental health practioners and Bomedical Science and Biology were not highly regarded over here.

I would suggest that they are highly regarded in both Australia and New Zealand.

Will have a look/ask around for more....

PS: A friend of mine is a microbiologist in London and he's just planning to finish his studies and then move over to Oz or NZ based on his experience - will try to get in touch with him to get an opinion if you like?

[SK1]

<---------Hey SK1, I still owe you a reply on this...

In the occupation shortages list (occupations they'd be prepared to sponsor people for) there are a number of medical related fields -



The list is often updated to reflect shortages in the industries and I would be very surprised if mental health practioners and Bomedical Science and Biology were not highly regarded over here.

I would suggest that they are highly regarded in both Australia and New Zealand.

Will have a look/ask around for more....

PS: A friend of mine is a microbiologist in London and he's just planning to finish his studies and then move over to Oz or NZ based on his experience - will try to get in touch with him to get an opinion if you like?

That would be brilliant, thank you.

I am only embarking on studies for this "career" now, so hopefully, there'll (still) be a demand in a few years time when I decide to make a move.

Why is everyone trying to leave the UK?.....it is such a great country...LOL.

Please keep the information coming. Would like to hear your friend's opinion and/or experiences.

Laters

SK1 :grin

[OneTime]

Please keep the information coming. Would like to hear your friend's opinion

No reply from the lazy bugger as of yet, but will keep trying....

[SK1]

No reply from the lazy bugger as of yet, but will keep trying....

Is he/she British? Typical...LOL.

Thanks for remembering.

SK1

[OneTime]

Is he/she British? Typical...LOL.

Thanks for remembering.

SK1

Heh heh, no, South African...