Emigrating UK to Australia - The Reality

[v15ben]

I know a few posters on the Aussie section have made this move and I'm interested to get some real-life experiences from people who have emigrated and lived to tell the story!

I'm currently 22 and living in Sydney on a Working Holiday Visa for a few months working in a call centre to earn some cash. I previously lived in the city in 2005 on a University exchange for 6 months and these two Oz experiences plus travel to many other areas in the country are cementing my view that the positives outweigh the negatives for moving here from Blighty.

I graduated last year from Uni and I'm hoping to progress into a career in the events industry. It seems the wages here are comparable if not slightly superior to those for similar companies I've spoken to in England.

I have researched moving over here a little, spoken to many who've done it and others considering the switch and I just want a little input from people who have actually done it! From my research it seems that coming to a pre-arranged job with the company acting as sponsor on a Work Visa is the best policy of attack. I also here on the grapevine that UK experience in certain industries goes down a storm with recruiters, is this true? I believe we Brits would still qualify for Medicare and certain other benefits and of course I'd need Tax File Numbers, Super-annuation et al organised properly.

So how has the experience been for others, what are the major practical hurdles to making a move and how easy is it to do? The other main factor has to be costs of course! How expensive is it to break the red tape barrier?

Interested to hear various opinions and I'll cross-post in P&P too...

Thanks,
Ben

Edited by v15ben on Thursday 8th May 04:52

[v15ben]

Something I missed in the initial post, Points Qualification for a Work Visa and where I stand. I've looked on the relevant government sites and I think (colud be wrong) that having a Uni degree, being British and having previously worked and studied in Australia as well as having some financial savings will act in my favour.

[VYT]

G'day

The department of immigration has a very good website. There is a points test there. I would imagine with your age and a degree you will meet the requirement. If you meet the points requirement then you should be able to get permanent residence.

Cheers

Bob

[smack]

Ben,

What industry and how much experience do you have?

UK / Foreign work experience for an Australian did put you ahead of the rest years ago - especially in many sectors such as Banking, Legal, IT, Accounting, Healthcare etc. I would assume that that would apply being a Brit. But the usual basic rule applies for anywhere in the world, if two candidates are an even match, one is local, and one is foreign, there is good chance you are going to be runner up. Put it behind you, and keep on trying.

[v15ben]

I am thinking the same, the more I read really. I guess UK experience comes up better than experience in say France, Germany etc due to the language. My industry is Events Management, but not enough experience yet to qualify on the points table for immigration as an advantage.

[BermyAndy]

Been considering this myself. Work in private equity for an investment bank, but this doesnt appear on the skilled list... does this mean i can only go if im sponsored, or is the skilled list job description pretty loose and flexible?

[v15ben]

BermyAndy said:

Been considering this myself. Work in private equity for an investment bank, but this doesnt appear on the skilled list... does this mean i can only go if im sponsored, or is the skilled list job description pretty loose and flexible?

The skilled job list is fairly flexible I believe, you'd have to ask specifically about your job the points it would give. If you can find a suitable job though, sponsorship would definitely be possible in banking.

[smack]

v15ben said:

I am thinking the same, the more I read really. I guess UK experience comes up better than experience in say France, Germany etc due to the language. My industry is Events Management, but not enough experience yet to qualify on the points table for immigration as an advantage.

Events Management is probably one area where your international experience would help. The problem would be that Australians do have a high opinion of themselves (I am sure eveyone reading this just nodded!), and like to ignore the rest of the world - Our Grand Prix / Olympics / Commonweath Games / Horse Race / NYE Party / Dog Show (delete as required) is the best in the world! Frankly that national attitude gets to me. If you can find companies that will listen to you and respect that you are bringing a different view and experience to the table then jump in! And they are out there.

If you can mix work with pleasure, even better - Grand Prix Corporation organises the F1, MotoGP, and possibily the Superbikes, but are based in South Melbourne. The V8 Supercar series is run out of Queensland. The motor industry is based in Melbourne mainly. But some importers are based in Sydney. They have PR budgets, so they do employ people to organise events. If it is an area you want to work in, no harm in trying - I spent 3 years working in F1, so you never know!

Btw, my passport has a kangaroo and emu on it, so it is my birthright to be critical of my countryman

Stuart

[v15ben]

Hi Stuart,
I am in the process of contacting all the events companies I can find in Australia to discuss options and I've had some positive responses so far. I'd love to go full time in motorsports/motoring and as you'll no doubt know from F1, it'd be a dream job!

[smack]

v15ben said:

Hi Stuart,
I am in the process of contacting all the events companies I can find in Australia to discuss options and I've had some positive responses so far. I'd love to go full time in motorsports/motoring and as you'll no doubt know from F1, it'd be a dream job!

Good luck there

I had a love/hate relationship with F1. Liked most of the guys I worked with, hated key management who spent most the time covering their a*se, were clearly incompetent, had no clues how to deal with people, but where not going to leave as they had landed a plumb job with great benifits if they were high enough in the pecking order, and didn't really care about the basics of the company - to build race cars, to go racing, and try and win.... I did love the technical side of race cars that I got involved in, but the racing itself I find boring - bikes or rally is much better spectical.

There is one other mate on PH who was in the same team, and would say the same thing. And I am sure many others on the forum who currently or have worked in the industry too. I have had teams sounding me out on getting me back on board over the last few years, one day I might - at least it is nice to know that some people hold me in high regard.

[v15ben]

I know a guy in New Zealand who worked with the oily bits as it were within World Rally and briefly in F1, but he has now dropped out of that particular literal rat race and runs his own specialist workshops for gentlemen racers! I would definitely like to work in the industry at some point though as I've really enjoyed my volunteer experience with a well-known series in the UK!

[smack]

Sounds like he has his head on straight - I know some guys doing the same, F1 engineers with 15 years in the industry and got jacked off and left to do their own thing. No money dealing with people trying to scrape every penny to get their car on the track - the customers you want own money pit old GT40, Ferraris Bugattis etc, which is still cheaper than the cost of running their yatch so just give you carte blanche to maintain their cars.

[frosty-11]

Hello there,

I moved to Brisbane from the UK roughly 18 months ago. I work in IT so cant really comment on whay work experience would be good for visa applications etc (it seems everyone else has you covered there anyhow ) - One thing I would say is that in my experience dealing with a migration agent saved me a lot of time and P's.I.T.A. I think my perm. residency visa cost 1800-2k (GBP) "all up". However they can give you a definitive answer on all visa, forms, certificate, employer statement,random piece of paper work you - most of them do a free assessment for you (working out all the points, experience skilled job selection etc) and can give you a quick answer on where you stand.


Beyond that, I had no real "drama's" in getting a TFN, Medicare card, driving license etc saving any (especially Oz rental references will help one day also.

It's a very big subject really, so please postup any other specific questions you might have, and in the meantime heres a link to a book that I found really helpful and answers much on the subject and tells you far far more too http://www.pomsdownunder.com/

All the best,
Gareth

[v15ben]

Cheers for the info Gareth, I'll have a look at the Poms site when I've got some more time...

[smack]

frosty-11 said:

Hello there,

I moved to Brisbane from the UK roughly 18 months ago. I work in IT so cant really comment on whay work experience would be good for visa applications etc (it seems everyone else has you covered there anyhow
Gareth

Hi Gareth,

What area of IT do you work in and what industry? How are you finding the market at the moment?

I left post dot.com crash when all the project work dried up because big business stopped investing in infrastructure. I think Y2K didn't help as they invested so heavily in infrastructure that it wasn't years later than they reached capacity or got old enough to worry about....

Stuart

[thehawk]

smack said:

- Our Grand Prix / Olympics / Commonweath Games / Horse Race / NYE Party / Dog Show (delete as required) is the best in the world! Frankly that national attitude gets to me.

But by and large it's true.

I think it's because there is much more of a community/country spirit that gets behind the events, and actually turns them into major events. A big reason is probably that you have so few of these things compared to Europe.

For example, the British Grand Prix is just in a bunch of fields in the Midlands. The majority of the country don't even know it's on. Similarly with the Belgian one. I've been to both and they really are almost tedious compared to Melbourne where the whole city is behind it.

[frosty-11]

smack said:

Hi Gareth,

What area of IT do you work in and what industry? How are you finding the market at the moment?

I left post dot.com crash when all the project work dried up because big business stopped investing in infrastructure. I think Y2K didn't help as they invested so heavily in infrastructure that it wasn't years later than they reached capacity or got old enough to worry about....

Stuart

hey Stuart I do Software Support for HP. I used to work for a smaller company but after 6 months there they were bought by HP - tough break huh As regards how I'm finding the Software Products I look after are going well right now... data center management stuff, the 'do more with less' gumf (which I guess is kind of what filled the gap your describe) , although I think the market generally is slowing - but thankfully as I dont work in Sales Im (a bit) shielded from all that - still the Sales Reps don't do bad I'm sure of that!

V15Ben, no problems mate, and like I said shout if theres anything specific we can all help on

All the best,
Gareth

[smack]

thehawk said:

But by and large it's true.

I think it's because there is much more of a community/country spirit that gets behind the events, and actually turns them into major events. A big reason is probably that you have so few of these things compared to Europe.

Fair point you make. Phillip Island GP was always fun, and a great party (an Australian version of the IOM TT), until the cops became heavy handed fun police, and killed the sole of the event.

thehawk said:

For example, the British Grand Prix is just in a bunch of fields in the Midlands. The majority of the country don't even know it's on. Similarly with the Belgian one. I've been to both and they really are almost tedious compared to Melbourne where the whole city is behind it.

So true. Silverstone is a PITA event to get out of, expensive, lacking in support events, except for the Red Arrows that always puts a smile on my face I even if I get offered tickets, it is not on par with other races - been there, done it for a few years, and spent more time on the A43/M40 than racing I saw on the way home. And they only sell Fosters, ugh!
Spa, in the most lovely bit of Belgium, that is uterly dull. It is the one race that the teams spend in their hotel bars rather than going out, as there is nothing to do (well apart from drink lovely beer)! Great track for photography though - I miss my team pass that could get me behind the amco at Eau Rouge with nothing more that luck to save my life if something went wrong...

[PomBstard]

Welcome back Ben - good to see you're looking to stay. We came over of WHVs too, and got jobs with companies who wanted us to stay. We were then sponsored and could stay in the country for 4 years, during which time we arranged our own permanent residency. Cost about $5k through an agent but only took 4 weeks.

I'd recommend finding work in which you can prove your worth to them in 3 month, and try to persuade them that your great and that you are worth being sponsored.

Can't offer any advice about your chosen career - haven't a clue!

[v15ben]

Alright Lee mate, I'll drop you an email as I'm living a few minutes from your workplace now. I've been looking for jobs in the events industry, but not much around at the moment. I have an offer in the UK for a good job so I will be going home this time I think and coming back in the future!