The move to Australia (Or an attempt)
Discussion
How quickly life can throw you a curve ball.
August last year I accepted an offer on my house, ready to jump into a full time reno with my missus of 5 years, dreams of kids, cars and everything in between.
January, I'm a single bloke, and I'm just about to turn 36.
So in 2016 I received a job offer in Brisbane, came back to sort my bits out, ready to move out with my then missus. In the 3 weeks of being home ready to go, that relationship fell apart, I lost my marbles and never went.
Fast forward to 2021, I handed my notice in, ready to travel the world and end up in Australia again. Met my missus, cancelled plans - begged to rescind my notice, and somehow bagged a promotion in the process?
Anyway. Point being. Third times a charm, right?
Due to my age, 36 in March, I was rapidly closing in on being too old for a Working Holiday Visa - which was my easiest avenue to just get there and worry about the rest later. Applied for it end of January, had it confirmed within the hour. I have until the same date next year to activate it (Land in Australia) and it lasts a year from there.
So here I am. Excited about what's to come, but petrified too. I've seen countless videos and stories of people who land, get sponsored and they have permanent residence so quickly, with such lacklustre jobs too, but on the flip side I've also seen depressing stories of professionals, heavily qualified professionals struggling to find anything, then coming back at the end of their year, skint.
I'm on the Short Term skill list, and with a referral letter, could likely expand my career choice with some of my recent job experience and qualifications, so I THINK I am in a positive, healthy spot. Time will tell, I suppose.
The issue, I keep getting myself in a pickle with. The WHV allows for 6 months work with one company. You can appeal to the Aus Immigration for an extension for that employer, but it has to be necessary. What company is going to take a punt on an experienced qualified employee for 6 months instead of taking on someone they know for certain is full time. Then, what incentive is there to offer sponsorship for a 36 year old brit?
Personally, I keep telling myself a simple quote - "Do not disturb yourself by imagining your whole life at once" Do what I can, worry about the rest when you need to.
So why post this. Reassurance? Advice? Recommendations or perhaps someone has experience with employment/immigration and working holiday visas for Australia?
Directly, does anyone have any words of wisdom for me, or any experience and advice they could part with, to either reassure me or point me in the right directions, save me from some of the hassles that may be to come by forewarning me?
And I suppose, any criticism's too, of me, my choice, or my avenue.
For reference, I'm >16 years on an Upper-tier COMAH site as an Operator, >12 of those in the control room. The last 4 years I've been on an expansion project heavily involved in Safety and Process Safety - as such I grabbed my NEBOSH General and my Process Safety Management too.
I would be looking for roles within this sector, preferably around NSW - I don't have much desire for WA and FIFO work. Defeats the object of me wanting to move to Australia in the first place. Having said that - any port in a storm.
Would be brilliant if anyone has gone down the same route, WHV -> Sponsorship, or even better still, the same area of career choice.
Ta folks
August last year I accepted an offer on my house, ready to jump into a full time reno with my missus of 5 years, dreams of kids, cars and everything in between.
January, I'm a single bloke, and I'm just about to turn 36.
So in 2016 I received a job offer in Brisbane, came back to sort my bits out, ready to move out with my then missus. In the 3 weeks of being home ready to go, that relationship fell apart, I lost my marbles and never went.
Fast forward to 2021, I handed my notice in, ready to travel the world and end up in Australia again. Met my missus, cancelled plans - begged to rescind my notice, and somehow bagged a promotion in the process?
Anyway. Point being. Third times a charm, right?
Due to my age, 36 in March, I was rapidly closing in on being too old for a Working Holiday Visa - which was my easiest avenue to just get there and worry about the rest later. Applied for it end of January, had it confirmed within the hour. I have until the same date next year to activate it (Land in Australia) and it lasts a year from there.
So here I am. Excited about what's to come, but petrified too. I've seen countless videos and stories of people who land, get sponsored and they have permanent residence so quickly, with such lacklustre jobs too, but on the flip side I've also seen depressing stories of professionals, heavily qualified professionals struggling to find anything, then coming back at the end of their year, skint.
I'm on the Short Term skill list, and with a referral letter, could likely expand my career choice with some of my recent job experience and qualifications, so I THINK I am in a positive, healthy spot. Time will tell, I suppose.
The issue, I keep getting myself in a pickle with. The WHV allows for 6 months work with one company. You can appeal to the Aus Immigration for an extension for that employer, but it has to be necessary. What company is going to take a punt on an experienced qualified employee for 6 months instead of taking on someone they know for certain is full time. Then, what incentive is there to offer sponsorship for a 36 year old brit?
Personally, I keep telling myself a simple quote - "Do not disturb yourself by imagining your whole life at once" Do what I can, worry about the rest when you need to.
So why post this. Reassurance? Advice? Recommendations or perhaps someone has experience with employment/immigration and working holiday visas for Australia?
Directly, does anyone have any words of wisdom for me, or any experience and advice they could part with, to either reassure me or point me in the right directions, save me from some of the hassles that may be to come by forewarning me?
And I suppose, any criticism's too, of me, my choice, or my avenue.
For reference, I'm >16 years on an Upper-tier COMAH site as an Operator, >12 of those in the control room. The last 4 years I've been on an expansion project heavily involved in Safety and Process Safety - as such I grabbed my NEBOSH General and my Process Safety Management too.
I would be looking for roles within this sector, preferably around NSW - I don't have much desire for WA and FIFO work. Defeats the object of me wanting to move to Australia in the first place. Having said that - any port in a storm.
Would be brilliant if anyone has gone down the same route, WHV -> Sponsorship, or even better still, the same area of career choice.
Ta folks
Edited by 90CHPAXL on Monday 23 March 13:55
My best mates son left the forces (logistics, lorry driver etc) and just rocked up to Australia and is loving it. Got work driving at a mine site, got a house share and just threw himself into the life/meeting people/building contacts. Got himself a big motorbike to get around. I think he has to change jobs soon as part of visa but isn't worried, just gets on with it. I think it worked for him, mostly due to his attitude (and qualifications) but also due to his flexibility and willingness to go where the jobs were.
Off the top of my head thoughts..
Lived in Aus for 8 years.
Having never been there before, all my knowledge was from Neighbours, Home and Away, Crocodile Dundee and Fosters adverts.
My mistake, but I assumed it was an extension of the UK albeit with better weather and more deadly flora and fauna.
Biggest take away from me is that it is a foreign country. Foreign customs, foreign attitudes, foreign sense of humour and god awful driving.
Another thing to bear in mind is the Aussies that you have met over here. I've met loads - worked with loads, employed loads. To a tee, a lovely bunch.
When you live there you realise that they are the ones that have got off their arses, put in the hard yards working at Maccas/Hungry Jacks/KFC etc to save up to go travelling. Most haven't and it is very obvious that they are not the same as the ones you have met here...
Lived in Aus for 8 years.
Having never been there before, all my knowledge was from Neighbours, Home and Away, Crocodile Dundee and Fosters adverts.
My mistake, but I assumed it was an extension of the UK albeit with better weather and more deadly flora and fauna.
Biggest take away from me is that it is a foreign country. Foreign customs, foreign attitudes, foreign sense of humour and god awful driving.
Another thing to bear in mind is the Aussies that you have met over here. I've met loads - worked with loads, employed loads. To a tee, a lovely bunch.
When you live there you realise that they are the ones that have got off their arses, put in the hard yards working at Maccas/Hungry Jacks/KFC etc to save up to go travelling. Most haven't and it is very obvious that they are not the same as the ones you have met here...
My first question is why?
It's an important question, to make sure you're doing this for the right reasons.
I came the other way, Aus to UK 10 years ago and looks like I'm staying. Citizenship and all. It's important to understand two lessons before and after immigrating,
1. Don't ever try to be more local than the locals. Seriously, it's just sad and embarrassing for everyone involved.
2. Don't move because you hate where you are. You'll just bring that hate with you and hate where you move to. Seen plenty of resentful English back in Oz who thought everything would be made out of fairy farts and pixie dust when they moved to Australia... it isn't so now they're resentful Australians (and too stubborn to admit being wrong, which goes back to point number 1). .
Everywhere has problems, choosing where you can live is really about choosing which set of problems you're most happy with.
I'm not asking this for our benefit, we don't need to know the answer, it's a question you need to answer to yourself and be confident you're doing this for a good reason.
It's an important question, to make sure you're doing this for the right reasons.
I came the other way, Aus to UK 10 years ago and looks like I'm staying. Citizenship and all. It's important to understand two lessons before and after immigrating,
1. Don't ever try to be more local than the locals. Seriously, it's just sad and embarrassing for everyone involved.
2. Don't move because you hate where you are. You'll just bring that hate with you and hate where you move to. Seen plenty of resentful English back in Oz who thought everything would be made out of fairy farts and pixie dust when they moved to Australia... it isn't so now they're resentful Australians (and too stubborn to admit being wrong, which goes back to point number 1). .
Everywhere has problems, choosing where you can live is really about choosing which set of problems you're most happy with.
I'm not asking this for our benefit, we don't need to know the answer, it's a question you need to answer to yourself and be confident you're doing this for a good reason.
90CHPAXL said:
The issue, I keep getting myself in a pickle with. The WHV allows for 6 months work with one company. You can appeal to the Aus Immigration for an extension for that employer, but it has to be necessary. What company is going to take a punt on an experienced qualified employee for 6 months instead of taking on someone they know for certain is full time. Then, what incentive is there to offer sponsorship for a 36 year old brit?
Personally, I keep telling myself a simple quote - "Do not disturb yourself by imagining your whole life at once" Do what I can, worry about the rest when you need to.
So why post this. Reassurance? Advice? Recommendations or perhaps someone has experience with employment/immigration and working holiday visas for Australia?
Directly, does anyone have any words of wisdom for me, or any experience and advice they could part with, to either reassure me or point me in the right directions, save me from some of the hassles that may be to come by forewarning me?
And I suppose, any criticism's too, of me, my choice, or my avenue.
For reference, I'm >16 years on an Upper-tier COMAH site as an Operator, >12 of those in the control room. The last 4 years I've been on an expansion project heavily involved in Safety and Process Safety - as such I grabbed my NEBOSH General and my Process Safety Management too.
I would be looking for roles within this sector, preferably around NSW - I don't have much desire for WA and FIFO work. Defeats the object of me wanting to move to Australia in the first place. Having said that - any port in a storm.
Would be brilliant if anyone has gone down the same route, WHV -> Sponsorship, or even better still, the same area of career choice.
Ta folks
I'm going to have to be brutally honest here and tell you flat out that you might not make it. Personally, I keep telling myself a simple quote - "Do not disturb yourself by imagining your whole life at once" Do what I can, worry about the rest when you need to.
So why post this. Reassurance? Advice? Recommendations or perhaps someone has experience with employment/immigration and working holiday visas for Australia?
Directly, does anyone have any words of wisdom for me, or any experience and advice they could part with, to either reassure me or point me in the right directions, save me from some of the hassles that may be to come by forewarning me?
And I suppose, any criticism's too, of me, my choice, or my avenue.
For reference, I'm >16 years on an Upper-tier COMAH site as an Operator, >12 of those in the control room. The last 4 years I've been on an expansion project heavily involved in Safety and Process Safety - as such I grabbed my NEBOSH General and my Process Safety Management too.
I would be looking for roles within this sector, preferably around NSW - I don't have much desire for WA and FIFO work. Defeats the object of me wanting to move to Australia in the first place. Having said that - any port in a storm.
Would be brilliant if anyone has gone down the same route, WHV -> Sponsorship, or even better still, the same area of career choice.
Ta folks
Before you plan anything else look at the clear and legal routes from WHV to any kind of visa. Australia is notorious for being difficult and if you require sponsorship a lot of companies will not even talk to you. It's easier if you can apply for a working visa independent of an employer (plus the employer can't shaft you, shocking I know that the less reputable employers will abuse sponsored workers, what is this world coming to).
Have a clear path, don't expect to just wing it. Dept of Home Affairs tends to take a dim view of that (and they have no sense of humour) and there will always be more people trying to get in than visas that are available, just like the UK (or any desirable western country).
I'm not trying to discourage you, rather temper your expectations and get you started down the right path.
I'm not familiar with your vocation so I've no idea if you're on the list for a skilled visa (subclass 189, 190 (permanent) or 491 (temporary), sponsorship is subclass 186).
If you do go the sponsorship route, I'd not turn your nose up at working in rural QLD/WA. You're going to have to take the jobs the locals don't want.
As I've said, I don't want to discourage you, quite the opposite if you really want to do this I'd like you to succeed but moving country requires an absolute s
tload of planning in advance... not just logistics (heck, that's the easiest part), more legal/visa wrangling as well as keeping an open mind and adversity to the inevitable setbacks. My brother did the working visa thing. Worked in some proper stholes to make ends meet (he was a maintenance engineer in the UK), met a Sydney local, they came back to the UK together and then applied for ‘in a relationship visa’ or whatever its proper name is.
Returned back to Australia and held out for a maintenance managers job. Changed companies a few times but is generally happy. Married, 2 kids.
I work in a Comah site so know your accreditations - id say you’d have no problems getting something in Australia, but I don’t know where a comparable site would be located.
tholes to make ends meet (he was a maintenance engineer in the UK), met a Sydney local, they came back to the UK together and then applied for ‘in a relationship visa’ or whatever its proper name is.Returned back to Australia and held out for a maintenance managers job. Changed companies a few times but is generally happy. Married, 2 kids.
I work in a Comah site so know your accreditations - id say you’d have no problems getting something in Australia, but I don’t know where a comparable site would be located.
I assume it is mining you work in, in which case you’ll either be FIFO or living and working in some rural dump in the arse end of NSW or QLD with other miners and the local ICE addicts. Nothing to do except drink, and shag your fellow miners, or an ICE addict, or a miner who is also an ICE addict. And online gambling.
After 6 months of that you’ll want to go back home.
A lot of people are desperate to work in the mines because of the money so jobs are in demand. I suspect they won’t want to waste time on someone with a WHV unless your qualifications are something they need. Have you checked your qualifications are recognised here?
As mentioned in other posts, a WHV is exactly that - backpackers use them and get employed on minimum wage to pick fruit, and be sexually harassed by farmers.
It would be better to use the WHV to do exactly that - take a break and decide if you like it, rather than get a job in a place you hate and resent being here.
Something on the Gold Coast or Sunshine Coast would be my suggestion.
After 6 months of that you’ll want to go back home.
A lot of people are desperate to work in the mines because of the money so jobs are in demand. I suspect they won’t want to waste time on someone with a WHV unless your qualifications are something they need. Have you checked your qualifications are recognised here?
As mentioned in other posts, a WHV is exactly that - backpackers use them and get employed on minimum wage to pick fruit, and be sexually harassed by farmers.
It would be better to use the WHV to do exactly that - take a break and decide if you like it, rather than get a job in a place you hate and resent being here.
Something on the Gold Coast or Sunshine Coast would be my suggestion.
Thanks for the words of support from you all, apologies its taken me a few days to get to replying.
Captain Cynic, I'd not given it much though about how difficult it may be re switching visas, so I've done some digging. It seems the best avenue would be to hire an immigration expert/advisor to guide me down the right path and avoid any issues. I've read some horror stories about Visa applications being filled out slightly wrong and that avenue being toast, so thank you for bringing that to my attention. I'm not sure if I should get in contact with them up front before heading out there, or if I should find a local one to me when I settle the first few weeks.
I'm more than willing to pay the Visa fee's that an employer may incur if I love it over there and I am adamant I want to stay. Whether that will help or not, I suppose time will tell!
Rusty Nissan, I'll keep in mind the Aussie partner route just in case, I mean that would be the long term goal anyway
I used ChatGPT to pinpoint some locations and fortunately there is a place in Newcastle (which is where I have a few friends) so I'll be there eventually and will enquire in person for sure. I've already reached out via e-mail for any info but nothing back yet!
Jader, appreciate the post - I'm in petrochemical and ultimately WA and Mining is the lowest of the low on my priority. I want to emigrate for the social life, the weather and the lifestyle, I won't achieve that working 3 weeks in a mine with a week to myself. That being said, I would jump at it for a while, if it meant getting PR status.
I looked at using VETASSESS to approve my qualifications which it seems aids your chances of employment etc. My roles should open at least 3 avenues to me, so fingers crossed eh.
I understand what you're saying however, about taking a job I enjoy and just enjoying myself and my location at first. I only have a year due to my age, but I'm sure I can afford a month or 2 taking it steady first.
It shows you're in Melbourne, there was a plant in the area named Qenos a few years back, seems they have gone into administration recently. Is the area, I believe referred to as Altona, an area of industry too?
All of this is very new to me, and it seems as though everywhere I look, or anyone I speak to has different experiences and different recommendations. On a whole its fairly positive, but I must admit I keep having periods of worry about - what if it doesn't work out. Logical, I suppose, but we can cross that bridge when it comes.
If anyone has any contacts out there who could advise or assist in anyway shape or form, or if they have a sweet Japanese import I can go look at, let me know
Captain Cynic, I'd not given it much though about how difficult it may be re switching visas, so I've done some digging. It seems the best avenue would be to hire an immigration expert/advisor to guide me down the right path and avoid any issues. I've read some horror stories about Visa applications being filled out slightly wrong and that avenue being toast, so thank you for bringing that to my attention. I'm not sure if I should get in contact with them up front before heading out there, or if I should find a local one to me when I settle the first few weeks.
I'm more than willing to pay the Visa fee's that an employer may incur if I love it over there and I am adamant I want to stay. Whether that will help or not, I suppose time will tell!
Rusty Nissan, I'll keep in mind the Aussie partner route just in case, I mean that would be the long term goal anyway
I used ChatGPT to pinpoint some locations and fortunately there is a place in Newcastle (which is where I have a few friends) so I'll be there eventually and will enquire in person for sure. I've already reached out via e-mail for any info but nothing back yet!
Jader, appreciate the post - I'm in petrochemical and ultimately WA and Mining is the lowest of the low on my priority. I want to emigrate for the social life, the weather and the lifestyle, I won't achieve that working 3 weeks in a mine with a week to myself. That being said, I would jump at it for a while, if it meant getting PR status.
I looked at using VETASSESS to approve my qualifications which it seems aids your chances of employment etc. My roles should open at least 3 avenues to me, so fingers crossed eh.
I understand what you're saying however, about taking a job I enjoy and just enjoying myself and my location at first. I only have a year due to my age, but I'm sure I can afford a month or 2 taking it steady first.
It shows you're in Melbourne, there was a plant in the area named Qenos a few years back, seems they have gone into administration recently. Is the area, I believe referred to as Altona, an area of industry too?
All of this is very new to me, and it seems as though everywhere I look, or anyone I speak to has different experiences and different recommendations. On a whole its fairly positive, but I must admit I keep having periods of worry about - what if it doesn't work out. Logical, I suppose, but we can cross that bridge when it comes.
If anyone has any contacts out there who could advise or assist in anyway shape or form, or if they have a sweet Japanese import I can go look at, let me know
I was sponsored for work in Melbourne for a few years but totally different field. Without knowing much about your qualifications etc my assumption would be that you're going to have to go where the jobs are (and the locations won't necessarily be your first choice). Aside from that, I made lifelong friends, explored the country and loved every minute. It didn't matter that Australia is ten times the nanny state that the UK is...
As others have said, I'd be treating this as a working holiday in the first instance. Emigration, new jobs, choosing a city, uncertain legal status are all big things on their own, combining them into a lifestyle choice that may not even work is a precarious mix.
It staggers me that people consider starting a new life in a place they've never even visited. I'm not sure if that's the case here but I'd be wanting to make the lifestyle choice first, then sorting the professional route to achieving that.
It staggers me that people consider starting a new life in a place they've never even visited. I'm not sure if that's the case here but I'd be wanting to make the lifestyle choice first, then sorting the professional route to achieving that.
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