Working in Australia : Sat Mar 31, 2012 7:00 pm  

Basically I have been offered a job working in Newcastle, NSW.
It's a permanent contract working in the aircraft industry, with the same company I work for in the UK.
It's always something I've wanted to do and I have no ties other than family in this country.
Under the agreement I can take the other half, I'd get a full relocation package ( flights, visa, container, hotels & car for a time when I arrive, and a large cash sum), $87k starting salary plus shift rates, overtime and bonuses.
Being only in my early 20's and having never even visited Australia - I thought I'd ask the RLfans community as I know there are a quite a few Aussies/ex pats and general travel officianados on here.

Is the cost of living really that high there?Is Newcastle a nice area? Etc. Etc.
The 4 day working week, outdoor lifestyle, and rugby league are obviously plus points but I know there's also plenty of negatives!

Any opinions or advice would be appreciated!

Re: Working in Australia : Sat Mar 31, 2012 7:30 pm  

Just go.

Don't fanny around waiting for morons on here to give their considered opinions (mostly from what their mate told them), just sign the papers, get on the plane and go.

You're young enough that even if it doesn't work out, you can start again.

JUST GO!

Re: Working in Australia : Sat Mar 31, 2012 7:42 pm  

That Cod is some of the best advice you've given.

Do it, find out for yourself and just enjoy, life's short mate.

Re: Working in Australia : Sat Mar 31, 2012 7:43 pm  

cod'ead wrote:

Just go.

Don't fanny around waiting for morons on here to give their considered opinions (mostly from what their mate told them), just sign the papers, get on the plane and go.

You're young enough that even if it doesn't work out, you can start again.

JUST GO!

Ha cheers Coddy, I probably should do just that!
I don't want to get there and end up financially worse off than here.
I'd also get away from the 120 mile commute to work every day ( I used to find Hessle to Brough bad enough!)

Re: Working in Australia : Sat Mar 31, 2012 7:54 pm  

super-fast-winger wrote:

Basically I have been offered a job working in Newcastle, NSW.
It's a permanent contract working in the aircraft industry, with the same company I work for in the UK.
It's always something I've wanted to do and I have no ties other than family in this country.
Under the agreement I can take the other half, I'd get a full relocation package ( flights, visa, container, hotels & car for a time when I arrive, and a large cash sum), $87k starting salary plus shift rates, overtime and bonuses.
Being only in my early 20's and having never even visited Australia - I thought I'd ask the RLfans community as I know there are a quite a few Aussies/ex pats and general travel officianados on here.

Is the cost of living really that high there?Is Newcastle a nice area? Etc. Etc.
The 4 day working week, outdoor lifestyle, and rugby league are obviously plus points but I know there's also plenty of negatives!

Any opinions or advice would be appreciated!

Go.

I don't know anything about Australia or the Newcastle (Australia) region, ask me about Newcastle (England) and I'm your man though, but you're right to do a bit of research, the package sounds good but is the money sufficient to provide the sort of lifestyle you are anticipating, you're still young, do you have a property to sell here, how much equity will you have in it and will that allow you to get a mortgage in Australia and what sort of level of property could you expect ?

Those are just practical things though and you'll get answers to those immediately - the only thing that I would add as one who once relocated to another city at around the age that you are is to realise that it really is a completely new start, you will make new friends but your new friends will not have the history that you have with your current friends here and its important to understand that before you go, if you have a group of lads that you are very close to here then you are not going to recreate that over there for some years, it seems like a minor point but its that "roots" thing that makes many homesick so be prepared for it.


But if it was me, I'd go, even now, and I've got 30 years on you

Re: Working in Australia : Sat Mar 31, 2012 8:00 pm  

cod'ead wrote:

Just go.

Don't fanny around waiting for morons on here to give their considered opinions (mostly from what their mate told them), just sign the papers, get on the plane and go.

You're young enough that even if it doesn't work out, you can start again.

JUST GO!

This..

Re: Working in Australia : Sat Mar 31, 2012 8:13 pm  

McLaren_Field wrote:

Go.

No house to sell, just my car (a Volvo that's a couple of years old)
Theyd be around 15 of us relocating from within the company so would make it easier in regards to new friends as we would have a small community at first.

Re: Working in Australia : Sat Mar 31, 2012 8:38 pm  

No brainer to me. I had the chance 23 years ago, to go for 12 months, but never went through with it. Went for the 1st time, 3 years ago this summer, and I'd wished I'd have gone a lot earlier. I've told my 2 children ( 18 and 16), get your qualifications and get out of the country, because this country will hold you back. If it don't work out, you can always come back.

Don't know about Newcastle, but Sydney is fantastic. Fast food, cigs and beer are expensive, but veg,fruit etc are cheap. We got $2 Aus to the £, 3 years ago, now it's about $1.50/£1, and it will get worse.

They have a totally different attitude to life than us, if you're 1 to stay in and watch tv every night, don't bother going, you won't fit in. The country is sport/ outdoor orientated, and actively encouraged.

Winter temps drop to about 4/5c at worst, and summers can rise to 32c+, though Sydney does have the same annual amount of rainfall as Manchester.

Or you can stay here and put up with, rising crimerates, depression, shoite weather, rising energy bills, stealth taxes, uncenscored immigration etc.

Just go and send the forum a postcard.

Re: Working in Australia : Sat Mar 31, 2012 9:21 pm  

The standard of living here in Sydney isn't what is was years ago. It was though they put the prices up for the Sydney Olympics for everything and they never came down again. But you're going to Newcastle and besides I have no idea what you're used to. I always thought Newcastle was a bit rank but that's cos i only ever went up to the footy stadium there on the team bus through the boring looking suburbs to get there. I never went to the town centre, beach or renovated docklands until 2 years ago. Its a lovely place and the standard of living would be more pleasant than where you currently are when you start earning the aussie dollar? You'll have a team to support. You're a short drive from the Hunter wine region there too. And there's lots of natural beauty around you, including totty. As for work, don't expect it to be the same. Even if it says it is. There are always differences in how we operate. Just remember my wife's advice when I whinged about the work. "It's not wrong. It's different." And don't expect it to be like England because it was a colony. Also if you're not a permanent resident when you arrive ask for the Living away from home allowance. This means that if your salary $87k is 7250 per month pre tax. If you spent $2000 per month on rent, you can do it through work and the rent gets paid out of your salary which means you will only be taxed on what you earn the $5250 per month after rent. Make sure you take it!!! Or ask about it. It's nothing suss, it's legit and there for expats employed into oz to work. That money will go further in Newcastle than in Sydney, so enjoy it. http://www.visitnewcastle.com.au/ Now, considering that included the worst things I can say about it, it ain't that bad is it?

The standard of living here in Sydney isn't what is was years ago. It was though they put the prices up for the Sydney Olympics for everything and they never came down again. But you're going to Newcastle and besides I have no idea what you're used to. I always thought Newcastle was a bit rank but that's cos i only ever went up to the footy stadium there on the team bus through the boring looking suburbs to get there. I never went to the town centre, beach or renovated docklands until 2 years ago. Its a lovely place and the standard of living would be more pleasant than where you currently are when you start earning the aussie dollar? You'll have a team to support. You're a short drive from the Hunter wine region there too. And there's lots of natural beauty around you, including totty. As for work, don't expect it to be the same. Even if it says it is. There are always differences in how we operate. Just remember my wife's advice when I whinged about the work. "It's not wrong. It's different." And don't expect it to be like England because it was a colony. Also if you're not a permanent resident when you arrive ask for the Living away from home allowance. This means that if your salary $87k is 7250 per month pre tax. If you spent $2000 per month on rent, you can do it through work and the rent gets paid out of your salary which means you will only be taxed on what you earn the $5250 per month after rent. Make sure you take it!!! Or ask about it. It's nothing suss, it's legit and there for expats employed into oz to work. That money will go further in Newcastle than in Sydney, so enjoy it. http://www.visitnewcastle.com.au/ Now, considering that included the worst things I can say about it, it ain't that bad is it?

Re: Working in Australia : Sat Mar 31, 2012 9:36 pm  

Do you like wine?