annamichelle2310

Hi guys!

I'm all set, got my 175 visa safely tucked away in my passport, house sale completing next week, going into temporary rental and carrying on at work until Sept/Oct when I plan to pack up and go!

All sounds quite straightforward.
OK, where to?
Originally thought Perth, heard good things, yep, definitely Perth.
I started to put some feelers out about jobs....am a Chartered Accountant...
The general consensus was that jobs are a bit thin on the ground in Perth...Brisbane is much better for job opps.

So I reserached Brisbane, made lots of enquiries, yes, it did seem more positive on the job front.
Now it begs the question about Melbourne and Sydney...I am a single woman in my thirites, migrating alone.

I would be SO appreciative of some good advice from anyone who can recommend what would be the best start for me.

Hope you can help!

bourbon-biscuit

A single woman in her 30s- chartered accountant (so decent money), I'd be heading to Sydney or Melbourne. Sydney is such a gorgeous city but I wouldn't want to live miles out in the burbs- if I was single childless and with decent income I'd rent a nice apartment in the city and enjoy the city life proper. Sydney is just beautiful and so lovely to be out in Darling Harbour at night or to catch ferries across the harbour. Plus you've got beaches too, which Melbourne and Brisbane don't offer to quite the same degree.

eeksy

Well we're set on Perth but that is with family. Just wanted to say good luck and happy travels.

annamichelle2310

Thanks guys
Yes, I am drawn more and more to Sydney, but I don't know whether it would be too busy, too commercial and also too expensive!
I do plan to buy a place when the market 'bottoms out', I can't help but wonder if Sydney prices will be too high for me.

GILDOC

I thought Sydney was too commercialised when I was there, however I loved Melbourne, it had so much going on and was much more relaxed than sydney and it did have lovely beaches!

annamichelle2310

Am I right in thinking though that Melbourne is a bit rainy?

pinoybill

We had a fair trek around OZ on our validation trip at the end of 2008.
We took in Sydney, Melbourne,Brisbane, Adelaide,Perth and Armidale(NSW/QLD border country)
Favourite by a decent margin was Melbourne, with Adelaide and Perth runners up.

Live in London/Kent borders in UK. Our feeling was that Syd/Bris were both a bit lacking in "soul"
Melbourne we felt had character-a terrfic China Town,spanky new bit down on the docks and lots of little districts dotted throughout the city core with their own personality.We met up with some friends of my wife who have lived their for several years and are thoroughly enjoying it. I think with the hype, harbour, and bridge stripped away from Sydney its not that interesting in itself.I think a lot of migrants are in awe of the climate and open skys there and in Brisbane and if its for you, good luck to you but but I think Melbourne has them beat. If your budget and schedule allows I would have a look around a few cities first.Good luck with your move.
Would also take all weather reports with a pinch of salt until you are on the ground.We stayed week in Perth with pals who have been in OZ for 2 years and we were sweating on patio in evening while they were wrapping up complaining of being cold.

srah

Sydney gets my vote based on your criteria....

mohogony

Sydney or MElbourne would have the most job opportunities and best pay for accountants. Perth is just as expensive as Sydney with the mining boom driving up house prices, some people find Perth small isolated and boring compared to Sydney or Melbourne.

quoll

Wherever you can get a job would be my suggestion. Dont forget Canberra either.

moin

Two questions:

1) I have heard from so many people that Perth/Brisbane/Adelaide are more upcoming cities with rapid growth and hence more job opportunities. How true is this and how seriously recession has curtailed this growth. Growth would be when there are new businesses, projects, expansion taking place. What does the media etc tell us?

2) Having a foreign qualification, would it require more convincing to potential employers about ones skills in a city like Perth/Brisbane than Sydney/Melbourne?

Cheers!!

annamichelle2310

Just want to add re: the foreign qualification, that it does automatically give me full membership of an equivalent Australian Accountancy body and also that I will be studying Australian Tax and Company law through Open Uni Australia when I arrive.

annamichelle2310

Moin, didn't realise this was your post! We have already had this discussion haven't we!!!! Sorry to reiterate chap!

mohogony

Apply for jobs all over the country and move to the city where you are offered the best paid job you like the most. Move where the work and the money is.

annamichelle2310

That is a brilliant theory and I do have one such agency looking for roles for me but, with me studying Australian Tax and Law for my first 13 weeks in the country to bridge the gap between the UK and Aussie systems, I am probably not going to be able to dive straight into a role on arrival as the recommended study is 40+hours per week for the 13 weeks and then 2 exams at the end.
I have to admit, I am tempted by Melbourne.
Bit of a stab in the dark this, isn't it?! Thanks for all the input.