UKPlay

Many thanks for all your comments; it is very useful to obtain an idea of what people think.

I should maybe explain a little more about the plan (or lack of it) at the moment. The plan is to arrive in Sydney later in 2009 each on a working holiday visa, then find somewhere to rent and begin the search for a job. We do have friends to stay with when we first arrive, though obviously this can only be temporary arrangement. My girlfriend is a French teacher and I am a Town Planner and we have both been working for about 3 years in England since qualifying from university. I am aware that there is a shortage of skills in both fields in Australia, but with the current economic climate I am also aware that there are just no opportunities in my field at the moment due to a lack of investment in property and a decline in construction. I have directly contacted various Sydney based recruitment consultancies who specialise in Town Planning roles and they have said not to travel at the moment as I do not have specific NSW experience so I would always be the last in the queue for jobs, of which there are none. If we went to Australia with the intention of working, I can imagine a situation where we may be working in a low paid environment, with unsociable hours, in a job we do not enjoy. Am I being particularly negative? I haven’t heard anything from my initial research to tell me otherwise. Please can I have any opinions on the positives and negatives of employment opportunities at the moment? I would love to have some reassurance that just turning up and finding a job will be an easy process. With all I described that I will be giving up, this does see like a massive gamble.

Due to the fact that our funds are limited (I note one comment with regards to people with more money than sense lol), the job prospects seem somewhat limited and I am not aware of if/what employment we could enter into when we arrive (any advice, basic rates of pay for general employment….e.g. admin work, retail, hospitality?) it doesn’t seem like the right thing to do at the moment. My GF is also running out of time in order to travel using a working holiday visa. As described before she sees the process I have described above as a relatively simple one, with the strong possibility she can get sponsored and then we can both stay. How likely is the sponsorship route once in Australia? With all the unknowns and the general advice I have received I can see our time there being a struggle. As previously explained I am very keen on the idea of travelling to Australia and seeing what is has to offer over a set period of time. I would find this exciting and would genuinely look forward to this experience, rather than at the moment dreading the thought of struggling in Australia trying to work and live.

My GF has been to Australia before, back in January 2007 for a 2 week holiday where she travelled around the Sydney area. She loved the trip and understandably so, it sounded great and I would love to do the same, and for a lot longer than 2 weeks! She also went in 2006 for a similar period. The weather was great, she went to the beach, shopping, saw the unique wildlife in Australia, had good weather, nice food, nice people (though she did say she met mainly all British people????) and went to a various activities and events. That sounds like a dream, but it does not sound like reality, including the prospect of living and working. Any thoughts?

Clearly, we do have different views on a long term plan together. She wants a life in Australia, I want an experience of the country. Obviously, we have to come some form of agreement ourselves and there may be other issues we need to work out…..but I would be so grateful to hear from people with any advice about the prospect of moving, living and working (now) with the plan I have described. We are off to an employment exhibition in the coming weeks which should also help. I feel willing to give up my current happy life to have an exciting time travelling in Australia, but I do not feel content giving up my happy life with the prospect of struggling – and I have heard nothing to say that we won’t struggle! There is also the consideration of what happens when (if) we return…..I am fairly sure we will return with nothing. I could justify this if I was going to have a great time, but not if I was going to spend my time in Australia struggling. Again thanks for reading…..apologies if this forum is not the place to discuss the problem I have

moneypenny20

I will be stating the bleeding obvious here but a two week holiday travelling around Sydney would be fab. No working, not stress, no bills, no facing real life etc etc etc. Let's face it, anywhere is generally fab as a holiday. I had the best holiday ever in Cairo and Luxor. The idea of living there? Not a hope!!!! The negatives were there for all to see whereas they are probably hidden in tourist Sydney.

Yes the sun shines a lot but that's not the be all and end all. It's good for my health and I love the sun but many many people find it draining and boring. Public transport in Sydney is not the best and when you're on holiday you don't see it, when you're trying to get to work and then home it's a total pain in the neck. Living is not the cheapest in Sydney - food etc when you're on the Aussie dollar is a different story than when on converted British pounds.

For a year's experience I'd say go for it, whether that would make you want to spend your life here is another matter. You're obviously young and have no ties so you'd be mad not too, just don't assume that your girlfriend will love it as much as she remembers. You may not have any issues with going back to the UK after the year.

ABCDiamond

I did a 4 week holiday in Easter 1985, then again for Christmas 1985, and I like it so much that in December 1986 I migrated

My mindset wasn't right for the country though, and I returned to the UK.

I did come back again though

If you come here, under pressure to stay, you may have problems, but come out for a year or so, to see what it's like, and who knows ...