Australia..where to start?
 

Hi there, I'm looking for as much advice/ information as possible with regards to emigrating to Australia from Scotland. My husband's an electrician and I work in the accounts department within the motor trade at the moment. We fancy either Australia or Canada however would love as much info as possible on both countries before we make up our minds! We are starting from scratch so any advice at all would be brilliant on jobs , places to consider moving too , housing abroad & how much the process would cost and how much to roughly take if it's what we decide to do.

Lauren :lol:

Re: Australia..where to start?
 

Hi Lauren, as you are looking for a plethora of information on two massive landmasses, Google Search really should be your friend at this early stage. Once you have pinpointed specific areas/towns, it will be so much easier for people to supply useful information.

Here are some initial searches I found that will get you on your way:

BritishExpats.com's own Wiki: Canada versus Australia

Canada vs. Australia: The upside of down

8 Things About Australia I Took For Granted

Re: Australia..where to start?
 

My partner is leaning more towards Calgary in Alberta as he's heard about the job opportunities there for electricians. Australia is always an option but I know it's further away for family and to be brutally honest the spiders are a huge thing for me as I'd not need to worry about lasting long there if I happened to see one I'd have heart failure on the spot!

Re: Australia..where to start?
 

Have you ever spent time in serious cold? Alberta is serious cold. I am writing this from within the arctic circle and for me it is fine. But for many it can be VERY problematic

Re: Australia..where to start?
 

I haven't spent time in serious cold but I know that the clothing there is built to substain the winters and they have nice summer weather so i've heard?

Re: Australia..where to start?
 

I understand one needs to go where there is work, and as far as distance goes, that is a really good point - Australia is FAR away. But it would seem an awful shame to write off Australia in large part due to spiders. From what I have gleaned from other posters over the years, if you are in the bigger cities, spider encounters are very rare.

Re: Australia..where to start?
 

Plus Canada has spiders too, including poisonous ones such as black widows. ;)

Re: Australia..where to start?
 

Yes, clothing makes a big difference, likewise, obviously housing is designed for the cold - it was -15 here last night and i was a bit too hot in bed.

But, in the midst of winter, in Alberta and many other places, the temp can get to well below -25 and even -40. At them temps, no matter how good your clothing, you primarily stay in doors. So, you need to be resigned to being in doors large parts of the year

Re: Australia..where to start?
 

Having lived in Calgary many years ago, the winters are grim unless you like skiing.

Visa?

Re: Australia..where to start?
 

We are looking at the IEC visa

Re: Australia..where to start?
 

Can't advise on the rules for that in Canada, but we don't have it in Australia. I think the Working Holiday Visa might be similar?

Re: Australia..where to start?
 

Calgary, like all the other resource based cities of the west like Perth, Aberdeen, Houston is going through a massive downturn due to the fall in all commodity prices, so what you heard in the past may no longer be the case

I'm at uni with a Canadian geologist who has decided to study for an MBA as there is no work for him in Canada. He reckons the downturn in resources is every bit as bad as it is in Perth, if not more so

Get the latest info before making a big move

Good luck

Re: Australia..where to start?
 

I think it might be its valid for 2 years or so to get us started

Re: Australia..where to start?
 

Not sure what visa you are talking about because it is confusing with mentioning both Australia and Canada.

The working holiday visa (417) for Australia is valid for 12 months. If you complete 3 months of regional work you may be eligible for a second WHV.

(Irish passport holders can apply for a 24 month IEC for Canada, and can only have 1 visa. UK passport holders can apply for a 12 month IEC. You can apply a second time for a total of 24 months.)

Good luck

Re: Australia..where to start?
 

Spiders and snakes should not be a concern. I love to see snakes but very very rarely do and Redbacks, which would be the biggest concern probably in Qld, we have in the garden and I leave them there in peace. They are less of a danger than UK Wasps. Canada for me is just far to cold for part of the year. I have family there and Ice storms and the like I will happily do without.