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Emigrating to Australia?!
Hello. I'm new to the forums here and was wandering if anyone could give me any advice.
My partner has been offered a job in either Perth or New South Wales as a Vulcaniser. They have offered with the job, a working visa for himself, me, and our 1 year old child. Relocation fees and all medical care expenses paid. His salary would be around $120,00 AUD a year. I guess I want to ask, what is the standard price of living on average for a 3 person household, 2 cars etc. Anything I should know? Good/bad areas to live in those areas? Is it worth the move? His schedule would be 2 weeks working, 1 week off. I would be on my own with the baby for 2/3rds of the year. Many ex pats in any of these areas? Myself or my partner have never been to Australia so as much info as possible will be greatly appreciated. Many thanks. Leona |
Re: Emigrating to Australia?!
Well Perth is a city and NSW is a state, did you mean Sydney? I think you'll need to provide the possible suburbs for the job location, then folks can chip in:)
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Re: Emigrating to Australia?!
Thanks for replying. We haven't had an exact location on where the job may be based as of yet. All i know is he will be working in a fly in, fly out basis, where he works for 2 weeks at a time, in different locations and then has 1 week off. As far as I'm aware the company is called Acorn?
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Re: Emigrating to Australia?!
OK, just re read the email the regions are;
Hunter Valley, Queensland Bowen Basin, Western Austrailas Pilbara, NSW. |
Re: Emigrating to Australia?!
THIS IS THE DESCRIPTION OF THE JOB HE HAS BEEN ACCEPTED FOR:
Vulcaniser / Belt Splicer - Australia wide One of Australias Leading Engineered Conveyor Solutions Company, supplying engineered and conveyor solutions to the mining Industry in Australia for over a century. Due to continued growth In we are currently seeking experienced Belt Vulcanisers /Belt Splicers to relocate to Australia on a 457 working VISA These positions are responsible for the day to day service activities relating to conveyor belt servicing and repairs and the roles will be offered on a Fly-in-Fly-out basis (FIFO) Person Specification * Minimum of 4 years experience in repairs, installation & splicing of steel cord or fabric conveyor belts is essential * Excellent customer service and communication skills * Rubber belt splicing qualifications or other relevant skills certification advantageous. * Experience in Hot Splicing of steel cord & fabric belts is preferred * Lagging of pulleys and idlers * Conveyor belt inspections as required Opportunities exist in the following regions Queenlands Bowen Basin, Western Australias Pilbra, New South Wales Hunter Valley . Package * Exceptional base salary ($AUD 85-130K) Plus overtime PLUS retirement fund of 9% of your base salary, Plus holiday incentives * Additional site allowances * Assistance with relocation expenses including airfares * Visa costs paid * Medical Insurance paid * Exceptional training and opportunities for career advancement * Company Uniforms, tools and safety equipment * Leading edge training at the company training facilities |
Re: Emigrating to Australia?!
Originally Posted by leonawalsh
(Post 10267709)
Hello. I'm new to the forums here and was wandering if anyone could give me any advice.
My partner has been offered a job in either Perth or New South Wales as a Vulcaniser. They have offered with the job, a working visa for himself, me, and our 1 year old child. Relocation fees and all medical care expenses paid. His salary would be around $120,00 AUD a year. I guess I want to ask, what is the standard price of living on average for a 3 person household, 2 cars etc. Anything I should know? Good/bad areas to live in those areas? Is it worth the move? His schedule would be 2 weeks working, 1 week off. I would be on my own with the baby for 2/3rds of the year. Many ex pats in any of these areas? Myself or my partner have never been to Australia so as much info as possible will be greatly appreciated. Many thanks. Leona Hunter Valley is lovely. We go up quite often, it sems like life would be a slower pace and quiet. I guess only you would really know if you could cope with being on your own 2/3 of time. |
Re: Emigrating to Australia?!
Originally Posted by Bermudashorts
(Post 10267789)
There is no such thing as a standard cost of living. What matters is your cost of living, if you can live nicely on GBP50k then you should be living nicely on this too.
Hunter Valley is lovely. We go up quite often, it sems like life would be a slower pace and quiet. I guess only you would really know if you could cope with being on your own 2/3 of time. i have never ha 50K to live on here in the UK. As I understand, essentials here are cheaper? Which is what I meant when I said standard cost of living. I.e average grocery bill, electric, cars, rent in those areas etc Leona |
Re: Emigrating to Australia?!
2/3rd of the year on your own will be tough.
Other than the money why else do you want to come? 120k is reasonable, but certainly not great as a household income. You won't be rich, probably won't save that much, but you'll get by OK. So you'll need a really, really good reason to want to just get by on the other side of the world, not seeing your partner for 240 days of the year, him not seeing his kid for 240 days of the year. |
Re: Emigrating to Australia?!
Originally Posted by bingobob777
(Post 10267843)
2/3rd of the year on your own will be tough.
Other than the money why else do you want to come? 120k is reasonable, but certainly not great as a household income. You won't be rich, probably won't save that much, but you'll get by OK. So you'll need a really, really good reason to want to just get by on the other side of the world, not seeing your partner for 240 days of the year, him not seeing his kid for 240 days of the year. |
Re: Emigrating to Australia?!
Originally Posted by leonawalsh
(Post 10267851)
Okay, when you put it like that it actually sounds scary! 240 days of the year is a lot. I think that the lifestyle will be better, mainly for my daughter. I'm in two minds about it, as I believe my daughter would have a better quality of life in oz, she won't have her extended family around like she does here. I don't know wether to go with my head or my heart! Saying that, I thought 120K a year was a great household income? Maybe im totally wrong here? The work is a 4 year contract, so I was thinking if we hated it that much we could save up as much as possible whilst in oz and then maybe move back to England when we have some money behind us. But that wouldn't be possible if we don't earn enough? Confused!!
$120,000 is OK. Plenty of families live adequately on that. |
Re: Emigrating to Australia?!
Originally Posted by leonawalsh
(Post 10267851)
Okay, when you put it like that it actually sounds scary! 240 days of the year is a lot. I think that the lifestyle will be better, mainly for my daughter. I'm in two minds about it, as I believe my daughter would have a better quality of life in oz, she won't have her extended family around like she does here. I don't know wether to go with my head or my heart! Saying that, I thought 120K a year was a great household income? Maybe im totally wrong here? The work is a 4 year contract, so I was thinking if we hated it that much we could save up as much as possible whilst in oz and then maybe move back to England when we have some money behind us. But that wouldn't be possible if we don't earn enough? Confused!!
Average wage is around 80k I think, so 120k is equivalent to 1 1/2 people earning the average salary. |
Re: Emigrating to Australia?!
Originally Posted by Beoz
(Post 10267857)
Other than reading the gazillion other posts on this topic on this forum, the only other advise I can give you is you won't know until you try..
$120,000 is OK. Plenty of families live adequately on that. |
Re: Emigrating to Australia?!
Originally Posted by bingobob777
(Post 10267862)
Rent will likely be your main expense, if you get somewhere for $300 a week, you'll be alot more comfortable than if you get something at $600 a week.
Average wage is around 80k I think, so 120k is equivalent to 1 1/2 people earning the average salary. |
Re: Emigrating to Australia?!
Originally Posted by Beoz
(Post 10267857)
Other than reading the gazillion other posts on this topic on this forum, the only other advise I can give you is you won't know until you try..
$120,000 is OK. Plenty of families live adequately on that. |
Re: Emigrating to Australia?!
Originally Posted by bingobob777
(Post 10267870)
as a father of two, adequate wouldn't be enough for me not to see kids 2/3 of the year :(
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Re: Emigrating to Australia?!
Originally Posted by leonawalsh
(Post 10267878)
No, I think you're right sadly :(
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Re: Emigrating to Australia?!
Originally Posted by leonawalsh
(Post 10267863)
Really? I did think it was quite a fair income. I don't think adequately is enough to persuade me to move to the other side of the world. I was hoping I could do some major saving?
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Re: Emigrating to Australia?!
Originally Posted by leonawalsh
(Post 10267828)
i have never ha 50K to live on here in the UK. As I understand, essentials here are cheaper? Which is what I meant when I said standard cost of living. I.e average grocery bill, electric, cars, rent in those areas etc
Leona The major problems you will have is the isolation with your partner working FIFO and not having any friends. Not knowing people can get very lonely sometimes, especially as you wouldn't really be able to join a social scene so much with having to look after a child 100%. Saying that there do seem to be plenty of parent and child groups/meets here. |
Re: Emigrating to Australia?!
Originally Posted by martin1978
(Post 10267922)
Sounds like your more normal like me than some of the high earners who seem to think you need $120k+ a year just to get by. I never earned above 30K in the UK, arrived here in Sydney as a engineering tradesmen and I have more disposable income than I've ever had. And i'm not earning anywhere near $120,000 so I've no doubt that you will be better off financially here with a slightly better standard of living.
The major problems you will have is the isolation with your partner working FIFO and not having any friends. Not knowing people can get very lonely sometimes, especially as you wouldn't really be able to join a social scene so much with having to look after a child 100%. Saying that there do seem to be plenty of parent and child groups/meets here. |
Re: Emigrating to Australia?!
Originally Posted by leonawalsh
(Post 10267927)
Thanks so much for replying! We as a household in the uk have never earned more than 25K and have "got by". I dont want a luxurious lifestyle in oz, just a comfortable one and hopefully manage to save some money too. I did think $120K meant that all of this was do-able?!
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Re: Emigrating to Australia?!
Originally Posted by Beoz
(Post 10267941)
Divide $120,000 by your current UK salary. If this figure is more than 2.3 then you'll be better off financially than what you currently are in the UK.
So additional medical expenses, dental, no tax credits (which a family earning 25k in the UK would get quite a bit of), school fees (in NSW). |
Re: Emigrating to Australia?!
Originally Posted by bingobob777
(Post 10267952)
doesn't take into account rent or being on a 457 Visa.
So additional medical expenses, dental, no tax credits (which a family earning 25k in the UK would get quite a bit of), school fees (in NSW). My biggest concern would be the 457 visa having been screwed over on it myself in the past. If you look at it as a temporary move and do not burn any bridges in the UK it will be fine. |
Re: Emigrating to Australia?!
Originally Posted by bingobob777
(Post 10267952)
doesn't take into account rent or being on a 457 Visa.
So additional medical expenses, dental, no tax credits (which a family earning 25k in the UK would get quite a bit of), school fees (in NSW). |
Re: Emigrating to Australia?!
Originally Posted by Beoz
(Post 10268009)
I'm a citizen and I can't recall the last time I took advantage of the public health system. My over priced medical insurance covers all the big costs just like a 457's would. I stand by 2.3.
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Re: Emigrating to Australia?!
I work FIFO and have done for more years than i would like to remember. It has some pluses, but it has a lot of negatives. Lots of people who start it realise fairly quickly it isnt for them. I had 6 new guys start this week. I reckon we will lose two after their first 2 week swing. For them, its not too big a deal as they Australians and so just look for another job. Thats not an option when you are here on a 457 visa.
I dont have children so its not the same for us, but to be honest, there i dont think i would even do my roster which is week on week off if i had a young family. The time at home is great, but i think my wife would find it too hard. Think very carefully about this. Remember you will not only not have your partner, but you will be alone in a forign country on the other side of the world knowing nobody. It can work and plenty of people make it work. But, it is not a life for everybody. |
Re: Emigrating to Australia?!
Originally Posted by martin1978
(Post 10267985)
If you read the OP correctly you will see that their medical expenses are being taken care of and that they have a baby, not a school age child. Tax credit upper limit for 1 child is 26000UKP so doubt they get enough to make any substantial difference. And rent you have to pay regardless of where you live, although I agree it is roughly twice the cost of UK rent(depending on where you live/moving to of course).
My biggest concern would be the 457 visa having been screwed over on it myself in the past. If you look at it as a temporary move and do not burn any bridges in the UK it will be fine. 2 cars rent food gas/electricity insurances mobiles broadband I said it's do-able, no doubt about it, but what's the point in do-able? Having a bit more free cash won't make up for having no friends, family or partner at home. It's up to the OP, plenty of people on BE seem happy to scrape by just to get a bit of sun. I personally came for the money AND the chance to try something a bit different for a few years, without the money there isn't a chance in hell I'd be 10,000 miles away from my family and friends. |
Re: Emigrating to Australia?!
Originally Posted by Beoz
(Post 10268009)
I'm a citizen and I can't recall the last time I took advantage of the public health system. My over priced medical insurance covers all the big costs just like a 457's would. I stand by 2.3.
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Re: Emigrating to Australia?!
Originally Posted by bingobob777
(Post 10268148)
I'm from the UK on a 457 Visa, my medical insurance is titled "Inpatriate medical insurance for 457 Visa holders", all it does is refund me anything that Medicare doesn't pay, I DO NOT get private medical insurance. I'd expect this will also apply to the OP.
Anyhow the below are paid for no matter what country you live in. 2 cars rent food gas/electricity insurances mobiles broadband |
Re: Emigrating to Australia?!
Originally Posted by Beoz
(Post 10268156)
Medicare pays for next to nothing.
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Re: Emigrating to Australia?!
Originally Posted by leonawalsh
(Post 10267851)
Okay, when you put it like that it actually sounds scary! 240 days of the year is a lot. I think that the lifestyle will be better, mainly for my daughter. I'm in two minds about it, as I believe my daughter would have a better quality of life in oz, she won't have her extended family around like she does here. I don't know wether to go with my head or my heart! Saying that, I thought 120K a year was a great household income? Maybe im totally wrong here? The work is a 4 year contract, so I was thinking if we hated it that much we could save up as much as possible whilst in oz and then maybe move back to England when we have some money behind us. But that wouldn't be possible if we don't earn enough? Confused!!
Maybe you have specific, Australia related, plans for your daughter when she is older... but otherwise, I think the move is more likely to be something you would consider because YOU want to. |
Re: Emigrating to Australia?!
Originally Posted by Beoz
(Post 10268156)
Medicare pays for next to nothing.
I had to spend a few days in hospital a while back and did not pay a penny. |
Re: Emigrating to Australia?!
Originally Posted by Amazulu
(Post 10268346)
Have a car accident, heart attack, break your leg etc and need to go to hospital. Medicare will pay for it.
I had to spend a few days in hospital a while back and did not pay a penny. |
Re: Emigrating to Australia?!
Originally Posted by Beoz
(Post 10268354)
After a long long wait. If you want quality it isn't without cost.
If you have a car accident, heart attack or break a leg, you don't have to wait, you will get taken to hospital. |
Re: Emigrating to Australia?!
Originally Posted by Beoz
(Post 10268354)
After a long long wait. If you want quality it isn't without cost.
Tiddler's surgeon was in the midst of doing his resignation letter to Queensland Health when she had her appointment to make a date for her op. He was planning on having his final day at the end of March. He changed it to the end of the first week of April in order to be able to do her op in the Public system (and thus bring her surgery forward four months from the previously suggested date). I accept that you have had bad experiences with Medicare (unfortunately) but it is in no way the same for everyone else so to make the blanket statements you have is disingenous. |
Re: Emigrating to Australia?!
Originally Posted by brissybee
(Post 10268337)
Why would the lifestyle be better on the other side of the World for a one year old girl, away from her extended family?
Maybe you have specific, Australia related, plans for your daughter when she is older... but otherwise, I think the move is more likely to be something you would consider because YOU want to. This is a good point for OP to consider IMO. Unless you're talking about extreme ends of the spectrum, 'quality of life' for 0-4 yr old doesn't really exist in this context. Their life is their immediate surroundings and contacts (parents, grandparents etc), which by the sound of it would be a lot less than what the OP's kid has now. Quality of life for older kids is a debate that will never be settled on here. However, the OP needs to be in a position to have those options to offer her kid, and unless there is a very clear pathway from 457 to PR, and a commitment from the employer, it's not something I would personally gamble on. However, as a 4yr adventure in another country, that offer seems to be workable, but IMO there are some pretty heavy strings that come attached with it. |
Re: Emigrating to Australia?!
thank you for all of your replies. I am still confused and havent come any closer to making a decision. I think my partner is going to see if he can get the contract time reduced, and maybe fly out there alone to start with. If he thinks we should go then he will pay for us to come out and maybe settle down in oz. if he hates it and is still tied to the contract then we will fly out for a couple of weeks every 2 months. I think this may be the best way to go about it?? After all, if he hates the job than the move is pointless in the first place
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Re: Emigrating to Australia?!
Originally Posted by leonawalsh
(Post 10268545)
thank you for all of your replies. I am still confused and havent come any closer to making a decision. I think my partner is going to see if he can get the contract time reduced, and maybe fly out there alone to start with. If he thinks we should go then he will pay for us to come out and maybe settle down in oz. if he hates it and is still tied to the contract then we will fly out for a couple of weeks every 2 months. I think this may be the best way to go about it?? After all, if he hates the job than the move is pointless in the first place
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Re: Emigrating to Australia?!
Originally Posted by bingobob777
(Post 10268619)
No you won't. It'll cost too much and be too hard on you and the baby.
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Re: Emigrating to Australia?!
All that flying will burn a huge hole in the earnings. And you need to try it, I found the last return trip to Uk enough to put me off doing it more than once a year. My wife and I have two teenage boys and earn less than $110k a year combined. We save up money and spend more than we did in the UK. With a $300K mortgage to. We`re on the Goldcoast,QLD. I`m 47 and we came over in `08 and wish I`d done it 10 years ago. You should not regret trying something but you may regret not trying. Good luck.
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Re: Emigrating to Australia?!
Originally Posted by skinnygeorge
(Post 10268651)
All that flying will burn a huge hole in the earnings. And you need to try it, I found the last return trip to Uk enough to put me off doing it more than once a year. My wife and I have two teenage boys and earn less than $110k a year combined. We save up money and spend more than we did in the UK. With a $300K mortgage to. We`re on the Goldcoast,QLD. I`m 47 and we came over in `08 and wish I`d done it 10 years ago. You should not regret trying something but you may regret not trying. Good luck.
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