Letter from Perth dweller to hopeful migrant
#1
Forum Regular
Thread Starter
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 63
Letter from Perth dweller to hopeful migrant
Just wrote a letter to an ex work mate who is going to be migrating next year, thought it might interest some of you.
I have changed it around a bit to protect the innocent so it might not read too good in places.
Hello Al
Been here 5 months now and we have settled in nicely with no great problems.
Spent the first 3 weeks in an apartment and in that time we bought a car and rented in a suburb between the two airports.
Was lucky enough to see an advert in the paper for a company at Perth airport looking for 2 structures guys (They call them sheet metal workers over here) and an ame (aircraft mech eng).
Got an interview over the phone and I started there the Monday after we moved into the house.
The money was good for here, A$25, an hour and the hours were flexible with as much overtime as the tax man would allow.
It transpired that they only needed us for a few months and we were employed as casuals, eg no holidays and sick days etc.
We were all employed as structures guys and it was a bit hairy as most of the guys working on the team (about 10 of them) were very experienced and had done workshop stuff as well. On the plus side for me the other 2 guys that got taken on with me were less experienced and both got sacked through time (not much of a plus for them I know, it was scandalous.
It was a bit like Schindlers List I was just waiting for the hand on my shoulder.
Had to work hard in the heat and got two 10 min t-breaks and 15 min lunch. I knew it was going to probably be like that, but it is still a bit of a shock to the system when you’re used to swaneying about the UK job filling your day blethering and going to the gym.
Did that for 3 ½ months to honour the contract and could have stayed longer (I think there will be work there till February, But you cannot get a mortgage as a casual), but there was another advert in the paper (only the 2nd I’ve seen since I got here), for ame and structures guys at (blank)--------
Had to go for an interview and medical but got a job, as a structures worker.
I hate structures work, but at the interview the guy made some promises that appealed.
At present I have to drive 30 miles a day to the place but our rent lease is up at the end of July so we will move closer.
Anyway that’s the background here’s what I think so far.
Hasn’t been the mortgage free life that we hoped for. In order to live in a similar house in the Perth city suburbs to the one we had in (blank) we are going to have to take out a mortgage of around A$120,000.
I’d say the average house in a nice,ish, area would be around A$350,000.
My wages are complete bobbins right now $33,000 rising to $40,000 within a year.
More money as a casual but no certain future and working conditions are crap.
There is very little aircraft work, I went right down the ‘strip’ at Jandakot airport with my CV and spoke to most of the chief engineers and never got a sniff. The main airport is the same, most of the work goes over east and there are 1,200,000 people living here so they can pick and choose a bit, I think I got lucky and my previous structures experience got me the jobs.
Haven’t been desperate enough to go down the job centre yet but this job will do for now as it’s pretty laid back and it keeps the wolf from the door.
The cost of living has shot up since you were here last and it costs about the same to live here as the UK. The only things that I’ve noticed that are cheaper are petrol and lamb ( so on the plus side you can drive to one of the many parks and use one of the free electric BBQs to cook your lamb in the sunshine for a cheap day out).
On the positive side we are still enjoying it and don’t regret it the weather has been great (although it is pishing down today) and it is a lovely, clean, safe(ish), city with all you could wish for.
I can’t believe how much it is like the UK here and the Australians seem to be in the minority wherever you go.
It is a great place to bring up the kids and we are looking forward to living in our own house when it is built next year.
I am at the bottom of the pile right now, if you take work, experience, investment, Aus educational certificates, and job prospects into account and that is where I expected to be. We are keeping our heads above the water and the only way is up.
I’ve just read through this letter and I sound like a right winging pom.
Just like to say again that we are enjoying it and don’t regret a thing and are staying put for the foreseeable future.
You must be thinking about putting your TRA stuff in by now. How are you getting on and what is your plan?
Any questions you have just fire away, believe it or not I have been trying to keep this short.
Juri
I have changed it around a bit to protect the innocent so it might not read too good in places.
Hello Al
Been here 5 months now and we have settled in nicely with no great problems.
Spent the first 3 weeks in an apartment and in that time we bought a car and rented in a suburb between the two airports.
Was lucky enough to see an advert in the paper for a company at Perth airport looking for 2 structures guys (They call them sheet metal workers over here) and an ame (aircraft mech eng).
Got an interview over the phone and I started there the Monday after we moved into the house.
The money was good for here, A$25, an hour and the hours were flexible with as much overtime as the tax man would allow.
It transpired that they only needed us for a few months and we were employed as casuals, eg no holidays and sick days etc.
We were all employed as structures guys and it was a bit hairy as most of the guys working on the team (about 10 of them) were very experienced and had done workshop stuff as well. On the plus side for me the other 2 guys that got taken on with me were less experienced and both got sacked through time (not much of a plus for them I know, it was scandalous.
It was a bit like Schindlers List I was just waiting for the hand on my shoulder.
Had to work hard in the heat and got two 10 min t-breaks and 15 min lunch. I knew it was going to probably be like that, but it is still a bit of a shock to the system when you’re used to swaneying about the UK job filling your day blethering and going to the gym.
Did that for 3 ½ months to honour the contract and could have stayed longer (I think there will be work there till February, But you cannot get a mortgage as a casual), but there was another advert in the paper (only the 2nd I’ve seen since I got here), for ame and structures guys at (blank)--------
Had to go for an interview and medical but got a job, as a structures worker.
I hate structures work, but at the interview the guy made some promises that appealed.
At present I have to drive 30 miles a day to the place but our rent lease is up at the end of July so we will move closer.
Anyway that’s the background here’s what I think so far.
Hasn’t been the mortgage free life that we hoped for. In order to live in a similar house in the Perth city suburbs to the one we had in (blank) we are going to have to take out a mortgage of around A$120,000.
I’d say the average house in a nice,ish, area would be around A$350,000.
My wages are complete bobbins right now $33,000 rising to $40,000 within a year.
More money as a casual but no certain future and working conditions are crap.
There is very little aircraft work, I went right down the ‘strip’ at Jandakot airport with my CV and spoke to most of the chief engineers and never got a sniff. The main airport is the same, most of the work goes over east and there are 1,200,000 people living here so they can pick and choose a bit, I think I got lucky and my previous structures experience got me the jobs.
Haven’t been desperate enough to go down the job centre yet but this job will do for now as it’s pretty laid back and it keeps the wolf from the door.
The cost of living has shot up since you were here last and it costs about the same to live here as the UK. The only things that I’ve noticed that are cheaper are petrol and lamb ( so on the plus side you can drive to one of the many parks and use one of the free electric BBQs to cook your lamb in the sunshine for a cheap day out).
On the positive side we are still enjoying it and don’t regret it the weather has been great (although it is pishing down today) and it is a lovely, clean, safe(ish), city with all you could wish for.
I can’t believe how much it is like the UK here and the Australians seem to be in the minority wherever you go.
It is a great place to bring up the kids and we are looking forward to living in our own house when it is built next year.
I am at the bottom of the pile right now, if you take work, experience, investment, Aus educational certificates, and job prospects into account and that is where I expected to be. We are keeping our heads above the water and the only way is up.
I’ve just read through this letter and I sound like a right winging pom.
Just like to say again that we are enjoying it and don’t regret a thing and are staying put for the foreseeable future.
You must be thinking about putting your TRA stuff in by now. How are you getting on and what is your plan?
Any questions you have just fire away, believe it or not I have been trying to keep this short.
Juri
#2
Thanks Juri! Very interesting, and I'm sure this'll be very helpful for all the people going to Perth on here!
Good luck with everything!
Simone
Good luck with everything!
Simone
#3
Re: Letter from Perth dweller to hopeful migrant
Originally posted by juri
Just wrote a letter to an ex work mate who is going to be migrating next year, thought it might interest some of you.
I have changed it around a bit to protect the innocent so it might not read too good in places.
Hello Al
Been here 5 months now and we have settled in nicely with no great problems.
Spent the first 3 weeks in an apartment and in that time we bought a car and rented in a suburb between the two airports.
Was lucky enough to see an advert in the paper for a company at Perth airport looking for 2 structures guys (They call them sheet metal workers over here) and an ame (aircraft mech eng).
Got an interview over the phone and I started there the Monday after we moved into the house.
The money was good for here, A$25, an hour and the hours were flexible with as much overtime as the tax man would allow.
It transpired that they only needed us for a few months and we were employed as casuals, eg no holidays and sick days etc.
We were all employed as structures guys and it was a bit hairy as most of the guys working on the team (about 10 of them) were very experienced and had done workshop stuff as well. On the plus side for me the other 2 guys that got taken on with me were less experienced and both got sacked through time (not much of a plus for them I know, it was scandalous.
It was a bit like Schindlers List I was just waiting for the hand on my shoulder.
Had to work hard in the heat and got two 10 min t-breaks and 15 min lunch. I knew it was going to probably be like that, but it is still a bit of a shock to the system when you’re used to swaneying about the UK job filling your day blethering and going to the gym.
Did that for 3 ½ months to honour the contract and could have stayed longer (I think there will be work there till February, But you cannot get a mortgage as a casual), but there was another advert in the paper (only the 2nd I’ve seen since I got here), for ame and structures guys at (blank)--------
Had to go for an interview and medical but got a job, as a structures worker.
I hate structures work, but at the interview the guy made some promises that appealed.
At present I have to drive 30 miles a day to the place but our rent lease is up at the end of July so we will move closer.
Anyway that’s the background here’s what I think so far.
Hasn’t been the mortgage free life that we hoped for. In order to live in a similar house in the Perth city suburbs to the one we had in (blank) we are going to have to take out a mortgage of around A$120,000.
I’d say the average house in a nice,ish, area would be around A$350,000.
My wages are complete bobbins right now $33,000 rising to $40,000 within a year.
More money as a casual but no certain future and working conditions are crap.
There is very little aircraft work, I went right down the ‘strip’ at Jandakot airport with my CV and spoke to most of the chief engineers and never got a sniff. The main airport is the same, most of the work goes over east and there are 1,200,000 people living here so they can pick and choose a bit, I think I got lucky and my previous structures experience got me the jobs.
Haven’t been desperate enough to go down the job centre yet but this job will do for now as it’s pretty laid back and it keeps the wolf from the door.
The cost of living has shot up since you were here last and it costs about the same to live here as the UK. The only things that I’ve noticed that are cheaper are petrol and lamb ( so on the plus side you can drive to one of the many parks and use one of the free electric BBQs to cook your lamb in the sunshine for a cheap day out).
On the positive side we are still enjoying it and don’t regret it the weather has been great (although it is pishing down today) and it is a lovely, clean, safe(ish), city with all you could wish for.
I can’t believe how much it is like the UK here and the Australians seem to be in the minority wherever you go.
It is a great place to bring up the kids and we are looking forward to living in our own house when it is built next year.
I am at the bottom of the pile right now, if you take work, experience, investment, Aus educational certificates, and job prospects into account and that is where I expected to be. We are keeping our heads above the water and the only way is up.
I’ve just read through this letter and I sound like a right winging pom.
Just like to say again that we are enjoying it and don’t regret a thing and are staying put for the foreseeable future.
You must be thinking about putting your TRA stuff in by now. How are you getting on and what is your plan?
Any questions you have just fire away, believe it or not I have been trying to keep this short.
Juri
Just wrote a letter to an ex work mate who is going to be migrating next year, thought it might interest some of you.
I have changed it around a bit to protect the innocent so it might not read too good in places.
Hello Al
Been here 5 months now and we have settled in nicely with no great problems.
Spent the first 3 weeks in an apartment and in that time we bought a car and rented in a suburb between the two airports.
Was lucky enough to see an advert in the paper for a company at Perth airport looking for 2 structures guys (They call them sheet metal workers over here) and an ame (aircraft mech eng).
Got an interview over the phone and I started there the Monday after we moved into the house.
The money was good for here, A$25, an hour and the hours were flexible with as much overtime as the tax man would allow.
It transpired that they only needed us for a few months and we were employed as casuals, eg no holidays and sick days etc.
We were all employed as structures guys and it was a bit hairy as most of the guys working on the team (about 10 of them) were very experienced and had done workshop stuff as well. On the plus side for me the other 2 guys that got taken on with me were less experienced and both got sacked through time (not much of a plus for them I know, it was scandalous.
It was a bit like Schindlers List I was just waiting for the hand on my shoulder.
Had to work hard in the heat and got two 10 min t-breaks and 15 min lunch. I knew it was going to probably be like that, but it is still a bit of a shock to the system when you’re used to swaneying about the UK job filling your day blethering and going to the gym.
Did that for 3 ½ months to honour the contract and could have stayed longer (I think there will be work there till February, But you cannot get a mortgage as a casual), but there was another advert in the paper (only the 2nd I’ve seen since I got here), for ame and structures guys at (blank)--------
Had to go for an interview and medical but got a job, as a structures worker.
I hate structures work, but at the interview the guy made some promises that appealed.
At present I have to drive 30 miles a day to the place but our rent lease is up at the end of July so we will move closer.
Anyway that’s the background here’s what I think so far.
Hasn’t been the mortgage free life that we hoped for. In order to live in a similar house in the Perth city suburbs to the one we had in (blank) we are going to have to take out a mortgage of around A$120,000.
I’d say the average house in a nice,ish, area would be around A$350,000.
My wages are complete bobbins right now $33,000 rising to $40,000 within a year.
More money as a casual but no certain future and working conditions are crap.
There is very little aircraft work, I went right down the ‘strip’ at Jandakot airport with my CV and spoke to most of the chief engineers and never got a sniff. The main airport is the same, most of the work goes over east and there are 1,200,000 people living here so they can pick and choose a bit, I think I got lucky and my previous structures experience got me the jobs.
Haven’t been desperate enough to go down the job centre yet but this job will do for now as it’s pretty laid back and it keeps the wolf from the door.
The cost of living has shot up since you were here last and it costs about the same to live here as the UK. The only things that I’ve noticed that are cheaper are petrol and lamb ( so on the plus side you can drive to one of the many parks and use one of the free electric BBQs to cook your lamb in the sunshine for a cheap day out).
On the positive side we are still enjoying it and don’t regret it the weather has been great (although it is pishing down today) and it is a lovely, clean, safe(ish), city with all you could wish for.
I can’t believe how much it is like the UK here and the Australians seem to be in the minority wherever you go.
It is a great place to bring up the kids and we are looking forward to living in our own house when it is built next year.
I am at the bottom of the pile right now, if you take work, experience, investment, Aus educational certificates, and job prospects into account and that is where I expected to be. We are keeping our heads above the water and the only way is up.
I’ve just read through this letter and I sound like a right winging pom.
Just like to say again that we are enjoying it and don’t regret a thing and are staying put for the foreseeable future.
You must be thinking about putting your TRA stuff in by now. How are you getting on and what is your plan?
Any questions you have just fire away, believe it or not I have been trying to keep this short.
Juri
Hope all works out for you.
Kala
#5
Forum Regular
Joined: May 2004
Location: Melbourne
Posts: 71
Hi Juri , thanks for posting your letter . I too am an AME working for BA at the moment but would like to move to Perth . I currently hold an 'A' licence but want to convert to a oz AME then emmigrate . Is the airline situation that bad out there at the moment ? Is it just Perth thats bad or the whole of Oz? I was looking to move to Melbourne and work at Forstaff or MEL , any idea of the situation over there ?
Thanks for any comments.
Thanks for any comments.