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Need help deciding on Melbourne job offer.

Need help deciding on Melbourne job offer.

Old Jan 30th 2009, 3:23 pm
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Default Need help deciding on Melbourne job offer.

Hi Folks,

I'm sorry if this question has been asked before, but I've had a quick look over the forums and there isn't a suitable answer. It's my first post, so please be gentle!

Basically I've been offered a job in Melbourne (Monash Uni) and I need some help to determine if I can afford to live in Melbourne on the Salary they are offering. The problem is I only have until this monday to make my choice!

I will be coming with girlfriend (de facto partner), so what I really want to know is can I support both of us if she is unable to work?

The job pays $62K, of which I found out about 25% is tax and the medicare levy. This leaves $46K or about $800 per week - is this something that is feasible for 2 to live on fairly comfortably? I'm not buying Armani suits, but I would enjoy a few cold beers and have enough for a trip back to the UK once in a while.

The largest unknown for me is the extra medical insurance that we are required to have. Could anyone enlighten me to the approximate cost of this?
I'm currently finishing up my studies in the US and both of us have been here or 6 years (both UK citizens), although the US see us as non-resident and we are technically resident in the UK. However, I'm willing to bet we have to pay full whack - does anyone know how much this might be?

Also, we're having a look at jobs via the internet and not seeing much around, are we looking in the wrong places or is there that little work in Melbourne? Any websites would be appreciated.

As I say I am in a rush (just a little stressful) as I need to accept or reject the offer by monday!

Thanks in advance,

Gareth.
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Old Jan 30th 2009, 4:31 pm
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Default Re: Need help deciding on Melbourne job offer.

Hi Gareth

I can't answer all your questions, but I reckon 62k would be fine for 2 people to live a normal lifestyle in Melbourne. Plenty of Aussies support whole families here on less!

www.iselect.com.au will give you an idea of health insurance costs.

I'm not sure which dept of Monash you will be working in. There's a poster on here called Dirk Diggler who works in IT (app dev) at Monash Clayton campus, he's a pretty friendly chap and if you sent him a PM I'm sure he'd help with any questions about that campus (btw you will need 3 posts on the public forum to be allowed to send a PM).

Good luck - Melbourne is a fantastic city to live in.

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Old Jan 31st 2009, 12:29 am
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Default Re: Need help deciding on Melbourne job offer.

You can certainly survive on $62k for two people as long as you will be happy living a bit out of the city and not in the trendiest area. It will translate to about $800 a week after tax so it's not a huge amount of money and it would probably be best if your partner works too if you want to afford trips back to the UK as they are not cheap.
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Old Jan 31st 2009, 1:37 am
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Default Re: Need help deciding on Melbourne job offer.

Originally Posted by gfunc
Hi Folks,

I'm sorry if this question has been asked before, but I've had a quick look over the forums and there isn't a suitable answer. It's my first post, so please be gentle!

Basically I've been offered a job in Melbourne (Monash Uni) and I need some help to determine if I can afford to live in Melbourne on the Salary they are offering. The problem is I only have until this monday to make my choice!

I will be coming with girlfriend (de facto partner), so what I really want to know is can I support both of us if she is unable to work?

The job pays $62K, of which I found out about 25% is tax and the medicare levy. This leaves $46K or about $800 per week - is this something that is feasible for 2 to live on fairly comfortably? I'm not buying Armani suits, but I would enjoy a few cold beers and have enough for a trip back to the UK once in a while.

The largest unknown for me is the extra medical insurance that we are required to have. Could anyone enlighten me to the approximate cost of this?
I'm currently finishing up my studies in the US and both of us have been here or 6 years (both UK citizens), although the US see us as non-resident and we are technically resident in the UK. However, I'm willing to bet we have to pay full whack - does anyone know how much this might be?

Also, we're having a look at jobs via the internet and not seeing much around, are we looking in the wrong places or is there that little work in Melbourne? Any websites would be appreciated.

As I say I am in a rush (just a little stressful) as I need to accept or reject the offer by monday!

Thanks in advance,

Gareth.

You could try www.seek.com.au and also www.linkme.com.au. The seek website has more jobs on it but I've had offers for work from the linkme site.

I don't think $62k will go far in Melbourne and I doubt you will be able to live in a trendy area on that salary alone. You will have to live in the suburbs outside the city and commute to work I reckon.

I guess it all depends what type of lifestyle you want - $62k will get you by but without many luxuries in my opinion.

Good luck with the move!!
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Old Jan 31st 2009, 2:18 am
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Default Re: Need help deciding on Melbourne job offer.

iselect does not offer it's services to non PR holders. Most of the major companies will give you overseas cover at a premium - for example the top cover with Medibank Private is around the $490 per month mark for a couple or family. You could try http://www.austhealth.com/ (AKA iman) who specialise in 457 visa holders. Because of the Reciprocal Agreement with the UK regarding medicare cover you should be covered under this agreement for emergency cover (this actually means more than that - ie it will cover doctors appointments etc) so if you want to save costs then get the basic cover you will need.
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Old Jan 31st 2009, 3:21 am
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Default Re: Need help deciding on Melbourne job offer.

Rent will set you back about $300 upwards depending on what type of housing you want. Car rego and insurance $1,000 a year health insurance if you take it out $1000.00 upwards depending what you want. Personally we do not have health insurance and its fine and we have lived here for over thirty years. If I have something serious wrong with me I want to go to the major public hospitals not little private ones with no doc at night.

Food is pricey, eating out is cheap to pricey depending where you go. My son is a secondary maths science teacher in the public system and he earns less than that but there is only him to look after.

Also depends if you will live close by as transport takes a whack each week be it petrol or fares.

If you visit the Britvics Forum I am sure someone on there who live here now will be able to assist you with set up costs and how much for new people.

We do not have any of these problems.

Good luck
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Old Jan 31st 2009, 3:28 am
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Default Re: Need help deciding on Melbourne job offer.

Thanks for all the advice guys!

I still haven't quite made up my mind, I'm waiting for the folks at Monash to get back to me with the numbers for the health insurance. Apparently it is required by my contract from a supplier of their chosing.

From what people have said it seems that we could just about get by on my salary alone. I guess we'll be looking at living somwhere near Clayton initally so we don't have to buy a car at first - is Clayton relatively inexpenive, or should I be looking elsewhere?

We're not planning to live big or buy a house and we've been surviving OK on US$40K between us for the last six years with a reasonable lifestyle. I'm hoping that the missus can get a job despite the global crash (she is highly qualified in the physical sciences), but you can never bank on these things. We're just getting very tired of the US due to the unending snow, trees and myriad of stupid forms to fill in!

I've also got to weigh up having a steady job in Melbourne for 3 years or gambling that I'll find something else before my US visa expires (May this year). Its not a fun descision that I've got to make within 72hrs!

Thanks again,

Gareth.

P.S. They told me I'd be on a e452 visa - does anyone know what this means? I've seen 457 everywhere, but not 452!
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Old Jan 31st 2009, 5:07 am
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Smile Re: Need help deciding on Melbourne job offer.

Originally Posted by gfunc
is Clayton relatively inexpenive,
Yes.

It is quite an ethnic area, a lot of asian shops and restaurants.

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Old Jan 31st 2009, 5:18 am
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Default Re: Need help deciding on Melbourne job offer.

All the best with your decision mate, and well done for being offered a job in the first place.

I have been here almost 3 weeks now, and no one has had a sniff at my CV other than 2 agencies, who tell me they have submitted my CV.

I am starting to get to grips with the sloooooow pace of which things happen here.

I must admits, I am starting to get a little anxious, as I am not one for sitting around.

Cheers

Huk...
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Old Jan 31st 2009, 6:34 am
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Default Re: Need help deciding on Melbourne job offer.

Originally Posted by gfunc
Thanks for all the advice guys!

I still haven't quite made up my mind, I'm waiting for the folks at Monash to get back to me with the numbers for the health insurance. Apparently it is required by my contract from a supplier of their chosing.

From what people have said it seems that we could just about get by on my salary alone. I guess we'll be looking at living somwhere near Clayton initally so we don't have to buy a car at first - is Clayton relatively inexpenive, or should I be looking elsewhere?

We're not planning to live big or buy a house and we've been surviving OK on US$40K between us for the last six years with a reasonable lifestyle. I'm hoping that the missus can get a job despite the global crash (she is highly qualified in the physical sciences), but you can never bank on these things. We're just getting very tired of the US due to the unending snow, trees and myriad of stupid forms to fill in!

I've also got to weigh up having a steady job in Melbourne for 3 years or gambling that I'll find something else before my US visa expires (May this year). Its not a fun descision that I've got to make within 72hrs!

Thanks again,

Gareth.

P.S. They told me I'd be on a e452 visa - does anyone know what this means? I've seen 457 everywhere, but not 452!
I think you'll find the salary OK in that case. If you shop at the markets then food is cheap compared to the UK.
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Old Feb 2nd 2009, 1:23 am
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Default Re: Need help deciding on Melbourne job offer.

Congrats on getting a job offer before moving to Melbourne. I recently moved to Melbourne with my OH (around 1 month ago) and we previously lived in New York City. Melbourne is a great place, and I think you;ll be okay with $62K salary here. Of course you just have to figure out where to buy stuff, like buying at the markets, to stretch out your money. My fiance and I recently moved here without jobs, and we are currently staying at my brothers' apartment here in Melbourne. We've been looking for jobs for almost a month, and it is going very slow!! They also have said its because Jan is a seasonally slow month and of course because of the global crisis. So congrats again with your job offer. Good luck with your move.
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Old Feb 2nd 2009, 1:35 am
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Default Re: Need help deciding on Melbourne job offer.

Originally Posted by gfunc
I guess we'll be looking at living somwhere near Clayton initally so we don't have to buy a car at first - is Clayton relatively inexpenive, or should I be looking elsewhere?
Gareth.
Cheap place to shop nearby is Springvale (large number of vietnamese and chinese supermarkets and eateries.

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Old Feb 2nd 2009, 2:09 am
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Default Re: Need help deciding on Melbourne job offer.

Originally Posted by gfunc
Hi Folks,

The job pays $62K, of which I found out about 25% is tax and the medicare levy. This leaves $46K or about $800 per week - is this something that is feasible for 2 to live on fairly comfortably? I'm not buying Armani suits, but I would enjoy a few cold beers and have enough for a trip back to the UK once in a while.

The largest unknown for me is the extra medical insurance that we are required to have.

Also, we're having a look at jobs via the internet and not seeing much around, are we looking in the wrong places or is there that little work in Melbourne? Any websites would be appreciated.

Gareth.
Gareth,

Your take home pay will probably be higher than $800 per week. We have something here called salary packaging and all the universities allow their staff to opt into it. It's a little complicated, but to put it as simply as possible, salary packaging allows you to deduct rent and a variety of other living expenses from your taxable income, which means you pay less tax.

At any rate, $62,000 is enough for 2 people to live on, but as one poster said, rent is very high in the inner city area, so you might have to wait until your GF is working before you can move into those areas, which are generally better for younger people. Monash (Clayton) is in the middle band of suburbs anyway so if you wanted to be close, you'd be looking at places like East Bentleigh, Oakleigh, Chadstone, Mount Waverley, etc.

I would be very surprised if you have to pay for full medical insurance. If you have a workers permit, I would imagine you have access to Medicare, just as I had access to the NHS when I was living in the UK on a workers permit, working at Newcastle University. Probably a good idea to check the Australian Government website, but as I said, I would be surprised if you you didn't have access to Medicare. (BTW: health insurance is MUCH cheaper in OZ than the US).

As for jobs, try www.seek.com.au.
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Old Feb 2nd 2009, 2:32 am
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Default Re: Need help deciding on Melbourne job offer.

Gareth

We came out here in Oct 08 , i cant say what THE BIG M is like for living as we are in Brisbane but we get the Living Away From Home Allowance and that does make a huge diff, and being on a work permit you should get recipricle health i would have thought (but we do have private aswell but that is set up by oh's company). (oh and there is four of us) Does it say about LAFHA your contract as we wouldnt had know we could have got it or that existed unless Nicks company had mentioned it ?
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Old Feb 2nd 2009, 3:37 am
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Default Re: Need help deciding on Melbourne job offer.

Originally Posted by Vanessa
Because of the Reciprocal Agreement with the UK regarding medicare cover you should be covered under this agreement for emergency cover (this actually means more than that - ie it will cover doctors appointments etc) so if you want to save costs then get the basic cover you will need.

If they are former residents of the United States, then they may not be covered. The agreements are based on residence, not citizenship, although most people including most Medicare staff appear not to understand that.
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