Hi, Just found this site and registered. Thinking of applying for a job in Perth I found on the internet. I know nothing about Perth, can someone give some pointers about the place, nice or not? cost of living etc? What is a reasonable salary in Perth? I am married and my wife wants to have children soon. How is the health service in Australia? Would really appreciate any input.

Wow..............lots of questions............where do we start.
Some on here hate Perth, others love it...........we have been in Perth 2 years now and it is home to us.
There are lots of nice places to see..............yes it is isolated from other cities, but it still has lots going for it!!!

As for work..............what sort of thing are you looking for. Perth is still expanding (rapidly) so there is always plenty of work about.

Some schools are good, some are crap............a bit like the UK. It all depends on what suburb you choose to live in.
We opted for kinross, as the schools there have a bloody good reputation.
Do a search on Perth.............and you will fing loads out.

All the best

Perth is the best place in Australia.
Cost of living is similar to the UK.
Reasonable salary is $75k+.
Health system is similar to NHS, ie good.

Thanks for the info guys. I saw a job advertised that I am qualified for, academic manager of an English School, but have no idea if I would get it. There are probably Aussies who are qualified too (Although why was it advertised on an English website I wonder???). I'll apply and see what happens.) Thanks for your help anyway.

A book called 'Living in Perth Australia' is sold online through www.bookworm.com.au and it covers cost of living, employment, schools, health system, suburbs and so on. Perhaps it may be what you need before making the move.

To stay for a holiday

Beach or desert? Oh what you dont like flying 6 hours to get anywhere....

Just my thoughts

PS haven't been there so only being presumptuous

More pointless stereotyping

PS have been there so am not being presumptuous

Perth is a lovely city for bringing up a family not great if wanting great night life.
Cost of living expensive housing now around $500,000.
As for $75,0000 been reasonable don't hold your breath on that one look at more $45,0000.
Check out which state is wanting your trade before commiting to a state if into IT look more over East.

To stay.

3.5 hours to Sydney, 5 the other way. 5 hours to Singapore, 19 to London. Isolated it is not.

I could not earn any more than I do now anywhere else in Australia.

It's all good.

For some maybe. For others it's the highest salaries in the country.

and don't forget all the lovely things to do in WA, up north on the Ningaloo Reef or down south in the Karri Forests. I am with you, no place I would rather be.

Once you get over the bias and the silliness of E/states are best/north of the river is better than south etc it is the same as any other place in the world,arse off the bed and go to work to pay mortgage buy food etc.Very good for pushbike riding along the river,picturesque,very quiet,second highest wages after Sydney but catching up rapidly.Houses can be had for $300-400000.People seem to think it is all 4 bed 2 bath laze around the swimming pool,it is not,long hrs and a harsh climate.Spring and Autumn are beautiful,summer can be too hot and winter can be very cold,a desert climate.Forget the isolation it is nonsense,it is the most isolated city in the world but Singapore is around 5 hrs away to connect anywhere in the world,aeroplanes do not have propellors these days.Teachers are complaining about overwork and underpaid,one I know gets around 65k a year.Health system is falling apart same as UK but is very serviceable,kind of a hybrid US/UK system,private and public side by side,private bills usually have a gap payment to make up,take out ambulance insurance as they are not free.As good as any other place in the world to live except maybe Vancouver BC,but that is my bias.

Sounds like someone is going native

It's not a bad place, I admit.

Oops,basically a very boom/bust state based on being a gas well,quarry,or mine,not a lot of value added industries.Think of dig the ore out of the ground,put it on a ship to Japan at a small price per tonne,let them do all the value added work and then import it back in the shape of a Toyota car,seems bloody silly to me.

So your restricted? Another word for isolated is it not?

Not meaning to be negative because I am sure Perth is an ideal destination for people who seek the beach. But we must be balanced for those who will crave other things outside beach/desert.