plan on moving to Australia
Nov 9th 2008 | 9:16 am
#16
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 28,998
Re: plan on moving to Australia
It's really in your best interest to check out www.immi.gov.au before you start looking for jobs. There is a wizard you can do to see if you are in fact even eligible for a visa. Also, unless your skill is in very high demand you will likely find it difficult to find a job over here without either a visa or at least a visa application in process.
Nov 9th 2008 | 8:16 pm
#17
Ever The Optimist
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 51
From: Cheshire, UK
Re: plan on moving to Australia
Hi, we're in the gold coast on holiday.
I have to disagree fully with the comments about being ignored because we're poms.
Everyone is always interested in talking with us, most are interested in where we're from and comparing the two countries. Most of the aussies i've met have spoken about how the majority of them come from pommy routes and they all seem to want more of "us" over there.
We've met a couple of people I hope to keep in touch with and hopefully have aussie friends before we even get over here. Many aussies are quick to say that they have no interest in visiting the uk, but tend to be interested in telling you all about their country. They're very proud of their country and from what I can see have every right to be.
I had the phone put down on me earlier from an aussie - whether this is because of my pom accent or not I don't know. . . it crossed my mind and maybe thats the problem.
If you spend your time focusing on every negative encounter and automatically think "is it because of my accent" you're bound to think all aussies are racist and hate us.
I've only been here for just over a week so i could be completely wrong, but i have yet to met a nicer bunch of people than the aussies on the gold coast. People weren't the same in brisbane but I guess in a busy city thats to be expected.
Life is what you make of it, we've only met one british family on holiday here (on a day out at a local attraction) and I would not move to australia to be within an expat-orientated community.
If I wanted britain in the sun I'd go to spain! I'm looking forward to coming here, meeting people, making the effort and not necessarily fitting in but being accepted for the people we are and not fitting in just because we've found a british colony abroad.
Jenny
I have to disagree fully with the comments about being ignored because we're poms.
Everyone is always interested in talking with us, most are interested in where we're from and comparing the two countries. Most of the aussies i've met have spoken about how the majority of them come from pommy routes and they all seem to want more of "us" over there.
We've met a couple of people I hope to keep in touch with and hopefully have aussie friends before we even get over here. Many aussies are quick to say that they have no interest in visiting the uk, but tend to be interested in telling you all about their country. They're very proud of their country and from what I can see have every right to be.
I had the phone put down on me earlier from an aussie - whether this is because of my pom accent or not I don't know. . . it crossed my mind and maybe thats the problem.
If you spend your time focusing on every negative encounter and automatically think "is it because of my accent" you're bound to think all aussies are racist and hate us.
I've only been here for just over a week so i could be completely wrong, but i have yet to met a nicer bunch of people than the aussies on the gold coast. People weren't the same in brisbane but I guess in a busy city thats to be expected.
Life is what you make of it, we've only met one british family on holiday here (on a day out at a local attraction) and I would not move to australia to be within an expat-orientated community.
If I wanted britain in the sun I'd go to spain! I'm looking forward to coming here, meeting people, making the effort and not necessarily fitting in but being accepted for the people we are and not fitting in just because we've found a british colony abroad.
Jenny
Nov 9th 2008 | 10:08 pm
#18
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: plan on moving to Australia
What is a POM ?
An online poll asked the question about what does POM really mean? The answer:
The vast majority of us seem to have no problem being referred to as Poms. What else should the Aussies call us ? Engles, Englishers, suggestions please...
The legal action about the word came from this:
There are a few British websites using the word POM, so it must be acceptable to us ? Mustn't it.
The vast majority of Australians like the British people, but will use the word Pom in a friendly way.
There are of course some who don't like some British people, and may use the word in a derogatory way to them.
We call the Australians Aussies, but, put a B word in front of it, and that is also derogatory. How many of us have done that at some stage ?
An online poll asked the question about what does POM really mean? The answer:
89.91% agreed
Not meant to be an insult (as some English think for some reason), merely a nickname for our less-tanned former rulers. Nicknaming everything is very Australian.
Not meant to be an insult (as some English think for some reason), merely a nickname for our less-tanned former rulers. Nicknaming everything is very Australian.
The legal action about the word came from this:
A group of thin-skinned English expats wants the word Pom banned, claiming it is a racial slur on a par with the most appalling insults.
British People Against Racial Discrimination has gone to the Advertising Standards Board in an attempt to derail the latest Tooheys campaign which mocks the warm-beer-drinking Brits.
The ads claim Tooheys' supercold brand is "cold enough to scare a Pom".
BPARD spokesman David Thomason said "it's every bit as bad as the term nigger"
British People Against Racial Discrimination has gone to the Advertising Standards Board in an attempt to derail the latest Tooheys campaign which mocks the warm-beer-drinking Brits.
The ads claim Tooheys' supercold brand is "cold enough to scare a Pom".
BPARD spokesman David Thomason said "it's every bit as bad as the term nigger"
The vast majority of Australians like the British people, but will use the word Pom in a friendly way.
There are of course some who don't like some British people, and may use the word in a derogatory way to them.
We call the Australians Aussies, but, put a B word in front of it, and that is also derogatory. How many of us have done that at some stage ?
Nov 9th 2008 | 10:24 pm
#19
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 300
Re: plan on moving to Australia
How is being called a Pom racist anyway??
And what British person hasn't accused an Australian of being a convict?? Now there's an insult if you're looking for one.
Most Australians are immigrants. What is the 'Australian race'?? Even if you were referring to Aborigines and Torres Straight Islanders, there are so many different nations of people that even then there cannot really be one national race.
Talk to white Australians and they'll have their own stories about being immigrants. I am a white person who was born in Austalia, but there's no British blood in me. My family often doesn't even speak English in the home. My neighbours are Ukrainian, Danish, Italian and Chinese. Many of them don't speak English in the home.
How can you accuse a nation of immigrants of being racist when every single person you pass in the street is a different race??!!
And what British person hasn't accused an Australian of being a convict?? Now there's an insult if you're looking for one.
Most Australians are immigrants. What is the 'Australian race'?? Even if you were referring to Aborigines and Torres Straight Islanders, there are so many different nations of people that even then there cannot really be one national race.
Talk to white Australians and they'll have their own stories about being immigrants. I am a white person who was born in Austalia, but there's no British blood in me. My family often doesn't even speak English in the home. My neighbours are Ukrainian, Danish, Italian and Chinese. Many of them don't speak English in the home.
How can you accuse a nation of immigrants of being racist when every single person you pass in the street is a different race??!!
Last edited by SNH; Nov 9th 2008 at 10:26 pm.
Nov 9th 2008 | 10:35 pm
#20
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 2,505
From: yangebup perth au
Re: plan on moving to Australia
Really think about it. We spent 18 years in Australia and moved out 3 years ago. When you get to the airport you get a very friendly "g'day mate" and your happy. Then the racism starts. "Pom" is a derogartory word and anyone with a British accent will, more often than not, be kept at an arm's length. After 18 years, we have 2 real Australian friends - one lot are originally South African the other have lived in the UK so are not atomatically against all Poms. You are spoken to, but it is considered that all poms whinge the entire time and there are too many of them. If you manage to get into a area with other poms, you should be OK, but that's hard to find and do. The health system is superb by UK standards, but pay the extra and get private health as it can't be beaten anywhere in the world. The education; well. The newletters coming home from school contained so many primary level spelling and grammar level errors that I eventually went to the principal (head) and had to teach him! When we changed schools we had the same problems. Don't rush about it. It's not Shangri-La, although a great point to visit Asia. We've also, recently, tried Canada and the US and neither have worked out, mainly due to their health systems (Canada's is worse than India with it illegal to go privately and the US is really expensive even if you have top insurance cover). Good luck.
i have friends from new zealand, the far east ,english, and none of them have ever felt any kind of stigma because they dont come from "australia "
i think the problem might lie with you
Nov 9th 2008 | 10:40 pm
#21
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 1,380
From: Perth, WA
Re: plan on moving to Australia
Cobblers. I've been here two years and I've never heard of any anti-British racism.
There is a bit of mickey-taking between the Pom's and Aussies [especially when the crickets on etc] but that goes on between Scots and the English, Northerns and Southerners etc. etc. etc. [I worked in Edinburgh for 2 years; commuting from Glasgow every day, and the banter etc. between people from the two cities was something else, but no-one every took it personally and it was never intended as such - you gave as good as you got].
As other have suggested, I think the poster who raised this needs to look at himself as it sounds like he has an incredibly thin skin to start with.
As for the group complaining 'Pom' is racist - give me a break !
There is a bit of mickey-taking between the Pom's and Aussies [especially when the crickets on etc] but that goes on between Scots and the English, Northerns and Southerners etc. etc. etc. [I worked in Edinburgh for 2 years; commuting from Glasgow every day, and the banter etc. between people from the two cities was something else, but no-one every took it personally and it was never intended as such - you gave as good as you got].
As other have suggested, I think the poster who raised this needs to look at himself as it sounds like he has an incredibly thin skin to start with.
As for the group complaining 'Pom' is racist - give me a break !
Nov 9th 2008 | 11:56 pm
#22
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 6,830
From: Perth
Re: plan on moving to Australia
We didn't totally see the anti-pom sentiment whilst in Australia. We only realised how much we were ignored once we left as in Canada and America we have gone back to having lots of friends. We have also now met LOTS of other English and other nationalities (Canadians and Americans) having had the same experience. We were there for 18 years and have family there so we didn't rush in and out as many do. A group from Perth took some action a few years ago because of a racist, anti-pom advert on TV and won. Pom is derogatory and is know to be so by anyone enlightened. We are a very international family and have loved most places we have lived, and Australia has lots of good points, as I stated before, but some major negative ones too - being the unfriendliness. Please also see the article on this site from the family on the Gold Coast who can't make any Australian friends either. We have not just lived in Canada and US but all over Europe and in other countries and loved most of them. If you see another current article on this site from an English man in US with cancer who is about to lose everything and will die unless he goes back to UK as he now can't work so has lost his insurance coverage which proves my point about the health system in US. This is a world renowned problem in that country so I don't quite get the derogatory comment inferring that we're making it up. I thought that Perth was a lot better for friendliness as there are a lot of Brits there, but an English lady I met in Canada had spent a few years there and had the same problem so moved to Canada, like us, only to find a non-existent health system so she's in the process of getting out. As I said, no-where is perfect and Australia has some great things about it, but anyone moving there needs to be aware of the way the Australians tend to keep you at arm's length and that was the point I was trying to make.
Personal experience have not found Australians to be racist against Brits as you put it besides a little ribbing at times which can easily be managed.
In fact do not find race a big issue here though have witnessed it on a few occassions perhaps a bit ahead of the Brits in tolerance these days.(was not always like that)But different conditions apply in each country of course
Some places in Britain can also keep one at arms length..but having a pub culture it is easier to go out alone in an unfamiliar area and meet and talk to people
From my experience this is much harder here (not impossible,just much harder}
I do agree there area lot of good things here that can make for an easier life (for want of a more appropiate word,if perhaps at times not as interesting)
Nov 10th 2008 | 12:57 am
#23
Forum Regular
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 284
From: Ireland
Re: plan on moving to Australia
On a side note, and not to go off topic, and I'm not trying to stir anything, is the Aussie term "W_G" (which I find offensive, used for Italians, Greeks etc) the same as using "POM"....
I saw the "W_ _" word printed in a lads mag when I was over there, and was pretty shocked. I always thought it a derogatory term.....???
I saw the "W_ _" word printed in a lads mag when I was over there, and was pretty shocked. I always thought it a derogatory term.....???
Nov 10th 2008 | 8:33 am
#24
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: plan on moving to Australia
On a side note, and not to go off topic, and I'm not trying to stir anything, is the Aussie term "W_G" (which I find offensive, used for Italians, Greeks etc) the same as using "POM"....
I saw the "W_ _" word printed in a lads mag when I was over there, and was pretty shocked. I always thought it a derogatory term.....???
I saw the "W_ _" word printed in a lads mag when I was over there, and was pretty shocked. I always thought it a derogatory term.....???
Some quotes from him:
I got called a "wog" when I was at school. It made me very angry.
I wrote a play called "Wogs Out of Work" which made fun of racism and showed how people from ethnic backgrounds started calling each other "wog" so as to help diffuse the extreme animosity and hatred that existed within people who had been subjected to racist taunts through their childhood. I followed this up with a TV show called "Acropolis Now" which focused on how multiculturalism was now a common part of Australian life. Last year I released my first film "The Wog Boy" which continued exploring similar themes to those I first looked at in "Wogs Out of Work" but in a more modern context.
What advice would you give kids experiencing racism?
Don't get angry. Educate people about the realities not the myths.
Don't get angry. Educate people about the realities not the myths.
Nov 10th 2008 | 9:03 am
#25
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 591
Re: plan on moving to Australia
I find the Aussies not just friendly but damn right honests too. They'll tell you the way it is...No extra "coating" added to any opinions.
I think when they start the banter, they're just looking to see how much you can give back. Trust me, I have done my share of that too!!
Even when I went to a mobile shop in Sydney, the lady there was throwing some quips, purely in friendly fashion, and I was responding to her with more of my comments. It was tit for tat for fun...we were waiting for her boss to help me out with a query regarding UK phone.
My last piece of advice? When in Rome, do as Romans do!!
Nov 10th 2008 | 9:52 am
#26
Account Closed
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 263
Re: plan on moving to Australia
We didn't totally see the anti-pom sentiment whilst in Australia. We only realised how much we were ignored once we left as in Canada and America we have gone back to having lots of friends. We have also now met LOTS of other English and other nationalities (Canadians and Americans) having had the same experience. We were there for 18 years and have family there so we didn't rush in and out as many do. A group from Perth took some action a few years ago because of a racist, anti-pom advert on TV and won. Pom is derogatory and is know to be so by anyone enlightened. We are a very international family and have loved most places we have lived, and Australia has lots of good points, as I stated before, but some major negative ones too - being the unfriendliness. Please also see the article on this site from the family on the Gold Coast who can't make any Australian friends either. We have not just lived in Canada and US but all over Europe and in other countries and loved most of them. If you see another current article on this site from an English man in US with cancer who is about to lose everything and will die unless he goes back to UK as he now can't work so has lost his insurance coverage which proves my point about the health system in US. This is a world renowned problem in that country so I don't quite get the derogatory comment inferring that we're making it up. I thought that Perth was a lot better for friendliness as there are a lot of Brits there, but an English lady I met in Canada had spent a few years there and had the same problem so moved to Canada, like us, only to find a non-existent health system so she's in the process of getting out. As I said, no-where is perfect and Australia has some great things about it, but anyone moving there needs to be aware of the way the Australians tend to keep you at arm's length and that was the point I was trying to make.
