Professional people in Adelaide?
Dec 6th 2004, 8:15 am
#1
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Professional people in Adelaide?
Does anyone know of any professional people who grew up / are growing up in Adelaide? I'm not trying to be "funny" here, it's just that I worry about whether Adelaide will be an environment that will help my kids have professional careers.
My mother has lived in Adelaide for 15 years and I don't think she knows anyone whose kids have professional jobs. That worries me a bit, although I could be wrong and she doesn't have hundreds of friends.
In the UK I can think of a few examples from my wife's family. We have 6 nephews and nieces on her side, 4 of those have/will go to University. One's an architect, one's a solicitor. One has just got into Oxford (amazing, especially since he was practically written off at Primary school) and one plans (and academically will almost certainly have the option) to be an optician. Five of the six were State school educated.
Four out of six with professional jobs is pretty good I reckon. It would reassure me to hear of some similar success stories from Adelaide.
My mother has lived in Adelaide for 15 years and I don't think she knows anyone whose kids have professional jobs. That worries me a bit, although I could be wrong and she doesn't have hundreds of friends.
In the UK I can think of a few examples from my wife's family. We have 6 nephews and nieces on her side, 4 of those have/will go to University. One's an architect, one's a solicitor. One has just got into Oxford (amazing, especially since he was practically written off at Primary school) and one plans (and academically will almost certainly have the option) to be an optician. Five of the six were State school educated.
Four out of six with professional jobs is pretty good I reckon. It would reassure me to hear of some similar success stories from Adelaide.
Dec 6th 2004, 8:26 am
#2
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Re: Professional people in Adelaide?
My wifes nephew is studying law at Adelaide however he did go to the top private school in the area and his mother is a doctor and father is an academic. Everything he says indicates he will be leaving Adelaide and probably Australia however he is still a teenager.
My work recently closed the Adelaide office and those that weren't relocated did so anyway because of the lack of opportunities in that industry in Adelaide. They did not want to leave the town.
Adelaide won't limit your kids opportunites they just may end up moving elsewhere. Could happen to kids brought up anywhere in Oz but less likely to happen in Sydney and Melbourne. Just look at the example of all of set for the kids by moving across the world.
My work recently closed the Adelaide office and those that weren't relocated did so anyway because of the lack of opportunities in that industry in Adelaide. They did not want to leave the town.
Adelaide won't limit your kids opportunites they just may end up moving elsewhere. Could happen to kids brought up anywhere in Oz but less likely to happen in Sydney and Melbourne. Just look at the example of all of set for the kids by moving across the world.
Dec 6th 2004, 8:29 am
#3
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Re: Professional people in Adelaide?
Originally Posted by sackofspuds
Does anyone know of any professional people who grew up / are growing up in Adelaide? I'm not trying to be "funny" here, it's just that I worry about whether Adelaide will be an environment that will help my kids have professional careers.
My mother has lived in Adelaide for 15 years and I don't think she knows anyone whose kids have professional jobs. That worries me a bit, although I could be wrong and she doesn't have hundreds of friends.
In the UK I can think of a few examples from my wife's family. We have 6 nephews and nieces on her side, 4 of those have/will go to University. One's an architect, one's a solicitor. One has just got into Oxford (amazing, especially since he was practically written off at Primary school) and one plans (and academically will almost certainly have the option) to be an optician. Five of the six were State school educated.
Four out of six with professional jobs is pretty good I reckon. It would reassure me to hear of some similar success stories from Adelaide.
My mother has lived in Adelaide for 15 years and I don't think she knows anyone whose kids have professional jobs. That worries me a bit, although I could be wrong and she doesn't have hundreds of friends.
In the UK I can think of a few examples from my wife's family. We have 6 nephews and nieces on her side, 4 of those have/will go to University. One's an architect, one's a solicitor. One has just got into Oxford (amazing, especially since he was practically written off at Primary school) and one plans (and academically will almost certainly have the option) to be an optician. Five of the six were State school educated.
Four out of six with professional jobs is pretty good I reckon. It would reassure me to hear of some similar success stories from Adelaide.
. So apart from the fact that you have a smaller number of jobs overall, I don't think you should have anything to worry about. (I do hope you aren't a lawyer!) Besides, I think Aussie kids tend to move around and try the big cities when they reach adulthood.
Dec 6th 2004, 8:51 am
#4
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Re: Professional people in Adelaide?
Originally Posted by sackofspuds
Does anyone know of any professional people who grew up / are growing up in Adelaide? I'm not trying to be "funny" here, it's just that I worry about whether Adelaide will be an environment that will help my kids have professional careers.
My mother has lived in Adelaide for 15 years and I don't think she knows anyone whose kids have professional jobs. That worries me a bit, although I could be wrong and she doesn't have hundreds of friends.
In the UK I can think of a few examples from my wife's family. We have 6 nephews and nieces on her side, 4 of those have/will go to University. One's an architect, one's a solicitor. One has just got into Oxford (amazing, especially since he was practically written off at Primary school) and one plans (and academically will almost certainly have the option) to be an optician. Five of the six were State school educated.
Four out of six with professional jobs is pretty good I reckon. It would reassure me to hear of some similar success stories from Adelaide.
My mother has lived in Adelaide for 15 years and I don't think she knows anyone whose kids have professional jobs. That worries me a bit, although I could be wrong and she doesn't have hundreds of friends.
In the UK I can think of a few examples from my wife's family. We have 6 nephews and nieces on her side, 4 of those have/will go to University. One's an architect, one's a solicitor. One has just got into Oxford (amazing, especially since he was practically written off at Primary school) and one plans (and academically will almost certainly have the option) to be an optician. Five of the six were State school educated.
Four out of six with professional jobs is pretty good I reckon. It would reassure me to hear of some similar success stories from Adelaide.
professional careers. l think about half the University graduates have to go interstate to get a job. The only exception would be Medicine and dentistry.
l had a relative in Adelaide who worked at a job net work helping the unemployed getting jobs and he said about half his clients had university degrees and that the only advice he could give them was to leave Adelaide or get a job serving fries and coke at McDonalds.
Last edited by aussie73; Dec 6th 2004 at 8:55 am.
Dec 6th 2004, 9:07 am
#5
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Re: Professional people in Adelaide?
My son is a senior design engineer working in aerospace. He is based in Adelaide but works all over the world. His company is based in Adelaide and BAE systems also have a base there.
His salary is far higher than most Australians and more than he could get even in Sydney.
However he is a specialist, has an English degree and background,and remains in Adelaide because that is where his company want him to be.
He was moved there from Sydney for a specific role. Such jobs are not easy to come by and , at his level, will be competed for from across the world.
He was, until recently, expecting to have to move back to Sydney to further his career. Most professionals tend to leave Adelaide to further their careers. The main reason is that most major companies tend to base themselves in Melbourne or Sydney.
Much like the UK where many choose to locate in the south east.
I do not think there would be much opportunity in Adelaide compared to other cities or countries.
G
His salary is far higher than most Australians and more than he could get even in Sydney.
However he is a specialist, has an English degree and background,and remains in Adelaide because that is where his company want him to be.
He was moved there from Sydney for a specific role. Such jobs are not easy to come by and , at his level, will be competed for from across the world.
He was, until recently, expecting to have to move back to Sydney to further his career. Most professionals tend to leave Adelaide to further their careers. The main reason is that most major companies tend to base themselves in Melbourne or Sydney.
Much like the UK where many choose to locate in the south east.
I do not think there would be much opportunity in Adelaide compared to other cities or countries.
G
Dec 6th 2004, 9:11 am
#6
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Re: Professional people in Adelaide?
Originally Posted by aussie73
Adelaide is one of the worst places in Australia if you want your kids to have
professional careers. l think about half the University graduates have to go interstate to get a job.
professional careers. l think about half the University graduates have to go interstate to get a job.
I should point out that the parents of the 4/6 of my nephews and nieces who have/will have professional jobs scarcely have a single formal qualification between them.
In terms of anecdotal evidence from Adelaide, we know a couple who are a nurse and engineer; very successful financially owing to astute property investments. One of their kids has a fairly low grade clerical job and the other's a fitter. In other words, their kids have "worse" jobs than them. That's sad.
Dec 6th 2004, 9:23 am
#7
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Re: Professional people in Adelaide?
Originally Posted by sackofspuds
This is what I feared. The low house prices are like that for a reason; lack of economic dynamism.
I should point out that the parents of the 4/6 of my nephews and nieces who have/will have professional jobs scarcely have a single formal qualification between them.
In terms of anecdotal evidence from Adelaide, we know a couple who are a nurse and engineer; very successful financially owing to astute property investments. One of their kids has a fairly low grade clerical job and the other's a fitter. In other words, their kids have "worse" jobs than them. That's sad.
I should point out that the parents of the 4/6 of my nephews and nieces who have/will have professional jobs scarcely have a single formal qualification between them.
In terms of anecdotal evidence from Adelaide, we know a couple who are a nurse and engineer; very successful financially owing to astute property investments. One of their kids has a fairly low grade clerical job and the other's a fitter. In other words, their kids have "worse" jobs than them. That's sad.
This is also the reason why a lot of government jobs are based in Darwin and why there are big incentives for public servants to spend a year or two there.
Without these government departments being there then prospects would be even more limited.
Fact of life I fear.
G
Dec 6th 2004, 7:16 pm
#8
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Re: Professional people in Adelaide?
Originally Posted by sackofspuds
Does anyone know of any professional people who grew up / are growing up in Adelaide? I'm not trying to be "funny" here, it's just that I worry about whether Adelaide will be an environment that will help my kids have professional careers..
Adelaide is as much a magnet for professionals as Zimbabwe is for white farmers. Put another way, for many professionals, a move to Adelaide does as much good for their CV as relocating to the Lake District.
SA is a hick state - similar to Tasmania. Before Oz firms began offshoring their low/semi-skilled work, Adelaide was one of the cities of choice; cheap labour. Indeed, it is/was home to a large number of call centres and mortgage processing factories. And it needs investment. Why do you think the SA government has been trying to get would-be Brit emigrants to settle in SA? If it was so appealing, Aussies would flock there; no advertising required.
In the '90s, the SA government tried to up the appeal of Adelaide to investors and professionals alike - by building a multi-function polis. Guess what? It was a total disaster.
Apart from the Adelaide Festival, some 2nd-rate universities and that lovely 'in-bred' feeling once you reach the city limits, working in Adelaide is akin to professionals' poison.
People with talent and/or a brain, leave Adelaide for Sydney, Melbourne or the International Departures' lounge.
Last edited by MikeStanton; Dec 6th 2004 at 7:19 pm.
Dec 6th 2004, 7:47 pm
#9
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Re: Professional people in Adelaide?
South Australia's economy is probably just as bad as Tasmania, but atleast Tasmania has fantastic stunning scenery and nice green countryside and is a tourist destination, while apart from Adelaide, South Australia is mainly desert.
However Adelaide is a fairly nice small city to live in , it is more laid back and less conjested then Sydney or Melbourne, it is surrounded by miles of parklands the River Torrens which flows through it, the beaches and the Adelaide hills are all very nice. But its not the place for exciting career opportunities.
However Adelaide is a fairly nice small city to live in , it is more laid back and less conjested then Sydney or Melbourne, it is surrounded by miles of parklands the River Torrens which flows through it, the beaches and the Adelaide hills are all very nice. But its not the place for exciting career opportunities.
Last edited by aussie73; Dec 6th 2004 at 8:02 pm.
Dec 6th 2004, 8:01 pm
#10
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Re: Professional people in Adelaide?
My two cents worth 
I work in Brisbane, new company to Australia, so one of my key jobs this past month has been researching the market/competitors within Australia. I think there was only one in Adelaide/SA that we have to compete with & as such we won't be going there: cost v benefit etc..
Doesn't seem to have much growth, our major customers (I'm an investments manager) are commerical developers; as there aren't many in Adelaide you can be pretty safe in assuming the growth/development is less there than other cities here.
Having said that, I've been to Adelaide/SA lovely place, just too small for me
I work in Brisbane, new company to Australia, so one of my key jobs this past month has been researching the market/competitors within Australia. I think there was only one in Adelaide/SA that we have to compete with & as such we won't be going there: cost v benefit etc..
Doesn't seem to have much growth, our major customers (I'm an investments manager) are commerical developers; as there aren't many in Adelaide you can be pretty safe in assuming the growth/development is less there than other cities here.
Having said that, I've been to Adelaide/SA lovely place, just too small for me
Dec 6th 2004, 8:16 pm
#11
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Re: Professional people in Adelaide?
SA - not the place where money plonks in your lap.
Nice desert but:
Nice desert but:
Dec 7th 2004, 6:55 am
#12
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Re: Professional people in Adelaide?
Originally Posted by sackofspuds
Does anyone know of any professional people who grew up / are growing up in Adelaide? I'm not trying to be "funny" here, it's just that I worry about whether Adelaide will be an environment that will help my kids have professional careers.
My mother has lived in Adelaide for 15 years and I don't think she knows anyone whose kids have professional jobs. That worries me a bit, although I could be wrong and she doesn't have hundreds of friends.
In the UK I can think of a few examples from my wife's family. We have 6 nephews and nieces on her side, 4 of those have/will go to University. One's an architect, one's a solicitor. One has just got into Oxford (amazing, especially since he was practically written off at Primary school) and one plans (and academically will almost certainly have the option) to be an optician. Five of the six were State school educated.
Four out of six with professional jobs is pretty good I reckon. It would reassure me to hear of some similar success stories from Adelaide.
My mother has lived in Adelaide for 15 years and I don't think she knows anyone whose kids have professional jobs. That worries me a bit, although I could be wrong and she doesn't have hundreds of friends.
In the UK I can think of a few examples from my wife's family. We have 6 nephews and nieces on her side, 4 of those have/will go to University. One's an architect, one's a solicitor. One has just got into Oxford (amazing, especially since he was practically written off at Primary school) and one plans (and academically will almost certainly have the option) to be an optician. Five of the six were State school educated.
Four out of six with professional jobs is pretty good I reckon. It would reassure me to hear of some similar success stories from Adelaide.
mm
Dec 7th 2004, 2:05 pm
#13
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Re: Professional people in Adelaide?
Originally Posted by sackofspuds
This is what I feared. The low house prices are like that for a reason; lack of economic dynamism.
I should point out that the parents of the 4/6 of my nephews and nieces who have/will have professional jobs scarcely have a single formal qualification between them.
In terms of anecdotal evidence from Adelaide, we know a couple who are a nurse and engineer; very successful financially owing to astute property investments. One of their kids has a fairly low grade clerical job and the other's a fitter. In other words, their kids have "worse" jobs than them. That's sad.
I should point out that the parents of the 4/6 of my nephews and nieces who have/will have professional jobs scarcely have a single formal qualification between them.
In terms of anecdotal evidence from Adelaide, we know a couple who are a nurse and engineer; very successful financially owing to astute property investments. One of their kids has a fairly low grade clerical job and the other's a fitter. In other words, their kids have "worse" jobs than them. That's sad.
Now Sackofspuds is talking about the future of his kids and we are taking about the job market and economic growth in SA or Adelaide
I just see the two subjects are totally irrelevant to each other, he is linking the job market or the environment generally with someone’s future or career.
The vacant job population is really lower in Adelaide than other places but this proportional to the number of people living there, and there is jobs for doctors or engineers in Sydney as there is in Adelaide.
Til now people go to Adelaide, find jobs in less than a month, and live happily.
Anyone who think or say that for my son to become a professional doctor or what ever I will go to Sydney or I will send him to Harvard is just bullshitting himself, you can live in HEAVEN if you may chose and your son or daughter could still end up a dead junky in the trash .
If we are talking about education, Adelaide has three universities, and are ranked top universities in oz and students come to them from all over the world, beside research centres like anywhere else in Australia.
One final word to say
Forecasting the future of kids based on where the parents are living or what they are doing is TOTALLY BULLSHIT.
The parents have to do there best and the future is just something with the sky as the limit.
Dec 7th 2004, 4:04 pm
#14
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Re: Professional people in Adelaide?
Originally Posted by sackofspuds
Does anyone know of any professional people who grew up / are growing up in Adelaide? I'm not trying to be "funny" here, it's just that I worry about whether Adelaide will be an environment that will help my kids have professional careers.
My mother has lived in Adelaide for 15 years and I don't think she knows anyone whose kids have professional jobs. That worries me a bit, although I could be wrong and she doesn't have hundreds of friends.
In the UK I can think of a few examples from my wife's family. We have 6 nephews and nieces on her side, 4 of those have/will go to University. One's an architect, one's a solicitor. One has just got into Oxford (amazing, especially since he was practically written off at Primary school) and one plans (and academically will almost certainly have the option) to be an optician. Five of the six were State school educated.
Four out of six with professional jobs is pretty good I reckon. It would reassure me to hear of some similar success stories from Adelaide.
My mother has lived in Adelaide for 15 years and I don't think she knows anyone whose kids have professional jobs. That worries me a bit, although I could be wrong and she doesn't have hundreds of friends.
In the UK I can think of a few examples from my wife's family. We have 6 nephews and nieces on her side, 4 of those have/will go to University. One's an architect, one's a solicitor. One has just got into Oxford (amazing, especially since he was practically written off at Primary school) and one plans (and academically will almost certainly have the option) to be an optician. Five of the six were State school educated.
Four out of six with professional jobs is pretty good I reckon. It would reassure me to hear of some similar success stories from Adelaide.
I believe that the factors that most influence childrens educational success are parental expectation and peer support. If your children are smart enough and motivated enough they will achieve educationally as well in Adelaide as they will anywhere else. I know a family with three children from a small country town in NSW who went to the local State school and who all succeeded at Uni and are now working in their chosen professions. They managed it because their parents encouraged them and they worked hard. Conversely, I know families who've spent a fortune on education in expensive schools and their kids are on the dole.
There's no reason at all why your kids would be disadvantaged by being educated in Adelaide. Where you will find a difference is in the opportunities available AFTER they graduate. Adelaide is not exactly a centre for International Finance or a Silicon Valley so if your kids want to work in those areas then they'll have to move to where the work is (same as they would if they were educated in Cardiff, say).
Dec 7th 2004, 11:09 pm
#15
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Re: Professional people in Adelaide?
Originally Posted by nickyc
Hmmm. You can be assured that Adelaide would produce (proportionate to its size) the name number of graduates as any other city. It has good schools, and decent unis - the educational facilities there are not exactly third world. Just because your mother doesn't personally know any young professionals is hardly conclusive evidence to the contrary.
I believe that the factors that most influence childrens educational success are parental expectation and peer support. If your children are smart enough and motivated enough they will achieve educationally as well in Adelaide as they will anywhere else. I know a family with three children from a small country town in NSW who went to the local State school and who all succeeded at Uni and are now working in their chosen professions. They managed it because their parents encouraged them and they worked hard. Conversely, I know families who've spent a fortune on education in expensive schools and their kids are on the dole.
There's no reason at all why your kids would be disadvantaged by being educated in Adelaide. Where you will find a difference is in the opportunities available AFTER they graduate. Adelaide is not exactly a centre for International Finance or a Silicon Valley so if your kids want to work in those areas then they'll have to move to where the work is (same as they would if they were educated in Cardiff, say).
I believe that the factors that most influence childrens educational success are parental expectation and peer support. If your children are smart enough and motivated enough they will achieve educationally as well in Adelaide as they will anywhere else. I know a family with three children from a small country town in NSW who went to the local State school and who all succeeded at Uni and are now working in their chosen professions. They managed it because their parents encouraged them and they worked hard. Conversely, I know families who've spent a fortune on education in expensive schools and their kids are on the dole.
There's no reason at all why your kids would be disadvantaged by being educated in Adelaide. Where you will find a difference is in the opportunities available AFTER they graduate. Adelaide is not exactly a centre for International Finance or a Silicon Valley so if your kids want to work in those areas then they'll have to move to where the work is (same as they would if they were educated in Cardiff, say).
So if you moved to Adelaide, isn't it almost certain, they'd go to a Uni anywhere BUT Adelaide, therefore making the quality of Southern Australia's tertiary education irrelevant(and by implication, their ability to provide professional jobs, as wherever your kids go to Uni is where they are going to get business contacts)?
Cheers,
JTL
