Self Employed Artist Looking for advice
 

Hi there!

I found this site whilst researching moving to Australia and I'm looking for some advice - I apologise in advance if it's too general!

My finance and I (both 30) are looking to move to Australia as we're currently growing tired of our lifestyle in the UK. My fiancée can't find a decent job even with his degree and was recently let go from his work because of downsizing at his company. It isn't the first time one of us has been hit hard with unemployment and he's just sick of it. He's applied for a holiday visa (we don't know if it's been accepted yet) as his brother lives out in AUS and has contacts and has already said he can get him a job out there. Because I am self employed, I had the idea for him to 'scope out' the situation in AUS to see if it's right for us...? The holiday working visa isn't too expensive and I think my partner just wants to see where this path can take him and I'm fully on board - since I work for myself I've often proposed we move away but this recent redundancy has really pushed him to look abroad for our future.

NOTE - just to say again, I'm fully on board with this as I've wanted to move away from the UK for a while, don't want people to think my partner is pushing me into this!

I've had similar instances of unemployment but because of this I decided two years ago to become my own boss and work as a costume designer (if any one's interested I have a website and Twitter, <snip>.) and so far it's been ok but I haven't generated lots of money, I do ok and get by well enough to pay bills/rent but also to enjoy myself too. However, I never went into being self employed to generate mountains of cash, I just want to live happily but I'm worried because I've done some reading about setting up a business in AUS and it seems very tricky.

So I guess some basic questions for now would be..

How hard is it to emigrate to AUS as someone who is self employed?
Do you need a different visa to work in AUS if you intend on continuing self employed work? Can you even do this?
Are there better opportunities for work in general in AUS?

Has anyone who has made the move out to AUS - is it a better quality of life than living in the UK?

I really hope someone can help me out with this - I'm happy to go into more details and discuss more indepth if any of the information I've submitted isn't clear enough.

Thank you

Re: Self Employed Artist Looking for advice
 

Hi, welcome to BE.

Sorry, but as per the site rules your username isn't acceptable - please use the 'contact us' button at the bottom of the page to contact Admin and request a name change asap.

I've also snipped the references to your website etc, again as per the site rules that's not ok.

Thanks and good luck.

Re: Self Employed Artist Looking for advice
 

Ok.....I'm not sure why it's not suitable but sure I'll get it changed.

Re: Self Employed Artist Looking for advice
 

As per Site Rule 11, you cannot have a username that is your domain/company name.

If in doubt, do have another read of the rules, thanks.

Re: Self Employed Artist Looking for advice
 

Ah! No worries at all, I've requested to get the name changed.

Re: Self Employed Artist Looking for advice
 

Thank you. Admin is in NZ so may not get back to you straight away but I'm sure will be in touch.

Good luck with the move.

Re: Self Employed Artist Looking for advice
 

Not a problem - I am sorry for not following the rules from the get go! Have a nice day!

Re: Self Employed Artist Looking for advice
 

Look at www.immi.gov.au to see whether either of you qualify for a visa beyond a working holiday. Your partner having someone with "contacts" isn't going to be much jelp if they aren't able to sponsor him. What is his skill?

Re: Self Employed Artist Looking for advice
 

It's his brother living in Sydney that has the work contact in audio visual - which is my partners' specialism as well as media and television production. He has a degree in this field. But he was looking at the working holiday visa and taking any job to see if it's something that will suit us.

I appreciate the info! I do have to say though, I was more looking for advice concerning being self employed and heading over to AUS as per my initial questions on my post :)

Re: Self Employed Artist Looking for advice
 

Assuming he is looking at a Working Holiday Visa, not just a holiday visa (cos he can't work on that) then he needs to be aware of the limitations on working for his brother -in most cases he can only work for one employer for 6 months, for instance.

For a permanent move one of you will need a job on the skills lists,and be able to pass the skills assessment. A good read of the visa section of https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/ is the best place to start to see if you qualify. This is where it becomes more complicated than just a brother offering someone a job.
As long as you have been living together for 12 months or more only one of you needs to qualify, the other can come on the same visa as a dependent.

As for your questions at the end.......Are there better opportunities for work in general in AUS? Depends what work you want and where.
is it a better quality of life than living in the UK? Its another first world country with all the same issues and problems. Is it better? Thats very subjective, some of us loathe it, some of us love it. Spend a few hours reading the forum and you'll get the idea

Re: Self Employed Artist Looking for advice
 

Thank you for replying to my post Pollyana.

Yes it's the working holiday visa that he's applied for. He won't be working for his brother - his brother just happens to know someone looking for an events worker. My partner has also worked with an Australian events company when they came to Glasgow to work on the Commonwealth games so he also knows a few folk there.

We've been living together for 5 years so that helps a little at least!

And you're right, 'happiness' is pretty subjective, I guess I meant more if anyone's moved and it's been a good experience or more 'best thing they've ever done' scenario but I'll head on over to the forums to see what people have said :)

Thanks again!

Re: Self Employed Artist Looking for advice
 

Re: Self Employed Artist Looking for advice
 

You're quick to apologise, have you considered Canada? :rofl:

Re: Self Employed Artist Looking for advice