Hi All,

Can someone give some tips for a newbie arriving in australia in january for the first time on employment.

Thanks,

hello, may i ask which visa you will be going on?

457 Visa. My company is sponsoring it to me.

ok, erm i don't have many tips at all as i still live in england but if your a fan of marmite id bring plenty as its a rare thing in Australia. Id love to help you more but im going over on a WHV and know very little about the 457 visa but good luck

Might help if we knew what you do for a job?

http://britishexpats.com/wiki/457_Visa_Restrictions

Don't make comparisons out loud about England - not to aussies anyway, unless they ask you for your opinion. (e.g. "This is not how we do it in England" "This was much better in England" etc) Certainly never whinge.
Try not to even mentally make comparisons - it's not a competition.
Say yes to any and every invitation you get, even if it is for something you normally wouldn't be remotely interested in. Anything that gets you meeting people is a good thing.
Don't just wait for invitations, put yourself out there - join a club or two, start conversations with people wherever you are (this is not as weird as it might seem in UK, although maybe different in a city? any sydney folk to confirm?).
Remember that Aussies move around a lot too - out of all the people I've met here since April, only a handful actually grew up in this area. So arriving somewhere new is something that lots of them have done too. Most of the people you meet will be helpful & welcoming, and if they aren't remember that you are the newbie and you have to adapt a bit.

Mainly though have fun and enjoy it, it will be a great experience!

Hiya ... we've been here for just over a year ... that's great advice from esperanza ... absolutely agree with it ... would add ... don't try to transport your UK life to here, whilst it may look similar it is different ... make an Australian life ...

Not going into a lengthy email about comparisons ... some things are better than the UK (in my view quite a lot of the important things to me) and some are not so good ... but hey ... does it matter ... you're in Oz and you'll gradually find that you stop comparing - I stopped translating everything I bought into pounds after the first couple of months!

Once you get settled get yourself on to VOIP (we use Engin) so if you feel like it, you can call the UK (and some other countries and any landline in Oz ) for free .. well for $20 per month subscription ... use Facebook or whatever to keep in touch as well ... I know that may slightly contradict what I said earlier but whilst you are making a new life you can't just turn off the old one

Don't know about 457 Visa can't help you on that one ... wasn't our category ...

Hope it works for you ... and ... enjoy

Cheers ... David

Its not actually. Look out in the supermarkets for My Mate. Thats the worldwide branding of marmite.

Personally I'd just acquire the taste for vegemite and have done with it. Its better anyway and I've always preferred it and you can buy it in industrial sized jars

Personally, can't wait to get away from Marmite myself! Yuck!!!!

I share your passion lol

Stock up with sunscreen and put it on even if the day is cloudy. Wear a sun hat and make sure you have good sunnies. Stock up, too, on mozzie/fly repellant especially if you are going out in the evening (or take lots of Vitamin B - seems like a good tip from another thread on this board).

If in Melbourne, learn how to turn right from the left hand lane.

As Esperanza said, do not voice comparisons, favourable or unfavourable. Try and forget you are a Pom when in the company of non Poms.

If you can bear it, watch what passes for Aussie humour on the telly just so you will know what everyone is talking about.

Get used to ice cold beer and learn about Aussie wines, even the Chateaux Collapso ones (in a box).

Remember to spread the vegemite VERY thinly - it is NOT the same as Nutella!

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Thanks. I will check that.

Can someone also help me with my queries:

http://britishexpats.com/forum/showthread.php?t=497287

http://britishexpats.com/forum/showthread.php?t=497288

Thanks.