ACT v Victoria
 

I have just lodged my visa application after getting state sponsorship from Victoria...with the idea of moving to a coastal town/suburb close to Melbourne.

I would be moving with my wife and 3 children (9, 6 ,3) with commuting, schools and amenities (in that order) being the main drivers for choosing a location. I do realise that when we get to Australia, it is going to be difficult getting used to living so far from home and missing our extended families (especially the children)...(we currently live walking distance from boths sets of grandparents and uncles/aunts/cousins). So I think location is going to be very important if we are to start to love Australia enough so we don't want to get on a plane back home.

My dilema is that there is a very good chance that I may be offered a 457 visa sponsorship (1 year+ contract) in the next few weeks, but it will be based in Canberra. Canberra never really came into the equation when we were considering where to live if/when we got the visa. It would not be ideal to move out, get the kids settled in school in Canberra with having to uproot again and move one year later.

I know the decision will in the end be mine but I'd like to get some peoples thoughts on what Canberra is like especially for a family. We were planning to live close to a beach in Victoria, but I know that won't be possible in Canberra, so what can compensate for that? ps. beach was a big selling point to my 9 and 6 year olds as they love body-boarding.

Thanks
Gavin

Re: ACT v Victoria
 

Well, of course one option open to you is simply to turn down any canberra based offer. Instead, seek out work in Melbourne. Is this not feasible? Is there any reason why you would feel obliged to accept a Canberra position?

cheers

Re: ACT v Victoria
 

I do agree with Asprilla's question - just because you've been offered, you don't have to accept. 457 visa's aren't everyone's first choice, especially if you're in an industry where you could come independantly of a sponsor.

However if you do decide to move to Canberra it's got some good points to it.

There are a few guys on here that are based in Canberra and I've friends who live there. The impression I've got from their feedback is that there's a high level of government positions which brings with it very low umemployment and good levels of education, good schools. There's plenty of cultural things to see and do and of course the countryside surrounding is beautiful. Snow in winter, off road mountain biking in the summer.

It's 150 kms to the beach which is about the same as we have - so 90 mins or so and you're there for a beautiful day.

Re: ACT v Victoria
 

People in both Canberra and Melbourne on this forum seem to be in the main pretty content with their locations so from that point of view I would say both are attractive.

However from a visa point of view, if you have a 457 for Canberra but are state sponsored for PR in Victoria I would say Melbourne every time.

BB

Re: ACT v Victoria
 

As someone living in ACT I believe it is much maligned and underrated by those who have never lived there. It is actually as good a place as any to bring up kids. The facilities are phenomenal, the education systems (gov and Catholic) offer you a good choice. The beach is about as far as it is for many who live in Melbourne and the snow is generally a bit closer. It's close enough to Sydney for a day's shopping in Ikea if that is your idea of heaven and it is a short plane ride down to Melbourne for the Boxing Day cricket if that is what you fancy.

However, in your case there is one very big and important issue - if you come on a temporary visa (457) and your job is not one of those in high demand then gov school fees are going to knock you back about $10k pa per child (depends on age of child/ren). You would need to contact the International Students section of the Department of Education for a ruling. However I believe that Catholic schools will still charge only the domestic rate for 457 visa holders (about $3k pa)

Re: ACT v Victoria
 

Thanks for the feedback everyone.

I only feel a small bit obliged to take the 457...just because it is a local company who have won the contract in ACT and this company has provided me with a lot of work over the last number of years (I'm self employed), and I have a kinda personal relationship with them. That being said I need to be selfish and think of myself and my family, so any obligation I feel will be (at best) second to that.

The other major factor is that if I take the 457 I would get out there in Jan 2011. This would suit because

a. My current work contract ends in December 2010.
b. My wife was made redundant in June past and is bursting to get working again (with little prospects where we are currently).
c. School years will start in February (good to start the kids at the start of the school year)

Pitch that against the 176 visa which has just been lodged to DIAC. Given that I started with a skills assessment in Feb this year and I've been stuck in the process since (only got my State Sponsorship notification last week), goodness know how long the actual visa application will take. At best we can hope for Summer 2011, since we are priority 2. Obviously there are no guarantees that we will get the visa at all although we have more than enough points.

I have to say...most of the stuff I've read on Canberra is very positive albiet it's usually people defending the city they love (nothing wrong with that).

quoll, Thanks for the info regarding the schooling fees, that's something I wasn't aware of, but since we are a Catholic family we will be going the Catholic schooling route anyway.

Thanks again.

Re: ACT v Victoria
 

Canberra is only around an hour and a half to one of the nicest stretches of coastline in south east Australia, in my opinion anyway, i.e the Batemans Bay to Merimbula area.

In this area there are some spectacular sandy beaches that you walk through rainforest to get to and there are kangaroos that come right down to the beach. There is the Clyde river that is very scenic in itself, and Clyde mountain and other hilly forested areas between Canberra and Batemans Bay.

I guess it is no consolation though for living right on the beach if you see that as part of your day to day lifestyle. Canberra is a very nice place though in general.

Re: ACT v Victoria
 

Your wife may not find it easy to get a job in ACT - all depending on what she does of course. Much employment is government and there is zero chance she would get a gov job on a temporary visa. Like many other places, being the dependent on a temporary visa in ACT is not an easy prospect for employment unless it be for short term contracts in non govt organizations.

You would be wise to contact the Catholic Education office as well - I last called them a couple of years ago to get their ruling on temp visas and I hope that things havent changed since then. With the Catholic system, it would be wise to try and arrange an enrolment before you arrive (they will do it, I believe, but gov schools will not) as places fill up at the beginning of the year as private education is at a very high level in ACT.

BTW you wont get a better place for commuting! Even the most far flung suburbs are not going to take you more than half an hour by car from where you work. Buses are OK providing you time your journey right and parking is not too bad ($10 a day in Civic on the rooftop of the Canberra Centre)

Re: ACT v Victoria
 

Not so long ago I went on record as saying that I could live there. Semi-rural 30mins from a job. Close to Sydney and Melbourne, the High Country. Well-educated workforce.

Re: ACT v Victoria
 

I live in Canberra and have ben here for just over a year now we have really settled here - the comments re your wife working are true it is government orientated and the public service will not employ non-citizens permanently - however if she is not looking for an ongoing position they do employ non-citizens on fixed term contracts always worth a go! Otherwise there is I think and working in HR plenty of private companies advertising. Canberra is not everyone's dreams but it is a nice place to live!