It's not cheap ... be warned.

[QUOTE=movetoperth][QUOTE=jamdan]

Hi Lynn

Thanks again for the reply

It is so great to find this website as I am getting questions answered

We have done pretty well with our properties in the past, we live in Essex and do expect to make something on our house. What is the best way of contacting chef69 as I am new to this site not sure what to do. It would be great to speak to her aswell

Thanks

Rachel

PS Any ideas on how good schools are ?

Hi

Agree its not cheap living here, food is more expensive, both veggies and the everyday bits, somethings such as loo roll are cheap but you will pay around $1 for a tin of stores own beans to give you some idea, a tin of soup can be around the $2.80 for the big soup sort, frozen is expensive and we rarely buy any other than chips as potatoes are $2+ a kilo in the stores.

On the up side though eating out is great, I had a peking duck 7 course meal the other week for $24 which I thought was really good value, and pizza is good value, I suppose it all depends on whethr you are junk food fans as it is cheaper!

Don't be put off though as it is lovely over here despite food and petrol, at least the rates are cheaper!

Ta Jenny

When we were in Perth a couple of weeks ago there were loads of jobs for chefs in the paper

Plus must add I didn't think it was cheap to live there - more or less the same as here, some things cheaper some things way more. House prices did seem to be quite high although probably not as high as here. My husband and I both know we'll be taking a step down the ladder when we move over but we believe that the lifestyle is better than here especially for the little un so it'll be worth it for us we hope

Working as a assistant manager in a SW restaurant in WA, chefs can get jobs easy, especially here. Winter time, less jobs advertised but usually the jobs are offered to those looking, without advertising positions available, so might be worth contacting restaurants and resorts directly. Summertime, and tourist season.... well, bargaining power is with the chefs. Last summer, in SW of WA there were over 200 positions available for sous chefs, head chefs etc, and no one to fill them! So bosses are keen to keep the chefs happy with good pay and working conditions.
Hope that helps.
Tez

Sorry to put a dampener on things, but houses prices along the coastal suburbs are sky high. You wont get anything under half a million, and thats just to start. The further inland you go, the cheaper it is!!!!

Hi Rachel, I'm currently working as a Head Chef of a restaurant on Beaufort St in Inglewood which is minutes north of the CBD, your husband will be mugged as he steps off the plane for a chef's job! There's stacks of positions here, you've just got to know where to look, here's a link to a thread which will help you

http://britishexpats.com/forum/showthread.php?t=357383

Sous Chefs positions will pay anywhere between 45-55k and Head Chefs generally from 55-70k.

If you can't cook then you get punished for it here, shop for in-season fruit & veg at your growers market (there's one in every suburb), use a good local butcher and get the rest at a supermarket, it's only marginally more expensive than the uk unless you're too lazy to make the effort to shop around. Trouble is in the UK we were spoilt by a strong pound which means you can eat anything out of season that's imported and still pay very little for it, it's not the case here. Petrol is still only the equivalent of 54-55p per litre here which is a hell of a saving, new cars are 20% cheaper than the UK, used ones are more expensive tho'. Rates are on average $8-900 per annum which makes a change from our uk council tax of $3000 per year :scared:
You can get free banking if you shop around and public transport is cheaper, more efficient and frequent than our old nearest city, there's a free city cat bus that plods around Perth all day. You don't have to pay to park at the beach, shopping mall, town centre (you do in Perth CBD), free public bbqs. However, it's not the Uk and you've got to do your homework and get on with it, don't expect Oz to come to you because it won't. Life as a chef is a lot better for me here, the staff are a lot more proactive and professional than the uk (it's not seen as demeaning in Oz to work in hospitality, the majority of brits have an issue providing basic table service without a bad attitude). The apprentices are keen and very hardworking and very talented for their age which is a good testimony to Tafe, they get paid very little as well.

If you need any more info drop us a line

Cheers

Dave

i agreed with every word apart from this. i am far from lazy but i have the 3 year old from hell with whom shopping becomes a fate worse than death. I shop all in one place for practicality not laziness. I also don't have a market or a butchers in my suburb or the one I am moving too.

[QUOTE=wavy_davy]Hi there


Thanks for all that info, really useful.

How long have youve been over ther? What area is a good area to look out and plus do you know of chef jobs going with their packages, so I can show my husband what oz has to offer

cheers Rach

[QUOTE=jamdan] Hi Rachel, we've been here 3 months now. Use the link on the above thread to see what agencies have got to offer. Employers here are very cagey about advertising with a wage, you won't see a lot different to what I've already told you. But there is a lot of negotiating to be done with prospective employers, don't sell yourself short!!! Remember they need Chefs here big time and you're in the driving seat.

As far as areas go, start off in the city to get a feel for the whole trade is my advice, Freo has a lot of restaurants as well.

Dave

That might JUST pay your stamp duty, (if you're very lucky )

[QUOTE=wavy_davy][QUOTE=jamdan]

Cheers Dave

Been a great help Rachel

[QUOTE=jamdan][QUOTE=wavy_davy] Its not as cheap in OZ as people think.We have just come back from Perth the generally rule is most things cost the same as in the uk there are things that are cheaper and somethings that aren't.Its swings and roundabouts.The houses are generally cheaper but the prices are going up and up so be quick.We are emigrating in 6 weeks.You need a fair amount of cash to start with as most banks if they lend you above the norm they add a insurance just in case you just up and leave.To give you a example i will be on $45k and the most a bank will offer me is $200k(the repayments on that per month are $1400 a month) depending on what area you want is how much it will cost you can get property for about $280k in and around Perth and the houses go really quickly but the prices are rising quickly.
Hope this helps.

Karen

Hello Rachel
i allso am a chef {head chef} but had to get points from the TRA just as a chef not an head chef because you will loss points not obn the most wanted list . anyways there are lots of job sights to look at for chefs in perth . but remember not all chef jobs will be listed on the internet . at first i looked for jobs and there was not a lot around. but my frend did go to perth as a chef and he said they was pulling his arms out to work for them . i will be going to work for an agency at first .just to have a look you can get anything from$20/$30 per hrs so not to bad for starters.but there is better jobs on the other side of oz. but lots more money for things . schools are good to in perth.we are just awaiting our meds to come through . fingers crossed. perth is geting more expensive on all things but cheapest over all .nice slow life thats what i want . but you still have to work/ still will get fed up/still have to pay bills . and a lot of hard time to come .but will be good in the end ??hope this helps . are you ueing an agent ?? if not make sure you get lots of evidence of you husbands jobs {all jobs }in lots of detail to
all the best
dave