13 months on the Sunshine Coast (no, we're not going back to the UK)
#16
Re: 13 months on the Sunshine Coast (no, we're not going back to the UK)
Yep, I agree with you on the crap "it's the price you pay for living on the Sunshine Coast"
That's just greedy employers looking for an excuse to pay peanuts. It cost's at least the same (or possible more) to live on the coast as it does to live in Brisbane.
Hopefully this will change as bigger companies move up here with modern thinking?
BTW We are aiming for citizenship on Australia day 2009, when are you aiming for?
That's just greedy employers looking for an excuse to pay peanuts. It cost's at least the same (or possible more) to live on the coast as it does to live in Brisbane.
Hopefully this will change as bigger companies move up here with modern thinking?
BTW We are aiming for citizenship on Australia day 2009, when are you aiming for?
I hope you're right about the bigger co's moving up here.. although i'm sure it'll just push up house prices even more!! We're starting our own business as well.. well I say we, Hubby is. Spraypainting shop in Caboolture.. fingers crossed it makes us enough money to buy somewhere up here!!
I'll do my own 13 month update soon... just too busy at the mo!
Good luck with everything
Sonic x
#17
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Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 99
Re: 13 months on the Sunshine Coast (no, we're not going back to the UK)
Great post. Me and OH fly to Oz on the 8th December to start our new life. We are heading for the Sunshine Coast so it was really encouraging to read your post. Looking forward to meeting you and everyone else at the meet on the 15th Dec...... plleeeaaasseee all be nice to us as we are v scared ...... I'm sure you will as you all seem a v friendly bunch !
#18
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Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 99
Re: 13 months on the Sunshine Coast (no, we're not going back to the UK)
Work is only the real issue I'd worry about if I was coming over. Ok, the shops aint quite so good (but you soon get used to them) and the drivers are a bit sloppy (my missus got hit up the arse a couple of days ago) but again if you make allowances the driving isn't a problem.
I'd recommend people go to www.seek.com.au and do a search for the sort of job they are looking for. My work is in IT and I looked a couple of days ago and there were 2 or 3 jobs paying up to $60,000 a year which isn't so bad. One of the jobs has a car supplied as well.
I think if you have a skill it's not so bad but if you are looking for unskilled work you are competing with 1000's of 16 - 18 year olds who get paid less and will put up with casual hours and being messed about in general.
But (and a big but) we love it over here and we can put up with a few small issues. The skies are normally bright blue and the sun is shining. We walk the dog on the beach a few times a week which is great and in general the people here are friendlier than people in the UK. The expat community here is also good and we have made several nice friends.
We do have 1 regret though, we wished that we had come here 10 years ago when our son would have been 8 years old. At least we could have got him into the surf life saving, soccer etc etc.
If anyone is coming over and wants a chat on the phone our number is 0560 0030930. It's a UK number that gets routed to OZ and costs you only 1p per minute to dial. We always make new arrivals welcome because we were in the same situation 13 months ago :-))
BTW Thanks for all the nice comments
I'd recommend people go to www.seek.com.au and do a search for the sort of job they are looking for. My work is in IT and I looked a couple of days ago and there were 2 or 3 jobs paying up to $60,000 a year which isn't so bad. One of the jobs has a car supplied as well.
I think if you have a skill it's not so bad but if you are looking for unskilled work you are competing with 1000's of 16 - 18 year olds who get paid less and will put up with casual hours and being messed about in general.
But (and a big but) we love it over here and we can put up with a few small issues. The skies are normally bright blue and the sun is shining. We walk the dog on the beach a few times a week which is great and in general the people here are friendlier than people in the UK. The expat community here is also good and we have made several nice friends.
We do have 1 regret though, we wished that we had come here 10 years ago when our son would have been 8 years old. At least we could have got him into the surf life saving, soccer etc etc.
If anyone is coming over and wants a chat on the phone our number is 0560 0030930. It's a UK number that gets routed to OZ and costs you only 1p per minute to dial. We always make new arrivals welcome because we were in the same situation 13 months ago :-))
BTW Thanks for all the nice comments
Karma sent to you..what goes around comes around
#19
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Joined: Jun 2004
Location: Mountain Creek, Sunshine Coast
Posts: 1,643
Re: 13 months on the Sunshine Coast (no, we're not going back to the UK)
Hey, we'll help anyone :-)
Good luck to anyone who is on their way over, just be prepared for a few ups and downs and you'll be fine. We've met a great bunch of people here and I don't think we'd change anything.
We have had some sad news recently though, our friends who live just down the road are going back to the UK after only 3 months. We wish them the best of luck of course but we are going to miss them.
Australia isn't for everyone and you will miss friends and family, I don't really miss either but that's a bloke thing :-)
Good luck to anyone who is on their way over, just be prepared for a few ups and downs and you'll be fine. We've met a great bunch of people here and I don't think we'd change anything.
We have had some sad news recently though, our friends who live just down the road are going back to the UK after only 3 months. We wish them the best of luck of course but we are going to miss them.
Australia isn't for everyone and you will miss friends and family, I don't really miss either but that's a bloke thing :-)
#20
egghead4+becky
Joined: Jul 2006
Location: was newport now sunny Bundy
Posts: 797
Re: 13 months on the Sunshine Coast (no, we're not going back to the UK)
Hey, we'll help anyone :-)
Good luck to anyone who is on their way over, just be prepared for a few ups and downs and you'll be fine. We've met a great bunch of people here and I don't think we'd change anything.
We have had some sad news recently though, our friends who live just down the road are going back to the UK after only 3 months. We wish them the best of luck of course but we are going to miss them.
Australia isn't for everyone and you will miss friends and family, I don't really miss either but that's a bloke thing :-)
Good luck to anyone who is on their way over, just be prepared for a few ups and downs and you'll be fine. We've met a great bunch of people here and I don't think we'd change anything.
We have had some sad news recently though, our friends who live just down the road are going back to the UK after only 3 months. We wish them the best of luck of course but we are going to miss them.
Australia isn't for everyone and you will miss friends and family, I don't really miss either but that's a bloke thing :-)
bec
#21
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Joined: Jun 2004
Location: Mountain Creek, Sunshine Coast
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Re: 13 months on the Sunshine Coast (no, we're not going back to the UK)
The rest of the people we've made friends with have settled well and none are talking about going back.
#22
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Joined: Dec 2003
Location: Going home at last-now we know where that is !
Posts: 1,040
Re: 13 months on the Sunshine Coast (no, we're not going back to the UK)
Great Post Kevin-look forward to meeting you and OH on Saturday !
#23
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Joined: Mar 2004
Location: Buderim, Queensland
Posts: 186
Re: 13 months on the Sunshine Coast (no, we're not going back to the UK)
Hi Kevin,
Good to read your post! I vaguely remember speaking to you on expats a few years back, we applied nearly 4 years ago and here we are 2.5 years after obtaining visa actually decided to go for it, we should be in the MC area by the end of the year. Bloody hell houses have gone up in the last couple of years, I really feel we've missed the boat for getting a lot for your money, buy hey ho, its not all about that is it, quality of life n all that.
We are hoping to get a house in the MC area, I've heard that rentals are hard to come by at the moment, the kids will hopefully go to MC school, heard good reports, youngest will be in preschool. OH is qualified chippie/press engineer (both so we have choice of occupation!), 3 kids of 4, 6 and 8.
Would be good to hear from you (any tips welcome)
Sally n family
Good to read your post! I vaguely remember speaking to you on expats a few years back, we applied nearly 4 years ago and here we are 2.5 years after obtaining visa actually decided to go for it, we should be in the MC area by the end of the year. Bloody hell houses have gone up in the last couple of years, I really feel we've missed the boat for getting a lot for your money, buy hey ho, its not all about that is it, quality of life n all that.
We are hoping to get a house in the MC area, I've heard that rentals are hard to come by at the moment, the kids will hopefully go to MC school, heard good reports, youngest will be in preschool. OH is qualified chippie/press engineer (both so we have choice of occupation!), 3 kids of 4, 6 and 8.
Would be good to hear from you (any tips welcome)
Sally n family
#24
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Joined: Jul 2007
Location: Bli Bli, Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Australia
Posts: 51
#25
Forum Regular
Joined: Jul 2007
Location: Bli Bli, Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Australia
Posts: 51
Re: 13 months on the Sunshine Coast (no, we're not going back to the UK)
Hi Kevin,
Good to read your post! I vaguely remember speaking to you on expats a few years back, we applied nearly 4 years ago and here we are 2.5 years after obtaining visa actually decided to go for it, we should be in the MC area by the end of the year. Bloody hell houses have gone up in the last couple of years, I really feel we've missed the boat for getting a lot for your money, buy hey ho, its not all about that is it, quality of life n all that.
We are hoping to get a house in the MC area, I've heard that rentals are hard to come by at the moment, the kids will hopefully go to MC school, heard good reports, youngest will be in preschool. OH is qualified chippie/press engineer (both so we have choice of occupation!), 3 kids of 4, 6 and 8.
Would be good to hear from you (any tips welcome)
Sally n family
Good to read your post! I vaguely remember speaking to you on expats a few years back, we applied nearly 4 years ago and here we are 2.5 years after obtaining visa actually decided to go for it, we should be in the MC area by the end of the year. Bloody hell houses have gone up in the last couple of years, I really feel we've missed the boat for getting a lot for your money, buy hey ho, its not all about that is it, quality of life n all that.
We are hoping to get a house in the MC area, I've heard that rentals are hard to come by at the moment, the kids will hopefully go to MC school, heard good reports, youngest will be in preschool. OH is qualified chippie/press engineer (both so we have choice of occupation!), 3 kids of 4, 6 and 8.
Would be good to hear from you (any tips welcome)
Sally n family
Yes rentals are hard at the moment but if you need a hand please get in touch [email protected]
#27
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Joined: Jun 2004
Location: Mountain Creek, Sunshine Coast
Posts: 1,643
Re: 13 months on the Sunshine Coast (no, we're not going back to the UK)
We've now been here 20 months now and still living the dream! Camping, fishing 4WD'ing and spending time with our new friends. Life's just great
#28
Re: 13 months on the Sunshine Coast (no, we're not going back to the UK)
Hi Kev, not heard from you for a long time, you must be spedning less time on here, or I am??
Anyway Me like you never knew or even dreamed of living here, always wanted too, never thought I would/could make it happen.
been here a while now, all settled like you , home car, jobs etc
Glad your enjoying the sunnie, I live in Brisbane and love to go up to the sunnie as often as possible.
Good to hear things are good and me like you have no intention of returning to the UK to live..
Good on you matey
Anyway Me like you never knew or even dreamed of living here, always wanted too, never thought I would/could make it happen.
been here a while now, all settled like you , home car, jobs etc
Glad your enjoying the sunnie, I live in Brisbane and love to go up to the sunnie as often as possible.
Good to hear things are good and me like you have no intention of returning to the UK to live..
Good on you matey
#29
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Location: Mountain Creek, Sunshine Coast
Posts: 1,643
Re: 13 months on the Sunshine Coast (no, we're not going back to the UK)
Hey Ben, long time no hear. Drop me a line next time you are up here on the coast, we can go out for a beer or 3 :-)
UK?? where's that?
UK?? where's that?
#30
Re: 13 months on the Sunshine Coast (no, we're not going back to the UK)
Sounds great Kev, will plu your number into me mobile !