Moving to New Zealand or Australia

[tj2419]

Hi

 

I'm after a bit of advice. My wife and I are doing a bit of dreaming and being fed up of the weather here so have decided to research upping sticks to New Zealand or Australia.

 

We like the look of the lifestyle etc and love the thought of the scenery over there. Lots of things to look at but I was specifically wondering if anyone could answer the questions below.

 

Has anyone done this move? Moved from the UK and started again down under? How was it? Any tips?

Anyone who lives there, are the job prospects good for a school network manager?

Have only worked at a cc4 school so not afraid to work in a junior role as long as I can progress and earn enough money.

 

I imagine it's a bit of blue sky thinking but it's a nice dream.

 

Thanks

[elsiegee40]

My husband worked out there for a year. He was based in Sydney. It's lovely and we'd go back in a flash. It's also bloomin' expensive compared with the UK. The cost of living is very high.

 

Be certain that you can afford to live out there before committing yourself.

[FN-GM]

It's also bloomin' expensive compared with the UK.

 

The pay is much higher out in Australia though so its relative. When I was there I was getting paid £1,200 a week putting computers on desks. I am getting paid that in the UK and I am IT Manager for 3 schools.

[abillybob]

I too have been looking for about a year with my girlfriend so am very interested in any experiences anyone could potentially share

[tj2419]

The pay is much higher out in Australia though so its relative. When I was there I was getting paid £1,200 a week putting computers on desks. I am getting paid that in the UK and I am IT Manager for 3 schools.

 

Thanks for that.

 

Where abouts did you work? Any tips on finding the jobs? How long did you live there?

 

Cheers

[timbo343]

The pay is much higher out in Australia though so its relative. When I was there I was getting paid £1,200 a week putting computers on desks. I am getting paid that in the UK and I am IT Manager for 3 schools.

 

£1,200 a week? thats like £4,800 a month/ £56k a year.

Edited January 10, 2016 by timbo343

[twin--turbo]

According to my brother in law who lived in NZ for 2years the weather is not great.

 

The entry criteria for AUZ are strict so it's not going to be easy.

 

How often do you go out and enjoy the scenery in the UK? Do you do outdor activity?

 

Do you have a family network? Do you have kids that may need looking after? Older family that may need looking after?

 

 

TT

[timbo343]

Someone told NZ is a bit like wales but without the sheep.

[bodminman]

We nearly moved there in 2007. We got to the very end of the visa process and were sent the final bill of £800 which covered the medicals and the final balance for the visa agency. However, this process took nearly two years and before we paid this balance we went through the 'For & Against' thing we had initially done to make sure we still wanted it. In that time our circumstances had changed and in the end we didn't make the move.

 

Initially we were making the move for the weather but it transpired we would miss the our culture, history and other things far too much. What also didn't help was when we visited my brother in law in Perth, he invited some friends and colleagues to his house for a bit of a party one night with the idea of giving us a chance to chat to them and ask unbiased questions. The night was spent listening to a load of ex pats slagging of England. That was all we got out of it and that stayed with us and had an impact on our decision whether or not to go. We had it on a plate, the wife had secured a teaching job and had a job offer with SAP in Perth but in the end it just wasn't for us. No regrets!

 

My brother in law has since moved from Perth over to Brisbane and although he has a good job and earns a decent wage, he does comment that it has got a lot more expensive to live in Oz and the prices keep rising. Do your research, visit the place(s) you're considering, do your research, question the why's and what for's again and then do what you feel is right.

 

Good luck.

Edited January 10, 2016 by bodminman

[twin--turbo]

Someone told NZ is a bit like wales but without the sheep.

 

 

NZ is full of sheep???

 

TT

[FN-GM]

Thanks for that.

 

Where abouts did you work? Any tips on finding the jobs? How long did you live there?

 

Cheers

 

I was in Brisbane. I just went to a recruitment agency. It was just casual work. I was there for about a year. I had visa restrictions and at the time I didn't qualify for a permanent resident visa.

 

£1,200 a week? thats like £4,800 a month/ £56k a year.

 

Not bad for just plonking computers on the desk and plugging them in!

 

According to my brother in law who lived in NZ for 2years the weather is not great.

 

Its like the UK weather wise. You also get loads of Earthquakes. I wouldn't live in NZ personally.

 

The entry criteria for AUZ are strict so it's not going to be easy.

 

Its recently got a bit easier. For IT jobs under state sponsorship you can get in with vendor certifications.

[unixman_again]

Petrol is 1/2 the cost it is in Blighty. If you want an LPG car, LPG is even cheaper and available at all servos. My sister used to have one but she decided not to have her classic MG converted.

 

Food is cheaper and better quality too. I love fresh sweet corn. Here you might get a couple of 10cm long bits in a supermarket. In Australia, you can buy a whole ear, 25cm long in any supermarket. I was there a couple of weeks ago, and I couldn't find frozen Yorkshire puddlings but everything else I tried to buy was available.

[LeMarchand]

Food is cheaper and better quality too. I love fresh sweet corn. Here you might get a couple of 10cm long bits in a supermarket. In Australia, you can buy a whole ear, 25cm long in any supermarket.

 

You're shopping in the wrong supermarket...

 

As for emigration, I do like the idea of NZ but don't fancy Australia at all.

[mtdmitchell]

I'm moving to OZ later this year with a PR visa, I qualified for the visa "263111 COMPUTER NETWORK AND SYSTEMS ENGINEER", which is still on the Skills list.

 

see here

 

1220.0 - ANZSCO - Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations, First Edition, Revision 1

 

be warned though its not cheap to go though the visa process, you have to have your Skills and quals assessed by the ACS ( Australian Computer society) , Police checks, Medicals and I had to pass an english test to make up enough points for a PR visa.

 

if you need any advise let me know

 

PS we looked at New Zealand but choose OZ as NZ has similar weather to here ...so didnt see the point in moving 10,000 miles to be rained on!

Edited January 10, 2016 by mtdmitchell

[Roberto]

I know my girlfriend wouldn't mind living in Aus, all other things being equal... but there's always an element of "the grass is always greener" in any talk about emigration. If the best reason to go somewhere else is "the weather's a bit rubbish here" then that's not a great reason; the weather can be rubbish anywhere.

[tj2419]

Thanks guys. I will reply in detail tomorrow but wanted to say thanks for all the helpful advice so far.

[twin--turbo]

PS......

 

I live just outside the lakes... Stilll finding great new views even after 30 years.. It's better on a mooody rainy day.

 

There is so much good scenery in the UK, if you have not ventured too look at it then don't count it as a reason to move.

 

I have not had a holiday outside the uk since 1984... Still we struggle each year to decide where to go in the uk as there are so many locations to explore.

 

TT

[Garacesh]

My vote would be for New Zealand. Mother Nature isn't trying to fling drop bears at you every 20 seconds, and you don't pay Australia Tax.

 

But I don't actually know anything first-hand about either country. Had an ex that moved (or more, her parents and she went with them) to Newtown(?). But then they ended up moving back here.

[FN-GM]

PS......

 

I live just outside the lakes... Stilll finding great new views even after 30 years.. It's better on a mooody rainy day.

 

There is so much good scenery in the UK, if you have not ventured too look at it then don't count it as a reason to move.

 

I have not had a holiday outside the uk since 1984... Still we struggle each year to decide where to go in the uk as there are so many locations to explore.

 

TT

 

Its not just that though really. Loads of other reasons to leave the country.

[DalekSec]

I've always thought of moving to Canada (I like Snow) or Malta (went on holiday there and fell in love), both English speaking countries just food for fought!

[abillybob]

Well my dreams where shattered unfortunately. I had a lot of help from @FN-GM and he gave me a lot of useful information! Though once we knew what we where looking for and had a better picture of what to do next it turns out me or my partner don't have the qualifications between us to be eligible. Huge shame and we are both extremely gutted.

 

I am think about taking a qualification that @FN-GM directed me too but we'll have to see what I can budget for. We tick ever other box as well so it's very frustrating that's the only thing holding us back!

@DalekSec we looked into Malta. I'm very keen on the country (went there last year to Valletta) as it's in Europe it's also extremely easy to get into. Majority of them do speak English but it's not their first language so I don't think you could work there unless you where prepared to learn theirs. The people in the main city could be quite rude also, I've been to St Julian's too which was a much more relaxed and friendly atmosphere but is more touristy I feel. I loved it there with all the History and things, we went to see an underground WWII cave which was very interesting and the cathedral is lovely. My girlfriend wasn't so keen though partially because of the english language thing but also because "It's not Australia" which to be fair I can understand, why should we have to settle for second best, but that's just our personal circumstances.

 

It's worth mentioning they drive on the left hand side of the road also same as the UK which makes it easier to get the hang of.

 

Oh almost forgot; there isn't many office based jobs over there that we could find. Most jobs over there are tourist jobs such as Waitering or bar work. Unless you become a manager of a Hotel it seemed fairly difficult to earn a decent wage there.

Edited January 13, 2016 by abillybob

[DalekSec]

I am think about taking a qualification that @FN-GM directed me too but we'll have to see what I can budget for. We tick ever other box as well so it's very frustrating that's the only thing holding us back!

@DalekSec we looked into Malta. I'm very keen on the country (went there last year to Valletta) as it's in Europe it's also extremely easy to get into. Majority of them do speak English but it's not their first language so I don't think you could work there unless you where prepared to learn theirs. The people in the main city could be quite rude also, I've been to St Julian's too which was a much more relaxed and friendly atmosphere but is more touristy I feel. I loved it there with all the History and things, we went to see an underground WWII cave which was very interesting and the cathedral is lovely. My girlfriend wasn't so keen though partially because of the english language thing but also because "It's not Australia" which to be fair I can understand, why should we have to settle for second best, but that's just our personal circumstances.

 

It's worth mentioning they drive on the left hand side of the road also same as the UK which makes it easier to get the hang of.

 

Oh almost forgot; there isn't many office based jobs over there that we could find. Most jobs over there are tourist jobs such as Waitering or bar work. Unless you become a manager of a Hotel it seemed fairly difficult to earn a decent wage there.

 

 

To be honest its more like 80% Canada and 20% Malta, I haven't look into it so much yet going to give it 2-3years, also I went to the WW2 Caves, scared the hell out of me swear I saw something in the nurses bit....

 

Edit: I forgot my parents are planning on moving to Malta for a year when I've moved out! (quick he's gone leg it!)

Edited January 13, 2016 by DalekSec

[abillybob]

To be honest its more like 80% Canada and 20% Malta, I haven't look into it so much yet going to give it 2-3years, also I went to the WW2 Caves, scared the hell out of me swear I saw something in the nurses bit....

 

Edit: I forgot my parents are planning on moving to Malta for a year when I've moved out! (quick he's gone leg it!)

 

Canada like Australia seem to be quite particular on what qualifications you need to get into the country. I'd check that you have all of these before you're let down like we where with Australia. If I was going to move to somewhere in Europe it would probably be Malta and it's handy as it's only a 3 hour flight away from the UK so you can come back whenever. But for me it's probably more of a retirement 'holiday home' kind of country. I wouldn't want to try and live there for a most of my life due to the lack of jobs and their laws. My grandad who had lived there for 27 Years owned his own house and the government took it from him needing it for land to build a road, he couldn't do anything about it. Instead they paid him what they decided his house was worth and effectively evicted him... scary I know. He then moved back to the UK.

[LeMarchand]

I think those considering the move need to think hard.

 

Would they rather live in The Shire?

 

 

Or the Wasteland?

 

 

Would they like to pop down the The Prancing Pony for a pint?

 

 

Or scrabble around Bartertown for a sip of water?