A year in Australia

miss5

Hi there,
Some close friends are moving to Australia for a year, have asked me
to go with them, Considering it but would appreciate some opinions
would it be better to do a college exchange programme or wait until
i'm a graduate?what is it like to live there would a summer be better?
any cities you would reccoment? what are the job prospects? Is there
anywhere else that would be better to spend a year? thank you

The_B_Man

you might have hassle getting a "good" job without experience. However a LOT of people over here just work in bars/cafes/temp work just to get enough to pay rent, have a few beers, and maybe go see a tourist spot now and again.

Your best bet is to come over with about 3/4 grand and do lotsa travelling first. Then worry about jobs and getting apartments.

Summer is peak time so prices are slightly higher. Only really in melbourne and maybe perth would you notice winter. Queensland has a constant summer so doesnt matter when u go there.

that college visa, you can work part time roughly 2 hours a week, as far as i know. college is expensive too. you'll prob have no money to travel.

Melbourne is a very cool city. best in Oz in my opinion. Sydney is any regualr city, as is Brisbane, but just hotter!

Perth is a "Small Town city". everything is very compact in a small area. Can be dodgy at times, but can be good craic too.

Doc

The_B_Man wrote: »

that college visa, you can work part time roughly 2 hours a week, as far as i know. college is expensive too. you'll prob have no money to travel.

I don’t know if that’s a typo or not but its more like 20 hours a week that you can work on a college visa.

The_B_Man

Oops, ye i meant 20 hours per week!

Beachband

Thats a fairly expensive visa route though isn't is?

Doc

Beachband wrote: »

Thats a fairly expensive visa route though isn't is?

Yes but I have known people who did it as part of there course at home doing a semester over here (One girl was studying to be a nurse). Good way of getting over if you’re not eligible for the WHV too.

Beachband

Doc wrote: »

Yes but I have known people who did it as part of there course at home doing a semester over here (One girl was studying to be a nurse). Good way of getting over if you’re not eligible for the WHV too.

That could be a very handy way then , instead of trying to obtain a student visa independently.

miss5

Beachband wrote: »

That could be a very handy way then , instead of trying to obtain a student visa independently.

Do you think it would be better to go over when my degree is finished?
Do you think a year or a summer would be enough to see everything?
thanks

Mahatma coat

a Lifetime is not long enough to see EVERYTHING in Australia, even the really interestin bits take years to notch off yer list, my advice if you want it
you say your friends are going for the workin year, but you want to finisy Uni, then maybe of you ccan get a bit of cash together come over with them on a 3 month holiday visa, if you like it then you can come back later on a WHV when you have yer sh1t together so to speak.

course that is the more expensve but playin it safe style

miss5

Mahatma coat wrote: »

a Lifetime is not long enough to see EVERYTHING in Australia, even the really interestin bits take years to notch off yer list, my advice if you want it
you say your friends are going for the workin year, but you want to finisy Uni, then maybe of you ccan get a bit of cash together come over with them on a 3 month holiday visa, if you like it then you can come back later on a WHV when you have yer sh1t together so to speak.

course that is the more expensve but playin it safe style

Thank you, i agree i wouldn't get muxh travelling done
if i was in uni. A couple of friends in my year are going to
spend a year there after we finish our degrees.
Prbably a better option.
Would you reccomend there?

Beachband

miss5 wrote: »

Thank you, i agree i wouldn't get muxh travelling done
if i was in uni. A couple of friends in my year are going to
spend a year there after we finish our degrees.
Prbably a better option.
Would you reccomend there?

If you really want to go, when your mates are going, maybe have your uni thing sorted beforehand, or have it sorted to finish it when you get back. Cos if your going on a whv like your friends will be, you will want to experience the things they are etc, while over there.
As regards recommending Oz, being young and being able to experience it - a whv is perfect for that. Like what was said above, you could spend a lifetime experiencing Oz, but that is true for many places aswell. Some who have gone love it, some don't, some experience the real Oz, others dont.

Its far afield for sure, but everywhere is far away, when your not at home.

miss5

Has anyone spent time there? I'd appreciate any feedback.

The_B_Man

Jaysus, everyone who posted in this thread is IN Australia right now!

miss5

That's great then, What do you think of it there?

CiaranC

Its alright. Kinda like a sunny southern England. Nice if you are into eco-tourism, scenery and outdoor pursuits.

miss5

CiaranC wrote: »

Its alright. Kinda like a sunny southern England. Nice if you are into eco-tourism, scenery and outdoor pursuits.

Thanks, Is it as amazing as people say? worth the hype.

Doc

miss5 wrote: »

That's great then, What do you think of it there?

Its nice. What do people say? It’s hot (In most places). People speak English and there are jobs here. Everything else is what you make of it.

m@cc@

CiaranC wrote: »

Its alright. Kinda like a sunny southern England. Nice if you are into eco-tourism, scenery and outdoor pursuits.

That's a pretty good comparison. I was surprised how 'British' it is here even though they make a point of letting everyone know how much they hate the Pommies.

miss5 wrote: »

Thanks, Is it as amazing as people say? worth the hype.

It's not worth the hype but it's definitely worth taking a year out to visit (if that makes sense).

Beachband

Its a vast place for sure, only been to Oz twice, both WA, amazing in some ways, boring in others(depending on how you look at things, not dissimilar to Ireland in some ways, its all about the weather really, which in turn changes the landscape etc), certainly a very different way of life from what I saw - people exercising along cottelsoe beach at 7am in the morning in the bright shining sun, before they go to work for the day, watching the sun go down over the ocean, watching the aboriginals being given a hard time by the fuzz, the evening at about 20 degrees - pure holiday mode weather, driving on the same side as us Irish(v handy). It is a great way of life, no doubt......

miss5

Beachband wrote: »

Its a vast place for sure, only been to Oz twice, both WA, amazing in some ways, boring in others(depending on how you look at things, not dissimilar to Ireland in some ways, its all about the weather really, which in turn changes the landscape etc), certainly a very different way of life from what I saw - people exercising along cottelsoe beach at 7am in the morning in the bright shining sun, before they go to work for the day, watching the sun go down over the ocean, watching the aboriginals being given a hard time by the fuzz, the evening at about 20 degrees - pure holiday mode weather, driving on the same side as us Irish(v handy). It is a great way of life, no doubt......

Thank you for your replies, It's basically between Australia and Asia.
I have heard it's a great place to live so much to see, great nightlife,
obviously the weather. You all think it's definitely worth spending a year there?

old_aussie

miss5 wrote: »

Has anyone spent time there? I'd appreciate any feedback.

Yeah, a lot of early settlers, they were called convicts. They did a fair bit of time in Oz. lol

miss5, you'll luv a year in Oz.

You'll get a job, usually part time work fairly easily.

Plenty of people from UK here, and they all seem to be getting along just fine.

Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Gold Coast(Surfers paradise) all have plenty of jobs, unemployment is low in Oz at the moment.

Great weather and living conditions, you'll like it.

old aussie

miss5

old_aussie wrote: »

Yeah, a lot of early settlers, they were called convicts. They did a fair bit of time in Oz. lol

miss5, you'll luv a year in Oz.

You'll get a job, usually part time work fairly easily.

Plenty of people from UK here, and they all seem to be getting along just fine.

Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Gold Coast(Surfers paradise) all have plenty of jobs, unemployment is low in Oz at the moment.

Great weather and living conditions, you'll like it.

old aussie

thank you Old Aussie,
I've heard melbourne is very cultured,
Would there or Sydney be the best place to live?

The_B_Man

I'm in Melbourne and its my favourite city in Oz. I'd recommend here in the summer definately.

Beachband

The_B_Man wrote: »

I'm in Melbourne and its my favourite city in Oz. I'd recommend here in the summer definately.

What about autunm, winter? Will be there in Melb in a few months, how do those seasons shape up?

old_aussie

miss5 wrote: »

thank you Old Aussie,
I've heard melbourne is very cultured,
Would there or Sydney be the best place to live?

Melbourne is said to be more cultural than Sydney.

Melbourne usually has a milder summer than Sydney or Brisbane

Both Melbourne and Sydney, as well as Brisbane/Gold Coast are all good to stay for 3/4 months.

Lots more to do and see in Sydney/NSW and Queensland than Melbourne/Vic(well I think so)

CiaranC

miss5 wrote: »

I've heard melbourne is very cultured,

lol, thats a bit of a stretch. If you want culture, go to Europe or Asia

fontanalis

m@cc@ wrote: »

That's a pretty good comparison. I was surprised how 'British' it is here even though they make a point of letting everyone know how much they hate the Pommies.



It's not worth the hype but it's definitely worth taking a year out to visit (if that makes sense).

Personally I thnk it's worth the hype, the only downside is it's too far from Ireland for visiting etc and christmas is frankly sh1t there.

miss5

I'd imagine xmas wouldn't be the same there, I guess i could go home
for that. Are the locals friendly?

fontanalis

miss5 wrote: »

I'd imagine xmas wouldn't be the same there, I guess i could go home
for that. Are the locals friendly?

I found the vast majoirty very friendly and easy going. Also if you stay there long term your tax dollars won't go to paying for the mistakes of the Galway races tent cowboys.

m@cc@

miss5 wrote: »

I'd imagine xmas wouldn't be the same there, I guess i could go home
for that. Are the locals friendly?

I've found socialising with work colleagues a lot of trouble. People seem to prefer to stick to their own circles rather that meet new people. I've found people in Tassie to be the friendliest in Oz so far but people in general are decent enough.

Zambia

miss5 wrote: »

I'd imagine xmas wouldn't be the same there, I guess i could go home
for that. Are the locals friendly?

Depends are you an indian student?

I jest its fine and the locals are friendly , alchol and tact go a long way