Living in Perth

Brndn

Heading to Oz in Sept with my GF and we have decided on Perth as the first stop (WHV). Any tips on where to live? Whats it like for jobs (I'm a civil engineer)? I have about a month left in work here so I'll be looking for a steady job when I get there. Any info appreciated

CatchLight

Hi, I basically have the same questions about Perth. I am planning to move there on a WHV aswell. Instead of starting a new thread, I'll be keeping an eye on this one.

I'd be interested to hear from anyone who is living there or who has lived there in the past. I have heard Fremantle is a nice place and the beaches are nice but no other info!!

Hope someone can give us the lowdown...

Thanks

trig83

Same story here, heading to Perth in Sept with the GF on a WHV, hoping to find steady work and (fingers crossed) sponsorship. I'm a Civil Eng as well, there's plenty of work in Western Australia due to all the mining that's going on but I'm not sure what the story is in the city itself. I've heard that there's a lot of redevelopment taking place at the moment so that must be a good sign. It'd be good to hear from someone who's out there already.

Xavi6

Hi guys, Perth resident here

I can answer the majority of the questions you all have.

There's plenty of places to live either beside the city or within a handy commute. You want somewhere that is both close to the beach and also public transport so if you look at a map of Perth you want to be somewhere on the western side between the Mitchell/Kwinana freeways and the coast.

The work situation is quite good, even if you can't get something in your chosen field. For the likes of civil engineering, it will really depend on what visa you are on as sponsorship can sometimes be hard to get if there's a lot of competition.

Going to the mines is an unreal way to make money, but the days are long and it's baking hot all year round. It's a big committment to go up but the financial benefits are there.

If you have any more specific questions that need asking don't hesitate to ask.

Brndn

Thanks Xavi6, it's seems a bit daunting to take a leap into the unknown, can you give some advice as to what to do straight off the plane? Where to stay in a hostel, where to look for somewhere to live? Is Perth an expensive place to live in?

CatchLight

Thanks Xavi6!

Everyone says there are loads of jobs in the mines... Do you know of any females working there? I have a background in science but I wouldn't say I have a field as such, just a general degree.

I would hate to go all the way to Oz and end up babysitting or teaching english (I have seen these 'girl' jobs suggested here before ). I want the unreal money too!! :cool:

Maybe I'm jumping the gun and should just wait and see what happens once we get there. Its nice to have an idea of what you are getting yourself in to.

trig83

Cheers Xavi6, some handy info there. Would you say that people are taking a risk getting a WH visa and heading straight to a city area in the hope of getting sponsored? I hope I'm correct when I say that you can't get a second WH visa unless you do 3 months of work in a rural area during your first year - would you recommend doing that as a safer option?

I'd love a crack at the mines but I'm not sure how the GF would feel about being abandoned in some foreign city for weeks on end!

Xavi6

Brndn wrote: »

Thanks Xavi6, it's seems a bit daunting to take a leap into the unknown, can you give some advice as to what to do straight off the plane? Where to stay in a hostel, where to look for somewhere to live? Is Perth an expensive place to live in?

When you get here I recommend a hostel in the city to start with. You can get a shuttle from the airport and it will take about a half hour all up.

Try these two -

http://www.perthbritannia.com/
http://www.globebackpackers.com.au/

I stayed in the first one and have had friends stay in the second. Both seem to be very good and reasonable.

Rent wise, it's expensive to live in the city so it depends really on what your requirements are with work etc. I can pretty much tell you what each area would be like anyway.

CatchLight wrote: »

Thanks Xavi6!

Everyone says there are loads of jobs in the mines... Do you know of any females working there? I have a background in science but I wouldn't say I have a field as such, just a general degree.

I would hate to go all the way to Oz and end up babysitting or teaching english (I have seen these 'girl' jobs suggested here before ). I want the unreal money too!! :cool:

Maybe I'm jumping the gun and should just wait and see what happens once we get there. Its nice to have an idea of what you are getting yourself in to.

There are plenty of women working in the mines. My cousin drove trucks up there for a good while and loved it.

Again though it will depend on your visa and if they are willing to accept it. All you can do is try.

There are loads of different areas with work going so you will have choices.

trig83 wrote: »

Cheers Xavi6, some handy info there. Would you say that people are taking a risk getting a WH visa and heading straight to a city area in the hope of getting sponsored? I hope I'm correct when I say that you can't get a second WH visa unless you do 3 months of work in a rural area during your first year - would you recommend doing that as a safer option?

I'd love a crack at the mines but I'm not sure how the GF would feel about being abandoned in some foreign city for weeks on end!

It is risky to come over here expecting to get sponsored. For a lot of people it just doesn't happen.

You do need to do 3 months rural work if you want to get a second year yourself and it can be tough going as it's early starts and feck all money for most of the work, but a great experience.

If you et sponsored then great but make sure you have a back up, i.e. a place to do the rural work.

Mullicker

Just arrived in Perth last night, the place is a bit of a price shock after spending some time in thailand. Paying $70 for bare bones room at underground hostel northbridge. How do i go about getting work in the mines? do you need any sort of qualification?

Also i graduated with a degree in Software Developement recently, how likely is it to get work in that field with no previous work experience?

CatchLight

Hey Mullicker,

How are you getting on in Perth? 70 quid for one night in a hostel sounds steep...:(

Did you try any of the recruitment agencies in the city yet?

Mullicker

the $70(23.33) each is for a 3 bed room, there is 4 of us here and i got here a day later so i got a room to myself, going to move into big dorm room tonight should be a lot cheaper. We got a house sorted yesterday, movin in tuesday, 3bedroom $440 a week. Haven't tried recruitment agencies yet, i have a contact here that can get us set up with some construction work. Have to get a white card(like a safe pass), sorted first and we are getting a car between us for getting to work.

CatchLight

Sounds like you are well sorted Mullicker. Its good to be in a group sometimes, sharing costs and that. There is just the two of us heading over in a few months, hoping to not have to live in a hostel for too long.

Let us know how the job-hunt goes...

Mickeyie05

hey im in the same boat im coming out around the start of dec! just wondering how much i will need to get set up? i was planning on having around €4k. we are hoping to get jobs straight away two of us are recently qualified quantity surveyors what are our chances of getting some line of construction work also we are thinking of living in perth city will this be very expensive what rents would u be expecting to pay. I also plan on playing a bit of football out there will this benefit me at all i hear it can help on the job front

Dannyboy1987

i loved Perth lived in Clarkson north Perth. if someone offered me a job i'd be back, just waiting on my trade papers

Brndn

How much does it cost to do your white card Mullicker? Was it hard to find a house?

CatchLight

Mickey, http://www.gaelicfootball.com.au/WA.html GAA in Western Oz! I'd say 4k is plenty, prob won't have that much myself.

Dannyboy, tell us more about Perth... Was the rent high out where you lived? Do you know of any Irish companies in Perth?

Mickeyie05

How much do u think is enough Catchlight??

kazza90210

Gumtree.com.au is the best bet for short term leases and you can look on the map to see where the house/apartment is. I currently live in east perth about 10min walk from the city centre and its 550 a week for a 3bed apartment with pool and gym in the complex, great to live in the city if you here short term as getting to the city is easy.

Alot of girls i know join agencies and get work through them on reception etc and all the guys i know find work on sites and seem to make pretty good cash. If your willing to work outside your normal field you should have no worries getting work though saying that I was lucky enough to get a job as a vet nurse which is what i did at home.

Heard good things about globebackpackers had friends who stayed there, there are a few on aberdeen st in northbridge but the standard varies.

hope this helps someone

CatchLight

I'd say you are dead on the money there Mickey. I'll have less as I'm only working parttime at the min, so I'll be on a tight budget when I get there. But hoping to get a job asap.

Thats some good info there kazza. Thanks. I think we are both fairly open to trying different jobs, actually I'd prefer something totally different to the run of the mill stuff here.

Lu Tze

Brndn wrote: »

Heading to Oz in Sept with my GF and we have decided on Perth as the first stop (WHV). Any tips on where to live? Whats it like for jobs (I'm a civil engineer)? I have about a month left in work here so I'll be looking for a steady job when I get there. Any info appreciated

trig83 wrote: »

Same story here, heading to Perth in Sept with the GF on a WHV, hoping to find steady work and (fingers crossed) sponsorship. I'm a Civil Eng as well, there's plenty of work in Western Australia due to all the mining that's going on but I'm not sure what the story is in the city itself. I've heard that there's a lot of redevelopment taking place at the moment so that must be a good sign. It'd be good to hear from someone who's out there already.

Weirdly enough, another civil engineer here, likely to be heading over in september with the GF. Says a lot about the industry here!

Xavi thanks for the info, just wondering if you know if the mines do short term work?

Mickeyie05

anyone have any experience or know of any mates workin as quantity surveyors out tere

cerey

Fairly easy to get a job in Perth, especially in winter.
But DONT DO IT!!! Unless you really need a job.

Place is ****e!! nothing to do, people are boring and everything shuts on Suns/hols/evenings...pretty much when you have actual free time from work. grrr

Take my advise, If you need money do some farm work for 2-3 months (will save approx 10k!!) and get your ass over east coast!!!

Been in Perth 8 months now....cant get out of the feckin place
But am tryin my damned hardest!

Uuuh Patsy

cerey wrote: »

Fairly easy to get a job in Perth, especially in winter.
But DONT DO IT!!! Unless you really need a job.

Place is ****e!! nothing to do, people are boring and everything shuts on Suns/hols/evenings...pretty much when you have actual free time from work. grrr

Ehhh, I live in the northern suburbs and theres plenty to do on Sundays. You obviously think shopping is a pass time. Either way, pretty much everything is open in the city 7 days... and Freo too... This is said constantly about Perth... as if people expect the city to entertain them...

Xavi6

Agree with the above 100%.

The beauty of Perth is that there's heaps to do without having to resort to the likes of shopping.

Lu Tze wrote: »

Xavi thanks for the info, just wondering if you know if the mines do short term work?

I'm not really sure tbh as I've never gone myself but I do have mates that have gone up on short term contracts for various different roles.

cerey

Uuuh Patsy wrote: »

cerey wrote: »

Fairly easy to get a job in Perth, especially in winter.
But DONT DO IT!!! Unless you really need a job.

Place is ****e!! nothing to do, people are boring and everything shuts on Suns/hols/evenings...pretty much when you have actual free time from work. grrr

Ehhh, I live in the northern suburbs and theres plenty to do on Sundays. You obviously think shopping is a pass time. Either way, pretty much everything is open in the city 7 days... and Freo too... This is said constantly about Perth... as if people expect the city to entertain them...

Ehhh urself! Shopping is the last thing I would like to do with my spare time...but its funny that this is the only thing you can think of. Shopping, as far as I can see, is the only thing that people seem to do here on the weekend!!!

As for Freo, basically Perths answer to Howth, except it has a Prison, woopty do!!!

If you live in Northern suburbs you obviously have a car, cause buses stop AT 7:00 on a SUNDAY!!! So the one day where it is expected one would want to venture out, the bloody public transport shuts down!

Eastern states of Australia, have so much more life and fun about them, and events/excursions on offer

And yea, if a city wants to be one of the best, they should entertain their visitors...or at least have something on offer!!!!

Xavi6

So what would you like Perth to have for your entertainment?

kazza90210

Cerey its not that difficult to catch a plane to the east coast, just go online and book one!

I will admit when i first came here I thought it was a bit boring but then I met some great friends and some great places to visit and I couldnt be happier! No city will entertain you, it s all about discovering your own fun.

uglyjohn

i quite like perth to be honest...although i work on a mine site so anywhere i can get a full strength beer in a glass gets a thumbs up from me!

CatchLight

cerey wrote: »

Fairly easy to get a job in Perth, especially in winter.
But DONT DO IT!!! Unless you really need a job.

I really need a job!!! Hoping to do some travelling around, site-seeing etc on days/weekends off. Maybe join a club if I get settled in! There HAS to be other things to do besides going into town at the weekends...surely?

Cerey... what did you mean by everything shuts down? No businesses operate at the weekends??

Also, did you do the farm work yourself? Where did you go? What was the work like? I'm looking into doing a few months farmwork aswell.

Xavi6

CatchLight wrote: »

I really need a job!!! Hoping to do some travelling around, site-seeing etc on days/weekends off. Maybe join a club if I get settled in! There HAS to be other things to do besides going into town at the weekends...surely?

Of course there is. There are hundreds of soccer clubs in every area as well as GAA clubs.

During the day you can go to the beach, head to a winery, go for a nice meal, go clubbing (they stay open til 5 or 6am), hit up the casino for some poker etc, go camping either north or south.

The list is endless if you bother your arse to put some effort in.

Cerey... what did you mean by everything shuts down? No businesses operate at the weekends??

Of course they open. There is no Sunday trading except for the city where everything is open. Saturday is just a normal day for shops.

If you work as a trademan you will be working Saturday mornings anyway.

Mickeyie05

wit a degree in quantity surveying do i have a good chance of gettin some work even in construction or in the mines do people think???