Trishoya

Thinking of a new life in Australia? Well, you aren’t alone. In recent years, Australia has emerged as a magnet for people seeking new opportunities, with an average of 454,400 individuals relocating to its shores annually. This influx, a blend of skilled professionals, students, and family visa holders, highlights the country’s appeal as a land of diverse opportunities and vibrant cultural amalgamation. I myself am one of them; here’s everything I’ve learned about starting a life down under.

Why Australia?

This blog post will be highlighting Sydney, New South Wales, the popular vibrant multi-cultural city on the eastern seaboard, with pristine beaches such as the famous Bondi Beach and attractions like the Sydney Opera House. The city got me really excited about the possibility of emigrating there to have a fresh new start away from the grey skies of the UK.

I lived in the Midlands, where cloudy days are the norm and the pace of life is very slow and somewhat boring. I was working long hours, and outside of work, my social time was spent doing an occasional nature reserve walk or going to the seaside (by the seaside, I mean Skegness). The summers weren’t much to rave about, hence why I was traveling outside of the UK like most Brits do, and the winters were dark, dreary, and wet. (I went to work in the dark and came home in the dark). After watching countless episodes of Wanted Down Under and hearing from expats I spoke with, I decided to make my first trip down under to see for myself what the country had to offer.

In December 2019, I made the 23+ hour journey from London to Sydney via Shanghai. As soon as I stepped out of the airport in Sydney, I was greeted with a hot gust of wind, under a sky so blue it felt surreal, I knew this holiday was going to be one to remember. The next 2 weeks were a blast, and as I was headed back to the UK to share what I had seen with my friends and family, I decided that it was somewhere I would like to live, rather than just experience. Unfortunately, the pandemic halted my dream of returning the following year, but I spent this time researching, planning, and formalizing my emigration from the UK to AUS.

Research, Research, Research!

I want to share my experience with getting into Australia, given their strict immigration policies, for those of you who do not necessarily know where to start. What support there is online for this, where to find key information on visa requirements, travel, location, and job searches. My aim is to do my best in consulting you on where to look.

To start off, there are two important points that I want to highlight first and foremost when considering emigration:

• Visit your country of interest – on more than one occasion if you are able to.
• Do your research!

In a country like Australia, these two points are crucial considering how far away it is from the rest of the world. When I visited in 2019, I was sure I wanted to go back to try life there and spent the next couple of years researching the visa application process, savings, travel, and shipping.

Visa Process

When looking to travel to a country, I always start by visiting the country’s website & Home Office page. These pages tend to have all the information needed for tourists and visitors. Australia.com is an all-encompassing guide for anyone planning a trip to Australia. The website offers a wealth of information, from highlighting must-visit destinations like cities, beaches, and unique regions such as the Outback, to an array of activities including cultural events, adventure sports, and family-friendly experiences. The site also provides essential travel planning tools, including visa guidelines, accessibility tips, and health and safety advice.

https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/

For visa & immigration information on Australia, this can be found on their Home Affairs Site. Once on the site, you can follow the menu drop-down box to get to Visa > Getting a visa > exploring visa options. There you will find a list of all the visa options available. For myself, I applied for the Working Holiday Visa subclass 417- This visa lets people 18 to 30 years old (or 35 years old for some countries) have their first extended holiday in Australia and work to help fund their trip. With this visa, you can stay in Australia for up to 12 months, do short-term work in Australia, study for up to 4 months, and travel to and from on multiple occasions.

I applied for this visa on my 31st Birthday using my Canadian Passport (which guaranteed application from the age of 30-35). After creating an account, I completed the 10-page application, got the relevant paperwork requested, and paid the fee. Other criteria included having AUD5,000 to support yourself while in the country & the health requirement to be free from disease & conditions which could threaten public health. Within 4 months, I got the email from Home Affairs that my visa had been granted. It stipulated that I had 12 months from the date of approval to travel on my visa for it to be in effect. Upon arrival in Australia, I would then be granted the 12 months on the visa.

I used this time to continue my plans, by working to save up for funds, I then shipped my belongings with a freight company so that I could not exceed my 23kg luggage allowance. Looking back on it all now, I would not have paid the additional fees to do so, but since I was adamant I was going to spend at least 18 months, I decided to bring as much of my belongings as I could.

Like I mentioned earlier, it is important to do your research. There are many other visa options with different requirements on https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/working-in-australia/skill-occupation-list# It is not a one-size-fits-all process as depending on the passport that you hold you may have certain age limitations on some of the visa options.

Working in Australia

With the working holiday visa, I was allowed to work full-time. Initially, It took me a few months to find fulltime work. The job market took a bit of navigating, due to me wanting to have a complete career change I did not want to go out into a stressful job role. I worked in hospitality & events jobs which when calculated paid a lot more per hour than my career job did in the UK. As of July 2023, the minimum wage in Australia is $23.23 per hr; whilst in the UK it is £10.42 as of April 2023. The figures in local currencies suggest that earnings are higher in Australia when on a minimum wage pay but when the exchange rate adjusted figures provide a more nuanced comparison, indicating that the gap in minimum wage earnings between the two countries is somewhat narrowed when considering the currency value.

Although my work experience in Sydney was fun, stress-free casual roles, these jobs can be worked as 2 or more allowing for multiple income. For more professional roles & jobs sites such as Indeed, Seek, CareerJet or the Australian Government’s site for Jobs & Skills.

In Australia, work feels a lot more chilled out compared to the UK. You’ll find the nation focuses on keeping a work /life balance. This means flexible hours and the option to work from home are pretty common, something that’s not as widespread back in the UK.

There are many aspects to holidaying and working in Australia that I haven’t touched on, but I can assure you that if you take the time to research the specific information needed, you will be able to make a decision on whether you want to emigrate or just holiday in Australia. It’s worth doing a pros and cons list on your options. I am sure that you will not be disappointed if you decide to travel to Australia; it is a really good country and worth the trip.

I hope you’ve found inspiration and valuable insights in my journey. Whether you’re dreaming of a change of scenery under the Australian sun or seriously planning your own adventure down under, remember, it’s all about taking that first step.

Have you ever considered a move to Australia? Share your thoughts, dreams, or plans in the comments below. Let’s create a community of future expats, supporting each other in our quests for new beginnings.

If this post has sparked a little wanderlust or curiosity in you, why not share it with friends or family who might also be considering a similar journey? Sometimes, all it takes is a little nudge to turn dreams into reality.

Remember, whether it’s for a short holiday or a longer stay, Australia offers a world of experiences. Dive into your research, weigh your options, and who knows – maybe soon, you’ll be writing your own story of an incredible journey to the land Down Under.