Australia Content: any advice for someone considering relocation?

[bassguppy]

Any opinions welcome!!

My wife will graduate with her PhD in Clinical Psychology next year (she's starting internship now) and we were considering a move to Australia. She has several relatives living in Sydney where we can get situated. We would like to give it a year (maybe 2) to get a feel and see if it's right for us to permanently relocate. My understanding is a doctor in Psych is an occupation in demand and may provide a fast track to citizenship if we choose.

Any advice? recommendations? Cities to live in or avoid? How's the pay rates? music opportunities? etc....

Or should Americans stay away?

[VincentSalizeri]

I've heard there are spiders so big, they have health bars...



Otherwise, sounds like a nice place.

[bassguppy]

Originally Posted by VincentSalizeri

I've heard there are spiders so big, they have health bars...

I lived in New Mexico for several years and the centipedes down there would kick any spiders a$$.

Back in 2003 I went into the garage and that thing was below my feet. I screamed like a girl and pee'd a little but I was victorious. The one in the pic is about 11 inches, the one in my garage was about 8.

[Kwesi]

Originally Posted by bassguppy

I lived in New Mexico for several years and the centipedes down there would kick any spiders a$$.

Back in 2003 I went into the garage and that thing was below my feet. I screamed like a girl and pee'd a little but I was victorious. The one in the pic is about 11 inches, the one in my garage was about 8.

ROFL!!! Sigged!

[Happynoj]

Look up The Cat Empire.

[theNoseBleedKid]

Hey mate, I live in Melbourne so I can't provide the best advice about Sydney but am happy to help in general.

Housing is expensive in Australia, easily comparable to SF: if you've seriously considered a re-location you're no doubt aware of that.

What field are you in? Do you have any specific questions?

All cities are fine here, Melbourne's the most cultural (most music), but Sydney's got a lot going on, personally I'd be happy living in any of them.

Minimum wage is about $20 an hour for full time work, so expect more than you were getting in the USA, cost of living is higher, though, so it basically evens out. Starting pay for most University students with a bachelor's degree is about $50,000 a year. If you've a field and experience it shouldn't be too hard to find a job.

Australian humour is very self depreciating and teasing. Patriotism barely exists here, and any arrogance about another's country is seriously chided. If you cannot take jokes (friendly and otherwise) about the US constantly I'd stay away.

But, if you tell people you're unhappy with their jokes they'll leave you be.

[pedroims]

I have been several times in Syndey for long periods of time, IME: its a very expensive city, housing, food, goods.

Flight is 15 hours from SF, rate is around $ 9000 USD in business class. Speed limit is 50 miles and there are cameras everywhere, you will get tickets back home after several weeks you left Australia. In some areas the stores close at 4 pm (including malls) except Thursday when they close at 9 pm and is when everybody does the shopping.

You can find crazy rules, I remember a signal at a bar: If you are drunk and ask for a drink you have commited an offense and you may be arrested ...

Canguro does not taste good....alligator is good though. You can find good beer just stay away from Foster, rugby matches are great, weather is not bad, beaches in Sydney are ok, there is a topless beach close to Sydney, there are good bars where to have good times, many things to do if you have the time and the money.

So if you are young and no kids, this may be a good chance to know about this part of the world, I will say take it and enjoy the experience.

[Simo98]

Originally Posted by bassguppy

We get these too!

Although generally they are a long way away from where you would want to live. Last time I saw anything like that was near Alice Springs. Would have been a good 8-10 inches long, and I had no shoes on


Musical opportunity wise, its pretty limited. Sydney and Melbourne both have good music scenes, and at the moment Brisbane is probably just about better than Sydney from what i've heard.

Originally Posted by pedroims

I have been several times in Syndey for long periods of time, IME: its a very expensive city, housing, food, goods.

Sydney is quite expensive, but it is the business capital of the country really. For city living, but cheaper, i'd recommend looking at both Perth and Adelaide. They are smaller and more isolated, but they are both nice places to live and have plenty of career opporunities going etc.

Originally Posted by pedroims

Flight is 15 hours from SF, rate is around $ 9000 USD in business class. Speed limit is 50 miles and there are cameras everywhere, you will get tickets back home after several weeks you left Australia. In some areas the stores close at 4 pm (including malls) except Thursday when they close at 9 pm and is when everybody does the shopping.

Not sure how it compares, open roads are normally 100, smaller roads and arterial city roads are normally 80, main streets 60 and backstreets 50. This changes around by state, but its generally pretty standard. Km/h im talking by the way.

As far as shopping is concerned, thats a werid one. Standard opening hours are still 9-5 for the most part, however in the city they are likely to be open till 6 or later. Thursday is late night shopping pretty much Australia wide, and most shops in populated areas or shopping malls are open untill 9 or 10. Of course, if you are in queensland we have all sorts of stupid shopping hours to the point where saturday night pretty much everything is shut by 5:30 for some reason.

You can find crazy rules, I remember a signal at a bar: If you are drunk and ask for a drink you have commited an offense and you may be arrested ...

Last I checked, that was only illegal for the person who is SELLING the drinks. You can try and buy drinks and be as drunk as you like, its just that if you are working at a bar you are required to refuse service to anyone who is bodering on alcohol poisoning.

[DerHoggz]

Australia | Cracked.com

[pedroims]

Originally Posted by Simo98

Not sure how it compares, open roads are normally 100, smaller roads and arterial city roads are normally 80, main streets 60 and backstreets 50. This changes around by state, but its generally pretty standard. Km/h im talking by the way..

I used to drive from Sydney to Castle Hills... I got like 5 speeding tickets in my mail few months later, the problem was those damn cameras ! In Michigan speed limit is 70 miles on highways but you can drive at 75-80 without probem.

Originally Posted by Simo98

As far as shopping is concerned, thats a werid one. Standard opening hours are still 9-5 for the most part, however in the city they are likely to be open till 6 or later. Thursday is late night shopping pretty much Australia wide, and most shops in populated areas or shopping malls are open untill 9 or 10. Of course, if you are in queensland we have all sorts of stupid shopping hours to the point where saturday night pretty much everything is shut by 5:30 for some reason..

That was in Castle Hills, I also thought it was weird but it how it was over there.

Originally Posted by Simo98

Last I checked, that was only illegal for the person who is SELLING the drinks. You can try and buy drinks and be as drunk as you like, its just that if you are working at a bar you are required to refuse service to anyone who is bodering on alcohol poisoning.

I asked to the bar tender and she told me that law applied for the customer, something created to reduced the fights related to rugby games, the signal was at the bar in the westin hotel at Martin place, the one that is down stairs

[Disco_Gee]

Originally Posted by theNoseBleedKid

Hey mate, I live in Melbourne so I can't provide the best advice about Sydney but am happy to help in general.

Housing is expensive in Australia, easily comparable to SF: if you've seriously considered a re-location you're no doubt aware of that.

What field are you in? Do you have any specific questions?

All cities are fine here, Melbourne's the most cultural (most music), but Sydney's got a lot going on, personally I'd be happy living in any of them.

Minimum wage is about $20 an hour for full time work, so expect more than you were getting in the USA, cost of living is higher, though, so it basically evens out. Starting pay for most University students with a bachelor's degree is about $50,000 a year. If you've a field and experience it shouldn't be too hard to find a job.

Australian humour is very self depreciating and teasing. Patriotism barely exists here, and any arrogance about another's country is seriously chided. If you cannot take jokes (friendly and otherwise) about the US constantly I'd stay away.

But, if you tell people you're unhappy with their jokes they'll leave you be.

That's a pretty accurate description - especially the bit about our humour. If you do come to Australia, you'll probably enjoy yourself. Most people really like it here. It's relaxed, fun, pretty good weather, and generally a pretty safe place.

A word of advice - remember you're in our country and while we aren't super patriotic, we don't really take kindly to people ragging on Australia when they are here. The reason I say this is that a small number of vocal Americans and British tend to do it when they travel over here and it doesn't go down well at all.

[theNoseBleedKid]

Originally Posted by pedroims

I used to drive from Sydney to Castle Hills... I got like 5 speeding tickets in my mail few months later, the problem was those damn cameras ! In Michigan speed limit is 70 miles on highways but you can drive at 75-80 without probem.

Australia has tough road laws. Speeding is NOT tolerated at all, pedroims raises a good point, many anecdotes I read from Americans on a 'normal day' of traffic would have a driver lose their license here for 12 months, minimum.

It's easy though: don't speed, don't run red lights.

I asked to the bar tender and she told me that law applied for the customer, something created to reduced the fights related to rugby games, the signal was at the bar in the westin hotel at Martin place, the one that is down stairs

She was absolutely right, alcohol laws vary state to state, but Australia has problems with alcohol consumption: there are definitely laws like this in place to reduce problems associated with alcohol abuse. If a server deems yo drunk they are legally obligated not to serve you any more, and are in fact encouraged to ask you to leave.

New South Wales is incredibly strict, there's a clause in their tort of negligence that prescribes that if a person is intoxicated, whatever happens to them is their own fault.

Sydney is quite expensive, but it is the business capital of the country really. For city living, but cheaper, i'd recommend looking at both Perth and Adelaide. They are smaller and more isolated, but they are both nice places to live and have plenty of career opporunities going etc.

There isn't really 'city living' in Australia, almost everyone lives in the suburbs of cities. Sydney isn't the business capital, though, Melbourne is .

Flight is 15 hours from SF, rate is around $ 9000 USD in business class. Speed limit is 50 miles and there are cameras everywhere, you will get tickets back home after several weeks you left Australia. In some areas the stores close at 4 pm (including malls) except Thursday when they close at 9 pm and is when everybody does the shopping.

1. When did you come? 1983?? Flights economy class are sub-$2000, easily. Only silly people cross the Pacific in Business class, holy hell that'd be pricey.

2. Apart from rural towns those hours are absurd/completely unusual.

[theNoseBleedKid]

Originally Posted by Disco_Gee

A word of advice - remember you're in our country and while we aren't super patriotic, we don't really take kindly to people ragging on Australia when they are here. The reason I say this is that a small number of vocal Americans and British tend to do it when they travel over here and it doesn't go down well at all.

That being said, no one is more critical of Australia than Australians.

Once you've lived here (Ie not a tourist) you can say what you want, there will always be some jerk offs who won't consider you a 'true blue' Australia, but really, those people aren't worth knowing.

[bassguppy]

Originally Posted by theNoseBleedKid

Australia has tough road laws. Speeding is NOT tolerated at all, pedroims raises a good point, many anecdotes I read from Americans on a 'normal day' of traffic would have a driver lose their license here for 12 months, minimum.

It's easy though: don't speed, don't run red lights.

In the SF Bay Area you always find the CHP with someone pulled over but the general rule is "go with the flow". If everyone is going around 75-80 MPH and the posted speed is 65 MPH nothing would be done. If you are flying past everyone though you would probably get pulled over.

She was absolutely right, alcohol laws vary state to state, but Australia has problems with alcohol consumption: there are definitely laws like this in place to reduce problems associated with alcohol abuse. If a server deems yo drunk they are legally obligated not to serve you any more, and are in fact encouraged to ask you to leave.

New South Wales is incredibly strict, there's a clause in their tort of negligence that prescribes that if a person is intoxicated, whatever happens to them is their own fault.

Same here in the USA. Each state has their own DUI/DWI laws & penalties are from a fine, rehab, prison time, probation, etc...

Some states are very strict while others are not. Many states have laws also where a bartender should not serve to a visibly intoxicated person and some have been prosecuted. I would think more often than not they don't enforce the law vigorously.

1. When did you come? 1983?? Flights economy class are sub-$2000, easily. Only silly people cross the Pacific in Business class, holy hell that'd be pricey.

Just checked Delta Airlines & it was $1583.00 USD round trip in coach.

[theNoseBleedKid]

Originally Posted by bassguppy

In the SF Bay Area you always find the CHP with someone pulled over but the general rule is "go with the flow". If everyone is going around 75-80 MPH and the posted speed is 65 MPH nothing would be done. If you are flying past everyone though you would probably get pulled over.

In this case everyone on the road would have lost their license.

That is not an exaggeration.

If you lived in Victoria (my state) it would be a loss of license for 12 months, around $400 in fines, and you'd be taken to court by the state to piss you off even more.

Let me repeat my earlier message: obey the road rules, it is simply NOT worth it to disobey them.

[RMXSeven]

A lot of people from Melbourne will say it's the cultural capital... What-Evs

Sydney is quite expensive, as is most major cities in AU. It's nice though. A slightly slower pace than you may be used to, but it's nothing like a country bumpkin town

Bring your own bass gear if you can, as it's stupid-expensive here... Actually, I live in Sydney, feel like bringing me a mark bass cab?

[Disco_Gee]

Originally Posted by theNoseBleedKid

In this case everyone on the road would have lost their license.

That is not an exaggeration.

If you lived in Victoria (my state) it would be a loss of license for 12 months, around $400 in fines, and you'd be taken to court by the state to piss you off even more.

Let me repeat my earlier message: obey the road rules, it is simply NOT worth it to disobey them.

Victoria is the worst for this. There have been plenty of cases of people being fined for as little as 3km/h over the limit. The rest of the country is not as bad.

[theNoseBleedKid]

10-15 miles over the limit: 16-25 KM.

Which state wouldn't have severe consequences for that?

[Simo98]

Originally Posted by theNoseBleedKid

There isn't really 'city living' in Australia, almost everyone lives in the suburbs of cities. Sydney isn't the business capital, though, Melbourne is .

Yeah, its all relative. By comparison to most of Australia, the capitals are city living.

As for the business capital, I thought the jury was still out on that one. Isn't that why they built Canberra

Originally Posted by theNoseBleedKid

Which state wouldn't have severe consequences for that?

Have you ever driven in Queensland? Its horrible, you can't drive responsibly without someone sitting about 3 feet behind you. Half the time you are hard pressed to find someone NOT doing at least 10km over the speed limit. The other half are here on holidays and going 20 under it.

But yeah, you are probably right about that one in most respects, if everyone drove past a speed camera doing 15km over the speed limit, they would all get a fine.

Originally Posted by Disco_Gee

Victoria is the worst for this. There have been plenty of cases of people being fined for as little as 3km/h over the limit. The rest of the country is not as bad.

I don't understand how they managed it. Victoria has the strictest road laws, and the worst drives

[theNoseBleedKid]

Originally Posted by Simo98

Have you ever driven in Queensland? Its horrible, you can't drive responsibly without someone sitting about 3 feet behind you. Half the time you are hard pressed to find someone NOT doing at least 10km over the speed limit.

Yes. People are terrible drivers. Sounds like a great idea for a Seinfeld skit.

Moving on.