Has anyone moved to Australia from the US?

[Chesire]

I hope you don't mind me poking my head over here!
My husband and I have discussed moving to Australia for a few years and a few weeks ago I applied to three Universities there to continue my education. We are really hoping I am accepted.
I was just wondering if there were any other Americans who moved over to Australia

 

[aussiegirls]

I think Willow did, although I don't think she's been in here for a little while. Maybe PM her

xxx

 

[heidispidi]

Hi there. Which state are you looking to move to, and which universities did you apply to? Maybe we can help point you in the 'right' direction

 

[jenshell75]

I hope you don't mind me poking my head over here!
My husband and I have discussed moving to Australia for a few years and a few weeks ago I applied to three Universities there to continue my education. We are really hoping I am accepted.
I was just wondering if there were any other Americans who moved over to Australia

Hello and welcome to Australia,

I wish we could trade places, my husband and I want to move to America for a few years. We are both Police Officers in Sydney and we would love to do some Policing in America.

Wishing you all the best with your Uni acceptance.
jen

 

[AussieCaribou]

Hi (or should I say G'Day?),

I am American (and now Australian). Grew up in San Diego California...worst part of moving to Australia is not having Disney so close to home.

That said, Australia is lovely.

Which Uni's have you applied to? Where are you thinking of moving?

Anyway, welcome to the neighbourhood.

Regards,
AussieCaribou

 

[Chesire]

Thank you so much!

Hi there. Which state are you looking to move to, and which universities did you apply to? Maybe we can help point you in the 'right' direction

I applied to the University of Canberra (the one I am hoping to get into), University of Murdoch and James Cook. I applied to the Masters of Pharmacy program.

Very nice to meet you all!

AussieCaribou - may I ask how you moved over?

I am hoping to go the route of student visa (covering my family as well) to citizenship. I know I am now in the waiting game. My applications are mailed off and now we just hope!

 

[Ms. Shuttergirl]

I live in Canberra and can honestly say that University of Canberra has a wonderful reputation. Canberra is a place that can take a little getting used to. I moved here from Victoria 10 years ago and it took me a year or so to settle in. We now absolutely love it. The climate is great. Winter gets very cold but every day still has sunny skies with no clouds so it doesn't stop you from getting out and about. The schools are wonderful for kids, in fact it's a wonderful place to raise children.

Incomes here in Canberra are generally very good, the beach is only 2 hours away, as is the snow. Sydney is a 3 1/2 hour drive or a 40 minute flight if you want to spend the weekend doing some more exciting things.

Good luck.

 

[Willow25]

Hi Chesire

I am an american who moved to Australia almost 8 years ago. But my husband is Australian which meant that I was able to secure a permanent residency via a spousal visa. Good luck with your application!!

Is there anything specific you wanted to know?

Willow

 

[queenie82]

Interesting!
I would look at Job availability as well in terms of where you want to live.
[obviously you are just trying to be a student at this stage...but looking further ahead]

I'm not sure what a Master of Pharmacy leads you into. But I have friends and family who are Pharmacists. In roles from retail to hospital managers.
If you want to be a Pharmacy Manager in a Hospital or so on....there is a grading system you need to go through and levels you need to reach. And there aren't a lot of job vacancies in senior roles.
The main job vacancies are in country towns, semi rural and rural areas.....as most people don't want to be there.
I personally could never live in Canberra...but this would be somewhere you might have a better chance getting a good job.

 

[Alphabetsoup]

I moved to Australia for a job in 1998....then got married to my wonderful Aussie hubby in 2006 and brought him back to the US with me.

As a resident I was able to secure a full scholarhip to do my PhD which was great, but there were very few jobs in Australia. So, we made the leap and moved back to the US.

You need to research the rules for getting a student visa. Usually it means that you have to prove you can afford your tuition and you aren't allowed to work more than a few hours a week. With your student visa, your hubby may not be allowed to work at all -- so unless you are independently wealthy, things could prove difficult. I was sponsored by my company, so I was granted permanent residency within 3 months of arriving. Having taught at several Australian universities, I can say that is not the way it works for students.

I was offered a job at U of Canberra but turned it down because the cost of housing in Canberra is ridiculous -- even with a great salary.

I lived in Australia for nearly 10 years and did enjoy it, although toward the end I really HATED the heat (I would get a bad sunburn just riding in the car!). It did take me about 3 years to get totally acclimated and there was a bit of culture shock (grocery stores were interesting...not as broad a selection as you get in the US and more expensive).

Good luck.

 

[Ms. Shuttergirl]

Interesting!

I personally could never live in Canberra...but this would be somewhere you might have a better chance getting a good job.

Oh no Queenie, and here was I hoping you would move here so we could talk Disney all day.

On a serious note, what do you have against lovely Canberra may I ask?

Is it the wide open spaces, the high salaries, the lack of traffic, the affordable homes (only in comparison to Sydney of course), the lack of unemployment, the good schools, low crime rate????????

Or is it the legal porn and fireworks and marijuana that turns you off hahahaha

 

[queenie82]

Oh no Queenie, and here was I hoping you would move here so we could talk Disney all day.

On a serious note, what do you have against lovely Canberra may I ask?

Is it the wide open spaces, the high salaries, the lack of traffic, the affordable homes (only in comparison to Sydney of course), the lack of unemployment, the good schools, low crime rate????????

Or is it the legal porn and fireworks and marijuana that turns you off hahahaha

Good schools...they may be good but we have better...
University....we have FAR and away superior and internationally recognised. My degree is not on offer in Canberra.
I enjoy entertainment and shops....you don't have that...in any way shape or form. It is depressing going to the main shopping centre. Much better than it used to be...but there is only one proper one...and the range is nothing like what we have.
And if you have big feet...no good shoe stores in sight.
I enjoy a SEA BREEZE!!!!
The diurnal temperature range in Canberra is awful.
You are cold at night and COOK during the day. The summers are even worse than here!

You might find a good job working for yourself...but my industry....good luck in finding something you enjoy

We have been there soooo many times but after a couple days I run out of things to do!
Oh...
and...
NO IKEA!!!
OR APPLE STORE!!!

 

[aussiegirls]

Personally, I think Canberra is much, much nicer than Sydney. In fact, I think almost anywhere is better than Sydney. Sydney has great potential, but unfortunately we have a state govt that doesn't give a rats.

So, if anyone I knew was moving to Australia, I would highly recommend Canberra, it's a lovely place. I would also never recommend anyone move to Sydney, and this is coming from a Sydney girl, born and bred. In fact if everyone I loved so much weren't here, I would be outta here in a heartbeat!!!

xxx

 

[Ms. Shuttergirl]

Good schools...they may be good but we have better...
University....we have FAR and away superior and internationally recognised. My degree is not on offer in Canberra.
I enjoy entertainment and shops....you don't have that...in any way shape or form. It is depressing going to the main shopping centre. Much better than it used to be...but there is only one proper one...and the range is nothing like what we have.
And if you have big feet...no good shoe stores in sight.
I enjoy a SEA BREEZE!!!!
The diurnal temperature range in Canberra is awful.
You are cold at night and COOK during the day. The summers are even worse than here!

You might find a good job working for yourself...but my industry....good luck in finding something you enjoy

We have been there soooo many times but after a couple days I run out of things to do!
Oh...
and...
NO IKEA!!!
OR APPLE STORE!!!

Well you had me at IKEA . I love Ikea and pray everyday that it will come to Canberra.

Good news for me, I have small feet, prefer to shop online, hate the sea and sand and most esp wind, I have good heating and airconditioning so have that covered, didn't go to university and run my own business.

I also don't think visiting a place for a few days at a time can really give you a sound understanding of what a place is like to actually live in. I have been to Sydney many times and think it is basically a dirty crowded stinking city but of course that is a narrow view. Of course it has many wonderful qualities and whilst I wouldn't like to live there, there are millions of people who do and love it.

CHESIRE - I am sure that you would enjoy living here in Canberra and when you want good shopping, a sea breeze and shoes (if you have big feet) you can always venture to Sydney .

 

[queenie82]

Quality of Living worldwide city rankings 2010 – Mercer survey

Asia Pacific

Auckland (4) retains its position as the highest-ranking city for quality of living in the region. Sydney follows at 10, Wellington at 12, Melbourne at 18 and Perth at 21. At 26, Canberra is new to the index. Singapore remains the highest-ranking Asian city at 28, followed by Japanese cities Tokyo (40), Kobe and Yokohama (both at 41), Osaka (51) and Nagoya (57).

The keys for me are this
Health - The NSW government, has left health and transport a shambles. But Sydney still is the home to some of the best hospitals in the world.
Schools - I don't doubt primary schools in Canberra are fine...so for youngsters (which OP has) it may be fine. However Sydney continues to have some of the best Schools in Australia. Certainly if you want to combine Academics with Music excellence.
Universities - A degree at Sydney University and UNSW will trump one from Canberra unless it is a specialist degree to that university.
Jobs - There may be low unemployment in Canberra but you need to look at your SPECIFIC industry. As I mentioned...a Pharmacist may NEED to be in Sydney or Melbourne if you are looking at senior positions in hospitals. And they ARE in short supply.
I know in my industry...I couldn't work in it in Canberra and enjoy myself. All the top firms are in Sydney in Melbourne, and they work on jobs ACROSS the country.

These are the keys that the OP needs to look at.
Then...understand the limitations in services...and compromise in climate.

If I didn't live in Sydney the next pick (in Australia) is Melbourne. It is a beautiful city as well.

 

[Ms. Shuttergirl]

Okay, this is my final word on this subject Queenie since we both seem to love the cities we live in and have no plans to leave (by the way, I love Melbourne too, I'm a Geelong girl originally).

My final word is this.............

TRAFFIC

CHECKMATE!


Hehehe, just winding you up Queenie. I've missed our little spats LOL.

 

[PrincessInOz]

I've been missing out on the fun, if the last two Aussie threads I've opened are anything to go by....

Disney, folks, Disney!!

Let's just all come to terms with the fact that Queenie
1. lives in Sydney, as it is probably the only city, town or rural establishment in Australia that suits her tastes;
2. loves to fly United, even if it doesn't have in-seat entertainment
3. is entitled to her views, even if she tends to forget that the rest of us are entitled to ours.
4. has a very ascerbic sense of humour, that sometimes is too cutting for us.

Queenie - You know I love you dearly and I'm not meaning any disrespect here; but I have two final things to add....

Dole Whip - because it will help keep us all cool

And my Mickey pancakes - because you'll have to come to Melbourne (I know, it'll be slumming it for you next year) to get some; which is cheaper than a trip to Disney!

ps. Pistols at dawn with banana bread and muffins are definitely on....in my "not" PTR. Check it out (soon).

 

[queenie82]

I've been missing out on the fun, if the last two Aussie threads I've opened are anything to go by....

Disney, folks, Disney!!

Let's just all come to terms with the fact that Queenie
1. lives in Sydney, as it is probably the only city, town or rural establishment in Australia that suits her tastes;
2. loves to fly United, even if it doesn't have in-seat entertainment
3. is entitled to her views, even if she tends to forget that the rest of us are entitled to ours.
4. has a very ascerbic sense of humour, that sometimes is too cutting for us.

Queenie - You know I love you dearly and I'm not meaning any disrespect here; but I have two final things to add....

Dole Whip - because it will help keep us all cool

And my Mickey pancakes - because you'll have to come to Melbourne (I know, it'll be slumming it for you next year) to get some; which is cheaper than a trip to Disney!

ps. Pistols at dawn with banana bread and muffins are definitely on....in my "not" PTR. Check it out (soon).

FINALLY

What do I have to DO to get you to come back here

Honestly...now we can have a discussion...
Don't you dare abandon this board and still attend to your PTR and shameless posting ok!!!
Or I may have to stir the pot again

Now dare I admit it I really love Melbourne. (you will never let me live this down PrincessinOz will you )
And I love Sydney

But although there might not be TRAFFIC as such in Canberra
There are
TOO MANY ROUNDABOUTS!!!!!

 

[PrincessInOz]

 

[aussietravellers]

YUM! Weight Watchers in the morning..... Must not go to the cupboard to look for something sweet after seeing delicious looking cupcakes!