Potential to move to Sydney/need help

Regarding jobs & salaries, why not check out today's job vacancies in the Sydney Morning Herald, for starters?:

http://mycareer.com.au/smh/jobs/

Also there are heaps of "thinking of moving to Australia"- information request threads in the Australia forum of A2K. It might be a good idea to check out some of those, for starters. Just look under "forums" at the top of this page & scroll down.

Sanjiv--

Welcome to A2K.

Your company should be able to provide you with answers to some of your questions.

Sydney has a wonderful commuter train system.
I lived in Australia 15 years ago. It could be different, but at that time Oz schools were better than USA schools. One mother I knew wouldn't allow her Aus. H.S. daughter to attend USA schools. Also, your wife has to have a visa that permits working in case you weren't told that. Aus. part-time work pays more than a regular job; the opposite of how we do it here. Unless that changed.

Rent in Sydney is just like big cities here . . . waterfront expensive and far suburbs similar to ours. From my experience you have to get advice from the locals because what looks like a good deal could be in a bad neighborhood for a family. They have every type of crime we have, so conduct your house search the same way you would here. Ask people you trust.

Thanks guys. I am trying to reach out to a couple of folks that I know in Sydney. As far as I could tell, if I am on a work visa, my wife should be able to work in Australia as well.

Since our older daughter is in 1st grade, we are not overly concerned about schools. We just want them to be decent and intellectually challenging. BTW, any opinions about the American International School in Sydney. They follow a US calendar, so that, of course, is attractive to us.

We don't necessarily want a seafront property. A family friendly professional suburb would be ideal. Any suggestions?

Regards

Sanjiv

If you're on a work visa, it doesn't necessarily follow that your wife will be able to work here as well.

Sydney is a huge, spread out city, and transport is variable. Do you know where your office will be? That will also affect whether you need a car (or even 2 cars) or not.

All areas are family friendly to varying degrees. I'm getting a bit worried about USA. This is the second question I've answered today about family-friendly places - is that so unusual over there that you have to worry about it?!

As far as I know, all schools here follow the Jan- December terms - so that's not so good for you. Private schools vary greatly in cost. In some areas, public (state) schools are quite good too.

Olga's suggestion to use the Sydney Morning Herald for careers is sensible in regard to housing as well. Use domain.com.au for ideas.

If you have an idea of where your office is located, and then some hints on what you like to do, be near, interests, etc., perhaps I can make some suggestions.

Potential to move to Sydney/need help. Family-friendly.
Hi Margo,
Things are not any worse here than in Sydney. We are not able to tell where crack houses are from just looking at a house on any given street, and we don't want to live next door to one. That is the level of crime a family-friendly neighborhood might have that Americans worry about when relocating. I saw more vandalism in Sydney than in American cities; ergo, public pay phones ripped from their bases. Hardcore crime is higher here.

Oleander
[email protected]

moving to sydney website
Hi guys,

I think this new website called www.cityhobo.com could be of good use to you re Sydney.

If you go to the FAQ section and click on "where to live" at the very bottom, it'll have plenty of information on what suburbs suit families. Dozens of Sydney suburbs are profiled.

The map section also has plenty of useful information which locates where the suburbs are and gives you a brief description of each suburb.

You can then click on the suburb and get plenty of information on schools, doctors, transport, rent, cafes etc.

I know all this because I found it useful for myself quite recently.

I don't think any schools here follow the US calendar year but the education standards are pretty good, especially in private schools.

Rent is expensive in Sydney. The suburb that may suit you will depend on what you want lifestyle wise. Many of the harbour suburbs are really expensive but they are gorgeous too.

Public transport closer to the city is pretty good. You'd be better off being on a train line, but otherwise, buses are OK. They just take longer to get anywhere.

Potential to move to Sydney/need help
Hello again, Sanjiv2007. I have been reading all the things people have posted to help you and have two more tips regarding where you will live and your children's school.

Plan moving to Sydney the way you would plan if you were moving to New York or LA. Sydney is Australia's second largest city, so you will want to live not only in a family-friendly neighborhood but as near your company as possible. Barring that, near the train station of a suburb.

Handy suburbs would be best recommended by the Human Resources Department of your Sydney office. Pick up the phone and call; they will be delighted to hear from you. If HR doesn't know, ask to talk to your future co-workers. Then ask them where they live!

The thing about going to the American School is this. Do you want your children to have school friends near home? Unless you are in the American School neighborhood they will have less opportunity to play with other kids. As a kid I went to a school on the other side of town which cut me out of a lot of after school activities. Aussie children are friendly and good like their parents, and your children will be in demand for their uniqueness. Especially, their accent will be loved by their friends.

I hope my experiences have helped you see more of how your life will be Down Under! I envy you this wonderful opportunity. Feel free to email me at [email protected].

Oleander

Slight correction - Sydney is Australia's oldest and LARGEST city

Thanks everyone. the cityhobo site is very useful.

Margo,
I was basing my comment about my wife being able to work on the link below. Please correct me if I am wrong.
http://www.immi.gov.au/skilled/skilled-workers/sbs/index.htm

Regarding my comment on family-friendly neighborhoods, in the US there are clearly different parts of the city that appeal to different demographics e.g. downtown areas to young, well-to-do singles, farther suburbs to families. Some suburbs are white-collar, others are blue-collar etc.

I was specifically seeking out suggestions for white-collar (hence my comment on professional, family-friendly suburbs) family friendly suburbs. I find it hard to imagine that Sydney being as large and as cosmopolitan as it is will be completely homogeneous across suburbs.

Oleander

Thank you for your feedback. In all likelihood, I will office out of North Ryde. So I will look for suburbs around that. That said, I would love to live near a beach for this stint.

Sanjiv

Potential to move to Sydney/need help
First, apologies about my big fat mistake of saying Sydney was 2d largest. I know Melbourne is No. 2. Perhaps I am senile.

Sanjiv, I've visited a city called Parramatta about 10 km west of North Ryde. As much as I could see while walking around the old church and the original governor's house, talking to people on the street as it was a Sunday afternoon with many people strolling around, and having lunch, I think it might be perfect. Or perhaps one of the suburbs between it and North Ryde. Would someone in A2K like to comment, please?

With 2 kids, I advise not spending hours commuting each day if you don't have to. You don't want to miss the young years of your family.

One problem with North Ryde and environs is that it's not very public transport friendly. This may improve a little when the new rail line opens, <when?> but at present you're dependent on buses. I'm not sure of access from Parramatta. There are probably buses from Epping station, the city, and I know there is one that goes through Drummoyne.

http://www.131500.com.au/pdf/western_region_guide_map.pdf

This shows regional bus services in that area - look at the Macquarie insert - the North Ryde business centre is around Macquarie University and Macquarie Centre. (Lachlan Macquarie was one of the early governors on New South Wales - recognised as the "building" governor - he commissioned lots of important buildings)

UPdate on the move
It is a done deal. Got the offer finally. We are looking at moving in January 2008. It is going to be 2-3 year stint in Sydney.

We are definitely looking around North Ryde. Good public elementary schools and access to public transport would be great. Please recommend suburbs that might work.

We would like a 4 bedroom house or townhouse.

Thanks for all the help in advance.

Sanjiv

Post subject: Moving to Sydney; UPdate on the move


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Sanjiv,
This is great news that you got the job. I'm going to write to an Australian I've known more than 10 years who lives in the Sydney suburbs regarding North Ryde. Please be patient and I'll reply as soon as I hear from Sydney pal.

If you haven't already, try reading "In a Sunburned Country" by Bill Bryson. Fast & humorous reading by an American.

Oleander

Thanks Oleander. Will wait to hear from you. My wife and I are planning to be in Sydney the week of Thanksgiving to look around.

Sanjiv

Sorry. Should have been more clear. Week of Thanksgiving is week of Nov 19.
Sanjiv

Potential to move to Sydney/need help
Sanjiv

Here is what my long-time Aussie friend wrote back to me. I believe she means Sydney-proper is expensive.

I think that the best information would come from a web site for the NRMA which is like AAA in America. Try nmra.com.au. Preparation is the key to success every time and now is the time to do it.

One of the hardest things to find will be their accommodation rentals, which are hard to get. They would need to be in contact with "rental" real estate agents prior to leaving the states. Rental-only-real estate companies are plentiful and in the yellow pages.

http://www.yellowpages.com.au/


Also, Sydney is expensive to live in by our standards (Aussie, blue collar, retired couple). Hoping that all this helps.
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Thank you Oleander. Please thank your friend in Australia.

All,
Are there any rental agencies more reputable than others. Any suggestions are very welcome.

Thanks

Sanjiv