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Sun 9 Sep, 2007 12:39 pm
Hi,
my wife and I, after much discussion, have decided to move to Australia from the USA. We would like to ask for information on the following areas...Adelaide, Melbourne, anywhere in Queensland, and anywhere in Tasmania.
As we have children, the first comparison would obviously be family orientation. Which areas are more family-friendly? Schools are not an issue as we home-school, but we do enjoy going to state parks, amusement parks and the like.
Employment is also a consideration. I have 18+ years in industrial automation (engineering without the degree). Which area has more of the industrial environment vs the commercial (tourist) environment?
Costs of living is a major consideration as well. We currently live in Georgia, and our costs of living are slightly less than Atlanta,Ga. Average 1300 sq ft 3 bedroom home is roughly $125,000 USD, and the average income is $43,000 USD. Rent on a 3 bedroom home is around $950 per month.Dinner out is between $30 to $50, depending on the place. Family outings are around $20 to $80, again, depending on the place we go.What are the averages for the areas mentioned?
Lastly, and this is a tougher one to answer, is of the social attitude of average people in the areas mentioned? More specifically, concerning religion, social awareness & responsibility, social welfare, happiness and accountability.
Any help is greatly appreciated, and will help us in our decisions. Thanks!
First of all, did you get permission from the Australian government to settle in their country?
not that it was part of the original questions, but yes.
So, back to the original questions...anyone?
There are several Aussies on a2k. I'll try to send them your way.
Hi, Stasis
Your question is a pretty big ask! This is not a cute little country.
I'm sure you're aware that Australia is roughly the same size as mainland USA (but without the population!)
You've asked for information on about a third the country.
Each state has a capital city and country areas. Employment of the sort you mention is more likely to be found in capital cities. (I think!)
I live in Sydney, but you've specifically avoided my city and state. My knowledge of other states is pretty limited.
In general, all areas are family friendly. I guess you wouldn't want to live too far out of the cities - opportunities for amusement and/or employment may be limited.
Tourism as the main local industry is pretty much limited to parts of the Queensland coast, specifically areas around the Barrier Reef and Gold Coast (south of Brisbane). Other areas are just cities or towns where people are doing their thing and the tourists come and visit. If you look at Sydney as an example - it's the most popular destination in Australia for visitors from overseas, but is certainly not a tourist town - 5 million of us are beavering away, and only a small proportion are working in the tourist industry. Each state is in much the same situation. All have a certain amount of industry and commerce and tourism is a sideline.
Because even within each state and city there is particular variation, I'm unable to answer your questions specifically.
Factors that impinge on the cost of living are: schools, closeness to transport, beaches, industry, distance to the centre of the city, any any number of other things.
Climate is another factor you should consider. The size of the country means we have a fair range of climates.
I think you may need to do a bit more homework on what you want, and what is important to you, to try and narrow down your wish list. Then we can offer some definite advice.
Perhaps some other A2K-ers will drop by - I'm sure c.i. contacted all or most of us.
Re: moving to AU from US...things to consider?
seek.com.au
This Aussie job search site might help you work out the availabilty of the type of jobs you're looking for.
Housing in Melbourne is expensive. I can't comment on the regional areas of Victoria. There's still some good value land away from the main population centres in Queensland. Don't know much about Adelaide and Tassie. Tassie is the coldest of the places you mentioned.
ok...I think I will narrow the choices down to SA. Any and all information about this area is greatly appreciated!
Employment in my field seems abundant there, and there are lots of attractions that are more inline with our idea of fun.
Stasis - what part of the USA are you from? Are you looking for a similar climate? South Australia is 1,043,514 km2 nearly twice the size of Texas and geographically it ranges from coastal and coolish to desert central Australia. But most of the population is in an around Adelaide
See this wikipedia entry
We have a couple of regular A2Kers in that part of this wide brown land and I'm sure they will help with specific questions.
Home schooling is not a possibility as far as i am aware. In fact I think its illegal.
From my reading of your posts Stasis I would say a holiday to Adelaide is in order.
There is some anti American sentiment around but this is mostly cause Many Australians don't have much to judge against.
Religion (of any breed) is not big in Aust. Although we are generally a pretty tolerant bunch. You will find trouble if you wear it on your sleeve or press your particular version on others.
dadpad wrote:Home schooling is not a possibility as far as i am aware. In fact I think its illegal.
Hmmm I think Zeke and Rachel on Neighbours were home schooled....
dadpad wrote:
You will find trouble if you wear it on your sleeve or press your particular version on others.
Unless of course you find others of your ilk (and there will be some). But in mixed company you can never assume everyone will have the same (or any) faith. Best to keep silent and have people suspect you are a dolt than to open your mouth and remove all doubt.
It's probably the same in the US - it's just we have a stereotype, like I saw a bit of a movie the other night when a juror recited the pledge of allegiance and the entire courtroom stood and joined in - if an equivalent happened in Australia, say someone broke into the national anthem on a public bus,
10% would join in
35% would be annoyed
20% would laugh
1 would break into khe sanh
some kiwis would do the haka
a couple poms would break into 'There's only one David Gower'
and the rest would pretend they were deaf and nothing was happening.
Assuming of course that anyone noticed over their mp3 players....
hingehead wrote:dadpad wrote:Home schooling is not a possibility as far as i am aware. In fact I think its illegal.
Hmmm I think Zeke and Rachel on Neighbours were home schooled....
Is that supposed to be a reccomendation? PFFT!
Wilso wrote:Quote:Home education is a legal alternative to school education in all Australian states. As the name suggests, it involves a parent taking direct responsibility for the education of their children at home.
http://www.hea.asn.au/
Ok I was wrong (as per usual) I admit it.
I would however have to challenge this
Quote:It is instructive, however, that 62 per cent of university entrances in Australia are gained on the basis of interview or mature age entry.
Given the emphasis on enter scores I find it hard to believe. At a school info night last night we were told no ENTER = no enter.
I'm a university student. I got in via a mature aged bridging course. Never did the HSC. I know a couple of other mature age students who got in just by applying, with no education records provided. It's a LOT easier to get into university as a mature aged student.
thanks to all that have replied, and please keep the info coming.
As for religion here, it's pretty much the same...as long as you don't try to force-feed your views to others, you are free to do your thing. Most people are tolerant, but in this region (as stated before, I live in Georgia) there are still the few "good ole boys" that think racism/oppression in general is okay, and so is marrying your cousin.
to dadpad, there is anti-american sentiment here as well...the reason for the move is that this country's political and social views/responsibilities aren't inline with ours, and never really have been. It's not that we hate it here, we just can't rationally see ourselves supporting it financially (read: taxes) for another 40+ years. We enjoy our freedoms, but are tired of the propaganda. We seek to live a more peaceful and meaningful life.
Wilso, thanks for the link. This is exactly the type of information we need.
hingehead, not sure of the vernacular, but you're pretty close. You just forgot to add the few that would check their belongings & move quickly toward the door.
Georgia, huh? The lost city of Atlanta!
So what's the weather like? Do you want more of the same over here? Do you want a big city, suburban sprawl or a small town feel? What sort of work do you do (or want to do)? - do you want the sea nearby or couldn't you care less? Young family or single or dink? (double income no kids - so wilso doesn't start on 'dink' again).
If you're moving for lifestyle you'll have to tell us more about the sort of lifestyle you want.
I've lived in Sydney, Canberra and Cairns - all very different. I think we've got the state capitals covered except for Tassie and WA.
hingehead wrote: (double income no kids - so wilso doesn't start on 'dink' again).
So long as you capitalise it (DINK) then I won't have a problem :wink:
Stasis If you get 100% of the questions in this [http://www.okcupid.com/tests/take]Citizenship Test[/URL] correct you get 1 free beer at the bar in parliment house Canberra.
Fair dinkum!
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