Going to Australia!

[Peji911]

So Im pretty sure Ive decided on going to Australia for Teacher's college. Right now Im thinking about Wollongong, Perth or Newcastle...There's still a possibility of going to New Zealand instead, but Im pretty sure I want to go live with the kangaroos!

Anyone ever been? What did you think of it?

I just feel sooo depressed in a way because Im going to miss my parents, we're really close cause only us 4 live in Canada. So that part kinda sucks, although my dad said he'll for sure retire early and if my bro wanted to move there, they all would and he would just come back for a few months a year to collect his pension and RRSPs.

Anyone ever have to make such a decision?

[RoyalBoyle78]

Re: Going to Australia!

So Im pretty sure Ive decided on going to Australia for Teacher's college. Right now Im thinking about Wollongong, Perth or Newcastle...There's still a possibility of going to New Zealand instead, but Im pretty sure I want to go live with the kangaroos!

Anyone ever been? What did you think of it?

I just feel sooo depressed in a way because Im going to miss my parents, we're really close cause only us 4 live in Canada. So that part kinda sucks, although my dad said he'll for sure retire early and if my bro wanted to move there, they all would and he would just come back for a few months a year to collect his pension and RRSPs.

Anyone ever have to make such a decision?

just watch out for the wolfcreek guy.

[Peji911]

Re: Going to Australia!

just watch out for the wolfcreek guy.

lol.. im assuming ur talking about the movie? well, ya, it was based on a true story

i heard the criminals and outlaws are on the west BUT Perth is the only major city on the west, which is weird they'd have such a large city there alone

[RoyalBoyle78]

Re: Going to Australia!

lol.. im assuming ur talking about the movie? well, ya, it was based on a true story

i heard the criminals and outlaws are on the west BUT Perth is the only major city on the west, which is weird they'd have such a large city there alone

LOL, just playing with ya, enjoy your time there man.

[Peji911]

Re: Going to Australia!

no one here go to australia for TC?

is anyone on these boards originally or currently living in australia?

[Admiral50]

Re: Going to Australia!

Yeah, I am. Feel free to ask anything, I'll try to answer whatever I can.

[Peji911]

Re: Going to Australia!

Yeah, I am. Feel free to ask anything, I'll try to answer whatever I can.

hey man.. Im just going to ask them here instead of PMing you for the simple fact that maybe other members read this and have some feedback

Okay, so right now its down to Aussie or New Zealand...

What I would like to ask is the following

-do you know how much a high school teacher generally makes in either nation?
-is there an electronics chain such as Best Buy or something so I can look through to see how much electronics generally cost?
-are there or is there info on the need for tile setters in the country (i have a friend who would love to work there for a while)
-are there any message boards ala OS where I can get into contact with people from both countries?

Im just sorta looking at that sort of info. Feel free to add any more info as I know many people are looking into TC in Aussie. I was told teachers start at much higher salaries then here in Canada but then a friend of mine who went to school there and returned said teachers make less... im confused

Also, is there a large Portuguese and Italian community there.. and if so, in with cities (both in AUS and NZ)?

And what city are you from?

[Admiral50]

Re: Going to Australia!

Australia is extremely multicultural in general but yeah there's a huge Italian community here. Probably the largest migrant group in the country and you notice this in sports (soccer for example) games where their fans often outnumber the Aussies. It's weird but great at the same time.

Funny, I'm actually (or, was...) a primary school teacher so can help here a bit too. There's a general consensus that teachers are well underpaid, but in saying that, they do make twice as much as say, a retail salesperson for example.

The average salary is about $42000 AU per year.

Electronics stores... **** Smith, Tandy, Harvey Norman, Retravision.
We generally pay quite a bit more here which sucks. PC parts, game software and hardware, TV's etc... all way overpriced.

No idea about tilers or message boards unfortunately.

[RockinDaMike]

Re: Going to Australia!

I love Australia, during my visit I gotta say they have the nicest people in the world living there. It's been about 12 years since I went but I remember going snorkleing and checking out the beaches.

I remember the chicks are really hot but half them are lesbian and the other half are bi!

[Court_vision]

Re: Going to Australia!

hey man.. Im just going to ask them here instead of PMing you for the simple fact that maybe other members read this and have some feedback

Okay, so right now its down to Aussie or New Zealand...

What I would like to ask is the following

-do you know how much a high school teacher generally makes in either nation?
-is there an electronics chain such as Best Buy or something so I can look through to see how much electronics generally cost?
-are there or is there info on the need for tile setters in the country (i have a friend who would love to work there for a while)
-are there any message boards ala OS where I can get into contact with people from both countries?

Im just sorta looking at that sort of info. Feel free to add any more info as I know many people are looking into TC in Aussie. I was told teachers start at much higher salaries then here in Canada but then a friend of mine who went to school there and returned said teachers make less... im confused

Also, is there a large Portuguese and Italian community there.. and if so, in with cities (both in AUS and NZ)?

And what city are you from?

Hey there

I am not currently in Australia and likely won't be back for a long time / years...but I can help you with anything you may need to know.

A lot of the questions you are asking will vary completely depending on where you go.

If you go to Sydney...you'll find it as modern as any city in the USA. Sydney has everything. On top of that, it's the most beautiful city you'll ever see around the harbour areas.

If you go to Newcastle...good luck...you'll run out of things to do in about an hour.

Teaching...my brother is a 33 year old HS teacher. He just got into it a year back. Most beginners teach casual. He gets paid pretty well. About $30 US an hour.

My brother is actually an artist. Well, he would have been if he didn't smoke 99% of his free time away...

Visual arts teachers are in reasonable demand...but area's like maths have HUGE demand nowadays. Just make sure you add some muscle, shave your head and go into class like Vick Mackey...because teaching in some area's of Sydney aint easy...

If you go to Perth etc...again, much smaller city. Not a lot to do.

If you're a small town guy...Newcastle etc will be fine. If you're an LA, NYC type guy...you'll probably only want to go to Sydney.

Re tilers...your friend won't get a work permit in Australia to do that. Zero chance.

Personally, I've done some teaching...but it was all with adult migrants. I.e. people from Korea, Iraq, China, Thailand, Indonesia. It's a fun job.

Also...Sydney has a MASSIVE multicultural community. 100's of thosands of asian people, decades of Italian migrants...many, many groups.

My wife is of asian background...i've got friends who are Thai, Chinese, Lebanese, Korean, Tongan, Aboriginal Australian, Maltese, Italian...it's a very multicultural place. Think New York.

Australians tend to like Canadians...so you'll be okay.

Don't expect to see Kangaroos around the place though...some Americans i've met actually expect to see them in the cities. WTF That's like expecting to see Grizzlie bears in times square.........................

Go bush and you'll see them...or the zoo.

[Peji911]

Re: Going to Australia!

thanks guys, for the feedback


in NZ, they apparently offer you placement after TC if you agree to stay for a year.. and citizenship if you sign a 2 yr contract.. im assuming AUS doesnt do that, eh?


how about for my family.. lets say I go to TC there and love it and then decide to stay and teach... how many yrs does it usually take to gain citizenship (altho i prolly wont accept it because i have 2 already)? After being there for a few years, will my family be allowed to move there and gain a work visa? Not that they would, but just to make sure

And your system is PAL, no?

But yes, if you can find me some local message boards it would be GREAT.. ive tried but without knowing much, i cant really search

And again, if you know of a website or friend who knows how much $$ they start there, i would LOVE to know because my decision on AUS or NZ is essentially based on that info

[Jonesy]

Re: Going to Australia!

Yeah we use the PAL system here. It may actually be easier to hang onto your NTSC systems and just import games. Getting them from sites like www.play-asia.com is usually cheaper than buying locally even with shipping.

By the sounds of it NZ is offering some great incentives to entice teachers to go there and i'm sure it would be great but obviously i would say Australia is a better option overall (we have a friendly rivalry kinda like the US and Canada). I live up in the North (Townsville) and we have a great climate and lifestyle though it can get real hot at times.

How big is the city you live in in Ontario? If it's Toronto you would probably best suited to Brisbane, Melbourne or Sydney though Perth and Adelaide are both great cities in their own rights but a bit isolated.

Not sure about local websites to visit but if you google Australian websites for American's you get a fair few hits for sites like: http://www.americancommunityaustralia.com/

As for the pay rates a few of my buddies just finished University and have started teaching in HS and they make a bit over 42KAU per year and i think the pay rates are set to rise in the near future as well.

My mother is a teacher with about 20 years of experience (primary though not HS) and she makes over 55kAU per year. Not amazing money but you do get some great holidays!

[BoA]

Re: Going to Australia!

Australia is extremely multicultural in general but yeah there's a huge Italian community here. Probably the largest migrant group in the country and you notice this in sports (soccer for example) games where their fans often outnumber the Aussies. It's weird but great at the same time.

Funny, I'm actually (or, was...) a primary school teacher so can help here a bit too. There's a general consensus that teachers are well underpaid, but in saying that, they do make twice as much as say, a retail salesperson for example.

The average salary is about $42000 AU per year.

Electronics stores... **** Smith, Tandy, Harvey Norman, Retravision.
We generally pay quite a bit more here which sucks. PC parts, game software and hardware, TV's etc... all way overpriced.

No idea about tilers or message boards unfortunately.

I was actually looking into re-locating for my career.

Any idea on how accountants do in australia?

[Jonesy]

Re: Going to Australia!

Massive demand for accountants in Australia at the moment. My wife is an accountant and we work in a smaller town (150 000 pop) and she makes over 60K AU and there is a lady in her section with a bit more experience (she's still only 32 though) who makes 92KAU per year. Accountants will have no trouble finding work in Oz....

[Peji911]

Re: Going to Australia!

Yeah we use the PAL system here. It may actually be easier to hang onto your NTSC systems and just import games. Getting them from sites like www.play-asia.com is usually cheaper than buying locally even with shipping.

By the sounds of it NZ is offering some great incentives to entice teachers to go there and i'm sure it would be great but obviously i would say Australia is a better option overall (we have a friendly rivalry kinda like the US and Canada). I live up in the North (Townsville) and we have a great climate and lifestyle though it can get real hot at times.

How big is the city you live in in Ontario? If it's Toronto you would probably best suited to Brisbane, Melbourne or Sydney though Perth and Adelaide are both great cities in their own rights but a bit isolated.

Not sure about local websites to visit but if you google Australian websites for American's you get a fair few hits for sites like: http://www.americancommunityaustralia.com/

As for the pay rates a few of my buddies just finished University and have started teaching in HS and they make a bit over 42KAU per year and i think the pay rates are set to rise in the near future as well.

My mother is a teacher with about 20 years of experience (primary though not HS) and she makes over 55kAU per year. Not amazing money but you do get some great holidays!

40K for a HS teacher is pretty good to start.. in canada its about 23 CDN to start (well, in ontario under the Catholic school board b/c you have to start as a substitute)

Im going down to school with my g/f actually, and we're going to be looking for an apartment real soon..

im from hamilton (think Pittsburgh--sister cities--steel towns) but i dont know if sydney would be good for me because the cost of living is definitely higher then somewhere like wollongong or the gold coast

not sure if you'd know, BUT...

lets say i go down for TC and love it and want to stay.. how do i stay for a career there.. would i have to apply to the govt or do i do it through the school? Do many people do it?
i appreciate everyone's help!!