The problem with move guides is the fact that they tend to generalize too much. Moving to the U.S. is definitely not the same as moving to Mauritius. The differences in immigration laws, living standard, local customs, institutions and many similar issues are so diverse, that an advice given for one relocation doesn’t necessarily have to be applicable to another. In fact, even the country you’re moving from might make all the difference in the world. Still, seeing as how it is impossible to cover all of these variables, in order to be as informative as possible, this guide will focus exclusively on the issue of moving to Australia. Here is a brief rundown of most important things to keep in mind.
Do some research
Before you decide to move, you need to make the financial assessment of your future life. You can start by comparing your own country to Australia when it comes to the PPP (purchasing power parity). The simplest tool for doing so is the Big Mac Index. Nevertheless, this only gives you a general idea, when you need to get a bit more into the specifics. In 2018, people most commonly use an online platform in order to find an apartment, which is something you might want to do, just in order to get the idea about the average rent price.
As soon as you find the apartment, find it on Google maps and look around a bit in order to see if there are any supermarkets in the area. Nowadays, most of these stores have websites, which means that you can even go into specifics when it comes to the prices of items you will buy on a daily basis. In this way, you can make an assessment of how much money you will have to make in order to maintain a standard you are hoping to achieve. Moreover, there is a great number of expat forums you can turn to in order to get actionable information.
Look for work
Once you know what your financial needs are going to be like, you need to find a job capable of supporting that lifestyle. In the era of online platforms and LinkedIn, finding a job in a distant country has never been easier. However, with the recent changes of work visa program and additional changes that are announced in the future, you might want to talk to the immigration experts like Withstand lawyers in order to see what your options are.
On the other hand, some people are not moving because of the job. A digital nomad, a freelancer or a person running a successful online business can do so regardless of their location. Needless to say, these people may have somewhat easier job relocating, due to not being forced to worry about this vital aspect of the move. As for the issue of the immigration visa, it is something that has to be tackled regardless.
Prepare for the local culture
Since it is an English speaking country that belongs to the Western culture group, a lot of people believe that Australia is nothing but a distant cousin of the U.S., U.K., or Canada, however, this is not necessarily the case. You would be astonished by some cultural differences you might encounter in Australia, which is why you might want to do some reading prior to relocation. For instance, a lot of people talk about Australian bear but still aren’t aware of the fact that it’s also one of the most famous wine countries in the world.
Apart from this, you should also realize that Australia is a continent, which means that the experience of living in a Sydney for a year doesn’t necessarily reveal what living in Perth would be like. This is also why you should set your mind towards not only city but the neighborhood you plan to move into.
Are you moving alone or with a family?
Aside from changing your living situation, moving with a family is much different than going on your own. First of all, when moving on your own, you might want to look for a roommate in order to split expenses, while with a family, it’s a single budget and a single household (it’s harder for both spouses to find satisfactory employment than for a single person to do so). If you also have children, you need to think about their education and social life beforehand, especially if they’re not English native speakers. When looking for a school to enroll your child in, you can use resources like Australian schools directory and then follow up with some research and outreach on your own. When you first arrive you may want to book an AirBnB in South Australia for a few weeks and then once on the group, look for something more long term.
As we already stated in the introduction, the difference in culture shock you experience or your expectations when it comes to standard and living conditions depend on the country you’re migrating from. Nonetheless, by keeping just these four moving tips in mind, you stand to ensure a much more peaceful transition for both you and your family. However, to get there, you need to start planning, researching and preparing in due time, which is easier said than done.
