Almost 3 Months On - A Summary of My Thoughts

I was asked by my migration agent to give my thoughts on the following questions. Here it goes:

What have you learned from moving to Australia that you wish you knew before moving?

 

I would say, familiarise yourself with the Australian Tax system. Its not just finding out how much the income taxes are. Learn how they are done, what are the tax reliefs you can claim, find out about any current investments that you may be holding in Singapore and how it might affect your taxable income. If you know a tax accountant based in Australia, try to speak with them. Otherwise, ask those who have spent a long time in Australia.

I honestly cannot think of anything else for this one. With connectivity so well-developed and information and resources so widely available all over the net, it is really up to the individual to scour the net for resources. In my case, my migration agent was an important source of information. There are also Facebook groups like SG Kongsi where Singaporeans help one another to settle into Australia. 

 

What is the best advice you can give someone looking for work in Australia?

Referrals go a long way. Find ways to make your resume exciting instead of black text on a white sheet. Establish links quickly and put the word out to anyone and everyone about who you are and what you are looking to do. In smaller cities like Darwin, referrals are the number one means to get hired. If you are sending out resumes, make sure they are eye-catching and printed on quality paper. Distribute your resumes to recruitment agencies as well. It might be harder to get a job while in Singapore but these days, employers are more willing to hold Skype interviews so you would never know. If you are holding out for a specific position, then it is wiser to either apply from Singapore or spend a few weeks to a month door knocking and looking for jobs. However, if you are open to taking up any job, then just take the plunge and make the move. It should not take you too long to get a job. 

Do remember that your next possible employer would want to find out as much about you as possible and they will prefer to do this by hearing directly from others rather than reading a resume. You will need to provide character referees as well.

How do you find the working culture in Australia compared to Singapore?

Based on my short experience in Darwin, working here is a lot less demanding than in Singapore. Standard working hours are between 8 - 4.30pm. Especially in Darwin, this is really nice as you still have about 2.5 hours of daylight after you end work. That gives you lots of time to engage in other activities.

 

 

What is the best advice you could provide someone who is making plans to move to Australia?

The first step is to ask yourself why you want to make the move, what your expectations are after moving and what are alternative plans if your move doesn't not work out as planned. Once that is done, pick a city that suits you as a person if possible. Understand that both countries have their pros and cons. Likewise, different cities in Australia have differing levels of governance and lifestyles. I was recently in Adelaide and learnt how much of a difference it can be between two citities; so do your homework. Also, do not rule out cities that you are not familiar with. When we first got Darwin, we were a little apprehensive as it was not as renown as other states in Australia. Fortunately, we took it up as an adventure and having moved here we have learnt to appreciate Darwin for what it is despite it being early days we have fallen in love with the place.

Have a few different plans. Have a contact person to appoint in Singapore to assist with your mails etc. It would be best if you can plan a neat exit. For NS Men, do make sure you inform your unit that you will be moving overseas.

With regards to housing, the biggest problem many people face is how to get a place to rent as soon as possible. For Sang and I, we did a recce trip with the sole intention of confirming an apartment to rent. If that is not possible for you, you can consider options like staying in a hotel or Airbnb for a week while you look for a place to stay. Of course, if you have friends or family then its a different story. I would highly recommend downloading the Realestate.com.au application on your mobile device and do some thorough research through it first. That way you can shortlist a few places before you head down for your viewing.

 

Any other thoughts

 

To summarise, I think making this move has been a fantastic decision for both my wife and me. We are very happy and we get to spend so much more time together than when we were in Singapore. Lastly, if you do move, do so with an open mind and with minimum expectation.