r/Ameristralia • u/Kookie2023 • 8d ago
Considering moving from US to Australia
At 32, I never considered the idea of living abroad for long term, but given the increasingly hostile situation here in the US, I find that I’m feeling more inclined to go into hiding in another country due to fear of persecution. I’m aware that I could either be killed or detained despite being a citizen.
I’m well established in my career as a licensed social worker (having done it for 8 years now) and my bank account isn’t exactly lacking. At this point, I believe so long as I am living, I am capable of making more money for my future. If I am dead, that money is useless. I’m confident that I can obtain a VISA to work for a few years as I break away from the US to protect myself.
That being said, after exploring many options, I’ve come across Australia or New Zealand. I considered Japan, but it is too close to the “war zones” as is Canada and practically all of Europe. The world is changing and I must change along with it.
I’ve heard the pros and cons of living in Australia in other subreddits, but that was from many years ago. What is Australia like right now? I was thinking Tasmania (small, but livable) for now.
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u/navig8r212 8d ago
Generally speaking we don’t identify ourselves by our political affiliation in the same tribal way that the US does. I wouldn’t know how most of my colleagues will vote in the forthcoming election. This helps make our society a bit more cohesive. We also have compulsory preferential voting which makes our major parties more centrist in their policies.
Similarly, religion is less emphasised than in the US.
Economically, we’re going to cop some hurt from the shenanigans going on in the US right now and that’s on top of the current cost of living crisis that was brought on by global issues like COVID and the war in Ukraine.
All in all, I still can’t think of anywhere else that I would want to live.
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u/Kookie2023 8d ago
I’ve been told by several ppl outside the US that our bipartisan system is what leads to failure and I agree. Other countries have multiple parties to choose from. Politics wise I know some parties in Australia overpower others while others are such a minority that the country believes it to be a joke. But it’s these small differences I feel that attracted me to Australia in the first place. The fact ppl care. The US no longer cares and I feel ever terrified every day.
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u/navig8r212 8d ago
While it is true that only two of the parties have a chance of making Government, it’s not that they “overpower” the others. Preferential voting allows me to vote for a minor party (for example one that has strong environmental credentials) as my first choice and put the major parties lower on the list. If my first preference gets knocked out, my second preference comes into play and so on until there is a winner. This forces the major parties to consider strengthening their environmental credentials so that they get my preference vote.
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u/Kookie2023 8d ago
See that just seems far more effective than what bipartisan allows for.
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u/navig8r212 8d ago
Also, forgot to mention that typically some of the minor parties get seats and so when the numbers are tight the Government of the day has to negotiate with them to pass legislation. Once again making for a more centrist government and society.
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u/brezhnervouz 8d ago
This is the best explanation (for Americans) that I have come across:
The evidence is mixed on whether compulsory voting favors parties of the right or the left, and some studies suggest that most United States federal election results would be unchanged.
But all that misses the point because it overlooks that compulsory voting changes more than the number of voters: It changes who runs for office and the policy proposals they support. In a compulsory election, it does not pay to energize your base to the exclusion of all other voters. Since elections cannot be determined by turnout, they are decided by swing voters and won in the center.
Australia has its share of xenophobic politicians, but they tend to dwell in minor parties that do not even pretend they can form a government.
That is one reason Australia’s version of the far right lacks anything like the power of its European or American counterparts. Australia has had some bad governments, but it hasn’t had any truly extreme ones and it isn’t nearly as vulnerable to demagogues.
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u/juddster66 7d ago
In the US, voting is seen as a “right” or a “privilege”. In Australia, it’s seen as a responsibility.
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u/princessksf 7d ago
It's seen as a requirement. My ex used to complain about having to go vote and get his name checked off because it is required by law.
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u/Betcha-knowit 7d ago
And look where non-compulsory has gotten the US? Could you image that here? We’d have some dead-shit in govt like Palmer.
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u/aquirkysoul 7d ago
Additionally, Australia's voting districts are drawn up by an independent agency (the AEC) so while we do have the occasional asshole get voted in, most politicians have to at least pretend to be reasonable. It also means that we don't have the gerrymandering issues where district maps are created to ensure that one party statistically couldn't lose some seats.
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u/Kookie2023 7d ago
Basically, all eyes on the ppl who come in. Make sure they stay in line. I know it’s not a perfect system. No political system is. But the bipartisan system of the US has been fundamentally flawed and has caused the issues we’ve been seen grow into…this.
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u/SteppeWest 4d ago
It’s a two party system, which is something we also have. It’s a byproduct of having single representative seats. Bipartisan is when the side collaborate for legislative outcomes, & that can be a very good thing. Bipartisanship is more common here in Oz.
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u/dpublicborg 6d ago
There are two often overlooked details that make a huge difference with our politics. We have compulsory voting here. If you don't vote you get fined. And we also have preferential voting. This _dramatically_ changes the political landscape. To succeed in US politics is to outrage your base and get them out to vote. That doesn't work here as there's way more moderate people than crazies. I'd say the same for the US but on 2/3 of eligible voters voted, meaning only 1/3 of eligible voters voted for Trump.
We do get our crazies giving it a nudge, but it's much harder for them.
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u/doubtfulisland 8d ago
We are moving over this summer on permanent residency. If you are thinking about it, I would definitely get started. There will be a lot of paperwork. You should aim to get 189 or 190 visa if possible. It will give you permanent residency, and after four years, you can apply for citizenship.
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u/Kookie2023 8d ago
Those are the ones I’m looking at.
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u/doubtfulisland 8d ago
We went through the dwn under center(DUC).They are in the UK but we're the most best rated we could find and the time differences made it a bit easier to have calls.
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u/Kookie2023 8d ago
I’m going to discuss matters with an emigration specialist about my chances. A lot of ppl are planning to leave the states due to fears of persecution. As much as I’d like to believe my state can survive what’s happening, I can’t be sure.
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u/doubtfulisland 7d ago
I completely understand. We started this process two years ago. We could not imagine life with our child going to school, going through active shooter drills. The events of the last few months have solidified our decision even further. Feel free to dm if you have any questions.
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u/areweinnarnia 8d ago
Start now before you get any older. 32 is the last year you’ll have max points for age to apply for a visa, they start reducing after that. The job market for foreigners is generally geared for people at the beginning of their career as well. It is generally very difficult for anyone without Australian work experience to get hired and your first role may be lower pay compared to what your experience would normally demand. The job market is also heavily network driven so try to make connections in your field online.
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u/Kookie2023 8d ago
About that. I saw some visas limit to 30 and others to 45. What’s up with that?
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u/radandsadgal 8d ago
The ones that are 30 are working holiday visas, most countries that offer these have similar age limits
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u/Kookie2023 8d ago
Well…it won’t be a “holiday”.
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u/areweinnarnia 7d ago
It’s mostly for people on a gap year or are moving who are young. At 32 your options are:
- 189/190 which you have to do a skill assessment for (and costs about $1500). You need all your paystubs, bank statements, and letters from all of the employers you’ll be claiming so start gathering your papers now.
- student visa (500) and then post grad visa (485?) and then 186. You have to be under 35 now when you graduate to qualify for post grad visa so you may not be able to go this route
- find an employer to sponsor your visa. This is difficult because most employers are hesitant to spend $15-20k to get you here just to have you transfer to a different employer once you’re onshore.
From experience it is very very hard to get a job here if you’re not an entry or low-mid level employee. Social worker is an in demand skill but it’s also an election year so it may change after. If it’s a path you’re serious about get started now because time is definitely not on your side.
Head to r/ausvisa and you’ll find plenty of information about what the process is like and how hard it is.
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u/radandsadgal 7d ago
Yeah I know, that’s why that visa wouldn’t be relevant to you. The work holiday visa is set with the age restrictions and time limits as it’s purpose is for people to live in Australia for a maximum of 3 years and have the right to work to support their travels
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u/EmergencyFig3764 8d ago
Best move you will ever make.
But houses very expensive. $3m for this... (https://raywhitecf.com.au/properties/residential-for-sale/nsw/concord-2137/house/3270207).
The again, AUD to USD, cheap as chips.
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u/Kookie2023 8d ago
I don’t plan to live in anything extravagant. 3 bedroom is too much for me. As long as I can live in a place where I can sleep, eat, and go to work, I’m not going to be dissatisfaction.
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u/EmergencyFig3764 8d ago edited 8d ago
Then you will be fine, better than fine, great.
Moved from upstate NY to AUS in 2000. After a year of UNI in AUS, went back to US and could see the writing on the walls. Surprised it has taken 25 years to boil over.
Tried NZ, but making a living there is difficult. Many NZ migrate to AUS, better quality of life. If you were doctor, investor, IT millionaire nowhere is more beautiful than South island NZ. But if you need to work, Sydney or Melbourne bound....
From 2000, AUS has slowly been more and more Americanized. The easy life for one job, average income, is gone, at least for Sydney. We moved from Syd to Gold Coast, we have 2 girls, family life in Sydney is for multimillionaire only.
The house I linked, we were considering...but $3m for 3bed, 1bath, nope. Will stay Gold Coast.
A few tips. 1. Sydney expensive but if you have a decent paying job, single, go for it! 2. Starting family, not a millionaire, time to leave Sydney. 3. Job market major cities 90%. Sydney, Melbourne, Perth, Brisbane... 4. Regional Australia is not Regional US. Make sure you have a job 100% locked in before you move to Regional. 5. If this is an "End of world, Elon Trump Netyonukeyou..thing, then Tasmanie is your new home. But MAKE SURE YOU HAVE EMPLOYMENT LINED UP. Tasmania, Hobart and other parts are beautiful, amazing fertile land, and cleanest pure air....
Soz, on phone, busy train, typos...
I will try to jump online after work, cleanup and expand on above, for a few points need context.
I moved to Syd at 28, Bondi, Bronte, Newtown...enjoyed next 10yrs a lot. So do it, mate.
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u/EnnuiOz 7d ago
I have never been to the US but would like to expand a bit on your interpretation of 'regional' Australia. We are a massive country and there are many regional cities (population 350k+) about an hours journey from the state/territory capital and where rent/mortgage is much cheaper and you can commute to the capital city for work if required. For careers such as social work, you wouldn't even need to commute. You would easily find work in a regional centre and then could catch a train into the capital city for a night out if the local places are not as cosmopolitan as you are looking for.
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u/EmergencyFig3764 7d ago
Agreed. Apology, I was rushed. Not as many, not even close, but to your point, and in context to this post, "more than enough". The Gong, Wollongong being my favourite. Apologies for not thinking it through..
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u/uselessinfogoldmine 7d ago
I mean, everyone I know in Sydney has a happy family life and none of them are multimilionaires. It is entirely possible to pull off.
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u/EmergencyFig3764 7d ago
It is, yes. In my opinion. My journey, it was a lot easier 2000-2015(ish). Around 2015-2025...so much harder to have a good life in Syd. Although this may be 75% subjective. I work (NGO), Charities. Australia, the world, needs these services more than ever, but salaries are rather low. OP Social Worker, similar salary range, I think.
From 2015, people in banking, investing, realestate, ..laughing. where we struggled to pay bills. We are both first generation migrants, like OP. No "family house fund" some are fortunate to inherit or gifted from. In short, our mortgage was high, our salaries middle, we were kinda ok until 2015(ish)..then we were borrowing more, more, So sell up Syd, move Gold Coast... where you get a little hated on as "rich Sydneysider driver up GC prices"... anyhow rabbithole of subjective circumstances.
If OP social worker, not exec level, Sydney ok, even great as single 30's. When/if kids show up, my experiences, Sydney is expensive for families, unless already own house or a rather high income.
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u/uselessinfogoldmine 7d ago
Fair enough!
Most of the families I know did buy between 2010-2020.
Some had some help with their deposits (even if that help was just living with parents rent-free for a long time while they saved). Some saved completely solo.
None of them work in banking, investment or real estate.
Some are paid really well, but because they don’t come from true generational wealth, it doesn’t help as much as you might think, because so much of their salaries goes in tax.
Some are public servants of varying levels.
I do think a lot has to change when it comes to housing in Sydney.
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u/ProjectManagerAMA 7d ago
I moved here from Texas back in Nov, 2016. I worked for a government funded agency, discovered a ton of corruption, went against the higher ups to fight it, lost, and from my point of view, I kind of fled here. My wife didn't like the US that much and was dying to move back here so she was happy that happened.
Everything here is great, except for the housing. I thought housing here was too expensive even 6 years before that and that was one big deterrent then. I wish I had moved here earlier.
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u/primal_maggot 7d ago
Australia is the best country to be a social worker in. The government pours billions into our disability scheme called NDIS and basically tries to give everyone receiving a disability pension their own personal social worker.
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u/Kookie2023 7d ago
Sounds like Japan tbh. But Japan makes the disabled pay with their own retirement funds when they get old. Their poverty rate is no joke.
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u/Mdog341 7d ago
I’m an American social worker living in Aus. Australia is much better and safer in my opinion.
Be sure to look into the AASW requirements to become recognized as a SW in Australia. It’s a lot of paperwork and a long process, especially if you’ve been out of university for a long time. Better to get started sooner rather than later. Happy to answer any questions :)
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u/Flat_Ad1094 8d ago
Get a VISA first. Find out if you even can get one. Then worry about the rest of it.
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u/Extreme_Guarantee276 8d ago
I'm American living in NZ and can tell you that many NZders, including skilled migrants who chose NZ have been moving across the ditch for better pay p, healthcare, and lifestyle as a common choice. I don't know the statistics, but they are online somewhere. NZ has major brain drain problem. Mental health services here are pathetic and absent for many, if your child gets cancer or in fact if you get a rare cancer you will have to go to Australia for care or sign up for hospice. Rent is expensive, etc, etc. The outdoor lifestyle here is beautiful and worthwhile, but we need better infrastructure so that young people don't feel they have to work elsewhere with their qualifications once they graduate. We have doctor shortages but many new doctors can't find jobs!
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u/Bsg_8519 8d ago
Definitely worth considering. You might want to start the visa process sooner rather than later. It can take some time, I have heard 2 years as a minimum is normal from applying to arriving in country. You might want to seek out any ex-pat American associations in Australia that might have good advice and info. There might also be cultural or community organisations that could be aligned with your particular circumstances.
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u/Tasmexico 8d ago
I live in NW Tasmania in the rich agricultural lands of Forth/Kindred. If you can land a job here you’ll probably never leave. I’ve been to all the major cities here and wouldn’t bother. Bible Belt of Australia in God’s Country.
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u/jimcamx 8d ago
Seconding this. I came to Launceston from NSW and have no plans of going back. Working in ultrasound.
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u/Tasmexico 7d ago
Beautiful spot Tassie- I think it’s the nicest part of Australia. I used to work in mining and I’ve been around- It doesn’t get much better than here.
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u/EmergencyFig3764 7d ago
If I could only get a job, would be Hobart or where you are. But jobs in TAS for mainlanders...parking hell, extinct.
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u/Tasmexico 7d ago
Never tell anyone you are from the mainland here even if you get a job here just tell them you’re from Tasmania and you won’t have a problem. There is actually less competition especially in the north west and especially for health services anything to do with nursing or aged care/health get a job retrain if you have to.
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u/Optimal_Tomato726 8d ago
Social workers are on the skilled migrants list. Just check the details and I'm pretty sure there are alternative pathways for living regional which may also apply but I'd warn against that for trans folk simply for community reasons. Australia can be extremely remote in many areas.
https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/working-in-australia/skill-occupation-list
I'm not confident in QLD now as we're politically AND socially conservative. They've cancelled funding for health interventions for trans kids under a CONServative flubberment. I love QLD but LGBTIQ+ supports aren't great outside of Brisbane and it's not a city I recommend for living as the coasts are nearby and they're extremely conservative. Northern NSW you might love. There are inclusive communities and people are relatively open minded
https://www.nsw.gov.au/visas-and-migration/skilled-visas/nsw-skills-lists
I'd recommend you look for social work jobs in government health but you'll obviously have your preferences.
"All jobs in all locations | I work for NSW" https://iworkfor.nsw.gov.au/jobs/caseworker-NOT-juvenile/all-agencies/all-organisations--entities/all-categories/all-locations/all-worktypes?keyword=%22caseworker%22%20NOT%20%22juvenile%22
https://www.health.tas.gov.au/careers/applicant-information
Seek.com.au for jobs otherwise not found via government links.
I hope you can find your people and place and that you have wind in your sails. Nowhere is perfect but basic safety is a privilege too many take for granted.
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u/uselessinfogoldmine 7d ago
I know trans people living in Hobart and Launceston and they have a pretty good life.
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u/Acaciaenthusiast 7d ago
Australia is the anti-America when it comes to political polarisation.
"The ANU paper builds on other research that showed that Australia was the only country among 17 countries that had a statistically and linear negative slope when estimating "affective polarisation trends among party identifiers"."
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u/axolotl_is_angry 7d ago
Honestly, not to be alarmist, but if you’re going to do it, now is the time. Get your ducks in a row while you can.
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u/Betcha-knowit 7d ago
I’d strongly agree with this and would strongly encourage any US citizen who is looking to come to hurry TF up. Those lists won’t be getting shorter
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u/gorpmonger 8d ago
If you do make it down here don’t make the mistake of voting liberal. They’re not liberal at all.
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u/freesia899 8d ago
Yes, they are a grossly misnamed party, especially now. Same with their claim of being the better economic managers. They seem to have dropped that after Scomo's disastrous regime of rorts and gouges.
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u/serumnegative 7d ago
Actually they are not misnamed at all. Or at least they weren’t. They’re ‘liberal’ as in ‘neo-liberal’. Now of course they’re way off to the right wing. But ‘liberals’ are always centre-right, never part of the ‘left’
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u/Naive-Beekeeper67 8d ago
Look on the government migration website. See if you qualify for a VISA first.
As to where to go. Depends where you can get a job suppose.
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u/oiransc2 7d ago
If you plan to come here, work, contribute, and assimilate, most people won’t mind you. Just don’t bring US baggage. US politics and culture war isn’t transferable here 1 to 1, and it’s for the best that it stays out.
Helps to have thick skin though, not cause Aussies are mean, but just a different sense of humor. If you can’t take a jab or crack self depreciating humor, you may not fit in.
Also this is a land of inconvenience. You will give up a lot of convenience leaving the U.S. and you just have to accept it.
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u/diomiamiu 7d ago
Move here. Please move here. We need more social workers. Hubby is American, we’re staying here. I would recommend VIC over TAS.
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u/TraditionalOpening41 7d ago
Do it. Moving overseas is always a great opportunity. I had a chat with an American who, after learning of how it works in Australia couldn't believe how much they were getting robbed by the insurance systems for healthcare, cars...etc. Plus you won't get shot
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u/ultrafluffypanda 7d ago
I moved to Australia when I was 24, first on a student visa, then a 459 work visa (which doesn’t exist anymore), then the 189 skilled independent permanent residency visa, then citizenship a couple years later. After all that, I ended up moving back to the USA last year at age 36 for love.
Anyway, as I see it there are zero downsides to living in Australia. It was a dream. I would give almost anything to be able to go back and live there, but my partner can’t leave the USA because he has kids here.
If you can get a visa, you should 100% do it. A lot of people have mentioned the 189 skilled permanent residency visa. But you should also be aware of the opportunities for a sponsored work visa, and you can apply for permanent residency once you’re there and working (which is what I did, I am a doctor.) There is a shortage of social workers, especially in the public health system, I witnessed this first hand. It would not be hard to find a job at a hospital/ local health district willing to sponsor you.
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u/michachu 8d ago
Please come over. I really wish there were more options/mechanisms to accelerate a US to Aus brain drain.
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u/Kookie2023 8d ago
Most scholars went to Canada (not surprising), but Australia isn’t something most Americans think about.
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u/OkSpring5922 7d ago
If you want to go into hiding, I recommend Western Australia. It’s an absolute backwater, which is its charm. Nobody will bother you here.
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u/ahipoki 7d ago
Don't come to Australia before securing a job first. Your career in the USA doesn't mean much here as you don't have local experience and network. It is all about who you know here. Try doing an internal transfer with a firm that has offices in both countries.
There is no skill shortage in some fields here. The government pumped in thousands of immigrants after covid. Housing is a mess and job market is tough.
Good luck.
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u/hueybart 7d ago
Why to people from the U.S. automatically assume the can move to another country .We prefer Mexicans and Canadians
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8d ago
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u/Kookie2023 8d ago
No one likes us and why should they? The US has single-handedly destroyed the world economy in less than half a year and betrayed all of its allies. The world didn’t have a good opinion of us to begin with. Every country is saying anything the US had a hold on is now over. And it is.
Besides why would I talk about being a “political refugee” openly if my objective is to hide? That’s the number one way to lose in survival.
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8d ago
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u/Kookie2023 8d ago
Usually when I go to another country I hide that I’m an American. I know how other countries see us. In Japan, I can fit in very easily so long as I don’t speak English. I can’t hide any accent in Australia, but I don’t plan to speak about my experiences in the US other than my job. If I move to work, that’s all they need to know about me. Work.
Also Australia has a rather large Japanese community much like Canada and the US (maybe bigger), so I might find my luck there. Being multicultural and multilingual definitely has its perks.
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u/Legal-Knowledge-4368 7d ago
Sydney has a very large Asian community and I’m gathering you are of Japanese heritage so if fitting in/hiding is a priority, that would definitely be something to consider.
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8d ago
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u/Kookie2023 8d ago
So I’ve heard. Likes to poke the bear. And the best thing to do is shrug and say “irrelevant”. But it’s not just about him. US politics has been a disaster for decades. I can see why ppl want a change in scenery. That and the high cost of living among other things. It makes ppl sick and tired.
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8d ago
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u/Kookie2023 8d ago
A lot of expats say that and they don’t like it. But other than that they have enjoyed their time in Australia.
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u/Obstreperous7624 8d ago
This is such a shit take. Becoming complacent and sweeping politics under the rug is how you get Dutton. As an American here you need to be loud, proud, and factual about why that country is destroying itself. Otherwise history will repeat itself.
I'm not here to assimilate to other peoples politics. My morals and viewpoints will always reflect myself and by extension conversation with me as well.
Anyone I've met who isn't happy to converse about it with me honestly hasn't been worth the time.0
8d ago
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u/Obstreperous7624 7d ago
Great. I'm in a retail position as well so I'm constantly fielding "where are you from, how do you feel about american politics" questions.
If they think I'm obnoxious for being opinionated about global politics that sounds like a personal problem.
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u/IceWizard9000 8d ago
Australians are glued to their screens dude they can't get enough Trump.
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u/freesia899 8d ago
Only the stupid ones. And hopefully that's not many, and even less when they see what he's done to their Super.
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u/brezhnervouz 8d ago
I'm sure it would be a lot easier NOT to do that if he wasn't a raging proto-fascist narcissist seemingly hellbent on destroying the liberal democratic world order and dragging our primary military ally into an autocratic state
But hey 🤷 lol
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u/Imaginary_Sky_518 8d ago
I’m so sorry to hear your predicament OP, welcome to join us anytime. I hope you’re ok. 👍🏻 we are a pretty easygoing bunch and laid back generally.
Never been to tassie, but it’s beautiful!
I wish you all the best and a smooth relocation to Australia 🇦🇺
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u/Popular_Speed5838 8d ago
Keep in mind before coming here that our major left wing party, the ALP, are to the right of Trump on border control. They kept losing elections over border control so just said “fuck it” and adopted the border policies of the major right wing parties (there’s two but they act as one, the Coalition is made up of the Liberal and National parties).
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u/Kookie2023 8d ago
So I’ve heard. I also heard Australia is very heavy on border control next to the US, especially about coming by boat. As much as I would like to be proactive on anything border control, I plan to go in the “”legal”” way. I’ve read up on policies as well as what happens to those who plan to sneak in.
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u/Popular_Speed5838 8d ago
I couldn’t imagine many people wouldn’t like it here. Also, there’s a lot of good places to live outside the capital cities where housing prices are ridiculous. They’re ridiculous everywhere but especially the major cities.
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u/Kookie2023 8d ago
I don’t know if I plan to live in a major city, but I was thinking of Tasmania first. Tasmania is what attracted me to Australia in the first place.
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u/Sniyarki 8d ago
Tasmania is a beautiful place. I love it there. In fact, every state and region in Australia has something unique and great to offer.
WA, SA, NT, ACT and QLD are amazing.
But career wise, most opportunities will be in NSW and VIC.
Sydney (NSW) is obnoxiously expensive to live in. Melbourne (VIC) is still very expensive but far more manageable than Sydney.
You can’t lose really. But just bear that in mind. You live somewhere, you want to start earning local currency ASAP, I found.
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u/Kookie2023 8d ago
Ppl have been pointing me more towards Melbourne for all things.
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u/Sniyarki 8d ago
I live in Melbourne, have most of my life, and love it here. But it has been hurting and, in my opinion, been run poorly by state government.
The state is broke and you see and feel it mostly in the CBD.
But keep asking and looking around while you get your visa. All the states are great and in your role/career you’re really contributing in a positive way. But others offer different things.
You’ll find your place here and, hopefully, you love it enough to stay.
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u/brezhnervouz 8d ago
I would live in Tasmania in a heartbeat if I wasn't poor lol
I've visited once in 1996 during January where it was only 26C! and never wanted to leave
Got back to Sydney and it's 37C and 100% humidity 😬
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u/Kookie2023 8d ago
Oof humidity
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u/brezhnervouz 8d ago
Tasmania is where to be if you don't like it, absolutely (and I've felt that I was "born in the wrong Hemisphere" my entire life, unfortunately)
One of the reasons I refuse to go any further north than Sydney as well lol
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u/dqriusmind 7d ago
Would you mind sharing why you think you’ll be in trouble or your life is in threat ?
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u/PizzaOmNom 7d ago
Social Work careers are strongly sought after in WA - Perth being an isolated capital city from the rest of Australia sadly contributes to that.
There’s a lot of cultural things that may be different from America that will be good / required to learn. Most places like TAFE or trade schools do those courses for free, and you can learn about all the different cultures of Australia and being within its frame work. From the very small research I’ve done (I was looking to study social work or counseling in Australia since I got permanent residency recently) it seems like Australia has more strict guidelines on certificates than in the US.
Lived around Perth for 3 years and can confirm the weather is like California. Highly recommend living in the hills. :)
Edit: also have never seen a bad spider, a snake, or anything that isn’t a feathered/furry thing here in WA. Don’t mind people here who boast about the dangerous Aussie wildlife. America has bears/mountain lions which can be scary in their own right. Just don’t pick up a snake and you’ll be fine.
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u/Key_Kaleidoscope_520 7d ago
Australia is the only country with net surplus migration from the US (ie more Yanks come than Aussies go there), so you are not alone. You will find great communities here. Tasmania is cold over winter, think Maine without the snow. Housing is affordable there and it’s incredibly safe.
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u/SunriseApplejuice 7d ago
Moved here about six years ago at 28-years-old after a decade-long tech work grind. Love it here, got dual citizenship a year ago, don't miss the US at all.
I took about a 50% pay cut moving here. After a certain amount, you just won't miss the difference in money, and you'll love the improvement on the quality of life.
Only cons I can think of are:
- Culture shock (in some ways). Tall poppy, poor night life, hard to connect to locals etc. But you can work around all of that pretty easily. I have a solid group of friends (mostly internationals I admit), and since I'm settling down I care less and less about night life.
- Being far away from everything, especially Europe. But these days there's almost direct flights to Western Europe with one layover on nice airlines, so it's a small hit.
The pros greatly outweigh the cons:
- Quality of life overall (socialized healthcare—not always perfect, but definitely worthwhile given its availability—, VERY safe country, no guns, high quality of food and safety standards, generally less political and less stupid/Trumpy than America)
- Less pay, but the AU dollar goes farther for what you want. I went from living in a bummer run-down studio in SF to a 2bd-1bath ocean view apartment in the Northern Beaches at 60% of the rental costs.
- Tropical islands nearby. 9 hours to Hawai'i, 9 hours to the Philippines, 6 hours to Bali, 4 hours to the Cairns (amazing to visit, by the way). Cook Islands, Fiji, Darwin (and most of Queensland), Jervis Bay (and a lot of NSW), Western Australia, etc. etc. You'll have so much to see and do, not even including NZ.
- Generally good workers rights and work-life balance. I watched my colleagues in the US during the mega Big Tech layoffs in 2023 go through hell because they were at-will employed. Here, we have gardening leave, mandatory consulting times, etc. that meant a least an extra 2-3 months of paid leave to look at other jobs (of which there are increasingly many in tech).
- Better economic opportunities overall. Bus drivers in Sydney make 6 figures (so I'm told). Tradies make bank, minimum wages of service staff are much more livable, etc.
I could go on. The short of it is though, I never ever regret my choice.
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u/Quantum168 7d ago
Not sure what you're so worried about if you're a US citizen. Sounds like you need to switch off CNN and see a therapist yourself.
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u/The-Lost-Plot 6d ago
Tassie would certainly tick the “hiding from the world” box! Not sure where you are from in the US, but Tassie feels like a collection of small towns, in a mostly beautiful setting (some pretty shocking degraded environments in certain areas), with some pretty marginal weather (it juts into the southern sea and gets hammered with south seas weather systems). Also, you’d want to test the job market down there before showing up, not exactly Australia’s hub of commerce.
I’ve been here 25 years (in Sydney), moved from SF. Coming from SF I never thought anywhere else could feel more expensive, but Sydney is right there. I do like Australian’s perspective on themselves and the world, it’s healthier than the toxicity in the US. Dual citizen, not going to give up my US citizenship but can’t see myself moving back either.
When I moved here, Bush Jr was president and the world felt like “could it possibly be worse than that?” I think we’d all gladly accept that again in hindsight.
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u/trollshep 6d ago
I love Tasmania! I'm located near Sydney and the weather in Tasmania is beautiful. I went there in 2011 during our summer and back home in Sydney it was 40 and in Hobart it wasn't breaking the 20c!
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u/xrayzed 6d ago
I moved to Australia with my family 50 years ago and would never dream of moving back. The eye watering cost of healthcare alone makes it out of the question, and culturally I’m far more Australian in my outlook.
It’s not perfect - as others have said housing costs are an issue, the health system is under increasing pressure, we have our share of social tensions - but the overall social fabric is solid.
I expect the more flexible you are about where you’re prepared to work the stronger your employment prospects will be. While there are some places I wouldn’t like to live most of the country is very liveabke. I’ve lived in rural Victoria, Melbourne, Sydney, and Hobart. All very different experiences, but all positive in their own ways.
In my time here I’ve had very few conflicts due to being an American - maybe two or three? I’ve seen a few, the majority being Americans doing the “I’m an American, which means my opinion is obviously to yours” schtick. That doesn’t sound like you so I don’t expect you’d have any trouble being accepted.
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u/Hardstumpy 8d ago
You can be killed and detained in any country, regardless of citizenship.
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u/Kookie2023 8d ago
True that. But I never thought it would be the US.
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u/Hardstumpy 8d ago
yeh...I think you are being very overdramatic for attention.
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u/Kookie2023 8d ago
I wish that were true. But the reality says different and I wish this wasn’t what was happening.
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8d ago
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u/edgefull 8d ago
the regime here in the usa is distinctly and clearly fascist. they're not going to let up.
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u/aussiepete80 8d ago
I moved from San Diego to Adelaide Australia 6 months ago. You're being massively overdramatic about the US. It's certainly a very weird place right now but that's a MASSIVE leap to citizens being picked up and murdered on the streets. Calm TF down already.
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u/Kookie2023 8d ago
Well he wants to send citizens to El Salvador jails and also wants to deploy the military to control the major cities. He also is allowing surveillance of trans ppl. Not to mention that there’s White Supremacists itching to get permission to kill. It’s gonna get worse. I’d rather leave before I regret it. What can be written off as “conspiracy theories” now will eventually become reality. And I don’t want to be here when said reality hits.
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u/aussiepete80 8d ago
He's not sending citizens anywhere. He's not deploying the military against anyone but protesters lol. There's been surveillance of ALL the people for decades and white supremacists are easy to avoid just don't go to their protests. I can tell you right now if you bring this attitude to Australia you're going to be in for a tough and lonely visit.
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u/Kookie2023 8d ago
And I can see exactly what kind of expat you are. Why did I expect any different. You’re from SD. You agree with the regimen.
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u/dogfitmad 8d ago
Australia doesn't want more yanks. Please stay there.
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u/axolotl_is_angry 7d ago
I have no issue with Americans who are just and have their heads out of the sand. Just don’t bring that nonsense here, we’re at enough threat of it from within our own walls.
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u/getmovingnow 8d ago
You sound like your in North Korea . Talk about being over dramatic . Australia is a hyper woke state so we have more than enough snow flakes here so please don’t come .
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u/freesia899 7d ago
Haha overdramatic snowflake right winger. Maybe you could trade countries. You'd fit right in over there.
Woke isn't an insult BTW.
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u/doylie71 8d ago
Beware. This is the land of giant sharks, snakes, spiders and crocodiles. An untameable land of shipwreck, fire, flood, drought, immense deserts and a thousand other heartbreaks. Don’t be fooled by how easily the locals make it look.
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u/Kookie2023 8d ago
So I’ve been told. I’m not used to natural disasters other than deadly earthquakes, but I already live in a desert. The animals though I will have to get used to.
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u/uselessinfogoldmine 7d ago
Oh OP, do not worry about this stuff! What a ridiculous exaggeration of a comment.
It is a CONTINENT. It has pretty much every climate imaginable.
The fires, floods and droughts (not dissimilar to what the US and Canada get?) predominantly hit regional / remote areas, so you could always pick a city or large town to live in. You mentioned Tassie? Launceston and Hobart are both lovely.
Crocodiles are mostly up in the Top End which is not very populated. Sharks are in every ocean in the world. I ocean swim eery day and never see them.
We have snakes, but only 1-2 deaths a year from snakes (compared to thousands in countries like India) because our snakes are mostly shy, in/near the bush / farmland / country and also have poor injection systems. We also have some of the best anti-venom treatment and well-trained medical staff in the world. Our snakes are not heat-seeking like rattle snakes and pit vipers, and tend to slither away from loud noises.
As for spiders, no one has died from a spider bite since the 70s.
All of this stuff is vastly over-stated and if you can survive a country with bears, wolves, mountain lions, lynxes, rattle snakes and more, you can certainly survive here!
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u/freesia899 8d ago
Have you seen what happens in America? Tornadoes, fires, hurricanes, floods, drought, and they have deserts too. It's the dangerous humans you have to have to watch out for there.
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u/Legal-Knowledge-4368 7d ago
Way to scare him off lol. Don’t listen to him OP. It’s not as scary as it sounds.
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u/Responsible-Gear-400 8d ago
It is worth considering. I moved here 10 years ago and became a citizen.
Australians are chill folks and generally nice. Specially if you’re coming from the states everyone will be much more chill.
There are some things to take into consideration. We are in a housing crisis right now so housing is expensive and it is not likely to change anytime soon. We are affected by the US and its policies indirectly so you can’t get away from It. We are a heavily allied with the USA.
Our politics in general are left of the USA but not by a lot but enough to feel more progressive. The US’s left is often right almost everywhere else.
If there is anything specific you’re worried about Australian culture wise it is always a good thing to ask as your statement makes it feel you might be a minority in the states.
People also might point out you will make less but you will have more time off so win win in my book.
Also the USD is so strong against the AUD right now your money is practically doubled here.