Hi there all fellow LYN-ers!

I'm planning to head to Australia to work, as the wage there is around AUD9-15 per hour for casual workers...though I realize working as casual labour over there will not build me an impressive resume, but I've made up my mind that the monetary gain I may get over there is definately more rewarding then me working my butt off and getting demotivated over here in Malaysia.

Right now, my question is ..

Does anyone know how long does the Visa Application and costs are like?
I've heard that its around RM1k+ plus it takes quite a while...

So was wondering if anyone here can provide some better facts and details ... or any other details regarding what I can expect from my jobs and life over there...

Any help is appreciated! Thanks!

This post has been edited by EmoO: Mar 8 2010, 05:34 PM

not trying to demotivate you..but as msian, only few type of visa is available in order for u to work legally in australia..

WHV - for those aged under 30, but got 100 quota per year.. (if im not wrong)

PR - this will take 1-2 years depending on your skills and experience

Sponsorship - have to get an employer in Oz to sponsor u to come over to work..

for start, goto www.immi.gov.au

and it's not easy to get a casual job here nowadays, and you've to consider the cost of living here as well, especially the rent, which will be expensive..

Thanks, will look into it..

I was thinking of applying for WHV ... casual jobs including farm work is hard to get nowadays? You're currently based in Aussie?

TS,

You seem to have a clear view of what you want. BUT sadly you lack a lot of information regarding working in Australia. Finding a job in australia as a casual worker may not be difficult. HOWEVER do consider that you are a foreigner in that land where people prefer to hire locals compared to foreigners.

Dont be demotivated. It's not going to be easy but not impossible

I got my WHM visa from the UK a couple of years back for 2 years. The interview queue was a year long. I didnt have to go for interview due to strong paperwork (I had a non-blood sister there, I was to come back to finish my degree and not settle permanently, I listed down the gigs and places that I wanted to go arond Europe and I had enough proof of funds ) and the visa for Malaysians got frozen 2 weeks after mine was approved.

Sadly, ended up not going due to family matters, safety and other issues . But it gave me the strength to believe in myself

yes, im working in Oz now (on a PR)..

to tell u the truth, when i came over, tot of getting a casual job while looking for a fulltime (my profession job), but no reply at all..thats y i said its not easy for casual job..

the casual job im referring is just retail assistant, waitress and stuff like that.. not farm work..

Australia just recently drop all application for PR from low skill worker, if you dont have skill that they want like high tech and mining industry, dont expect to easilly get to work there legally since they are now trying to end influx of low skill foreign worker.

This post has been edited by robertngo: Mar 8 2010, 09:14 PM

How about cost of living in Australia such as food, house and so on ? is it too expansive compare to malaysia?

Hi fellow Malaysians. I have a cert in Unix. But sadly, my working experience is not in Unix Support though it is a bit work related. does anyone know abt my chances of migration?

as long as you are earning oz dollar, you will be able to survive there..

Rental - Depending on where you are planning to stay. I can't speak for the rest of australian states but will try and provide info on NSW (Sydney) as its where i am based. Its usually the saying of the further you stay away from the city the cheaper it gets except for those upper class luxury suburbs which are expensive

Ranges from AUD120 - AUD200 sharing with others. if you do not mind sharing a room with others or having 7 people in an apartment you can get really cheap deal since you probably want to spend most of your time working anyway. Certain accommodation only have 1 toilet. A lot of notices are sticked onto traffic lights and poles looking for housemate... if you are a hot chiq, your chances are higher in getting the accommodation.

Job - if you are staying in the city, i highly doubt you will wanna take a casual job as a fruit picker as they are like pretty much very far away, not mistaken last time i went and pick fruits when i stay in the city area it takes me about 2 + hours drive away... Buses and trains may not reach the area or you have to transit many times. Working in retail on a WHM visa for instance restaurant staff, clerk, data entry, customer service maybe an easier find but not sure the chances of malaysian.

i once worked in restaurant casually and received AUD12 per hour + super + tax returns in sydney. It kinda ranges from employer to employer as I know some friends who works in thai restaurants received AUD7 an hour without any benefits and some who works in better upper class restaurants receive better remuneration. If you work in a professional sector the chances of better remuneration is higher.

Food - it can be cheap or expensive depending on your diet. If you like to eat steak everyday or eat a lot then its gona cost you pretty much a lot. but if you buy your own groeceries and cook then it could save ya more. the portion of food are higher therefore if you pack like from the fellas from chinatown in the take aways, it may last you for 2 meals for AUD10.

It does seem that things are generally more expensive in australia if you convert them to ringgit everytime you spend but with the higher remuneration it may make things actually cheaper than in malaysia

My answers are in no way accurate but based on my experience and information that i have gathered while living in sydney.

annielee: with the soon electricity price hike a lot of ppl earning aussie dollars find it difficult to cope =( survive yes but then to do more than surviving is a tad bit difficult lolz

ya, i heard that from the news as well about the electricity bills increasing..
how long you've been in sydney ? im considering going back to msia for 2 years, and will move perm to oz after that..

imagine AU$100, you can buy more stuff here, where RM100, cant get you much.. (which my 'survive' means)

This post has been edited by annielee: Mar 19 2010, 06:32 AM

Thanks annielee for the reply,

I was scheduled to migrate to Austaralia sometime next 2 month for working reason. I will be based at Welshpool, Western Australia. Do you know about this place? is it a rural or urban place? How about cost of living there? Can I save some money to bring back to Malaysia when I'm working abroad at OZ?

lets see what the coalition has to say lol this labor government like to eat money only lol

this is my 5th year in sydney... wont be going back for good in the near future since theres a steady job right now though might wanna change lol...

yea i do agree with your purchasing power in regards to the dollar... thats coz probably coz you spend a lot... judging by your handle, you seem to be female... shop lesser please (no offense on any discrimination as it is not intended) but then if we take a petrol pump attendant that is near my malaysian home, the last time i check with is a couple of years back his wages are RM600 a month and he is able to survive just that kenot get luxurious stuffs...

no idea about the area, as im in NSW..
as to whether you can save money and bring back to Oz, will be based on your lifestyle (spending) in oz..

never heard of it and have never been to WA... but try using this site... www.whereis.com as it will provide you a map to know the specific area that you are going to as it has the whole map of australia and then tells u the direction and how much time / km away from places that you wanna go... i have tried entering info based on welshpool and perth though i have no adresses it returned with les than 10km so i think its probably part of / near the city area

cost of living, sorry cant help you there but judging that its near perth, things may be cheaper...

definitely you can bring money back to malaysia while working abroad... its your money anyway but then if you decide to bring over AUD10,000 of any currency in / out of the country you have to declare to customs

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Added on March 19, 2010, 7:23 amTotally off topic and tumpang thread.... annielee where you working in nsw? mayb can come out yum cha lolz

This post has been edited by witchx: Mar 19 2010, 07:23 AM

i do shop more here, as buying power is higher :-)
wow, 5 years, getting ur citizenship ?

erm i only had my PR for 2 years actually... came here for studies and then decided to stay and then got a job and might not apply for citizenship depending on how malaysia handle the dual citizenship stuffs.

oh i c, im still waiting for MY for the dual citizenship if the government is considering, then it will be good.. which suburb you are at ?

im currently living in the city, ultimo to be exact but will be moving out to the lower north shore... wut bout urself?

annielee: i think we are very off topic atm and decide to take our random chatter to PMs as i dont think our personal chatter contributes to this thread. cheers

This post has been edited by witchx: Mar 19 2010, 08:49 AM