Ask Josem about visiting/living in Australia
 

I currently work for an Member of the Australian House of Represenatives helping many local constituents with various problems and challenges they have, especially with Governmental departments.

I've lived here in Australia all my life, and spent significant time living in Melbourne, Sydney and now in Newcastle. I've travelled on holidays to central Australia (ie, the Outback), Adelaide, Brisbane, Gold Coast, Tasmania and extensively through rural New South Wales and Victoria (the two most populous states).


Types of things I feel I am qualified to answer:

- Different cities/regions: cost, feel, safety, things to do in each
- Australian culture and history
- Governments
- Visas
- How to find an apartment
- Getting around the cities and to/from the airport
- Cost of living and Australian currency
- Nightlife: bars and nightclubs (especially in Melbourne)
- Restaurants, sidewalk cafes, delivery
- Sights to see
- Weather, seasons, etc
- Playing poker online here or questions about casinos here
- Education (especially studying in Australia, universities, etc.)
- Internet services
- Pretty much anything else you want to ask about.

Types of things I don't feel I am qualified to answer:
- Hookers, drugs, etc., beyond the legalities of them. I haven't ever used either, and don't intend to.


Feel free to ask any questions.

Re: Ask Josem about visiting/living in Australia
 

How much will it cost to get you to send me a case of Tooheys New? [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

Do Austrialians still like Jack Johnson?

Re: Ask Josem about visiting/living in Australia
 

[ QUOTE ]
How much will it cost to get you to send me a case of Tooheys New? [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

[/ QUOTE ]

Tooheys New - Approx cost $A38, approx weight (guessing - 12kg)

Postage (from http://www1.auspost.com.au/download/ms160.pdf) - about $A100 to US

I hardly think this is value for money for you. I'm surprised that there aren't any online retailers that sell it (I looked briefly and couldn't find anything).

[ QUOTE ]
Do Austrialians still like Jack Johnson?

[/ QUOTE ]
I don't. Top 100 singles of 2006 is online at http://www.aria.com.au/pages/ARIACha...ingles2006.htm Nothing by him there.

His album, Sing-a-longs and lullabies came in at 46 for albums of 2006: http://www.aria.com.au/pages/ARIACHa...Albums2006.htm

Re: Ask Josem about visiting/living in Australia
 

[ QUOTE ]
Hey, I was just curious to hear a little more about Aussie politics and working within it.

How hard is it to find a political job in OZ especially for someone with no background in their politics?

[/ QUOTE ]

If you're interested in working directly for a MP & Senator, now is a good time with a Federal election likely to be held late this year.

Recently, MPs and Senators have been given funding to employ extra staff in their offices.

There is a wide divergence in the experience and skills that many staff members have - from people straight out of school/uni to very senior advisers.

Many jobs are advertised in The Australian and The Australian Financial Review and the respective major metropolitan newspapers. Many are also sent to current staff of MPs & Senators - If you're interested in having job ads for Coalition (Liberal/National - right-of-centre parties) emailed to you, email me at michael@michaeljosem.com

Re: Ask Josem about visiting/living in Australia
 

Hey Josem, thanks for making this thread. I'm from canada and just absolutely love Australian culture. I have a friend who just moved from Austrailia to Toronto and I've been asking him a lot of questions. I'm thinking about spending maybe 6 months in Austrailia sometime in the near future. From what I've been told it seems very interesting.

I have a question that was on my mind for a while. I've heard from several sources (Austrailians) in the past that Austrailia has a big issue with racism. I'm curious how truthful this is. Austrailia is one of the places I've thought about moving to in the past. I would like to hear your take on this, thanks.

Re: Ask Josem about visiting/living in Australia
 

[ QUOTE ]
Hey Josem, thanks for making this thread. I'm from canada and just absolutely love Australian culture. I have a friend who just moved from Austrailia to Toronto and I've been asking him a lot of questions. I'm thinking about spending maybe 6 months in Austrailia sometime in the near future. From what I've been told it seems very interesting.

[/ QUOTE ]
No worries - I've gained so much from this site for poker, the least I can do is share something I know a little about.

[ QUOTE ]
I have a question that was on my mind for a while. I've heard from several sources (Austrailians) in the past that Austrailia has a big issue with racism. I'm curious how truthful this is. Austrailia is one of the places I've thought about moving to in the past. I would like to hear your take on this, thanks.

[/ QUOTE ]
Cliff's notes: *Some* Australians are racist. I believe the vast majority are not.

Longer answer: Are there racist people in Australia? Certainly, although I feel, from my own personal experiences, that it is not a common or widely experienced problem. I don't think that there is an underlying racist trend amongst Australians.

My own ethnic background is probably a good example of this - my father's father lost 11 brothers and sisters in the holocaust, and my mother's father served in the German navy. My grandfathers both migrated (obviously independently) to Australia, had children, who subsequently married. It's a great example of how the vast majority of migrants to Australia (whether they be ethnically Anglo, Slavic, Germanic, etc.) left behind their "old-world" fights and made modern-day Australia.

In late 2005, there were some so-called race-riots in Sydney. By comparison, at around the same time, France also had race-riots - their riots consisted of weeks of burning cars, attacking police, fully armed riot police, to a point of virtual urban warfare. The Sydney "riots" consisted of a crowd of largely drunken men at the beach on the weekend.

I don't want to turn this thread into a discussion of Australian politics, but I think that my belief is fairly consistent with Prime Minister John Howards comments at the time:

PRIME MINISTER:...there was a poll that said 81 per cent of people supported multiculturalism and a majority of people – or more people than not - thought that our present migrant intake was about right. Now if there is underlying racism in Australia, if there is, I find it had to believe that 81 per cent of the population would support multiculturalism – the two things don’t sit together. Multiculturalism means a lot of things, different things to different people, but in its lowest common denominator it means that people believe in diversity and are therefore tolerant of racial and ethnic difference. So if 81 per cent of the population is tolerant and supportive of ethnic and racial difference, then you can’t simultaneously have underlying racism. ... there are some people in the Australian community who are racist, but I do not believe the average Australian is a racist, I do not believe that the majority of Australians are racist. I mean why would we have accepted people so well? Why do we practice every day our tolerance and our respect for people?

Re: Ask Josem about visiting/living in Australia
 

excellent! thanks for the great reply. I just seem to love everything about austrailia.

Re: Ask Josem about visiting/living in Australia
 

What do you know about visas for Americans either visiting or looking to establish residence? What about trying to live there without establishing residence. I believe Australia is one of the easier first world countries to move to, but I could be wrong.

Re: Ask Josem about visiting/living in Australia
 

[ QUOTE ]
What do you know about visas for Americans either visiting or looking to establish residence? What about trying to live there without establishing residence. I believe Australia is one of the easier first world countries to move to, but I could be wrong.

[/ QUOTE ]

The best source of information on visas is available online at www.immi.gov.au I am not a migration agent, so please do not take this as professional advice.

It is true that Australia is one of the easier first world countries to migrate to - per capita, Australia has a huge migration program relative to other countries.

In terms of permanent visas, you have an option of either "skilled worker" visas or of "business people" visas. The most common visa to obtain of this type is the General Skilled Migration visa, which provides permanent residency and is a possible pathway to citizenship. The subclass with the least restrictions requires 120 points on this chart.

Unsurprisingly, profesisonal poker player is not listed on the list of occupations. You should consult the Department of Immigration for their advice. If you are qualified for some other role, you might want to consider that other role.



In terms of visiting, if you are from Belgium, Canada, Republic of Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Republic of Ireland, Italy, Japan, Republic of Korea, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Taiwan, United Kingdom, Chile, Iran or Thailand, you can get a working holiday visa, allowing you to work while on holiday here in Australia. This lasts for up to 12 months.

For Americans, you are able to easily obtain a visitors (tourist) visa. More info is available at http://www.immi.gov.au/visitors/tour...sa-options.htm

You can get an ETA, typically, for a stay of up to three months, within about 30 seconds online. For a longer stay, you'll require a proper tourist visa.

On option that might suit some people is a Provsional Investor Visa. If you have a bankroll of over $1,500,000 invested, you may be able to get a business visa. While intended for visitors, it does provide a pathway to permanent residency and then to citizenship.

Re: Ask Josem about visiting/living in Australia
 

Hey Josem,

I'm leaving in February to study in Australia for the next few months. I'll be in Brisbane at the Australia Catholic University. Is there any information you can tell me that would be of interest to an American student traveling to Brisbane soon? What are the big social differences? Are laws very different (especially in terms of alcohol consumption)? I'll be receiving an internship while of there so any other information in regards to work etiquette would also be very helpful. And obviously, how is the night life? Thanks a lot.

Re: Ask Josem about visiting/living in Australia
 

Hawklet,

Damn. I just wrote a lengthy response to your questions, and 2p2 lost it.

That sucks.


Anyway, the short version is ('cause I'm annoyed and don't want to re-write 1,000 words on it):

[ QUOTE ]
I'm leaving in February to study in Australia for the next few months. I'll be in Brisbane at the Australia Catholic University.

[/ QUOTE ]
ACU is not a great university.

Australia's leading universities are www.groupof8.edu.au

[ QUOTE ]
Is there any information you can tell me that would be of interest to an American student traveling to Brisbane soon?

[/ QUOTE ]
High stakes player TeddyFBI studied at Sydney recently.

His story starts here: http://zbasic.com/2006_07_01_archive.html

[ QUOTE ]
What are the big social differences? Are laws very different (especially in terms of alcohol consumption)?

[/ QUOTE ]
Info on drugs & alcohol legality in Queensland: http://www.police.qld.gov.au/services/drugs/

[ QUOTE ]
I'll be receiving an internship while of there so any other information in regards to work etiquette would also be very helpful.

[/ QUOTE ]
Meh. No different to US, I imagine.

[ QUOTE ]
And obviously, how is the night life? Thanks a lot.

[/ QUOTE ]
My city nightlife ratings:
1. Melbourne
...
...
...
2. Sydney
...
...
...
3. Brisbane/Gold Coast
4. Adelaide
5. Canberra*


(*Canberra's very good if you're a little older and you like highly educated public servants. Not loud music, but lots of decent, quieter bars for a more "refined" demographic)

I don't know about Perth.

Re: Ask Josem about visiting/living in Australia
 

Hi Josem,

I've spent quite a lot of time in Australia & am thinking of emigrating there; however, having been there at Xmas I realise that Sydney is probably out of my price range, where would you recommend moving to? Pertinent information:
1. I have a wife & 2 daughters under 10
2. I have a steady income from real estate so I don't need to work
3. I have friends & family in Sydney so I would like to be within a couple of hours drive.
4. I would like to be close to a good beach

Cheers.

Re: Ask Josem about visiting/living in Australia
 

[ QUOTE ]
Hi Josem,

I've spent quite a lot of time in Australia & am thinking of emigrating there; however, having been there at Xmas I realise that Sydney is probably out of my price range, where would you recommend moving to? Pertinent information:
1. I have a wife & 2 daughters under 10
2. I have a steady income from real estate so I don't need to work
3. I have friends & family in Sydney so I would like to be within a couple of hours drive.
4. I would like to be close to a good beach

Cheers.

[/ QUOTE ]


I'm not a fan of living outside major cities. Be aware that my own demographic (25 year old, single, mobile, etc.) is not reflective of yours, so my view of the world might be biased.


If you want to live outside Sydney, in a decent sized town (I'm going to exclude country towns simply because they're unlikely to have the services and schools and facilities you want) but within driving of distance of Sydney, you have two main options:

1) Newcastle region, north of Sydney.

2) Wollongong region, south of Sydney.


Co-incidentally, I currently live in Newcastle. Newcatle (and surrounds) have some sensational beaches, and I reckon they're better than Wollongong's. I also suspect that Newcastle is likely to grow more in the future than Wollongong, and is currently a city of over 500,000 people.

I took a photo of the beach at the end of my street; it is here: http://www.michaeljosem.com/uploaded...ach-789928.JPG


Other possibilities include the North Coast (4 or more hours north of Sydney; literally the best weather in the world; smaller cities/towns than Newcastle/Wollongong); the NSW Central Coast (which to me seems like a suburban extension of Sydney without the excellent services you get in a main city).

Some more info:
www.nsw.gov.au (State Govt Website)
www.realestate.com.au (Real Estate)
www.domain.com.au (More Real Estate)
www.education.nsw.gov.au (State Education Dept)



Hopefully this is a start - if you have more specific questions let me know.

Re: Ask Josem about visiting/living in Australia
 

Did you ever figure out why there are so few fat guys compared to fat girls?

Re: Ask Josem about visiting/living in Australia
 

How would you solve the crisis of the aborigines?

Re: Ask Josem about visiting/living in Australia
 

I'm not interested in answering questions about my own political views - while I'm sure they'd make for an interesting discussion, they don't fit here with the purpose of answering questions about people visiting/living in Australia.

Re: Ask Josem about visiting/living in Australia
 

where wer you 6 mos. ago? :-p

Have you ever been up to cairns?

Re: Ask Josem about visiting/living in Australia
 

I assume there was some discussion about Australian aborigines 6 months ago - I dunno what forum it is, and obviously I missed it.



I have never been to Cairns.

Re: Ask Josem about visiting/living in Australia
 

No, 6 mos. ago I was getting ready to go to Aus. for a month

Re: Ask Josem about visiting/living in Australia
 

[ QUOTE ]
Hi Josem,

I've spent quite a lot of time in Australia & am thinking of emigrating there; however, having been there at Xmas I realise that Sydney is probably out of my price range, where would you recommend moving to? Pertinent information:
1. I have a wife & 2 daughters under 10
2. I have a steady income from real estate so I don't need to work
3. I have friends & family in Sydney so I would like to be within a couple of hours drive.
4. I would like to be close to a good beach

Cheers.

[/ QUOTE ]

Josem's reccomendation of Newcastle or Wollongong is spot on IMO. I don't know a heap about newcastle, but i lived in Wollongong up until about 3 years ago. It is about 90 minutes from the middle of sydney, has great beaches, super nice people, and great weather. Geographically it is fairly unusual in that it has an escarpment on one side of the town and the ocean on the other, so depending on what you want you will be able to find a place to live that you really like. I used to live towards to mountains and it was only like a 15 minute to the beach. Plenty of things to do there like fishing and sailing etc, on top of the usual things. I think there are ~300,000 people living in the greater wollongong area.

Anyway that was my little plug for wollongong - picture

Re: Ask Josem about visiting/living in Australia
 

Is is true that Aussie women just love American men?
(I was told because Aussie men treat women rather poorly)

Re: Ask Josem about visiting/living in Australia
 

How does it feel to watch Aussie Rules football when you know deep down in your heart that the Eagles are omnidominant (yes I just made that up) and that in reality all the other teams are just battling it out for 2nd place?

<font color="white">j/k, kind of</font>

Re: Ask Josem about visiting/living in Australia
 

[ QUOTE ]
Is is true that Aussie women just love American men?
(I was told because Aussie men treat women rather poorly)

[/ QUOTE ]
In my experience this was generally true, but it isn't like Thailand where girls will want to [censored] you just because you're American. You still have to put in the effort to go and talk to them and if you can't pick up girls in the States, you'll probably have trouble in Oz. Any game you do have, though, will be greatly magnified and you'll have a lot more luck than you would normally. There are no three better words to come from a girl's mouth than than "Are you aMEERican?"

Re: Ask Josem about visiting/living in Australia
 

ask me any questions about living in Western Australia, if anyone is planning to visit here etc..not as exciting as east but its still Australia

Re: Ask Josem about visiting/living in Australia
 

I've always been fascinated by Australia, but have never gotten the chance to get over there. I always thought I would migrate there in my 20's...(un)fortunately, I met a girl, got married, have baby on the way, etc. I don't think I can deprive my extended family by moving so far away at this point.

Re: Ask Josem about visiting/living in Australia
 

Man, i scored 60 on the migration points test. I'll have the gf apply and marry her i guess! Or go the bankroll route.

But yea, after travelling around there on the year long working visa, it's a goal of mine to move to australia before i'm 25.

Re: Ask Josem about visiting/living in Australia
 

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Is is true that Aussie women just love American men?
(I was told because Aussie men treat women rather poorly)

[/ QUOTE ]
In my experience this was generally true, but it isn't like Thailand where girls will want to [censored] you just because you're American. You still have to put in the effort to go and talk to them and if you can't pick up girls in the States, you'll probably have trouble in Oz. Any game you do have, though, will be greatly magnified and you'll have a lot more luck than you would normally. There are no three better words to come from a girl's mouth than than "Are you aMEERican?"

[/ QUOTE ]

Seconding this from a british point of view, australian girls are easier.

Re: Ask Josem about visiting/living in Australia
 

[ QUOTE ]
where wer you 6 mos. ago? :-p

Have you ever been up to cairns?

[/ QUOTE ]

I have, twice actually. Cairns itself is quite, how would I put this - boring? Tourist-y? A lot of Japanese tourists are stationed in Cairns, they love the joint. The area itself is outta this world - basically Cairns just happens to be the hub from where you go to every cool place around it. Port Douglas is about 35mi north of Cairns and is a much better option to stay at, although it is a little more expensive and upper-class - much more of a 'boutique' area. Going out to the Barrier Reef is awesome, although it's not as good as it used to be, and you really need to be selective with your tour guide. Generally speaking the bigger the operation, the less bright are the coral, the less the abundance of fish. Pollution and over-use will do that to a highly volatile environment. Try and stick with a smaller operator - it's more fun, you get to learn a lot more as it's more 1 on 1 type of questions, and they generally go to a different location every day or at least rotate their locations. Going on a river cruise down through the Daintree Rainforest is a must as well. To samj, good luck with the bub - but try and get out here when things settle down, you (and your wife and little one) would really love it.

Re: Ask Josem about visiting/living in Australia
 

[ QUOTE ]
ask me any questions about living in Western Australia, if anyone is planning to visit here etc..not as exciting as east but its still Australia

[/ QUOTE ]

What do people in Perth think of this? (NSFW) [img]/images/graemlins/cool.gif[/img]

Re: Ask Josem about visiting/living in Australia
 

Serious question: since you call ketchup "tomato sauce," what do you call tomato sauce (stuff you put on spaghetti or a pizza)?

Re: Ask Josem about visiting/living in Australia
 

[ QUOTE ]
Serious question: since you call ketchup "tomato sauce," what do you call tomato sauce (stuff you put on spaghetti or a pizza)?

[/ QUOTE ]

We call do call "ketchup" "ketchup." It is available for sale in supermarkets.

However, it is generally not popular, and tomato sauce is massively more popular.


(I understand that ketchup is tomato sauce plus some additives of some sort)

Re: Ask Josem about visiting/living in Australia
 

I'm gonna be heading to Melbourne (hopefully) for a school exchange in july. Are there any "must see" things that a college student would find interesting? Money's not a huge factor. Thanks for doing this.

Re: Ask Josem about visiting/living in Australia
 

Some key July things:

Aussie Rules Football (MCG)

More: http://www.thatsmelbourne.com.au/info.cf...p;x=17&amp;y=11

I've just quit my job, and will be finishing in April and moving back to Melbourne then - PM me closer to the time

Re: Ask Josem about visiting/living in Australia
 

Why is beer from the liquor store so friggin expensive?

Re: Ask Josem about visiting/living in Australia
 

[ QUOTE ]
Why is beer from the liquor store so friggin expensive?

[/ QUOTE ]

Because our Government is so friggen greedy [img]/images/graemlins/mad.gif[/img]

Re: Ask Josem about visiting/living in Australia
 

[ QUOTE ]
Why is beer from the liquor store so friggin expensive?

[/ QUOTE ]
Key sources of information on this:

http://www.aph.gov.au/library/pubs/r...6rb15.htm#nine

and

http://www.ato.gov.au/businesses/pathway...001_003_043_003


Abbreviated version (copied from the Australian Parliamentary Library site):
Excise and the GST are levied on a range of alcoholic beverages. Excise is levied on the basis of alcohol content, that is, so many dollars per litre of alcohol

Excise on beer has been levied on the basis of alcohol content (that is, per litre of alcohol) since 1988. Beer excise is generally structured so that, the higher the alcohol content, the larger the amount of excise payable. This provides an incentive to consume low-alcohol beer. Australia is in the minority of OECD countries where the excise amounts are progressive by alcohol strength.

Re: Ask Josem about visiting/living in Australia
 

What's the capacity of those little thimbles bartenders have to pour booze into when making mixed drinks? I spent over $100 on $5 gin and tonics on several occasions and I'm far from being a big guy.

[ QUOTE ]
Why is beer from the liquor store so friggin expensive?

[/ QUOTE ] I found that imports at least were comparable to US prices.

Re: Ask Josem about visiting/living in Australia
 

[ QUOTE ]
What's the capacity of those little thimbles bartenders have to pour booze into when making mixed drinks? I spent over $100 on $5 gin and tonics on several occasions and I'm far from being a big guy.


[/ QUOTE ]

They are 30ml.

They have the alcoholic content of 1 standard drink, the same as a 100ml glass of wine or a 285ml pot of full strength beer.

More information is available online at http://www.therightmix.gov.au/sdg.asp

Re: Ask Josem about visiting/living in Australia
 

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Why is beer from the liquor store so friggin expensive?

[/ QUOTE ]
Key sources of information on this:

http://www.aph.gov.au/library/pubs/r...6rb15.htm#nine

and

http://www.ato.gov.au/businesses/pathway...001_003_043_003


Abbreviated version (copied from the Australian Parliamentary Library site):
Excise and the GST are levied on a range of alcoholic beverages. Excise is levied on the basis of alcohol content, that is, so many dollars per litre of alcohol

Excise on beer has been levied on the basis of alcohol content (that is, per litre of alcohol) since 1988. Beer excise is generally structured so that, the higher the alcohol content, the larger the amount of excise payable. This provides an incentive to consume low-alcohol beer. Australia is in the minority of OECD countries where the excise amounts are progressive by alcohol strength.

[/ QUOTE ]

Interesting. It's weird that you can get a bottle of wine for 10 bucks but that'll barely buy you 3 beers. Taxation for beer vs wine is completely out of whack.

If somebody drinks "light" beer, is he considered a puss?

Re: Ask Josem about visiting/living in Australia
 

[ QUOTE ]
If somebody drinks "light" beer, is he considered a puss?

[/ QUOTE ]

Light beer, in Australia, means low alcohol beer.

It is consumed almost entirely by people who are going to be driving soon after - the maximum blood alcohol concentration in Australian states is 0.05%. It would be highly unusual for someone under the age of 30 to be drinking light beer in other circumstances.

Australia, and in particular, the state of Victoria, has the toughest road regulations anywhere in the world.

Amongst other things, it was the first place in the world to have compulsory seat belts, compulsory random breath testing for drink driving, and now the first place in the world to have compulsory random drug testing for drivers.

More info on this is available at http://www.arrivealive.vic.gov.au/