Ask Josem about visiting/living in Australia

[Josem]

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.

[cobrakai111]

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?

[Josem]

[ 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

[4thstreetpete]

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.

[Josem]

[ 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?

[4thstreetpete]

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

[TheMetetron]

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.

[Sayfur]

[ QUOTE ]
[ 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?

[/ QUOTE ]

Thanks for making this post, planning to visit this place soon enough ! Might go pick some cherry and travel around the outback.

So About the quote, I heard on tha TV something about there was a law or something that said "no reasonable accomodation" about religious stuff. Like in canada or at least Québec they allow some kids to have knives at school b/c its a religious item or w/e. I heard something about they dont want that at all, I think its good but I'm not sure if I got good infos.
Is Australia ALOT christian or mostly laïc?
thanks

[Josem]

[ 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

[HoldingFolding]

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.