Any regrets in moving to Oz?

kubera · October 2018

About to do our BM early next year and I'm having second thoughts.

gibo43 · October 2018

@kubera is it something to do with the proposed banning of the skilled migrants from the big OZ cities?

maryowni09 · October 2018

Check this out to clear your doubts... https://www.quora.com/Do-you-regret-moving-to-Australia

kubera · October 2018

@gibo43 partly yes

kubera · October 2018

@maryowni09 Thanks

kubera · October 2018

@maryowni09 I was hoping to find an opinion from a Fil standpoint

wanderer · October 2018

@kubera why you having second thoughts?

maryowni09 · October 2018

You might want to check Robbie's channel on youtube, Abroadero Ako. He is a Filipino cook who is working in Australia. He is the only one with a nice vlog (for me). I always watch his videos to get a general feel of the life in OZ

cholle · October 2018

No regrets at all. Best decision we've made.

jmban33 · October 2018

NONE!!

Cassey · October 2018

@kubera No regrets at all. If you are planning to do your BM, do it as soon as you can. At the moment, it’s still a proposal.

divergent · October 2018

@kubera hi. nabanggit ko na sa isang thread. pag nagdadalawang isip ko kung itutuloy ko ba, inaaalala ko na lang yung quote na eto. 'you cant get anywhere in life without taking risks; and the only strategy that is guaranteed to fail is not taking risks at all.' i hope this could help.

kubera · October 2018

Thanks for the answers everyone!

kubera · October 2018

Btw, are you guys in what state and how long have you been staying there?

dy3p · October 2018

@kubera No regrets, best decision I've ever made in my entire existence. May I know what you're biggest concern is apart from migrants moving to regionals? If that's a big chunk of it, then I personally think you shouldn't be bothered.

agentKams · October 2018

no regrets at all. living in regional QLD eversince we moved.

mhej · October 2018

on the contrary, with what's been happening to the Philippines everyday since we left, I can't be more thankful that we left before sh*t hit the fan. hehe

poiuy098 · October 2018

@gibo43

gibo43 said:
@kubera is it something to do with the proposed banning of the skilled migrants from the big OZ cities?

Sir, tanong ko lang po kung tama ba na di maapektuhan ng banning sa big cities yung mga may pr visa na?

onin111 · October 2018

As for the "plan" of banning or encouraging migrants to regional areas, I think this will not affect to those granted already, this is for those who will be granted by the time it is implemented, and probably not for visa 189.

And one issue they have to tackle for this move is the Freedom of movement rights sa AU.. this might not be easy for them legally, but they can of course entice migrants.

fruitys · November 2018

Short answer: no regrets

Long answer: some little things you will notice in AU once you're inside that's different from PH and helped solidify the choice:

An AU PR visa is also technically an NZ PR visa and you can work/live in NZ as much as you want.

Universal healthcare (Medicare) and welfare (Centrelink). Marami sa US and other countries magpapakamatay para makakuha ng ganito, and a tiny levy on your payslip pays for it. That little green/yellow card on your wallet for those with a PR is an absolutely huge benefit that the AU government gives you. There's a reciprocal program where you can travel to places like the UK with your Medicare card and get basic coverage from the NHS.

Medicare's PBS (Pharmaceutical Benefit Scheme) = free or hugely subsidised ng govt ang maintenance/prescription meds mo. Yes that includes extremely expensive heart and cancer medicines.

Schooling is mandatory. University and vocational (TAFE) is handled through student loans (HELP/HECS). La masyado gastos ang magulang sa education ng anak nila. Your kids get free dental from Medicare.

Public transport is decent. It's not SG/Japan/Korea levels, but Sydney's double-decker trains and Melbourne's trams are still a big jump compared to LRT.

Cashless society. Tap and swipe your debit card everywhere. There's Android/Samsung/Apple Pay if you don't want to carry the plastic. Lang holdap kung walang cash. Also AU invented the plastic/polymer money that's now used by Canada and other countries.

Banking is fully digital. Only went to a branch ONCE to validate my first bank account. Once.

Citibank has like one branch in Brisbane, two in Sydney and that's plenty.

Opening additional bank accounts to your main one takes 5 seconds and a few clicks online.

Some banks like ING don't have branches at all and offer perks like refunding fees from any ATM you use, domestic and international.

You can transfer your phone number between providers (Telstra/Optus/Vodafone). Most plans are unlimited call/text/MMS and some have unlimited international minutes/SMS.

You can transfer licence plates between cars.

You can ask your company where you want your salary gets deposited. Mine has a website where we can edit our bank details anytime.

Interbank transfers are free, and there's a new system being implemented by banks (Osko/Fast Payments) where you can transfer money even over $10,000 and it arrives within 1 minute and works 24/7.

Lots of govt services are fully online.

Accountant fees are tax deductible, so they're technically free when you do your taxes.

You can tax deduct a lot of things if they're used for work (home internet, mobile phone, laundry costs, car maintenance)

You can actually breathe the clean air and walk along sidewalks unlike EDSA.

Specials on food. Yes nagsasale ang food dito. And when they do sales they mean it.

Meat and milk are dirt cheap compared to income it's laughable. The standard $6-7 beef mince (giniling) is lean na sa PH. Di maputi.

Idiot proof mag luto dito. Frozen veggies, canned tomatoes, recipe bases, lahat may pre-cut and pre-mixed. If you can brown meat you're already 90% there.

Very very strong labour laws, with Australia having the highest minimum wage in the world. You'll generally get paid better than someone in the US.

Yes, everything is expensive if you compare it to PH, but you still get paid really well compared to the expenses.

Someone with a 70k job will rake in around 1k a week net. You can fly business class to Asia with a few weeks of saving.

Cassey · November 2018

@kubera Another great thing about living here in Au is you are entitled to your rights. Yung mga bagay na pinagwawalang bahala natin sa Pilipinas, dito you can voice out and exercise your rights.

dhey_almighty · November 2018

No regrets at all!

Pero pucha sana kinansel ko na lang ung Visa ng ex wife ko...ampotah lalandi lang pala dito sa oz at ginamit pa ako para lang makapunta ng Oz!

kubera · November 2018

Thanks for all the answers everyone! Nakabook na kami sa Cebupac and Airbnb thid March. Aja!

PitMb · November 2018

Only regret: I should have moved earlier

fruitys · November 2018

@Cassey Yes! If there's one thing you can definitely leave behind in PH, it's the attitude of not speaking up. Aussies are very blunt and open about a lot of things including telling the government to piss off.

Paid in cash but you didn't get a payslip/pay summary? That's illegal. Complain and drag their ass to the tax man (ATO) if you have to. Insist on direct deposits/EFTs for everything.

Employer "forgot" to pay your super for at least 3 months? They are mandated by law to contribute to super at least once every quarter. ATO.

Some occupations require a minimum 2 days off. You were given one day off and forced to work? Get that in writing and send that to Fair Work.

I believe the national employment standards (aka the AU labour laws) mandate that you cannot do a >12hr shift. No it's not "okay" if you voluntarily do more hours out of the goodness of your hearts.

Got injured on your commute to work? You may be entitled to journey compensation. Check your state's WorkCover policy. Most employees are insured by the state govt on work commutes.

Even the visa grant letter comes with a little page that says that you have rights (you didread this part of the grant letter right

)

"Pay rates and workplace conditions are set by Australian law. All people working in Australia, including those from overseas, have rights and protections at work. These cannot be taken away by contracts or agreements."

A visa holder (temporary or permanent) has rights, and no employer can take that away from you. But you have to exercise those rights when needed or talo tayo lahat in the end.