Living in Perth & Thinking of Heading Home

stickman1019

Hi Folks,

I have been living in Australia for the last 3 years with my partner and I am considering heading home.

Things are not as busy in WA as they were 2 or 3 years ago and seem to be going only one way, the idea was to come over and get some work in the Mining or Oil & Gas sectors for a few years.

Unfortunately this has not worked out due to resources sector downturn the market is now saturated with engineers.
Now we are seriously considering coming back to Ireland. There was a lot of doom and gloom when I left in 2012.

Looking for you guy’s opinion on some of the following:
• What is the job market currently like for Controls Systems Engineers and E&I
Engineers
• Are jobs paying good $$$ or is a case of an employers market
• What are property prices like in cork
• Are Bank’s lending again, how difficult is it to get a mortgage

I currently work for a company as a Control Systems Engineer for the last 1 & ½ years before this I worked as an E&I Engineer for 2 years in both Ireland & Australia. I started out initially as an Electrician back in the day however I have not worked as one in over 5 years.

Just testing the waters to see what people think on moving back to Ireland is it a good time or should I stick it out in Australia for as long as I have work.

Any input is appreciated thanks in advance.

Tigerandahalf

If you are in anything related to construction there should be jobs in Ireland in the years ahead. The water and sewerage system is being upgraded. A number of road projects have already started plus a lot of housing is needed.
A year ago was a good time to come home. A lot of lads I knew have come home and are in jobs.

Re property prices. Someone like yourself coming back from Oz with a bit of cash saved are in a great position to pick up property at a decent price. A lot of people can't seem to buy because they don't have a deposit or simply don't have secure work.
Wages in construction I don't know about. The days of big wages are gone. Various reports around (one on journal.ie today) that construction wages are still falling but if you are a decent worker you should be fine.

catbear

Can confirm, moved back from Perh a few months ago, wife has full time job already, I'm doing some casual work but hoping to start my own business. Wasn't like this even a year ago.

d.pop

Moving home myself in 8 weeks, have been watching the jobs market for a while now and talking to few people that have made the move already.
While it's not the boom years seems to be picking up a little for "professionals" prepared to work away from home to start with, maybe Dublin or London...?

Property prices seem to be creeping up slowly, I have a house in Cork and while it's still €125k below whatever we paid originally it is creeping up, slowly!

Talking to banks about a new mortgage the biggest delay is not having a work history in Ireland, still old school looking for perm jobs etc.
I spoke to BoI and best they could do me was a 50% non resident mortgage, we're hoping to rent for 12 months, build a credit/saving history again then buy.

Good luck with the move, hopefully in a few months I'll come back on here and update with more a accurate assessment for people considering the move.

stickman1019

Thanks for the replies guys,

At the moment I am researching the job market and the pay back home

Just trying make a heads tale of Ireland V Australia.

Any one have any info on the pharma job market had some experience in that before I left?

gudede

stickman1019 wrote: »

• What are property prices like in cork
• Are Bank’s lending again, how difficult is it to get a mortgage
.

I moved back to Cork in March and I also lived in Perth for three years. Trying to apply for a mortgage at the moment and it will take you at least 5-6 months before you can get one. I'm hoping to apply in September.

Everyone requires six months statements, if your a first time buyer you have to have 10% of the house price for your deposit. You must have regular savings in Ireland. If you start a permanent job over here then you must also get over your probation period. If you don't have a job over here then you won't get a mortgage.

In saying that the house market, is a bit dry at the moment and the standard of house isn't as good as its in Oz. I'd say a lot of people are holding off selling in the hope prices go up more, but this is unlikely to happen as First Time Buyers can only realistically get a mortgage of €220,000 (MAX) meaning the price of the house would be €242,000.

Hasmunch

stickman1019 wrote: »

Any one have any info on the pharma job market had some experience in that before I left?

Pharma market is going quite well at the moment. I returned home from Melbourne at Christmas and was looking in Dublin only though.
Was quite picky with jobs but secured a good job by mid February (was getting itchy feet by that stage but glad i took my time in retrospect).

I work in quality so i cannot speak about the engineering side of things but its worth calling as many recruiters and people you know in the industry to gauge the jobs market at the moment.

stickman1019

gudede wrote: »

I moved back to Cork in March and I also lived in Perth for three years. Trying to apply for a mortgage at the moment and it will take you at least 5-6 months before you can get one. I'm hoping to apply in September.

Everyone requires six months statements, if your a first time buyer you have to have 10% of the house price for your deposit. You must have regular savings in Ireland. If you start a permanent job over here then you must also get over your probation period. If you don't have a job over here then you won't get a mortgage.

In saying that the house market, is a bit dry at the moment and the standard of house isn't as good as its in Oz. I'd say a lot of people are holding off selling in the hope prices go up more, but this is unlikely to happen as First Time Buyers can only realistically get a mortgage of €220,000 (MAX) meaning the price of the house would be €242,000.

I thought they brought in a rule for first time buyers that you need 20% did this materialize ??

Like you guys have said tho you need fulltime permanent work + history rental hisory and Cash they donts make it easy do they

gudede

stickman1019 wrote: »

I thought they brought in a rule for first time buyers that you need 20% did this materialize ??

Like you guys have said tho you need fulltime permanent work + history rental hisory and Cash they donts make it easy do they

For first time buyers is 10%, its 20% for a person who already purchased a house in Ireland and 30% (or more) then for investors.

Donedeal990

It does seem like now is the time to leave, i don't want to sound pessimistic but I can only see things getting a lot worse in Perth in the next 12 months. The initial impact of a near total cessation of mining construction work up North will have far reaching and widespread impact on the wider WA and Australian economies.

I personally know of quite a few Irish and also English Scottish that have gone home in the last six months.

stickman1019

Ya thats a fair point allrite Donedeal990 you dont sound pessimistic more realistic. there is still quite a lot of construction going on in the city for the next year anyway with the new train stations and Dockers stadium not to mention all the commercial / residential apartments flying up.
Mining has had a major effect on WA in general the only saviours at the moment are Roy Hill and the 2 Chevron Gas jobs if they were gone there would be no active construction job up north of any decent size.

Currently im saving around 400Euro a week I think I would struggle to get a job in Ireland where I could save this much

aido79

stickman1019 wrote: »

Ya thats a fair point allrite Donedeal990 you dont sound pessimistic more realistic. there is still quite a lot of construction going on in the city for the next year anyway with the new train stations and Dockers stadium not to mention all the commercial / residential apartments flying up.
Mining has had a major effect on WA in general the only saviours at the moment are Roy Hill and the 2 Chevron Gas jobs if they were gone there would be no active construction job up north of any decent size.

Currently im saving around 400Euro a week I think I would struggle to get a job in Ireland where I could save this much

Have you thought about going back to being an electrician? There's a good bit of work up north for sparks but I'm guessing you don't have an electrical licence if you haven't worked at it in Australia.
Construction is slowing down but there's always going to be a need for maintenance and shutdown electricians.

stickman1019

The Electrician trade is a licence to print money over here and there is considerable work up north you are correct there.

However the rules in transferring my electrician qualifications over changed when I came to Oz. For me to now transfer it over I would have to pay approx 10k AUS in courses take 4 weeks off to do these courses ($$$) and then obtain a job to complete a 1000 hours logbook as a Trade Assistant on $20 which is about 6 months of work, thus the overall cost and time is quite significant with a very big risk associated with it.

So at the moment thats not a viable option; engineering is really a dire market here in Perth lots of engineers with not that many jobs. Thus I am keeping an eye out for lucrative engineering jobs up north but with little direct project exposure to these jobs I feel I have an uphill battle, Its all about who you know

aido79

stickman1019 wrote: »

The Electrician trade is a licence to print money over here and there is considerable work up north you are correct there.

However the rules in transferring my electrician qualifications over changed when I came to Oz. For me to now transfer it over I would have to pay approx 10k AUS in courses take 4 weeks off to do these courses ($$$) and then obtain a job to complete a 1000 hours logbook as a Trade Assistant on $20 which is about 6 months of work, thus the overall cost and time is quite significant with a very big risk associated with it.

So at the moment thats not a viable option; engineering is really a dire market here in Perth lots of engineers with not that many jobs. Thus I am keeping an eye out for lucrative engineering jobs up north but with little direct project exposure to these jobs I feel I have an uphill battle, Its all about who you know

And all of that to prove you are as good as an Aussie who has just completed their apprenticeship. It's a joke.
Good luck with it anyway.

stickman1019

Ya couldnt vent my frustration at the sparky changeover rules enough especially when I have over 10 years industrial experience typical Oz you need a cert to fart out here

b4bmm

How did you go from being an electrician to an E&I/Control systems engineer, is that 3 or 4 years of college?

stickman1019

b4bmm wrote: »

How did you go from being an electrician to an E&I/Control systems engineer, is that 3 or 4 years of college?

Sure is 3 years for an honours Level 8

b4bmm

How did you find the transition?

stickman1019

b4bmm wrote: »

How did you find the transition?

From electrician to engineer! First year or two can be challenging trying to find your feet because the engineering field has more range to cover, but the trade background is a big +

GladWrap

With your qualifications and experience, Stickman, I am really surprised you aren't considering your options in other parts of Australia, such as Queensland.

stickman1019

GladWrap wrote: »

With your qualifications and experience, Stickman, I am really surprised you aren't considering your options in other parts of Australia, such as Queensland.

Think if I had to uproot my other half there would be only one place we'd be going if you know what I mean!

Do you reckon their is much happening over their? What have you heard

GladWrap

What a shame. Australia is more than just WA. I'm fortunate to have lived all over and while I would not recommend South Australia, I know there's plenty of work in Queensland.

Just one example: http://www.seek.com.au/job/28872102?pos=10&type=standout

Having lived in Queensland before - Brisbane, Central and North Qld - I can honestly tell you that the living standard is good and, I would submit, better than Perth's.

Personally, with Ireland in the shape it's in at the moment, I'd be checking out other options prior to flying back. But if your partner is homesick then that's a different kettle of fish and that's a hard one to navigate.

Best of luck.

stickman1019

Thanks for the info Gladwrap jobs like that are two a penny advertised here in Perth aswell particularly for the Gorgon and Wheatstone jobs in WA but in reality you need a good contacts to get on-board as you probably well know recruitment consultants in WA are not the best at thinking outside the box and matching potential skills unless less its like for like!

My issue is most of my mates are in the trades and are in the process of getting there PR trying to get up north;

What industry do you work in yourself ? Are you located in QLD?

b4bmm

stickman1019 wrote: »

Thanks for the info Gladwrap jobs like that are two a penny advertised here in Perth aswell particularly for the Gorgon and Wheatstone jobs in WA but in reality you need a good contacts to get on-board as you probably well know recruitment consultants in WA are not the best at thinking outside the box and matching potential skills unless less its like for like!

My issue is most of my mates are in the trades and are in the process of getting there PR trying to get up north;

What industry do you work in yourself ? Are you located in QLD?

Are you on a working holiday?

stickman1019

b4bmm wrote: »

Are you on a working holiday?

Hi mate I have my PR

b4bmm

Surprising you are struggling then. Have you got a linkdin page, I notice from a friend that he gets contacted quite often now for positions, it seems to be as much of a job site as a professional link webpage. Put some effort into setting up a professional profile and start linking with people it might come good for you.

d.pop

FYI guys, am sure you have heard by now about the cost of car insurance when you are out of Ireland for more than 2 years but it came as a bit of a shock to me when I tried to get a quote on line. Only 1 crowd would quote me, 6500e for a 3500e 2008 car at 2.0L. I just made up the car as that was what I had before leaving and I knew the cost.
I'll let you know when I get home in 2 weeks how I got on and actually speak to somebody in person but in hindsight I should have got myself named on a parents policy.
Worth considering doing that if you're long term goal is moving home.
I got a letter from my company in Aus with my NCB, hope the Irish company will accept it.

Undertow

d.pop wrote: »

Only 1 crowd would quote me, 6500e for a 3500e 2008 car at 2.0L. I just made up the car as that was what I had before leaving and I knew the cost.

F*ck, thats the height of insanity!! No way in hell would I pay a fraction of it.

d.pop

Undertow wrote: »

F*ck, thats the height of insanity!! No way in hell would I pay a fraction of it.

I know! I was paying around 450e insurance for similar car 5 years ago.
20 years driving, not one accident all that time, leave Ireland for a few years and I become a menace to society....!

Realistically I am hoping to get some insurance for around a 1000e but am prepared for the worst.
With insurance compulsory you're kinda screwed unless you live and work on a public transport route which I won't be.

jacksie66

This post has been deleted.

stickman1019

jacksie66 wrote: »

Ridiculous amount of work here in Christchurch..

Do you have full working rights in new zealan if you have Australian PR

Undertow

stickman1019 wrote: »

Do you have full working rights in new zealan if you have Australian PR

You do!

As an Australian PR, you can work outside of Oz for 3 years out of every 5, before having to return if you want to renew your PR.

stickman1019

Undertow wrote: »

You do!

As an Australian PR, you can work outside of Oz for 3 years out of every 5, before having to return if you want to renew your PR.

Thanks Mate! I must say the people on boards are lot more helpful than the Australian Alternative Whirlpool!!

rightyabe

Undertow wrote: »

You do!

As an Australian PR, you can work outside of Oz for 3 years out of every 5, before having to return if you want to renew your PR.

So are you saying that if you have australian PR you can work in NZ without limitations or needing a visa for NZ?

massdebater

rightyabe wrote: »

So are you saying that if you have australian PR you can work in NZ without limitations or needing a visa for NZ?

That's not right anyway. Having aussie citizenship allows you to work in NZ without restrictions - aussie PR doesn't give you any work rights to NZ

EDIT: I got this wrong - you can work in NZ as an aussie PR. Sorry!

MrCreosote

Nope, he's correct. Aussie PR can work in NZ:

http://www.immigration.govt.nz/migrant/stream/work/worktoresidence/caniworkinnz/

Doesn't work the other way around though

Undertow

massdebater wrote: »

That's not right anyway. Having aussie citizenship allows you to work in NZ without restrictions - aussie PR doesn't give you any work rights to NZ

I'm in that position mate, so I think I'd know!

massdebater

Wow - apologies, I genuinely didn't know that. I was counting that as an extra reason for applyinf for aussie citizenship! I'll edit my last post.

While we're on the topic - can I get the dole in NZ either as an aussie PR or citizen?

Undertow

massdebater wrote: »

Wow - apologies, I genuinely didn't know that. I was counting that as an extra reason for applyinf for aussie citizenship! I'll edit my last post.

While we're on the topic - can I get the dole in NZ either as an aussie PR or citizen?

No worries!

I very much doubt you'd be entitled to dole in NZ as either an Aussie PR or citizen, but I'm open to correction!

FWIW if you're thinking of heading to NZ, I couldn't recommend it enough. I've been here for the past 2 years and I much preferred it to Oz. The economy is booming too. The only drawback is that its so far away from home!

massdebater

Undertow wrote: »

No worries!

I very much doubt you'd be entitled to dole in NZ as either an Aussie PR or citizen, but I'm open to correction!

FWIW if you're thinking of heading to NZ, I couldn't recommend it enough. I've been here for the past 2 years and I much preferred it to Oz. The economy is booming too. The only drawback is that its so far away from home!

Yeah I've been to NZ twice before and will be going again for 2 months next year. I found that most places in NZ were better than most places in Aus but melbourne was my favourite place of either country by quite a distance so I couldn't consider living anywhere in NZ ahead of Melbourne. Still though, NZ is a far better country to spend a few weeks travelling so I'm surprised more people don't go there than Aus.

I should be getting Aussie citizenship in a couple of months so was just seeing if it might make me eligible for the dole over there but I highly doubt it would. Worth a try asking though!

Donedeal990

Don't know if negativity is the right word but perth has lost its positivity. I know if of a lot of people who have lost their jobs recently with the downturn up north. Most people I talk to have a wait and see attitude but it does seem perth is in for a tough few years ahead.

yogimotorsport

massdebater wrote: »

While we're on the topic - can I get the dole in NZ either as an aussie PR or citizen?

Can I ask why would you want to get the dole when you if you move there.
Are you not planning on working?

massdebater

yogimotorsport wrote: »

Can I ask why would you want to get the dole when you if you move there.
Are you not planning on working?

I won't be moving there permanently, I will just be travelling around for approx 2 months so won't be working while I'm there

Peregrinus

massdebater wrote: »

I won't be moving there permanently, I will just be travelling around for approx 2 months so won't be working while I'm there

To get Jobseeker Support in New Zealand you have to be (a) unemployed and looking for work, or (b) part-time employed and looking for more work, or (c) temporarily unable to work because of illness or injury. "Travelling around for approx 2 months" won't qualify you.

(From memory, you also have to be a New Zealand citizen or permanent resident who has lived in NZ for at least two years, and who normally lives there. That, too, would rule you out. But in your circumstances the question doesn't arise.)

massdebater

Peregrinus wrote: »

To get Jobseeker Support in New Zealand you have to be (a) unemployed and looking for work, or (b) part-time employed and looking for more work, or (c) temporarily unable to work because of illness or injury. "Travelling around for approx 2 months" won't qualify you.

(From memory, you also have to be a New Zealand citizen or permanent resident who has lived in NZ for at least two years, and who normally lives there. That, too, would rule you out. But in your circumstances the question doesn't arise.)

That's alright, thanks for the info. Yeah I guessed I wouldn't be able to get anything but thought it would be worth my while trying. Cheers

d.pop

Just an update there guys on the state of affairs back in Ireland.
Moved home about 3 weeks ago to Cork from Perth.
Got lucky and got a job through a contact 2 days after arriving so that was excellent.
Some observations:
I work in construction so in that regard things are improving and there is definitely an improvement but outside of Dublin it is still very slow, Cork is still pretty quiet but if you are prepared to live/work/commute to Dublin there are opportunities out there, still probably 12 months off some solid improvement but there are green shoots.
Property is increasing in value again, subject to location of course but 5-10% increases in value around my area being predicted for 2015/2016.
Few things to watch out for:
Health Insurance - similar to Australia there is now a levy which increases every year you don't have it, get it once you come home or before it even, you will be excused the levy by most companies if you are returning from overseas and had insurance before you left Ireland originally.
Car Insurance, i was getting ridiculous quotes up to €6500 online but in the end went to a broker and got insured in a 1.6L car worth around 10k for €650. i was lucky though as i still had my Irish licence so the NCB didn't really come in to it.
Word of warning many insurance companies now flatly refusing to insure cars over 15 years old, 1 company actually cutting off at 10 years old (allegedly).
Big shortage of reasonably priced small-medium cars from 08-09 as the car tax changed in 08 to omissions and in 09 there was feck all cars sold... !
Government has brought in free GP visits for kids under 6 and people over 70 recently so that's good for families with kids.
That's all i can think of for now, its good to be home....i find myself smiling at stupid things like the tractors hauling silage on the main road in rush hour being driven by 10 year old kids etc...won't get that anywhere else...!

lg123

d.pop wrote: »

Just an update there guys on the state of affairs back in Ireland.
Moved home about 3 weeks ago to Cork from Perth.
Got lucky and got a job through a contact 2 days after arriving so that was excellent.
Some observations:
I work in construction so in that regard things are improving and there is definitely an improvement but outside of Dublin it is still very slow, Cork is still pretty quiet but if you are prepared to live/work/commute to Dublin there are opportunities out there, still probably 12 months off some solid improvement but there are green shoots.
Property is increasing in value again, subject to location of course but 5-10% increases in value around my area being predicted for 2015/2016.
Few things to watch out for:
Health Insurance - similar to Australia there is now a levy which increases every year you don't have it, get it once you come home or before it even, you will be excused the levy by most companies if you are returning from overseas and had insurance before you left Ireland originally.
Car Insurance, i was getting ridiculous quotes up to €6500 online but in the end went to a broker and got insured in a 1.6L car worth around 10k for €650. i was lucky though as i still had my Irish licence so the NCB didn't really come in to it.
Word of warning many insurance companies now flatly refusing to insure cars over 15 years old, 1 company actually cutting off at 10 years old (allegedly).
Big shortage of reasonably priced small-medium cars from 08-09 as the car tax changed in 08 to omissions and in 09 there was feck all cars sold... !
Government has brought in free GP visits for kids under 6 and people over 70 recently so that's good for families with kids.
That's all i can think of for now, its good to be home....i find myself smiling at stupid things like the tractors hauling silage on the main road in rush hour being driven by 10 year old kids etc...won't get that anywhere else...!

thanks for the follow up. how about income tax, someone was telling me its increased significantly??

jacksie66

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lg123

jacksie66 wrote: »

God I miss home. I'm here in Christchurch nearly 2 years now. Really getting sick of it. The only thing keeping me here is the insane amount of work..

so the money you are making out weighs your home sickness?

jacksie66

This post has been deleted.

lg123

Kind of?? that mindset isn't going to help your time in Christchurch. you have a great opportunity and i'm sure there are plenty at home who would swap with you if you aren't going to make the most of it.

i don't know about NZ permanent residency but Aus PR isn't that permanent. if you're not in the country, it expires after 5 years. NZ may be different, dunno.