5 things British expats should consider when moving to Australia

Many British seem to come to Australia for a holiday, even a working one, then end up staying, so become expats instead of just experiencing Australia. If you are planning a working holiday or want to move here, you will love it. Here are 5 tips to help you, not just financially, but in general:

1.) It can take time – not everyone is eligible for immigration, or even work visas, and even if you are it can take quite a while to process t all, so start checking into it early. Check out http://www.immi.gov.au/ for more info. Essentially the government is interested in particular skills and things and have targets of what they want for each year to help the economy etc. They want to know you are not going to come here and bludge. And when you are doing this and planning where to live, check out where your nearest British Embassy or Consulate is. ALL embassies in Australia, for every country, are located in Canberra, but there are consulates in other cities. You should know where your nearest embassy/consulate is no matter where you travel.

This is about as close to a kangaroo as I would get. I happened to walk past it and see them a lot in Canberra, but would not approach one.

2.) Kangaroos are not friendly. They can rip you to pieces, kill you and are often hostile. Do not approach wild ones. Tame ones in zoos are usually ok. Kangaroos are extremely strong and can balance on their tail to claw you with their muscular hind legs and claws. Trust me, many tourists have been hurt. They are cute but can be deadly.

3.) Sort out a bank account – international fees can be high when constantly using your British account, so check out your options before you travel. Compare fees, accounts and find what will work best for you.

4.) Australia is hotter and the UV rays are harsh. We have a massive hole in the ozone layer above us and delicate English skin fries in it. (I have English/Irish heritage and the sun here kills me, I can burn hanging out my washing!). You will need to stay out of the sun in the hottest parts of the day, protect yourself, stay hydrated and in general be sun smart.

5.) Swim between the flags. Many popular beaches have shark nets, life guards and red and yellow flags you need to stay between. This is because the lifeguards know where the rips and things are in the water and where it is safe to swim. They put the flags up to let you know and are watching that area. Do not swim outside the flags or you are risking your own safety.


Australia is a beautiful country, with a lot to do. It is bigger than most people expect, but a lot of fun to explore. So take your time, do your research and enjoy it.