Working in Australia
Sex: Female
Age at time of emigration: 22
Length of stay: 3 years
Location (area of country): Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia
Currently working in (country + discipline): Australia – Physiotherapist
Professional Life
How long ago did you go to Australia?
3 years ago.
How did you find the process of preparing to work in Australia?
It took 6-7 months to organise the paperwork and complete the three stage registration process.
Were you able to choose to work in an area that interested you?
Yes I found work in a private practice.
Did you find it easy to integrate into your work environment?
The locals are extremely welcoming and are used to Irish expatriates in the area.
What differences, if any, did you find between working as a physiotherapist in Ireland and Australia?
I found the systems to be quite similar in Australia and Ireland. I received initial training and advice and support was provided as needed.
What are the 3 best things about working in Australia?
The weather, the people and the work opportunities.
What are the 3 worst things about working in Australia?
Cost of living, longer working hours, distance from home.
How many holiday days did you have per year, and do you think you had sufficient free-time to travel during the year?
I had 22 days of annual leave and I found plenty of time to travel by having holidays for weeks at a time and taking long weekends.
Could you work with sports teams while living there? If so, what sport, and at what level of team?
There was an opportunity to work with rugby and cricket teams, mostly at underage and amateur level.
Personal Life
How would you describe the weather in comparison to Ireland?
Gold Coast has a subtropical climate so summers are hot and humid and winters are very mild.
Would you recommend going over with friends or by yourself? Why?
I would recommend going over with friends. I went with a group of 4 physiotherapists from my class, that made it much easier to settle in and it was lovely to have people from Ireland nearby when homesick
What did you make of Australia’s culture when you first arrived?
Gold Coast is a very multicultural city with expatriates from all ends of the globe. The locals are very warm and welcoming
Did you have a good social life while there?
Surfers Paradise in Gold Coast has a reputation as Australia’s best nightlife, it certainly live up to expectations. The Australians are very sociable people, sports and nightlife are a major part of their culture.
What are the most popular past-times in Australia?
Sports mostly like rugby, cricket and Australian rules football. Running and surfing are also very popular here.
In comparison with Ireland, is it expensive to live in Australia? What did you find was the most expensive aspect of living there?
Cost of living was quite expensive compared to Ireland especially in terms of accommodation and leisure activities
How would you rate your experience overall (both professionally and personally) in Australia?
Overall it is an amazing experience both for gaining clinical experience and experiencing a different way of life. I would definitely recommend it as an option for new undergraduates who are seeking employment and interested in travel.
Sex: Female
Age at time of emigration: 22
Length of stay: 3 years
Location (area of country): Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia
Currently working in (country + discipline): Australia – Physiotherapist
Professional Life
How long ago did you go to Australia?
3 years ago.
How did you find the process of preparing to work in Australia?
It took 6-7 months to organise the paperwork and complete the three stage registration process.
Were you able to choose to work in an area that interested you?
Yes I found work in a private practice.
Did you find it easy to integrate into your work environment?
The locals are extremely welcoming and are used to Irish expatriates in the area.
What differences, if any, did you find between working as a physiotherapist in Ireland and Australia?
I found the systems to be quite similar in Australia and Ireland. I received initial training and advice and support was provided as needed.
What are the 3 best things about working in Australia?
The weather, the people and the work opportunities.
What are the 3 worst things about working in Australia?
Cost of living, longer working hours, distance from home.
How many holiday days did you have per year, and do you think you had sufficient free-time to travel during the year?
I had 22 days of annual leave and I found plenty of time to travel by having holidays for weeks at a time and taking long weekends.
Could you work with sports teams while living there? If so, what sport, and at what level of team?
There was an opportunity to work with rugby and cricket teams, mostly at underage and amateur level.
Personal Life
How would you describe the weather in comparison to Ireland?
Gold Coast has a subtropical climate so summers are hot and humid and winters are very mild.
Would you recommend going over with friends or by yourself? Why?
I would recommend going over with friends. I went with a group of 4 physiotherapists from my class, that made it much easier to settle in and it was lovely to have people from Ireland nearby when homesick
What did you make of Australia’s culture when you first arrived?
Gold Coast is a very multicultural city with expatriates from all ends of the globe. The locals are very warm and welcoming
Did you have a good social life while there?
Surfers Paradise in Gold Coast has a reputation as Australia’s best nightlife, it certainly live up to expectations. The Australians are very sociable people, sports and nightlife are a major part of their culture.
What are the most popular past-times in Australia?
Sports mostly like rugby, cricket and Australian rules football. Running and surfing are also very popular here.
In comparison with Ireland, is it expensive to live in Australia? What did you find was the most expensive aspect of living there?
Cost of living was quite expensive compared to Ireland especially in terms of accommodation and leisure activities
How would you rate your experience overall (both professionally and personally) in Australia?
Overall it is an amazing experience both for gaining clinical experience and experiencing a different way of life. I would definitely recommend it as an option for new undergraduates who are seeking employment and interested in travel.