Post: #51

Perth is ok, not somewhere I'd live but I've visited it a couple of times.

I think the areas are divided into either South of the river (SoR) and North of the river (NoR)

There are a lot of cashed up bogans there cause of the strong resources sector, but like anywhere there still are a lot of poor people in some areas.

Crappy nightlife and country town lifestyle probably ruins it though.

As mentioned before, there are a lot of dumb people in Perth so if you have half a brain you'll seem like Einstein in Western Australia.

The weather and beaches are awesome though.

Post: #52

Spent a couple of weeks over in Perth and it is one expensive place. Its a lot more relaxed and slow paced compared to a Melbourne or Sydney but price wise it is just as expensive, if not more so than the other two cities. As people stated, the boom of the resource sector has really seen prices blow out in Perth. Weather and beaches are great there and its a relaxed lifestyle if that's your sort of thing. It is kind of like a very large country town.

Post: #53

Ok. So I fly to the Phils for a couple weeks for holiday. Then shoot down to the OZ to find a job, over a month time frame. Where would you start and how would you go about doing it? This can happen in June and money isn't an issue.

Post: #54

Ali if you PM me I can send you some links to a few good recruitment agencies here in Perth.

Post: #55

Bumped this thread because it looks like I will be heading to Perth to work this fall, likely mid-November. I have a few admin type questions about getting myself set up down there once I arrive.

Can anyone recommend a good cell phone company? I'll likely be working in remote areas and am concerned with cell phone coverage while away at work.

Whats a good bank to deal with?

The company I'll likely work for is located on Cambridge Street,
West Leederville. I've been looking on Air BnB and there seems to be a few places close by I can stay at. There's also a transit train close by to there, so hopefully I can rely on public transportation while on the job hunt because I really don't want to drive down there.

I'll also look for work with other companies and take the offer that suits me best, I plan on doing FIFO work for the first few months anyway and see if I like it.

Thanks to all who've contributed to this thread, great info here.

Post: #56

Gold Coast has pretty rampant crime. I live on the Sunshine Coast which is about 200 km north, it is emerging from a sleepy hollow into a more liveable place. Queensland is a coal state and north of Gladstone there is a tonne of mining, it is kind of on shaky ground with a number of layoffs and a Pemiere who has layed off 14,600 public servants and increased mining loyalties. Mining will continue to boom, as long as China continues to buy our coal. Much of the East Coast hardly a boom town, the baby bonus which is $5000 per child encourages women to have kids. Area I live in is about to experience lots of construction, a massive new hospital is being built, fortunately we are not reliant on mining like other parts of the country although we do have around 10,000 fly in fly out workers who live here. Lots of retirees here and single mums and families, nightlife pretty dead at the moment, once new people move here, could takeoff.

Post: #57

I lived in Fremantle for about 4 months, basically a suburb of Perth. Perth had hotter girls on average and few Americans ever go there. The girls loved my accent. Everyone was friendly as hell.

Post: #58

(09-21-2012 02:52 AM)Magic Bullets Wrote:  Gold Coast has pretty rampant crime.

They say that about Surfer's Paradise and knife crime (the nightlife area of the Gold Coast), but they say the same shit about the Melbourne CBD at night too, I think it's completely exaggerated. You can't trust these Current Affair programs on every week night, they're designed to scare the shit out of middle aged suburbanites more than anything else.

(09-21-2012 02:52 AM)Magic Bullets Wrote:  Mining will continue to boom, as long as China continues to buy our coal.

I don't know man, they're saying we're guaranteed to keep enjoying it till at least 2015. Beyond that, it's mere speculation.

Quote:Bumped this thread because it looks like I will be heading to Perth to work this fall, likely mid-November.

If you ever come to Melbourne make sure to PM me. Funny, because I was just talking about Perth with friends a few days ago. Great beaches but girls are uglier then Melbourne and Sydney is what people always say.

Quote:Can anyone recommend a good cell phone company? I'll likely be working in remote areas and am concerned with cell phone coverage while away at work.

We call them mobile phones or "mobiles" in Australia. I'd recommend Telstra (privatized government telecom) based on their reputation yet the company I'm with (Vodafone) have a bad rep yet I've never had a problem with them...

Quote:Whats a good bank to deal with?

The Big Four are Commonwealth Bank, ANZ, NAB and Westpac. I recommend the former because they have the largest number of ATM's and great internet banking.

Post: #59

I was researching more about working in perth few months ago and from what i gathered from few sources that moved there is that is not an easy place to get a job. If you are not driving is even harder, i completely dished out the idea of moving there, i even lost the money for the australia visa, oh well..Canada we go.

Post: #60

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A couple of tunes about OZ for you blokes, to lighten the mood a bit

Post: #61

(09-21-2012 05:03 AM)P Dog Wrote:  

(09-21-2012 02:52 AM)Magic Bullets Wrote:  Gold Coast has pretty rampant crime.

They say that about Surfer's Paradise and knife crime (the nightlife area of the Gold Coast), but they say the same shit about the Melbourne CBD at night too, I think it's completely exaggerated. You can't trust these Current Affair programs on every week night, they're designed to scare the shit out of middle aged suburbanites more than anything else.


If you ever come to Melbourne make sure to PM me. Funny, because I was just talking about Perth with friends a few days ago. Great beaches but girls are uglier then Melbourne and Sydney is what people always say.

exactly australia is so safe that if a person gets stabbed it amkes national news. fights make news therefore people think it's the norm. it's not. seriously safest place ive lived in. when i was in colombia people were getting stabbed, shot and robbed on a daily basis and no one bats an eyelid and it doesnt even make news.

i have not been to perth but i have heard the women are nice...
from where i have been sydney has the nicest women followed by gold coast. night game is best in oz-clubs, pubs BUT you have to be young and good looking...

Post: #62

(04-01-2012 11:39 AM)UnW Wrote:  Perth is ok, not somewhere I'd live but I've visited it a couple of times.

I think the areas are divided into either South of the river (SoR) and North of the river (NoR)

There are a lot of cashed up bogans there cause of the strong resources sector, but like anywhere there still are a lot of poor people in some areas.

Crappy nightlife and country town lifestyle probably ruins it though.

As mentioned before, there are a lot of dumb people in Perth so if you have half a brain you'll seem like Einstein in Western Australia.

The weather and beaches are awesome though.

Odd, I missed this post before. Always curious to hear what Perth nightlife was like. It was never going to be anywhere near as cosmopolitan and cultured as Melbourne and Sydney though. Perth has a reputation for being really conservative, the place where all the Brits and (British) South Africans flocked to in white flight for a Mediterranean climate and cheap housing. Be warned, the later however no longer exists. Perth's housing costs are second only to Sydney's.

Post: #63

(09-20-2012 01:17 PM)scotian Wrote:  Can anyone recommend a good cell phone company?

Depends on who you ar calling. Telstra, the former government monopoly has the best coverage, but horrible rates.

Australia cell phone rates are high by global standards, and they are the worst of our bunch.

I would otherwise pick Optus or VirginMobile if purely domiciled in the city

Quote:I'll likely be working in remote areas and am concerned with cell phone coverage while away at work.

Reading this, you are more likely than not going to be issued with a work phone unless you're doing a pleb role. But otherwise, I'd go Telstra if you're remote a lot.

Quote:Whats a good bank to deal with?

In W.A, always go Commonwealth bank, they recently took over the bank of western australia (bankwest) thus have a much larger number of ATM's, all banks charge you $2,50 for using a competitors ATM, so you want the widest coverage.

Quote:The company I'll likely work for is located on Cambridge Street,
West Leederville. I've been looking on Air BnB and there seems to be a few places close by I can stay at. There's also a transit train close by to there, so hopefully I can rely on public transportation while on the job hunt because I really don't want to drive down there.

This may impact on your social life not driving, though an accnted guy can get your pussy to be your driver too.

As the train lines are node focused, I'd live on the fremantle or midland line if I were you.

Quote:I'll also look for work with other companies and take the offer that suits me best, I plan on doing FIFO work for the first few months anyway and see if I like it.

Thanks to all who've contributed to this thread, great info here.

There has been a raft of projects halted, and there is now concern production may be halted in the more morginal operations.

Basically since the beginning of this thread, the price of iron ore has dropped from $180/ton to around $100/ton.

Post: #64

$180,001 and over $54,547 plus 45c for each $1 over $180,00

That sound like a good tax.

You need a lot of safety courses to work in the industry?

I'm thinking of going down there, but anyone know whats best for an engineer wanting to work in oil and gas?

I am in serious doubt about where to go. North dakota, canada or W australia.

Post: #65

http://fullcomment.nationalpost.com/2012...or-canada/

Little, old, but an interesting read

Post: #66

flights to Bali/Thailand and im pretty sure phillipines are dirt cheap from perth. in fact some miners do there 2 weeks off in thailand then 2 weeks on at work year round its that cheap.

Post: #67

(03-13-2013 05:03 AM)pants Wrote:  $180,001 and over $54,547 plus 45c for each $1 over $180,00

That sound like a good tax.

You need a lot of safety courses to work in the industry?

I'm thinking of going down there, but anyone know whats best for an engineer wanting to work in oil and gas?

I am in serious doubt about where to go. North dakota, canada or W australia.

If you're an experienced engineer, should be easy for you to get into Canada, I see that you're Filipino, I saw this ad on the street in Cebu a few days ago:

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Post: #68

I am also interested in the opportunities in Perth.. I met up with Alexander from RSD who is Australian, and once I told him I had a working visa (18 month) he immediately told me to go to Perth. He also said that pickup is best in Perth as well (!?) but I have a hard time believing him, as he is obviously a professional and i'm not quite...

Anyone know the chances of someone with a B.S. in Environmental Engineering landing a solid job in Perth within 4 weeks? It's hard to tell what the industry looks like these days.

Post: #69

Thread bump.

Visa secured and the flight has been booked, I'm moving to Perth in early May. Gonna see if I can get in on that mining cash, hopefully I can find something in the first couple of weeks or else I will high tail it back to the oil sands.

Big up to T and A man for answering my PMs about logistic issues, but I still have more questions:

Are cigs really $20/pack?

What kind of temperatures can I expect in Perth in May? How about those butt fuck towns like Karratha up north? I'll be working outside.

I've ran into some rowdy Australians throughout my travels and these were the educated, traveled ones, just how bad are the blue collar Bogans I'll be working with in the mines?

Thanks guys

Post: #70

(04-15-2013 02:25 AM)scotian Wrote:  Thread bump.

Visa secured and the flight has been booked, I'm moving to Perth in early May. Gonna see if I can get in on that mining cash, hopefully I can find something in the first couple of weeks or else I will high tail it back to the oil sands.

Big up to T and A man for answering my PMs about logistic issues, but I still have more questions:

Are cigs really $20/pack?

What kind of temperatures can I expect in Perth in May? How about those butt fuck towns like Karratha up north? I'll be working outside.

I've ran into some rowdy Australians throughout my travels and these were the educated, traveled ones, just how bad are the blue collar Bogans I'll be working with in the mines?

Thanks guys

Thats whats up, balls of steel.

I give you credit for the courage to start all over again. Let us know how it goes, i wonder if there are many opportunities for guys with very little experience. Its way easier for me to get a visa to Australia.

Post: #71

(04-15-2013 02:25 AM)scotian Wrote:  Thread bump.

Visa secured and the flight has been booked, I'm moving to Perth in early May. Gonna see if I can get in on that mining cash, hopefully I can find something in the first couple of weeks or else I will high tail it back to the oil sands.

Big up to T and A man for answering my PMs about logistic issues, but I still have more questions:

Are cigs really $20/pack?

What kind of temperatures can I expect in Perth in May? How about those butt fuck towns like Karratha up north? I'll be working outside.

I've ran into some rowdy Australians throughout my travels and these were the educated, traveled ones, just how bad are the blue collar Bogans I'll be working with in the mines?

Thanks guys

Yeah cigs are about 15 to 20 bucks a pack.

the lads on the mines might be a little rough around the edges but my guess is top blokes who are very laid back and down to earth.

Post: #72

I am from Perth and worked on the mines as an Engineer for the past 5 years for one of the largest mining company's in the world (now abroad).

I can answer any questions for anyone interested or moving to Perth.

Hot tip; don't do it. Its a city devoid of culture, astronomically expensive, closed minded people with a tribe mentality that is not too receptive to outsiders, and I can assure you will not come away with as much funds as planned as the price of living is inescapable, unless you are willing to work fly in fly out (3-4 weeks on/1 week off, 12+ hr days, 100 degree heat, cabin fever), for which you usually need to have a unique skillset and education.

Furthermore, and quite possibly the most important factor, most companies won't employ foreigners over locals due to the red tape involved, unless you have a skillset that is in critical demand. And in the event you do land a role, I know of many who have the equivalent skills, experience and education as I do, yet get paid less than half as they are on working visas and are not permenant residents/citizens.

Post: #73

(04-15-2013 03:54 AM)Lukey Wrote:  I am from Perth and worked on the mines as an Engineer for the past 5 years for one of the largest mining company's in the world (now abroad).

I can answer any questions for anyone interested or moving to Perth.

Hot tip; don't do it. Its a city devoid of culture, astronomically expensive, closed minded people with a tribe mentality that is not too receptive to outsiders, and I can assure you will not come away with as much funds as planned as the price of living is inescapable, unless you are willing to work fly in fly out (3-4 weeks on/1 week off, 12+ hr days, 100 degree heat, cabin fever), for which you usually need to have a unique skillset and education.

Furthermore, and quite possibly the most important factor, most companies won't employ foreigners over locals due to the red tape involved, unless you have a skillset that is in critical demand. And in the event you do land a role, I know of many who have the equivalent skills, experience and education as I do, yet get paid less than half as they are on working visas and are not permenant residents/citizens.

Thanks for the heads up man but I'm prepared for it and fairly confident that I'll land something. I've heard that Perth is a boring city but at least it has a beach, I've spent the last six years living in industrial shit holes where instead of +40, its -40 and I'll take the heat over that cold any day.

Accommodation: I have a place to stay, for free, I made friends with a guy I met in Thailand and he offered me a room in his house, only downside is that its way up in Yanchep and I won't have a car to get to the interviews and pound the pavement in Perth, hopefully the loser cruiser runs up there.

FIFO work: That's what I'm going there for, I don't want to work in Perth, I want to get into a camp or offshore ASAP. I've done that type of work for years and can do a month in camp on my head, no sweat, I once worked 24/4 for 8 months straight at 84-100+ hours/week, I'm mentally prepared for the cabin fever and the inevitable dry spells.

Skill Set: I'm ticketed up in my trade and my certifications are ISO 9000 series and recognized in Australia and around the world, judging by the amount of job offers I see on seek.com.au , its in demand down there. Also, I have about 5 years of heavy industrial experience in a variety of settings: fabrication shops, pipelines, oil refineries, chemical plants, mining, etc. I've worked in new construction, maintenance on live sites and when I did that 8 month stint, it was after a refinery blew up so I have shutdown/turnaround experience as well.

Finally, I'm following in the foot steps of a good friend of mine who I went to trade school with and has been working down there for a year and a half although he made the move from Perth to Melbourne a few months ago. He says its still busy, so I hope he's right.

In the end, there's only one way to find out, get my ass down there and see for myself. If I don't find work within a couple of weeks, I guess I'll just have to spend a couple of more weeks in SE Asia then land a gig back home, lots of work in Canada right now.

Anyway, thanks again for the honest insights, if you're ever back in Perth while I'm there, hit me up on here and I'll buy you a few of those $12/pints, you too T and a Man and any other Perth locals on the forum.

Post: #74

Good luck Scotian in Perth! I'm sure with your skill set, experience and soft skills, you'd land something good fast. I definitely do not blame you for wanting out of the frigid Northern Alberta! To give you an idea, I'm still hesitating going now and we're in spring! LOL

Cheers bro!

Post: #75

(04-15-2013 02:25 AM)scotian Wrote:  Are cigs really $20/pack?

Yup, Australia has lead the world in reducing smoking, and part of that is probably the highest nicotine taxes in the world.

Their most recent initiative has been to ban cigarette companies from having their packaging in appealing colours, and instead the are ONLY allowed to be covered in pictures of various body part afflicted with smoking related diseases, such as;

mouth cancer
fucked up eyes
gangrenous feet
etc

it is G's worst nightmare.

Quote:What kind of temperatures can I expect in Perth in May?

17-28C in the day, 10-17C at night

Quote:How about those butt fuck towns like Karratha up north? I'll be working outside.

25-35C, now is dry season so less humidty, rain and cyclones.

Quote:I've ran into some rowdy Australians throughout my travels and these were the educated, traveled ones, just how bad are the blue collar Bogans I'll be working with in the mines?

Guys you meet travel because they have curiosity that need sating.

They guys who stay behind are f*ckwits, when back in town from FIFO, they tend to go on methamphetamine benders, go into Northbridge or the casino and glass cunts!

Met some decent FIFO guys recently, engineers, not tradies. Their idea of fun when bored was to go home at 4am after a night in Fremantle, pull out a .22 rifle and blast the shit out of phone books in their lounge room. They had pics on their phone to prove it.

But the tradies, these type of people have no intellect or knowledge beyond year 7 or 8 education, only know mainstream banal TV events like the biggest loser, have shit diets and moron girlfriends who slut around when they're 'up north'.

In other words they are simple. Especially in Perth they are bad, for North Americans, equate them to carnies with $150k p.a. job.

Go read the website 'things bogans like' to get an idea.