A Singaporean In Australia

Steady lah... bro.
Siang Hwee

@ Siang Hwee, thanks and congrats (u know what)

Dude,

I think you did a marvelous job with the work design flow.... awesome!! Fellow Singaporean in Australia

I'm glad I didn't think as much as you about migrating, though my hubby. (guess who's losing more hair) like your wife, it's been my dream to leave Singapore. Took lotsa pain to convince my hubby to pack up and leave. At one time, it got to the stage that I gave him the ultamatum, leave or divorce. That sure did the trick. ;-) ya, damn hardball lah.

@Fellow Singaporean in Australia : i was thinking which guy saw it and like it so much and give me a job so I dun have to be a tradie . hiak hiak. just kidding.

thinking back i didn't know why i draw this. boredom.

@Another Singaporean migrant: Hi sister, you are indeed the Iron Singaporean woman. Don't play play.

Where u guys staying? In the eastern cities i assumed?

Have a job in OZ then migrate???? Because SG pay such crapola money???

@Ida: hi sister. it's definitely better to have a job then migrate. but it'll be tough because they give the jobs to the locals first. still possible but one needs to be real relentless in landing a job here. i've heard a fren fly over 4 times separately over a few years before he finally get his 457 visa.

left Sgp for Melbourne back in 2006. The Sgp I knew don't exist anymore. Sad...but its a sickening reality. Only miss my parents :(

@Anonymous: Sadly, I miss the old Singapore too. As well as my parents of course.

i'm a fellow singaporean working in perth!

I heard people usually have to downgrade from their previous jobs when they take up their first one in Australia. Is this true?

eg. An IT Manager with many years of experience at old country will have to settle for maybe an IT Team Lead (or worse, engineer)?

Really LOVE the flow chart!

Me & my husband are now 171 days 20 hours 46mins 16sec until we move to Melbourne.

actually, grass is definitely NOT greener in racist down under.

I am 58 and my wife is 50, we are both UK graduate but no longer working in the industry, thinking of migrating to Australia for retirement, any advise? If you needs friend..........we are the one........

hey dude, know anything about backpacking holidays ?

I've just read your blog from start to finish today - skimmed through some posts but overall got the gist of your entire motivation for migrating - I must say that I'm truly inspired! You had it so tough but you never once faltered.

Growing up I was never really possessed any flare academically and pretty much struggled throughout the Singapore education system. Until today I still have nightmares about my mum questioning me after my PSLE exams, asking me if I felt that I could get any A* or not! Somehow the memory of it still lingers vividly in my mind after all these years. I would never want to put my child through what I had to go through.

Having failed the education system, I was denied entry to all three universities - NUS, NTU and SMU. I finally decided to pursue overseas studies. Back then, this decision did not come easy as I was possibly the most-sheltered-spolit brat. This was a big step to me.

After two years of university studies in Melbourne, living independently was not so bad. For the first time in my life I had actually apply independent thinking on my own.

I returned back to Singapore with a degree in 2006 and applied for my PR offshore - back then it was the Sub Class 136 I believe. I hired an migration agent and after jumping through many hoops and processes my application was granted in 2007.

I've always had the dream of living and working in Australia. I tried to wait for the right moment and as time past I grew increasingly conscious that I needed to fulfill the 2 out of 5 years rule. One day I just decided that there was a possibility that there would not be an ideal moment, if I wanted it bad enough I should just do it. And so I did. I left my job in SG at the end of 2009, booked a one way ticket to Melbourne and I haven't looked back since.

It took me 6 months to find a job, I was incredibly blessed to find a good role with a reputable company with fantastic colleagues!

Since my employment, I've received two pay increments and an award for Employee of the Month - this speaks volumes in terms of job recognition - something which I've never experience in my four years of employment in Singapore.

Most friends and family around me always as why I migrated - in my dad's own words, "What's wrong with Singapore?" I usually don't know where to start - your blog truly sums up the same sentiments I felt when I decided to migrate.

Best wishes to you and your family - Albany is such a sweetheart!

Cheers, saccha.

I need a friend in perth!

Hi, I am thinking of bring my boys 10 & 12y study in Perth. Is there any advice & how to apply?