[Closed] Seriously considering heading down under - Mount Isa

Mt Isa is a bit of hole mate... would you be 'fly-in/fly-out' or based there permanently?

Not been that far North - worked in Brisbane for a while and all things considered I quite liked it 🙂

Bitey things aren't really such a problem; I'd be more concerned about the intense heat in Summer and the prospect of being stranded in the annual flooding in the Winter in that part of QLD.

Do it. If you don't like it, come back.

prospect of being stranded in the annual flooding in the Winter

Other way round up there mate, flooding occurs in the Summer in the North (tropical wet season), winter is when it's rather nice, sunny, warm, blue skies and no rain 😀

Mt Isa is a country town built on mining, you'll see plenty of 'real life' 'salt of the earth' type aussies there, very different to Brisbane/Sydney/Melbourne. Think country and western music, rodeos, thick country Queensland accents, that sort of stuff...

Depends how old you are - if you're younger and want to get stuck in to some hard work, build your career etc then it sounds great - worth making some sacrafices for.
If you've already got the experience, skills etc in that field - it's just a job, basically, then it's hard to see the appeal. The money would need to be off the charts to merit re-locating to an Australian backwater IMHO.

If you're looking to make money, and see some great parts of Oz, then check on the North of Western Australia (Kimberley/Pilbara type area), beautiful place! Still country and remote, but the scenery (and the fishing!!) makes up for it 😀

I imagine i'd be based there perm - the jobs would be exploration geology so lots of field work in the sun.

Done fieldwork in 30-40C heat in Portugal sure I could adapt to oz sun.

Wage is 50% more than I could earn here at best for my industry exp level.

Wheres my passport??

Im 29, 30 in 4 months. I don't own a house, I have no savings, no disposable income and im single.

The geotech industy in the uk is struggling - after 20% pay cut i earn less than 19k a year.

£40k a year min with no experience so would be looking at £50-60k with my experience level compared to at best here £25k.

At the very least 12-24months would clear my debts.

EDITED due to re-reading that and realising that it was a bit wrong....

Sorry didn't understand question right, living in perth fly in / fly out 9 on / 6 off.

For Mt Isa??

Can I have a job there please? I don't know anything about geothingy but I watched Crocodile Dundee once and I like Vegemite.

9 on 6 off and living in the city during the 6. Get that flight booked, my best mate went out when he was 22, now 36 has oz and nz passports, own business and house. Looking at living in Sydney For their summer now and back up to cairns for the winter, where he reckons the climate is perfect at that time of year! I'd up sticks tomorrow if it wasn't for upsetting the kids grandparents!!

"poisonous critters" no don't worry Mel Gibson lives in LA now.

Go for it I reckon - treat it as a savings scheme, try and pile some money up and get a house when you get back. You should take the chance and do this kind of thing while you can - before family and mortgage etc prevents you.

I passed through there whilst backpacking many moons ago and it's really a rather bleak place but if it's only for the shorter term then why not go for it? You seem to have no ties here and at the very least it'll be an interesting experience and it'll help you financially.

It might lead to better prospects either back here or staying out there.

prospect of being stranded in the annual flooding in the Winter

Other way round up there mate, flooding occurs in the Summer in the North (tropical wet season), winter is when it's rather nice, sunny, warm, blue skies and no rain

Oops! Quite correct.

one_happy_hippy - Member

Im 29, 30 in 4 months. I don't own a house, I have no savings, no disposable income and im single.

................................
At the very least 12-24months would clear my debts.

In that case I would go. You have nothing to loose and a lot to gain. Even a hick town in Aus will be very different to what you have here and you will have the opportunity to travel around Aus and even to south east asia in your time off.

As regards the critters - I lived rough in aus sleeping in the bush and in parks for nearly a year - and never even saw a poisonous critter

Go

I have already said you should go while you have no ties here and are young enough to do it.

Gor for 12 months and scope out the riding then we will come over next year with bikes for a hol instead of going to Canada.

DO IT.

I've been to the Isa and there's a reason why it's well paid. (There are stories of truck drivers making $50-100k though that could be apocryphal). But I'd go for it and approach it like an adventure - you will get time off and that part of the world is an incredible place to explore, especially with a few dollars in your pocket. Tho, again, I'd prefer the Kimberley and Pilbara.

Don't worry about poisonous critters - they'll be warier of you than you them (I say that as someone who's nearly stepped on a tiger snake). If you're in doubt, just grit your teeth and think of the current exchange rate.

Im currently feeling very stuck in a rut. I think maybe a change is in order and I think if I don't do it sooner rather than later then I never will.

CV is being tailored and I have spoken to a couple of people regarding references.

Best of luck!! Go for it!

Go for it.

Do anything for a short term contract 🙂 It's not like emigrating.