Expat Life

Thinking of moving to London to teach? Read on to find out more about the career prospects on offer

Missing home just isn’t what it used to be. On my previous visit to the UK, to call my mother I had to put £23 in a phone box and dial 48 numbers while trying to ignore all the flyers of scantily clad women dying for me to call them...

The quality of life seems to be far superior over there on the other side of the world. So why don’t all we Britons move into all that open space and indulge in the Australian lifestyle? Typically, we can’t be arsed.

Conflict in the workplace can result in stress, a loss of productivity and destroy moral in the office environment. Here’s how to manage conflict to ensure productive and healthy work relationships.

All of us deserve to feel royal, even if it is just for one night.

From history to modern architecture, to museums and tours, here are our top London experiences you just have to do while you're in town...

Where is 'Mr. Right'? Could it be the guy you play ping-pong eyes with every morning on your way to work, awkwardly avoiding eye contact for longer than five seconds? Or is he just Mr Right Now?

You have been living in the UK a while now, jumped a few hoops and obtained British citizenship. But still, you have some niggling questions at the back of your mind. What now? Are there still things left to do? Yes...

When you live in a London houseshare packed with a motley crew of expats, you’re bound to end up with at least one oddball in the mix.

Many people are confused and in doubt about the exact purpose, process, and eligibility of the UK Biometric Residence Permits or BRP’s as they are often known.

OK, yes we do tend to hang out together in London, a lot. But there's a good reason for it and the fact of the matter is most Australian expats are open-minded professionals who give back to their adopted society as much as they take out.

Don’t get me wrong; there’s been evenings in the park with a bottle of rose, outdoor music concerts and games of Twenty20. But overall, London is putting on a terrible summer show this year.

I am a huge fan of utter debauchery. But, come on… People in glass houses, and all that.

Arriving in London and starting off as a supply teacher means you get to explore several different schools in various boroughs of London.

A dental holiday in Bali? What's that about?

I will be standing behind that yellow line, minding that gap and hoping that one day I have my very own perfect Paltrow fantasy.

Sadly, I fall into the category of typical Aussie who speaks no other languages. So my first tour of Europe was certainly an eye (and ear) opener...

With so many Australian teachers venturing over to London I often get asked how different the teaching experience actually is. Transferring to a British school from Australia will of course come with its new challenges.

To all you charity chuggers out there, It’s nothing you have done wrong. It is not you, it’s me... and it was London.

Changes are being made to the NHS in order to help ease the cost burden and one of the changes includes a surcharge for Australian and New Zealand expats who require healthcare while living in the UK.

London expat lives expire. The friendships that grow along the way don’t have to fade, but sometimes they do.

Australia House in London is the biggest polling station in federal elections, either at home or abroad. In 2013, over 15,000 votes were cast there. And here we go again... Dates and times to have your say.

I walked onto the Tube as a mere squire. I walked off the train as a man fulfilled.

"Not only am I enjoying my teaching but I also have the chance to travel Europe on the long weekends and in school breaks. I often have to pinch myself about how incredibly lucky I am to be undergoing this stage in my career and life.”

BREXIT VOTE: "Whatever side you come down on, the most important thing is that you have your say. Don’t miss the opportunity to vote in this historic moment." - Minister of State for the Commonwealth urges expats to register and have their say on 23 June.

Sharing your London house with the flotsam and jetsam of expat humanity, you never quite know what you’re going to come home to. It can be quite a show...

I strategically forgot the bit about hubby leaving his shoes in the middle of the doorway, and that he is an Aussie Arsenal supporter who can scull a beer in less than 30 seconds.

Australian author JAMES MAXWELL says if Britain leaves the EU he may be forced to leave his London home.

The irony of falling ill in Lourdes of all places is indigestible. People come to Lourdes to get healed and most emphatically not to fall unwell. Remarkably, however, this is exactly what happened to me at the end of my European venture.

The Home Office recently made changes to the manner in which continuous period in the UK is calculated for Indefinite Leave To Remain visas. How does it affect you?

As an Australian teacher in the UK, where do I start?

I’ve met my fair share of stereotypically conservative, whingeing, grumpy Brits. You know the ones. But sunny days are ahead...

I’d managed to negotiate the fruit and vegetable aisle - where capsicums are peppers, eggplants are aubergines, mandarins are clementines or satsumas, snow peas are mange tout and zucchini are courgettes - but earned ‘The Look’ at the checkout when I asked for ‘cash out’.

It seems absurd to me that we four Commonwealth citizenries, our ‘Family of Four,’ should suffer such mistreatment at the hands of our supposed political betters.

You had a whopping big typo on the front page of your CV, you illiterate peasant. Go back to convict country!

The number of expatriates emigrating from the UK to warmer, sunnier climates is on the rise. And, you can’t really be blamed for wanting to go in search of a better life without the bad weather – or politics, in some opinions – of the United Kingdom. 

A look at those at the self-appointed apex of English social hierarchy: posh boys. They are quite different from the Aussie posh bloke.

When I moved to London, a city where one does not need to sit at home in a onesie, Bridget Jones style, swilling red wine from a schooner glass and instead celebrating the state of singledom with half-price drinks and speed-dating, I didn’t expect to continue to be surrounded by...

Essential advice for your interview to help you secure that top job in London.

The working world has changed. Technology has allowed us increased mobility and innovation in the way that we do our work.

Uber riders are rated just like the drivers and, if you're brave enough, you can check out your rating with just a few taps.

Australians feel they are part of a unique family which the UK is the heart of, so it would be nice to be recognised for that.

Transfer funds with UKForex this March and you could win back what you sent, up to £20,000.

Australian business coach Gail Gibson found inspiration and success further afield than London.

Some tips on how to continue to indulge your traveller's liquid courage cravings, whilst also preventing the inevitable bar fight caused by the button on your jeans bursting off under the pressure of your growing gut.

Have you been reading the headlines recently, particularly since the start of 2016, regarding the rising price of gold and the many investors who are now flooding the market in order to invest in this precious metal and make the most of their money?

London has long been a place that is attractive to Australians looking to explore new professional and personal opportunities, but it is also true that London sometimes fails to live up to expectations.

We all had visions of an exciting, new and vibrant life ahead of us in London; an awesome social life and tonnes of travel. But then reality bites...

In a competitive working environment it is important to continue your professional education and keep your skills up to date. Here are three ways to fulfil your development needs.

Oh moving, the idea sounds exciting, but the execution – that’s another thing. If only we could skip to the part where everyone is relaxing on the sofa in their perfectly furnished home with everything organised to a tee.