Adam’s Story – 186 Employer Nomination Scheme
Tell us a little about your background
I was born in Co.Down, Ireland, and studied Computer Science in Queen’s University, Belfast. In 2018, I decided to quit the day job and set off travelling around Asia before settling in Sydney on a WHV.
Like a lot of people who travel to Australia, I intended on only staying for a year, picking up some work to fund my travels and see all that this country had to offer. I was fortunate enough to land a job as an IT Developer for a medium sized company not long after I landed in Sydney. When my 6 months were up I was asked if I would stay on with my company on a 482 visa. By that time, Sydney’s weather, beaches, and laid-back lifestyle had grown on me so there so I quickly took the opportunity to stay further.
What was originally a year long adventure has turned into nearly 4 years, and has opened my eyes to so many new experiences that I would not otherwise have been able to try. The places I’ve travelled to, the things I’ve tried and the people I’ve met in Australia are memories I’ll not soon forget. I’ve recently had my Permanent Residency approved with the outlook to getting my citizenship in the near future.
“I never expected to enjoy living in Australia as much as do now when I first arrived. Migration Downunder helped with my 482 Sponsorship and my Permanent Residency applications, and made it a much simpler and straightforward process that it initially seems to be. Alice helped out with any queries or concerns I had with my documentation or applications promptly and professionally. I highly recommend Migration Downunder for anyone looking for help with their visa queries.”
What do you like about living in Australia?
For one, the weather! Although this summer has been an anomaly with “La niña”, the warm, dry climate most of the year ro und allows those, like me who like the outdoors, to not worry too much about it being too cold or a washout. It’s a cool feeling, being able to sunbathe on the beach in twenty-five degree weather in the winter!
The lifestyle in Australia is also a huge plus. There are plenty of parks to relax in, attractions to visit, hikes to trek, views to gaze, activities to participate in… you get the picture. There’s something for everyone to do, you’ll never be bored! For those of you who are active or sporty, there are any range of hobbies and sports to try out, and plenty of Irish teams to join too! There’s no shortage of rugby or GAA teams around the country.
What you like about being Irish
There are very few countries around the world where you cannot go and bump into an Irish person, and Australia is no exception, and I like to think that we are very accommodating and go out of our way to be helpful where we can. The very day I landed in Australia I met other Irish people of all ages who acted couldn’t have been more welcoming and helpful – offering advice and support, places to stay, contacts for work, furniture, etc. It’s a real homely feeling despite being on the other side of the world and also very comforting when arriving to a new country with nothing but a rucksack.
Don’t be shocked if you bump into someone you know in the most random of places! The amount of times I’d be standing at the bar, in a queue at the shop or walking down the street and bump into an old friend or schoolmate from years ago is quite mad!
How do you celebrate St. Patrick’s Day in Australia?
St. Patrick’s day is obviously not as big a holiday as it is back home, but that’s not to say that the Irish can’t make a go of it anyway! In Sydney, You’ll find most of the Irish in the Rocks. With the friends that I’ve made since arriving in Sydney, We have a tradition of a big Irish dinner on the day if the 17th falls on a weekday, followed by celebrations in the bars with games and the craic at the weekend.
How was your experience with Migration Downunder?
I never expected to enjoy living in Australia as much as do now when I first arrived. Migration Downunder helped with my 482 Sponsorship and my Permanent Residency applications, and made it a much simpler and straightforward process that it initially seems to be. Alice helped out with any queries or concerns I had with my documentation or applications promptly and professionally. I highly recommend Migration Downunder for anyone looking for help with their visa queries.