Thinking of Moving to Australia

[Montalban]

In the UK more or less anything can be considered an "offensive weapon" if there is some intent for it to be - eg the person says that's why they are carrying it, or they are using it in a threatening manner, or there is a particular history of problem with that item in that location, or whatever. The difference that struck me here is the assumption under perfectly ordinary circumstances that a regular pocket-knife or multi-tool is a weapon unless you can demonstrate a legitimate reason for carrying it.

Sometime last century I looked at becoming a security guard. The company I was looking at working in didn't carry batons. But, they carried very big heavy torches such as the Maglight. The reason being is that this was 'legitimate' for them to carry - it just so happens it could be used as a baton

 

[ebia]

Sometime last century I looked at becoming a security guard. The company I was looking at working in didn't carry batons. But, they carried very big heavy torches such as the Maglight. The reason being is that this was 'legitimate' for them to carry - it just so happens it could be used as a baton

I've done the same when acting as volunteer overnight security at beer festivals back in England. And known where my shive-hammer is (a legitimate cellarman's tool that would pass as an effective medieval warhammer).

 

[Montalban]

I've done the same when acting as volunteer overnight security at beer festivals back in England. And known where my shive-hammer is (a legitimate cellarman's tool that would pass as an effective medieval warhammer).

The silly thing about being a security guard (hopefully it's changed) was we did a two day course, they gave us a written test (asked us 20 questions) and gave us the certificates regardless of checking what we got on the test.

We got told about the powers of arrest for guards is no greater than that of an ordinary member of the public

 

[tgg]

G'day


You are the one who said that we're like America. It's up to you to prove this, not me.

In your own time

I'm not in the habit of going to google to do the research to back up someone else's opinion.

Don't be so lazy for gosh'n'darneds sake!

The inside story of Harry M. and his convict past - Books - Entertainment

Chase for Christopher Skase became a media circus | Courier Mail

Inside the mind of evil predator, convicted paedophile Dennis Ferguson | The Daily Telegraph

Family of murder accused schoolboy calls for media restraint | News.com.au

LNP to host talk to aid pedophile Bill D'Arcy | The Australian

Players in a vast drama | Courier Mail

What is needed is a new world order that works on these four operating principles:

1) Every person for themselves
2) Survival of the strongest and fittest
3) Everyone's got to die sometime
4) No giving criminals a second chance

If our politicians and police are too weak and ineffective to stamp out corrruption and crime, then it ought to be left to the people to implement their own means of doing it. Starting with the right for the average citizens to lynch convicted rapists and child abusers instead of wasting their hard earned money keeping them incarcerated.

 

[TheDag]

Only under very strict regulations. Carrying a pocket-knife without specific reason is illegal in most states here!

my wife worked out that according to the law as long as she doesn't upset a police officer it is ok to carry the knife. When I asked police about it they confirmed that it was an accurate view!

 

[TheDag]

3) I noticed there are some bad crimes in Australian news but I figure those are not the norm. I am more curious if there are any places in Australia that Aussies do not feel comfortable going out at night and if so why? And are there any areas with schools that parents are concerned with sending their children to school.

There has only been one time in my life where I have feared for my safety and that was last year on a train. I have been to some of the worst areas in sydney and never felt afraid once. However I wouldn't want my wife going to those areas by herself.

As others have said there are areas that can be good to avoid and your best asking people who live in those areas. So if you move to melbourne ask people from there. If moving to sydney ask Montalban and if moving to brisbane ask tgg.
Ebia would be good to ask as well but I am not sure where he lives.

If you would like my opinion then send me a message as I am rather private about where I live while the others have already mentioned where they live.

 

[TheDag]

I did hear about that specific incident you mention. However he wasn't talking about a specific incident he said "Schoolkids" as if it's happening regularly.

you don't hear about all the stabbings that happen. By the end of march this year there had been three stabbings in one primary school alone near where I live. None made the news. It is only people like me who have connections to the school that find out about it. It to me seems reasonable to say it happens more frequently than people care to admit.

We got told about the powers of arrest for guards is no greater than that of an ordinary member of the public

wow they actually teach them accurately!!!! Most I come across don't seem to have any idea. guess they don't pay much attention. The main one of course is they have no right to search your bag no matter what signs they have on display claiming otherwise.

 

[Montalban]

Don't be so lazy for gosh'n'darneds sake!

a) it's not my responsibility to look up research for your point
and
b) you miss the point of my rebuttal

You said that Australia was just like America in crime.

This is what you said...

Basically it's like America, just less internationally televised.

That we have crime does not make us like them.

Citing singular examples does not meet this either.

We're not 'basically like America' unless it is your argument that Australia has crime, America has crime and therefore we're the same - but I don't suspect you of making such a truism - or is that all you had to say?

Now if you have any evidence to show that we're the same as far as crime, please post this.

Six examples does not make us the same. Try Australian crime statistics.

 

[vscola]

Every country has crime. Every city will have safer areas and not-so-safe areas.
Tahoenite was not asking if Australia was crime free We live in a "safe" area by America's standards. We have no gang violence, our schools are relatively safe and we can walk at night without worry. We also have two traffic lights, cows that cross the highway and lots of open land. Even though crime is low, we do have a problem with alcohol here (drunk driving, etc).
We gave up the perks of living in a larger city for the safety that the rural areas offered us (not the only reason we live here). I would imagine that most areas are like this.

 

[Montalban]

Every country has crime. Every city will have safer areas and not-so-safe areas.

Absolutely. I was responding to a person here who chose to offer opinion not based on fact, who won't in fact produce such to back up his opinion. (so below I offer fact to the contrary - even though the burden of proof was with him).

Tahoenite was not asking if Australia was crime free We live in a "safe" area by America's standards. We have no gang violence, our schools are relatively safe and we can walk at night without worry. We also have two traffic lights, cows that cross the highway and lots of open land. Even though crime is low, we do have a problem with alcohol here (drunk driving, etc).
We gave up the perks of living in a larger city for the safety that the rural areas offered us (not the only reason we live here). I would imagine that most areas are like this.

Australian cities are I believe safer in general than American cities - and Sydney has about 4,000,000 and so is very big... comparable in size of pop to Los Angeles.

In 2006 Los Angeles had 480 murders.
Los Angeles Crime Statistics and Crime Data (Los Angeles, CA)

In Sydney for the same year there were 90 murders.
http://www.bocsar.nsw.gov.au/lawlink/bocsar/ll_bocsar.nsf/vwFiles/BB36.pdf/$file/BB36.pdf

"Sydney's development into a major sea port, with the combination of various penal institutions, corrupt authorities, gold rushes and increasing wealth encouraged the growth of a criminal element. However, the city is generally safe and has a very low crime rate, especially when compared to most North American cities such as Detroit, Michigan, Phoenix, Arizona, Montreal, Quebec, Miami, Florida, Chicago, Illinois, Toronto, Ontario, Los Angeles, California, Vancouver, British Colombia, Winnipeg, Manitoba, and most other North American cities."
Crime in Sydney - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

[Worldslaziestbusker]

1) Every person for themselves
2) Survival of the strongest and fittest
3) Everyone's got to die sometime
4) No giving criminals a second chance

If our politicians and police are too weak and ineffective to stamp out corrruption and crime, then it ought to be left to the people to implement their own means of doing it. Starting with the right for the average citizens to lynch convicted rapists and child abusers instead of wasting their hard earned money keeping them incarcerated.

Strange, that's the exact philosophy Monarchist has been accusing me of in the thread about NSW ethics classes. I find it an abhorrent suggestion. According to Monarchist, I'm Hitler, yet here you are positing a fascist state and it takes an atheist to point it out.
History teaches us that lynchings are like chocolates. It's so hard to stop at one. All it takes is a charismatic leader with a chip on their shoulder, and suddenly the mob's off down the road to string up Mr Jones (who borrowed the charismatic leader's lawnmower and chipped the paint) and set fire to the Ahmed family home (for being muslims).
The death penalty, if you're going to apply it with no risk of innocent people being murdered by the state, is more costly than permanent incarceration. If you want to accept the risk of killing innocent people and allow citizen's lynching parties, you can have the system for free, but all the good people will end up on the bonfire. Bonhoeffer was a ray of sunshine under the nazis, but what happened to him. Bonfire. Martin Luther King Jr, standing up for his people. Bonfire. Stephen Biko fighting apartheid. Bonfire. Any time it's easier to kill someone than deal with them legally, all the good people leave or end up dead.
Australia is a stable democracy. You can influence the way our society is shaped with your vote and by making noise about the things you think are important, but please read your history. It might encourage you to try changing things with words rather than with firebombs and nooses.
WLB

 

[Montalban]

you don't hear about all the stabbings that happen. By the end of march this year there had been three stabbings in one primary school alone near where I live. None made the news. It is only people like me who have connections to the school that find out about it. It to me seems reasonable to say it happens more frequently than people care to admit.

It is probably true that I won't hear of everything, even that which makes the news.

However someone here suggested that we're just like America in terms of crime

Even the singular incidents you know of aren't what I'm basing my argument on

I'm basing it on facts.

wow they actually teach them accurately!!!! Most I come across don't seem to have any idea. guess they don't pay much attention. The main one of course is they have no right to search your bag no matter what signs they have on display claiming otherwise.

Reminds me of another sign regarding refunds. There should be an 'implied warranty' on certain goods regardless of whether they say "No refunds allowed"

My understanding is that they can search your bag if you waive that right. If I said "Can I look in your bag?" and you let me then I can, because you've given me permission to do so.

 

[vscola]

I know this is a long shot, but I am going to ask anyway.
Does anyone where I can find information on employment in Australia? I am not looking for the general job listings, but companies that are willing to hire an American and sponsor them for a visa (if that is even the correct procedure!) If you can point me in the right direction, I would be grateful.
Also, if you have an employer willing to sponsor you, does anyone job still have to be listed on the new ANZSCO?
I am hoping to begin Pharmacy school, but Pharmacist was removed from the list. I am guessing it is because Australia teaches their students differently, but I am not sure why. I would like to know if my chosen profession will not be wanted!
Again, I know it is a long shot, but I am hoping someone might have some idea of where I can look.

 

[Montalban]

I know this is a long shot, but I am going to ask anyway.

There's a number of companies that are on-line job search sites.

Please note this disclaimer: I'm not recommending these, and therefore they're not in any particular order

Jobs, Employment & Careers @ MyCareer

Find Jobs. Build a Better Career. Find Your Calling. | CareerOne.com.au

SEEK - Australia's no. 1 jobs, employment, career and recruitment site

Does anyone where I can find information on employment in Australia? I am not looking for the general job listings, but companies that are willing to hire an American and sponsor them for a visa (if that is even the correct procedure!) If you can point me in the right direction, I would be grateful.

I don't know about sponsorship

 

[ebia]

Also, if you have an employer willing to sponsor you, does anyone job still have to be listed on the new ANZSCO?

For that kind of advice you probably need to contact Australian Immigration.

 

[TheDag]

I know this is a long shot, but I am going to ask anyway.
Does anyone where I can find information on employment in Australia? I am not looking for the general job listings, but companies that are willing to hire an American and sponsor them for a visa (if that is even the correct procedure!) If you can point me in the right direction, I would be grateful.
Also, if you have an employer willing to sponsor you, does anyone job still have to be listed on the new ANZSCO?
I am hoping to begin Pharmacy school, but Pharmacist was removed from the list. I am guessing it is because Australia teaches their students differently, but I am not sure why. I would like to know if my chosen profession will not be wanted!

Again, I know it is a long shot, but I am hoping someone might have some idea of where I can look.[/quote]
Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade - home page
dept foreign affairs and trade website should have some useful info. Not sure about sponsorship and if it is needed or not but once again the above site should help.

often the jobs are removed or added due to a over supply or shortage of people in that profession. For some jobs on the list they will only recognise qualifications from certain countries.

 

[vscola]

Thank you so much!

 

[Montalban]

Thank you so much!

Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is the wrong department for you to be looking at. DFAT is the government body charged with promoting Australia (trade) and looking after Australians o'seas and travel advisory information (and our foreign missions abroad)

You want Department of Immigration and Citzenship here

Effectively someone's told you the departments the wrong way around. DFAT is Australia outwards to the world. Immigration is about people coming here to live/stay.

There's a skilled migration page here

There's a ANZSCO code 234211 for Chemist but it doesn't say if it's like a person who works in chemistry, or a pharmicist - because we call them chemists too!

http://www.immi.gov.au/employers/anzsco/anzsco-code1.htm

 

[vscola]

Actually, the more we have looked into Australia the more our initial thoughts have changed. They took Pharmacist off the list (I think because their training is so different, but I am not sure). Instead of immigrating in several years we are going to investigate heading there sooner.

It appears I am eligible to apply for the masters of Pharmacy program (using a student visa) and so I am going to apply to several Australian schools and see if anything comes of it. If Australia is the direction the Lord wants us to take now, I should be accepted and off we will go (it sounds so easy to type it!)

I do not know what the future will hold, but I am hoping that in the next year to apply to University (most likely the University of Sydney) and move over. First with a student visa then (hopefully) a full citizen when I complete my training

 

[Montalban]

I do not know what the future will hold, but I am hoping that in the next year to apply to University (most likely the University of Sydney) and move over. First with a student visa then (hopefully) a full citizen when I complete my training

Good luck.

It's our oldest university. It's also in a group we call "Sandstone universities" which is, I suppose, equal to what you call "Ivy league" (being that all the older 'grander' universities have imposing old buildings made of sandstone)

It has a lot of facilities.

Most people attending it live off-campus, but there are a few residential colleges - totally unlike what I see 'fraternities' depicted in US films. There are a lot of old terrace-house suburbs near-by, as well as the infamous one called 'the block' at Redfern.

City Road, and especially Parramatta Road have lots of buses going to Central Railway - which is the major station of Sydney.