Darren Jonathon is the creator of Average Joe Down Under, a blog sharing the everyday experiences of life in Australia. With a passion for storytelling, Darren is on a mission to help people travel to Australia and assist expats in making their move Down Under smoother. He covers topics ranging from expat life to exploring Australia’s unique culture, turning his blog into a hub for relatable, real-life experiences.
Interested in seeing more of Darren? Check out his Instagram.
About Darren
Q: Where are you originally from?
A: Belfast, Ireland
Q: What country and city did you move to?
A: Australia
Q: When did you move?
A: 2010 and again in 2012
Q: Is this your first expat experience?
A: Yes
Q: Did you move here alone or with a spouse/partner or family?
A: Alone
Q: Reason for moving?
A: New opportunities, and to study originally
Living in Sydney
Q: What do you enjoy most about Sydney and Australia in general?
A: Sydney is so diverse in people and food. You can experience a lot of things that I would never have in my home country. Australia, in general, has some of the best beaches in the world, wildlife and a great quality of life outdoors.
Q: Have you had any low points? What do you miss most about Ireland?
A: Homesickness and the expat guilt of leaving older family members. Missing family and home comforts.
Q: What misconceptions about Sydney, if any, have you learned were untrue?
A: That it is easy and short to drive places.
Q: What are the biggest adjustments you had to make when settling into expat life in Sydney? Did you experience culture shock at all?
A: Culture shock and that everywhere is vast and making friends is super hard as loads of people leave Australia after one to two years.
Q: What are your favourite things to do on the weekend? Any particular places or experiences you’d recommend to fellow expats?
A: Flight club (darts), timezone, festivals, I’d also say go do off-the-beaten-track experiences and places.
Q: What’s the cost of living in Sydney compared to Ireland? Are there specific things that are especially expensive or cheap there?
A: I think it’s cheaper at times than in the UK, but the rent is very high, but you are paid a lot more.
Q: What’s public transport like in Sydney and across Australia?
A: I think it’s good, but Australians complain. It is getting better.
Q: What do you think of the healthcare available in Sydney? What should expats expect from local doctors and hospitals?
A: Way better than the UK and other countries. Seem easily. I’ve had many experiences in hospitals: nothing but good things. Expect to pay, depending on your visa, for a doctor and pay a small fee on weekends if you have no permanent residency.
Q: What’s the standard of housing like in Sydney? What different options are available?
A: I think it’s got better, but there is a bit of a rent crisis where prices are up and people are looking up, so it can be frustrating.
Q: Are there any areas or suburbs you’d recommend for expats to live in?
A: I’d go to places outside the city where it’s cheaper – if single, house share or flat share is best.
Meeting people and making friends in Sydney
Q: Was meeting people and making friends in Sydney easy? How did you go about meeting new people?
A: Nope! Through Instagram groups, I’ve a few posts on this on the blog as it’s sooo hard.
Q: Have you made friends with locals, or do you mix mainly with other expats? What advice would you give to new expats looking to make friends with the locals?
A: I mix with both, but I’m further out, so I have to really meet people in my local area.
Working in Sydney
Q: How easy or difficult was getting a work permit or visa? Did you tackle the visa process yourself, or did you enlist the services of an immigration consultant?
A: I did it myself as I was a skilled professional, so it was easy. But the Aussie gov is making you jump through more hoops, so I think it’s harder now, but you can do it. It’s a complicated process for most people, so agents are helpful.
Q: What is the economic climate in Sydney like?
A: Good, but like everywhere, there is a little bit of downturn in certain industries.
Q: How does the work culture in Sydney differ from Ireland?
A: Depends on your occupation – for a teacher, I find it way better in terms of resources, pay and culture; however, I’ve heard in corporate, it can be tougher.
Final thoughts
Q: Any advice you’d like to offer to new arrivals in Sydney?
A: Be open to new ideas and opportunities, and don’t sell yourself short. Think about the future if on a visa, as they take long to sort out.
►Interviewed on January 2025
