A 23-year-old who was "bored" of her life in the UK booked a one-way flight to Australia and now earns £19,605 more than she did at home, saying she "can't imagine moving back."
From Wedding Coordinator to Sailing Instructor
Maisey Relph, from Swindon, Wiltshire, was working full-time as a wedding and events coordinator in the UK before 2023, earning £21,000 a year. But she said that "every day felt the same" and after spending two summers as a sailing instructor in Greece, she began looking for work abroad.
She started applying for sailing instructor jobs in Sydney "for fun" and moved for a trial shift in September 2023, despite never having visited or knowing anyone there. She secured the job and hasn't looked back.
Higher Salary and Better Lifestyle
Now, Maisey works as an end-of-life support worker in Perth, earning a £44,605 salary. In the UK, the average starting palliative care assistant can expect to earn around £25,000 a year, according to the Government's National Careers Service.
Maisey, now living in Perth, said: "I actually had a pretty good life, but I was bored. Every day felt the same and I had no excitement."
She added: "I just thought, 'Do you know what? Let's just book a one-way flight for literally a trial shift. If it doesn't work out, then I'll find another way to make it work.' My parents didn't believe me until the day they drove me to the airport. I didn't really have a plan B because I thought this is plan A and I'm going to make it work."
From Sydney to Perth
Maisey secured the sailing instructor job on the North Shore of Sydney, later becoming a supervisor at a café during the quieter winter months, making roughly £18 an hour with additional penalty rates for weekends and public holidays.
Her hours fluctuated as a casual member of staff due to her working holiday visa, leading her to pick up nannying and driving for UberEats to stay afloat. But it was the lifestyle outside work that convinced her Australia was where she wanted to stay.
She says: "On a Monday morning I'd get up and go for a walk along the beach at sunrise. The one thing I noticed immediately when I first moved here is that nobody asks you about your job."
"They don't talk about work. If I went out with three of my girlfriends in England we'd each complain about work and take it in turns. Here, nobody talks about that."
Campervan Life and New Career
In May 2024, Maisey bought a semi-converted campervan for £6,550 (AUD $12,500) and renovated it herself for AUD $2,000 before living in it full-time. She would wake up beside the beach each morning before work and later completed a 17-day solo drive across southern Australia to Perth.
After settling in Perth, where she pays the equivalent of £1,507 a month on rent and bills for her beachside apartment, Maisey unexpectedly discovered a new career after a friend introduced her to support work.
Now working as an end-of-life support worker caring for patients with terminal brain cancer, Maisey earns AUD $37 an hour, around £19.36, which is considered the "lower end" for her work in Australia as she is new to the industry. She works six eight-hour shifts each week, although her hours vary depending on clients' care packages.
Mindset Shift
Maisey says: "Don't get me wrong, it's a hard job. It can be very upsetting and very emotional. Some days I have to come home and go for a sunset walk on the beach or just switch off."
"But I love my job. If this opportunity had come my way in England, honestly, I don't think I would've taken it. Australia has changed me as a person. Seeing everyone live their life to the full has completely shifted my mindset."
"Everyone here gets up at six in the morning to go for a walk with friends and grab a coffee before work. Whereas in England you wake up as late as possible and moan and groan."
