Maisey Relph, 23, who felt "bored" in the UK, booked a one-way ticket to Australia for a trial shift and now earns £19,605 more per year, saying she "can't imagine moving back".
From wedding coordinator to sailing instructor
Maisey had been earning £21,000 annually as a full-time wedding and events coordinator after finishing college. However, she felt "every day felt the same" and, following two summers working as a sailing instructor in Greece, began exploring employment opportunities overseas.
She started applying for sailing instructor roles in Sydney "for fun" and relocated for a trial shift in September 2023, despite having never visited or knowing anyone there. She landed the £27,000 a year position and hasn't looked back.
A new career and a new life
Now working as an end-of-life support worker in Perth, Maisey earns £44,605 a year. Back in the UK, the average starting salary for a palliative care assistant stands at around £25,000 a year, according to the Government's National Careers Service.
Last year, the number of 16 to 34-year-old expats returning to the UK dropped by 15,000, according to official figures. Data also highlights Australia as one of the most popular destinations for those looking to relocate.
Why Australia?
Maisey, now settled in Perth, said: "I actually had a pretty good life, but I was bored. Every day felt the same and I had no excitement. 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."
Having sailed around various Mediterranean islands with her family throughout her childhood, Maisey felt there was far more to life than what Britain had to offer. When she was offered a trial shift, she seized the opportunity — boarding a flight to Sydney with little more than a hostel booking and the address of her trial shift.
Work-life balance
Maisey landed the sailing instructor role at Balmoral Water Sports Centre, on the North Shore of Sydney, before subsequently taking on a supervisor position at a café during the quieter winter months, earning roughly £18 an hour with additional penalty rates for weekends and public holidays.
Her hours varied as a casual member of staff due to her working holiday visa, prompting Maisey to take up nannying and driving for UberEats to make ends meet. Yet it was the lifestyle beyond work that persuaded her Australia was where she belonged.
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. They talk about what they did at the weekend, or what they're doing before or after work. It was very apparent to me that in England you live to work and in Australia you work to live."
Living in a campervan
In May 2024, Maisey purchased a partially converted campervan for £6,550 (AUD $12,500) and carried out the renovation herself for AUD $2,000, along with some additional repair work, before making it her full-time home. She would wake up beside the beach each morning before heading to work, and later embarked on a 17-day solo drive across southern Australia to Perth.
She says: "If someone had told me a few years ago I'd be living in Australia, working on a beach and waking up by the ocean every day, I would've laughed. It very quickly becomes your new normal, but sometimes I'd sit there during my morning meditation and think, 'Oh my God, this is actually my life.'"
A fulfilling career change
After settling in Perth, where she pays the equivalent of £1,507 a month on rent and bills for her beachside apartment, Maisey stumbled upon an entirely new career after a friend introduced her to support work. She now works as an end-of-life support worker caring for patients with terminal brain cancer — a role she describes as unexpectedly fulfilling. Maisey currently earns AUD $37 an hour, roughly £19.36, which is regarded as the "lower end" for her field in Australia given she is relatively new to the profession.
She presently works six eight-hour shifts per week, though her hours fluctuate depending on clients' care packages.
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."
Future plans
Despite the steep cost of living and working six days a week alongside terminally ill patients, she says her work-life balance is "100% better" in Australia. "Working around end-of-life patients, you're reminded how important this life is," she says. "Everyone should take every opportunity they can."
Maisey is now applying for the AUD $12,000 partner visa with her Australian boyfriend, Sam, after the couple have been together for more than a year. While waiting for new participants at work, Maisey continues to take on shifts with UberEats to save towards her visa and keep on top of her outgoings. She says her family initially expected her to return to Britain after three years, but ultimately just want her to be happy. "It's easier said than done with the cost of living but my quality of life is just completely different. I can't imagine moving back to England."
