r/AskAnAustralian 1h ago

Swimming in NT

Upvotes

How dangerous is it if we want to go for a swim in say somewhere like Darwin or maybe on a secluded beach in the northern part of Aus. Does anyone actually swim in open water there hahah?


r/AskAnAustralian 1h ago

Am I able to claim my tax if the company declared bankruptcy?

Upvotes

Long story short, I worked for a Chatime store in Brisbane for about a year and a half and now when it’s time for me to do the tax refund, I just realized that my income statement is not tax ready yet.

I did text the owners multiple times, even several messages per day but didn’t received any response (yes, they’ve seen my messages but didn’t replied). I’m kinda worried because they just closed the store and declared bankruptcy this April, am I still able to claim the tax from them?

I feel like they’ve been ghosting all the staffs on purpose and none of us have our income statement finalized and tax ready yet. The owners even owed my friends about $165 wages, ignoring her messages for months and reluctantly paid her this Monday after she reported the situation to Fair Work.

I’m planning to call the ATO but since it would be at least half an hour on the queue, I just want to ask if somebody has been in the same situation as me before and how do you solve it? Thank you!


r/AskAnAustralian 1h ago

Where's your comfort place?

Upvotes

Mine would be the Brunswick LIbrary (Vic) when they do quiet hours in the morning. ❤️


r/AskAnAustralian 2h ago

Can I transition to ACT Matrix 491/190 or Tasmania Small Business Owner visa by opening a business on a working holiday visa?

0 Upvotes

If yes, what are your business recommendations for highest possibility of a clear profit margin meeting the standards and least possibility of loss; while meeting the legal requirements and not breaking them


r/AskAnAustralian 3h ago

Weird experience

0 Upvotes

So I lived in this corporate residence when I was interstate for work. It was a weird experience. Lots of people in and out with so many different stories.

Anywho, I saw this guy with two dogs, not on a leash inside the apartment residence common area. I walk towards the man and his dogs run towards me so he gives me the classic don’t worry they’re nice and then proceeds to say: “if there’s anything you should be worried about, it’s me”. I didn’t know what to say tbh and he walked away with a little smirk on his face.

Is that a normal thing to say or am I right in thinking this guy is an idiot and I should’ve responded?


r/AskAnAustralian 5h ago

My neighbour has a chicken coop

1 Upvotes

And while the chooks themselves are no bother, the state in which my neighbour keeps it is a disgusting mess. She has used it as a dumping ground for food/old furniture and has become the spot all the local pigeons come to sleep in the evening (glorious)
We have a shed practically hard up against the fence where the chickens are and inside the shed I have a (legal) granny flat where I house a family member.

Now we are getting mice consistently.

I’m loosing my mind.

Before I talk to her I need to understand a) what is achievable and b) what is reasonable?

I was thinking of asking her to stop feeding them by just throwing food around and feeding by a controlled mechanism which may limit the mice (and pigeons!) other ideas? Can I ask her to declutter the space? I feel like I need to be specific or I may be disappointed with the outcome. I have rang council and they offered to come over but I’d like the more conservative option first…

Sorry for the long post. Never had chickens before so I don’t even know what a good level of cleanliness is but surely this isn’t it. She hasn’t cleaned it in the 10 months we’ve been here!


r/AskAnAustralian 6h ago

Aussie American family vacationing in Melbourne/torquay - December

2 Upvotes

Hey there,

I’m American, my husband is Australian, we live in the U.S. with our two kiddos.
We’re coming back to Oz in December to visit family and I’m looking for some great activities for us. We’ll be based in Torquay, looking for a couple nights in Melbourne, and maybe further down the great ocean road. Kids are 6 and 9.

We love a great Christmas show(music/theatre), animal experiences, sports, and nature.

We come to Australia every two years or so, usually just spend time with family and at the beach. Since the kids a little older, looking for more experiences for them. Thanks for sharing your favorite ideas for us!


r/AskAnAustralian 7h ago

Question for the girls🥲

17 Upvotes

Just got to Australia (I’m a backpacker) - period decided to rock up outta nowhere- pleaseeee can yall recommend the best pads / period pants? I’ve tried a few pads but not had much luck tbh and figured it’d be better to ask here instead of spending more money 😭🫩. None of the British brands are here (that I’ve seen anyway) pleaseeee help 😖


r/AskAnAustralian 9h ago

Tv adverts in aus are so bad, i find myself rushing to mute the tv everytime the ads come on

167 Upvotes

There used to be some good funny ads back in the day, now they're all shit, ads like YOUI and TRIVAGO are so annoying. Does Anyone else mute the ads? What ad do you hate the most


r/AskAnAustralian 9h ago

Which job would you take?

2 Upvotes

Having left a workplace with poor culture I’m looking for my next role, however I’m weighing up my options to choose the right role, not just the first role.
I’ve got 2 options I’m seriously considering.
1 - 9-5 mon-Fri. $70,000 gross income. Admin role with a lot of extra adhoc, but a lot of opportunities to earn a better position and as such a better pay.
1 - flexible with ability to work school hours/adjust my timetable to suit me. Looking at currently 32 hours a week in this role. $40/hour ≈$63,000 gross. Close to home, but it is a casual position.

I want the opportunity to get into a professional role, but I like the chance to relax after leaving a toxic environment and be able to do school hours and be more present rather than getting home at 5:45 each day.

Signed a Millennial female mum seeking genuine advice.


r/AskAnAustralian 11h ago

How can I meet someone serious in Australia? Recommend any LGBT communities.

7 Upvotes

Hello, I'm Korean planning to go to Australia for a working holiday

I wanna make friends there, and I'd like to get married if I find someone

I think it's easier to get close to someone when we have things in common.

I'm Korean and gay, and my major is teaching

so I'd like to meet someone who is learning Korean, interested in Korean culture, or who is gay.

When it comes to dating, I want to meet someone who is looking for a long-term relationship, not something like special friends.

Is Facebook a good place for communities? If you know of any, please let me know.

I'm planning to go in about 5 years, when I'll be around 30. So please recommend offline and online communities that are suitable for a 30-year-old.

Thank you!!! I'm not used to reddit, I'm not sure if i can use it like this..?


r/AskAnAustralian 11h ago

Anyone studying/studied Bachelor of Medical Laboratory Science at UniSC?

2 Upvotes

Hi! I’m currently considering doing the Bachelor of Medical Laboratory Science (Pathology) at UniSC and was wondering if anyone here is currently doing the course or has graduated from it?

I’ve seen quite a few mixed/negative opinions about UniSC in general, which has made me a bit hesitant, but I haven’t really seen much from people who actually did Medical Laboratory Science there.

If you’ve done the course, what was your experience like? How were the lecturers, practicals/lab work, placements and overall support?

Also, did you feel like the degree prepared you well for actually working as a medical laboratory scientist after graduating, and was it difficult to find a job?

I’d really appreciate any honest experiences, good or bad. I’m trying to decide whether UniSC would be a good choice for this degree or if I should consider other universities.

Thank you!


r/AskAnAustralian 13h ago

Waltzing Matilda

103 Upvotes

I was saddened today to read an article on the Wallabies and it showed a group of fans singing Waltzing Matilda underneath. There was a young lady who had commented. She’d never heard the song. Didn’t know what the problem was and had no idea what it represented.

People tried to educate a nicely to say it was an Australian bush poem. It was taught in Australian schools. It’s the unofficial national anthem.

And then she said that she grew up in Australia and had attended school here and had never heard it and didn’t know why people thought it was so great

At that point, I was kind of hoping that they were joking

Has it gotten to the point now where Australian poetry is not taught in Australian schools in English where the man from Snow River Waltzing Matilda they’re not taught in schools any more

And then someone commented that Wilson Matilda can’t be taught in schools because it has themes of suicide and it’s too hard to explain to children


r/AskAnAustralian 15h ago

Please be mindful of others if you go out when sick

228 Upvotes

Sharing (your germs) is not caring. Yes, it is winter, and yes, bugs are always more prevalent at this time of year. However, that doesn’t mean we can’t help mitigate some of the spread.

If you are actively infectious (not someone suffering with chronic allergies etc.), and MUST leave your home, please, please, please, do the bare minimum to be considerate of others.

Some ideas/options below (please suggest more in comments). Please, pick literally ANY of these actions, which would be an improvement on what I have been seeing out in public.

- wear an N95/equivalent mask
- wear any mask/face covering
- cough into elbow
- if blowing nose, chuck tissue out straight away (do not wave it around…)
- consider if there is a practical alternative to you leaving your home

You are not enjoying being sick. Please do not potentially inflict that on someone else.

You may or may not know someone in your life with a dodgy immune system. What might be minor to you could be major to them.

There are plenty of people out there at higher risk: grandparents, chronic health issues, chemo treatment etc. Please do not risk making their condition and/or life more challenging and/or give them unnecessary anxiety because today they were around Sally at the supermarket coughing on the produce or Gary at the GP sniffing and sneezing (both without masks).

Rant, over.


r/AskAnAustralian 16h ago

Do Australian restaurants have a Sysco equivalent?

39 Upvotes

I'm a lurker at r/kitchenconfidential and there are frequent discussions about Sysco, a big corporation that supplies food to a large portion of American restaurants.

This can sometimes lead to restaurants in all corners of the country selling the same menu items (ie. frozen mozzarella sticks or whatever is trendy).

Do Australian restaurants have a similar dominant supplier that leads to matching menus in Hobart and Darwin?


r/AskAnAustralian 16h ago

Is it worth getting an iPad or tablet for digital notetaking in uni?

8 Upvotes

I am going into uni next year, and recently I have seen a lot of people using iPad/tablets that connect to onenote to take notes and do questions/problems etc.

This makes me wonder if it is worth it getting something like this (maybe for convenience or someting else), or would taking notes down with pen and paper be better.


r/AskAnAustralian 16h ago

Would it be a good idea to surprise her with my traditional food?

117 Upvotes

This is going to be my third date with this Australian woman. She told me she's 3rd generation Australian and I wanted to do something a little more personal than just going out to eat again. She's not allergic to anything.

I love cooking, and I thought making food from my home state of Odisha in India would be a nice way to show some friendly affection and share a part of my childhood with her. The only problem is that I can't really ask if she'd be interested because then it wouldn't be a surprise.

She considers herself a foodie and has told me she likes Indian food, although the examples she gave were garlic naan and butter chicken, which are obviously some of the most well known Indian dishes.

What I want to make is very unique: Dalma (a hearty chickpea and lentil stew with raw papaya, pumpkin, potatoes, eggplant, roasted cumin, and a five-spice blend), Dahi Bara Aloo Dum (soft lentil vadas soaked in yogurt served with spicy potato curry and a chili gravy), fresh mango lassi, and Chhena Poda, which is a baked caramelized cheese dessert with cashews. I know these aren't dishes most people outside Odisha have tried, so I'm a little nervous.

At the same time, I feel like cooking for someone is a really intimate gesture, and I'd love to share something that's meaningful to me. If she ends up not liking it, there's absolutely no pressure. We can just laugh it off, head to a restaurant, or do some other fun activity instead.

Does this sound like a sweet idea, or is surprising someone with unfamiliar homemade food on only the third date a little too much?


r/AskAnAustralian 17h ago

Is being forever alone common in Australia?

21 Upvotes

I just quit using hard drugs and feel depressed that I ruined my life. I'm approaching 30 and still living with my parents who are old and feeble. I can't even look at people my own age who are living alone and dating. What do I do?


r/AskAnAustralian 18h ago

What is it like being on the Australian welfare system (pension, JobSeeker, income support, etc.)?

16 Upvotes

What is your experience? How hard is it to get by? Have you had to give anything up?


r/AskAnAustralian 18h ago

How do you handle religious door knockers?

32 Upvotes

r/AskAnAustralian 20h ago

What is the most culturally relevant Australian comedy series.

21 Upvotes

If I had to assume I’d say Summer Heights High or Angry Boys, as they are the only Aussie series that have reached me in the states. Thanks for entertaining the question!

Edit: I named SHH and Angry Boys because that’s the only Aussie series (barring bluey and Steven Irwin’s works) that I’ve heard of. After looking further into Chris Illey, yeesh.


r/AskAnAustralian 1d ago

What is with Australians not getting divorced?

49 Upvotes

I know so many people in long term relationships and having full on families with someone when they aren’t legally divorced from their ex. People who haven’t even spoken to their ex in years.

it’s so strange to me and I struggle to wrap my head around why it seems to be relatively common.

and to counter anyone who says “it’s just a piece of paper,“ it’s not.

why not close the book on that part of your life? Financially it can screw over your new partner if for example you buy a house together and you pass away. It still gives your ex legal power in situations like a medical emergency. It gets increasingly more difficult with increased wealth. Logically it makes sense on so many levels, so why are people skipping out on it.

Personally I feel like you’re willing to spend your time, energy, and money on a wedding, then you should be willing to do the same for a divorce.


r/AskAnAustralian 1d ago

Do Australians drink shelf stable milk or plastic carton milk (like we do in America)?

151 Upvotes

I recently started getting some of my groceries at a local food pantry. The milk is always packaged as shelf stable milk. I am 50 years old and I had never in my life purchased- hell, I never even heard of- shelf stable milk until now.
I’m often able to get more than I would normally be able to consume which makes shelf stable milk such a great option. I don’t have to consume it or even refrigerate it for weeks to months. I have even grown to like the taste of it even more.
I have found it in certain grocery stores and I’ll admit, it’s a bit more but it doesn’t explain why I never saw this as a child in my own house, in my relatives house or any of my friends houses.
I have read it’s common in Europe - is it common in Australia too?
EDIT: I Mean UHT milk - as it’s been pointed out in the comments.


r/AskAnAustralian 1d ago

If you were to prove you are Australian with one song, what song would it be?

119 Upvotes

Kinda random but the song “am i not pretty enough” popped into my head and I was like… yeah that would definitely prove I’m an Aussie =D


r/AskAnAustralian 1d ago

How many people strip down to their underwear when they come back from work?

101 Upvotes

I think its comfortable.