I was asked a while back if I thought it was worth it, immigrating to Australia. I wrote back to my friends, and published a long sad story on this blog at the time.
I discussed the things I missed about South Africa, and the things I really didn't miss.
I discussed the reasons why I love Australia, and that ultimately, I noted that I was still in that middle ground. Unable to go back , because I couldn't, and wouldn't want to go back. And not quite yet settled enough in my new home to say that it was worth moving.
It's a really unpleasant no-mans-land . And one that you really cannot relate to, or understand in the slightest unless you have been there.
I am please to say however , that a mere 10 months on , and 2 months ahead of schedule , I am quite well and truly no longer on the fence.
It has definitely been worth moving to Australia, and we are currently on track for becoming Australian citizens, and very happy to have settled in Victoria (shitty weather and all).
The support that the Victorian Government shows to small businesses such as ours, is something the South African government could not match.
That's not a judgement , it's a point of fact. South Africa is riddled with poverty and inequality, and if there is money to be spent (which there mostly isn't due to many factors) , it should be spent on getting clean water , safe housing , and a decent basic education to every person in the country.
From that perspective, being a software company, coming to Australia and setting up a business in Victoria is just about the best thing we could have ever done.
There are the tax rebates and incentives for R&D and export grants that we have access to , and there is also the small matter of the scholarship that was recently awarded to yours truly for the Global Acceleration Program (GAP).
Having come back from a 2 week stint in Palo Alto, California, attending seminars, and doing market research, and meeting with people under the guidance of a fantastic mentor , I can say it's such a pity the Victorian Government is not going to fund this program anymore.
Before anyone jumps up and down screaming about all the other things that need funding in Australia, consider this; as a direct result of completing GAP, we are now in the process of employing another full time employee.
We have also engaged the services of a bookkeeper, a virtual administration company , and a virtual reception service. All are Australian, local businesses which are now getting paid work from my business, in support of my plans to expand into the US market.
Putting that into people terms, that's 1 family that has a breadwinner, and 3 other business people who now have additional revenue. We have plans for more employees in 2014.
Our business will be putting back more than 5x the value of the scholarship, directly into the Victorian economy over the next 8-12 months. It's money we would not have spent, without this amazing opportunity.
My final point being, the program does benefit the man in the street , and it does benefit non-exporting local Australian businesses, because that's who is getting more money from me, while I make a go of it , trying to get into the the US market.
Worth it ? Hell yes. Everyone with an ounce of sense would come here to start a business , as long as the incoming government don't muck it up too much after the elections.
I discussed the things I missed about South Africa, and the things I really didn't miss.
I discussed the reasons why I love Australia, and that ultimately, I noted that I was still in that middle ground. Unable to go back , because I couldn't, and wouldn't want to go back. And not quite yet settled enough in my new home to say that it was worth moving.
It's a really unpleasant no-mans-land . And one that you really cannot relate to, or understand in the slightest unless you have been there.
I am please to say however , that a mere 10 months on , and 2 months ahead of schedule , I am quite well and truly no longer on the fence.
It has definitely been worth moving to Australia, and we are currently on track for becoming Australian citizens, and very happy to have settled in Victoria (shitty weather and all).
The support that the Victorian Government shows to small businesses such as ours, is something the South African government could not match.
That's not a judgement , it's a point of fact. South Africa is riddled with poverty and inequality, and if there is money to be spent (which there mostly isn't due to many factors) , it should be spent on getting clean water , safe housing , and a decent basic education to every person in the country.
From that perspective, being a software company, coming to Australia and setting up a business in Victoria is just about the best thing we could have ever done.
There are the tax rebates and incentives for R&D and export grants that we have access to , and there is also the small matter of the scholarship that was recently awarded to yours truly for the Global Acceleration Program (GAP).
Having come back from a 2 week stint in Palo Alto, California, attending seminars, and doing market research, and meeting with people under the guidance of a fantastic mentor , I can say it's such a pity the Victorian Government is not going to fund this program anymore.
Before anyone jumps up and down screaming about all the other things that need funding in Australia, consider this; as a direct result of completing GAP, we are now in the process of employing another full time employee.
We have also engaged the services of a bookkeeper, a virtual administration company , and a virtual reception service. All are Australian, local businesses which are now getting paid work from my business, in support of my plans to expand into the US market.
Putting that into people terms, that's 1 family that has a breadwinner, and 3 other business people who now have additional revenue. We have plans for more employees in 2014.
Our business will be putting back more than 5x the value of the scholarship, directly into the Victorian economy over the next 8-12 months. It's money we would not have spent, without this amazing opportunity.
My final point being, the program does benefit the man in the street , and it does benefit non-exporting local Australian businesses, because that's who is getting more money from me, while I make a go of it , trying to get into the the US market.
Worth it ? Hell yes. Everyone with an ounce of sense would come here to start a business , as long as the incoming government don't muck it up too much after the elections.
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