QA - Sarah Walmsley, Director of Strategy at Atlantis Healthcare Viewpoint careers advice blog

QA - Sarah Walmsley, Director of Strategy at Atlantis Healthcare “Sometimes you just have to jump and be confident you have the skills to make it work.” Sarah Walmsley, Director of Strategy at Atlantis Healthcare in Sydney, a company specialising in patient behaviour change and adherence, shares her top tips for successfully relocating to Australia. New Zealand-born Sarah has always worked in life sciences, starting as a sales rep for GSK before moving into marketing and working her way swiftly up the career ladder. After nine years of living and working in London, she was craving a simpler, less chaotic way of life. What was your motivation for relocating to Australia? I’m originally from New Zealand and I felt it was time to start thinking about being closer to my family. I loved living and working in London and the excitement of the big city. But when I weighed up the pros and cons of staying in the UK or moving on, I started leaning towards wanting a better lifestyle. What has been the highlight of your move to Australia? Australia is a new chapter for me and my lifestyle definitely feels more balanced. I’m still working in life sciences, in a role that is challenging enough to feel exciting. But I get to spend more time at the beach. The laidback, outdoors lifestyle that Sydney offers really is wonderful and living with constant sunshine is good for the soul. What has been the biggest challenge of relocating for you? Fear of the unknown, without a doubt. Although I felt like I was moving closer to home, New Zealand is still a plane journey away and I still had to take a leap of faith. But sometimes you just have to jump and be confident you have the skills to make it work. Sarah also points out that Sydney, like London, is an expensive city to live in. So make sure you do your homework before making any big decisions. A good place to start is the newly published Hays Salary Survey Guide. What do you know now that you wish you’d known before you moved to Australia? That my European experience, whilst very handy, was also largely irrelevant to working in the Australian market. Whilst at the London office we enjoyed a relatively untapped patient support market, but in Australia the patient support market is more mature. So our approach needs to be quite different, but that keeps things interesting. The life sciences industry is well supported in Australia and broadly the environment is similar to the UK’s â€" at least from an industry, funding and regulatory standpoint. So whilst there are some differences, the adaptation will come quickly to most people. What advice would you give to anyone else contemplating the move down under? Definitely consider it. There are so many advantages to being on this side of the world, and having lived away from New Zealand for years, I can vouch that you’re only ever a flight away from home. Sarah’s top tips for relocating are: Research: Have a good look at the cost of living and make sure you won’t have to sacrifice anything. Australia is a country that offers lots of fun and the potential to spend every cent you earn, according to Sarah, so make sure you know what to expect financially. Network: If you don’t know anybody who already works and lives in Australia, reach out and find someone. LinkedIn is a great place to expand your network and make valuable contacts. Sarah says: “Speak to people in your network from a similar role or industry who can provide some advice on what it’s really like to live and work here, and make sure they don’t just talk about the beaches and barbecues, but focus on the realities of work â€" after all, you’re still going to be spending a large proportion of your time there!” Paperwork: Save yourself a lot of stress by ensuring you know about the relevant visa and other immigration necessities. Do you think Australia might be the place for you? Our specialist team is dedicated to making your international career transition as efficient as possible. Click here to view our ‘Guide to Living in Australia’ which provides information on the following: What to not leave home without Customs Banking Accommodation Utilities Medical Tax Transport Cost of living Leave and holidays CareforKids Please note, unfortunately, we are not able to consider your application if you do not possess or are not eligible for a valid work permit or working visa. For more information on eligibility for an Australian visa please visit www.immi.gov.au or email globalinkteam@hays.com to receive information on the various options available. Do you have the pioneering spirit necessary to make an international move a success? Have you already made the move to Australia? Let us know your thoughts in the comments. Join the Life Sciences Industry Insights with Hays LinkedIn group to share your thoughts and stay up-to-date with the latest on business, employment and recruitment news in the life sciences industry. Join the conversation Visit our website to search and apply for life sciences jobs in Australia. Visit our website