Choosing Adelaide over Sydney: why state nomination was the right call

When I decided to migrate to Australia, everyone told me to aim for Sydney or Melbourne. But after researching the points system, I realised that a 190 visa with South Australia state nomination would give me a much faster pathway. It was one of the best decisions I have made.

I had been working as a chartered accountant in Shanghai for five years. My CPA Australia membership made the skills assessment relatively straightforward, but the points calculation was tight. I had 65 points on my own, which was not enough for the 189. South Australia was offering state nomination for accountants, which added 5 points and brought me to 70. More importantly, the processing times were shorter.

The PTE Academic was my biggest hurdle. My written English is strong, but speaking under time pressure in a test environment was stressful. I took a preparation course in Shanghai and practiced every day for three months. I scored 79 in each section on my second attempt.

I arrived in Adelaide in March and immediately noticed how different it was from Shanghai. Adelaide is quiet. Not boring, but calm. After years of living in a city of 26 million people, the pace took adjustment. My first week, I walked through the Adelaide Central Market and was struck by how relaxed everything felt. People were not rushing. The market vendors would chat with you.

Finding accounting work took longer than I expected. The job market in Adelaide is smaller than Sydney or Melbourne, and many firms wanted local experience. I did some volunteer bookkeeping for a small charity to build my Australian resume, and that led to a referral. Within three months, I had a full-time role at a mid-tier accounting firm in the CBD. The starting salary was modest by Sydney standards, but the cost of living in Adelaide more than compensated.

Housing was a revelation. I rented a two-bedroom apartment in North Adelaide for what a studio would cost in Shanghai or Sydney. Within two years, I bought a three-bedroom house in Prospect. The property market in Adelaide is far more accessible than the east coast capitals.

The Chinese community in Adelaide is smaller than in Sydney or Melbourne, but tight-knit. I found a group of Chinese professionals who meet monthly, and that network has been invaluable for both social life and career advice. I also joined a local running club, which forced me to practice my English and make Australian friends.

One thing I underestimated was the cultural adjustment around communication styles. In Chinese business culture, there is a lot of reading between the lines. In Australia, people say what they mean. My first performance review, my manager gave me direct feedback, and I initially thought I was in trouble. Turns out, that is just how they communicate. Once I adjusted, I found it refreshing.

The 190 visa requires you to live in the nominating state for two years. I planned to move to Melbourne after that. But by the time the two years were up, I had a house, a promotion, good friends, and a life I genuinely enjoyed. I stayed.

My advice: do not dismiss Adelaide or the smaller capitals. The 190 pathway is faster, the cost of living is lower, and the quality of life is genuinely excellent. Sometimes the less obvious choice is the right one.