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A former Oxford University lecturer decided to leave a career in law behind, and head for Sydney, Australia to become a doctor and live a different and less ‘superficial’ lifestyle
A former Oxford University lecturer decided to let go of a promising law career in the capital to pursue his dream of becoming a doctor down under.
Oskar Sherry, 27, a former lecturer at the University of Oxford, relocated to Sydney, Australia back in August 2024 after falling out of love with the work-centric frenzy of being a mid-twenties Londoner.
“In London, it felt like everyone had three groups of friends: your colleagues, your flatmates and some random sport group like dodgeball. It felt more superficial than in Sydney,” said Oskar. After spending several years in Oxford and London, the then law student, who was born to British expats, felt there were some things that just didn’t sit right about life in the UK.
“I was going to be a lawyer, and I think England is better for that. But there were some things I hated. I didn’t like the food or the weather, and the political situation didn’t seem great either,” he explained.
According to Gen Z insights company, Prograd, over 50 per cent of Brits have considered leaving the UK for better working opportunities in the last few years.
Coming towards the end of his time at Oxford, Oskar realised he wanted to pursue other opportunities: “I spoke to a few friends, and I realised I wanted to retrain late into medicine and that was just the last straw for my time in England because of the state of the NHS.”
Recruiters have been quick to poach UK grads unhappy with the job opportunities, rising house prices and cost of living in the UK over the past few years for better opportunities overseas. Agencies like Head Medical offer complete packages for those looking into medical roles in many Australian states, providing support and assistance throughout the entire journey.
Many Australian states offer incentives for healthcare staff, with the Queensland government previously announcing they would target foreign doctors and nurses for recruitment. Meanwhile Western Australia have had relocation incentives in place, including a reimbursement of $5,000 (£2,498) for flights to Perth.
Simon Hood, executive director of the UK’s largest relocation service, John Mason International, helps over 10,000 Brits each year start fresh chapters abroad. Simon commented: “Oskar echoes a trend that’s become all too common in the industry. Today, particularly young Brits, are being hit with higher and higher house prices and taxes without any real wage growth in over ten years. It’s no wonder many are considering their options and asking if the grass can really be greener.”
Oskar has now firmly settled in Sydney as a doctor and has shared his advice to other: “The way you meet people here [Sydney] feels more organic, you can make friends here without any real shared social space and the cost-of-living differences are just insane. I love to eat out and it’s just more affordable, I feel more a part of a community here, it’s going to be my base for the long-term.”
The cost of living is a big factor in choosing to move and recent research by the TUC revealed that the UK is the only country in the G7 where household budgets have not recovered to pre-pandemic levels. Simon added: “It’s a destination that’s only becoming more popular and understandably so, the Australian Government offer cheaper tuition fees and attractive visa options for skilled professionals.”
Reflecting on his time in England, Oskar concluded: “I never lacked fondness for Oxford in particular. It just wasn’t going to be long-term for me. There are a couple of things I’ll also miss from the UK; British competency and niceties are something you certainly don’t get everywhere.”