A British expat has sparked backlash after revealing she 'hates' her new job just four months after moving to Australia. Rebecca, a 26-year-old from Northern Ireland, relocated to Sydney in February and has been working as a traffic controller, a role she described as detesting 'with her whole soul' in a series of TikTok videos.
In one clip filmed during an early morning shift, she complained: 'Come to Australia, they said, you’ll get a job in marketing and events right away, they said. It’s 5am. SOS, when does this end?' Another video shared last week featured photographs from her work site, with the sarcastic caption: 'Live, laugh, love Australia.'
Divided Reactions Online
Rebecca's posts divided commenters. Some urged her to 'go home' if she disliked her new life. One person wrote: 'Don't be one then?' while a fellow Brit quipped: 'Primark are hiring at home love,' referencing the UK budget fashion retailer. Others advised gratitude, with a Dutch expat commenting: 'I need a job. At this point, I would even do this. Where do I sign up?' However, some were sympathetic, noting: 'Night shift traffic control takes a different kind of strength.'
Background and Other Expat Stories
Before moving to Australia, Rebecca lived in Newry, Armagh and Down with her partner, Renee. Her experience follows another expat, an American woman in Melbourne, who debunked the myth that Australians frequently say 'g'day mate.' She explained that the phrase is rarely heard and highlighted common Aussie phrases like 'how ya goin'?' and 'what's doin'?' Aussies praised her knowledge, including actress Ruby Rose, who said: 'You have absolutely mastered this part of our language.'
