Expat Interview With Danielle McGrane

Danielle McGrane was working in Dublin as a music journalist, and was bowled over when she managed to land a job as the national music writer with AAP in April this year, “it sort of felt like all my dreams had come true. In that same month, I also received my permanent residency, having converted my 457 – sponsorship visa – through work. I originally came over on a working holiday visa for a year, so getting permanent residency has felt like a massive achievement in itself.” Expat Danielle explains how she managed to achieve her dream life in Australia.

The Move

This Dublin girl came for a year-long adventure in Australia…four years ago. It seems bizarre when you say that out loud but I guess Sydney has just sucked me in, like it’s done to so many other expats. As a journalist in Dublin, I had worked for several national newspapers and publications so I was ready for an adventure and Australia seemed like a good fit (well, it helped that I speak the same language.) So I brushed up on the lyrics to Waltzing Matilda, practised my barbecuing skills and took my surfboard to the local pool so I could assimilate easily into Aussie culture. What I found was a place full of optimism, blue skies and like-minded people.

The Job Search

I did a Google search for “rock journalist” and when nothing came up I started sending out my CV to various news outlets. After a couple of weeks, I landed a six-month contract as a news reporter for Australian Associated Press so I started brushing up as furiously as I could on Australian culture, history and politics. Having experience in my field before I came, and university qualifications behind me, was really helpful when it came to looking for work. I’ve seen people struggle who come over with enthusiasm and not much else. So a word of advice to anyone planning a move here: don’t be naive, come with something other than your charming wit to offer employers.

The Job

The job itself was like a crash course in Australian society, politics and history. Within my first few months I had covered inquests, a major murder case, interviewed John Travolta (seriously) and had a front-row seat to my first state election. It was a sink-or-swim moment so I doggy-paddled furiously and now I work for the same company and just this year got the role as the AAP national music writer. Music has been my first love and passion from the time I took up the violin aged 4 to wondering how the world could ever be worthy enough to have access to the music of The Beatles so to say this is my dream job is an understatement.

The Industry

Perseverance pays off in the media. You shouldn’t expect to spend your first month in Australia hanging out with your heroes, for me it took four years. Media is a particularly cut-throat industry so starting out doing freelance or casual shifts can be a good way to get in the door at a major organisation. But it’s also an ever-changing industry so be open-minded. Many journos I know have found work by thinking outside the box: writing content for online voucher companies or by working as social media managers or online producers.

Experience

It turns out I’ve only sung Waltzing Matilda once, briefly, in a Sydney pub one Christmas Eve. I still haven’t surfed and my fiance does most of the barbecuing. So the initial skills I thought I would need were utterly useless. But it’s been a pretty amazing experience. I’m getting married in February in Sydney to an Englishman (a fellow journo) and I’ve learned the best thing about being an Irish person in Australia is being Irish in Australia. One of the best pieces of advice I can give anyone coming here is to celebrate your difference, and use it to your advantage. I like to think it’s given me the enthusiasm to be able to approach older Australian music with fresh eyes, and, while I still feel so green and so new, I feel honoured to have been welcomed into the fold of the Aussie music and media industries.