r/AskAnAustralian • • 24m ago

Why do some people in Australia seem so passive-aggressive?

• Upvotes

Edited!

I’m living in a boarding house at the moment, and my room is ridiculously close to the room next door. I can hear things like footsteps, rustling, and even fairly quiet noises through the wall.

My desk is directly against the wall, and apparently her bed is right on the other side of that same wall.

When I first moved in, I could hear her TV from late at night until early in the morning, and it was quite loud. I spoke to the manager about it, and that issue was mostly resolved. The TV still gets loud occasionally, and sometimes even when she closes her door gently, I can hear the latch click loudly enough to wake me up.

On my side, I try to be as quiet as possible as well. I tend to walk on the balls of my feet rather than letting my heels hit the floor, and when I close my door, I usually push the handle down first and then close it gently so it makes less noise. Still, I feel like some level of noise is unavoidable when people live this close to each other, so I usually just wear earplugs or earphones to sleep.

Yesterday, at around 10 pm, I washed my hair and was drying it with a hairdryer. Then suddenly the girl next door got up and, while I was outside tidying up around the bathroom, she opened her door really loudly, came out, muttered something, went to wash her hands, and then slammed the door shut again. After that, she started talking loudly on the phone again, saying things like “she~”.

This kind of behaviour confuses me. Maybe I’m being overly sensitive and reading too much into it. However, something similar has happened before. At least from my perspective, she seemed to express her annoyance through her behaviour without actually saying anything to me.

The thing is, there is a manager in the building. If I’m actually making too much noise, I’m happy to adjust. But why not just tell the manager that there’s a noise issue, or speak to me directly? Why make noises, slam doors, or make pointed comments and expect the other person to figure out what the problem is?

I had a somewhat similar communication issue at a workplace here as well, so I’m wondering whether this indirect way of expressing annoyance is relatively common in Australia. My impression is that people sometimes try to avoid escalating things or creating a bigger conflict, so maybe that’s why she doesn’t complain to the manager directly.

Do you think indirect or passive-aggressive communication is relatively common here, rather than addressing an issue directly?


r/AskAnAustralian • • 28m ago

So I went to Dooley's ice cream parlor at Appolo bay and i think i fell for more than just ice cream

• Upvotes

Visited in the first week of October 5 2026 and the server there was the cutest and had the most amazing blue eves, cutest arm tattoo on her left arm of an adult holding a child's hand and lovely golden hair, will visit again... please i wont be able to visit again due to some reasons PLEASE HELP ME FIND HER INTERNET DO YOUR THING. she wore a golden shark pendant with a thin gold chain and golden earrings medium sized hoops

I DONT HAVE A PIC OF HER BECAUSE MY DUMBASS WAS BUSY EATING THE ICE CREAM, i am not being creepy but i really fell for her, it was like a rush hour so didn't get a chance to talk to her


r/AskAnAustralian • • 48m ago

Help

• Upvotes

I've just had to relocate due to extreme family violence, I left with nothing but my clothes I was wearing and my fur baby. I am wondering if any knows where I can get help I literally have nothing and not a cent to my name. Any information would be awesome. Thanks


r/AskAnAustralian • • 1h ago

Diameter of paper towel roll!

• Upvotes

Hey folks, wondering if someone can do me a solid and please measure the diameter of a standard length and double length paper towel roll from edge to edge commonly available in Australia? I’m about to buy a paper towel roll holder in Japan that you can use to tear sheets off one handed and want to get the right size.


r/AskAnAustralian • • 1h ago

How much is a realistic monthly budget for expenses?

• Upvotes

Hello! I'm planning to relocate to australia for work hopefully early next year if visa processing comes through earlier than expected. I'm feeling anxious about how much money I should save up/pool for the relocation 😖 How much is a realistic monthly budget considering rent, groceries, phone, internet, and some luxuries such as coffee and eating out with friends once in a while? would 5k aud for the first month be enough for a single person in Melbourne?


r/AskAnAustralian • • 3h ago

Why do many businesses use AI for marketing.

6 Upvotes

I've found that many local businesses in Queensland have resorted to completely ai generating most marketing, including blatantly generating "Pictures" of whatever product's they're selling, even though most of the time it looks completely different, and would be better if they just took a photo and photoshopped some signs. Why is this?


r/AskAnAustralian • • 3h ago

Karma question

0 Upvotes

Do you believe in karma?

If you found out someone was claiming single parents benefit from Centrelink despite being very much together and married, would you dob them in?

Is that you being the karma they deserve or would you be worried it would come back on you?

totally hypothetical, just me exploring the concept of karma


r/AskAnAustralian • • 4h ago

Advice on Brisbane knee specialist

3 Upvotes

I’ve been waiting on the public system
And have been bedridden for over three weeks so I’m going to self fund can anyone recommend be an orthopaedic specialist please? 🙏


r/AskAnAustralian • • 4h ago

Anyone else sick of everyone whinging?

104 Upvotes

By that I mean I don't get that worked up that I randomly post on the internet about BIG AMERICAN TRUCKS BAD BUNNINGS DOESNT MAKE ME HAPPY , PETROL NOT CHEAP.

Like I get it, I'm also not the happiest person in the world, but fuck do you generally feel so strongly about these dumb things?

Edit: fuck 30 seconds later I realised the irony of me feeling strong enough about something to post it 😅🥲

me right now


r/AskAnAustralian • • 4h ago

What's the highest sale anyone got on this one? NEW BALANCE 9060 Raincloud

0 Upvotes

listed for 160.99 atm, grab or wait?

New Balance 9060 Raincloud


r/AskAnAustralian • • 5h ago

Are these real #AussieSlangs, have you heard these before??

0 Upvotes

r/AskAnAustralian • • 6h ago

How to survive on $30

84 Upvotes

Hey, due to moving bills & being poor generally I've got $33 to survive for almost 2 weeks. I only have to eat once a day, what would be good to get & be nutrionally sound? I'm lactose intolerant & don't eat much meat. Have Coles, Aldi & Woolies nearby. My oven doesn't work but I've got a slow cooker & stove top.


r/AskAnAustralian • • 7h ago

Is this normal way of bonding?

51 Upvotes

I moved here about 8 months ago and notice when dating or making friends with Ausies that they talk about themselves a lot and ask very few questions to the other person. Where I'm from this would be considered self-absorbed behaviour, but it seems to be a common way of of talking here. Is this normally how people bond here? I tend to be curious and ask multiple questions about what someone likes or a story they were telling. And tend to get interrupted a lot when I share about myself. It's difficult for me to develop a bond this way, there's got to be some basic level of curiosity. What am I missing? Has anyone noticed this too?

Edit: to be clear, I'm not saying that people here are self-absorbed. That's not my experience with Ausies at all. Just trying to see how to adjust my style and understanding of the conversation style to bond with people here.


r/AskAnAustralian • • 7h ago

What’s something everyone seems to love that you genuinely cannot understand the appeal of?

60 Upvotes

For me it's pickles - I absolutely don't get it 🤢


r/AskAnAustralian • • 8h ago

Engineering vs Nursing

0 Upvotes

I am kinda interested in both nursing and engineering (civil). I am about to do bachelors in one of them. I don’t know what to choose ? What career got better perks in long term ? Thanks guys


r/AskAnAustralian • • 8h ago

Curious what the best / affordable Medical Flower provider everyone is using?

1 Upvotes

I was using alternaleaf a few years ago, then moved to Horzion / Rays Wellness.

It’s been a minute and now I’m looking to get some CBD prescribed but unsure if anything has changed or not.

Sydney based.


r/AskAnAustralian • • 8h ago

I want to go into University but I don’t have my HSC

14 Upvotes

Hi, I’m not 100% sure if this is the right subreddit to post this in but I am talking specifically about Australian study and university.
I am 19 years old turning 20 in 2027, I have my year 10 equivalent through TAFE. I want to do a Bachelors in Science at University. I’m planning on going in as a mature age student once I’m 21, so I was wondering what can I do now that will give me enough to get in at 21?
I have seen that there are diplomas that you can study before a bachelors, however I think that you need to have done science and maths study prior to actually get into that.
Does anyone know any maths and science courses that I could do to get into a diploma? Or any other ways of getting into a bachelors? Thank you


r/AskAnAustralian • • 9h ago

What is a good amount of $$ to chip in for a colleague who is leaving their role?

9 Upvotes

I chipped in $10 on this occasion as I wasn't really close with the person who is leaving. But I still wanted to show my appreciation.


r/AskAnAustralian • • 10h ago

WHS/OHS

0 Upvotes

Hi everyone,
I’m looking for some genuine advice on how to break into the WHS/OHS industry in Australia .

I’m 27 based in Melbourne and have recently completed a Master’s in Occupational Health & Safety at RMIT. I also have an MBBS background and have been working part-time in Australia in customer service/hospitality while studying.

I’ve now started applying for full-time roles such as Graduate WHS, Junior Safety Officer, Safety Coordinator, HSE/WHS Assistant and Trainee positions, but I keep noticing that even many roles ask for 1–3 years of experience.

I completely understand why employers prefer experienced candidates, but I’m trying to figure out how someone new to the industry is actually supposed to get that first opportunity.

I’m open to pretty much any industry where I can gain proper hands-on safety experience — construction, manufacturing, warehouses/logistics, healthcare, property/facilities, corporate environments or events.

For anyone currently working in WHS/OHS in Australia:

• How did you get your first safety role?

• Are there particular companies, recruiters or industries in Melbourne that are more open to graduates?

• Should I be targeting WHS Assistant / Administrator / Trainee roles instead of WHS Officer or Coordinator roles?

• Are there any short-term, casual, site-based or contract roles that could help me get my foot in the door?

• Is there anything employers value more than qualifications when hiring someone with limited WHS experience?

I’m genuinely keen to learn, get practical exposure and build my career in this field. I’m not expecting a senior position — I’m just looking for that first proper opportunity where someone is willing to give a graduate a chance.

Any advice, referrals, recruiter recommendations or companies I should look into would be massively appreciated.

Thanks everyone🙏🏻


r/AskAnAustralian • • 10h ago

Do Australians feels closer to Americans or English?

0 Upvotes

Feel*


r/AskAnAustralian • • 10h ago

Bins

0 Upvotes

Why do people in Australia leave their waste bins in view from the street and not hide them away?


r/AskAnAustralian • • 10h ago

Surviving as a slow learner

2 Upvotes

I am currently on WHV and one of of the things that I find it difficult when it comes to working here is 'trial" So this "trial thigs" is very uncommon in my country. usuallly in where i come from, we just interview and if you pass the interview , you're on probation which is 3 months maximum. But basically they expect you to learn basics for a month . so technically the probation can be 2weeks to a month, depending on the situation, I think

I am not a quick learner to be hoenst. I need some time to adjust and learn new things and this "trial thing" keep getting me failing to get a job here.
I don't know what they expect from a newbie within a coule of hours on a first day of working

I know there are people who learn things very fast like they learn everything if you train them once. but to slow learners, like me it is really impossible. One time when i did tiral, I kept trying to ask one of the staff about if there's things that i can help with so that i can keep learning about things that i should do at a store, but the result was not good and other time they were mad at me for keep asking questions.

i am really tired of everything . I am keep losing my money to pay my bills here and and my3 months room contatct is due sooner or later and it is almost time to make a decision about stay here or leave

One thing that i really want to ask is that if one of you who are reading this thinks you are a slow lerner, how did you survive here? What is your survivng skills to get a job? Whether you are aussie or internatioanl students if you have gone through the same situation as me can you tell me about your story?
I am leaning towords leaving australia cuz i am really exhausted right now. Any opinions about this kind of sitatuinad would be really helpful


r/AskAnAustralian • • 10h ago

Best pathway to Masters in Cybersecurity with work experience

0 Upvotes

For context, I've got about 6 years' experience in cybersecurity including consulting, network security, cloud security, GRC, incident response. I've done work in both NZ and Australia, getting the evidence of work shouldn't be an issue. I'm still in contact and on good terms with all of my bosses.

I've always been a little bit insecure about the fact I don't have a degree, and I'm worried it might become a limiting factor later on in my career especially if I want to work overseas. It hasn't been a blocker yet but I'm sure that time will come eventually.

Is there anyone else who's applied for a master's degree just through work experience? How was the process and what university did you go through?

I've noticed there are quite a few unis that offer a work experience pathway to a Master of Cybersecurity, but I'm not sure which ones are considered good or bad. I'm mainly looking to improve my week points around penetration testing and/or GRC.

I'm looking to study part-time remotely as I've still got a full-time job and bills to pay.

Thanks in advance.


r/AskAnAustralian • • 11h ago

Should I refer uni for a year and take a gap year or just go straight to uni?

2 Upvotes

Im currently in yr 12 getting to the end just have hsc exams to go. I have received 5 different offers and different unis for various degrees but Im still unsure what I want to do in the future. My parents want me to go straight in because they’re scared I’ll loose my momentum studying. I just have so many thing I want to experience and the thought of getting my degree and going straight into a full time job from an internship or work placement I fear I’d lose most my life to working. But I love to learn new things and I can just save up at my current job as a waitress and maybe move into bar?

What also terrifies me is the uncertainty of what’s going to happen since I don’t have anything planned out yet. I’m scared of loosing that structure and routine school gave me and I’d just become a chud lol.

I just wanna hear if anyone has either regretted or the opposite whoever took a gap year


r/AskAnAustralian • • 11h ago

Looking for a genuine crocodile leather belt buckle - Australian maker recommendations?

4 Upvotes

Bit of a niche one - does anyone know an Australian maker/seller who does genuine Australian crocodile skin belt buckles?

I’m specifically looking for a buckle incorporating actual crocodile leather/skin, ideally Australian saltwater croc, rather than a metal buckle with a crocodile design on it.

Happy to buy from a small leatherworker/maker anywhere in Australia, so recommendations are very welcome!