Hello,
We are very early stages of considering a move to Australia, specifically Melbourne for a job that's come up for me (headhunted). Dh is in a professional job/career and the kids are 7 and 5 so year 3 and year R.
We are not citizens of Australia but this move will mean it takes us closer to my home country (Dh is British as are the kids).
Can any kind mumsnetter tell me about:
- What's a good wage? And what the taxes are like? (We are currently on a combined income of about £70-80k) and have put the years of horrendous childcare behind us).
- What is housing like? (We live in the se and are in a 3 bed semi. We pay roughly £800/month mortgage). My commute at the moment is 5 min to work!! I understand that that would be difficult given that Melbourne is much bigger than where we are! Work will be in the CBD area.
- What are schools like and how does one get into schools? Is it like here where it's really about catchment area and religion? (We are Catholic, kids baptised and go regularly to church).
- Visas - what visa must I be on to enable Dh to be able to work, and the kids to go to state school and have access to healthcare?
And any other information you might have and happy to share - thanks v much in advance! I've visited Melbourne several times on holiday and I have family in Sydney.
Many thanks,
NK