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Original poster

If you had a choice between Western Australia and North East England, which would you choose and why?

211 replies

Glitteryrosette · 10/01/2023 19:27

NC for this as could be outing.

I have potentially got the opportunity to emigrate to Western Australia with DH and my two primary age DC. I have close family out there who would be relatively nearby (in Australian terms- a sibling less than an hour away and a parent 4 hours away).

I currently live in a lovely house (mortgaged but at least we are on property ladder) in a place I love, with lots of close family on the doorstep (including my other parent and in-laws). My two DC enjoy their school and are settled and happy.

I am finally in a position where I am progressing my career, making good connections with other professionals (crucial for my role), have paid off my student debt (it cost me £50k to qualify!), and all being well I will be promoted in the next year or two. I love my job and the people I work with. My commute is manageable.

About 12 years ago DH and I considered a move down under, but at the time I had only just qualified, had a lot of debt, and I would have had to do it all again to do the same role in Australia, which put me off and we decided to stay put. Then we had our first DC.

Following Brexit, the pandemic, the cost of living and the state of the UK generally, we are now considering whether we should make the move to Australia before it is too late in terms of both our ages (im late 30's, DH is early 40's) and before eldest DC starts high school. Whilst I would probably have to do some form of studying, I no longer would have to re qualify, but I would need to have my qualifications assessed by the equivalent Australian governing body, and would inevitably be in a slightly junior role and have to prove myself before any chance of promotion. So career wise, a move would set me back a good 3 years or so.

However, my family in Australia, who have just spent a month in the UK, cannot believe the state of things over here, and reiterated all the opportunities available in Australia, and how much better life would be for us and our DC.

I have visited Australia, and loved WA. Perth in particular. It is beautiful and a great city. So is the surrounding area. My DH lived in Australia for a year before we met and is desperate to make the move. He LOVED it.

But I love this little pocket of the UK. I am feeling torn. Would life really be better for my DC in Australia both now and in their future? I am happy to make sacrifices for my children but only if I am fairly confident they will pay off.

DH and I have both put feelers out with potential employers in WA, and (to our surprise!) there has been interest in both of us and we are waiting for an emigration consultant to get in touch.

I would be interested in hearing the opinions and thoughts of others, especially those with primary age DC who have made the move (either way)!

OP posts:
Greatly · 10/01/2023 19:29

Global warming has put me off Australia but I would have jumped at the chance 20 years ago.

MarshaMelrose · 10/01/2023 19:31

There's water in North East England.

PacificallyRequested · 10/01/2023 19:33

If it was NSW or Victoria maybe, but I'd honestly rather stay in the UK than move to Western Australia.

teezletangler · 10/01/2023 19:34

How would your life be better, though? You live in a lovely house in an area you love with a successful career and family nearby. For many people the move might make sense, but I can't see how it makes sense for your family at all. Is the move only because of what might be better for your children as adults?

TheYearOfSmallThings · 10/01/2023 19:35

Does it have to be Western Australia? The eastern cities have much more to offer.

ethelredonagoodday · 10/01/2023 19:40

Greatly · 10/01/2023 19:29

Global warming has put me off Australia but I would have jumped at the chance 20 years ago.

My first thought, I have to admit, was around climate change.

BethDuttonsTwin · 10/01/2023 19:42

I’d be out of this country in a heartbeat.

MechanicaHound · 10/01/2023 19:43

Gosh I'd stay where you are OP.

tillybgeordie · 10/01/2023 19:43

Do you like really really hot weather? WA is very very isolated. Remember it takes hours to get anywhere.

LlynTegid · 10/01/2023 19:45

North East England because of family who are over 80. The ash cloud and the pandemic reminded me that I would not want to be unable to get to an older family member if they needed me, or when they die, go to their funeral.

echt · 10/01/2023 19:59

Global warming doesn't only affect Australia. If the Gulf Stream turns off there'll be trouble in the UK.

Worth checking about having your qualifications approved. I went through the same process, this was for teaching, so there was only approved/not approved. I arrived in February, applied for work in July went from supply in July to HOD in November. You might not have to take a step back for long.

You have a lot to keep you in the UK, so no easy decision.
As lovely as WA is, like others I feel Vic/NSW have more to offer in terms of what is called "culture" but then I live in Melbourne so I would say that, and I may be being unfair to WA.

KittyWithStripes · 10/01/2023 20:01

I think moving to WA would be a very sensible move because:

  1. it's far closer to the UK than the Eastern states, it's now a single non-stop flight which makes it so much easier to pop back 1-2 times a year, which is what we do but the other way round :)
  2. you have a good support network of family there already, this is the single most likely factor in people not liking the move is a lack of family nearby
  3. I think you might be overestimating how long it will set your career back, Aussies don't stand on ceremony and protocol and I think you'll jump back to your current level much quicker than you think, once they've sized you up and you've completed the formalities. And salaries are much higher over there.
  4. Again the egalitarianism and the optimistic outlook - I think it would be great for your kids, they are likely to grow up feeling the world is their oyster and not feel that they're so rooted in one spot, if you see what I mean. Of course there are pros and cons to that, but I'd definitely plump for WA over NE England when it comes to opportunities for your children.

Best of luck whatever you decide 🙃

Greatly · 10/01/2023 20:02

Global warming doesn't only affect Australia. If the Gulf Stream turns off there'll be trouble in the UK

Yes of course, but WA has become hotter and more desolate. I'd definitely stay in the UK.

Volkswagenitalia · 10/01/2023 20:02

It's miles away from anywhere. I don't get why so many Brits move there! The East Coast I can understand more, but Perth I just don't get it.

bellac11 · 10/01/2023 20:02

Given the opportunity there lots of places I might consider moving to in the world and leaving the UK

Australia is not one of them

BertieBotts · 10/01/2023 20:03

England 100 times over.

Australia is too far and would be too different. For me.

Greatly · 10/01/2023 20:03

bellac11 · 10/01/2023 20:02

Given the opportunity there lots of places I might consider moving to in the world and leaving the UK

Australia is not one of them

Yes I agree.

MarshaBradyo · 10/01/2023 20:04

The big one to me as distance from your family.

Undervaluedandsad · 10/01/2023 20:05

It personally isn’t for me, but I do like Perth and if I were going to live in Australia I would choose Perth. I have family there and they are happy.

Towntroubadour · 10/01/2023 20:05

Are you close with the family you have here? Have you spent any large chunks of time in Oz?

PermanentTemporary · 10/01/2023 20:10

For me, NE England but I have family there and am a total homebody. I love living in the UK. I also accept that my son may of course want to live overseas as an adult, but I wanted him to grow up in the country I know. I'd find it hard to have children whose home is another country.

I think you have a lot to take you over to Australia though.

sunflowerdaisyrose · 10/01/2023 20:19

It wouldn't be for me, but you do have close family there which would be the main factor in not wanting to go - I'd hate to be the other side of the world from my family. My parents (and I) have lived abroad a lot (but did remain in England from when we were 8 until at uni), but never more than a 7 hour flight away and when the pandemic hit it was hard as they were in a different country. If you're as close to the family there as you are here then either of the options is as good as the other.

I have three friends who have emigrated -one family love it and won't come back, one didn't mind it but preferred the education here, one hated it (but did like the education!). They were all Sydney thoiigh.

As you love where you live and the children are happy I'd probably stay put!

AnotherFamilyUpset · 10/01/2023 20:21

Something to consider is that your children will grow up with Australia being their home. We have experienced friends with older teen, early 20s children who stayed in Australia when their parents decided to move back to the UK due to aging parents. It has been very hard on the parents leaving young adults behind who arguably would have benefitted from having parents nearby.

A really hard decision for you.

MrsTerryPratchett · 10/01/2023 20:22

Greatly · 10/01/2023 19:29

Global warming has put me off Australia but I would have jumped at the chance 20 years ago.

This. SHTF earlier in the UK but I think global warming will be very severe fairly quickly in Oz.

milkyaqua · 10/01/2023 20:39

I think if you love your home, you love your job, and so on as you said:

"I currently live in a lovely house (mortgaged but at least we are on property ladder) in a place I love, with lots of close family on the doorstep (including my other parent and in-laws). My two DC enjoy their school and are settled and happy.

I am finally in a position where I am progressing my career, making good connections with other professionals (crucial for my role), have paid off my student debt (it cost me £50k to qualify!), and all being well I will be promoted in the next year or two. I love my job and the people I work with. My commute is manageable."

Then you would be insane to sell your house, uproot your children, and move to WA. If you love it so much, take a family holiday there.