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

[Glitteryrosette]

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)!

WA without a doubt. You can always come back to the U.K. the U.K. is going to hell with no sign of any improvement. As global warming gets worse I wouldn't want to be in a place with a government that simply doesn't respond to people not getting their basic needs met. It's become completely acceptable to have thousands of people dying needlessly every month. That's simply where we are. I'd go!

My brother and his wife and family moved to WA with the children and love it. Both in well paid jobs kids in private school though state schools are good. They bought a house much bigger than in London. Downside you are at the arse end of the planet. Salaries in WA tend to be higher

I think they both have great things about them but if your DH and DCs get used to the outdoorsy life you’ll never get them back to U.K. without tears.
So it’s whether you’ll want to stay there or regret it. You can go in the future. People emigrate, kids change scools all the time.
I prefer U.K. but I think my DCs and DH would have settled well in Aus. (Adults now in the U.K. and all doing well —despite the weather)

You sound happy where you are Op. If you are moving for the sake of your kids what will they gain there that they don't get here apart from more sunshine/outside lifestyle? If you aren't happy there that may also have an impact on the family environment
Australia is very isolated and the west coast in particular. In the U.K. you have London close but as well as the rest of Europe. We definitely have issues here, Brexit of course was a disaster, I also hear the healthcare is better in Australia. Ultimately there are pros and cons to both, Australia isn't utopia.

This "culture" that constantly gets mentioned.
How many of you actually go to the opera or stand in awe reverentially in cathedrals? ( btw Australia has lovely cathedrals - they just aren't quite as old as the European ones) I'm thinking the answer is none. But would love to hear from someone who actually does. Regularly. Like on the weekends. Instead of going out for dinner or to the movies .
Other question for the "cultural " people. Does the US have any ? Or are they to young as a country to have any either?

I think the paranoid responses from the people who have accused the poster of deliberately starting this to "bash" Australia would be enough to put me off moving there, tbh. The OP has written articulately and given a lot of detail. Some people love places, some people don't. If you've never lived in the UK, you can't really understand what UK citizens might think of Australia. Most responses are from people who have travelled in Australia and are giving their personal opinion. I agree that the spider death! myth must be annoying. The negative attitude towards the UK is something I personally experienced, but maybe if you've left the UK for good that wouldn't be an issue.

I might be a bit biased because I love Northumbria, it's beautiful.

Have you checked to see if you would even be eligible to move there?

Somebody we know is emigrating to Western Australia - she cites a better life, weather, everything really. What made her decision: you have to do it for yourself nobody else. They're all stamped ready to go - just waiting to sell their house. She said they will give it 5 years and if they really don't like it will come back, but better to try and not regret.

Like everything, there's pros and cons to both.

I'd give consideration to your being happy where you are. Is it possible to do 2-3 years in Western Australia, rent out your home, and then decide if it's the right move for you?

I love both places for different reasons.

How many of you actually go to the opera or stand in awe reverentially in cathedrals?

<raises hand>
I do. Also do the same in France and Spain and Greece. And let's not start on Italy <droool>. I am a theatre/opera nerd and I looooooove old buildings. The older the better

Oh and btw I wouldn't live in Perth if you paid me! Miles from bloody anywhere. 😂

Yeah look, honestly, people from Perth just fly more to do those things. I am in awe of how willing (well off) people in Perth are to jump on a long haul for skiing, attending weddings, European holidays etc - and definitely not just expats, I know a lot of locals who travel to Europe more often than we do. You just learn to suck up the long flights and the expense.

But if you love doing all that why not just..stay near Europe? Clearly the climate crisis doesn't bother these globe trotting Perthians!

🙄

Me too 😂

Australians have much bigger access to diversity culture than most in the UK can dream about. We have aboriginal culture dated thousands of years, we have countries like Indonesia, Thailand, NZ and Cook Islands (Maori culture and Easter Polynesian culture), New Guinea and Fiji (Melanesian culture), all countries in Australia's backyard and easily accessible because our wages (4 times those in the UK) allow us to explore. But hey.....lets keep bashing Australia and it's luck of culture. Fg hell, how many of you have actually being a resident in Australia?

Alondra, those other countries you mention are further away and more difficult to get to. Some of our Australian friends visited there, but then some of our UK friends have visited there too. It was notable that our Australian friends didn't get much holiday and mostly spent it on relatively local camping trips or saved it up for a special trip abroad, e.g. for a honeymoon. We travelled extensively in Australia and NZ, including to areas that many of our Australian friends had never been, such as Tasmania. It was all great, but at the end of our 3 years we felt we had covered enough of it and were ready to move back to Europe. I'm not bashing Australia, just telling the OP about my experience.

Someone saying they don’t want to live in Australia isn’t bashing it. And ‘I’m beginning to get the feeling people from England are jealous’ seriously 🙄. I encountered this sort of ‘Australia is the best and no one can possibly think otherwise’ attitude a lot and it’s one of the reasons I came home! Along with endless ‘jokes’ about ‘poms’, so tiresome.

WA is so isolated.
so fewer choices of places to go for a short break.
yes I think your brother has a skewed view if he has a high paying mining job

threat of climate change is real.
i have a friend (admittedly he was in Sydney not WA) who came back to the UK after previously being in Oz for good because of the heat (45 is no joy and do you really want to be cooped up in aircon and not go out?) and general fire/smoke threats

Most are speaking from experience. I don’t recognise the bold para as that universal tbh

No!! Can I please reiterate that this is not and was never intended to be a thread bashing Australia. I am not bashing it at all.

I am genuinely trying to figure out whether a move to WA is the right thing for us. I was looking for the points of view of others, especially those who have been in a similar situation.

The posters from Australian residents (presumably) telling me to stay where I am in a snarky tone are misplaced and to be honest, does nothing to dispel the notion that Aussies slag off the poms constantly. Australia has culture and in some parts, proper seasons, I get it. Can you all get off your soap box now please?

@marvellousmaple I mentioned you because I could remember your username (I love maple syrup ) when I replied and you seemed especially pissed off. You certainly aren't the only one with nothing hugely constructive to say.

There have been some really useful points made and it's definitely given me lots to think about so thank you to the posters who realised this is a genuine thread and offered their thoughts or experiences.

@Greatly Because I had already spent 18 years in one nice part of the UK, 16 years in another and we fancied a change of scene. Also we wanted an amazing, healthy, sporty childhood for our kids as outlined up thread.

I never viewed it as some kind of exile!

You have no idea about Australian Natives except the stereotypes you read on the net.

This is a photo I've just taken in my backyard. My phone camera is not the best and the colours are more spectacular when without a lense.

It's the Australia's native Christmas' tree. It turns flaming red/pink for Christmas (summer season). I also have deep yellow banksias, wild Australian orchids flowering in August/September, bottle brush tress (red and pink) and Tasmanian Blue Gum that turns totally white in September/October.

Frankly, I've had enough with the amount of Australia's bashing from people that have never been to this country or came here for holidays or a working youth visa.

Tbf the flora and fauna in Australia is beautiful, I agree.

I’m confused by several people saying we don’t get much leave here in WA.
We get 4 weeks annual leave plus 11 public holidays = 6.2 weeks per year.
Then most people get long service leave every 7 years, which is 3 months holiday on full pay or 6 months on half pay.
(plus the usual parental/sick/family leave etc)

As your friend how many 45 degree days they get in a year. I'll bet it's less than 3, if any at all each year.

I agree WA is isolated but maybe some people like that? Because of the single flight back to London, WA has some advantage in that travel.

Climate change is real everywhere.

Perth is lovely. I'd be off like a shot.