Page 5 | Moving to Perth, Australia from UK

JustUseTheDoorSanta · 16/01/2022 07:25

@Moonlight34

Again thank you to everyone’s comments. I have a few houses here which are paid outright and thought we can lean on that for the move. We never really could decide at the start whether Australia was going to be the right move for us 100% and both myself and my husbands got promoted and then my husband kept getting promoted. I then had a baby after baby. Work have got a good maternity package. we have been to Australia a fair few times especially Melbourne/Sydney. My husbands family live in Taylor’s lake and have a house outright there. It is quite a big house and we have stayed there plenty of times before. My cousins also live in Perth and decided to go there ten years ago but just wanted to try and not rely on any help from them. I agree surprisingly on everyone’s post, we are bonkers. Someone mentioned to use a migration agent, we are using down under centre and they informed us that an international student visa would be processed ready for enrolment , it takes between 4-12 weeks. Anyways I guess we’ve waited all these years, what’s a few more right :’( my husband will become a brickie as planned and maybe in a few years time, we will see again . Other than that when Australia finally opens up its borders, maybe our jobs will be listed as skilled workers. When there is hope , we have everything. Thank you all

How has your DH been "promoted" multiple times yet "bricklayer student" is the top pick? If he had skills then he should be able to find something else with pay.

You seem focused on day 1 - arrival. 3 kids, so children will get older and need school soon; you'll also need private medical cover, clothes, food, bill payments etc.

Lanareyrey · 16/01/2022 07:44

Rentals are very hard to get in Perth at the moment and property very very expensive to buy. Also chronic staff shortages because of Covid, very very strict border control/visa grants etc. Very expensive place to live so I would think twice.

Ozgirl75 · 16/01/2022 07:47

I live in Sydney. Perth is the arse end of nowhere. There are loads of lovely places to live in Australia, Perth is one of the last places I’d go.

MondayYogurt · 16/01/2022 08:47

If you have several houses can't you sell one or two and use the money to establish yourself better?

Paperplain · 16/01/2022 08:53

@Moonlight34

Hi everyone

My husband and myself have been thinking for a long time to move to Australia. We have two little girls and another one on the way. We are looking to move in October, a few months after the baby is born. Although both me and my husband are educated and in really good jobs , we don't qualify for any visa. My husbands mum and sister live in Melbourne but it still does not give my husband any rights. Unfortunately the only way to get there is for my husband to become an international student, luckily we have savings behind us to fund this but we really think this is the best move for us as a family. We understand that our right to work is 20 hours only , I won't be working as I will be on Mat pay.
I doubt we can buy a flat outright there for 100k (house sale) but does anyone know if an international mortgage is possible ?
Can anyone guide us what areas in Perth are suitable for a young family ? We would like to be near the beach / city / amenities but realise that this is most likely impossible.
If anyone can provide any information about Perth , we would very much appreciate it.

Many thanks

If you haven't got Permanent Residence or citizenship you have to get government approval to but property - application fee is costly (ie thousands). You will also get slugged first stamp duty surcharge as foreign residents and no I doubt you will get a mortgage as no income (or limited income) on which to base an application. Also, not sure student visa leads to the ability to apply to stay in the country As permanent residents. Doesn't sound feasible on the route you are thinking - perhaps if you are serious look at the visa categories and retrain in the UK to satisfy one of the shortage lists. Otherwise it's a huge risk and not one I would suggest taking.

mynamesnotMa · 16/01/2022 09:18

My sister and family went like you with no real plan. Though she was a midwife so was easy to get work. It was a huge culture shock. Not sure if retraining as a brickie is as easy as you think. It's hard work and very labour intensive.
I lived in Sydney and have visited Perth. Its a very different vibe. Not relaxed and happy rather competitive and shallow. My sister hated it for years.
They now have the house and swimming pool but she'd come back in a heartbeat.

ClaryFairchild · 16/01/2022 11:45

What are your jobs? The skilled workers list changes frequently, but medical staff and teachers seem to always be in there, but there is also an age limit to most of them.

SwedishEdith · 16/01/2022 11:57

@YourenutsmiLord

I've just discovered the population of Perth is over 2 million - I'm staggered. I was there in 2010 and the 'town' centre was closed and deserted by 9pm. Perhaps it's changed. It is beautiful but is too far from everywhere else. Why aren't you wanting to move to Melbourne where you have family.

That's Greater Perth. It's really long.

As of 2021, Perth is divided into 30 local government areas and consists of more than 350 suburbs. The metropolitan boundaries stretch 123 kilometres (76 mi) from Two Rocks in the north to Singleton in the south,[11] and 62 kilometres (39 mi) east inland to The Lakes. Being 22 kilometres (14 mi) shorter than Sochi and with development continuing, Perth may soon[timeframe?] eclipse Sochi in Russia",[11] making it the second-longest city in the world. [12]

HeyArnoldHey · 16/01/2022 12:05

Lol I am chuckling because a lot of negative comments come from people with friends of friends in Perth or whatever

We live there now . I don't find cost of living expensive compared to what we earn . We do well and can save etc.

Absolutely no way would I do a student visa though with children!! Crazy!
You'd also have to pay a foreign tax to buy a home and it's V high! Renting is really competitive due to shortages right now and I don't think you'll be picked against atleast 10 other applications on a temp visa only one person working 20 hrs and 3 kids! You wouldn't be desirable compared to others fighting ... just being honest.

I think retrain , get the experience and go from there.

Remaker · 16/01/2022 12:22

I am Australian and live in Sydney. Your plan sounds quite mad to me. £100,000 is AU$180,000. Out of interest I looked up what that will buy you anywhere in Perth. Nothing is the short answer. Possibly a small block of land (no house) in a dodgy suburb.

Then there is the visa issue. I cannot imagine you will be allowed to emigrate here with kids in tow on a student visa unless you can demonstrate you have the funds to support all of you, which it sounds like you don’t.

And finally, why Perth? It is the remotest part of a remote country! If moving to Australia is really what you want to do then try retraining into a job that’s in demand and do it that way. Good luck.

lborgia · 16/01/2022 12:47

Seriously, you're raising three children on a "where there's hope there's a chance" type crap?

You are utterly deluded.

British expat in Oz here, and I wouldn't suggest anyone try and move here with less than the promise of an $80k salary.

Do you know how much it costs to..
Buy food?
Go to the GP?
Council rates?
Utilities?
Rent?
Deposit?
Buying a car?
Health insurance - you have to buy it, or you get taxed anyway. Ours is £200 a month.

Anyway, you're completely feckless.

If this was in living overseas I might have been a bit more politic, but seeing as we're in AIBU, this is what I really think and know.

lborgia · 16/01/2022 12:48

On the other hand, you really don't have to worry about spiders.

The snakes eat the spiders.

VoiceOfCommonSense · 16/01/2022 14:02

Get trained up first in the UK so you qualify and then apply for the visa. You will struggle getting a mortgage unless one or both of you are in full time employment and earning enough to cover the mortgage. Student Visas are also on temporary and I don't know if you would be able to go for a mortgage unless you were at least a PR. And 100K will do as a deposit but you won't be able to buy anywhere outright for that in Perth.

Patsnpons · 16/01/2022 14:05

@Sarahschild

Why on Earth would you want to move here now? It’s fucking awful and Mark McGowan is an absolute arsehole not to mention Scott Morrison. Seriously rethink your choices. Australia is nothing like it used to be.

Couldnt agree more

Crunchymum · 16/01/2022 14:11

"Moving to Perth, from UK"

"Can anyone provide any information about Perth?"

What could possibly go wrong?

Seriously though OP, I see you've taken all the comments onboard.

In the meantime I'd concentrate on saving and maybe retraining in an area guaranteed to get you a work visa.

PrincessNutella · 16/01/2022 14:18

Your plan makes zero sense.

etulosba · 16/01/2022 14:37

I have spent a lot of time in the area south of Perth that the OP wants to move to and I can see the attraction. Normally I would be there now. I wish I had moved there permanently years ago. Family ties prevented me.

They probably wouldn’t let me in as I’m too old now.

I wouldn’t put the OP off moving, but it’s not something to be done on a whim. It needs thorough research and preparation.

ittakes2 · 16/01/2022 14:52

I am from Perth although living in the Uk - my friend said last week because the borders have been shut the cost of living and real estate have gone up massively. Employers are paying over the odds for employees as there is a limited pool and then residents have been using their pay increases to buy property.
Perth is as you say brilliant for families but I can’t see £100k getting you very much.
I am not getting why your husband can’t go out since his mother and sister are there? I thought if the majority of your children are in australia it changes things.
Also my sister n law went out there and studied as a beautician on a student visa and then stayed and worked.

SavoyCabbage · 16/01/2022 14:58

@lborgia

Seriously, you're raising three children on a "where there's hope there's a chance" type crap?

You are utterly deluded.

British expat in Oz here, and I wouldn't suggest anyone try and move here with less than the promise of an $80k salary.

Do you know how much it costs to..
Buy food?
Go to the GP?
Council rates?
Utilities?
Rent?
Deposit?
Buying a car?
Health insurance - you have to buy it, or you get taxed anyway. Ours is £200 a month.

Anyway, you're completely feckless.

If this was in living overseas I might have been a bit more politic, but seeing as we're in AIBU, this is what I really think and know.

Yes and when you are poor in Australia - you are poor.

I lived in the completely ordinary eastern suburbs of Melbourne and there were kids at my DD's school who had no shoes. And no lunches. If you don't bring a lunch there are no free school meals to fall back on.

When my dd was five she needed occupational therapy at $200 an hour. So did another child in her class. He didn't get it.

UnshakenNeedsStirring · 16/01/2022 15:35

I would like to know how come you dont have any living costs? No mortgage, food and utility bills? Travel costs....clothes...the list id endless. And you dont have any costs?!!!

LaChanticleer · 16/01/2022 16:14

Perth is very expensive. The cost of living in Australia is high - mortgage interest rates, for example, can be double those in the UK.

And Australia is not just England with sunshine. I think it’s a bit of a mad plan to go without job offers and visas.

mjf981 · 16/01/2022 19:57

I don’t think we’re getting the whole financial story here. You have no expenses currently, with a family? And then the casual drip feed about you owning a couple of UK properties you could ‘lean on’?

Paperplain · 17/01/2022 00:54

@LaChanticleer

Perth is very expensive. The cost of living in Australia is high - mortgage interest rates, for example, can be double those in the UK.

And Australia is not just England with sunshine. I think it’s a bit of a mad plan to go without job offers and visas.

This isn't true - mortgage rates are low!

etulosba · 17/01/2022 01:00

This isn't true - mortgage rates are low!

Yes, but UK rates are even lower!

Bazinga007 · 17/01/2022 01:26

Is that you Novak?