Moving to Perth, Australia from UK

[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

2 years full-time at $13k a year.

Perth is headed for 40 degrees today.

Move in or closer to family.

We have an amazing life/ house etc here, but entirely based on how much we got for our house in the UK, and 20 years of professional jobs, inheritance etc. So purely a mixture of age and luck!

Tbf, my job now is far better paid than it would be in the UK, but it's not a job that really exists in the same huge numbers there. Also, very few people with serious experience.

I'm not allowed to say all the horrendous things here because I'm not Australian. And I'm in a cushy position, so no, not allowed to have an opinion on anything

What with being a foreigner, and a champagne socialist

Tbf, pretty much covered by previous posters.

Oh, I think I'm allowed to say I was let go during my maternity leave because my cover person didn't have children, so they were happy to just keep going with them. I did ask a solicitor, and even the Fair Work helpline. Their feeling was that if I did want to pursue, was it somewhere I'd then want to work? Given that they'd done something so hurtful, and that it was "only a little part time job". So there was that.

Oh, and being told we could definitely expect to get the rental we were looking at, despite 3 other applications being sent in. "Because you're the first white applicants".

Oh, and another job where literally every day someone would refer to my "poor babies" and who was looking after them today?

And the disability funding where I have to get a new report for literally every review confirming my child is still disabled.

I even tried attending labour party meetings where I was told I couldn't have a view because I was Australian (having lived here for 20 years).

I don't know, doesn't help to repeat the hundreds of ways in which I've been othered, ignored, criticised, experienced casual "racism" and casual misogyny, I swear to God I'd go back to the 70s to remember it being like that in London. At least until the last 5-10 years at least I was protected by the fact that people wouldn't say this stuff out loud to me in London.

Even though I'm white, and English speaking, I get all this persistent crap, so I cannot even imagine what it's like for POC let alone WOC.

But I'm not allowed to defend others in more difficult positions than me. I need to "shut up and not shit stir".

Only one woman, only anecdotal evidence, so not to worry.

This isn't true - mortgage rates are low!

@Paperplain I lived in Sydney for 30 years, and I know what I paid in mortgage interest for that time when I had a mortgage there. I also know that returning home to the UK was financially really good for me, apart from getting back home (I have dual nationality). I'm far better paid and my area of work respected.

This is in contrast to Australia, which has a pretty rough & tumble culture - sexist, racist and a kind of violence under the surface of the sun & fun. The only time I've ever been mugged & beaten up on the street in a big city (and I've travelled extensively) was in Sydney ...

Even though I'm white, and English speaking, I get all this persistent crap, so I cannot even imagine what it's like for POC let alone WOC.

Those were precisely my thoughts throughout my teenage years in Australia. I was attacked in the school playground, bullied, teased and hit simply for speaking with an English RP (as it was called then) accent.

So pleased to be out of that narrow-minded culture which seeks to cut down the tall poppies. I worked hard at my job there and was successful, but the general view was that what I did wasn't "real" work. And the sexism - from educated professional men.

@LaChanticleer

This isn't true - mortgage rates are low!

@Paperplain I lived in Sydney for 30 years, and I know what I paid in mortgage interest for that time when I had a mortgage there. I also know that returning home to the UK was financially really good for me, apart from getting back home (I have dual nationality). I'm far better paid and my area of work respected.

This is in contrast to Australia, which has a pretty rough & tumble culture - sexist, racist and a kind of violence under the surface of the sun & fun. The only time I've ever been mugged & beaten up on the street in a big city (and I've travelled extensively) was in Sydney ...

What year where you paying a mortgage in Australia? I'm asking because in 1990 interest rates were 18% and now is about 1.58%.

I don't really know where on earth you were living, maybe in one of the rough suburbs? I'm a Spaniard living in Australia for the past 8 years and have NEVER seen racism, have NEVER encoutered racism and this is the only country where I go out at night for a walk on my own, through emptly streets without a worry. Like you I've travelled extensively and the freedom and sense of being safe I've found here I haven't anywhere else including my own country.

By the way, I live in Sydney.

@LaChanticleer

Even though I'm white, and English speaking, I get all this persistent crap, so I cannot even imagine what it's like for POC let alone WOC.

Those were precisely my thoughts throughout my teenage years in Australia. I was attacked in the school playground, bullied, teased and hit simply for speaking with an English RP (as it was called then) accent.

So pleased to be out of that narrow-minded culture which seeks to cut down the tall poppies. I worked hard at my job there and was successful, but the general view was that what I did wasn't "real" work. And the sexism - from educated professional men.

Do you want to talk about institutional racism in the UK? Because it's very well documented

@Alondra - really? Going for some whataboutery?

I didn't ever say that it doesn't happen in the UK, but I stand by my comment that most people at least pretend to be more civilised in the work environment.

Here in Oz no one seems to give an actual toss if they hear casual anything. Tbf, my main experience in the UK is in London, not other cities or the suburbs.

To paraphrase myself, not to worry, it's just anecdotal, only the experience of 2 women.

@Alondra - as to your last comment, the violence might not be right on my doorstep, but I'm very aware of it, and it's only a suburb away... and I live in one of the snobbiest places in Sydney.

Just because you haven't experienced it yourself, doesn't mean it doesn't exist! Maybe your feeling of ease is from naivety? I know that sounds personal, but I had lots of friends in London who walked around rough areas oblivious until something dramatic happened on their doorstep!

[quote lborgia]@Alondra - really? Going for some whataboutery?

I didn't ever say that it doesn't happen in the UK, but I stand by my comment that most people at least pretend to be more civilised in the work environment.

Here in Oz no one seems to give an actual toss if they hear casual anything. Tbf, my main experience in the UK is in London, not other cities or the suburbs.

To paraphrase myself, not to worry, it's just anecdotal, only the experience of 2 women.[/quote]
We can all give anecdotes about our lives and where we live. I just think some peole are extraordinarily agressive about racism, prejudice and sexism in Australia while forgetting issues in their own countries.

My experience in Sydney has been great. I speak English with a heavy accent, my kids couldn't communicate at all in school when we arrived, and my husband moved companies from a Spanish multinational one in OZ to an Australian one 3 years ago and has been promoted twice. Despite his English accent being as heavy as mine.

We don't live in the Eastern Suburbs. We mix with a lot of people from different countries and cultures, and frankly, some of the most racist and prejudiced are not our Australian friends.

I suppose we all have different experiences...but to point the whole of Australia as racist, sexist and a sub culture is just not on. It's untrue. One personal experience can't tarnish a whole country or its people when in every single country people can have awful experiences.

Not really, my advice to the OP was to just make the move - first line of what I wrote was - do it, you only live once -. I the. proceeded to give my personal experience of our success story which we achieved despite every person we knew telling us we wouldn’t survive. I don’t even care if it sounds like a brag that we managed to find a house, jobs and school within the first week. It’s do-able and it’s not unique to my family. It’s achievable by pretty much anyone and if the families I know who live here too, their experience was the same. My story is here to inspire the OP and anyone else who wants to get out here, not brag. But take it as you want.
Pretty sure someone mentioned earlier in the thread their husband found a job in their first week here as a mechanic. You didn’t then criticise that response or claim that person was telling the OP to get a job as a mechanic. So I don’t really get you or where you’re coming from. You just seem to have a bee in your bonnet that I was an immigration lawyer and found a job, which I merely mentioned in passing when describing my experience. I could have just as easily found a job as a cleaner or a coffee shop assistant and had I’d mentioned I’d got a job as one of those, you probably wouldn’t have even responded.

Anyway…

OP you’ll be fine. Just stick to WA (if your DH is planning to do a higher degree) or Qld (any study level) as then you won’t have to pay international school fees for your children.

I’m not sure what you do for work. My friend was inspired by our move and wanted to move over here. She was an accountant and that had been cut from the skilled visa shortage so she had no way of coming out with her occupation. She ended up doing a certificate 3 in early childhood education from the UK (took her 4 months to complete). She then managed to find a childcare centre in NSW who sponsored her to move here. They paid for her family’s flights and relocation costs too. She now manages the centre she works at and does bookkeeping at tax return time. So you could always look into a 186 visa and what sponsorship opportunities there are.

And no. Before anyone comes to this conclusion: I am NOT telling OP to work in childcare.

Well, as neither she nor her dh have a visa and don't qualify for a visaI don't think either of them will be getting a job in a week or in a month.

I'm agog that a childcare centre paid the relocation costs of a whole family from the other side of the world to secure a staff member who had done a four month course. It must have cost them thousands of dollars. Even if it was in Woop Woop it seems like absolute madness.

To correct some misinformation upthread: WA is not opening to all vaccinated people in February. Federal rules still apply and that means double vaccinated permanent residents, citizens and immediate family (if they apply for an exemption and have it granted). Not any old Tom Dick or Harry with a vaccine passport.

@Kingstonmumof1

To correct some misinformation upthread: WA is not opening to all vaccinated people in February. Federal rules still apply and that means double vaccinated permanent residents, citizens and immediate family (if they apply for an exemption and have it granted). Not any old Tom Dick or Harry with a vaccine passport.

Please don't listen to this misinformation Western Australia is opening up on 5 February to any double VAXXED* Tom Dick or Harry!*
This is the date set by the government at the end of last year to ease interstate and international borders.

We have friends due to arrive overseas the week after 5 February, and our university will be welcoming back all of our international students as well!!

Please don't listen to this misinformation Western Australia is opening up on 5 February to any double VAXXED* Tom Dick or Harry!
This is the date set by the government at the end of last year to ease interstate and international borders.*

Any double vaxxed Tom Dick or Harry with a visa. And that doesn't necessary mean they can work, or stay.

@theyoungishman

We have friends due to arrive overseas the week after 5 February, and our university will be welcoming back all of our international students as well!!

I think at lot of people will have to change plans now...

www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2022/jan/20/reopening-western-australia-suspended-covid-omicron-spread

Yes I was going to post that news update,it made me think of that thread!

I spent most of my life in Perth. Hated it.

@RitaTheBeater

Well, as neither she nor her dh have a visa and don't qualify for a visaI don't think either of them will be getting a job in a week or in a month.

I'm agog that a childcare centre paid the relocation costs of a whole family from the other side of the world to secure a staff member who had done a four month course. It must have cost them thousands of dollars. Even if it was in Woop Woop it seems like absolute madness.

If her husband gets a student visa and she is his dependent then they’re both allowed to work up to a carts in amount of hours each week. There’s an abundance of jobs right now across Australia. Even just working in a supermarket or cafe would get them by.

Your pessimism is overwhelming…

Yes a childcare centre did pay for relocation costs. It isn’t unique, lots of industries do this. The costs to them would be considered a tax write off, likely why they do it. So they’re not losing money and when they desperately need staff members this is what they do. Not in whoop whoop, but on the Sunshine Coast.

I read about a month ago in the courier mail that a bar somewhere about an hour from Brisbane is offering an incentive of $100,000 for someone to come and work for him. Relocation costs for a childcare centre wouldn’t be even close to that. I can’t get why you think it’s so out there that this even happens, it has been like this for many years.

@Bussinbussin

Please don't listen to this misinformation Western Australia is opening up on 5 February to any double VAXXED* Tom Dick or Harry! This is the date set by the government at the end of last year to ease interstate and international borders.*

Any double vaxxed Tom Dick or Harry with a visa. And that doesn't necessary mean they can work, or stay.

Yes of course they need a Visa everyone needs a Visa to come to Australia even pre-Covid!! That is not a new thing. Even tourists need a Visa.

Anyway our Premier has decided to keep the borders closed for now anyway, which I think is the right decision -although it will impact a lot of people (myself included with all my family in the UK and my job directly impacted)

The govt want to buy a bit of time to analyse the data in order to make an informed decision about opening up and not collapsing the health system. After seeing what's happening in the Eastern states the overwhelming majority of western Australians appear to be supporting this.

OP- Hopefully your plans can continue once borders open!

@emilyintheSE

I spent most of my life in Perth. Hated it.

Why did you hate it?

You must be mad basically we moved over there with full work rights and Australia absolutely rinsed us of our savings.

It’s a lovely place for little children my teenagers hated it with a passion and couldn’t wait to get back we lived in Nedlands and Subiaco which to be honest it probably as good as it gets over their education wise kids went to Shenton college and when they got back to the UK they all got held down a year to catch up.

The other thing I would point out to you as well is that the Australian Department of immigration are very good at changing the rules literally when we got there the Visa situation for permanent residency was up to 50-year-olds and then they slashed it to 45 overnight this is obviously after we’ve spent thousands of pounds on visas relocating etc.

Again overnight the whole of Perth went from being apparently rural to specific areas I then had to spend six months in Karratha away from the kids and that was the last straw