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Aussie and NZ Mumsnetters

Welcome to Aussie & NZ Mumsnetters - discuss all aspects of parenting life in Australia and New Zealand, including relocating, schools and local areas.

Moving to Australia

23 replies

User1275 · 20/12/2023 22:03

Hi, we are looking into relocating to Australia. We have been thinking about it for a while but now have a few offers so looking at it more seriously. from Melbourne and around Sydney.
have been in the UK for over 10 years and no family here.
one of DD goes to a grammar school in year 8 so worried about disrupting her and schooling is a main consideration. Can anyone give advice about schooling system in Australia? I am posting here rather than living overseas as those threads seem to get quite accusational and heated. I am just looking at a bit of advice and a starting point. Also if there are any Facebook groups anyone can recommend I would appreciate it.
thanks.

OP posts:
TheSandgroper · 21/12/2023 04:20
  1. Check that your qualifications are on the wanted list. https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/working-in-australia/skill-occupation-list
  2. Check you are within the age allowances. https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/sitesearch?k=Age%20limit
  3. Why Sydney or Melbourne? Australia has an immigration cap of around 375k but is only building new housing in the tens of thousands across the country (then there are fires, floods etc replacing existing stock). Even “upper middle class” people are living in tents, cars and couch surfing.
But don’t let me put you off. There is much to love. And education works here just as well as it does elsewhere.

Immigration and citizenship Website

Find out about Australian visas, immigration and citizenship.

https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/sitesearch?k=Age%20limit

User1275 · 21/12/2023 08:00

Thank you. The other half is being actively pursued and has offers from those areas. I will have to do some exams like I had to do in the U.K. but my profession itself is in demand atm. We are both in healthcare.

my thinking about education was is it as competitive as in the U.K. with grammar schools or super selective independents. It took me a while to figure it out in the U.K. as DD was initially in our local state school and really suffered. The disparity between different schools is astounding.

how is the healthcare? I haven’t seen a doctor since my second child was born 5 years ago and I am getting increasingly alarmed at the inability to access primary healthcare, A&E etc

OP posts:
TheSandgroper · 21/12/2023 08:19

I can’t help you further other than to suggest a good immigration agent. If your DH is in discussions with a big hospital, they may have a trusted/preferred name.

User1275 · 21/12/2023 08:19

just read the point no 3 again. Living in tents!
a couple of years ago we were looking into Canada and I posted on here and the comments put me off so don’t want to be put off Australia before even starting . So far the people I know who have gone out are in houses 😁
I hope it has better activities and quality of life for my children as so far in our town the teenagers go around drawing willies on everything hanging out in bored groups.

also some sunshine will be good. although fires not so good

OP posts:
User1275 · 21/12/2023 08:20

Thanks @TheSandgroper he will be speaking to the recruiter. Are there any Facebook groups or other forums you can recommend

OP posts:
Flatandhappy · 21/12/2023 08:39

British Expats and Poms in Oz websites are great sources of advice. We are in Sydney and moved when our three kids were 4-14, after a bit of a disastrous start with our dyslexic eldest in the public system (we can support everyone meant we ignore everyone equally) we sent them private and it was the best money we ever spent. All are now thriving as adults - unlike the UK there is a lot more affordable choices of schooling here. I am not up to date on visas which is why I suggest the other sites but in Sydney you may have pay for public schools anyway depending on your visa type and your child will probably not be eligible for selective classes or schools on a temporary visa.

Housing is a really issue here at the moment, there is a massive shortage, but essentially if you can afford to pay you will find something. Do your research on what you will need to do to have your qualifications recognised here (an immigration agent would be able to help). I never had my legal qualifications recognised as it would just have cost too much and I wasn’t that fussed, I went into a related career instead. Aussies do love their Aussie bits of paper though so don’t underestimate that. Our experience has been that kids stay kids longer, after we moved my 14yo kept in touch with his English mates and while he was playing a lot of sport, hanging out at the beach etc. his old friends were drinking cider in fields and trying to get served at the pub. Not to say the teens here were angels by any means but the good weather does give more options of things to do and generally the level of parental supervision until 17/18 was way higher than England.

I can get a GP appointment in the morning but it will cost me $60. You usually have to have private health insurance as a condition of most temporary visas anyway so healthcare will generally be good. Rural areas are different.

Anything else feel free to ask, it was the best move ever for our family.

Zooeyzebra · 21/12/2023 09:00

We moved here 15ish years ago. I used British expats back then. Not sure if it’s still active but was good back then.

My son is turning 13 in Feb and also starting year 7 first year of high school, so probably similar ages but kids start a bit later here. We have chosen the local public school despite having offers from several private high schools. They have a gifted and talented stream that he wrote an entrance exam for. It’s not a fully selective school, but we decided against the stilly selective schools for more balance. Most independent schools are either single sex or religious and most often both which did not suit him. Also none of the schools offered all subjects he wanted for HSC. But there is a lot of choice for schools and area dependent they are all good.

I have a chronic condition which is easily managed through the local hospital including 6 monthly mris and appointments. My treatment is on the PBS so I only pay the pbs rate. The clinic is outpatient so free. Normal doctors appointments are easy but not free, I pay $90 and get around $40 back I think. I do pay for kids appointments now, but lots of drs rooms do not charge for kids (bulk billed) but it depends on the practice.

Findinng somewhere to live can be challenging before you get there and rents are sky high. But I have not heard of many people in healthcare living in tents.

its nice here, I’m grateful for the ease of healthcare that I have here and how well looked after it is. It’s a serious condition and would be bankrupting treatment in the USA for example. Kids are happy. Schools are good. I’m glad we are here. But damn, it’s a long way from family. My kids are growing up. I already know they want to travel and study overseas, and thinking about all of that and how far away familiar life is can make me lonely.

we have also lived in Canada. I loved that too. Simply put, you can be happy wherever you are if you work at it. Canada was cheaper, but healthcare was harder there.

Ozgirl75 · 22/12/2023 10:22

Hi there

We are from the U.K., moved to Sydney 15 years ago and have two children age 13 and 11. We are currently in the U.K. doing a “test run” to see if we wanted to move back here (stayed for a year) and we do not, we are coming back to Australia.
So, schools. Basically most schools in Sydney and Melbourne, whether public or private, are pretty good. They do have selective high schools (in NSW, I don’t know Melbourne) but the entry point is year 7 and it’s an external test so I don’t think you would be able to access these. Google “Sydney selective schools” and you should get some info. They are VERY competitive to get into and there aren’t many.
Are you considering private schools?
As for the transfer, you should be fine. My sons slotted into the U.K. schools with minimal problems, and I think it would be even easier going the opposite way. In Sydney there are so many people coming from overseas that schools are very used to new kids, and the other kids also tend to be very friendly and accepting of new faces (certainly at my sons’ school).
Housing, yes, it’s pricy, but there are plenty of places out there. I would recommend having a decent chunk of money to put down and/or a good reference if you currently rent.
Healthcare in the cities is also very good. There are some excellent differences with the U.K. Firstly, you can register at any Drs. There is no catchment. So you can ask for recommendations or register near work if that’s easier. There are two types of Dr surgery’s (and lots are a hybrid). Bulk billed means that your consultation is free - these Drs are just as good but you may register with a surgery and not see the same Dr each time, although you can normally make an appointment with a specific one. There are also Drs who you pay a top up fee to see. There, you normally have “your” dr and it’s a bit more personal - good if you have ongoing medical needs. I go to a bulk billed place as we are not often ill and they have been great, they do vaccinations, normal consultations, they do blood tests often and will refer you on to a specialist if you need one. The other good thing with NSW healthcare is that you don’t have to be referred to a specialist- eg you can self refer to a physio, dermatologist etc.
We love our life in Australia - having spent a year in the U.K. it’s made us appreciate life over there even more and we’re all looking forward to coming back.
Happy to answer any other questions you have.

DOCTORCEE · 25/12/2023 10:47

Can I ask what your anticipated income will be? There was an article recently published that said a salary of around $190k is what is required to be happy in Sydney.
Also, the living in tents comment above is accurate. Demand for homes easily outstrips supply and getting a rental is next to impossible. We recently had one of our properties come up for rent and received 92 applications!
Migrating here is a risky business at the moment unfortunately.

Christinepark55 · 31/12/2023 01:22

Hi I moved to Australia from the Uk in 2019. We also thought about moving to Canada but our heart was set on Australia i instead.
Gb expat guides was very helpful with giving us information on how things are done in Australia.
They're British expats/tour guides living in Australia dedicated to helping other brits move to Australia.
Gbexpatguides.co . Uk

Urgenthelplease · 31/12/2023 01:46

I'm in Sydney and previously lived in Melbourne. I find healthcare extremely easy to access and my doctor bulk bills so I don't have to pay a gap but many people do pay $60 for an appt. We have expensive private health insurance ($240 a month for 2 adults 2 kids under 3) but it's mainly because it reduces the tax we pay. You do need a high income but $190 I don't believe.

I find the quality of life much better. It's sunny almost every day so you're outdoors a lot. I love our local nursery but kids aren't at school yet. A lot of people pay very high prices for private school. I think your better bet is Catholic schools if you can access one. Be very conscious of what school catchment you're in because there will only be one public junior and high school in that area.

Renting is extremely expensive and hard to access. Spending upward of $1k per week for a 3 bed is normal. Traffic can be bad and parking extortionate. I would prioritise living in close proximity to good transport links.

Urgenthelplease · 31/12/2023 01:47

Best real estate sites to look at what you can afford are realestate.com.au and domain.com.au

coxesorangepippin · 31/12/2023 02:15

What put you off Canada?

Just curious because I'm a Brit living over there

LinesAndDot · 31/12/2023 02:20

Just some thoughts - most people coming from the UK say they want to move to Sydney or Melbourne. That’s fine, but think of it like London, it’s more expensive to live there than other locations. I did Sydney for 15 years before moving to a big town/city in NSW close to the beach (eg: Newcastle, Port Macquarie, Coffs Harbour, Wollongong). Housing prices and rents (the big expense here) dropped dramatically and I was able to get much more for my money. I also live within both viewing and walking distance of the beach, which makes for lovely before work yoga on the beach and afternoon swims/walks on the beach. The commute to work is also far less than it would be in Sydney or Melbourne.

Another advantage is schools are (I think) slightly better in the big country towns, and you’ll probably get to know people/friends yourself via the school. Eg the kids will all come from close by so you’ll see them at the same beaches you go too, they’ll be on the same sports teams (either organised by the school, or the local one) or their sibling will be in the same team and they can be playing together whilst you watch the netball/cricket/soccer whatever.

The downside is less cultural events/activities in these places and that seems to be a big thing for most people coming from the UK - even in Sydney or Melbourne there are less. But it’s a different lifestyle here. The weather is so good you are just out and about in it all day.

Dr’s are fine. You don’t need to ‘register’ like you do in the UK. I have a Dr near my work and a Dr near my home. You can call any Dr’s and ask to see someone, the question will be when they are available. If you are willing to see anyone you can usually get an appt that day. If you do have a Dr at a certain clinic, you may have to wait a day or two, depending on their bookings. If I just need something simple, I’ll see anyone at the clinic. If it’s for something serious or ongoing, I usually wait for ‘my’ doctor, as she’ll usually know the history. Some places bulk-bill (ie appt doesn’t cost) some places charge a ‘top-up’ on the bulk billing amount, could be from $30-$50 depending on the place. You’ll need to get health insurance. It’s built into the tax system that if you earn above $186,000 as a family ($93,000 single) you pay an extra 2% of your income in tax as the ‘Medicare Levy Surcharge’ unless you have private health insurance. You can get all different types of private health insurance, including some for as lower than what you would pay as the surcharge, so it’s worth getting.

SM4713 · 31/12/2023 02:41

Have you thought about applying to 'wanted down under' that TV show? It might offer a try before you buy to get an idea.

I was reading an article just today which said that Sydney is the 2nd most expensive city to live in, in terms of housing. 2nd only to Honk Kong! Medicare is similar to the NHS. You will get treated in hospital without additional fees, but, if you wanted say a knee replacement quicker- you'll need to go private. I don't know if its still the same, but there are waiting times on private insurance claims/ To claim anything maternity related, there used to a 2yr wait! You could still have a baby under the public/medicare system, but you wouldn't get a choice of specialist and wouldn't be in a private hospital etc.

The school year follows the calendar year, so your kids might end up repeating part of a year, or jumping forward- depending when they were born.

Can I ask what area of healthcare you both work in? Depending on the job, you'd generally need to be registered APHRA, which is the registration for multiple health professionals. In some cases, you might find what you are allowed to do in the UK is more than in Aus, sometimes, its the other way around. A colleague was a British trained nurse who worked in A&E. In Aus, she wasn't allowed to plaster or suture, because the Dr's did it, whereas in the UK, the nurses did. This was several years ago, so things may well have changed.

Danfromdownunder · 31/12/2023 04:02

Unfortunately housing is very expensive in Sydney and Melbourne atm. If you moved 1-2 hrs outside the major cities (and as you’re both health professionals there’s be tonnes of work) your $ would go a lot further.
Most public (free) schools in good areas are fine, otherwise (fee paying) privates are available and some are better depending on the needs of your children.
Lots of great places north between NSW and QLD that are more affordable with great lifestyle.

Jamestheman · 01/01/2024 04:00

Hi, if you are a British citizens that is now living in Australia. Get in contact with gbexpatguides.co.uk and register with them to be a expat/ guide for other brithish citizens that are planning on moving to Australia.
It pays well and is very rewarding helping others with local and cultural knowledge.

User1275 · 01/01/2024 09:30

Thank you for all the info. We have different offers from Sydney, Wollongong, Melbourne and Brisbane. The salary seems to be good from what I can see in excess of 200k. Melbourne is considerably higher. From what I can see the living expenses in Sydney will be quite high. In any case the pay is twice what my DH is getting in england. we need to sit with a calculator and see the expenditure. Is the schooling in Australia centralised or does each area have their own system. Is there any school guide or ofsted reports like we have in England.

OP posts:
TheSandgroper · 01/01/2024 09:58

https://www.myschool.edu.au/

State schools are free and must admit from their catchment. However, depending on your visa, you may have to pay. Many state high schools have a specialty and have a larger catchment for that specialty. (Music, basketball whathaveyou). If you want to go to an out of catchment state school that is not at capacity, they should be happy to admit you.

Catholic and other private/fee paying schools are subsidised according to a calculated economic need.

National benchmarking testing (naplan) in reading, writing and ‘rithmetic takes place in years 3, 5, 7 and 9.

Homeschooling is a thing and the Education Departments are set up to support and monitor you. It is not an unregulated free for all. It’s a busy community.

Each state has their own ways of doing things so while my thoughts have a WA bias, someone else may comment with information more pertinent to your situation.

My School provides information that helps parents and the community in understanding the performance of schools over time.

The My School website provides information that supports national transparency and accountability of Australia’s school education system through publication of nationally consistent school-level data. It complements other reporting measures aimed at en...

https://www.myschool.edu.au/

StartupRepair · 04/02/2024 03:58

Each Australian state has a slightly different school system so if you are considering Melbourne google the Victorian system.

MissJSmith · 04/02/2024 05:40

I’m in Melbourne (eastern suburbs) and have been here 25 years. I honestly don’t know anyone living in a tent!

Cormoran · 04/02/2024 21:30

Nobody making 200k lives in a tent, not even if their house has been flooded.
Is there a rental market crisis, with houses availability at an all time low. Yes. Reason why rental price is so expensive.

Education is state based. Every state has its own system.

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