Help please - emigrating to Australia

[sunnydelight]

I'm sorry if this has been done to death, but it looks like DH may be offered a job in Sydney in the next few months and I would love any advice/experience you can offer about moving to Sydney. DH and I met there 16 years ago and we lived there for a year before our immigration status got the better of us. We always vowed to go back but it never happened; we now have three children, 12, 7 and 3 so I accept I will not be living overlooking the harbour bridge and eating out five nights a week, but I really want to go. My biggest issue is schooing - DS1 is dyslexic. The one advantage I can see is that despite the fact that he is in his second year of secondary here I think he would be starting secondary there? (He's an August birthday so was always the youngest in the class and I always wanted to hold him back a year but couldn't). I would also really appreciate any input about areas to live and house prices. We see it as a way to afford a better house for less money - we currently have a horrible south-east England mortgage. I would be really grateful if anyone has time to respond.

Robinpud
We lived as a couple with a newborn on roughly $2000/month after rent and tax.

We lived quite comfortably, though not decadently, but this is probably not that useful a comparison for you as a family of 4! Bloss should have a better idea.

Would depend on where you are living, schools etc.

Thanks for the KU info astrophe, I'll keep it in mind. I used to live in Surry Hills - don't think I'll be living there this time round We're in the process of gathering all the paperwork together at the moment which is no easy thing - the decision has definitely been made, now all we need is to see it through ....

robinpud, I wish I had $72K tax free to live on! It really should be fine, unless your standards are a lot higher than mine!

Sunny, I'm fairly expert on preschools etc round here as dd is 4. If you need names and numbers let me know. Expect to wait at least a year for a place unless you're very lucky.

the way dh worked out our comparative expenditure was to do it as a percentage - so we spent X% on groceries in the UK which would translate as so much in Aussie money using it as x% of wages.

We have dh, me, dd1 ( 3 ) and dd2 who is 18 months old - spend at most about $200 a week on groceries.... like bloss I buy good cuts of meat, salmon ( expensive here) and good brand things that we like. Some luxuries - am sure you could do it less than that. Still buying nappies for 2 as well.

Petrol can range from about $35 - 60 depending on how much running around I have had to do ( and the cost of petrol at the time) - for a 6 cylinder falcon family sedan.

dh and I then allow ourselves spending money. he commutes to work by train - 45 minute journey - quite a distance - costs him about $35 a week.

My dd1 attends a not for profit community kindy and we pay roughly $14 a day and she attends two days a week.

HOpe that gives you some idea.

robin pud - that should be fine.... we live on less than that including mortgage and the other stuff that I have outlined!!

Good point, eidsvold, but remember that prices in Sydney are a LOT more expensive than Perth, Brisbane etc...

\link{http://www.domain.com.au/\real estate info}

I think we're going to do two weeks in Sydney end of August/beginning of September to check things out and make sure this isn't a totally mad idea. Does anyone know of any holiday apartments or similar? (basically accommodation suitable for five of us). I know two weeks really isn't long enough but that is all the holiday DH will be able to take. We'll basically do Sydney with a night or two in the Blue Mountains; trying to do any more would be silly. Also, any suggestions for how to make the boys (13 and 7) really want to live there (I'ma thinking Bondi for the 13 year old!).

eidsvold- thanks for that. I am so looking forward to the warmth. It is freezing here and it's May !!

perhaps the boys would enjoy \link{http://www.ozjetboating.com/\jet boating} on the harbour - its supposed to be fantastic. Otherwise you could do a \link{http://www.captaincook.com.au/home.asp?pageid=1661F5DD27C61DDC&destinationid=D0E55A1CC89D3503\Captain Cook cruise} which might suit the whole family a bit better!

Personally I would give Bondi a miss and go to Freshwater, or Manly if you want the shops etc. Balmoral is the most beautiful family beach, but theres no surf - great fish and chips though!

My guru returns Those both look good Astrophe and just what we need to give the kids the "wow factor". We've just finished dinner - we only get to sit down as a family at weekends - and have been talking about what to do in Sydney. DH and I have such fond memories of our time there. We are hoping to be able to do three weeks in total, a couple of those days in Bangkok. We want to go to the Blue Mountains, probably overnight, but apart from that we'll be in Sydney so the more ideas the better - thanks.

Our computer broke and we had to buy a new one, hence my absence!

If you are after 'wow' things to do you could always do \link{http://www.bridgeclimb.com.au/\Bridge climb} as well, but there may be an age minimum. You could eat dinner or lunch at the restuant on top of Sydney tower -( \link{https://www.au.lastminute.com/lmn/pso/catalog/Product.jhtml?PRODID=422234626&CATID=813\heres} a 30 % off voucher link) or at \link{http://www.ariarestaurant.com/main/pct11.php\Aria}, which is my favourite (oh how I miss the food in Sydney - Derby just doesn't cut it!) and overlooks the opera house (but pricey...maybe don't take the kids, just have a night out with DH!)

I can't think of any holiday appartments as have never had to book any in Sydney - I'd say there'd be some at Manly - the city is mostly hotels. There are lots of cheap motels on the Pacific Highway at Artarmon (half way between city and Gordon etc) but I don't know what they are like.

Oh, and my folks have a holiday house in the blue mountains for rent... Its a 3 bedroom, nothing posh but a good family place with a lovely view...let me know if you want details!

dh and I went on a harbour dinner cruise - lovely....

Holiday house sounds really interesting astrophe - I'll give you my e-mail address near the time if that's ok and you can give me details.It would be lovely to spend a few days there.

Sunny, Have remembered that the house is equiped with everything except sheets and towels and that you probably wouldn't be bringing that sort of thing over? Anyway, here is my dad's email address - you could ask if they could arrange some for you (it would probably depend on when they were going themselves...if they were going up the weekend before you they might be able to leave you some...but I don't know). Tell him you are a friend of Katherine's (me) and I will let him know you might be emailing him. The house is called 'Valley Vista' and is in Blackheath. [email protected]

just thread I needed thanks sunnydelight :) Looking to migrate in 2 years and the visa stuff... argh... dh is a Kiwi so doesn't really need one, but I'm German... long story LOL

and I second the 'Australia Board' suggestion by SuzyW

SunnyD..bad news, my parents just sold their holiday house!!! hey have bought another one, but don't settle on it until December.

\link{http://holiday.domain.com.au/Public/SearchResults.aspx?mode=&state=NSW&areas=Blue+Mountains&sub=Blackheath&ssubs=1&bedrooms=>3&from=0&to=900&proptypes=H,S,X,T&ptdes=Houses\here} is a site with some other houses in the area.

Sorry!

Hope the planning is going well.

Astro

Never mind Astrophe - thanks for letting me know. It's a bit of a roller coaster round here at the moment. Last Sunday it looked like the Sydney office would sponsor DH which meant it was full steam ahead (to the extent that we probably wouldn't even have time for a holiday). Then DH's boss resigned on Monday - partly because DH wants to leave - which has put the whole transfer thing in jepordy (I'm sure that's not spelt right!!). Now we have to wait until the end of next week when all the bigwigs are in New York thrashing out responsibilities and staffing. What we have decided though is that we are definitely going - if a transfer with DH's current employers is not an option he will resign and go contracting until we leave (great IT market at the moment) which will give us enough money to arrive jobless if necessary.

HI sunnydelight - don't know if it is still relevant to you but thought I would let you know. Dh is Australian and we lived in Sydney for a while at the time (approx 5 years ago) you couldn't buy a house there unless you were a permantent resident (I think possibly could have been a citizen?). The government cracked down on a loophole that allowed foreigners to buy property and claim residency. So I think if you were on any kind of working visa you would need special permission to buy property.

The other tip is (again from 5 years ago things may have changed?) I worked for a company that sponsored a lot of overseas employees and we were allowed to pay their rent from gross salary saving them 50% (highest tax rate at the time). I think other thing like cars and education could also be taken from gross salary as long as the company were prepared to pay for them as part of their package. It could definitely save you a lot of money if you negotiated something like this as part of your relocation deal.

Thanks 23 balloons. The tip about rent is particularly useful! We have definitely decided to rent our property here for a while, so wouldn't be looking to buy for a while.

Great thread - I have a question for Bloss. In an early post on this thread you mentioned the independent schools 'top-tier' schools with $10,000-$18,000 per annum fees. Are there any of these on North Shore? Which have a good reputation and do they have big sports departments (I have two very sporty kids) ... oh and finally are any of them mixed? ... are there any advantages of looking at these schools ...

Thanks

In the absence of Bloss, who will know more I'm sure (being a teacher)...
Knock youself out...HTH

Shore School is boys only, has a good reputation for sports
Knox boys only
SCECGS Redlands is co-ed (mixed), a VERY large school, so not for everyone
Roseville College is girls only, seems a LOVELY school, sports are good I think
Wenona is girls only
St Lukes is co-ed, seems really nice
Queenwood is girls only
Riverview is boys only, seems good for sports
Barker is co-ed for senior school (years 10-12) I think...seems a nice school

There are also these lower-fee private schools:

Pacific Hills is co-ed
Covenant is co-ed

These are in the city and easily reached by public transport:

Sceggs Darlinghurst is girls only...a lovely school

St Andrews is co-ed for years 10-12, a good school but not strong in all sports