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Original poster

Help please - emigrating to Australia

136 replies

sunnydelight · 01/05/2006 20:50

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.

OP posts:
Kaloo20 · 28/06/2006 13:07

Have you heard of

Ravenswood or
Barker College ?

What kind of reputation do they have ?

Kaloo20 · 28/06/2006 13:08

Sorry
you have mentioned Barker already
just Ravenswood then

Astrophe · 28/06/2006 15:22

Ravenswood is girls only, um...I don't know much about it though. It has a good reputation in the media, but down know what they're actual teaching, sport etc are like iyswim. I don't know anyone who went there or whos kids go.

These are the schools I would first consider, but obviously we might have different priorities etc:

Pacific hills
covenant
Roseville
St Lukes (cos I know the headmistress and shes great)
Barker
St Andrews
Sceggs darlinghurst

In roughly that order, although some are co-ed and some single sex, so would depend.

In terms of prestige, Shore, redlands, ravenswood, knox, Abbotsleigh, roseville, barker and queenwood are the main players on the north shore, but, imho, that does not make them the best!

arfishymeau · 29/06/2006 04:27

Bloss & Apostrophe, do you know anything about Kambala Girls School in Sydney?

If you do know anything is it a) ok and b) It says that it's an Anglican school but locals are telling me it's Jewish. Any ideas?

arfishymeau · 29/06/2006 05:26

SunnyD - the tax thing that 23balloons mentioned is LAFHA (living away from home allowance). It makes a big difference, about 20-30% of your takehome. Your DP should definitely ask for it.

bloss · 29/06/2006 06:13

Message withdrawn

bloss · 29/06/2006 06:14

Message withdrawn

Astrophe · 29/06/2006 08:40

Ah yes, did forget PLC!

Bloss, I thought it must be Barker...but didn't like to ask

bloss · 29/06/2006 09:29

Message withdrawn

Kaloo20 · 29/06/2006 13:15

Bloss

One of my sons Teaching\Sports teachers (mid 20's) is an ex Barker boy, and I believe Barker may have an association with my sons prep school via a Headmaster swap a few years ago.

At Junior School level where do sisters of boys at Barker tend to go ? And what area do these familys live ?

bloss · 29/06/2006 13:23

Message withdrawn

arfishymeau · 29/06/2006 13:58

Thanks Bloss! That's great. I will go and investigate Ascham.

It's so hard isn't it. DD is 3. I have no idea which school will suit her personality yet. I think she's bright but will she be better in a stringent school or at a slower pace in a neater school. Maybe she'll be sporty. sighs. As it is I'm probabably going to have to be related to the headmistress to get her a place this late. Or maybe I'll just choose the one with the nicest boaters and hunkiest chemistry teacher.

bloss · 29/06/2006 22:36

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arfishymeau · 29/06/2006 23:27

Bloss thank you . I'm sending off for the prospectus right now. It sounds gorgeous.

I found out last week that my nanny's other mum, who I dislike intensely is an old Kambalian (or whatever they're called). She's a horrible nanny-abuser who didn't manage to smile once at her DDs birthday party and it put me off a bit.

bloss · 30/06/2006 00:35

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arfishymeau · 30/06/2006 01:50

Ah yes, but what's the likelihood of me actually getting DD into the kindergarten with only 9 months notice? Surely it's already going to be full with people who've been on the waiting list from birth?

I'm hoping to get a place in a school next year because I'm not a resident and some of the schools have places for international students (no doubt at considerably more expense).

I also have no idea how I'm going to get her to and from school and get to work/stay there after 2pm. I'll deal with that later.....

Apologies SunnyD. I've turned this into me me me. How are the preparations going?

bloss · 30/06/2006 02:24

Message withdrawn

Original poster
sunnydelight · 30/06/2006 11:02

Don't worry arfishy - I'm gleaning lots of useful info here though I don't think I'll be doing private schools with three. TBH my brief experience of independent education in England hasn't inspired me to do it again even if I could afford it. Also, the "cheaper" private schools in Sydney all seem to be very churchy and although the kids are all baptised Catholic I have a bit of a thing about my Catholic education and always swore I would never do it to my children!!!! Our Sydney plans are not going well - it looks like DH's transfer has been blocked "on high" but nobody is actually telling him what happened so he is going to force the issue next week. Basically if they don't agree within the next two weeks to the transfer he is going to resign and we'll have to either find another company to sponsor him, or go it alone. We're definitely doing the holiday though in October/November. Will keep you posted - thanks for asking.

OP posts:
arfishymeau · 30/06/2006 14:33

Oh. Grrr for you about companies blocking things. A move to Oz takes a lot of planning so it must be infuriating to be up in the air.

You've definitely decided to come over haven't you? Do you think your DP will get sponsorship quite easily if he applies independently? It would be bloody [in oz speak ] annoying if he has to though because you'd get so much more if you relocate with a company - I had to do it as an individual and I think I lost out on a lot of the corporate perks. If you're planning to relocate permanently though I think it's worth it whatever it takes - I think my DD and my two DSS will grow up better people here than in London.

Anyway, there aren't enough Sydneysiders on Mumsnet, so regardless of what's best for them, you do need to get out here pronto, just for my sake alone

Original poster
sunnydelight · 01/07/2006 10:24

Funny you should say about your kids growing up as better people Arfishy - that's very much my hope in making such a big move. The education system in England really depresses me, as does the snobby way people treat others depending on their job. I really hope I'm not remembering the whole thing with rose tinted glasses, but I remember Oz as a place where you could really get on if you worked hard, regardless of what you did, and there was generally a much more laid back attitude to life. I am always facinated here how well DH gets treated when he's "suited and booted"; however outside work he can be quite scruffy, and once he puts his earring in people will cheerfully ignore or patronise him until he opens his mouth and it's clear that he expects things to happen when he says so! It's all such a load of crap.

OP posts:
arfishymeau · 01/07/2006 22:44

I don't think you'll have a problem at all. DP is very similar, he's ex-military and has tattoos. In the UK he was very judged out of a suit but at work he's a senior manager in telecomms.

Over here we are just poms. People have been friendly and welcoming - anything else would be un-Australian! There is a lot of community activity and focus on helping others too.

I also think for us, coming from Europe has helped with work, certainly because we are from a Telecomms background and so we have experience that is not available to the Australian workforce.

robinpud · 01/07/2006 22:59

Just following this thread with interest. Our visas came through yesterday and I am clear to work from what I can make out so if I feel like working I could. Very interesting coincidentally to see the place that dh will be working mentioned in Bloss and Astrophe's posts.

Hope you are still on for that coffee in Feb Arfy...

arfishymeau · 02/07/2006 13:38

I'm there RobinP.

Congrats on your visas! Have you got your flights booked yet?

robinpud · 02/07/2006 19:53

yup- flying Heathrow to Hong kong on boxing Day. Onto Auckland arriving there on 30th December. 3weeks round Nz in a rv and then into Sydney on 22 Jan ready for start of term on 31 Jan. It gives dh chance to get to grips with his commute which is long and for me to get settled in the huose.

Astrophe · 02/07/2006 21:26

oh congrats robinpud, you will just love it, once you settle in. Am dying to know (but understand if you dont want to say) where you dh will be working...