Three month posting to Melbourne

[ExpectoPatronum]

I'm hoping some ex-pat MN-ers in Australia could advise me.

DH's job sends him all over the world and next year there is a strong likelihood that he will be in Melbourne for a three month period.

DC will, by then, be 8, 7 and 6.

He's been for a month before and we've survived, but for a longer stay like this one, there is obviously the possibility of us going with him.

I do have a job, but my boss has already indicated that I could have a sabbatical. However, I would have to de-register the children from school for that period.

Would you do it?

If you did it, would you just home-school for three months, or would you enrol them in school? (Looking at the school term dates for Victoria, it would all be term time, due to the seasons being inverted)

What haven't I thought about that I need to think about??

I would do it as it would be an amazing experience-with a very definite end.

I suppose the company will give lots of practical and financial help donuts a chance of a lifetime.

You would have to look into visas to see where you would stand with schools. My dd is at an ordinary state school in the suburbs but there are children from all over the world at it. There seems to be more coming and going than there is in the UK so your dc would be able to make friends easily I think. I mean, new children at school are not a big deal, at least at our school.

No, would not move there or change schools for only 3 months.

Seems like a lot of upheaval for 3 months IMO. If it were me I would get agreement for dhs company to pay for you guys to go out for a visit after 6 weeks or so which will break up the time apart for the whole family.

Good luck with whatever you decide.

It depends if you're the adventurous sort. I'm expecting to head to Melbourne for a few years with DH (in March 2012) but that is obviously not 3 months.

Will your DH be busy at work? It could be a bit frustrating to just be stuck at home knowing you will be leaving so not worth making friends etc. But a life experience none the less.

I would go for it personally, but I don't think it's really worth trying to put your kids into school for such a short time even if you can find a school to take them. Victoria, unlike NSW, doesn't charge fees for public schools on a 457 visa (which I'm assuming you will be on unless your DH is an Aussie or Kiwi), but I'm not sure if you would have an absolute right to school places if you are here for such a short time. Even if you did, remember your kids might go "back a year" because of the different systems/school years which would probably make the three months of very little value from an educational perspective, and I would imagine you would be whacked for the "voluntary contribution" on day 1. You would also have to buy school books and uniform for them all (Aussie primary schools usually wear sports uniform to school 1/2 days a week, it's not something you change into at school, which means you have to buy both sports and normal kit for each child) which would make it an expensive three months.

I home schooled my younger two for six months when we first arrived in Sydney to give us all time to settle and work out which school was best and we had a ball. Tbh, speaking as the mother of an 18 yo who has just finished school, there is very little in primary school that you couldn't cover at home. Use it as an opportunity to learn Australian history, do lots of sport and outdoor stuff, read loads and keep a diary of their "big trip".

HEA (Home School Australia) might be a good source of info for local groups if you want to meet people and give your kids a chance to make some friends. Have a look at www.melbourneschild.com.au - it's a free publication aimed at parents with loads of info on local places to go, things to do etc.

Finally, I don't know Melbourne very well but I would suggest living as centrally as you can. Yes, if you live in the burbs you will be amongst other families but the kids will generally be at school. If you are the self-sufficient sort who would relish an adventure with your kids live somewhere you can walk to places, take the tram to the beach (St. Kilda's has gone upmarket in the last 20 years!) and generally make the most of what Melbourne has to offer. Oh, and a weekend in Sydney is a must

I am in NSW, not Victoria, but here you can't enrol kids on a tourist visa- which,if they are only here for three months, I would guess they would be travelling on?

I am completely amazed that in Victoria there is no charge to students enrolled on a 457 Visa! Here we charge about 5 grand per kid per year!
I am on Sydney's Northern Beaches, which is expensive for everything else, too, but you can't swing a cat without hitting a pom or two :)

I hate to say it but you need to look carefully at the cost of living over here.

We came (DH and I, two dc aged 8 and 6) to QLD for 2 years with the hope of saving money .

We will go home less well off - food is expensive, rent is very expensive.

On the plus side the children love school - but ds aged six went back down to Prep (like reception) and DD was in grade 2 and they have not made any 'academic' progress in the last 12 months. Am telling myself the experience is worth more!

Just like Vic we have no school charge to children on 457 - but uniform and school book packs come in at around $700 for the two of them, plus of course any excursion charges.

In all honesty I'd say 3 months is not really long enough to disrupt the children for, I'd come for a lovely long holiday instead.