<screams> we're moving to Sydney!

[ComradeJing]

:o :o :o

I can't believe I'm finally writing this OP.

DH (who is Aussie) has FINALLY been given the green light for a Sydney transfer. We first heard about this last October but It's just contract negotiations now standing in the way so it looks like we're going.

At this stage it looks like I will have to wait until I've had DC 2 (I'm 25 weeks pg) here before I join him but that's ok.

Neither of us know Sydney at all, I can't drive (yet - I'll learn asap) and will have two DC under 2. At the moment we're looking at renting for a bit around Coogee (he will work just east of the airport) and then buying somewhere between there and the shire. (That awful TV show will have helped lower prices there right??)

Anyway, can't share this with anyone yet as it's not locked away yet but I had to tell SOMEONE so thought I'd share it with you.

Any advice? Anything I should know?

Yahoooooooo!

Hurrah for you both. Sydney is luvverly. I can't help with anything at all as live in dreary South Australia. Just wanted to give you a big cheer.

Hooray & Welcome Comrade!

We landed in the Shire a year ago (don't watch the show myself) but have moved just across the river to reduce DH's commute to the CBD. We don't have a car so chose suburbs/townhouses near railway links. We looked at Coogee too - very difficult to chose somewhere in Sydney, so many lovely suburbs....

Anyway, DS (4) and I spend our days in the Shire, lots of great activities for kids indoors & out. Let me know if I can help you in any way!

Yaaaaay!
We moved here 2 years ago and have never regretted it. I'm pregnant with DC2 and have been really impressed with the public healthcare here, so you could come earlier?!
We're over in Manly, love it here, today the sun is shining and we've had a lovely walk along the beach!

HUrrah!! Lovely to hear it's happening at last for you ComradeJing, even if you have to wait a bit until #2 arrives! You'll be able to join us for our meet ups :)

No idea re. suburbs or any of that, since I is in the sticks country, innit - but plenty of people who will be able to help, I'm sure.

Has been a beautiful day today, even up here - just spent 3h in someone's garden for a 4yo's birthday party, lovely!

And since I'm now 30w pg, it looks like we'll be able to have our own "bring a baby" meet up when you do get here, with sharksandfishes (and anyone else who is having one and I don't know about)

Hi,

Sydeny is awesome you will ove it! I don;t know that area though :S coz I live on the Northern beaches. We're having a lush winter, been outside in the sun today with dd at the park. Just so lovely, I'm sure its as warm here at the mo as a UK summer. I love it coz it's not too hot, but lovely and warm :)

Congrats!! We're currently deciding whether to make the move as well but not sure our earnings would afford us a good enough lifestyle in Sydney (around $100k each). We have a ds aged 2.

It's great to hear lots of Sydney fans though!!

We're in Coogee! We've lived here for 7 years now. We're just off to the beach for breakfast .

Congratulations on your move! Anything you want to know about the beach suburbs?

I'm in Randwick, RHW just up the road, so maybe best to have baby here with instant access to baby groups etc? Public is covered by Medicare reciprocal agreement, I was very happy with care there.
Congratulations!

Thanks for all of the congratulations. Thumb, I didn't know you were pregnant. Congratulations yourself and I can't WAIT for MN sydney meet ups.

I think that I can't give birth in Australia because I've been told I can either enter on a tourist visa - which means leaving 90 days after I've arrived and, possibly, when DC2 is less than 6 weeks - OR I can apply for a spouse visa but you need a health check which includes a chest x-ray and obviously I can't have that done whilst I'm pregnant.

Unless anyone knows different...? From what I've read online this seems to be the case anyway.

Comrade, myself and DS entered on tourist visas (DH has pr) and applied for temporary pr and permanent pr visas in our 3rd month here, sponsored by DH.

This meant we did not need to leave Oz at any time. We had our medicals only 4m ago, we have been on briding visas all this time, which gives us the same access to medicare as pr. Our private health plan doesn't cover maternity care in the first year but my Aussie friends rate the public system ( having done both).

You can have the medical while pregnant. You can choose not to have the chest xray until after the birth BUT you can choose to have the chest xray while pregnant too ( obviously once weighing up the potential risks etc).

Sponsored spouse visas are currently being "prioritised" and taking 9-12m - we have been waiting 12m next week! So my thinking is that you could come here, apply for sponsorship, give birth etc before even having to face the xray issue!!

Public care system is fine, apparently - I chose to go with private consultant because our private healthcare had actually kicked in by the time I got pg (12m delay = standard, I believe) and because I am a bit complicated. I will still end up having baby in a public hospital (because of being complicated) but will move to private attached hospital after, for private room and actual rest (hahahaha!)

I think you can probably do the same as RVP if your DH is Aussie - and as he is Aussie, your baby will be an Aussie citizen, so might as well be born here as it saves all the hassle of having to apply for the citizenship by descent (which is what we did for my DS, who was born in the UK). And no I really don't think they will kick you, the mother and wife of Aussies, out of the country at 6w post birth, especially if you get the paperwork going asap.

Can you maybe email the immigration people? www.immi.gov.au/ is the website where you can find information and maybe find a contact to discuss your best options. I think, since you're carrying a little Aussie-to-be, it might work in your favour...

I'm in the public system (due today!!!!) and have been v impressed with the care. I live 5 mins from the hospital and have had excellent midwife led care.

Oh that's interesting. Hmm...

I'm not sure what's best in the end TBH even if I can have the baby there (and I've just emailed our local immigration office to check what they suggest for our situation).

I'm concerned about moving to a new city, being unable to drive, being very pregnant and needing to get to hospital for appointments and having to take buses etc or with a toddler and a newborn having to do the same. Or even just getting to the supermarket or getting out the house. DH will be travelling a lot in this new role which is a really important one WRT career etc. At least here I have a driver, amazing health care at the private foreign hospital, an ayi (cleaner/nanny/cook) who will do shopping, make tea, cook and look after newborn/toddler etc and support network of friends. I've really lived in China my whole adult life and before that boarding school/India. I've never not had drivers, cleaners, cooks etc. I can cook and clean of course but it will be an adjustment. One that I'm looking forward to but one that I maybe don't need to do either heavily pg or just after giving birth.

WWYD?

Good luck Shark!

Hmm, given what you've said, you might be better off doing it there then - all that help can't be too highly prized! Would your DH have to come over before you though? Would he be able to come back again to help with the move?

If you're going to have to do citizen-by-descent for your toddler, might as well do them both at once before you move over then. That means they won't need visas, just you. And since you've doubtless been married longer than 2 years, you should be able to get permanent spousal visa pretty easily (although that took me 4m in the UK, so might be still easier to come over on the tourist visa and then apply immediately for permanent spousal visa)

Ooo, it's a tough one!

Oh yes, and good luck Shark! Hope it all goes swimmingly (ha! )

Good on yer, Comrade Though 1) Melbourne is way nicer 2) DEFINITELY learn to drive.

Special congratulations to thumbwitch (is your name from Macbeth?, and Sharks who will have, we hope spawned given the world gift by now.

echt, it isn't from Macbeth, it's after the fact I have magic thumbs.
Thank you! :)

And yes, wherever you end up, do learn to drive - it's almost compulsory here to get anywhere outside of the city centres! Although I do have one friend here who can't... she finds it extremely limiting but has fear and sickness issues.

Thank you echt. I haven't visited Melbourne yet but have lots of friends here from there.

Can't WAIT to learn to drive. It's mostly bad timing that has stopped me learning before and that I didn't want to learn to drive but then only actually drive in Aus/UK so infrequently that I was a bad driver. Absolutely hate going to visit in laws with DD and being stuck and relying on lifts to get ANYWHERE. Sends me mad.

Hopefully we will end up not too far from a shop and between that and coles/Big W/whatever delivery we will survive until I can drive!

Looking at suburbs lots at the moment and debating going further away from DHs work with a smaller, more expensive house but maybe nearer to beach vs being closer in (to work and the CBD) and having a cheaper, much bigger house, bigger garden and possibly even a pool.

It's been confirmed! DH is off on the 10th of September :o

Exciting! In your shoes I'd be looking at somewhere pretty central until you get your license as once you get further out you often find that even if the area has good links for commuting, it's crap trying to gt around the local area on public transport. We're in Balmain which means a smaller house but great transport options, there are plenty of pockets around Sydney with good PT and access to a good hospital.

Quite a few friends who grew up around the inner west or eastern suburbs are moving towards the Shire, Oatley seems to be a popular choice and those who have moved there are really happy with it.

Hester how funny, wonder if I know any of your friends....am in Oatley & socialise with 2-3 Oatley newcomers....it's got lots going for it. Good rail links, 3 good schools, loads of shops/cafes/parks. Everything you need is here and we love walking over the railway bridge to Como.

Comrade are you moving with or after DH?

Hi, Just to clarify.. ok dd 1 I had in Australia on a medical visa using reciprocal healthcare as an extension to a holidays visa.. secondly I had ds on a 457 ( still reciprocal health) I had all my medical but no chest xray until after delivery as I was 10 weeks pg when we applied. You just have to sign a form that states you will undertake a chest xray after delivery of your child. Easy... I ( as a health care professional and a high risk maternity patient!) would highly recommend that your use the public system to give birth if you opt to come over.. there is much much better ( safer) "care" within the public sector. Highly skilled SCBU, PICU if needed, MRI investigations, choice of midwife or Dr lead cares...

Hi everyone!

DH is going at the start of September and I'll be following after having DS. For no other reason that knowing my dr here and feeling confident with my care tbh. I'll go visit him at the end of September and up to my no flight date and then come back here until the birth. DH will fly in a week before my due date and leave a week after I give birth. I'm looking at moving into a serviced apartment here so that we can ship all of our stuff at the end of October so that it arrives around the same time that I do into Aus.

At the moment we're deciding where I'll apply for the visa from. Either it will be from China or from within Australia.

Oatley sounds lovely RVP. Can't wait to come look at it.

DH and I are discussing life in Sydney at the moment - we just can't wait!