If you could live anywhere in Australia where would you live?

[XBenedict]

And why? I'm thinking WA - south of Perth but only because I holidayed there once and quite liked it, would be prepared to be persuaded elsewhere!

[emmyloo2]

Mosman, sorry but you are talking absolute rubbish. Schools do not simply let children wander off without permission. What utter crap. The schools here are excellent as are the universities. I went to university here and have also been to an Ivy League University in the US and our university was absolutely as good. I have also worked in the UK and we are just as well educated, I assure you.

And the reason why there are 457 Visas has nothing to do with the quality of our universities but simply because there is a shortage of skilled labour due to the mining and oil projects.

Jesus Christ - talking about spreading bullshit.

To the OP - Perth is lovely. Yes it is isolated and it gets hot in the summer (although today is only 25 degrees) it has a great sunny climate, spectacular beaches and is great for young children. I have lived in 5 different countries but when we had a child we moved back to Perth. I love it but then I am from here, so I am probably biased!

Sydney is ok but more expensive than Perth in terms of housing. Perth is more expensive in terms of day-to-day living though. I lived in Sydney for a while but it wasn't for me.

[emmyloo2]

and sorry to correct one more myth, you can get a place in a childcare centre. Some are waitlisted but if you have a young baby there are plenty of places with spots available.

[tilbatilba]

Ditto Broome !

[saffronwblue]

If you don't want to be in a big city look at Newcastle or Wollongong or Hobart.

[ben5]

I live in Port Kennedy just south of Rockingham and 45-50kms from Perth CBD. Public transport is great and cheap. Schools are good, the beaches are fantastic, loads to do with little kids. So much more than Plymouth UK ever offered us and certainly 110% more than what we had while living in Scotland. Secret Harbour is lovely. Yes Perth maybe one of the most isolated cities but how man times do you really want to go on holiday. We like camping and have been to Albany, Kalbarri, Jurien Bay and Bussleton. All are lovely places. Its what you make of a place. I don't want to move. I have a 4 double bedroom house, large kitchen dining area, games room, front room, big laundry, 2 bathrooms and only 800mtrs from the beach.The bus stop is 400mtrs away and I caught this bus the other day with the boys to Perth via the train. It cost us $11( bus and trains included) and I was in the city with in 1.5hrs. This included the walk to the bus stop.

[ripsishere]

I've never lived in Aus but have visited friends in Melbourne and Sydney. If I was to move there, I'd go for Eden.
I don't know what the infrastructure is like, but the place itself is gorgeous.

[Mosman]

Emmyloo - that happened to me on 18th December I actually posted about it in primary education at the time, it is not crap it happened.
We have been on a waiting list for day care for 8 months with not a single phone call from the 6 nurseries with an offer of a full time place. If that's not your experience bully for you. It has been mine.

[Mosman]

You have massive skill gaps in Perth, I speak with employers all day every day up and down st George's terrace, they complain they cannot even upskill the work force they can access by sending them to university, the courses aren't adequate. Its laughable the country with all the oil and gas doesn't teach it's own citizens how to get at it.

[Snazzynewyear]

If money was no object, Sydney. Love it. But more realistically Melbourne. Brisbane is also very nice but I couldn't cope with that level of heat all the time. Haven't been to Perth.

[Sharksandfishes]

We're in Sydney. It's hideously expensive but I wouldn't live anywhere else, would stay in UK!

We did a year in 2003/4 so had experienced the costs, etc and knew what to expect. I do think too many people decide to bring their whole family to the other side of the world without doing enough research

[Mosman]

You're right sharks but equally there's a lot you cannot know until you actually get here, numerous schools are that fed up with people having yours before they've got a rental house they won't even show you arou d until they see the paperwork, by which point your options are take it or leave it.
I do say to people do an online shop with Coles or woolworths and fill your basket with what you'd normally buy just don't check out lol to give you an idea as to what your food and household bill will look like. That was our biggest mistake. We'd have still come bug I might have been more prepared and negotiated a better package.

[Dottiespots]

Im Australian and have lived in Melbourne,Sydney,Perth,Karatha,Gladstone,Brisbane. My parents live in Queensland on the Gold Coast. They were living in Perth but it wasnt hot enough for my mum so they moved back to Queensland. Perth was laid back and beautiful.Used to go to the beach after school. Karatha was in the north west of western Australia and everywhere was red sand. Lots of cyclones in
the season. Very very hot in the outback but the scenery you drive around is gorgeous and everywhere is very remote.Melbourne (went to boarding school there.......MLC anyone???) Melbourne very old, lovely city, cold in winter. You can go skiing in the mountains in Victoria. Sydney...busy and cosmopolitan. Brisbane.....lovely city....didnt spend much time there. Lived in Gladstone further up the coast. Absolutely gorgeous place, beautiful weather, beautiful scenery, lovely holiday islands off the coast. The beaches are some of the best in the world. Cyclones again but you learn to live with the threat of them.
All in all I would have to say that Queensland is the most beautiful place to live but if you want a more European style then Sydney would be nice.

[tryingtoleave]

I wil put in a surprise vote for Canberra. No beach, but two hours to snow and coast. The people are nice (I was just back for a visit and had forgotten how people say hello when they get in a lift and chat to you in the shops). Housing is affordable, outside the few central trendy suburbs. It has a small town feeling but most of the population are well educated and fairly affluent so there are great restaurants and cafes and lots of 'culture'. The population is quite transitional, so people are ready to make friends. Winters are cold and summers hot, but some people like the seasons.

[tryingtoleave]

Oh, and the way you get your kids into childcare is by calling every week in case a spot has come up and being willing to start with just a few days. They are not going to call you when they have people bugging them constantly for spots. I got dd into the most highly regarded childcare in Canberra by being persistent. I got both my dcs into childcare when we moved to Sydney (despite being very anxious about it). In fact I found a few places to choose from.

[Mosman]

Unfortunately my employer isn't willing to start with a few days, shame because you are right once you're through the door it seems people are then offered more days as they come up and everyone else stats on the waiting list forever.
As for calling every week I was pretty much told to pisd off for calling every month so good luck with that.

[tryingtoleave]

You could have taken two days and got a nanny for three instead of all week. Maybe you didn't speak to them nicely?

Of course they offer extra days to existing clients.

[Mosman]

I spoke to them perfectly nicely .... I couldn't take two days because they haven't got two days to offer me and what is the nanny supposed to do on the other two days ? People have to earn a living and a three day working week isn't an option for many in Perth, we could do with being paid for 8 !

[emmyloo2]

Mosman, we have a skills shortage because there are so many new projects, not because our universities are shit. Honestly, how can you possibly say our whole education system is rubbish. It's completely incorrect and I would know, I have studied and worked in a number of countries.

Re the childcare situation - I know people who have found spots straight away, full-time. However, for some of the more popular centres, yes there can be waiting lists. However, everyone I know who needs a spot finds somewhere quite quickly.

[Mosman]

Actually it's not because there are so many projects at all, I have seen the predictions by 2015 there will be high unemployment in WA due to the unskilled labour being surplus to requirements, unless something significantly changes - which it could of course. However I'm afraid what I hear over and over again and the senior management at Thiess, Rio, Chevron, Leightons can't all be wrong is that the graduates leave unprepared despite believing they are job ready and so graduates from elsewhere pip them to the post for many roles. That is a fact from the horses mouth.
As individuals many people are quick leaners and once they have a foot in the door can progress and do very well despite their education, you could say that about many many people all over the world. But now the gates have been opened I think many Australian's will be sat scratching their heads wondering why their standard of living is dropping, they aren't getting roles nevermind the salaries they once enjoyed.
Do I want my children studying here, not if I can help it and PLC and Scotch offering the IB so their students can study abroad gives me the impression I'm not the only one.

[Mosman]

Again Emmyloo2 "Somewhere" isn't good enough for my child - some of the centre's you see wouldn't be allowed to operate in the UK, it is like stepping back 20 years. Yes I could have thrown him in somewhere but you only get one chance to be a toddler. That combined with the childcare needing to be accessible by bus as a secound car simply isn't an option given the price of them, does limit your options.
I do hate it when some smart arse comes along and tells you how to solve all the problems in your life without actually being in possession of any of the facts let alone all of them.

[UnlikelyAmazonian]

Mandurah is foul. fgs don't go to Perth or anywhere in WA. It's bandit country and utterly miles from anywhere and anything. Sydney or melbourne are the only places to be imo.

[emmyloo2]

Ok Mosman, sorry I am such a smart arse. You are right. I know nothing. I have only lived here for 35 years. I know nothing about Perth, its education system or the child care system.

FWIW - I am not being a smart arse but some of what you are saying is just not accurate. And there will not be high unemployment in 2015 I can assure you. I work in the mining industry and know it well. The work is not going anywhere.

Perhaps you are right about graduates from other countries being more qualified but I don't think that is the case. I think the issue, certainly for the projects I work on, is that there is a lack of skilled people. I.e. not graduates but people with experience and specialised experience in the industry. Graduates are a dime a dozen. Companies aren't bringing in graduates from overseas - they are bringing qualified people in from overseas because we don't have enough people with experience in Perth.

But what do I know - I am a product of our terrible education system, or does my Masters from a US School fix that? Who knows.

And yes I agree there are issues in our state schools and the education system, which is highlighted regularly in the media. However, private schools are different - and yes PLC and Scotch offer the IB and I think it's fantastic. No idea what the difference is but I am sure it is good. Any better than say the education you get at a Hale or Christchurch or St Marys? Very much doubt it.

[LoopsInHoops]

Wow Emmyloo, I'm shocked at how rude you've been!

[emmyloo2]

I am not being rude Loops - I am just trying to correct some inaccuracies.

I wasn't the one who called someone a smart arse!

Re-read my posts - perhaps I was a little "passionate" but not rude.

[Mosman]

You were and are rude, calling somebody's else's experiences bullshit is rude.
Time will tell, but living somewhere for 35 years doesn't give you more insight than the government agencies predicting and planning around the population and the infrastructure for example.

And yes I agree there are issues in our state schools and the education system, which is highlighted regularly in the media.

So basically you agree with my first post then