It's decided ... moving to Sydney April/May 2008... which areas are good with kids?

[MrsBigD]

o.k. it's still a bit away but thought I better get started re what to consider.

Visa stuff I have info and paperwork to be done.

I've been to Sydney yonks ago and obviously didn't look at it with the eys of a parent trying to work out which area to move to for good schools etc. but more to find good night clubs etc

So who knows Sidney from the parental perspective and is willing to share all the gritty details ?

maybe it's because it's a temp visa. Ours were permanent and we are now full residents, can work, etc etc.

If they have confirmed it, I'm sure it ust be right!

double checked with them and I'll be allowed to work too Just won't be able to clame benefits etc. but then again I want to work so no issue there

when yu get here just check at centerlink as you may be intitled to family tax, which is the same as UK child benefit. As residents it is all we are entitled to.

Check you will be allowed to buy property if you are not permanent residents. When I lived there I think only citizens and permanent residents were allowed to buy property. It could be different if you are from NZ though?

23B... I'll check that. Hadn't even thought about things like that! I'm so glad for mn wisdom

I'm pretty sure all schools must teach languages now although in public primary schools there may only be one taught,( ie, no choice), and when I was in primary...a while ago now (!) they were not well taught. I did Italian for 7 years and can say 'cupbard' and sing their national anthem!

High schools wil all offer a choice of languages and they will be better taught.

Theres a school called the International Grammar school in the city (so ok for public transport) which teaches languages well from primary. The kids have some lesson in their chosen language as well as specific language lesson. I think there is also a German school like this in the city, and an Italian one (?)

these are probably expensive, but if languages are inportant to you it could be worth a look.

Thanks Astrophe Defo have to check out the Interntional and the German school. Would be a shame if my kids loose the language I'm trying to instill into them now. If for nothing else I might be able to find some German speaking families in Sydney for regular meetups

Sorry about the Hijack, but
could some kind aussie put a link up for house prices in Sydney. I am not intending on moving back any time soon, but am interested to see what I would get if we sold up.
Or alternatively what would £200,00 get you in Sydney these days?

cori, domain.com.au

£200,000 would get you a 2 bedroom flat in the Eastern Suburbs, similar on the North Shore, but more as you go further West away from the coast.

Will check up on schools for you but it might take a couple of days - they are not too good at checking email

In the meantime, I found a link on the Department of Education site that has a list of all the state schools -
try here
Its also got quite a lot of general information about schools and the system

potoroo thanks for the link and don't worry if the checking re schools takes a few weeks. No particular rush just yet

just had a look at domain.com.au Forrestville... I'm in love with the houses and terraces and and and . Now to find the moeny to afford them!

Do you know where you/DH will be working?

no idea as yet. Haven't even started looking

sitting here now starting to do the visa application... why oh why can't they just put the lot in easy straight forward English?

Hi just joined mumsnet to find some help and wow just found what I was lookinfg for
We are moving over to Sydney Dec this year and like you MRSBIGD need some info on best place to live got 2 teenagers 15 & 13 and 3 little ones 4,3&1 so need to be located somewhere to suit them all ;)
Any suggestions welcome

5! kids?!?

keep me posted on where you're moving to

oh and have been speaking to a mate who's got a mate who lives in Forrestville... sounds like a nice place with only 10 mins to the beach Had a look re properties there and in comparison to the UK they're HUGE LOL

tribeoffive, welcome. 5 kids - bet they are gorgeous you lucky thing.

The North shore really is lovely for kids of all ages, but with teenages i would try to be somewhere within walking distance of the train line so that you don't have to ferry them around constantly! Try Chatswood, Artarmon, Waverton, St Leonards, Roseville, Lindfield...you will find lovely parks for your little ones here too, and its not too far from the beach (in weekend traffic about 1/2 hour).

what do your kids like doing, where are they going to school and where will you/dh be working?

tribeoffive and mrsbigd, here is the rail map. zoom in on the north shore line (yellow, top half) to see suburbs with stations.

city rail

just grabbed 2mins 2c if any response
Great!!!! thanks so far once the 3 imps have been bathed read a story and put to bed will start looking at the info given so far
Don't know where in Sydney DH is goin 2 be workin find out soon

Oh good, someone else moving to Sydney! We're hoping to be there in April tribeoffive and I have three kids, 13, 7 and 3. I'm pretty focused on the North Shore area following the excellent advice I've got here. DH will be working in Darling Harbour but North seems best for families (and expats!) and as his current commute is 2 hours each way he's happy as long as we can halve it. Looking forward to chatting on here!

count me in

off to Sydney at the end of January

me, dh and dd who will be aged 18 months

watching this thread with interest!

I am developing a cunning plan...

I shall befriend 'you lot' so I already have a social network when we move