Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Living overseas

Whether you're considering emigrating or an expat abroad, you'll find likeminds on this forum.

Original poster

considering a move to australia.

111 replies

chikadee23 · 22/08/2014 13:17

hello, my husband and I have 4 children and have been considering a move to Australia for a while now but have never actually looked into it fully.
I was wondering if anybody could tell me anything and everything that they can.
our children are aged between 1 and 11 years and my husband is a joiner so he would be the main applicant I currently work in mental health as a support worker, my qualifications aren't on the skills list.

I have a friend in perth and my husband knows somebody in Brisbane so we have been looking mainly at these 2 areas , but are open to looking elsewhere. any info on cost of living, education and especially anybody who has gone over as a joiner would be really appreciated.

we both drive aswell so vehicle costs would be helpful too.

sorry for the essay and thank you in advance for any replies.

OP posts:
flukeshot · 23/08/2014 21:30

Motherofstudents, I love Canberra. If we weren't set up here with jobs, schools for dcs etc I'd want to live there. (DH is a Sydney sider originally though so I may have a fight on my hands..)
Serenity are there meet-ups of brissie mners?

chloeb2002 · 24/08/2014 05:26

We had one.. Happy to do another mums net meet up!

StUmbrageinSkelt · 24/08/2014 05:57

I'm also in Logan.

HowsTheSerenity · 24/08/2014 08:25

Ooh Logan meet up! I guess those on the dark side can come too Grin

flukeshot · 24/08/2014 08:39

I'm in! Grin

loopyarabella · 24/08/2014 08:45

Giggle I am Australian born and bred (no longer live there though) and spent my university years in Perth. It has changed beyond all recognition. Can you believe that less than 20 years ago we paid $160 a week for a four-bedroom house in Subiaco?!?

People always ask me whether I'll go back and my honest answer is no, because we can't afford to.

chloeb2002 · 24/08/2014 10:22

Ikea food court again? Or a park.. I will wear dark glasses and a big hat so as not to be seen "South of the river" Wink

flukeshot · 24/08/2014 10:35

Grin God forbid! I'm 15 mins from ikea so all good. I'll rock up in singlet and things as that's how we roll on the south side...

HowsTheSerenity · 24/08/2014 11:22

You wear thongs? You are classy.
I was going to wear my supre onesie with uggboots

motherofstudents · 24/08/2014 11:26

flukes, it's nice to meet a fellow fan of Canberra. Most people bad mouth it then admit they've never been and certainly never stayed there.

We're even getting an IKEA!

NightFallsFast · 24/08/2014 12:32

IMO The most important thing is to assess the jobs market for you and your DH. If you don't have an income you'll be miserable where ever you are. DH and I had about 6 weeks between landing and our paperwork coming through to start work, and even though we had work lined up we felt like we were heamorrhaging money.

After that look at the area. I'm near Brisbane and love living here, but don't discount other places.

SunflowerSmile · 24/08/2014 13:33

Another Brisbaner here (from Perth originally if that helps OP!). Perth is lovely and great beaches. Cost of housing has gone crazy there in the past decade. Brisbane I find to be more affordable housing generally. Weather here is amazing -we never check the forecast as it is sunny most days.

I would say (having moved from overseas back to Australia) that moving is hard and also fun. It can be exhausting and rewarding. The best thing you can do right now is lots of research and be as informed as possible.

(Ps also up for a Brisbane meet up if anyones keen -I too always think I am the only one on here from Qld!).

chloeb2002 · 24/08/2014 20:14

??sunflower.. So true about the weather... But when it rains..it rains! Wink

Original poster
chikadee23 · 24/08/2014 20:35

thank you for all of the replies, stripy banana that's not a silly question at all, no we haven't been yet but are hoping to go next year before we even think about anything concrete for all the reasons you stated.
the only reason we have thought about Brisbane and perth is because we know people there so wont feel so alone. we are really only in the beginning stages of looking at the minute its just talking and researching about it, so this is why I want to know the truth about the situation.
I suppose the whole point is after the necessities would we need to spend a fortune doing things with the kids or are there enough things on your doorstep to spend quality time with the kids that are basically free. that's the main thing for us, at the minute in England if the weather isn't good most of our spare money goes on finding things to do as a family, can everyone who has moved there as a family tell me honestly if they have better family time doing more things together now or before ?
glastokitty yes it is still on there at the min but I will be keeping an eye out as ive heard a few people mention this.
I currently work in the private sector chloeb2002 but I would be interested to know how different it really is to the nhs.

OP posts:
Original poster
chikadee23 · 24/08/2014 20:37

thank you sunflower I think we need to research loads so any advice is greatly received x

OP posts:
Original poster
chikadee23 · 24/08/2014 20:40

just reading the other messages as for some reason I have only just seen them think my laptop was playing up or my tired eyes ha x

OP posts:
Original poster
chikadee23 · 24/08/2014 20:48

motherofstudents I have to admit I know nothing of Canberra but it sounds like a fab place to live, im going to add it to my everlasting list of research bullet points.
nightfallsfast yes I think your right about this with no income there realy wouldn't be any point considering it.

OP posts:
lulalullabye · 26/08/2014 03:46

Have you looked at other states in Australia, obviously dependant on skills list. We live in Adelaide and it's great. Everybody always rants on about how crap it is but it is truly great. amazing scenery and hills, wineries galore and amazing food and local produce. Schools are great, weather is great although it does get a little hot in summer.
We love being here and think it is much more family friendly than Melbourne where we lived for a year.
Lower cost of living and you can get into the city very easy to enjoy all the events that are on there.

Surfsup1 · 26/08/2014 04:10

Motherofstudents I'll put my hand up as another Canberra fan. We're Sydney based at the mo, but we have a little farm just outside Canberra and I think we'll move down there in a couple of years.

OP, I can give you a little bit of info re Sydney. In NSW children can start school in the year they turn 5 so long as they turn 5 after July31 and they have to start school before they turn 6. Most people hold their children back if they have that option and start them as old as possible. I can't elaborate on fees/visas though as I'm a citizen.

Cost of living is defo higher in terms of housing, food, clothing etc but as you mention there are so many free activities to fill in your free time that you certainly don't spend as much in that area. Of course those options are totally dependent on your location.

Living on the East Coast makes travel within Aus a lot easier and cheaper. Remember Perth is the most isolated Capital City in the world (and I think that's how they like it).

Are you a city mouse? If not you may find that there are lots of wonderful regional areas where health care professionals are in much greater demand. These can also offer a far lower cost of living while still offering a wonderful standard of living. Just off the top of my head I'd be thinking, Wagga Wagga, Bendigo, Orange, The Hunter Valley… might be worth considering?

Aebj · 26/08/2014 04:45

I love Perth. So much better than living in Plymouth. Public transport is great and cheap. Eating and drinking out is more expensive.
my eldest was born nov 03. he started reception September 2008. we moved over here in june 09. He then had an extra 6 moths of pre primary ( like reception) as the school year runs from Feb- Dec. Youngest DS was born November 05. He started kindy Feb 2010( like pre school). So he was just 4. The children were 4 from July 1st 2009- 30June 2010. they are both in public schooling. We have a book list which costs between $30-$60 per child( depends on what year they are in). And then pay voluntary fees of $50 per year( of course you don't have to pay this). We came over on PR's and are now proper aussies!!
We have private health insurance or we would be hit with a tax fee.
the median house price for the area I'm in is $400-$500,000.( which on todays exchange rate is 224,832-281,040 pounds) rental between $350-$450per week(196-253 pounds per week).
I love the laid back lifestyle, sunshine, being able to get outdoors most of the year.

Surfsup1 · 26/08/2014 04:54

It is very hard to give you an idea of costs of housing as (like England) there is such a huge difference between areas, even within the same city.
Where we are a small attached house with 3 bedrooms and a small back garden would cost you somewhere around $1.5 million+. Drive for half an hour and you could get the same for half that.

Re cost of cars, have a look at carsales.com.au which will show you lots of cars for sale (did you guess that?) so you can get an idea.

KoalaDownUnder · 26/08/2014 05:57

The cost of living in Perth is astronomical.

Unfortunately, this is true. It is freaking outrageous. Sad Particularly real estate, eating out, and service-type things like hairdressers. Groceries are also very expensive; you just cannot feed a family on the same budget you could in the UK, even if you were prepared to eat cheap crap (because even the cheapest crap is much more expensive, if you see what I mean!) Everything has gone through the roof in the past few years, but I've learned to adjust (mostly).

On the other hand, it is the best place I've lived in the world (and I've travelled/lived overseas a lot). Spent 5 years in London in my late twenties and early thirties, but nothing could induce me to bring up a family there. I need the Australian sunshine and blue skies to function properly, and I don't like the indoor lifestyle that the UK weather forces you into for much of the year.

Western Australia is a fabulous place for kids. I find tons to do with my nieces and nephews. One of my brothers is married to an English lady, and they have three kids; she wouldn't go back to Britain for anything.

Obviously I'm biased, though, as I am Australian. Grin If you want to ask any Perth-specific questions, fire away!

Original poster
chikadee23 · 26/08/2014 09:11

lulalullaby yes I am now considering other states aswell so any info on Adelaide would be fantastic thank you,
surfsup I see myself settling close enough to a city to be able to get there easily enough if need be but no I do prefer to be more rural, im from the outskirts of Manchester and have lived in London before much prefer the outskirts tbh haha.

could anybody give me info on how joiners are doing in your areas at the min?
I am most definitely looking around other states now im thinking I was a bit naiive looking at just the 2 because we know people in them areas im sure we will get to know people wherever we decide to go.

thank you to everyone who has been replying im so glad I found mumsnet its really opening my eyes.

OP posts:
StripyBanana · 26/08/2014 09:21

We worked out in our circumstances we really wouldn't have a better quality of life.. We moved out of london to the countryside and do have a pretty outdoorsy life all year around. Where we were looking in australia we wouldn't have afforded v much house wise (if you were sellig a london house it would be a different story.)

When I first visited australia I fell in love and saw lots I liked, however the more time I've spent there, the more people I've got to know, the more of "Real Life" I've experienced it really isn't somewhere I'd want to live long term.

I think you need to be really clear what you're goig for, how.long for (2 year trial or forever), v aware of what youre leaving behind and you're more likely to make it last long term. We know and have met quite a lot of people who have gone for a few years and come back. It's been a great adventure but realised it's not what they want long term.

You certainly need to visit a fair bit and really grill your friends over there as to what life would be like for you. The more info you go out with I think the better chance of making it last.

You certainly

StripyBanana · 26/08/2014 09:26

Cross post. There is a lot to be said for knowing someone though. Maybe go visit them, then visit the state you fancy? Australia is far far bigger than England - if you.imagine someone moving over here they'd get v different answers whether it was cornwall or.london or mancheater or york or brighton or dorset village they were moving to. Australia is vast - once you've moves to a city that really is where you love most of the time as its a few hours flight to the next town.... so a huge decision and worth really researching.

I love melbourne which is where we considered. Perth would be too hot for me (beach am and eve but I'd have to be ondoors in the day and I like outdoors!) And too isolated. Sydney way too expensive...

you so need to visit!!!