Hi Bluesky
We migrated to Brisbane from the uk just before Christmas. We both had jobs in healthcare before we moved out and can qualify for PR in 12 months. We have 2 small dc.
The decision to emigrate took several years to make. We haven't been here long so I may be saying this too soon, but so far Aus has more than lived up to our expectations, and aside from missing family, I cannot imagine a better place to live.
HOWEVER I would not have brought DC out here if I wasn't 99% sure of getting PR. I'm afraid at 46 you may struggle to get independent PR or state sponsored (189/190 visas), have you looked at the points test? Your professions are both on the SOL which is good at least. So if you have a degree and 8+ years of skilled employment you might scrape through. Though only yours is on the South Australia SOL Both occupations are on the NSW SOL So if you want to come I'd have a look at the job market and then apply for a 190 and see if you get an invite.
You don't need points for a temporary skilled visa, so perhaps a 190 is what you're thinking of anyway?
That process may take 6-12 months after your skill recognition. Our entire migration has cost about £30000 to give you some perspective. That includes about £5000 on visas and medicals (would be about £7000 for pr visa), £300 on certification of documents, £8500 flights (business because the airfreight we needed would have cost as much), £7000 shipping with another £4500 insurance, £10000 healthcare college admin costs to allow registration and AHPRA, then there's the loss of wages while you acclimatise/pack up in uk, costs of renting house and furniture here til yours turns up, new car, etc etc etc.....
We brought a lot and could have saved money but I cannot see how you could without being at least £15000 worse off.
You also need to think about how your daughter will manage both in terms of changing education system but also what happens when she's 18. If she doesn't want to remain "dependent" in full time education, then she will no longer qualify as a dependent on your visa and would have to leave Australia. You may want to clarify this with your migration agent and she would need to understand her dependency and the choices it takes from her.
In some states you would have to pay for her education on a temporary visa and you may have high university costs too.
My condition of emigrating was that I wanted a job sorted before we left. No way would I have come here hoping for employment. You may need to look outside the more popular areas, but I don't know.
Have you looked at the pomsinoz forum? You'll be able to get a much better idea there of the likelihood of work. Try the state specific forums.
You also need to think about the considerable impact on pensions etc and the increased healthcare costs over here.
I'm sorry if that sounds all doom and gloom, because this is a fab place to live, but getting here is expensive and you need to go into the process with your eyes wide open.
Good luck with your decision.