I live in Brisbane. We are NOT prone to getting cyclones. And we are NOT as humid as cities like Sydney.
We are an inland city. 100km from the cost. We get the odd freak storm, but we do not get cyclones.
I live on the north side and we might get a large amount of rain in a 24 hour period once in a blue moon. Some thunderstorms. But nothing destructive really.
It hardly rains here. It is sunny most days of the year. Yes, we had some flooding a few weeks ago, but that was in just one part of Brisbane and mostly other areas of the State. It rarely happens. And even rarer does it ruin lives, etc.
Yes, we get a few humid days in Brisbane. But unlike Sydney and other places, our temperatures are very mild. The hottest it might get is 36-38 a few days of the year. But we usually sit around 30-34 for most of summer, spring and beginning of autumn. Our winters are warmer and milder too.
Our weather is much more calmer than places like Sydney and Melbourne. Where it can and does jump from 25 degrees one day to 44 degrees the next. Where they go below zero in winter.
That other poster was quite dramatic about Brisbane.
We have a smaller population. About 1/2 of Sydney. It is safe here. The city is dull compared to Sydney.
But it is safe and a lot slower pace than bigger cities.
Brisbane is renown for having the largest city area with the smallest population in the world. So we are spaced out.
You will need a car. Trains are great. Buses are great. But there are not as many places you can get to on them.
If you choose Brisbane. You should move to the north side or inner city suburbs. It has a better reputation than the south. Stay away from places near Logan (which is a neighbouring city).
Rents are high. Property prices high. But not as high as Sydney or Melbourne.
Brisbane is not as multicultural as other cities. Which can be a good thing sometimes. You want your child to go to a school where most children can speak english. I have a friend teaching in Western Sydney and her classroom is mostly foreign children from Asia/Africa and it is hard to teach them as there are 30 kids in the class with hardly any of them speaking proper English. You don't want that. That is what you'll find in lower socio-economic areas like Western Sydney. The southern edges of Brisbane etc. Hopefully it will change in the future.
Foid is expensive nowadays. Electricity expensive. Public Transport costs are alright. Queensland does not give free bus tickets for children. My friend's child was many kilometres from school. Wasn't given a free bus pass. But I am sure other school with bus transport is free.
The lifestyle is great, especially in Queensland. Much more laid back. But you pay for this privilege. EVERYTHING costs.
There is no "make a list" to pick the schools you hope your kid will get to go to here. You can apply to get into the school in your catchment area and you HAVE to be given a spot. Even areas with army bases. The schools, private and public have to leave spaces free for army children.
No daylight savings in Queensland.
Biggest downside is, Australia is NOT employee friendly. We are a "fire at will" country. You will need to have to get use to this. I lived in Europe for fourteen years. I remember the nice holiday times, paid sickleave, etc. But as you are a teacher, I think with teaching you might get a lot of protection and holidays in a Government school, but you can't be taking lots of sickleave etc anyway.
You also need to be able to care entirely for yourself. There are few to no safeguards regarding long term sicknesses, etc. So you need to have savings, should anything prevent you from working. You'd never survive on the dole here, living alone with a child.
Single parents are mostly at the bottom of the barrel here. You get no special treatment. If you are able to get Family Benefits you might get a little extra. Regarding child support. You also need to prove why you can't go after a non-paying parent if you aren't getting child support. The Government needs to approve of the reason. If it is not accepted, your Family Benefits are less.
But it is so much nicer living here than in Europe, at the moment. With all the uncertainty.
It is so calm and so peaceful and warm most of the year in Brisbane.
Welcome to Australia, if you come.