Working in Australia as doctors

[puzzlingtree]

I wondered if anyone might be able to advise. We are a medical couple with two children (both senior school age). We are strongly considering moving to Australia or possibly NZ (DH much more keen on Aus.). I have spoken to an agency and they seem very positive about the chance of finding good jobs for both of us.
We haven't gone any fixed ideas about where to live. DH spent a lot of time in the Brisbane area when he was growing up so is fond of this area but is definitely not insistent on settling near there. We like warm, sunny weather (doesn't need to be super hot), sea, a mixture of outdoor and cultural activities. One of the children is very keen on sports, the other one enjoys some sports and the outdoors but is also quite arty. Keen to have access to good schools. Not fussed about living in the middle of a big city but would like access to somewhere of a reasonable size.

I wondered if anyone might be able to advise to help us to direct our search and plan things carefully.
What areas might work for us?
What sort of logistics do we need to consider?
What costs do we need to consider? We should receive some financial assistance but probably have to pay some costs.
What are the schools like and what is the best place to research them? What is the schooling like and the qualifications? How do they compare to the UK?
I know that housing is super expensive in big cities, especially Sydney. Is there somewhere which is cheaper but somewhere we might like to live?

If anyone has any other comments or can point out pros and cons that would be really helpful.

Just to lift you off 'Unanswered Threads', especially as the Southern hemisphere is now awake , there is also a board for https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/aussie-nz-mumsnetters who might be able to help.

I'm a nurse with a few good (nurse) friends out there in Brisbane. They love it. The one problem was there is a massive rental crisis so its difficult finding somewhere but they did manage. Brisbane seems easier on this front than Sydney and Melbourne. No real advice from me but good luck, and I hope it really works out for you. Brisbane is lovely

Any of the capital cities would likely be suitable for you. One thing I would consider if you choose to live outside of a capital city is how far removed you are. Until you’ve experienced it, the distances are hard to comprehend and depending on what you’re used to, you may struggle with small town life.

For school advice look for Facebook pages. There’s one for Brisbane called Brisbane Schools Discussion which is helpful. Generally the schools are public (state), selective schools that require an entrance exam, private or Catholic (fee paying but much cheaper than private).

Like everywhere renting is challenging right now, but if one or both of you has a job lined up before you arrive and offer a few months up front you should be fine.

The lifestyle for families is very sports and outside oriented, so you won’t struggle finding activities for your kids. Family life in general is fantastic. The main drawback is how far you are from home. Flights have become incredibly expensive since Covid so it’s harder to visit as much. Having elderly parents is a constant low level worry.

The health service is great, but I’m not a health worker so don’t have advice for you on that front. Good luck, it sounds like a great opportunity!

Thank you so much for your replies @NewName24 @Hdkatznahtw125sgh and @StellaShining

@NewName24 I will add a duplicate post to the Aussie/ NZ board. I met start one on chat too- perhaps that's a better place for more replies.

Brisbane sounds like it could be a good option.
@StellaShining we definitely don't want to be in a very rural area but perhaps somewhere on the coast between Sydney and Brisbane. I've seen Newcastle recommended and a few other places along that coast. Not sure where is best. Of course, it will depend on possible jobs too.

I haven't got any up to date information as I worked in Australia a long time ago pre-children (on a temporary visa) however you might need to be aware of the 10-year moratorium which, if it applies to you, might affect where you can work if your medical degree is from outside Australia.

I worked near Brisbane and there were plenty of jobs for overseas-trained doctors in and around the city at the time, so there was no need to stay very rurally, not sure how it is now though. I've also heard that the house rental situation is very competitive in Queensland at the moment