Please can I have your HONEST opinions on Australia

[gem1981]

Hi

Hubbie and I are looking quite seriously into moving abroad

DH lived overseas (mainly the middle east) when he was growing up as his dad travelled alot with his job.

He has alsways had ambitions to move away from the UK and we have looked at the options and decided that Australia is probably our best option.

we want to move for the following reasons:

1)Better quality fo life for our DCs
2)more relaxed way of life
f3)ed up of being fleeced for every penny we earn in taxes by the UK

I suppose what I want to know is how realistic are we being in thinking that moving to Australia is going to give us this type of lifestyle or is it just a pipedream?

I would love to hear all experiences good and bad.

If you have emigrated there do you have any regrets?
Thanks

My family live in Perth. We went for a 3 week holiday last year and loved it but wouldn't want to live there.

It's VERY far away. Honestly until you're on that plane you don't realise just how far it is.

Perth is isolated from the rest of Australia - a lot of food has to be imported if it can't be grown (which is a lot - we had a job finding fresh veg) so isn't as cheap as you might think.

Mortgage rates are high - about 9-10%. Property is cheaper (well you get more for your money IYKWIM) but rates and bills aren't much cheaper than here. Water is restricted and expensive. Occasionally it runs out!

I imagined everyone would have pools and visualised lazy hot days around the pool - boy was I wrong! Pools are too expensive to maintain and fill and as I said before water is restricted/limited. If you want to swim you go to the beach but tides can be strong and there are lots of scary creatures out there!

The weather can be lovely in spring and autumn but summer is incredibly hot (my dad said last Christmas Day it was 44 degrees. Too hot to take the children out to play. Winters can be chilly and wet.

People can be racist (I couldn't believe the vitriol directed at the Aborigines), insular, sexist and blunt. But they are funny and generous and can really make you welcome.

Schooling apparently is variable, and unemployment is high.

Don't get me wrong, I know the UK isn't perfect but I think a lot of people emigrate thinking it will be the Golden Land and it isn't. My brother and his wife went 18 months ago and are planning to return to the UK in a couple of years - the grass ain't always greener.

Look, life is what you make it. At the end of the day you have 'same shit, different city' IMHO.
Don't move to get away from it all because you won't and you still have to pay the bills and deal with whingey kids.
I love NZ best but I also love Melbourne .... and I also love blardy Redhill in Surrey ffs.
Racism? Yes, but there are racists in England too.
No sexism that I have encountered - quite the opposite. I was recently in England and was horrified at the way men stare at you there compared to here. Didn't feel safe at all but do feel safe here.
The 'sexist male' thing portrayed here is a very very stereotypical (and poss racist) view. Imagine if someone said that everyone in England was into fox hunting? Same difference.
Accents ... they don't bother me.
Taxes: Top tax bracket here is 49% (Once you earn AU$150K, that's GBP75k) and the fact that you have to pay tolls on motorways and pay for healthcare (no free lunch in Aus) don't get lulled into thinking that you will live like kings here.
$1million within 10km of Melbourne's cbd will buy you a 3 bed 'do up' with no garden and certainly no pool. But will buy you a 5 bed place with pool and tennis court out in the sticks. Whatever floats your boat. Mate.

And yes, it is VERY far away from the UK. That can be seen as a plus or a minus [wino]

ah good old ghosty
said lots i wanted to say buit better (and i can't be arsed as up at 1.30am unable to slee for coughing )

there are some stunning generalisations on this thread

slee?
[wino]

not making us down-underers look too literate here, are we!

1.30am? mrsjc, that's no good .... get ye to bed with a nice hot toddy ...
Oh no, hang on, steady on, in a minute they'll be saying we are all alcoholics too

My particular favourite post is:

"i agree its VERY sexist and VERY VERY racist

NZ the same

and why do Ozzies shout all the time?"

Sorry, naily but that's just rude!

yep I was pretty at that

the culture thing - yes there isn't as much on offer because of smaller populations and density BUT god there's fantastic stuff about. Australia has fab opera/orchestras and produces loads of world class musicians (music being the cultural thing I'm mainly into). NZ isn't really bad either. and I often find people witter on about culture and how there isn't any in places like Oz/NZ - it's just not true. In fact DH and I find we go to MORE stuff because a) it's less hassle than traipsing across lOndon or wherever and b) because when something comes we feel we must catch it because it won't always be there.

And I seem to be doing an awful lot of music here now, playing in the professional orch, shows at the national academy of stage/drama, chamber music etc. Available culture (and in fact any activity) isn't just about what's on offer & what the place can give to you, it's also about what the people who move to places bring (and get off their arses and DO). if you don't like what's on (or not on offer) don't just grumble (like I find a lot of expats seem to), DO

Expat NZ'er living in the UK. Last lived in Oz about 20 years ago, so can't really comment (although it was definitely more racist than NZ). Move to the southern hemisphere if you love the outdoors but not addicted to football, and you don't mind lack of access to "culture", shopping - the big lights stuff really. However funnily enough if you are a foodie/wine lover it is much much better in the Antipodes. Being away from family is a big deal - my family is in NZ, it is hard - but we have done it (we fly back every two years but it's not the same). You also have the chance to be a big fish in a smaller pond - whatever you are into - you may enjoy that more (I am a very small fish in a big pond here in my career, but in NZ I would definitely be higher up the ladder!). Australia wealthier than NZ, I think this gap in income is probably quite noticeable now.

i am a bit incoherent, sorry, it's so late and I can't sleep and yuk feel so ill

it's been weeks now

Agree you must go and spend a decent chunk of time out there and surely you would go for at least two/three trips before deciding to uproot?

I spent some time there about two years ago visiting distant relatives. Couldn't wait to get back to UK although I was very homesick which probably didn't help. Also, sorry, but I did find the majority of men to be very sexist.

Nope, not for us.

Everyone - just wanted to say that I have been watching and reading all of your replies with interest and it has given me lots to think about

we are defo going to go over in March and check it all out - we would never move without doing that

we live in suffolk at the moment in a rural town about 1.5 hours from London - but we hardly ever go because we are not really city people.

We are about 10 minutes from the nearest beach here and I think that suffolk is one of the driest counties in the UK so we have better weather than our relatives in the north (which is where we are from originally).

we have been struck by the mundane life we have carved out for ourselves here - lots of you have touched on it and i worry about it too, life is what you make it and i worry that we don't make the most of it and maybe this wouldn't change no matter where we lived.

the thing is my DH is used to moving countries and livng in a new place every couple of years as he did this when he was younger with his family. To him it isn't such a big deal he says we could try it for 2 years then come back (we would not sell our house here) - I on the other hand have many more reservations as I have have been brought up and lived in the UK all my life.

I think deep down we are looking for a shake up and an "adventure" -

but my gut feel is that things really wouldn't be that different out there

I feel we are lucky where we live now

1. my Dh cycles to work and it takes him 5 minutes literally
2. we have lots of outdoor things to do here but weather is not always permitting,
3. Dh earns well enough for me to be a SAHM
4. we are happy but bored,

is being bored the right reason for moving half way round the world?

God - that was all really deep wasn't it?

but I am welcoming all of your opinions, it is really helping me so keep them coming please!!!

If you can weed out the manifestly unhelpful, and, I think, borderline racist posts here (substitute "Pakistani" or even "Scottish" for "Australian" in some of these posts and the thread would have been yanked straight away), there is food for thought for you.

Don't underestimate how hard it is to be away from your family.

I think those of you who live in Australia and have posted generally live in the big cities, no? I agree that most people I met in the urban areas were reasonable, liberal people. However, sadly in the rural areas (where I spent most of my time) there was a lot of openly racist attitudes and actions directed at Aboriginal people. Obviously if gem stays in the cities she may never encounter this but personally I have to say that it has coloured my attitude towards the country in general... I know there are racist people everywhere but I have never before or since encountered stuff this extreme in any other country

Grilwithgreeneyes, I agree. However, I have to say I have experienced just as bad racism in the UK in rural areas. The very worst experience I had of it was in Dorset. That incident far outweighs anything I have experienced here.
"Why do [Aussies] shout all the time?" WTF? They don't! Stupid post.
Also the claim that the water sometimes runs out where did you get that one from? My parents have lived in Perth for the past 8 years and never has their water run out! Water restrictions, yes...turn on the tap and no water? No! Also, the 44 degrees on Christmas day was unusual...which is why they told you about it! I was there. People have air conditioners.
It's funny that people say how rude and racist Australians are and then are completely rude and racist themselves.
Finally, I have met plenty of ex-pat Brits who moan about everything all the time. (It's a shame as it reinforces the "whinging pom" stereotype) These type of people do not make friends with Aussies or indeed anyone who isn't also a negative, moaning bore. Would you make friends with an immigrant who bitched constantly about the weather, the cost of living, the TV etc etc ad neauseum? No. Therefore their experience just gets worse and worse. Start with a negative attitude and you are doomed whatever you are attempting.

Absolutely agree with you gettingserious. Attitude is all. If you do move out here gem then you have to get stuck in to the Aussie way of life - put the effort in to making Australian friends. All this talk of extreme sexism/racism is pretty wierd. I haven't really encountered such and blardy hell if you do you can always pipe up and say that you disagree and offer an alternative view. Just like anywhere really. My DH is mildly sexist and I am always picking him up on it - nice wifey .

I think that boredom can be a good reason to shake things up. Yes it's a good idea to come and check things out first, but being on holibobs is very different to living somewhere. But if you are keeping your house and only viewing the move as a 2 year trip then what have you got to lose?

Come on, it's great here, you'll love it. We'll make you all feel welcome - we'll put an extra snag on the barbie for you .

Sorry to hear you are ill MrsJC .

Sidge - unemployment is actually VERY low at the moment. What with the resources boom n' all. Everyone is digging great big holes in the ground so lots of jobs swilling about.

Also people in shops love a good chat here, it can take ages to get the shopping which is either a lovely thing and very sweet or ChristAlmightySHUTUPi'minahurry depending on how you are feeling that day. On the whole I would say it is probably good, and friendly.

How old are your children Gem?

Good post Arfishy

will just say dh is a 'high earner' and we pay 40% tax. but so be it. we still claer more at teh end of this financial year that last in the uk. in contrasti am a nurse and earn alot less tahn dh, my tax is about the same as in the uk. still better off financially for being here than the uk

just a thought bit of an adventure is maybe a good idea, but it also takes commitment. Someone told us if you leave the uk to stay forever in aus then plan to do that. so dont leave bridges behind. sell property and mean it.. if it is tempory then dont sell up and go for an extended holiday, chances are you will go back to the uk because the pull will allways be there, in a physical sense from the house being there and family pressure who believe you will be back in 2 years because you are all set up in the uk.
oh and another thing... make sure you plan your trip in march well, decide on an area to go and see and go and see it.. so if you choose qld, bribane say.. dont get sucked into al the tourist stuff, make sure you look at where you can live, what it would be like etc...
far more women here are sahm's very traditional roles. And people afford to do that on far less than we earn! however the cost of moving is high and then getting used to living costs takes time too. maybe in two years you will still be thinking how do we do this?
still we love it and dont want to go back to the uk! so must be plenty of plusses...

I have to admit I will be keeping my house here in the UK but only because I am cynical (and DH agrees that it's sensible) - then in 5 years time we will review the situation and decide whether to keep it or sell it; then, if necessary, again in another 5 years etc.

DH wants to be in Australia to be near his mum and back where he grew up and loves; but he is worried how I will cope so doesn't want to close doors anywhere at this moment.

Naily - agree Edinburgh is lovely.

I think whatever you decide Gem, don't forget that if you leave the UK to settle in Australia, if you don't like it you CAN come back.

Some people find the separation from their family hard. I fly back with DD once per year and use video skype the rest of the time.

WRT your questions, life is definitely more relaxed here - we bimble down to the ocean, use one of the free barbeques and cook overlooking the ocean. DD spends her weekend mornings in the ocean pools and has a much more healthy lifestyle than in London. She can join nippers this year, which is the junior surf life savers, and learn how to be a lifeguard (and get the stripey hat!) She's doing tennis camp in the holidays, swimming at school and gymnastics on Saturdays. We have horse riding around the corner. Work/life balance is better, bosses tend to be much more relaxed about working hours. We're looking for a house with a pool for the summer and plan to spend most of our time in it.

Tax is higher. I think I paid 51% last year (my fault, got stung with a 2% levy because I didn't get my private healthcare done in time). If you are not resident you can claim LAFHA, which will effectively pay your rent, and once you are resident you get lots of tax breaks which will claw a fair bit back at tax return time (think lump sums of $5K).

really wise words there from chloeb - the people I knew here who moved back after 18 months never really committed IMO, still had houses in London and France, didn't stay for 2 years (which I think is the mimimum period to try somewhere before deciding for def whether to go home). But the main thing for them was missing family. I am lucky, my parents are here too now, and my sister currently, but it is difficult with DH's parents (and he is an only child). They were going to move here too but looks like MIL is being refused residency ...it's very, very difficult

am not seriously ill thanks Claudia.just an endless parade of colds/flu/migraines/dodgy tummys - I think my immune system is just shot now.

sorry agree it was good idea for friends to keep LOndon house (sis is doing same) BUT then they kept moaning about running out of money and being skint and I'd think - but you're not really are you, just trying to have your cake and eat it a bit!

hi, chipping in here although in NZ like MrsJC rather than OZ. I agree with alot of what has been said. We sold our house and as hard as it was at the time did mean that I had to give it a good go. Friends who moved here last year didn't and are regretting it as they hate renting and have had to take out a huge mortgage here to buy so they feel settled. It took me 4 years to really feel at home but things did start to get better after 2 - it takes a fair while whereever you move, even within the UK, to have friends you feel comfortable with. Missing friends and family shouldn't be underestimated nor should the journey and the cost of getting home for visits. I've just returned from a month back in the UK and know that I am in the best place for us as a family.

As for the likes and dislikes of a new country - of course there will be things you hate (there's alot about NZ I truly dislike) but the pros outweigh the cons and it's familiarity that I miss rather than place, culture etc....

Tax like here is high, cost of living high, property relatively high - you only really benefit money wise if you benefit from a good currency conversion imo.