Moving to Australia for a year

[TuTu]

We will be moving to Australia for a year, for DH's work. We have a 13 month old DS and are trying for another baby. The thought of uprooting and moving to Oz is absolutely terrifying me at the minute......All I can think of are the hassles and possible difficulties we will have. Has anyone else relocated abroad for a year - how did you and your little ones cope?

We have a choice of going either in January 2006 (when DS will be 2.5 yrs) or August 2006 (when DS will be 3). When we get back DS will be starting primary school that September.

We will need to decide soon as to whether to go in Jan or August. If we are lucky enough to have another baby, would it be better to go away in Jan when baby was younger and less mobile or would August be better when I would hopefully be starting to feel back on top of things (if you ever do)?

Would really appreciate any advice/shared experience. Thanks.

Hi Tutu
I live in Australia and I agree with SueW about moving here in August rather than January. January is the height of summer and it can be sweltering, whereas August (even though it's winter) would be much less of a shock. The nights can be chilly but the days can still be quite warm, in fact today it's very sunny and about 24 C. I'm in Queensland so our daytime temperature in winter ranges from about 20-25 C, although Melbourne can be a bit cooler.

It is also school holidays in January, and as SueW said, it may be hard to find the kind of house you want at that time of year. I just think it may be less of a shock to you and probably easier to settle in if you made the transition in August rather than January. Spring will be just around the corner (September, October) and is a very pleasant time of year.

spent the last four years living in England and last month returned to live in Australia. What an opportunity - if it is with your dh's work - they should provide the necessary support.... depending on where you are being sent will depends on the wather - like lethal I am in Queensland and love it here - although there are so many lovely places in Aus.

In the month before we left and arrived here - dd ( almost 2) finished nursery( attended full time), moved and lived with grandparents for two weeks, then spent a week in Singapore, then a few days at other grandma's house and then finally to our house.... she coped brilliantly - she was very adaptable.....She also coped when we came out here last year and she was about 8 months old - coped being in a number of places and again - she was very adaptable....

January can be a very very hot month.... and a lot of moving is done over the Christmas period - tend to finish up jobs December and then start in the January.....so accommodation can be difficult to find.

Our plan was to start trying for another babe when we arrived - did not quite work out like that and I was 18/19 weeks pregnant when we moved to Australia - no worries - managed to find a brilliant GP, get hospital referrals etc done.

The bonus for us though - is that we are not going back in a year - we are here for good - so lots of other things needed to be done that you would not have to worry about.

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Thank you all so much for your replies -August does seem to be the better time to go. I had never thought of the accomodation problems in January, so it is really good to know about that. I'm not used to the heat either, so again August sounds better. I'll just need to get things organised with a primary school early so that when we get back it isnt too manic.

I think our choice of where to go in Oz is between Perth, Adelaide and Melbourne. More choices!!

You've no idea how much you have all helped - I just feel a whole lot clearer about going. Because so much is up in the air at the minute, to get one thing straight in my mind makes a real difference. Its hopefully the start of me getting my head round all this!

a lot of Europeans like Melbourne as it has a real cosmopolitan feel to it... Perth is also popular - just that bit closer to the UK.. can't really comment on Adelaide.