Moving to Perth with older children

[Orangetree101]

Hi, we are considering a job offer which will mean moving to Perth in the next 5 months with my partner and 7yr old and 11 ye old. I’m just worried about them settling in and missing their friends and family back home. I just don’t know if we are doing the right thing. It’s a great opportunity for work and from what I read about Aus it’s a wonderful family place to live and I’m hoping the outdoor lifestyle and weather will enrich our lives but I just don’t know. Does anyone have any experience of this? Either moving your own children or being moved about as a child? And what the impact was? Thanks 🙏

Depends where you live now to some extent. As I'm sure you've seen from your visits, Perth is very small, and closer in flight time to Malaysia than to the east coast of Australia. Personally if jump at the chance, I think it's a good age to move them, but it will be quite hard. They will be upset about their friends and possibly the loss of their grandparents if they're close now. My parents moved me around, but nearly every year when I was little, and I can't say it was always easy for me. Some of the moves were amazing, but then every time we were happy somewhere, there seemed to be another job for dad somewhere else. So just make sure you're sure!

Just to add, don't do what I think my dad did and assume that moving means leaving any problems behind - doesn't sound like you are but it's an easy mistake to make. The weather can be very harsh, although I kinda love the dry heat of Perth. The beaches are amazing, but don't forget you'll still be at work most of the time. And you will spend all your time applying sun cream and getting sunburnt anyway. And some Australians are a bit weird about "poms", trying to pretend we're ever so different. Can be very irritating, and the kids will rip the piss out of your kids for their accents initially. All surmountable, and maybe not as much of an issue given Perth attracts quite a lot of different nationalities in the mining industry.

I moved my dc from Australia when they were 5, 9 and 12. They did find it hard although we were coming back to family so that was a huge advantage. It's a lot all at once. Saying goodbye to all their friends and their school and their home. Not having their things when they get there. Living in a new home and going to a new school with new routines etc. My dc were behind academically when we came to the uk so that didn't help.

It is a different lifestyle for children but really it's just your same life somewhere else. If you aren't doing those things now then it's unlikely that you are going to be doing them there although dc are incredibly sporty after growing up in Australia.

If you time it right the oldest could start high school at the normal time which would be good.