ClaireChris

I think we have hit our first bump!! We have been here since the start of December and managed to sort ourselves out. Shipment arrived, found a house, children enrolled in daycare to get then in a routine, husband has a job, we have some family and a few exisiting friends here and making new ones each week. For the first time I have started to miss family and friends and it has hit me how far away they are and we don't have any spare income to save to make regular visits back. My husband's job is not inspiring him which means he is not happy and he normally enjoys working. This has a knock on effect on all of us. We are very lucky for him to have secured employment but he turned down a job in Sydney which he really wanted as we didn't want to be there as family in Brisbane and cost of living/very busy not appealing. I now feel guilty that he didn't take the job though as his unhappiness makes me sad. Need a boost to get us on track. Not expecting to get it all to start with so any encouraging comments would be welcomed from those who have done it already!!

Hi PatW I presume the meet up is still on today even though the weather is rubbish! We are hoping to swing buy to meet you and other new people. It's so kind that you do this to help the settling in. Claire

Hi to everyone on this thread, We arrived at the end of November from the UK and were luck enough to study with my brother near the city until we secured a rental in NL. We are really keen to meet new people and have already made contact with a family on this thread (Elaine). She has told me about the meet up at Aurora Blvd park on the 30th and we would love to pop along. Hope this is ok PatW? Looking forward to meeting everyone

We have recently moved to Brisbane from the UK and currently staying with family in Coorparoo. We have looked at a number of properties in North Lakes and think this is where we are likely to move to so we can access the coast at the weekend. We have a 4 yr old girl and 2 yr old boy and would love to meet new people and for them to make friends too! Would love to to hear from anyone who's established here or in the same situation ?

I think we are definitely going to move to Sydney with the job offer and have seen some properties in these two suburbs. Caringbah Glenfield Panorama (newer housing development) They are very different and opposite sides of Sydney. We have a 2 & 4 year old and my husband will be travelling to Chullira. Any feedback would be useful ?

My husband has had a job offer as a Non-Technical Trainer with the following: annual Salary $82500.00 Super 9.5% $7837.50 company Vechicle $6000.00 laptop $2500.00 mobile phone $1300.00 training $8000.00 clothing $1000 total $109,137.50 the job is based in Chullora and Lidcombe. we would be really interested to have an idea to what this would equate to in take home money after tax etc. so we can make a decision on where to maybe live. We have two small children so in the first 18/24 months I would ideally not work as childcare would probably equate to my incoming salary. any suggestions on areas to live (on this take home salary) with 3 bedrooms (single storey) would also be helpful thank you :jiggy:

I have recently collated and had certified all of my documents to enable me to register to teach in QLD. We have recently had a change of plan and it looks like I need to now register in NSW. I have been looking at BOSTES and wondered if anyone has any tips\advice to complete the process. Would I be provisionally or conditionally accredited. Would I have to completed study in the country? I have been teaching in the UK since 1996 and been Head of Department since 1998. I completed a 3year BA Hons Music Degree, PGCE secondary Music and also completed a Master Degree in Education in 2013. The visa we have is 175 skilled independent and this was secured through me being a teacher. Any feedback warmly welcomed

On our flights out to Brisbane we have 7 hour wait in HK. We have a 2 & 4 year old and wondered what the children's facilities are like in the airport (we have seen there is a children's TV lounge and a play area) ) and also if anyone with small children had used the lounges and private resting areas. Reviews on the Internet are mixed but not really read anything from travellers with young children. We have an overnight flight from London and then overnight from HK to Brisbane. Any feedback would be helpful :wub:

Any advice thoughts on our current situation would be really helpful please. We have had our Permanent Resident Visas for 3 years and after having our 2nd child are finally making the move to Oz. We have been torn between Perth and Brisbane and finally decided on the latter about 6 months ago. We have family in Brisbane and after visiting a number of times like it and the areas north and south of the city. Our belongings are currently being shipped and flights booked for 27th November to land in Brisbane. All ready to go when my husband handed in his notice and through various contacts has the potential of his current job in the UK (which he loves) offered to him in Sydney! We have a 2 and 4 year old and the plan was to live off his salary until the oldest at least starts school. It is a great opportunity for him and security in relation to a job when we arrive but I am concerned at living in Sydney. We want to be out of the city and change our lifestyle and I don't think we could live off his salary comfortably $75000 and to live far enough out to be commutable? The job is in Chullora and we would want to be North of the city. Any Thoughts on where we could live and rent? Not taking the job seems like kicking a gift horse in the mouth but I'm not sure we will be happy? I know I have rambled on but I would appreciate and useful comments 

We are in the same position in deciding what to do. Our two small children have their birthday' the weekend of 14th Niv and we leave on 30th. We though of having a children's part 11-1 and the keep the hall for the afternoon and invite any foreigners to join us to say farewell. Not really sure how to entertain though - what type of food would be best as people will drop by at different times and do we need entertainment? Trying to think about this with everything else they'd going on seems silly but I also think saying farewell properly is important! Any suggestions welcome

I know there are already some posts linked to the above but would appreciate any first hand experiences/reviews/advice on the following two companies - Crown Relocations and Anglo Pacific. Both companies have given us quotes and there is a significant difference of £750 approximately. The representatives were helpful, knowledgeable and not at all pushy. They both agreed a 20ft sole use container would be fine. The main advantage we can see with CR is we have a months free storage in Brisbane (which we will require) and they deal with everything rather than another contractor taking over in Oz. Any thoughts welcomed :ssign10:

We have spent time in Singapore on previous trips so looking to just get there and start the next step of our lives. Really thinking of the hotel for reasons you suggest NicF. The layover would be 11 hours. Thought we could tag team with the children and keep them awake so they sleep on the plane and we have the sleep in the hotel! The thought of a shower and a stretch is very appealing and not overly expensive.

We are looking into booking our flights from UK when we leave for Brisbane in November. Although we wanted to fly Emirates the flight times and 3 legs doesn't seem ideal with a 4 & 2 year old. We are looking at Singapore airlines and doing a long layover to book into the transit hotel for a block of time to let the kids run around, shower etc. has anyone experienced the hotel with children and does this sound like a good idea?

I have been looking at flights for when we leave the UK later this year. BA are far more expensive than Emirates and Singapore airlines and after flying with them I wouldn't go back to BA as they code share with Quantas on the 2nd leg and that wasn't a positive experience!

My daughter will be 4 in November 2015 so would she be eligible to start in January 2016? We are hoping to move out at the end of November.