Wojtek

Hi all! Great thread! We too will be moving to the sunshine coast on 5 months time with our two children, aged 3,5 and 7 (when we move). We were at the sunshine coast a month ago for 2 weeks to check the area out. We absolutely loved it! We found it to be a perfect place for a family. Lot of outdoor life, and if you can land a job, am sure the area is simply perfect!!!!!

But in a certain way than it can be a good thing. If everyone was as hard working, than you as a hard worker will not "shine" above the rest. I also have a very (atleast in my thought) serious approach to work. For the past 16 years I have been working as coach. For the past 10 - I have been leading tennis schooling for our international english speaking expats here in Wroclaw. If they want to reserve a court - it all goes thru me so they dont have to go through the hassle of trying to figure out whats going on. If I am sick I find a replacement coach so they dont have to worry (there are other coaches who just say "sorry, Im sick, I cant make the lesson") - and each group gets an sms with the contact nr of the coach and info that I am sick and everything is organised and all lessons will take place as usual. I as a coach get 10% discount on raquets that clients order through me. All of the coaches take the 10% discount for themselves (the client pays 100% but the tennis centre gives them back 10% of the value of the order to the coach). I on the other hand think that I earn from coaching, and not from helping my clients order the best tennis equipment for their kids, besides - when they cover court fee, coach fee etc - it doesnt end up cheap. So I tell them, that I can help them order everything, and the 10% discount I give straight to them so they have it a little bit cheaper. When I had holidays this year and I was away for nearly 2 weeks than each group got contact numbers to the coach who will be leading their lessons. The efect is that I have groups who dont want to really play with others, as they find me honest, hard working and plain fair. My point being. Screw the other goofbags who are sitting on their asses and just slacking off. They are the ones who usually wont succeed to much, and the ones who are really ahrd working and who try to do the best as they can, are the ones wh will come out on top. You just have to find a boss who has similar values as you. Good luck!

I take all of that into account. I know that by the time we hit aussie shores I will be 44. Im in the fitness field, have been working as a tennis coach for the past 16 years, also have an EMS studio here in Wroclaw, Poland. I would be planning to work in similar fields in Australia. Im trying to scrape up information as to Australia, to maybe get an idea if it will be much of a shock or very different from what I imagine it to be. Its completely different than it was when I flew solo. Here I will be with my wife and our two children. For one the expenses and responsibilities are at a comletely diofferent level but with that also means that we wont have the loneliness I encountered 16 yrs back as we will be here together. I hope it never comes to a situation where I will be dying to stay and my wife will be dying to go back. I have read of too many marriages fall apart when those troubles came up, thats why I keep on telling myslef, that no matter what, if atleast we stay the 5 yrs there until the wife gets citizenship, than that will be a worthwhile 5yrs anyway.. ..but then I'll be back in Poland at nearly 50. Thats why the situation is a pain in the ass..

You never know - things might take a completely different turn and you ight end up liking it there. All in all, I hope everything works out for you and ur Family

I think a lot of us might feel the same, in the sense that OK, why would a husband say something like that. If he did it means theres not as much affection there as there should be bla bla bla, but look at it from a different side. Every marriage has its crisis at one point or another, or usually at a couple of points If for example they have their crisis which is also caused by this whole situation, and on top of that there is the non stop hardcore atmosphere around the fact that one side wants to be here, the other there - then arguments are an everyday thing. If they are, then maybe the husband said "look, u want to stay than stay, I want to go - full stop. Im tired of this shite". Everyone that is in marriage knows that sometimes there are arguments where emotions take control and you say things that you normally wouldnt if you were thinking straight without wanting to throw a plate out the window. Also - they have kids. Its not so easy to simply write the marriage off. I still think that maybe to start from scratch is the only way to go, but you have to start a new chapter, laying everything out on the table. I remember me and the wife had a pretty rough patch a few years back. We knew we needed to talk things out. We both got out a piece of paper and pen and wrote exactly what bugs us the most, what we wanted to change the most. When we were finished we exchanged papers. Maybe that will help you both look at things from "the other point of view"?

Hey. Ive written a few times here, but cant remember iof I have gotten into much detail with our situation, so I'll write in general what we have facing us. I have been brought up in Australia from age 6 to 18, so my whole childhood has been there. I am an Aussie citizen (citizenship by grant). My wife and I have two small children, who I have taken care of the citozenship by descent papers for, so they too have their Aussie passports. FINALLY, after about 9 months of waiting, my wife has had her partner visa approved (Maaan, 7thou AUS..that one hurt...), so she needs to fly in by september next year to 'activate' her visa. I must admit though, the last time I have lived for a little bit longer in Australia was after I completed my studies in the year 2000. I moved to Australia for nearly a year but returned to Poland where my whole Family was. I was in Sydney by myself, the loneliness wore me out. Anyway, I really want to return to Australia as I think it will be a great opportunity for our kids to see a completely different world. My wife does not want to go. She solely agreed to go because she understands that it might be good for the kids to see a completely different place and also because I really want to go back. She would much more prefer to stay here where we are in Poland. We have good jobs - both of us. We have our whole family and friends here). I do understand the sacrifice that she is making and we are meeting half way. After we fly down and both of us give it our best, we wait until she gets citizenship and the day she does, if she tells me that she hasnt found herself there, that she would like to return to Poland - than we pack our bags and return. But sometimes I tend to wonder. We have really quite good jobs here. I hit 42 today so Im not in my 20's. We work from Monday to Friday, weekends we always have off where we spend it together either here at home or we drive somewhere for the weekend. So in general, we have a cosey life. Some friends in Australia have written me that things have changed dramatically in Australia in the last 15 yrs or so (from the time I remember it, when iot was fairly cheap and you could comfortably live of a single wage). Has it in fact changed that much? Has anybody else also received a "cold shower" upon their arrival to Oz, where before they thought it was the land of opportunity, and have found it to be the land of oportunity, but only for those earning big money? My wifes partner visa has to be activated by her entering Australia next year, so we will be flying down around March or so for around 3 weeks without the kids, which will give us the opportunity to see it from a "living there" perspective. We will drive around the schools seeing what options we would have for kids, what work options etc. She will also see Australia for the first time which will maybe make her more comfortable with the idea of us living there. We plan to finish up here with our businesses and jobs etc in around 2 yrs and fly to Austalia when our kids will be around 5 and 8. We were thinking of hitting Queensland with its all year round weather. But with the weather comes the humid climate and the creepy crawlies that will give the wife a heart attack Anyone been through such dilemas? What were the impressions after arrival and getting hit with the first bills? Is it really that bad or are some people over exegarating?

One general rule. If you have a trip which is uphill, difficult - than sooner or later you will be walking downhill where it will be a lot easier and the trip will be a lot more pleasant! ..that make any sense whatsoever??? in sghort. Hang in there. Sooner or later the situation will turn around

I seriously could not agree more. Life is what you make of it. Its your stage, and how you play and act on stage will decide on if its going to be one absolutely miserable act or a good one. I get the impression that by even thinking about Ausralia, you are close to depression. If that be the case, than why go? To try and save a family from falling apart? Fine. The idea is fantastic, and deserves the highest of respect. BUT, if you are going to fly down, and let your husband and Family know that it is the last place you want to be, and that you will be miserable every day, than what is the point? IMHO, either try and change your attitude in the sense that you fly back and give it your best, try everything from scratch and tell your husband that you want to try everything from the beginning, a new chapter for you both and that you will need his support - or dont go because it wont last anyway. Because honestly, no matter how much I loved my wife, if we flew down and she would be from day one reminding me with her attitude and behaviour of a person who is about to be going into crucification, than I wouldnt be able to handle it. Like mentioned above, in the main part you decide on how it will be. If you know before you even leave, that it will be miserable - than it most likely will be, but if you decide to give it a shot starting from scratch, and trying to look at all the positives of Australia as well, not just the negatives, than it might work. Good luck and keep us posted!

I seriously could not agree more. Life is what you make of it. Its your stage, and how you play and act on stage will decide on if its going to be one absolutely miserable act or a good one. I get the impression that by even thinking about Ausralia, you are close to depression. If that be the case, than why go? To try and save a family from falling apart? Fine. The idea is fantastic, and deserves the highest of respect. BUT, if you are going to fly down, and letting your husband and Family know that it is the last place you want to be, and that you will be miserable every day, than what is the point? IMHO, either try and cghange your attitude in the sense that you fly back and give it your best. Try everything from scratch and tell your husband that you want to try everything from the beginning, a new chapter for you both and that you will need his support. Because honestly, no matter how much I loved my wife, if we flew down and she would be from day one reminding me with her attitude and behaviour of a person who is going into crusification, than I wouldnt be able to handle it. Like mentioned above, in the main part you decide on how it will be. If you know before you even leave, that it will be miserable - than it most likely will be. Good luck and keep up posted!

I have been doing a fair bit of Reading and also have concluded that sunshine coast is much safer than gold Coast. Maybe try there? Its also cheaper when it comes to property.

It doesnt quite work that way when u have kids. If there were no children then im sure it would be no problem. But going with the idea that 'screw it. He wants to go then let him go, im staying!' Means that you are taking away from the children what is most important, and thats a home with mum and dad. I feel very sorry for you in this situation as its a very difficult one. You want to stay and your husband just as much as you want to stay, wants to return to oz. Maybe an agreement that you will go back to oz and try to move somewhere closer to the city? That way it would be easier for you to find friends and suitable work? Something like a start from new again..

We are aiming for queensland. Sunshine coast region precisely..

Hi all Just wanted to make sure. Ive been Reading a fair bit into the education system in oz, have also been writing with an Australian friend of mine who enrolled her Child to preschool 2 yrs in advance! With a normal school i understand that there is no problem with a waiting list as the school has an obligation to take a Child into school who is living in the area, but with kindie is it a different Ball game? Is it a case where i enroll the Child and he gets accepted straight into preschool or is there a chance that i would have to wait a year or two? Thanks in advance

Yes it has been an issue with the whole moving thing. But the other side of the coin is, that by not giving it a shot my wife would be forcing me to stay.. So we have an agreement. We leave to live there as a family and we give it a shot 100percent. When my wife receives her citizenship (about 2-3 yrs?) then we sit down and talk. If she feels that she wants to return than we pack our bags and come back to Poland. We are fine with such an agreement and personally i think its fair on both sides. Only question is when to go....

There are savings, but Im afraid they might dissapear quicker than expected. Lavers, thank you for your opinion..