sally04

it may not be the actual reason they emigrate i agree, but many people do say these things when they state their reasons for emigrating to Aus! Maybe its that saying ... a change is as good as a rest!"

So, have been overloading on Phil Spencers secret agent down under...! having returned to the UK last summer after 6 yrs living in Aus, I find it really fascinating that people are still banking on this more family time, more work life balance argument as to why the want to move to Aus. If you're the average person who has to work and pay the bills then you'll probably end up working longer hours, and have a longer commute if you live some distance from the city to get your dream house. We spent loads more time together in Aus, but that was mainly because we had no one else around! we did so many new and interesting things together, but i think that was as much due to the fact we had this different attitude/mind set we went out with. We both still worked and often longer hours. What are others views on making the move to Aus for more time together?

Try north Melbourne serviced apartments. We stayed here for a week before we left Melbourne to come home last year. Spent ages trying to find decent affordable place in CBD and found this to be best. There is nothing really cheap in Melbourne. tram stops outside the apartment block, can walk to Bourke Street in 5 mins. Airport side of city so taxis bit cheaper! The guy who managed the apartments was extremely helpful and friendly.

I have recently returned to the UK with my OH and daughter after 6 yrs in Aus. When i read your post i thought how much your thoughts reflected my own. Returning to the UK was something we had thought about for a while. We wanted our daughter to spend time with family, we missed family, friends, the familiarity of the place etc. ;the usual things people usually cite as reasons for returning. Plus our income / savings were going down as like you my OH had been out of work 6 + months, the yr before we left. Likewise, before we left Aus we did a 2 week road trip up the coast from melbourne to Sydney as this was something we wanted to do before we left. Since returning to the UK, i must say that we are so glad we took up citizenship in Aus before we left. This is because, although we are enjoying it back here in England, we are sure we will return to Aus in the future. Yes family support is great, but the UK climate is not that great (both weather wise and job wise), well thats what we have found anyway. We have been staying with in laws and i can say that its been appreciated, but at times difficult - especially when you've been an independent family for several yrs on the other side of the world. We have now secured jobs, but again that took some time. The cost of staying in Aus may seem high, but relocating back to the UK and having to re-establish yourselves again can be even greater (financial suicide may be an appropriate term here!). I have found that salaries are lower here (I know its all relative given the lower cost of living) but i think the work opportunities are still greater in Aus. Plus, i have found the weather really difficult to cope with as its now very cold and raining most days, which i am not used to and the lack of brightness and blue skies is noticeable. It has also made me aware just how many friends we have made in Aus (mostly Aussies) and the variety of things we did whilst out there. So, you may indeed have to return to the UK if you're finances are really compromised, but i just thought i'd give you my view of how it has been for us since returning 'home". :smile:

How about Margaret River region with the winery's, caves, beaches etc.. for a couple of days. Can recommend a great motel.

Theoretically you could find somewhere to rent in 4 weeks in the areas you are looking at. As you know it really depends if you get lucky with the right place thats available at the right price. We managed to find, secure and move to a new rental back in 2011 (in Highett, close to Mentone) with a toddler in tow and limited help within 3 weeks of starting to look. But that was really stressful and we knew the area well and had some help. Plus we had Aussie work and landlord references along with proof of Aussie income etc. I think its a good idea to let real estate agents know that you're looking and visit a few of the offices around the suburbs you want to move to. Can you extend the holiday let if you need to and would you get a discount if you say booked for 6 weeks rather than 4; Although you'll be heading into peak holiday season then i suppose.

We were paying about $107 per day for childcare at a Goodstart early learning centre in brighton. As we were permanent residents we were able to access the childcare rebate of 50% of our costs retrospectively every 3 months. Childcare places in Melbourne were difficult to get and there were long wait lists for places where we were living (bayside).

It's really tough. the homesickness is a normal feeling and thoughts about what is going on in the UK can send you a bit crazy when you're half way around the world! Personally i would urge people to get Citizenship if they can. I would like to think that people who migrate to Aus do so because they are drawn to the positives of the country. Having Citizenship enables you to return to Aus in future years if you want to. We feel Australian and recently voted and have friends in Aus who we keep in touch with, so in no way feel we have betrayed the country by leaving. We have recently returned to the UK after 6 yrs in Melbourne. We did it because we have a 3 yr old and we wanted her to have the benefits of an extended family. Living in Melbourne was amazing, but like many i had the urge to go home, to be somewhere familiar, to have family support, to go out with my friends etc.. Returning home has been great for our daughter without doubt. However, if it was just the two of us i think we would have come back to Melbourne by now. i would never have thought this at the time we moved back as my emotions and mind was set on coming back to England. It's really hard to explain to someone who is not in the situation just how these thoughts can consume you! It has taken for us to come back to England to reflect on how fantastic Melbourne is. Like i say with our daughter its been the right decision. But if we were a couple, both working, no ties etc.. then we would just keep coming back for holidays!

It's good to hear some people have managed to find work in the UK. We live in the Midlands (Nottingham and Leicestershire) and the job market is not too good in our experience. The local Council's are cutting their budgets, the NHS seem to be wanting more for their money (e.g advertising jobs in lower pay bands) and businesses are not recruiting or are recruiting for short term contracts. Of course this is just our experience. There seems to be a big North South divide, even for us here in the Midlands. My OH has been pursuing jobs in Milton Keynes, London and the SE where the job market seems to be more positive; plus the wages are significantly more (e.g more than double what you get up here). For us it has been financially crippling for us to come back to England. The job market were so much better for us in Melbourne. The government talk about the economy improving etc in the UK and i'm sure it is for some. But when i walk around Nottingham and leicester town centres, the effects of the economic recession are very evident. Our friends have had to reapply for their own jobs, take pay cuts and work longer hours to keep working. So i suppose it really depends on your job, if you have work contacts and where you live in the country. NB: Melton Mowbray is really lovely - has a great cinema!

We flew our 2, 4 year old ragdoll cats from Melbourne to Heathrow in July. We did a lot of research on flying them back and we settled on Jetpets and they really were great (not sure if they operate in Perth as well). The cats have to have their rabies jabs 21 days before travel, although no longer need a follow up blood test. We actually left Australia a few weeks before the cats and we put them into our preferred cattery that they have been to many times before. Then Jetpets picked them up from the cattery. This meant that we had a few days to settle into the UK before picking them up and time to get over our Jetlag. The cats were absolutely fine when we picked them up at the airport and have been fine since. Oh, one other thing -it wasn't cheap though! Cost more to fly them back then it did for us! We saved a bit of money by collecting them at Heathrow ourselves, rather than have them delivered to our home in the midlands.

You have to consider the weather conditions when planning a trip or day out. Extreme weather conditions and changes can catch people off guard. in the warmer months you look for a ( car) park in the shade, seek out shade when having a picnic or sitting out having coffee/ meals etc. the sun is too hot to sit in for too long or at all. The hottest part of the day ( in Melbourne ) can be around 4 pm.

http://www.tuq.org.au/ here is the link to the tenants union

I know that in Victoria there is a hardship provision which you can apply for if you are unable to pay outstanding rent, even if you owe several months rent. There is a tenants union here as well and I have recently got advice from them on getting our bond back. You are aware I expect that you only pay rent on a property until the day you leave regardless of whether you still owe money. This is then claimed retrospectively in the administration court. I feel for you as I'm sure you did not expect to end up in this situation. Its hard coming out here and then finding things don't go to plan. I would contact your local tenants union where you are. Good luck.

Such sad news, really sorry. Hope you find some comfort from people's wishes and comments on here.

Maybe the distance is a big factor too. Should be cheaper to ship to Perth than to Victoria or Queensland anyway.