French family moving to Oz - August 2012

[Calista]

Hello to all,

We are a French family of 4 (including son of 3 1/5 years and daughter of 16 months).
After almost 7 years of procedures..... we finally got our permanent resident visa (subclass 176).
Departure is planned in August 2012. We plan to go to Sydney, unless an opportunity for a job occurs somewhere else in Australia....

I found the website through search engines and although it seems more dedicates to UK people doing the move..... I hope you'll accept us.

Now that the big moves finally becomes real..... many questions on going!
So thanks for the useful informations on the website!

[frostie]

Hi Calista, Welcome to the site I hope you find lots of information. I am new to the site too. I saw your post on my thread and thought id reply on yours !
The site has a wealth of information and cant really see why it would make any difference you being French
Noticing you have young children the car seat thread would be worth looking at (little things like that which i didnt even think about !)
I have been talking to a few people on the site who have helped me out with any information that i needed.
After 7 years planning you must be very exited to at last be planning the major move for 2012!!
I am so exited about going!! Have you decided on any areas to live in yet??
Where abouts in France are you from?
Keep in touch
Mandy & Family x

[Xtonite]

Bonjour Calista!

Make yourself at home, everyone is welcome here.

I too am curious as to whereabouts in France you are from, we have spent many fantastic holidays all around there. I badly miss those wonderful pattiseries and the wonderful wine (all Aussie wines aren't too bad either! )

Best wishes,
Geoff

[scottishstacey]

Bonjour! welcome to PIO

[MARYROSE02]

Alliance Francaise de Sydney[IMG]linkscanner://safe.gif/[/IMG]




www.afsydney.com.au/

There's always been a strong French presence in Sydney so I think you should be OK here! I met a French family just the other day down at the beach. They had arrived recently and love it here.

New Caledonia is just a couple of hours away by plane if you feel really homesick!

This link below is about a Frenchman from Rheims who came out here over a hundred years ago.

PDF]


Diary of a New Chum

setis.library.usyd.edu.au/ozlit/pdf/wendiar.pdfSimilar

[littlesarah]

Bienvenue a PiO!

Personally, I think the more nationalities who use this site the better!

I hope your moves goes well.

Bonne chance!

Sarah

[Calista]

Thanks for your messages and the nice welcome!

Geoff: we are living in Paris at the moment (well just in the suburbs: Saint-Cloud for those who know the place)
Marie Rose: thanks for the diary and the link to the alliance française
Mandy: at the moment the plan is to go to Sydney. We've been to Australia a couple of times already (included a three months vacations where we drove around the place.... 20 000 km) and we would love to settle in Sydney. Obviously we are ready to settle anywhere in Australia if we can get a job. I like Kalgoorlie but my husband says I'm mad!
I love Manly.... but that will be above budget + we heard that it's not the best place for schools and we intend to put the children in Australian public school.
So, at the moment I'm looking into Killarney heights or French forests? But I've never een there...
Not too sure... will depend on accomodation vs budget....
If you have any advice regarding nice places to leave with children in Sydney (ideally we would like a house/flat with 3 bedrooms and not too far from public transport... budget is 600 AUD per week). Criterias are.... close to public transports, not too far away from either the beach or the bay, shops and schools close by....
I know that Sydney is expensive so.... I'm afraid we will have to go away from the city....

I'll go and look into the car seat thread.

My main worry is to be able to find a job when we get there. At least for my husband first and hopefully for me as well. But as I'm HR manager, I'm not sure how easy/difficult it will be. I'm trying to find if there is the equivalent th the CIPD qualification in the UK... If anyone has information, that would be great....
For those of you who did the move: how did you do regarding the job issue? Were some of you able to find positions prior to arriving in Australia?

Where are you based at the moment: Sarah, Geoff, Marie-Rose, Mandy?

Thanks again for your answers and speak to you soon with questions...

[Xtonite]

Hi Calista,

In very general terms the economy in Australia seems pretty good, I wouldn't have thought as an HR manager you would have too much trouble finding something - although I'm no expert in that field. What does your husband do? Sydney should be pretty good in the job market although we found it an expensive place to live (according to the internet).

That's why we moved close to Melbourne, still plenty of jobs but cheaper places to live!

Sorry I can't help with your Sydney related questions (but I'm sure by the time you read this there will be plenty of answers below!).

Good luck!
Geoff

[MARYROSE02]

I did a few searches on www.domain.com.au and if you add $100 to your budget you might get a place in the Frenchs Forest area & surrounding suburbs. It's the 3rd bedroom that makes it more difficult too. Possibly you might find a two bed plus sunroom/study which would double as a 3rd bedroom. You will be dependent on bus only in these suburbs as there's no rail line

I found a few 3 bed places in the Maroubra area in the Eastern Subs which is reasonably close to the beach and city. This is bus only too.

Maybe Rockdale behind Brighton Le Sands which is not too far from Botany Bay for the beaches there.

You might find some places in and around Wollongong within your budget which are close to the beach and within commuting distance to Sydney.

I live in Surry Hills which is just south/south east of the CBD - an 'inner city' suburb which I like but some people do not care for. I went for a walk this morning, Cleveland St, Regent St, George St, Eddy Ave, Central Station, Elizabeth St, saw a few of the commuter buses coming in from the far suburbs. Nice areas but I hate commuting.

PS I did a search in Wollongong which is 90 mins by train to Sydney and there seemed to be plenty of places in your budget. It's OK there too, decent sized city with university, hospital, great beaches, shopping etc - you may even get jobs there.

[CrimsonPetal]

Hi Calista and welcome. I'm very new here myself but wanted to say hello. =]

Paris is such a wonderful place, my parents are currently bugging me to move to France (closer to England so they can visit, they know I won't go back to the UK!). Can I ask what attracts you to Australia? I love Oz don't get me wrong but I dream of Paris sometimes. =]

Have a great day!