nelly6010

Have you already applied for a visa (I see you've been a member since 2009) or is it something you have started to think about seriously now you are becoming parents? Is Australia somewhere you are both keen on? Have you and your wife actually visited Australia and got a real feel for how things are here, or are your views based on what your Aussie and Kiwi colleagues have said? A move to Australia may well be the best thing you ever do. We made the move in 2005 and my husband and sons are all happy (me probably a bit less so). But I think it is very important you go for the right reasons and research whether the things you dislike about the UK will really be resolved by a move down under. The main reasons for us moving overseas were my husband's health, to escape from commuting up to four hours a day and a desire for a fresh start somewhere (though some of the reasons in your list would also have appeared in my husband's list had he drawn one up). Moving did solve those problems (though the commuting could probably have been solved by changing jobs or moving house!) but for me created new ones including homesickness and, because i had to work away from home for long periods of time, missing my sons as well. To what extent do you experience the negatives in your list in your daily life? Is something such as militant Islam something you encounter on the streets where you live (and I know it can be a problem in some areas) or is it something you read about in the Press? Could your concerns about schooling, overcrowding etc be addressed by moving elsewhere within the UK? My personal experience is that things such as healthcare and schooling are no better or worse in Australia than in the UK. Just as in the UK, the standard of schooling can depend on where you live, catchment areas, parental involvement, the child themselves etc. What are your hobbies and interests - will you still be able to pursue them in Australia? If you love the outdoor/beach/sporting lifestyle, than you will probably love it here. If your interests are history and architecture you might mind find it a bit limited (certainly in WA!) though of course you can still pursue such interests here. Are you or your wife close to family? How would you feel about bringing up a child away from any grandparents etc? Would the benefits of Oz outweigh the absence of extended family in your child's life? Good luck in reaching your decision (and with the new baby)!

this appears to cover it: Temporary Business (Long Stay) - Standard Business Sponsorship (Subclass 457) It states: Work and study Any secondary applicants granted this visa are given full work and study rights.

Hi Michelle, You mention no council tax - is this because you are renting? I'm in Perth and rented for four years and didn't pay rates. However, I received a big shock at the local rates ($2300) when we finally bought a house...though of course it is no worse than council tax we were paying in the UK. I guess I just overlooked these costs after not paying them for so long. Nelly

Sorry, I am probably being a bit dense, but I cannot see a price??

You don't even have to go East - Ningaloo is far less touristy and absolutely stunning