Phoenix16

And for those who want to leave OZ ( and are vitriolic about it) my enduring memory is the very sad family in QLD (Poms in Oz Tv program), who turned up for their citizenship ceremony in really sad shell suits (says it all really), chewing gum and just basically ignorant and disrespectful, who openly said were off back to the Uk, you can't get decent sausages and why would you want to go to the beach, you just get sand in your car and crack, but we're leaving options open with citizenship, they basically left days after the ceremony, it was hilarious to watch, cringed so many times and shameful at the end.

Basically the requirement is that you live in OZ and hopefully during that time integrate into Oz society, I do believe #stevej summed it all up pretty clearly.

VS I'm feeling rather jealous! Whilst I love Oz our last Uk trip was to Windsor, a first for me, we camped by the Thames for New Years (very brave I know ha ha!) and spend New Year's Eve in Windsor and it was just stunning, we didn't know at that time that OZ was on the horizon but 3 months later we were here so those memories are precious, very special actually xx

Completely agree on both counts!! Have to say though if you're passing the pink lake then you have to go past the turn off for Hutt River Province, now that has to be a strange place to visit! Haven't been yet but it's on my list for my next trip to Kalbarrri. They applied to secede from the OZ government, the OZ government thought they were a joke, didn't take them seriously, laughed it off and missed all pertinent deadlines resulting in a successful secession and Hutt River Province is now a principality!! You can get your passport stamped or you can even apply for citizenship and get a Hutt River passport,p which is actually recognised in a few countries! You do have to sign an undertaking thought that you cannot emigrate there and settle ha ha!! Apparently if you visit you get to meet King Leonard and Queen Shirley and by all accounts they are lovely. We're off to Kalbarri next summer and its number 1 on my list to do xxx

I just love the picture of the ocean pool, Wish we had them here in WA! What's that in the background though, a surfer or a shark fin ha ha!! ...you look like you're having the best time, so pleased for you xxxxx

Sounds like a lovely welcome back to blighty, sending my best wishes to you xx

was an anecdotal comment to supplement my overall thoughts on the current state of the WA economy. Nevertheless and regardless of the contracts FIFO workers sign, pretty ruthless, but if you can stomach that kind of treatment towards employees then good luck to you. And PS without a shadow of a doubt the worst is yet to come...

I've read the first few pages and skipped to the end.. I personally feel WA is on the edge of a big recession and with that a property bubble burst. My hubby's industry is doing well now but there is concern for the forthcoming years and lack of projects on the horizon, one friend of mine went on holiday recently and her FIfO husband got a text (whilst on holiday with his family) to say don't bother to return, you're redundant. My daughter goes to a private school, the number of family's removing their children because of financial difficulties is extraordinary, you can just feel the decline to be honest.....

Agree with everyone! No medical records needed, I was on life long medication when I left Uk (warfarin), my GP here resumed INR's seamlessly without medical records required, after a length of time he actually questioned the 'life long' decision, referred me to a fantastic haematologist and now I no longer have to take Warfarin, very comfortable with the decision too! However, Cal is spot on, if you have kids bring your red books as immunisation records are essential here and required for day care and school entry xxx

I just love your comment 'when you've lived in 2 countries you miss the one you're not in...', you could not have said it better and so much lovlier than 'bashing the country you're not in...' (All too common unfortunately), I wish you the absolute best on your new adventures, please do keep in touch with us on PIO and tell us all about your journey xxxx

I suspect I will feel the same eventually! I always found fish and chips to be an anti-climax, we really wanted them that night but afterwards we felt disappointed! and that started in the UK, its just a fish and chip thing for us, they never live up to the mouth watering thought of them ha ha!!!

im liking this! I thought we were about to relocate to Sydney but now Brisbane has cropped up unexpectedly! I did say to hubby, first thing you do is take me to that english chippy near the gold coast!! Im fully aussie and acclimatized but a bit of nostalgia never hurt anyone!!

Fair play to you! I soppose if you just know straight away there is simply no point in prolonging the pain. I would be interested to hear what it was that just made you realise it was wrong, you say you didn't take emigration lightly and I'm sure you didn't so is there anything you think you could have done before the move that would have indicated it wasn't right for you? There are so many people who feel the way to do and go back, some would argue you haven't given it a real shot, but for me personally if you realised so quickly then nothing was going to change that! An expensive learning curvebut at least when you return you won't have to wonder 'what if...' !!

Some great replies and I appreciate them all, thank you especially @northshorepom for taking time to write such a detailed and informative reply. I suspect Sydney will be a shock after 6 years in Perth, I did think Perth was expensive but we will no doubt reflect back on the 'good old days' of Perth where housing was 'cheap' and commutes were short ha ha! It's some way off though and you have given me lots of information to wile away many hours researching, many thanks everyone xxx PS federation houses, I just love them so that's been added to the list, well 'wish' list I now realise!!

All Im gonna say is you can defintely move in!! and... with a name like Fish, hubbys gonna love you, you might finally teach him how to actually catch one!!!

Aww Fifi, thank you for the lovely words! Its really early doors, negotiating me being able to finish my degree here in WA and him 'commuting'! We will know more in next few weeks but I know Hubby and when hes got his mind set its gonna happen so im just exploring the relocation side as Sydney seems (and obviously is!) so much bigger that Perth! It really does feel like emigrating all over again and to be honest the first time was so exciting and amazing im looking forward to the adventure of it!!!

Yeah I agree... my observations of parents here is that they do so much stuff with their kids, bike rides, beaches, picnics, everything actually seems to revolve around kids at weekends and its lovely actually xxx

Thank you for the information! Yeah, I suspected this, we do have a very healthy budget, however, we are not into the 'swanky, keeping up with the Jones Areas', seen all that in Perth (all be it on a much smaller scale!), just want a nice area, a nice house and access to CBD via train and access to a good school where play dates and friendships are viable!

Well it was actually just being nice but unfortunately I think im going to have to leave Perth!! As much as I love it here im excited about the next adventure, we are camping and fishing freaks and the thought of the 'other side' of OZ to explore is just too tempting for hubby!!

Gentlemen! my sincerest apologies! I have lots to learn and appreciate all of your help! xx

At the age your children are I can't see any adverse issues, however, don't wear your rose tinted glasses! you will no doubt be welcomed back with much fuss and it will be lovely, however, real life will then kick in and everyone will resume theirs, perhaps you will see parents aren't really that different. I personally have noticed the inclination to have 3/4 children here in OZ (WA) and i have to say by my observations, much loved and treasured by their parents. And in terms of schooling, well I totally disagree with comments, my daughter is supposed to do 20 minutes homework and 15 minutes reading, in reality, its more like an hour plus the reading, every night, with maths and spelling tests on Fridays based totally on the homework, she is year 3, and she is thriving, I don't believe she would be behind if we returned to the UK.

So, having settled very well in Australia, in Perth, it seems we may potentially be relocating to the East coast! it really does feel like emigrating all over again, im very excited but daunted about the basic domestics! I know Perth inside out but I know Sydney is a whole new world! everyone says Northern Beaches is a must....ive never actually been to Sydney so its pie in the sky for me. Here is the list of essentials, and hopefully you sydneysiders can assist me with locations!! Private all girls school (daughter goes to a fab all girls school here and is thriving...) Don't want to have to do a 30 minute drive to school and back (as I do here), I want her to have access to friends out of school Hubby needs a 20 (30 mins max) train drive into CBD I want a house with a POOL! its essential! Not too worried about being close to beach, we can see the beach now and we NEVER go there Thats it really!! So essentially, close to CBD, a pool, great school for daughter and Im happy!! I would welcome some great suburb suggestions!! (Oh and one last thing, I am obsessed with the east coast swimming pools carved in the rocks at the beach, would be lovely to have one of them to go to every day!)

I will say there has been a time and a place for a 457, we were very fortunate, but then we didn't ever really think about emigrating, simply just head hunted for a job that was needed, as it turned out we fell in love with OZ, we got PR within the year of arriving thanks to the wonderful support of the company and now we are citizens, it's a great success story and I would never undermine 457's. However, things are very different now and genuine 457's are rare, the opportunities of a few years ago are gone and 457 rules and requirements have definitely changed. I would only ever advocate this route if your skills are exceptionally rare and there is a real certainty of ongoing requirement of your skills. We were totally niave, we just packed up the house and hopped on a plane, not sure we knew if we were emigrating or not to be honest, but now it is very different. I have Aussie friends who've done degrees and masters and PHD's and for them the job market is very tough, and they live here and have Aussie experience, I would say even if the job is on the SOL or CSOl do your due diligence, it's expensive here and very frightening if you are out of funds and out of work xxxx

I have to say you've had an awesome response from the NHS and it's really lovely to hear that. I'm disappointed reading replies commenting about how much it would have cost them if they lived in Australia....I actually respect the Australian system and appreciate that whilst I might have to pay a fee to see my GP, I can actually log on to their website at 7am and book myself an appointment to see my GP later that morning, I appreciate the fact that if I need a scan I can usually get it done within a day or so, yes I pay a contribution and I get a contribution back from Medicare. I believe the way forward for the NHS is a similar system whereby the public make a contribution towards their own healthcare, it's become quite normal for me as a POM to now expect to pay a contribution towards my consultations, treatment and drugs, it actually makes sense.

Great time to leave, we're about to start with a heatwave!!! Best of luck with your ongoing travels, I've been keeping in touch with your thread and really enjoyed your posts!! PS did you get your driving licence? I'm a student and am going to need someone to do school drop offs and pick ups in a few months time, car, food and accommodation plus pocket money in return, plus loads of free time, weekends and evenings guaranteed xxx