beanbear

Let me respond to your points: Firstly, as I said in the post only I am working at the moment (OH is completing a double masters course at uni) and I have had my hours cut this year so am doing two jobs, which don't equal what I was earning full-time.) He will be finishing in July and looking for a job and it so happens that in his field, there are a) less jobs in Adelaide as it's a very small 'city' and b) less jobs in his field generally as Tony A has slashed the budget for everything environmental. Therefore we are at a natural cross roads anyway and it is in many ways a good time to move back. I disagree about the education here. I have taught in both and find the standards of the UK to be higher academically. We thought the top 2 years of primary here was particularly bad. My kids have been consulted extensively as this is the main source of guilt for people in our situation. Despite having friends here and being generally happy, they are both looking forward to the challenges and differences of life back in Europe. This is a real bonus for us. They both miss family - we have been lucky with visitors, but it is not the same as having grandparents and cousins you can see regularly and have a proper relationship with. We may well regret aspects of the move. As others have said, you never quite feel the same about any one place when you have split loyalties. However, on balance when I look back at spending my own teens in another country, all I have are good memories of that time. I then lived many subsequent happy years in the UK. I think I am a wanderlust person who just likes new adventures every few years!

Thanks for taking the time to be so reassuring. I know there are lots of you going through similar angst and I appreciate the wise words. I thought that was an interesting perspective about which country you'd have your family and friends with you in. That's actually a hard one. There is lots to love about Australia and its people and we have had a great time here. For us the pull is of several things: family and friends and being able to go to their parties and weddings and summer get togethers; history and culture (I'm definitely not discounting the Aboriginal history of Australia but the history and culture in Europe is a bit more immediately accessible,); things to do - OH and I would be happy with the beach and wineries LOL but our 2 teenagers do struggle at times and we certainly struggle for family days out as each city is soooo far from the next one and Adelaide is pretty quiet most of the year when you're a Londoner; proximity to other cultures (we have only holidayed in Oz apart from one trip back to Europe, which we're still paying off! When it comes down to it I think we'd stay if we had enough money to go back to Europe every year, but we don't and we're too cut off here. I also really miss lots of silly British things (shallow stuff like shops and supermarkets) but radio, TV and newspapers and my husband misses football and the chance to share that with his kids. The school thing is a worry. My two will both be in secondary and we know which one we want, but currently it is oversubscribed. Having said that as a teacher I know a few tricks and we are moving to an area where we have family, so hopefully we'll sort out this hiccup. Hope you're right about the job market. I wonder whether it will be possible to be seriously considered for jobs (and possibly interviewed) from here. Does anyone have experience of this? Thanks again to all who replied, it made my day.

We are moving to the UK in July after six and a half years in Oz. We have achieved a lot in that time and have citizenship, a nice home etc and 2 kids in a good state school. However due to family illness (fortunately looking good in treatment, but a real wake up call nonetheless), and a sense of belonging more to England we are returning. Perhaps it's the long build up that makes us so anxious, perhaps it's the fear of uprooting our family etc but wondering whether it's madness?! to paint a slightly fuller picture my OH is just finishing a masters and is currently not working and I have had my hours cut, so things are tight right now, but that is hopefully only temporary. We do not have jobs to go back to - OH about to start applying, but must go back before next school year starts in England as the kids are at a crucial stage, where if the older one doesn't clock up 3 years in Uk system we'd have to pay international fees for uni there. aahhh we are spending every weekend working on the house to get all the jobs done before selling and it is just hard. thanks for listening, comments, advice welcomed.

They have very cheap one way fares and am just wondering what they're like?

We are going back in a few months and it is heartening to hear you got work quickly. Can I ask what field you are in?

When my husband and I made the move six years ago, his first job was on aa similar salary to the one the OP is proposing. We were on a 495, which also meant no government help. Until I had all my teaching qualifications assessed and could work, it was a very hand to mouth existence (we have 2 kids) and this was very stressful. His wage did go up in time and then I worked more and more and slowly we did get there. However, I think you shouldn't underestimate how very expensive Australia is to live in. As a teacher you are on roughly double what you are paid in the UK but yet it doesn't go very far if you have rent or an average mortgage. Silly things you wouldn't necessarily factor in really eat into your weekly wage and 3 kids cost a fair bit to maintain. You have things like school fees (even for state school) and other unforeseen amounts to constantly shell out. It is worth trying something out rather than regretting it forever - I would definitely still say that where there is a will there is a way. Still be prepared for every negative so you can support each other. Perhaps also ensure that in your contract it covers you for all relocation costs if the job comes to an end prematurely.

That's the biggest problem though, the fact that we won't know what schools to approach until my OH gets a job. Our biggest concern is that the kids get into a good school and can continue without too horrendous a disruption. I guess we will just have to take it as it comes.

Thanks so much for posting that. I think we will get some people in to quote. It's such a difficult decision and I think we will probably take some bits and not others, but only if it's cost effective. I'm not too worried about having to start again furniture wise, I feel like we have more important things to worry about in the great scheme of things.

Thanks for the responses so far. It's so difficult to decide isn't it. Have just been having a look at white good on a website in the UK and they are pretty cheap, so maybe a half container is the way to go. I think perhaps we'll need to get someone to come out and quote. If the difference between a half container and a whole one isn't that big though, it might be worth getting a whole one. Bottler1942 what kind of furniture did you have in your part container?

Hi, We are moving back to the UK next year. When we came out we just brought out some boxes of personal effects and kitchen things etc but no furniture, so we have no experience with containers. Someone said they had taken stuff back in a 20 foot container and I am wondering what you would get in that? We have two sofas that are only about six months old, plus mattresses (we're not too bothered about the bed frames) and bikes etc, plus of course all the other stuff like clothes and belongings. We could live without most of our furniture, but we are trying to work out how cost effective it is to write off and start again if necessary. How long does stuff take to go back to the UK on average? Thanks in advance.

Thanks for the replies so far. The problem will be that we won't be able to approach a school until quite far into the process as we won't know where we're moving until OH gets a job. Am hoping to also hear from people whose kids have moved from the Aussie education system into GCSEs, so I can judge what is and isn't possible. My daughter is feeling quite happy today as one of her two best friend's parents, who are Aussies, are talking about trying out the UK for a while as they fancy a change!! What a turn up.

Hi, Well after some sleepless nights and much toing and froing, we have decided (my husband and I) that we will relocate to the UK when he has finished his masters next July. I think the kids will be fine with this and we will endeavour to get them into a really good school, so they can finish their education. My daughter is fourteen and will be fifteen by next July, so this would put her in the second year of GCSEs, without having done anything related! My son will be fine as he would start in year 9 and be a year ahead of choices. Whilst my daughter is a bright girl, who is in a SHIP program at her current school, I just wonder how hard it will be for her. Both kids (having subtlely sounded them out!) seem happy with the idea of a move to the UK and I think that whilst they have enjoyed their time in Australia in every respect, they still miss our large extended family with cousins etc and in particular their grandparents. Any advice very gratefully received.

I totally understand what you mean. We are going to be going back for similar reasons. I think you have to do things, so you can live with no regrets, but by the same token, if it's not working, you have to look for a way to get what you need. The frustrating bit is trying to make it all work financially. I hope that a) house prices here don't drop further and b) the pound doesn't increase much against the dollar. Good luck

It can be hard finding a position, certainly in the public sector, where there are ways that jobs are allocated that can be tricky. There is also the issue of having to complete the mandatory notification and first aid course before you are registered to teach, which would potentially make it difficult to apply for jobs from abroad. I work in the private sector and had to do a number of contracts with my school (including supply days and part-time) in order to get a permanent post. Teachers with experience should have this recognised when entering the pay scale here and I would imagine you would be on step 10, which would be a salary of around $80-85,000 depending on your school (all private schools negotiate pay separately.) I think your husband would find management a good deal less stressful here. The hours and school PR are plentiful but the accountability and paperwork, assessments, analysis etc are far less. We are in Adelaide so I am talking about here and not else where. We have been here nearly six years and although lots of elements have been fun and we have certainly had some good experiences, we are now looking at going back next year, as the pull of family and friends has got stronger over the years and I also yearn for the culture and history I grew up with and that feels familiar.

Yes we do have citizenship, so that at least gives the kids the freedom to decide later on if they want to come back.I do hear what you're saying with the just saying what we want to hear, and the wages news means we will be less well off financially. Still much to decide!

That sounds promising with the lack of coursework. She is working a year ahead of her correct year in many subjects so I'm sure she could slot in with a bit of work. Starlight is there anything needed when you switch from children to adults? How have people found the job market recently in the UK? Also did people who've moved back find enough for teenagers to do?

Hi, We are a family of four who have lived in Adelaide for five and a half years and are now considering a move back to the UK next year. My husband is completing a masters, which will finish next July and the plan would be that he then look for a job. It is a daunting prospect to say the least. The wages seem not to support the cost of travel and mortgage we would need - our house in Oz wouldn't give us much equity, so we would be going back down the ladder in terms of borrowing. I am a teacher, but would like to do something related, but not in the classroom. It is a very draining profession in the UK and has got considerable more so, since we left. We have 2 children, the elder of whom would go back and be in the middle of GCSEs, which she'd not have done any of the course work for. Is this all sounding like a crazy proposition?! The problem is we are at the stage where we are questioning the roots we want to put down and feel that we don't want to do it here in Adelaide. Also my husband's father is undergoing treatment for cancer and the future health of my parents are all issues (although they are fine currently). The final consideration is that if we didn't go back next year we wouldn't be able to get the elder child into Uni in the UK due to not having been resident for 3 years prior. What should we do? There are so many things, people that we miss, but is it a stupid thing to do? How easy or hard have others in a similar position found it? Would there be well paid jobs (at least for him?), I could start from a lower point than my teaching salary. I worry that the job market here is also going to be hit, so there is just no easy answer. I would be very grateful for any responses please.

I wonder if anyone can advise. My MIL is coming out at the end of August to do a reccie. Basically her situation is that she has one son here (my husband) and one son living in Spain. She was widowed shortly after we left the UK, so is really on her own. She now wants to look into coming here. Previously I told her about the aged parent visa and she seemed keen. With the new info is this now an impossible risk? Would it be worth trying with a view to switching to a cpv if things became tricky? Could she still have a bridging visa and live here whilst she was on the waiting list for the 103? I read something on this thread about only being able to buy a new house if you are on a temp/bridging visa. Is this the case/ What exactly are the restrictions? So many questions I know, but we really want to help her and provide her with the best options for making this all a reality. Finally just remembered if she were to apply for an onshore cpv would she be able to stay here until it were granted and if so on what visa and under what conditions? Many thanks in anticipation. :notworthy: