Flake

Thank you, that's very good to know about the liquids, I will be so thankful to land after the flight, I will want to kiss the ground! Lol after that we will be staying put for a VERY long time! :wink:

Hello! Not in Sydney yet unfortunately, but will be next year! Moving to the Hills District, just wondered if you have settled in and enjoying living in the hills, did you find anyone for meet ups?

We are using a migration agent, we basically figured in the grand scheme of things, the extra cost of a migration agent is just a drop in the ocean as it were, and for the added peace of mind it's worth it. Ours actually worked for the department of immigration so knows exactly what they are looking for and what you don't need to submit. Everyone is different and it really depends on your budget, but I think if it can take away a little worry it's worth it.

Thank you so much, some really good tips, especially regarding the feeding. Got so many things to think about! Haven't had our baby yet but I'm already more nervous for the flight back to aus than anything else! Yikes thanks so much again :-)

Hahah that's so funny, it would be very handy to be on the same flight! Good luck with your traveling too!

Thank you so much, that is really so helpful, good to know airlines to avoid when traveling. I'm so nervous already! I will be very glad to have the flight over with! Baby is due this November so at this stage, have no idea what their temperament will be like, I am praying for a sleeper! Lol thanks again so much for your help and advice

Hi all, we are returning to Aus in the new year with a 6 month old, I wondered if anyone else has travelled to Aus with a 6 month old? Did you take a stop over? Do you have any advice? It's hard enough flying but I'm petrified with having the baby too!! Thanks for your advice :-)

I moved to Aus in 2009, I spent nearly 3 years longing to return to the UK where I felt I 'belonged' only to return and INSTANTLY realise we had made a terrible mistake!!!! Now I look back I honestly can't believe I didn't realise what I had in Aus! Great money, great standard of living, freedom! Luckily for me, my husband is an Aussie and so we have more freedom to return but it has cost us, not just in £/$ but emotionally speaking too. We have had to stay here for at least a couple of years so that it would affect job history etc. but now the return is in sight, and I know for sure we will never look back. Its been hard, as like you my family were thrilled to have me back and now have to deal with me leaving again but there is no question about it being the right thing to do. i know I will miss aspects of the UK upon returning to Aus it's natural, but he difference is I will appreciate all that Aus has to offer in my second chance. Never say never as one day you may wake up knowing exactly what you want.

That's perfect!!!! Thanks so much for all your advice, I am now starting to feel on top of it and SO EXCITED xxxx thanks thanks thanks!! Xxxxx

Thanks so much for the information, I'm only 3 months along just now and I think I would definitely wait until the baby is born to have the medical. Does that mean the visa processing time would be 8/9 months once the medical is done? I read that medical assessments are not always requested - is that incorrect? Thanks again, it's all very overwhelming! :-/

Hi everyone, i am british citizen, my husband is an Australian citizen. We are both currently living in the Uk but looking to return to Aus ASAP. I am pregnant but wondered if my visa application can still be submitted or wound I have to wait until the baby is born? I also wondered if my husband can still be my sponsor if he is currently living with me in the UK? Any help/advice would be amazing. Thank you!!! X

hi Cal, thanks so much for your post. I should have said when buying a home.. Thanks so much for your information. It's such a minefield when it comes to the financials! Do you know if Australian mortgages allow 'interest only' payments once you have a mortgage? The finances seem ok, until you have children then it's a wonder how it is possible on one wage.

Hi All, i am just calculating general living costs for housing in Sydney. (Hills District) and I wondered if anyone can tell me about whether Sydney has council tax and where I can find the water rates? I have taken into consideration the following Mortgage Electricity & gas Water - where can I find the rates? Council tax TV Telephone Internet is anything in addition to this that I haven't thought of? Thanks so much for your help!

Hi all, my husband is Australian (citizen) and I'm a British citizen, we are looking at moving back to Australia ( Sydney NSW) at some point for which I will be on the Partner visa. i wonder if we have kids, will we have to pay fees for the kids to attend state/ public school? Also with nursery costs, what is the average spend? Any info would be fab! Thank you

Do you have any relatives in Aus at all?

Clearly your grasp of economics does not relate to today's global position. Note that I have not described the UK as a third world country, I have merely stated what is so obvious to most people! The UK is no longer in the position is used to be. That's the fact, up to you to look up the reference. As for the comment on minimum wage earners, It is bigoted to suggest that minimum wage earners are 'irrelevant' when that was the very point of discussion in the first place! As if the people who find Property expensive don't count because they are on minimum wage. Absolutely ridiculous that they should be taken out of the equation due to a sweeping generalization that ' they as whole don't buy property' . Also note, that from my previous posts, I have also referenced the fact that these properties are likely to be bought in less desirable areas but people still have the option to get onto the property ladder. the reality is you CAN buy property in both countries, based on the very minimum you can earn, so when people carry on moaning about the prices, it goes back to the same old thing, you only get in life you you are prepared to work for. Start somewhere and work your way up, quit moaning about what you can't have and do some graft! Simple.

You need to research this statement before making a judgment. It is a matter of fact, not opinion. Maybe you should do some reading on the status of global affluence, and perhaps you will gather an understanding of my previous statement. As for your comment on minimum wage people being irrelevent as on the whole they do not buy houses, that's probably the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard! Not only completely bigoted but also out of touch! The original point was about making comparisons of affordability based on minimum wage between the UK and Australia. Again, Australia is no less affordable than the UK based on people earning the minimum wage of each country. It's simple Mathematics.

Of course it must be, Of course it's not inferiority complex, of course everything you say must be true and correct.... anyone who is truly worthy of their apparent capabilities, does not feel the need to say it. *Continue posting shite if you wish, I think most people can see it for what it is.*

You need to consider the difference in population on top of that. So yes I do consider it a major difference

touched a nerve did we? I like how you cut and paste something from the web and think you are an expert. Big tip, make sure you understand the theory before you cut and paste next time. Fool

the UK is no longer affluent. Opportunities as in Jobs, which in turn has direct correlation to affordability of housing.

you need to brush up on your economics BigD

I'm basing it on minimum wage. And if you compare that to the UK minimum wage against the cost of property, you will suddenly see that Australia is no more less affordable than the UK. The mistake everyone makes is converting the currency based on today's exchange rate, lets not forget that once, there were nearly $3 to the pound. Meaning that our so called affordable housing in the UK of; for example £250k as mentioned above, would be the equivalent of nearly $750k in Australian Dollar. And let's not forget to mention that it has been literally years since the UK national minimum wage has matched the rise of inflation. Meaning people everyday are living in deficit. Australia is a very affluent country with more opportunity than the UK can currently speak of. Supply and demand = increase of prices. ​

Yes property prices are hideous that's for sure, however the wages are very high too. It's much of a muchness really. There are people in London who never afford a £250k property, much the same as there are people in Sydney who could never afford a $600K property either. Generally the cost of housing is all relative to the demand, and people only want to live in desirable areas. For example, You can buy a property in Blacktown in Sydney for $330k, very commutable distance to the city for work and central access to various other business districts, but who wants to live there?... The repayments would be less than renting, even on a 100% mortgage, but somehow it still doesn't make it desirable. There are options for those that live in Sydney to get onto the property ladder much like there is in London too, You just have to be willing to start somewhere and work your way up to what you really want, hence the term 'Property Ladder'. ​