young2682

Hi, sorry for late reply! Cost of schools (non private) are just book fees so usually between $150 and $200 per child per year depending on the school. Childcare - Daycare (nursery) is between $70 and $90 per child per day which is pretty good, even better if you are permanent residents as you can claim back 50% of that if you work. Depending on which area you move to, you can email or call the local council offices and they can give you an idea of cost too. Good luck :-)

Hi, My hubby works for Capital Smart in Melbourne but they have a site in perth, the company are always looking for painters :-) Good luck :-)

Hi all, My hubby has to do a skills test soon for our permanent residency, he was brought over as a painter but actually has ended up working as an estimator with the same company since the beginning, seeing an estimating isnt on the skilled shortage list he has to be put through as a painter. He hasnt touched a spray gun in almost 2 years and is a little anxious about doing the skills assessment.... Has anyone done this that can give us an idea of whats involved?? :eek: Thanks in advance :-)

Ha ha yes I know you can buy English stuff here but I am lucky to have a mother in law that sends me an assortment of bisto's, I am spoilt for choice! ;-)

Hi all, Sorry it has taken me so long to get around to this post, life gets in the way sometimes! Well where do I even start, we have been reflecting on our journey over the past year and wow what an adventure! One year ago, we left England to embark on the biggest adventure of our lives, the goodbyes were sad but ahead we had a sense of excitement and anticipation. I remember when we landed in Melbourne on the 5th September 2011 thinking - wow, we are really here! For the first 5 weeks we stayed in serviced apartments provided by my husbands company, it was right by the beach so we enjoyed that novelty! We then moved to a suburb near my husbands work called Berwick, we love it here, it is very family focused, only 40 mins from the CBD, 25 mins to the beach and 20 mins to the mountains, lots of bars, cafes, restaurants, parklands etc :-) The first few weeks were (we can look back and laugh) somewhat challenging, we managed to meet a few people and their generosity will never be forgotten, our first night in new rental we ate our first meal off a cardboard box and watched a tv the size of a laptop (with only 3 channels) that we borrowed from friends ha ha, but lets not be ungrateful, we were essentially starting again! The children have been our saving grace, whenever we felt down or like things werent going our way, we would look at them and see happy faces, enjoying playing in the fresh aussie air and things felt, I dont know, right I guess. The last year has been totally amazing, we have seen and done more things than in our entire lives in the UK, I guess looking back we didnt make as much effort so maybe that's our bad but a fresh start was what we needed! The best part of all is most of the things are readily available to us, within 30-45 min drive - we have Australian beauty on our doorstep, how lucky are we! Australia has more than exceeded my expectations, it is clean, vibrant, beautiful, the food is fresh and in abundance, the people are (mostly) friendly and cannot do enough for you! In fact I sometimes dread going some shops when I am in a hurry because they make such a fuss of you and conversations are plentiful! For those of you that like to complain about how 'expensive' Australia is, please remember these things - The roads are big, spacious and clean - yes the car tax is expensive but then look around you! You get tax back every year you work, that for us is a new novelty and what a bonus! You get super annuation (pension) if you are employed, between myself and my husband we get 19% pension paid by our companies. Food is more expensive yes, but it is fresher and lasts longer so you throw a lot less away, so is it more expensive in the long run? Outdoor life - pack a picnic, fill up your petrol tank and you have a cheap day out, anywhere you fancy, and unless you go to the city or somewhere very touristy, parking is FREE! All parks whether they be in the city, mountains or coast, there are bbqs everywhere, they are free and readily available to use, I love this! in the summer we drive to the beach pack a few sausages and rolls, let the kids play, enjoy a paddle or walk along the beach, have a drink and a hotdog and then go home, awesome! Trains are cheap as chips here, in fact on Sundays they are almost nothing so take a train into the city, walk along the yarra river, have a drink and cake and come home - cheap trip out! Petrol prices match the uk but dollar to pound therefore cheaper! The weather, well Melbourne is the state of all seasons but certainly the sun shines way more here which we love. In the right trade you get paid well here, both my husband and I earn 2.5 times our wages in England :-) I could go on and I know that everyones situations are different but these are our reasons as to why we want to live and bring up our children here :-) The things we miss about the UK - Obviously friends and family Bisto - we get this sent out!! Galaxy - we also get this sent! Clothing - I still shop online at Dorothy Perkins, Next and River Island who all ship to Oz but this works out because I shop in the seasonal sales! CURRY! But fortunately I have a husband that cooks an awesome curry, phew :-) We have so many exciting things to look forward to here most weekends, we spend more time together as a family and love the great outdoors, we work hard and play hard, our kids are the happiest I have seen them and hardly ever watch tv anymore :-) As a family moving to Australia there are hurdles you will come across and problems you will face, its not paradise but in my opinion close enough! Moving anywhere whether is be Australia or Scotland you will always have difficulties to face but you HAVE to put yourself out there, when we first moved here we got ourselves out there and met people and now have a great circle of friends. You have to make an effort to meet people and network yourself - especially if you have children, they are the best networking tool of all! I dont know why there is so much negativity on this forum, people are very quick to talk about the bad stuff but rarely take the time to talk about the good. So my advice to anyone thinking of moving to Australia, do your research, plan, network and enjoy! You only live once so take a chance! I am happy to try and help if anyone wants to know anything - anyway must go, off to the top of a sunny mountain for a free childrens fun day :jiggy: Thanks all, will update at 18 months xx

Thanks, I am glad it shows the positive side of this move - I cannot understand the negativity at all, sure there are some downsides but there is no such place as paradise, this place is as close as it gets for us :-) there is another update 6 months in on my profile, its not a big update but i will update again in sept when we would have been here for a year! :-)

Sorry John I have only just seen this post, it gave me no notification! If its any help I will ask my friends and see if they can get in touch with you, pm me your email address and I will see what I can do :-)

Hi all, Doesnt seem like long since my 3 month update, time sure does fly when you're having fun! So...... I would say now we are very settled living in Australia.... after 3 months we were still finding out things, researching and getting to know our surroundings. 6 months here and we feel that we know so much (although we probably still have lots to learn) compared to newbies arriving now! I am doing very well in my job as is my husband, we both have big prospects living here more so than we would have had in the uk. Our children are very happy here and we are so glad to see them enjoying the great outdoors. Every weekend we are out at parks, reservoirs, lakes, fresh produce markets, the list goes on. The food here is so fresh and delicious, there is nothing more lovely than wandering round the markets on a sunny sunday morning! Fruit and veggies here are not only good value for money, they last ages and taste far superior to my experience of my past food shop in the uk. Having spent a lot of time researching the different suburbs, we are going to try and move to the Dandenong Ranges, we have completely fallen in love with the stunning mountain views, and the feeling of serenity that we get when we drive towards them. The ranges are around 20 minutes from Berwick and although we love it here and have met some wonderful people, we feel that we want to be slightly more away from the 'bustle' of Berwick but still have it close by. Places that we are looking at (for those interested) are Belgrave, Tecoma, Kallista, Emerald and Upper Beaconsfield. All got great reputations for schooling and leisure activites. Life here seems so normal now, I still compare things back to the UK but mainly to justify my spending habits! We have met some amazing people, seen some wonderful things and continue to be wowed by this fabulous place. We recently visited the famous Redhill Winery which lies on the Mornington Peninsula around 50 mins from Berwick, it boasts some amazing views and wines and the atmosphere was fantastic. Sometimes we wake up and still cant believe we live on the other side of the world! I am sorry there is not more to update (its pretty early so my brain is still a bit sleepy!) but please if you have any questions dont hesitate to ask, id be happy to try and help! Thanks again to all on here who gave me the help and support on this life changing move! I will update again 1 year in :rolleyes:

Hi John & Tracy, I have 3 friends who are nurses here, all at different hospitals. The main one is Casey Hospital which is in Berwick and is huge, then there are several private and smaller ones in and around this area so depending on what her expertees are I am sure there would be plenty of choice. Berwick is great for that age, plenty of sports clubs, parks, lakes (for fishing or kayaking) and not far from the beach. Have a look at www.domain.com.au and www.realestate.com.au for rentals, in Berwick you would be looking to pay around $400 for a 4 bed 2 bath with a decent amount of space. There are cheaper suburbs that are minutes from Berwick, Narre Warren, Narre Warren South, Hallam, Cranbourne east, Officer - naming a few. All in all, a very lovely place to live :-) Alex

Hi Tanya, I think the primary schools in Berwick are all good as far as I have heard, I have friends that have children at Timbarra P-9 college (my daughter starts there next month), Berwick Primary and Berwick Lodge and all are very happy with their childrens progress. I dont think private schooling is that expensive here, not in comparison to the UK anyway. Even the public schools you still have to pay fees though, I have to pay $150 for my daughters school books and stationery plus the uniform cost me nearly $150! The schools are on holidays but I believe they open a week before term starts to allow people to go in and purchase books etc so maybe try again on 27th Jan? Keep me posted on your progress and when you arrive if you need anything just pm me, good luck! x

Hi, I have recently been let down by my current educator due to her personal circumstances so I am now looking for a mature childminder/family daycare for my 3 year old son starting Feb 2012, I live in Berwick and need someone for casual day care Wednesdays and Thursdays 2pm-7pm and poss Fridays. Please pm me if you are interested or know someone reputable that can offer these hours! Thanks all! :wubclub:

Sharon, my only advice is go for it, you can always go back but never let an opportunity pass you by, it would be a shame to live with a big fat regret! GO for it and good luck! P.S dont read the negative stuff on here, people tend to write about the bad stuff (a lot of them are muppets) but never the good so I have jumped on here to up the anti!

Hi all, Firstly thank you to everyone on PIO for answering all my questions in the lead up to our big move. So we flew with Singapore and as everyone had said, they lived up to their fabulous reputation and we had a hassle free flight. We flew with our two children 3 and 4 and they were brilliant, I was very nervous flying with 2 kids as was worried theyd get bored and start getting difficult but I could not have been more wrong, they slept a large portion of the flight between Heathrow and Singapore, then we had about 3 hours at sin airport, then another night flight to Melbourne, they loved the choice to movies etc on the in flight entertainment and the staff were brilliant and frequently came over to ask if we needed anything, could not fault them. Our first 5 weeks was the hardest, we were staying in serviced apartments provided by my husbands company which was great but I struggled to keep the little ones entertained all day every day and obviously didnt know anyone! But the more I put myself out there the easier it got. Since we finally found a long term rental in Berwick our feet havent touched the ground, my husband cycles to Hallam every day so I have the car, he is doing really well in his job and is progressing quickly which is great. I have met a wonderful group of friends who have made me feel so welcome! There is barely a day that goes by where I dont have something planned. I have found that since I arrived the people here are really laid back and friendly and cannot do enough for you, the food is not as pricey as people say, you just have to be savvy about where you shop, I go to butchers for my meat and buy in bulk, I go to the markets for my fruit and veg, Aldi for some bits, coles for others but generally we find it very affordable. The roads are very big and confusing here, more so than the quiet little essex village that I was used to anyway! So Sat Nav was the first and best purchase we made when we arrived! It is now my best friend! Although I have been out without it recently so I am getting there! There is so much to see and do where we live, in Berwick we are 20/35 mins (depending on where you go) from the Dandenong Ranges which are spectactular, Olinda, Sassafras are my favourites, very quiant aussie villages right up in the hills, lots of places to have a cream tea or a famous aussie pie, you can also feed the wild parrots and cockatoos! 25 mins and we have the most beautiful coastline, if you go towards Carrum the sea is lovely and clear and beaches all really clean, most with parks for the kids and the infamous free bbq's! The first time we had a nice hot day we headed to Carrum beach and watching the kids running and splashing about with their little bodyboards made me realise why I moved here. 1 hour away we have Phillip Island where you can visit famous surf beaches, the grand prix circuits, the penquin parade and so on. Also an hour away is the Mornington Penisula which is equally beautiful, lots of lovely beaches, wineries, the famous hot springs, and spectacular scenery. Apart from the fact that it rains more than I thought in Melbourne lol, the weather is gorgeous and most days are spent outdoors at local parklands, gardens, lakes, hills or beaches. I can honestly say that we have done more here in 3 months than our whole lives in the UK!!The kids hardly watch tv anymore (their choice) and would rather be outside rain or sun! There are so many things to do here that dont cost anything so as long as you have fuel (which is cheaper here) and a picnic hamper you can go anywhere and do anything. Our move here has been very stressful but now we have a routine going with us and the kids and have exciting plans most weekends, we could not be happier, you cant sit about waiting for your life to start here, you have to get out and meet people, go places, explore. Australia is awesome in every way and I could not imagine living anywhere else in the world. Anyway, hope this has lifted a few spirits and given those that are unsure the encouragement to go for it, you only get one shot at happiness, we have found ours :-) I will report again in a few months! :cute:

Hi, Our situation actually changed last minute so having done a ton of research on the west we are now living on the eastern side of Melbourne in a suburb called Berwick (an hour from cbd)! I know that Williamstown is affordable to rent but not to buy and is an easy commute to the cbd, as for schooling I cannot help as mine will only be starting kinder/primary next year. Good luck :cute:

Thanks Olly, I know there are loads on the internet but its good to go by recommendation! Thank you :wubclub:

ha ha have you been watching 'the one'?!! think i would freak out if someone tapped me on the shoulder and said they'd 'found me' :wink:

Hi all, Am looking for a recommended medium in the eastern suburbs of melbourne (Casey area pref) I have looked on the internet but would prefer a recommendation! Any help would be great, thanks :cute:

Ive worked out that he can get the train to oakleigh and then cycle to east bentleigh :-) thanks guys! x

Thank you thats great, much clearer! x

Hi all, I am trying to understand the trainlines/times from Berwick to Bentleigh East as we only have one car so are looking into my husband getting the train to work until we can afford another car! Also I have a potential job offer in Chadstone so want to know if I can get the train easily from Berwick? Not sure which website to look on, seems a bit confusing!:eek: Thanks in advance for any help you can give me! :wubclub:

Hey all, We are looking at rentals in different areas and wondering if there are many familes etc in the Pakenham area? We viewed a house in the Lakeside area of Pakenham today, was a minutes walk from the primary school and seemed nice, wondered what opinions anyone had of the area? I have two young ones of 3 and almost 5 so looking for a social circle! Thanks!

Hi all, I am 29 and Mum to a 3 year old boy and 5 year old girl. We moved over last week and are currently in Parkdale but are looking to move to Berwick (or closeby there) in 3 weeks. My husband works in Hallam and I take him so have the car every day. Would love to get to know people and chat about areas as I am getting really confused about where to look to live and what primary schools are good etc! Am feeling the strain of being home alone with two mischievous little ones and not knowing the areas it would be nice to meet and chat with grown ups (much as I love my kids they are driving me mental :arghh:!!!! Looking forward to hearing from you x

Hi all, We moved from the UK last Monday and are currently in temp accom provided by my husbands company. We are looking at Berwick as it is close to my OH work in Hallam. Struggling to find a) the properties to be available and b) the open inspection times often clash and then you miss out! Went to view 2 yesterday and another 10 people turned up... So worried we wont find anywhere by 3rd Oct :unsure: I guess I am finding it a struggle as I have 2 little ones to drag around each house with me.... Anyone got any advice or tips? Time is not on our side!!! :wubclub:

Hey, We have been all over looking at properties and now my husband will be working in Bentleigh east! So with urgency of getting my daughters name down at a school I call upon you to help me with a decision on suburbs surround Bentleigh east for a 3 bed place at $400pw budget..... Location is important as are good schools, would welcome any advce you can give with open arms :hug: Many thanks, :wubclub:

Hi, We moved to Melbourne on Monday, we are currently staying in Parkdale but hoping to move to Berwick beginning Oct. I was chatting to a local yesterday who said my daughter will not be able to go to a kindergarten now as not long left of the term. She turns 5 in Jan (if in UK would have started big school yesterday!) and is in desperate need of mental and physical stimulation. We are obviously very VERY new to the area so havent sought out things to do with kids yet. We need to conserve as much money as possible so cant afford to pay out too much for childcare! My husband starts his job tomorrow and I will be all alone with my daughter and my 3 yar old son.......!!!!!! HELP!!!! :eek: Thank you in advance for any help you can give me :wubclub: