Marisawright

Last weekend in May mate.

 

She's not a really an outdoors kid, although she'd probably do the beach for half a day if I can get one of my OH's friends' kids to come along as well. She's into gymnastics, trampolining, swimming (so a kind of 'Wet and Wild' equivalent would be great), interactive art / science stuff.

Powerhouse museum a must, then, lots of interactive exhibits. Winter in Sydney is the best time IMO, less rain, cool sunny days. Too cool for swimming though.

Ferry to .Manly also a must, as you get a nice cruise of the harbour for the price of a ferry.

A couple of practical tips.

 

We used Airbnb for an initial place to stay - we got a little cottage for a decent price. We have managed to get a long term rental without any hassle. Picking up the keys tomorrow.

 

We have also discovered opening a bank account isn't that hard. Impossible online but have just spoken to Halifax and they are happy to open a basic current account with just our passports as proof of ID if we go into the branch to open it.

If you have a British passport, any bank will say that BUT when you sit down with the bank official to do the paperwork, you'll discover they need a proof of address in the UK as well.

I spoke with HSBC and they will open up a UK account if you have an Australian one, it costs $200 but I believe you can still do it.

That's worth a try. Citibank were still advertising the same service recently but they say new British bankibg regulations prevent them doing it now. And none of the High Street banks will do it now, we checked

Save yourself a lot of aggravation and do this !!!!

Can't be done, none of the banks allow you,to open an account from overseas any more.

I echo what Rule Britannia says, UK for us at least, is a much better place in terms of location, job opportunities, culture, community, history, travel, climate, facilities, shops, activities, clubs etc, the list goes on.

The funny thing is that when I was planning to return to the UK, I was looking forward to most of those things. Greater access to the arts and history, and European travel have turned out to be true. But you can't look at castles or travel to Europe every day, and I've found day-to-day living disappointing.

This works for many and a very good tip, however if Like me you've only worked in a few jobs for a long time it doesn't work. Before I came to Australia at age 42, I'd worked in 4 different jobs my whole life. One for 20 years and one for 6 years

That was in the back of my mind when I was typing. If your very first job was the 20-year one, then there's not much you can do. If it was the 6-year one, then I just wouldn't mention it.

You are not obliged to put your age but your work experience dates give the game away anyway and although an employer is not allowed to use your age as the reason for refusal there are many other reasons they can and do use to cover up the real reason for refusal .

Not necessarily. There is no law to say you must disclose your entire work history. When I got to a certain age, I changed the heading of my Work Experience section to "Relevant Work Experience" and also removed the dates I got my qualifications.

I started out as a secretary and none of those secretarial jobs are relevant to the work I do now, which is managerial. So I removed them all, and in the process removed ten years from my work history. If someone wants to assume the first job I listed was my first job out of uni, that's not my problem!

In fact it's a good idea not to mention irrelevant jobs anyway, because employers don't like long CV's full of irrelevant details.

Your situation sounds like ours, except the exchange rate is stuffing us about, but ultimately we will go back. I wouldn't let a pay cut stop me from returning i will earn less in uk but I think the cost of things is lower ( half price cars for a start ) so go for it !!

Cars are cheaper but otherwise, having recently moved back, we've found our everyday costs are pretty much the same as they were in Sydney - except that eating out, and petrol, are both hugely more expensive.

I second everything NicF said. I know it sounds expensive to ship the lot - but it is also expensive to replace it. Also, it takes time! I know that when I arrived in the UK, I totally underestimated how long it would take me just to work out where the furniture shops were (and of course I couldn't even get to them until we'd bought a car, since they're all in retail parks or outer suburbs - which is also the case in Australia). Then I found that most of the lounge suites and beds I really liked had to be ordered so would take 6-8 weeks so I might as well have shipped me own stuff after all!

I have ended up with furniture based on what was available, not on what I really like. If we were staying in the UK, I would be replacing it sooner rather than later - which means the money I spent on it was wasted, and I'd have been better off spending that money on shipping my own stuff.

in Oz you quickly find people in a similar situation who become your surrogate family.

This phrase stuck in my mind and I just had to pop back in to comment on it. You may have found that to be the case in Perth, but don't expect it to be the case in other parts of Australia. In fact the difficulty of making friends is a common complaint by migrants on this forum. I've heard comments that in Perth, there's quite a sizeable British population who do tend to seek out each other's company, whereas in Sydney that doesn't happen. I can't speak for other cities, but I certainly wouldn't assume.

That's brilliant, thanks to both for the info, I've got a lot to think about!

Why not take it one step at a time. Apply for your Australian citizenship anyway - once you've got it, you've got it forever. THEN think about what, if anything, you want to do with it.

Marisawright interesting you say about being more Ausdie maybe that happen after a given time.

 

I think I'm not typical, I was never very fond of the UK even when I was growing up here! I had never given returning to the UK a thought in 30 years until my new hubby got his skin troubles.

Have you thought about regional NSW (e.g. Newcastle), Brisbane, Hobart, Adelaide?

So here's a new twist to my efforts to gain entry into Australia. I'm informed I may not have enough points to emigrate and work in Australia but have enough to get into New Zealand!!! So from reading bits and bats last night I can see IF I got a sponsored skilled visa in NZ which led to residence then permanent residence after 2 years, I could after 5 years apply for citizenship of NZ. At that point what's stopping me living and working in Australia as a NZ citizen? ? As they are entitled to do.

The way I look at it, if you can get to NZ then you're a heck of a lot closer to your family in Australia - so even if you ultimately don't get to live in Australia, you'll be able to see a lot more of them. Let's face it, if you're in Auckland and your famiy are in Sydney, you'll be closer to them than if you moved to Perth or Darwin!

I'd go for it.

Your friend is going on a Working Holiday Visa. The visa is intended for young people who want to have a one-year holiday in Australia and work from time to time to pay their way. For that reason, you can't work for the same employer for more than six months.

Many WHV'ers do bar work or waitressing because they're travelling, however you can certainly get temp jobs in offices. However they will be temp jobs - employers will know they can't employ you for more than six months so you're not going to get a long-term job.

Check out seek.com.au for jobs but don't expect to get one before you leave. Perth is in a downturn right now so jobs may be hard to find: Sydney will be easier but accommodation (even hostels) are very expensive. Melbourne is a bit cheaper but personally I'd suggest Brisbane. You'll be much closer to many of the most interesting sights in Australia, for one thing.

You 're not "moving to" Australia, you're just coming on a long holiday. It's a great adventure and well worth doing. It will broaden your horizons.

I see you are in the uk but originally out of Sydney area and have read your post with great interest. Do you think you will return one day? We backpacked & stayed in Sydney but ended moving to Perth,

I thought I'd reply to your post on your own thread rather than the Oatley one.

Yes, we are planning to return, but we are a bit different to most migrants! Firstly, I never felt the slightest homesickness for the UK. Our main reason for moving was because my hubby developed a sun allergy. His skin is far more comfortable in the lower UV in England, but I don't feel at home here AT ALL. I'm too much of an Aussie! We're also near retirement and face tax issues if we stay in the UK which could cost a chunk of our retirement savings; so we always knew an eventual return was on the cards.

We will not return to Sydney, much though we love it, because housing is so incredibly expensive. I would never even consider living in Perth even though it's cheaper - it's great for some, but people who love Perth seem to hate living in Sydney and vice versa. So IMO if you were happy in Perth, I'd go back there rather than going to Sydney which will be such a huge drain on your savings.

I am looking at applying for 189 visa, i am a qualified social worker and would be moving with husband and children. Are the working visas only up to 31 years, just wondering if cheaper option for visas?

I think you mean a working holiday visa - that's just for young singles wanting to come on a holiday and do some work to pay the bills, so that's no use to you.

There are temporary visas (457) but I would not recommend them for a family. First you have to find a company to sponsor you. Then you only get the right to remain in Australia while you work for that employer, and if you leave that job, you'll have 90 days to leave the country. You'll also not be eligible for any kind of government support (including free education for your children in some states, you may have to pay fees even in a state school).

Yes the 189 costs money but (a) you are making a life-changing decision so you wouldn't do it if you weren't really, really committed - in which case it's worth it and (b) the cost of the visas is cheap compared to the other costs of migrating.

Sydney is expensive. The rest of NSW is not. I really like Newcastle, it's had a bad rep because it used to be a brash, rough, blue collar town - but in a bizarre kind of way, the loss of major industries has been good for the city as it's gentrified it. I know two men who worked in Sydney and lived in Newcastle: in spite of the horrendous commute, they refused to move their families into Sydney because they felt Newcastle was such a good place to bring up children.

Newcastle has a great beach (better than Bondi!), nice restaurants, cafes etc.

Newcastle is a city. "The Hunter" is a region, basically farms and wineries with several small towns in it. Obviously, being in a city with its larger population is going to give you more job opportunities.

Newcastle itself is reasonably affordable, but if you want to live in a quieter area then you have a choice of the Hunter or the Port Stephens area (which is lovely) within easy commuting distance.

I'm posting here because I seem to be getting confusing answers. I'm 62 I moved to Aust. in 1969 as a member of the old British Boys Movement. Through circumstance I now find myself broke and familyless (and friendless) and I'm seriously considering giving up and returning cap in hand to my family in the UK. My queries really are about surviving financially back there. I only ever worked in the UK for about 18 months before emigrating. .

Personally, I would say moving back to the UK is not the solution. You would be entitled to claim some benefits in Australia, whereas in the UK it's likely you would have to wait months or even years before you could get the dole or any other support.

Also, if you leave now, you'll lose the Australian pension, because you can't claim it from the UK. The only way to get the Australian pension would be to return to Australia when you reach pension age, and then STAY for two full years. If you leave before the two years are up, you'd lose the pension. You could claim the British pension instead, using your Australian work record pre-2001, but it's lower than the Australian one.

Don't you have any superannuation? At 62 you can withdraw some of it to get you over the hump.

Once you reach pension stage if you went back then you could claim your Centrelink pension and take it with you portability If you did not get the Australian pension you would get full UK pension at what ever rate it is at the time as you would be covered under the old reciprocal agreement that ended in 2001 The whole residency issue is a mine field but if you have no family no assists etc in Australia you MIGHT get through it

Just to correct you - if you go back to Australia to claim the aged pension, you then have to stay for TWO FULL YEARS, otherwise they will take it away from you again.

If you're living in Australia and you wait until you reach your pensionable age, you can walk into Centrelink, claim it, and leave the country the next day.

We have our air con set to 27 degrees. Not sure where the thermostat is but at 27 the house usually stays around 25, which is perfectly comfortable. And we don't put the air on until it gets up to 27 inside. Manage with fans until that point.

Exactly my point. If you're the kind of person who enjoys a warm day, then why would you set your air conditioner colder than you enjoy outside?

I'm not that good in heat, so I'm more comfortable at around 23 to 24, though I know that's costing me a bit more.

Basically, the closer your air con temp is set to the outside temp, the cheaper it will be to run.

I understand there's another discussion going on here but I am looking on moving over to Australia within the next 2 to 3 years and wondering how I would go about it? I'm a qualified music teacher with multiple diplomas and awards from the Royal college of music in London, would that help me in anyway or is it all about the money which I've seen people

It's not all about money, it's about whether the Australian Government thinks the country needs your skills. If there are already plenty of locals who can do the job, they don't want to encourage people to come to Australia and end up unemployed.

He should be fine...he has substantial ties to Australia. Regarding why he has not applied for citizenship...if he is British born and been here for 40 plus years the only thing that citizenship gives him is a passport

What it does give him is exactly what he needs right now - the ability to leave Australia for as long as he likes and return whenever he likes, without having to stuff around with RRV's and the like. If someone has their whole life in Australia, I can see why they wouldn't bother - however, if (like this person) he knows he's going to be living in the UK for extended periods, it just seems daft not to.

Oatley

Postcode - 2223

Oatley is part of the St George area in the southern suburbs of Sydney, 18km from the CBD. The population is around 10,000 to 15,000 people. The area is popular with young families because of its primary schools, easy transport to the CBD and convenience to the huge shopping hub of Hurstville.

Unusually for a Sydney suburb, Oatley has a tranquil village-style feel, complete with village green (Oatley Memorial Gardens), pub and clock tower.

Property

To buy - You can view a listing of property for sale in Oatley here

To rent - View current properties to rent in Oatley here

Median property prices in Oatley are distorted by the high prices commanded by riverfront properties. Away from the river, there are more affordable townhouses and flats on offer. Neighbouring suburbs Mortdale and Penshurst offer cheaper prices while still being in easy reach of Oatley.

In all these suburbs, be cautious of property near the railway line, since freight trains run regularly throughout the night.

* Median property prices for Oatley

Schools

Oatley Public School

Oatley West Public School

St Joseph's Catholic School

Georges River College Oatley Senior Campus

Transport

Train:

Oatley is on the Illawarra Line. Journey time to the CBD is about 40 minutes, the service is reliable and because Oatley is an early station, it's usually easy to get a seat. In the other direction on the same line, Oatley is approx. 20 minutes to the excellent beaches at Cronulla, and about 30 minutes to Waterfall or Heathcote which give access to bush walks in the National Park.

Buses to other parts of Sydney can be accessed from the bus interchange at Hurstville.

Shopping

The main shopping area in Oatley has two butchers, two bakers, a patisserie, an award-winning pie shop, a deli, a florist, four cafes, two women's fashion stores, a gym, two doctor's surgeries, two pharmacies, two hairdressers, a massage therapist and a Commonwealth Bank.

There is a Coles supermarket on the other side of the railway line in Oatley West, along with a few restaurants.

For other shopping, Hurstville has all the other services you might need including a large Westfields shopping mall, banks, health funds, etc.

Pubs and Clubs

The Oatley pub is a well-known landmark and attracts visitors from a wide area for its food and live entertainment. During the day it is popular with families and couples thanks to its good food and its large beer garden spread over three levels, the top level with sunshades. On Fridays and Saturday nights it is a mecca for young people from around the area and can get extremely crowded, noisy and rowdy (bouncers are employed). It also runs comedy nights and Sunday afternoon jazz.

The Oatley RSL Club is a quiet family club with a bistro, bar, trivia quizes and occasional entertainment.

Out and about

Oatley Memorial Gardens is a long park running right through the centre of Oatley village.

Not far away is Oatley Park, a large area of natural bushland with paths and play areas, similar to a British country park.

Another popular walk is the walk from Oatley to Como across the former railway bridge. The attraction for children is the riverside baths, while adults go there for the excellent food and gorgeous views at the historical Como pub.

I don't know whether you're an Australian citizen or not - but if you are, then yes, you can bring your husband and children with you to Australia. You will have to get your citizenship established first, then you'll have to apply for a partner visa for your husband - which will take about a year to get.

I don't think you will ever do that as people will always ping pong for whatever reason But I do think a seperate forum for those going back to Oz who want to chat can do so without getting fired at lol

If you think about it, almost the whole of PomsinOz is designed for people who are moving TO Australia, whether for the first time or later. There is just one small corner that's reserved for people going back to the UK, so maybe it's not surprising if people get annoyed if their little patch gets invaded by people going the other way?

Maybe the main forum should have a section called "For Ping-Pongers"?