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Hi all just have a series of questions if anyone can help with answers!?! Firstly, I’m wondering if anyone has left Australia to return to UK, wanted to go back, but for some reason it never or couldn’t happen, and your PR ended? How did you feel about this? Also, how long do you have to have lived in Australia to qualify for a RRV? Do you need continuous years in OZ to qualify for uni loans, or does that not matter? Is TAFE free or not? Thankyou in advance and sorry the questions are a bit random! Xx

Hi Madily, Me and my husband both worked in the City and had no problems st all, so that’s surprising. It’s very close to Applecross. My husband used to get the train in, and I drove. I can’t recall having any issues at all. Yes I know what u mean re sterile. Some of the northern suburbs are a bit soulless! X

It would be Perth, as we know the area, and Sydney is just too expensive. We found we couldn’t enrol the kids at a school, until we had a permanent address. I’m not sure if that is the same for Private though. If you are looking at Applecross area, it is gorgeous. It borders the Swan river. The primary school there, is also lovely, and very good. The senior school is actually in Ardross, which isn’t too far away. Mount Pleasant is also another lovely area, behind the Canning River. All in the right area for AC senior school. There is also another high school which has excellent reviews; in fact I think it was voted one of the best public schools in Perth for years (and possibly still could be) Rossmoyne. My kids were in the catchment for that school as well, but AC had been completely revamped, and they preferred that school when we looked around. There are quite a few private schools in the area. Aquinis (not sure if correct spelling, and might be a boys college, and Corpus Christi (I think) in Bateman area. Some are more expensive than others. Please keep me posted on how you get on. Xxxx

Hi Madily, i am in a very similar situation to you, but don’t have citizenship unfortunately. We moved to Sydney in 2015, but shortly after, had to relocate to Perth with my husband’s work. I really didn’t want to leave Sydney, but it turned out that we loved it in Perth and the weather is so much better. However, we had to return to the UK 12 months later, as my husband’s job ended. It was soul destroying as the kids were all settled; including ourselves. We r looking at moving back later this year, as our visas expire in January. Our children are 18 (just), 15 and 12; but will be 16 and 13 by the time we go back. Max will have finished GCSEs here, so can go into year WACE years there, and Josh I think will restart in year 7 or 8. He has lots of friends and is very happy. The eldest doesn’t want to go back.... It’s going to be a difficult decision for us. Just from my experience, Perth does not have the same vibe as Sydney, but far more affordable in terms of housing etc. I didn’t feel the isolation tbh, although lots of people go on about it. We loved the weather and freedom to plan our weekends, knowing the sun would always be shining. However, we were not there long enough for the novelty to have worn off.....if it ever would have done? My kids went to a public school; Applecross, which we were very happy with. I can’t comment on the private schools or the drama scene for kids; although one of my son’s did attend a drama group every week as an after school activity. Good look to you with your decisions. It’s never easy with older kids to think about unfortunately. Xxx

Thank u xxx

Hi, just wondering if Australia offer access courses for students? We are looking at returning to OZ before our visa runs out in January. My son is due to take A Levels this year, but is really doing the wrong subjects. He has decided he wants to be a physio. Here, he could do an HE diploma in science as an entry to uni, but not sure how it works in Australia. Do they have a similar set up? Thank you xx

Hi, we emigrated in 2015, and our visas (189 type) and for the 5 of us was £10,000. However we did use a solicitor, so extra fees for this in with that price. We had our visas in 9 months. Shipping was about £4000, and then obviously flights. You will need at least £10,000 for initial accommodation and car hire fees. I can’t remember exactly how much we took, but it was swallowed up fast! We initially lived in Sydney, but I’m sure u know, very expensive. I can’t really recommend other areas of NSW, but the coast is cheaper I think. We had to relocate to Perth for husband’s work. Good Luck xx

Hi, will be hopefully moving back to Australia next, on our PR visas. Just wondering if my eldest child will be eligible for a uni loan? I’ve got a feeling not, so is there anything else to help with this for new immigrants who want to go to University? Thanks for any advice xxx

Hi thanks for reply. Do I need a rrv if I'm within the 5 years? thanku x

Hi, having lived in Australia for 12 months on a 189 visa, we intend to return before it expires in 2020. Is there a certain amount of months before the expiry date that we have to return by? I.e. 6 months before or not? Thanku x

Thank u all for your replies. Do I just need to contact universities to enquire for specifics? And what month does uni start there? Thanku xxx

Hi all, just wondering how well Alevels travel to OZ for uni entry? How many are needed and are BTECS (or 1) acknowledged? So 2 Alevels and a BTEC or do you need 3 Alevels? Also with PR visas? Do you need to pay international uni fees? Thanku xxxx

I don't think people are slating your character at all. You need to re read your posts; they are a little dramatic in parts! Foaming at the mouth, going to prison! I think people are trying to make u see that the situation/UK really isn't that bad and are simply reacting to how you describe it. Emotive feelings from people who enjoy the UK against people who slag it off will always cause a stir, and vise versa. I told u to get a grip of the situation, because your stance is so negative and aggressive and does it need to be? is it really that bad?! I was trying to make you see that there are far worse things in life than a trip back to the UK. I understand now that that is up there with the worst things for you, so sorry to have offended you. Hope you reach a happy compromise.

I agree with Bungo. Do you not realise that as people get older they are sometimes drawn back to their roots? It's very common and maybe your husband just wants to feel part of his heritage again and spend time with extended family; what's wrong with that?! If your marriage is so amazing, perfect and loved up then it's odd that you would want to be apart for so long and won't condone to compromise! I am having to return to the uk because of the poor job market here. Do I want to go back? No I don't but I have kids and a husband to consider, as it's not all about me! You will always have OZ! And I'm not being funny, the UK is not as awful as you make out. Yes the weather isn't always great but there are beautiful parts for you to explore; just throw a coat on. I love Sydney but I have driven around areas that are s..t holes! And experienced many many grey, wet days there as well. Tell your husband that you will go with him but refuse to live too close to the family. Is it really the worst thing that could happen in your life? I think you need to politely get a grip.

Thanks for responses! I assumed ATAR would be the right path. X

Hi, Hoping someone can clear this up for me?! If a child does years 11 and 12 in Perth, but does not go down the ATAR route, do they still get the WACE certificate? If they do, what is this equivalent to in the UK and could they still go to a UK uni?? Thankyou? Jill x

Hi, I would take no notice of your MIL, as u have to live your life on your terms not hers; but do consider the job situation here as others have said. We have been here only 10 months, but are already thinking of returning home because of the job situation. My husband is an engineer and has a contract ( for now), and has been applying for permi jobs over east (as nothing here for him) for the last 7 months and has never had a response from anything! He is very senior with 24 years experience in his field. Staying here and hoping that something will come up is a big risk to our eldest son's education:( Having said that, u have a decent amount of money to bring with which is fab. Just make certain u are going to the right part of OZ! We are realising the hard way that we haven't! good luck with your decision, it's a tough one.

Thank you! I feel a bit better. He should be in year 10 now in UK so might pick up the last bit of that year to then start year 11 nxt September! i will discuss with his previous school nearer the time. Hopefully they will be amenable! Thanks again x

Hi thanks for the advice. He is not keen at all in going back a year, and I don't think all school boards allow that?! I was hoping he could do 4 in year 11 as he will hopefully have his IGCSE in maths, then pick up a few more along side A-levels. I just don't want to ruin his chances any more than I feel I may have done:(

Hi, has anyone returned to UK with a child who has missed UK year 10? Are they still able to do year 11 but perhaps take a reduced number of GCSE's and just do the essential ones? My son is currently doing an IGCSE in maths so I would be looking at him doing English, some sciences and ? Geography. At least enough to be able to do A Levels. Has anyone been in this situation before I'm worried sick about it. Just not sure but may have to return to UK next May. Thanks in advance for any help/advice. X

Just wondering if anyone can tell me how long it takes to sort out a rental property! I know it obviously depends if we find one quickly, but if we did, is it quite swift after that? We are trying to find a holiday let in the sutherland shire region but not having much luck so looking at hotels. We didn't really want to book up a hotel for weeks and weeks, plus need to get a rental so we can get the kids into school! Thank you x

Thank you very much for your response! Really helpful. I did read about Caringbah but kind of wrote it off asy eldest is 14 and not sure if he has missed the boat for that school. I will perhaps choose 3 and try and find a rental that fits with either of the schools! I assume that is what most people do?! Would you recommend the Shire? Any particularly nice areas you could advice me on? I understand the school will obviously come first. thanks very much, jill

Hi, I am due to move to Sydney in September but still have some confusion over school admissions. We r looking to move to Sutherland Shire region and like the sound of Port Hacking high school. i sent an email to the school to ask about the catchment areas and where I would need to live to get my kids in. I got a weird and unhelpful response stating that they don't provide maps and to send them my Australian home address?! so what I need to know is, where do I find out about enrolment zones for various schools? Also, do I need to find a primary school that feeds to the high school or does it not work like that in Oz? Or will the high school tell me about the primary school? Also, as I don't yet have a rental ( we will stay in a hotel for a few weeks) how do I get my kids into a school?! Will I need to be in the rental property first? thanks so much for any advice. I just assumed the school would be more helpful!!! BTW can anyone recommend a primary school in SShire please?? Xx

Thanks for all your responses! I think we will stay in a holiday apartment initially then hopefully husband will get a job so we can rent without paying 6 months up front! I think the holiday lets r expensive tho but nothing else as can do really! Thanks for all the advice/tips! X