Beffers

Many thanks. Will look into this. B

Ah okay, that explains quite a bit. I guess when we are buying a house there, we will need to be thinking to future-proof her transition from primary to secondary. Thanks for that

That's great thanks, That's the bit I needed to know, We will only be moving probably two suburbs away, but it's enough to make a big difference to the house prices! Melbourne suburbs seems to vary a great deal! Thanks again

It is zoned, which is why we approached them as our first address is literally two streets from the school. They have accepted her as an international arrival and they have sent me all the enrolment forms etc so that they can include her within their grading structures for January 2017.

Hi thanks, This one is zoned, but our first address in Melbourne is in their zone, It's also been highly recommended by friends who have put all four children through the school (the youngest still being there). I guess I won't know if it suits her until she starts, just like any school!

Hi I had a few quotes a couple of years ago when we were thinking of emigrating, but had to put it all on hold for family reasons. We will now be going in Dec/Jan (depending on when our visa is confirmed). I know of the three quotes, Pickfords offered the best service, although they weren't the cheapest. One of the firms said it would be possibly cheaper to get the contents removed to Liverpool, and then use an English shipping firm for onward transportation, as NI firms charged more than their English counterparts. If that was indeed the case, and I need to do a little more research myself on this, I would be tempted to use a local firm like McGimpseys. We have done quite a bit of research and so if you wanted to have a chat at some point, private message me, and we can talk. Thanks!

Moving to Melbourne Dec/Jan, and have enrolled our daughter into primary school as she is eligible to start school in their Prep year from end Jan 2017. Living with friends when we first arrive so have enrolled at their local zoned school. What happens when we move out from there and rent/buy our own place - do we have to change school if we then buy/rent a home outside of their zone - we could never afford to buy a house in their suburb, it's just too expensive for us. Anyone had this issue, or know anything about the VIC education system? Many thanks!

So I have been paying UK NIC since 1988 and also have an employer pension as well. My Aussie husband has been paying UK NIC contributions since 1991. Any advice on how we get these transferred to Australia? Do we transfer our NIC into a private pension scheme in the UK, which will then facilitate a transfer into our Super? Or can it not work this way? I know there has been hype and 'bad news' for pension transfers - but I'm not that good at all this stuff, and so would appreciate some plain English advice! Many thanks!

So I have been paying UK NIC since 1988 and also have an employer pension as well. My Aussie husband has been paying UK NIC contributions since 1991. Any advice on how we get these transferred to Australia? Do we transfer our NIC into a private pension scheme in the UK, which will then facilitate a transfer into our Super? Or can it not work this way? I know there has been hype and 'bad news' for pension transfers - but I'm not that good at all this stuff, and so would appreciate some plain English advice! Many thanks!

I am assuming you're in UK. I spoke to the London office who advised me that if I wanted to pay £3390 as the fee for my 309/100 visa application, that I should be paying this no later than last week of June, as if they process any applications from 1st July onwards, it is likely to be at an increased fee, but they couldn't tell me what that was!

Thats great - thank you so much for that recommendation. I will get in touch with them! Thanks again :biggrin:

Hi, I think Australia can offer a better work/life balance than the UK, but the Aussies do work hard and so if you're prepared to put the time and effort into Australia then I think you will reap rewards. Lots of people on this site are not enjoying Australia after a short amount of time but I think you need to give it at least two years. It will be easier for you than most, already having family in Australia, as we are in the same position. i think if you're positive and think it will work for you, then why not! Better than being a "what if" further down the line.

Good idea! Lol @ spreadsheet! He clearly has his uses!!!

hat sounds like us!!! I have loads of books :-( lol

Advice: do we take everything in house or take only personal stuff and a few household items? i see some have taken the lot and yet others advise not to.

Thanks people...... I will give it some thought and have a chat to a few agents as well, before making a decision!!!

Ren Ren - know what you mean re the career thing. My aussie OH is in the same boat, he's been in facilities management in the UK for over 16 years and I'd like him now to coach youth cricket which he does as a hobby but he aint' getting any younger hahahahahaha. Am hoping that I can get a full time job in Melbourne, and he can perhaps go part time. Hard isn't it?! Good to know that the shopping wasn't that much more expensive. The quality however is so much better anyway, so you get what you pay for. When you think about it, I would expect the majority of aussie food is 'organic' anyway cos the farming is always done to higher standards than in the UK, etc. Good luck with your final move and let's hope you find someone to buy your house! We are just about to put ours on the market and about to begin the visa process - oh the joys! I can't wait to get down under though! Gagging I think is the word LOL .......

:twitcy: Okay, so many people on this site have used Migration Agents. Others haven't and swear to do the thing yourselves. So, for a newbie, it's all quite difficult to know. Our situation: Aussie husband, Pommie Mrs, toddler with Australian citizenship by descent. Together 11 years, living together 10, married 8 this year. Have accommodation all sorted in Melbourne. UK house on the market. So, do we use a migration agent to process our partner visa application, or have people in a similar situation done it themselves??!! Any advice much appreciated!!

The reply from Lady Rainicorn above is brilliant - so many people on here I've found are saying that they are finding life in Australia difficult after having made the move, and that Australia isn't just Britain with sunshine but a very different country. Also, the note Lady R made about whether you are pretty much a self contained family unit makes all the difference. We are planning our move at the moment, just me, hubby and our toddler. I've lived away from my family for over ten years already so to be honest, I don't 'feel' that different with the idea of moving to Oz. Friends however who made the move a few years ago are still homesick for their families, as they were much closer to their extended families. Be realistic about your goals. Give yourselves time to research into the idea properly and give yourself at 1-2 years there before you even think about coming back to the UK for a holiday, to make sure you settle in properly! That said, I always think you should 'try' the country out before moving, i.e. book a holiday and see whether you do indeed like Australia for yourself! Good luck - it's a big decision!

Thanks, my OH is dual nationality (Aussie/Italian) and so has been in the UK on his EC nationality, something which he will keep forever, and so that's not an issue here, but thanks for the advice and no doubt other people reading it will find it useful as well. I don't want to come back though LOL

Am planning an emigration for 2014/2015 to Melbourne from Belfast. Anyone done a similar move and if so, which removals company did you use and how much were they, so we can get a rough idea. Most of the firms I'm looking at are Great Britain based, and do not cover Belfast (Bonner for example). Cheers :biggrin:

You and me both mate!

Love this thread. My hubby is from Sydney but left there in '91 and wound up in the UK. We are now planning to go to Oz, with our toddler daughter who was born here in Northern Ireland. He can't wait to go back! We got married in Australia in 2006, whilst we were travelling around. He's not nervous at all about going home, although I've convinced him it's Melbourne we're going to and not Sydney - he will just have to learn to live with 'the Mexicans'!!!!! As for the post on pommie-bashing, I get that about the cricket all the time!!! I was surprised to read this though as I never experienced anything like that when I was in Oz in 2006. I think honestly if you have a good work ethic (as the Aussies have), have a good sense of humour (as the Aussies have) and can give as good as you get (like the Aussies do), I think people would generally slot in just fine!

Good luck! I married my aussie 8 years ago and we are in the UK, but just starting to think about moving, and house has just gone on the market, so I guess I'll be on here a fair bit too! Keep us posted on the whole visa application process - I'm curious cos so many different views on here!!!!