Lucharmily

Hi, just wondered if anyone has had any issues in getting their child's UK vaccinations onto the Australian Immunisation Register? I took my records to the local health centre in July who faxed them all through. I rang the Immunisation register people who told me it took 7-10 days. They still are not recorded - at least on the register I can see through my gov website. I've double-checked they were faxed by the clinic and now it's at the point where it could affect my parenting payments. Just wondering if anyone has experienced this and the timeline it took. Thanks!

Agree with the expense and tighter job market comment. We left Oz in 2008 and returned earlier this year and have definately found this to be the case.

Sorry but for me it would be a no. Speaking as a mother, I wouldn't wish to unsettle my children. Yes, it's a great opportunity but it's a massive undertaking and hugely stressful too leaving everyone, putting down new roots and the sheer isolation of it all. Good luck with your decision, good to read everyones opinions but ultimately you know your family and situation the best.

Thanks for taking the time to reply, it's really interesting to hear you can enter on an expired UK passport. And thanks for sharing your timesines for receiving new UK passports back. Hopefully ours won't take too long and I'll post my timeframe in due course to guide others. Cheers guys!

Hi my sister works in Cambelltown and lives near Picton which is lovely. Have friends in Mount Annan and that is lovely and not too far from Campbelltown. Narellan shopping centre ok, not sure about houses there as never looked. Camden is really nice too.

Thanks for the replies. I've applied for new UK passports...now the anxious wait begins...!

Some of the schools cater from transition (reception) right through to year 12 (18 year olds). Marrara Christian College, Essington and Good Shepherd Lutheran College at Howard Springs are all good schools catering to this age range.

Hi, I know this topic has probably been covered before but both my daughter's and my UK passport have expired. I understand it's possible to enter the UK on an expired UK passport (we have valid Aussie ones) but wondered if anyone knew if this was still the case if travelling on a 1 way ticket to the UK. I'm going to contact the consulate tomorrow but just wondered if anyone had any experience of this. Cheers!

Hi, it's a really tough one but all I can say is I was glad I happened to be in the UK when my "fit as a fiddle Mum" fell terminally ill. I'll never regret the time spent there as Australia would always wait, although I appreciate I didn't have the visa concern like yourself. I wish you well, so sorry you lost your Dad and hope your Mum stays well.

Currently saving up to visit Cairns but I find holidays difficult here due to the cost (mainly airfares)!

I do understand. I returned to the UK, wanted to come back to Oz, life took over as my Mum was diagnosed with cancer and we eventually lost her. Finally was in a position to return to OZ this year after living in limbo for 5 years. Afraid I can't advise on the visa situation as am a citizen but all I can say is check it out with the experts. If you can't extend it, then you'll have to make a decision on how important being in Australia is and maybe readjust your timescale on returning.

Hi, we had hoped these hours would be a stepping stone to something else but that doesn't seem to be the case. When we were here before, he had a better roster, week on, week off FIFO McCarthur River mine but the economic climate has changed since then. Right now, he's on shift number 12 (nights) and it's exhausting with the 3 little ones! When will your family join you?

Have a great trip over; Singapore airlines are great! The farewells are always horrid but enjoy the excitement and adventure ahead. Oz is waiting for you!

While I can certainly understand wanting to keep your options open for future, starting a new job and buying a home in the UK sounds to me like you're more settled and committed over there. My advice (as a ping ponger myself) would be to embrace your life now. Keeping a foothold in another place leads to unnecessary torment and frankly, life is just too short.

Hi, I've been in Darwin since February. It's a lovely place but hubby is working 168 hour fortnights with 6 days off during which I have to work 4 shifts. Rather poor work/life balance which is a shame because there is lot to offer here particularly families. We lived here before from 1997-2008 and had a better time then.

Good to hear it's going well. We've had a great dry season, can't believe it's still breezy and pleasant in late August! When will your family join you?

Wow, you're very organised! We had great plans on how to spend our last weeks there once all the hard work stuff was out of the way and we were free of the house, work, packing etc. In reality, we were busy right up until the day we left and the time raced by at an alarming rate! I'd say take some time to do some fun things and trips while you have the free time.

Had my elder 2 in Australia. Went private as had health insurance. Lovely obstetrician who I also had for my first pregnancy (miscarriage). Stayed in 6 days (section for breech), great care. 2nd time same hospital although actually had the baby in the hospital carpark! Again great care all round. 3rd baby was born in the UK, NHS hospital (but only just made it into del suite)! Different system but found the staff very caring. Postnatal ward very busy, I had to stay 48 hours for the baby to be monitored but generally it's a much quicker discharge. I was pretty okay with it being 3rd time but think I might have found a quick discharge a little daunting as a 1st time Mum (and I'm a NICU nurse so know babies)! But found the community midwifery support was a lot better than in Oz.

We've seen Peppa Pig since then too!

Welcome to Australia!

From a purely financial perspective, stay put. As another poster stated, you'll find it too expensive on no income. We were in this situation earlier this year waiting for OH job to start (numerous delays) and it was scary how quickly the money disappeared but at least as citizens we were not gambling on a visa hopefully being granted at some stage. Coming here with a family is a huge move and I would definately not consider uprooting everyone until I at least knew we had the correct visa to stay.

There are experiences here that are unique to Australia and these are what can make it a pretty exciting place to be. My sister moved here 10 years ago as she wanted to have her own horse, something she has yearned for since childhood. She now has 4 and is very content as she has achieved something here not possible in the UK. I think this is an example of "a better life" - being able to do something here not possible in the UK. I think that's very important because on a day to day basis, jobs, money, bills etc are much the same. You have to have a passion for something specific to make it work rather than a vague "better life" idea. Hope this makes sense!

Well we're in Darwin (where rent is expensive - $800 for a a 4 bed with pool). We have a combined income of $132000, 3 children, 2 at school, 1 in childcare 1 day a week costs $70. TBH, what sounds like a fantastic salary on paper does not stretch far. We do have to budget carefully to ensure we don't run out of money by the end of the fortnight and only have the odd treat. In the UK, I didn't work so we were on 1 income and often had to rely on the visa by the end of the month. Here we don't resort to a credit card but this is negated by working long hours (hubby does a 168 hour fortnight, then 6 full days off where I have to squeeze in 4 8 hour shifts). So to summarise, we earn more here but work more and our family/worklife balance is pretty dire. I've never lived in Melbourne so can't advise on costs there but I'd have to agree with most other posters that $75000 would be a struggle.

Hi, not from Innisfail but have been there, what a beautiful place to live.

So sorry to hear your sad news. No matter how prepared we may feel, losing your Mum leaves a huge hole. Sounds like you've only just returned to the UK and now are preparing to fly back over. Let the crew know your circumstances. When I was in a similar situation a few years ago, they were very accomodating in seating me somewhere quiet. I was even invited to the flightdeck to see the view in the sky as the captain said he "wanted to show me where my Mum was". Take care of yourself; you must feel awful with the grief and jetlag. Best wishes, from a fellow Wiltshire pom X