Collie

Hey bandman, Well done and congrats on your daughter. I'm separated from my little girl, not quite as far as you but Sydney-Perth is still a long way. I can feel your pain. Others may be better to give advice on migration options but I can offer some guidance on family court stuff. Be warned it can be very expensive both financially and emotionally, I'm in the middle of it myself currently. Unfortunately, you are going to need the help of the mother. 1st of all, are you sure it is your child? get a paternity test. Secondly are you named on the birth cert? How did you found out about your girl? Does Mum want her to know you and spend time with you? If this is yes and yes and you want to be involved, start doing regular skype calls with her (2-3 times per week ideally but you will have to take what you can get). I skype with my daughter 3 times per week (by court order) and it makes a big difference when I go over to see her. 1st step is mediation, Relationships Australia are quite a cost effective option for this. Hopefully you don't end up going down the court route but mediation is a pre-requisite before court proceedings. Now - there is no such thing as father's rights or mother's rights but there are a child's rights. A child has a right to know and spend significant time with both a father and mother and family from both sides. That's probably enough for now but happy for you to pm me if need somebody to talk to who's currently going through this. I can give you the benefit of my mistakes. Also check out mensline.org.au, quite a few good guys on there who can give you the benefit of their experience regarding access, rights, mediation and court process etc. And once again, Congrats on becoming a Dad. Col

Hey mate, Given your age, I would have thought that a working holiday visa would be the place to start. Fairly easy to get. Once you are on the ground you can look for an employer to sponsor you or other more permanent visa options. Good luck

Hi chilliboy, I have used Halo (London) a few times and found them quite good. Most the Aussie banks will let you open an account from overseas (deposit only) and when you arrive you go in with your id etc they activate the account. the account will take deposits (Halo, moneycorp or whoever) before you arrive. I used CBA (Commonwealth bank) and had no issues. Really good online and app banking. Safe travels, Col

Yep - Apologies on the tangent. Obviously a difference of opinion based on individual experiences. To the OP - best of luck with counselling and hope you find a solution that ensures the kids have daily access to both parents.

Your biggest cost is going to be accommodation. Have a look at domain.com.au to get a feel for it (rentals are generally quoted weekly). Sydney is expensive and Central coast will be cheaper. You are really looking for a 4 bedroom property. My circumstances area bit different to yours (single, professional, live in Balmain) but my costs are roughly $5,000-$6000 per month but I have a very nice lifestyle for that (out socialising every weekend, gigs, dinners, brunches, drinks) My 2 bed unit in Balmain is 2,750 per month. Balmain is pricey though and you would get a lot more property for that in Belmore and even more on the CC. I go to Belmore a bit for football games and I think I's prefer the CC to it. Where is your OH going to be working (Concord? It depends on what you are into. I'm a city person so like to be close to the centre of the action. The CC would be good for family life and the beaches if you aren't that bothered about the city. It's about 90 minutes north (many people commute daily) and parts of it are stunning.

Appreciate that every case is different but that has not being my experience to date. My case is ongoing so I live in hope. Maybe it is just the judge in my case but I have sat through other cases (when waiting to be called) and IME, Mum can do whatever she likes without regard to consequences. Whatever she says is accepted as truth and Dad has to prove everything. there are some horror stories on mensline where these "mothers" have destroyed relationships for their children with their Dads. Back in court next Monday after Mum is refusing to obey a court order for next Feb and has told lies to the court. Will let you know how I go.

Apologies, I had a link error in my tax calculator. You're right, it's about $4800.

Hi Daffodil. Be careful what you wish for. Just another perspective re "I'm gutted to be honest that he hasn't told me that he loves us enough to follow us to the end of the earth and will do whatever it takes to make me happy" My ex used to use that line and as 2 counsellors told her - he is not responsible for making you happy, only you can do that. To turn it around, how would you feel if he said " I can't believe you don't love me enough to stay and you want to take my children away from me". Another thing to think about if you end up moving and he allows you to take the kids (I wouldn't) is how they will react when they grow up? You would be denying them the opportunity to have a proper relationship with their Dad and that could come back to bite you when they're older. They could end up hating you. Kids need their Dad just as much as their Mum. Why should they go with you? Their life is here. Sorry if it sounds harsh but it's a subject that is close to my heart and if you followed through on that plan you would not be putting their needs first. You are in a tough spot and I wish you luck.

Lane Cove to Chullora is about 10minutes in a helicoptor. It's 30-50min drive in peak hour (c. 20kms)

$75k is about $5,800 per month after tax. Chullora is a bit out and Sydney traffic is horrendus so unless he enjoys commuting, you should pick somewhere close' ish to there. IMO, the North shore is too far to commute. I'm not a big fan of out that way but the inner west is between your OH's work and city and is pretty good Somewhere like Croydon or Straithfield could be doable. You are probably still looking at c. $2k+ pm for rent though. Sydney is expensive. I pay $2.7k pm for a 2 bed apartment in Balmain. Balmain is beside the city and is lovely so there are suburbs that are a lot cheaper. I think what you need to weigh up is the benefits of a wage coming in straight away vs moving to where you want to be (Brisvegas) and having family close by. Sydney is expensive. What does your OH do? Could he work from home (Brissie) for a bit. Is the salary negotiable? What are his job prospects in Brissie? How long can you live (on savings) before he needs to work? When you can answer those questions I think it may help clarify your decision. Writing down the pros & cons of your choices often helps clarify your thinking. Domain.com.au will give you an idea of rents in a particular area and googlemaps will show you commuting distances/times. Good luck

Sorry my sympathies are with Dad. My ex relocated (interstate but still a long way) just before the birth of my daughter. She is obstructing my daughter having a proper relationship with her Dad (me). Going through the hell that is the family court system at the moment which is very pro-mother by the way (even when Mum is nuts). But they hate relocation cases and if it gets as serious as a split, I doubt she'd be allowed bring the kids overseas. Reference the case where the Aussie mum left Dad (in Italy) and took the kids to Brisbane "on a holiday", then told him she wasn't going back. It took a couple of years but the kids were forcibly removed from Mum and returned to Dad in Italy (rightly so IMO). There was a follow up story recently where they are doing great and happy as living with Dad in Italy. The OP is free to return to Wales but don't expect to take the kids away from Dad. At the end of the day, the kids come first. I don't think you are there yet and hope it doesn't get that far. Counselling or mediation is the first step. Relationships Australia are reasonable ($ wise). BTW - I know several people who went "home" and realised quite quickly that life was better in Aus (including myself who has boomeranged a couple of times) and returned again. The grass is always greener and location may not be the source of the OP's unhappiness. Good luck

Hey Millie, Do you know where your O/H will be working? Traffic in Sydney is an absolute nightmare (M50*3) so commuting is a factor to consider. Sydney is expensive (although the falling dollar will help if you're transferring money over), although I find it cheaper than Perth, excluding property costs. In my experience day to day living (groceries, cafes, entertainment, restaurants, transport) is about 15-20% cheaper in Sydney than Perth. But rent & property is cheaper in Perth and you get a lot more bang for your buck. I travel to Perth about once a month. Sydney is a big city and to give you a rough idea of size compared to Ireland, it would stretch from Dundalk (Hornsby - Central coast) to Athlone (Penrith- Blue mountains) to Gorey (Wollongong) Regarding areas, below is a bit of a snapshot but is by no means comprehensive. The Eastern suburbs is nice but IMO is a bit too cool for school, quite trendy (think Ross O'Carroll Kelly ) and very expensive. The other thing is that if your o/h is not working in the ES he will be commuting a bit and you need to travel across the city to north, inner west or west. Bondi, Bondi Junction, Randiwick & Coogee are big backpacker areas (lots of paddies, poms etc). The areas between them are lovely but pricey. I quite like Maroubra which is a little further south but great beach and a bit quieter and you probably get a bit more for your money. I have a mate who lived there and loved it but had to move to be closer to work in Frenches Forest. Inner west, I am a little biased as I live in Balmain and love it. Other good areas in the inner-west are Glebe, Annandale, Lilyfield, Rozelle, Leichhardt, Haberfield. I really like Newtown but not sure if it's family friendly, it's more urban and hippy'ish. The inner west is close to the city and the right side of the city (commuting wise) if you're O/H needs to travel west for work. Some great villages with lots of retail, cafe strips etc. You get a bit more bang for your buck. Lower North Shore. Again some lovely areas, can be pricey. Can be very quiet (I jest that everybody north of the bridge is in bed by 9pm.) Reasonable driving distance to the northern beaches. Cremorne, Mosman lovely villages (but quiet). Balmoral beach is very kid friendly (no surf). Not too far from the city. Upper north shore - suburbia - don't know a lot about it as I tend just to drive through on the way to somewhere more interesting. Northern beaches - very nice, can be quiet too but Manly is close by. North of Manly is family orientated. You are a trek to the city (albeit a beautiful trek by ferry from Manly). I have friends who moved that way and bascially just commute for work or the odd night out. ie once you live that way you tend to socialise that way. If you are not working that way you are a serious trek to the other areas of the city. South - don't know too much about down here but have some friends who live in Cronulla and love it. 45mins-1hour to the city. But then again, I know a young Scottish family who moved to Oatley and found it very quiet and boring and moved once their lease was up. Out west - Don't really venture that far often but think West Dublin, I'll leave it at that. Hope this helps. I would look at inner ring or middle ring suburbs with good public transport links. They give out about it a lot but I find Sydney public transport ok but I live in an inner ring suburb. It's a lot better than Perth IME. Maybe post the ages of the kids, what you are looking for in an area and what your budget is for rent and it will help people narrow down suggestions. Most areas have decent parks and playgrounds close by. domain.com.au is where you will see property and rents quoted are weekly. Start browsing the sydney morning herald site too to help you get assimilated (smh.com.au) On the work front, I'm not in that field but know a few who are and they are quite busy. plenty of big building and infrastructure projects going on at the moment. Happy for you to drop me a PM if you like if you have specific queries. Collie

Hi Vron, Sorry to hear about your situation. I have been on the receiving end of something similar and had to go to the court system to get access to my daughter. The emotional stress is unbelievable. Did your daughter and her ex have a parenting plan or consent orders (court orders) in place regarding the children? If she had consent orders in place, he may (most likely is) in breach of court orders and she can ask for a recovery order. If she believes that the children are in danger she should contact child services immediately. But they are with their Dad and if the children are not in immediate danger the courts will decide on what is best for the children and access. Ideally the courts want the parents to come to an agreement and normally insist on mediation. Remember Dad has as much right to see his kids and be part of their life as Mum does but his actions will not be looked upon favourably. It sounds like they have already started down the family court process. You may get some good advice from mensline.org.au. Although targeted as a support forum for men, there are lots of guys who give good reasoned advice and emotional support regarding child custody issues and the family court process (as they have been through it). Have a look in the forum. Plenty of us have had experience with crazy ex's. The courts do normally get it right but it takes a long time. Tell your daughter to remain focused on the kids in her evidence, the courts aren't interested in the he said/she said stuff unless there are domestic violence or drug/alcohol issues. The courts will act in the best interests of the children and may appoint an independent children's lawyer (ICL) to safeguard their interest. In the court process, there is no such thing as mother's rights or father's rights but there are children's rights. The children have a right to a relationship with both parents and to spend significant time with both parents (ideally 50-50). Good luck.

Hey Millie, Congrats on making the move, you'll love it. check on the Irishbrekkieclub on meetup. Eastern suburbs is very pricey. Inner west a lot more reasonable and the northern beaches is quite family friendly. Will post a more comprehensive response when i get time. Col

Yep, free to come & go as you please. When you apply for citizenship they tack it on at the end, eg when I applied for citizenship (2007) you had to be living in Australia for 2 years as a PR (think it may only be 1 now) and any time overseas was added on, ie I spent a month overseas in that 2 years so it became 2 years & 1 month. Hope that makes sense.

I've used Halo (based in London) to transfer EUR to AUD in the past and always got a good rate. You can even pick your own rate (on a forward contract) and if/when the rate hits your rate your contract is executed. It depends on where you think rates will go. Despite the recent rally, I think the AUD still has a bit to fall, just my opinion mind.

Hi folks, Has anybody any recommendations or give cost indications for moving from Sydney to Perth please? General ball park will do, just trying to get an idea. Will have standard furniture for a 2 bed apartment, may get rid of some stuff first but as a rough guide. Couch, 2*armchairs, coffee table, buffet/TV unit, Dining table & 2 benches. Queen bed & mattress, beside tables & chest of drawers, Fridge, Washing machine, microwave. Say 10 boxes of stuff. A few large bags of clothes & stuff. It's probably about a 1/2 a container. Thanks, Col

Hey David & Holly, I brought some stuff over in 2011 from Dublin to Sydney. I think I had about 1/2 a container and from memory I think it cost E2,000-E2,500 (euros) at the time (may be cheaper from the UK as the volumes are greater) In that I had a Queen sized bed & mattress (frame taken apart). A really big couch (nearly 10 foot long), 2 armchairs, coffee table, decent size buffet (about 6 foot long, 1 and bit wide and 31/2 high), a bedroom chair. 4-5 large boxes of stuff, bike, golf clubs, Snowboard bag. A few large bags of clothes etc. Think that was it. They came to the house to collect and packed everything up, included packing materials. Delivered to an address in Sydney (which i supplied later as I didn't know where i'd be living). Took about 12 weeks. On that trip I used Careline. On a previous relocation, I used Allied Pickfords and found them great to deal with. Hope this helps Col

Or try airbnb.com

Most of the Australian banks will allow you to open an account before arriving (I opened a CBA account from Ireland). You can then transfer your cash to it using a money broker (much cheaper than the banks - I used Halo in London but ozforex, moneycorp, transfermate etc are others). On arriving in Australia, you just go to the branch with you ID and they activate your account for ongoing use. Carrying that amount of cash is just crazy IMO.

Hey mate, Best village type suburbs are inner west IMO. I'm biased but I love living in Balmain (Rozelle, Lilyfield are neighbouring suburbs). Close to the city (5kms), a real village with good cafes, restaurants and pubs and generally a bit of life. You do generally sacrifice space though but there are plenty of parks close by including Callan park and the Bay run. Totally worth it for the 20min commute to the city (by bus or ferry). You can even walk it in about 45mins. Drummoyne, Russell Lea are close by if you want a bit of a bigger property. Leichhardt is ok but on the flight path. A good suggestion is rent somewhere for 6/12 months and maybe do a few weekend trips to different suburb to check them out, you could even do airbnb for a weekend. i know a couple who are doing this before deciding on where they want to buy for the longterm. Good luck, Col

$1200, wow. What's the layover?, Straight through Hanoi?

I pay $60pm (E40) with TPG, unlimited downloads. Think it averages about 13mbs. Never had any issues in 4 years. I'm in Sydney. Foxtel is a rip off, got rif of it last year and haven't looked back.

It's been a while but found CP good when i flew with them. I think they are part of 1 world (Qantas) for points etc, if 4 of you are flying, you can family pool the points. It may pay for your Sept flight or a nice upgrade for when you go by yourself. Plenty in HK airport to amuse yourselves. 55 mins on the way back is tight - Is it the same plane (flight number)? Generally, I expect it to cost about $2k return, yes it is cheaper from there to here which is ridiculous. You could book your flight 1 way with family and back in Sept by yourself and then book a UK-Aus return July - Sept from the UK, would need to make sure you get the same flight back as the family. I just did a trip to Dublin via Perth (stopover for 5 days), Abu Dhabi and back to Sydney via Abu Dhabi and it cost $1,900. The $6.5k for 4 people is pretty good though.

Hey wolvesaussie, spend a couple of days in Dublin (I'm just back), it's buzzing at the moment. Enjoy