Effie

Thanks for the info. I'm interested in the insurance side of things whenever I've hired before in the uk I've been persuaded with their ridiculous excess reduction payment but I think this time will look at getting a separate policy. Hadn't thought of looking into the travel insurance side of it too

I recently got my NSW driving licence after becoming permanent resident. I will be returning to the uk for a holiday in April and want to hire a car. Can I still use my uk drivers licence or do I have to use my NSW one? Has anyone had any problems hiring a car in the uk on a NSW licence-will they charge me more!! thanks

I'm jealous! I miss the beautiful countryside so much. since we have been here I've been home twice and am headed back again in April. First time was when our little boy was 4 months we went as a family then but the last and next times is just me and my son. Other half won't go for a holiday as he knows eventually we will be moving back there anyway. He knows financially it makes sense moving back, Sydney is so expensive compared to Lincoln. We have really struggled since being here but since we got our PR visa we can finally claim child care rebate at least which has been great and for once we are doing the sensible thing and putting it into savings for our move back home. My partner hates the British weather and thinks that will make him depressed when we get home!! Lol I hate the Aussie weather far too hot for me. We both know though that with a little boy and hopefully another baby in the future we need to be around family and friends. My mum is getting old and no longer feels she can face the journey here. I have so many friends back home that I miss and we are all at the stage in our lives of having kids it's where we need to be. i certainly don't regret moving to Australia we've had some adventures and done some amazing things here but I think most of all it's made me realise where my home is and how much I love England.

That's good to know although I know there were always recruitment drives for secondary teachers just hope that is the case for primary too

Having moved from the uk to Australia in 2012 and basically never liked it, we are planning a move back at the end of 2017. I was a primary school teacher in the uk with leadership responsibility (tlr2) I moved to Australia as my partner got a job offer here and for me it was something I thought I always wanted to do. It was a difficult decision quiting my uk job. I liked the school, had worked there from nqt up to leadership but a new adventure awaited. Arriving in NSW March 2012 it was a difficult time registering to teach here and finding work and I got quite depressed realising I'd moved from a very good job in a forward thinking education system to being stuck doing casual work as and when. Luckily I did manage to secure a temporary position at a very good school in 2013 and despite leaving there for 6 months on unofficial maternity leave, they still had me back the next two years and I'm due to start my next contract with the for the following year. Initially I was annoyed at myself leaving such a good leadership position in the uk and taking just a standard teaching role but now I love it, it's nice just being able to teach and not have the pressure of leadership. Anyway I have never felt happy here in Australia and after much debate/persuasion, I have finally persuaded my other half that we will move back to the uk in two years time (Christmas 2017) I am over the moons about this and can't wait. My worry is getting work again in the U.K. I heard so many stories when I left the uk teaching system that once out it would be very difficult to return. It scares me somewhat that I won't be able to get a job. We are limited with where I can work as we are moving back to rural Lincolnshire. I would love to hear some success stories of teachers who returned to the uk and found employment and how they went about it. I was a bloody good teacher in the uk and still am now, considering I moved to a new country and took on a whole new curriculum I think this stands me in good stead and I really want to work in the uk system again (crazy as that may seem I think ofsted has its good points and makes for better teachers and better prospects for the children - when done properly and sensibly) I'm just after dome advice, there must be lots of teachers out there who have been in this situation. Thank you

I am so glad to read this post it coul almost be identical to what I will be posting two years from now We moved to Australia in 2012 and within two weeks of being here had my first "I don't want to be here" moment. Sadly my other half really had no intention of ever going back to the uk once he got here. Fast forward 4 years and I still have the desperate longin to go home feeling. I also now have a two year old. Other half has agreed in two years (christmas 2017) we will go home also back to Lincolnshire! The plan for us is get citizenship and hopefully baby number two and head back to the rolling fields of home as a family of four having had some big adventures along the way and the opportunity if we ever feel the need to return in the future. Two years seems forever away and I'm counting the days. I would have loved to be going sooner but the compromise with the other half was if I wanted another baby we do it here and stay longer. would love to know how you are finding being back in Lincolnshire (which part -we are from Lincoln) now that the dust has settled and the excitement of leaving Australia has passed.