NicoleWalt

Thank you again for all the recent posts. A recce definitely sounds a good idea but it's just the costs. We have spoken and would like to look at Perth as a possibility but also on the other side of the country Brisbane and Townsville. We have friends in Perth and Airlie Beach who love where they live and as you say recommend us visiting. I have priced up a general 3 week stay with flights, accommodation and cars and it's coming in at £6000 (ish) then we would need spending money for food, travel, being out and about. Then the visa process I have been advised will cost around £5000. So that's £13000+ just for a visit and the visa. We don't have that kind of money available to us at the moment and it would take a while to save. We would hope to use the equity in our house and selling our belongings for set up in Australia but that money obviously isn't there until we've made the decision and sold up. Decisions, decisions!

When is the best time to start looking for work then if we aren't doing the sponsored route? Within a few months of our departure date?

Thank you for your info on the 457 visa that's very useful. I don't understand Australia at all... I started this thread explaining that and at this point am at an information gaining part to help us make an informed decision. I have said as well as the thread I am and will be speaking with friends already out there, researching online and attending info events. May be I should have been better informed before I started the thread? I don't know. We don't want village/rural life nor do we want inner city life. We live in a town of around 85000 have access to country walks, camping, parks, outdoor sports, local amenities and bars... So I have assumed the suburbs would better suit what we would like given previous posters info?

Yes precisely.... Also how would this work if my husband managed to get sponsored from his employer?

Yes thank you for your advice! My eldest son starts school next week and my youngest has another two years in nursery, which sounds about right in terms of timescales for us I think? I'd like to think I am a realistic person so would ride the rough with the smooth too.

thank you for your detailed response and also addressing the irrelevant posts. Where abouts in Aus do you live? I am going to look into the Education system more as this is something really important to us. The suburbs sound like exactly what we would want but it sounds daunting finding the right one in the right area with good schools.

A wine/gin bar would do nicely

and these are the things that appeal to us for our family.

Thank you for all this. I wasn't clear about what I meant by city life. For me I define that as not having much green space so parks, a garden, local shops and bars. Where we live now we can walk 10 mins into countryside, we have a local pub and shops and a night out can be a local restaurant not having to go into a major city with hustle and bustle. Would a suburb give us something similar?

I was debating not coming back to this thread after yesterday, but thought I would give it one last look. I received a really nice message from someone who commented on the negativity of some people and put it into perspective, I also appreciate some of the more balanced posts today. I couldn't understand why so many people emigrated given how people portrayed Oz and my opinions of life and expectations. Today having read through the recent comments we still have the itch and will always wonder 'what if' I think. I think if we can afford it I would like to visit first and allow that to put some things into real perspective and then make a set decision. In the mean time we will continue to gather info and accept Oz isn't for everyone but could possibly be for us! Thanks Everyone!

Nicer person?! Not sure I said that hmmm? What I said was that I feel we would have a more positive mindset. On the 'few' days here when we do get nice weather we are more pro-active and have more energy so are more productive and work and make the most of our down time too. Yes this may because it's a novelty, but who knows? I also never said we weren't outdoorsy people. We walk, go bike riding and prefer to be outside than in, I don't however like being cold to the bone when out walking and getting soaked wet through- our dog however does! On holidays abroad we walk for miles, eat outdoors, enjoy watching sports and playing them and love socialising with friends in the garden too.

Yes I appreciate what you are saying completely. I guess at this stage we are just gaining info to help us make an informed decision which is why I posted this thread. I am a realist and understand the negatives, I don't know anyone from our area who has emigrated and wanted to return though. Usually with these forums like with anything it's only people who have a very good/very bad experience who then want to share it so I'm not necessarily getting a general view. I think our next step with be the event in Birmingham and then we will take it from there with regards to making a decision.

I see you are originally from Bury, we are in sunny Burnley, I don't think people even in the UK can understand how dreary the weather is unless they have lived here! Ha.

Yes I am definitely focused on the weather. We live in the North of England in a Valley, we are lucky if we get a week of nice weather a year (defined as sunshine with clouds and a top temp of 23 degrees) we get lots and I mean lots of rain and it gets pretty cold, snowy and icy in winter. So whilst I'm aware seasons exist everywhere, I think anything is an improvement on this?! I have seen there is a 'Down Under' event in Birmingham in October which allows you to meet employers and gain more information with regards to Job prospects and options so this would be something useful for us I think. As well as being a qualified engineer my husband initially trained as a car mechanic so we also have that to fall back on. I have worked in nursery schools so would be happy to return to that or as a teaching assistant in a school if need be and progress as I have here.

This is is disappointing to hear but I would also like to think we have an element of control in all of this too so yes it may be the same somewhere else, as I keep saying I would hope our mentality would be different and more positive to counteract some of this stuff.