Franklin05

Thank you, all I ever hear is very negative things about the NHS and that scares me. Especially with how easy even getting a GP appointment here, in Darwin at least, is as the surgeries are open till 8.30 and at weekends. That said after a year or so of GP's who don't listen 3 new ones who are all great have started and they are all from the UK, so as long as they are not all leaving in droves, some good ones should still be left We have continually found work hard to obtain and for it to be pleasant environment, hence why we have moved interstate 4 times. At the moment with all the changes that have occurred in my husbands work place he has found the environment to be a very unpleasant one and stressful one, everyone seems to be on the attack. We both found work easier in the UK, but that might be different in the current climate with the uncertainty of Brexit looming over the country, from the outside in it seems that no one knows what will happen. What prompted the return to Oz for you?

Sorry, I just realised that when I asked about you returning to Oz, and that was someone else moving back. I wish I could sleep, I really need it!

In the NT, Darwin and pretty stressed, it's 4 am and I've maybe had about two hours sleep. Hubby is stressed to the max over work, end boss is making life pretty unpleasant. I'm currently in talks with the main UK charity who support my daughters condition and once we know if we are heading to my parents or a friends (opposite ends of the UK) they can give us Dr info which I think may be a backdoor way in. I'm freaking out over her needs, we've not long know about her condition and the medication is essential to her growth. Are you heading back to Australia then? There is a local Move Cube office and I'm going to call them at a more reasonable hour than this. We have a lot to sort and it is so overwhelming, I'm pretty sure that one day we will get there. Fair to say we will not miss the Australian work environment, we have found it highly stressful with regards to age, needing qualifications for absolutely everything, and this may just be our experiences as there are so many lovely kind Aussies, but management who make working so much harder than it has to be.

Thank you, I had heard of MoveCube before and could not for the life of my remember their name. We are pretty much doing all of these things this evening, so I am glad we are on the right track. Thankfully I've been vigilant in keeping medical records for my daughter and I've left a message for someone who works at a charity for people with her medical condition - I know at least in Australia that GPs cannot prescribe her meds as it has to be a specialist so it will be helpful to find out more about this from the charity. Can't believe you did it in less than a week, we're looking at it being about 2.5 months, and that feels too soon.

Thank you, I do really appreciate you commenting, I've just called my mum for the second time this evening in tears, so your kindness has helped. I guess as I think of questions over the next day or two I will be putting them up here and searching for previous peoples questions. Hubby is at least applying for jobs here, what few there are, but that will only buy us a little more time to plan.

Husband and I moved out to OZ 10 years ago, in that time we've moved to 4 states looking for work, got a dog and had two kids and finally after securing permanent work built and bought a house, with the view to returning to the UK in about 3 to 5 years time (missing culture and family - who are now getting on and in need of extra support). Husband has had a few difficulties with work, new management, change in direction of the organisation and he along with another staff member have become the fall guys and management are looking to remove them and I guess start afresh, not necessarily an easy process and HR and unions are involved. Husband has been essentially been given 2 months, until precisely what they wont clarify but from the way things are at the moment we're expecting him to be leaving the organisation one way or another. So the move to the UK we had planned in a few years will now be in the next few months. It's a lot to take in, remaining or moving (yet again) in Australia is not really a possibility due to costs (our last interstate move cost about $10,000 for furniture removal, vehicle transport costs and our flights), securing work and that fact that we have already done that more times than I care to remember, practically it makes sense to return to the UK sooner. Mine and my daughters UK passports are expired, we haven't even gotten around to getting our sons. We are located remotely, there are limited jobs, and a down turn in the property market so we can't sell and will have to rent the house out. We have very little money, most of that went into the house and my parents will be supporting us finically to return and to get set up there. I feel so overwhelmed, especially with all the uncertainty going on with Brexit and the austerity measures, our daughter requires a specific medication, and several therapies and occasional in class support - we had been hoping to get most of these these therapies out of the way before returning and I am so worried about the affect this will have on her. I know once resident we will be entitled to NHS and school etc, but with therapy under way here there will be a gap in services and starting out on waiting lists again and a system I've not used in a decade. What do we need to consider in the move back?

Thank you, sounds like most people have positive experiences. I think she will be long enough to catch up with support, it's going to be a lot of changes for her. Thankfully family will help, one of the bonuses about being in the UK!

Lovely to read how well you are doing. We're looking at returning and I enjoying reading stories like these. The housing situation in the South doesn't surprise me, I think housing issues and costs are high for most people at the moment. Just seem to be the way it is both in Australia and the UK.

Does anyone know what UK schools do about children catching up in education terms? In Australia my daughter would be due to start Kindergarten a year later than she's start reception school in the UK. And when we are planning to return means that she won't have done any formal school here (only preschool), but in the UK her age group will have already complete one whole year. Just not sure if anyone has been through something similar with their child and what year they were put into in school in the UK compared with Australia. I'm guessing that the UK education system must take things like this into account, I'm just trying to get an idea of what this will mean for my daughter.

Sorry to hear you have had such a hard time, Ellie. As others have said don't be so hard on yourself you've had a lot to deal with and it must have ben a very isolating time for you. Rural Australia is nothing like living in the country in the UK where (unless in the Scottish highlands or some such place) you are likely only to be an hour or so away from a city or big town or two and you've done well to last so long. It does sound like your husband was very unwilling to compromise and has been unfair on you, marriage is about compromise. Feeling nervous about returning to the UK is understandable, but look at it as an opportunity after all that you have been through. You might even find that you feel relieved to be away from the doldrums and gossip of small town life.

Lack of footpaths to walk on. We've lived in some suburbs where footpaths don't exists at all. Found that very difficult, especially with a new born baby in a pram in a very hilly area.

Very much so, I've been back once in 7 years, and now with a second child on the way there trips back are not possible. I do know some families who can afford it and do go back every couple of years, but I'd imagine the majority of families cannot afford to spend that much money on trips every often.

Husband is always looking for career pathways and skills transfers etc for being in the uk. We will have to sell stuff at the time and I will be working once there too, I can't at the moment with regards to childcare (can't afford it unless I am working, but to be able to work we have to have secured a place, but maybe I should have another look into it) and being pregnant.

Sorry, read that wrong. I've agree with my husband to remain here for two years, we actually cannot afford to return just yet as he was out of work for a while. If life is just dragging by and your in a position to return then perhaps that is what you should be doing. Though, once granted citizenship you can still leave without having an Australian passport, but you might have to remain until you have completed your citizenship ceremony, which is what can take time depending how often ceremonies are help where you are living. What would be the benefit for you, for having the citizenship? Also, if it is worth waiting for that consider what you can do to improve your happiness in the meantime, because you need to have something.

We have citizenship because our daughter was born here, we have never intended to remain here, though we are for now.

Gosh, I am sorry. That sounds so difficult and I am not surprised he feels so homesick. We have for a while known we'd be looking to return to the UK, and as a part of that I know that elderly family is a massive pull, I think a lot of people on here can probable relate to that too. Have you considered if he should speak to someone, I am not sure if what visa you are on affects your medicare entitlements, but I think it might help him to ask your GP about getting some counselling, if anything just to help him through the grief. It's hard enough to grieve without the added pressure of just having migrated half way around the world and being in the position of starting your new life. Through all the things that have gone wrong here for us, and there have been some massive bumps along the way, we've always tried to consider if we would regret things if we didn't keep trying, but there does comes a point where you have to realise that you're flogging a dead horse. Talking to someone might help him to reach some decisions and rationalise things. Waiting lists and the process of getting to talk to someone here is much easier than in the UK. Wishing you all the best.

If you want to ensure that you can return definitely then get citizenship. We got our citizenship just after our daughter was born (born here) while we have never planned to stay here. It just means we can come back, should we ever wish to. Staying her until January isn't really that long, we're planning to move back in two years.

Interesting that this has struck a cord with you, I think in a way I am trying to find out if these are normal feelings and if others share them. My life does have a massive void in it at the moment, seems silly as we all have our health etc, but something is missing and I dare say I could feel like that forever, but it would be so much easier to manage those feeling around family. There are definitely some somewhat tense moments at the present. And I dare say there will be many more yet to come. I think this is one of the reasons I am on here, trying to talk to others who have gone through similar things.

The benefit is we can afford to leave, at the moment we cannot.

What are you top 3 reasons for wanting to or having returned to the UK? My top 3 for wanting to return are: - to raise my family closer to grandparents and extended family members - to feel a sense of social, cultural and environmental familiarity - Australia has not been an easy place for us to settle, life feels empty and unfulfilling - it might feel like this in the UK, but family, life long friends and familiarity would reduce this burden. (I posted sometime last week about wanting to return, but my husband wanted to wait 5 or so years, we've decided on going back in 2 years)

As others have said get her British Passport, it's just easier for when you enter the UK. When I went back to the UK for a month there had ben serious delays in getting British Passports issued, she only had her Australian passport which was stamped with No access to public funds. So I just think when moving back it wold make more sense to have a British Passport for accessing medical care, schools, and any benefit entitlements you may be eligible for (though there is a three month habitual residency period for most, but you might be Child benefit or tax credits).

Definitely something we are considering. I will talk more with my husband and see how he feels about it. Though we have just signed a tenancy agreement on a new rental here, so not sure how easy and costly that is to get out of, and he is enjoying his current job (contracted for two years) which is a slight carer redirection for him, so might be worth sticking with. Almost sounds like I am backing out of moving back to the UK, I'm not, just need to consider what is best for us all not just my immediate desire. We will be moving back sooner or later, but this has been helpful as it's given me a lot more to think about. At least I now know I'm heading in the right direction though. I don't feel quite so lost! Thank you

Just found out about Move Cube on another thread, looks and sounds good, I think we will sell most furniture etc. Have tired to get a quote just now, but the site is not responding. Good hear that you are doing so well back in the UK and found work so easily, give me hope! Out of all the brits we met upon moving out here, we are only one of two couples to struggle with work etc. The other couple had to go back due to visa restrictions are now trying to get back in through NZ.

Not sure we can pull our belts in much more, we have a second baby on the way, still second one will be less expensive as we have most stuff already. Family don't really have much space, I think we'd be on a mattress in my sisters spare room which is basically full of junk. Still, it's something. Though she is not meant to have pets in her apartment so I am not sure about the dog. Maybe we will have to rotate the dog and ourselves around my family (my husband doesn't get on with his).

No worries suesmalls I know how things can be. My thing about getting quotes now is I'd be getting emails and phone calls for weeks, if not months, with the hard sales push. I just want rough figures so I can plan to save to move.