MelT

Even though I am an only child I have my own health issues and cannot care for my parents in a practical sense. My thoughts are I could die first, they might be here for another 20 years.. I have my own family to look after too, we have one child high school age who needs additional support.. Will get more help in the Uk (already has a place to start school in September). Plus many other reasons for returning home.

It's a long story.. My parents came to Australia with us and we all moved to Victoria. Then out of the blue (after 4yrs) my parents decided to move to Qld. They told us a week before they moved. We were quite happy to stay in Vic, but I was always put under pressure to move to Qld with them. My husband was offered a promotion to move to Qld (still 4 hrs from my parents but much closer). It was as close as we could get, as work where my parents lived was few and far between. That was 7 years ago. My husband and I always said if Qld did not work out we would not move again here but go back home. Both of my parents have health issues so 2 years ago decided to downsize and move closer to us. In the meantime we have other issues which re-I force our decision to go back home, which initially my parents wanted too. We have been very open and honest with them. Once we made the decision last year they changed their minds. That is the v short version of events sorry... I am an only child and all my close friends are in the Uk, and all my husbands family are in the uk too.. It's a tough one..

Thank you any questions you have re moving to Australia will be happy to help... This forum is wonderful for providing support and guidance...

Yes I job swap would be good lol! Be careful the cost of living here in Australia has increased significantly in the last 10 years. Also, medical expenses are high as Medicare does not cover all medical costs we have spent thousands of dollars on medical expenses just in the last 12 months.. (no cover if a temp resident - best check this) one I have also found that Australian company's prefer to employee Australians, even though I am a dual citizen. Australia has never felt like home to us and we do not want to die here. If we don't do it now our son will have to finish school & uni etc.. then it will be more difficult for us to get work. It has been tough as my parents are in Qld too but have decided to stay here. Even though we have offered to organise everything with the move. Consequently my parents have cut off contact wth us.. Oh the joys of family....

We are moving back to the South East as this is where we lived prior moving to Australia. Our son has been accepted at a school and starts in September. Our son s so happy to be going back he said he felt accepted which he said he has never felt here in Australia (we have been here 13 years 6 in Vic more accepting than the last 7 years in Qld). So we will be working. Been in contact with good friends who I worked with in the UK and they said the job market is active in our area (finance). So it has all fallen into place so far.... Now just the house to sell and to secure a job for when we get back.. We currently live on acreage about 40 minutes south of Brisbane.

Interesting, I have just come back from a planning visit to the uk (January)I was able to be more active (go for walks etc) more than I ever do here. Where it is too hot and too dangerous with the extreme UV's (already given me skin cancer). I look forward to the long light evenings in the uk in the summer which we never get here in SE Qld. We have also had days of unrelenting rain here in Qld last week (& storms) so Australia's weather is far from perfect and is very extreme and harsh and an unforgiving climate. The U.K. Is far more temperate.

I think people in the uk (I am generalising here of course), can be less aware of the dangers of the sun (uv) and do not get the necessary checks. Having had skin cancer I have to have checks every 3 months, and will continue with this when I get back to the uk - along with annual checks for the rest of the family... I find sheltering from the sun in qld impossible - it is so harsh.. even with tinted windows in the car for instance, you still get sun damage through the windows when you are driving...unless you permanently wear a physical barrier (I have uv sleeves) but not always practical when it is 38 degrees every day for days on end.

Lovely to read about your adventures today... Our friends in Scotland were planning to drive down to visit us tomorrow - However, with the arrival of so much of the 'white stuff' it has meant we cannot meet up this time (our planing trip to come home). Look forward to seeing our friends when we move back for good by Sept 18. They said Scotland had not seen snow like this for quite a few years... keep warm and safe xxx.

To be honest it really depends where you live in the UK. I am in UK now and most days the weather has been glorious sunshine. I have been more active walking out in the sunshine (and seen other walkers and cyclists) enjoying not getting cooked like I do when I am in Qld. Can't wait to be in the UK permanently, for many reasons..one being no skin cancer and sun to hide from (highest rates in the world)..

Sharing experiences is not necessarily 'moaning'. Like I said, we felt accepted in Victoria, and enjoyed our very busy and social life at the time. Moving to any country is not for the faint hearted that is for sure. I wouldn't say we were lucky moving to Australia, we worked extremely hard to jump the many hoops to get here. Like most people who move here. At the end of the day it is all about choice. Just because you have chosen to move somewhere does not mean you have to stay there forever. It does not make that time a failure, but a life experience in which you learn to appreciate and value different places, people and experiences.

Yes done all of that.. Like I said Vic and Qld from my experience are like 2 different worlds.. Can't say we have not put the effort in including volunteering etc......7 years in Qld is quite a long time to give things a go..

It also depends where you live in Australia. I found Victoria a good place to settle and be accepted. However, have experienced totally the opposite since living in Qld.

Yes I do have to agree. We have lived in Australia for nearly 13 years.. 6 in Victoria and then 7 here in Qld (which is like a world to its own anyway). We are tired of being here for many reasons... No sense of belonging, racism (from Australians, more so Qld) to us.. the unrelenting heat.. skin cancer... Isolation (social), lack of professionalism in the work place.. Lack of support in schools...Cost of living.. culture... To name but a few. We will be retuning to the Uk by Sept 18 - have a planning trip booked for Jan 18 visiting schools etc.. It. has been a tough decision as my parents want to stay in Qld (love the heat) and have health issues. But, I just can't just merely exist anymore. I have discussed it with my parents until I am blue in the face, and just cannot do it anymore. We are so unhappy.

May I ask what this cost? We plan to do the same move within the next 12 months... Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Seriously, I would forget Australia an educational option for your nephew. Look at the UK there are schools that support children with specific learning difficulties needs, see the link http://www.crested.org.uk/sortnew.html. We are looking at going back to the UK, one of the reasons being more specific support in the education system for our son. It's very hard for us as it will mean leaving my elderly parents here in Australia (who came out with us from the UK). The whole situation is breaking my heart, but the education system here is failing to support our son. He has his whole life ahead of him, no education/qualifications will not set him up for life. Hoping with the appropriate support he will make the best of his life. We will not be here forever to support him, so best get things in place now and hope he will be able to obtain a good education and life skills to ensure he can support himself. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

I do not recommend Australia at all regarding supporting children with additional needs in the classroom. Most private schools will be happy to take your money, promise to deliver but do nothing. As I have learnt from bitter experience. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

That's wonderful... Just doing research ourselves and trying to decide which area to move back to. Which area of the U.K have you moved back to? I am struggling to decide.. We are from the SE but property is so expensive and I am concerned about schools as our son will be going back in time to start his GCSE's.. He also has ADHD so needs guidance staying on task (is well behaved, so no issues regarding behaviour). He is at a private school here and they just don't care. In the process of considering legal action based on the disability discrimination act. According to one of his teachers who is from the UK, he would get a lot more help at home. I have done some research and i am not sure if the UK system is any better.. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Perhaps it may be a good option to say you would like to go home to have your baby, then re-evaluate... This will give you much more freedom to have choices in your life. If you have your baby here and things don't go to plan (referring to your niggling doubts); you would be trapped here regardless....which would be heartbreaking.. My sister-in-law did the same and flew home to have her baby. Given your situation I understand now why she did. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

So pleased for you mission accomplished ... Sent from my SM-G920I using Tapatalk

I agree with snifter.. best cut losses early. The longer you stay the harder it will be to go back. More items to sell or ship home.. assets to sell/dispose of.. .. Maybe see it as a chance to start afresh at home. At least you will have the support of your family and friends. Much more important in times like these... I also have a good (British) friend who has been fighting through the courts for the last 4 years for custody of her 7 year old son (born in Australia). Spending hundreds of thousands of dollars (borrowed from family) fighting this case. Had the latest case in March and still have no result from the judge if my friend can take her son home to the UK; the decision/judgement could take up to 2 years. In the meantime my friend is forced to live in Australia against her wishes. I know I this is the worst case scenario, but it does happen and when it does it is hell. I am hope your HB will understand at the end of the day you just want to be at home. The current situation is putting undue stress on your health at a critical time. Best be home. ISent from my SM-G920I using Tapatalk

I really feel for you.... I have lived in Australia for 12 years and have always felt home sick. Unfortunately we had some complicated circumstances which prevented us from moving back.. My feelings have never changed, in fact they have just intensified over time. Home for us will always be the UK. Our experience means that we will appreciate the special things about the UK, that we perhaps took for granted before moving to Australia. Our goal now is to go home within the next 2 years - even if it means having to take a step back financially for a while. I now think of this time as preparing to go home. Getting the house ready to sell... Planning holidays to places here we would never had seen (bucket list) if we were at home. I took my husband and son to New Zealand earlier this year (I had been years before) for a trip of a lifetime. A place they may never had seen if we stayed in the UK. Try and plan some positives while you are here.. everyone is different, things may improve over time. Sending big hugs and positive thoughts..... Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Depends where you live.. We are hoping to move back to Sussex. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

There is a trade off though... Lovely long, light and balmy evenings in the summer.. Can't wait... Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

May i ask why? Sent from my SM-G920I using Tapatalk

We are in a similar situation and have been here for 12 years. Planning to go back within the next 18 months. Would be sooner but the situation is complicated.... Our wish list is to sail the Whitsunday's, maybe do a the Ghan and the top end.. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk