MelT

We were in a very similar position. 
I was made redundant and couldn't find any work. We had just moved into the house we built and we hung around in hope with me applying for everything, even macas. Eventually, we agreed I would start applying for roles in the UK and had interviews almost immediately and within a fortnight an offer. 
For us, by then we were flat broke and arrived back with pretty much nothing. A suit case each. But, it has worked out. We have a lovely little cottage and career back on track. 

Is he a geologist? 

Just seeking some feedback from other members who have moved back to the UK.

We are planning on returning to the UK within 2 years and would ideally like to secure a job before we return.  Just wondering what others have experienced and the time taken to do this.  My husband has been searching for work in Qld (made redundant business closed) for over 4 months with no success.  Would it be better to apply for jobs in the UK instead?  Not sure what we should do and worried we will use up all our funds in the meantime then going back will be extremely difficult, if not impossible.

Thank you

We are in a similar situation. Except my parents are here in Australia.

We have been in Australia for 12 years, Qld for the last 6 where we do not feel settled plus we have found getting into the local employment market almost impossible. No issues when we lived in regional Victoria.

We have always said if Qld doesn't work out we would have no option but go move back to the UK.

I have been homsick for years but have only put the move back off for financial reasons. Now we may not have a choice anyway as my husband was made redundant at the end of 2016 (traveled interstate) applied for over 120 jobs (highly skilled professional) with no success here in Qld.

The only dilema we have now is my mother wants to stay here in Australia.

All i can say is home is where the heart is.... i truly hope you can work things out.


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Not quite the same thing. I do speak from experience having a English CEO, just off the boat and out of depth. The 'Fair Go' has long diminished in Australia. More nepotism being the go and watching the back.
Old clichés take a time to die though. Twelve years ago the 'boom' likely hid under laying realties.

I would imagine the same applies everywhere. I for one do/would not like to 'take orders' from a new arrival, unfamiliar with local terrain. I feel certain that the sentiment would get across adequately expressing as much.
Only natural newcomers to some extent take a step back and learn the ropes. My question would be though, unless disclosed, just how would the 'shop floor' be aware their 'boss' is just of the boat?

About time because some unscrupulous employers were using it for cheap labour. It was never meant to lead to permanent residency but it seems it has done in the past. It was so bad that people were brought in to fill jobs that many home grown applicants were capable of doing. 

They also provide required skills and experience; not forgetting tax revenue and contribute to GDP.... It is generally more costly for a company to recruit using the 457 visa. Which is usually only used when the required skills and experience cannot be obtained in the local labour market.

We are dual nationals and find the labour market here in Australia quite discriminatory, so this change in policy is no surprise.


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I was chatting to my brothers wife over xmas when I was there and even though they've been here about 6 years now, she was saying they don't have many friends, I think she has met other parents through their son but she said my brother hasn't got that many mates, and he's a really sociable chatty guy with loads of really good mates from uni, work etc back home. I don't know why that is,he's joined volunteer groups- fire brigade etc. Typical I find this out when I've already moved here! They seem to socialise with their neighbours abit but it's all at the house, consuming more alcohol than I think is healthy- and I do like a drink! 
Yeh,  I agree [mention=226692]wattsy1982[/mention] the beach wears off after a while- up here you can't even go in the sea due to sharks, crocodiles, stingrays and jellyfish!! I'm not sure that's appealing and not mentioned in the emigration brochure! Three years is more than enough to realise it's not for you, I hope the move back goes well and good idea hanging on til you get citizenship, then your kids have the choice in the future.
[mention=214837]MARYROSE02[/mention] I think you do the right thing keeping busy, doing volunteering, courses etc. I'm sure if you did go back, they'd be some old friends you're still in contact with but can't be easy after a while when they've been doing their old thing. 
@MeIT I'm sorry to hear about your situation, it's tricky when you've got family here, and your hearts not in it. Likewise must be difficult if they're on the other side of the world, at least you're together at the moment and can spend important time together. I agree on some of what you say, I do think I've stepped back in time a few years, were it not for wifi (although it's not that great) I'd struggle to realise it was 2017 here. Im not against swearing but on the radio should they not censor it at 1 O'clock in the afternoon. :-) 
I'm quite embarrassed for the media here, it's shocking, seems very one sided, no form of intelligent conversation/documentaries (except imported) or radio programmes. I've only been here 5 mins but I don't know how people cope with such vacuous politics, there's no depth to it from what I can see. I hope it works out for you, good luck. Sounds like you've made the right decision.

Oops...Sorry meant to say, I feel for you.. (Typo)..


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I've always thought how you feel about a place depends on what company you keep when you are there. No matter how good a place is, without good friends to share it with, it's just a place. And certainly not all of Australia is good, although I would struggle not to find the blue mountains pretty. I've done solo travelling before and it does become tedious after a while. You sound tired, possibly lonely, homesick. Start work, you've made the effort. Set a date to leave. If you forget that date when it arrives, or choose to ignore it then great. If not then you have it a shot. We're your intentions to re join your family? If so, it must be worth finishing the effort, surely?

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I'm not a fan of GM food. But why would it cause allergies?

 

https://www.geneticliteracyproject.org/2014/04/16/are-gmos-causing-an-increase-in-allergies/

They modify the crop so that it is more resistant to the stronger weed killers/roundup that is sprayed on and is absorbed by the plant which is then eaten.

My allergies 10 minutes after eating GM foods include severe diarrhoea and bleeding skin.

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Thank you for being so honest with your experiences of moving back home.

 

It has made me reflect on why we want to move home.

 

The main reasons being:

 

1) Geneticially modified food - is freely grown, produced and sold in Australia and is highly toxic.

 

I only discovered this when i visited the uk a few years ago and a the severe allergies i had developed siince living in Australia disappeared.

 

After considerable research i discovered it was gmo which is band/limited in Europe. As there is significant scientific evidence that they cause serious health and environmental issues.

 

Since last year my son has also developed the same allergies.

 

2) support for learning disabilities

 

Our son has learning difficulties and we are constantly fighting for the private school to support him. His disability does not fit the Queensland funding model so it makes no difference private or public.

 

It was only last year (grade 7) that his teacher who is from the uk said that he would get so much more help at home in the uk. I researched this and he would qualify for the send program at home v nothing here in Australia.

 

3) Queensland has the highest rate of skin cancer in the world.

 

I, until diagnosed with an aggresive skin cancer on my face last year (fortunately removed and all clear), have been a very passionate horsey lady - ride dressage and a hiker. So being outside is the norm. But i have always been careful with sun protection as i have fair skin. So now avoid going outside. I have spent the last 5 months pretty much inside as the heat this year in Brisbane has been unbearable. I am also now very concerned for my family, especially my son who is also fair skined and the risk of skin cancer. At least you can wrap up if it is cold - not the same in the heat which i find suffocating.

 

4) to be closer to extended family

 

So really i know that it has been tough for your family to move back, any move is stressful no matter where it is. I think you are safer in the uk, free from the risks of skin cancer and free from gmo's. I cannot even eat out anymore or enjoy being ouside in Australia - so just enjoying lifes basics have been taken away..

 

 

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Sorry, so add to the list..

5) more professional working environment/attitude/opportunities

6) more depth to friendships (something you touched on)

7) more culture/history and travel opportunities...

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Hi, we moved back to the UK 2.5 years ago after spending 8 years away. Some years in Perth and some in Melbourne. My daughters were 5 and 6 when we moved out there and so teenagers when we came back. It was me ( the wife!) of the family who wanted to leave (and I had for a quite a while) everyone else was perfectly happy. Within 4 weeks of being back I started to wonder " why on earth did I want to come back" and 2.5 years later I still feel that way and I have a lot of regrets about leaving Australia. Basically I let my heart lead rather than head and I know that some say that you should follow your heart...

 

Reasons for leaving: I wanted to see more of family and old friends; even after 8 years I didn't feel "at home" and I found it difficult to make close friends other than with other English people (despite trying hard and taking up opportunities when they presented, although maybe I could have tried harder..); I struggled with the high temperatures in the Summer (and didn't want to move to Tasmania nor somewhere like SW WA- as lovely as they are for a holiday); for some bizarre reason I wanted my daughters to be able to access UK Universities as domestic students rather than overseas (need 3 yrs residency) etc and so the list goes on. UK University fees are now some of the most expensive in the World, higher that in Australia (taking into account Commonwealth loans etc)..

 

So anyway our experiences of coming back. I will just mention that we were very lucky and my husband had also been offered 2 different jobs back here in the UK at the time, both as good (and one even better) than his job in Australia so we didn't come back to unemployment and he could well have eventually been made redundant in Australia due to a downturn in the mining industry and manufacturing. Anyway, the bottom line is that it was a complete hassle and frankly a nightmare at times in trying to sort out and establish life here again in the UK. By that I mean it was a nightmare trying to get school places (all schools are full and frankly there are not a lot of good ones in the State Sector in the area we had to live- dictated by job). Dealing with the LEA was like dealing with the military. Rude, unhelpful and totally lacking in flexibity. Despite the fact that we were born and bred here, still had UK bank accounts, NHS numbers, NI numbers and the fact that my husband was employed immediately it was very difficult and a hassle trying to sort other things out like getting reasonable car insurance, securing a house rental etc etc. The rental market in the UK is in crisis, there is little affordable decent accommodation available unless you want to live somewhere very remote (outer Hebrides maybe?). I know I am sounding negative and obviously we did get sorted eventually but it was extremely difficult despite the fact that are British Citizens, born and lived here for 40 years, paid taxes and NI for over 20 yrs etc. Why so difficult? The UK wasn't exactly welcoming so prepare yourselves for that.. When we moved to Australia, it was 100% easier. From school places to car insurance to bank accounts etc.. Everyone was pleased to have us there and to have our business. There is no doubt that during our 8 years away (2006-2014) the UK had changed a lot. A big obsession with security checks etc etc.

 

On starting at secondary school my daughters were initially horrified.. and said they couldn't stay there they had to leave. Everyone (girls) were made upto the nines in makeup, carrying handbags, gossiping and there were/ are many miserable depressed faces. At their High school in Australia there was no make up, lots of fun and kids were happy. They have settled now and made some friends but only the other day my youngest daughter said she missed talking about books they had read with friends at school (she is 15); here it is frowned upon by peers to show/admit that you actually read. So unless you can afford the exhorbitant fees of an independent school, be warned about most State Secondary Schools here in the UK. That said my eldest daughter has just got 12A*s in her GCSE's last Summer but it was down to sheer hard work on her part (and maybe from coming from such a good Education in Australia) and not to do with teaching. Apparently half the time teachers don't turn up on many occasions, there are kids swearing (at teachers and others), asleep at the desk, over 30+ in the class and so on. So frankly up against all that she did pretty well. I will just mention I am not talking about a rough inner city school here it's one in a nice semi rural area of W Sussex.

 

You are probably hoping there is no more but what else!? The hope of meeting up with family and old friends has been a complete disappointment (apart from parents and maybe a couple of old friends to be fair). Most friends have either not wanted to meet up or are just too busy.. Everyone here is much too busy and stressed compared to Australia. I know someone reading this might say why would anyone want to meet up with such a whinger (!). Point taken I am just trying to give a true picture. Frankly people won't make the effort, or don't have time or have simply moved on- probably a combination of all 3. Anyway I have stopped trying as have got the message and one new friend I have made who has lived overseas many years has in their wisdom advised- on coming back from overseas you have to start afresh. Make a new life with new friends etc as people just don't want to know- there will always be one or two old friends for whom this isn't the case but generally it is the case. They were right, you can't just slip back easily and you do have to start again.

 

Now I haven't even started on the weather.!I found Australian Summers stifling- I like the outdoors, walking and the like and couldn't do it for several months or not properly anyway. But I have found the grey, damp weather for a good half year or more as you find in the UK very depressing. I never wished life along in Australia whereas every Oct to March I wishing for it to be Spring again..

 

I haven't got into the disgraceful roads here (pot hole after pot hole), high taxes (making you feel quite poor and bear in mind high Council taxes- payable even as a tenant unlike in Oz)d), heavy traffic and overcrowding (yes health service in a crisis- all about juggling figures and not patient care) and then couple with all this there is this constant bombardment in the news now about Brexit, terrorism everywhere you go (esp Europe etc).

 

Anyway sorry to be so negative but truly think very carefully about throwing it all in and coming back. Think about your children's future. We have Citizenship so may well turn around one day and go back but are tied here now due to job, finishing education etc so are now trying to make the most of things.

 

What do I like about the UK? Apart from being able to see parents of course, then what I do like is what I would describe as "the depth" pf people. When someone asks how you are or speaks to you, perhaps just in a shop etc they seem to genuinely mean what they are saying.. There is a certain genuine friendliness that I didn't feel in Australia, even with strangers. The quirkiness of the UK. It's scruffy in many parts but there is character.. Whatever others might say I feel that the last couple of years the job market here has been pretty good.. not sure how it will keep going in the future. Online shopping and deliveries. All huge here and brilliant service. Sometimes you even get a delivery at 10pm Saturday evening. Post delivered on a Saturday!

 

Anyway there is lots to think about and it is just our experience.

Thank you for being so honest with your experiences of moving back home.

It has made me reflect on why we want to move home.

The main reasons being:

1) Geneticially modified food - is freely grown, produced and sold in Australia and is highly toxic.

I only discovered this when i visited the uk a few years ago and a the severe allergies i had developed siince living in Australia disappeared.

After considerable research i discovered it was gmo which is band/limited in Europe. As there is significant scientific evidence that they cause serious health and environmental issues.

Since last year my son has also developed the same allergies.

2) support for learning disabilities

Our son has learning difficulties and we are constantly fighting for the private school to support him. His disability does not fit the Queensland funding model so it makes no difference private or public.

It was only last year (grade 7) that his teacher who is from the uk said that he would get so much more help at home in the uk. I researched this and he would qualify for the send program at home v nothing here in Australia.

3) Queensland has the highest rate of skin cancer in the world.

I, until diagnosed with an aggresive skin cancer on my face last year (fortunately removed and all clear), have been a very passionate horsey lady - ride dressage and a hiker. So being outside is the norm. But i have always been careful with sun protection as i have fair skin. So now avoid going outside. I have spent the last 5 months pretty much inside as the heat this year in Brisbane has been unbearable. I am also now very concerned for my family, especially my son who is also fair skined and the risk of skin cancer. At least you can wrap up if it is cold - not the same in the heat which i find suffocating.

4) to be closer to extended family

So really i know that it has been tough for your family to move back, any move is stressful no matter where it is. I think you are safer in the uk, free from the risks of skin cancer and free from gmo's. I cannot even eat out anymore or enjoy being ouside in Australia - so just enjoying lifes basics have been taken away..

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Have to agree with some of the school comments, I do feel for you, My Aussie daughter has commented the same , make-up, handbags etc ,there are a few Chav's as she calls them in her classes, however she has made a good small set of friends (3-4) same as in adelaide and to be honest, she also had Chav's in Adelaide even in her private school - just different accents and different clothes, it's life skill to be able to spot these people and navigate around them wherever you live. The clothes and appearance do not indicate the integrity of the person. Here projected GCES'a are looking mid-top band and that's where she needs to be.

 

We applied in-year, and our location was dictated by schools (minimum ofstead outstanding in all categories at least the preceding year) and not work (I work up in london , so any rail working network is fine lol ), we also had the kids baptised catholic in Oz which was very useful as our two teenagers went to the top of the queue and we had 2 Catholic schools to choose and one Grammar for each (had a bizarre father ted style interview to get them in lol, my CoE aussie wife thought it was hilarious)! Our youngest goes to the local village CoE, and that's been fine so far, except there is a little small mindedness amongst the local villagers on a certain topic, which my wife as an born and bred aussie stays well out of.

 

Our big key thing is that the school we have chosen is excellent at pastoral care, tuition and managing learning difficulties, our child is doing far far better than in Oz.

 

We had no issues with banks, security etc, I worked in law/criminal in Oz (lol that sounds wrong) but you get the jist. I also know how to push through the process and get things moving, even with no history of rental, no credit rating (which is a scam here to be honest) we managed a beautiful cottage in east sussex, pets no problem, bbq and open firepit, boys learning to shoot, and now a cat that hates me....

 

As regards friends, my wife is not entirely delighted that most of my old mates are still around London and we catchup whenever we can, but many have moved away and our life now revolves around the children - as it did in Oz, no difference there.

 

As regards Tuition fees, I don't think Australia is any cheaper , even with CSP , I had two chaps working for me in sydney in 2012 that had debts in the low 100's, and that was for a basic degree.

 

Weather is what you make of it, I've cycled in 38 degrees in Sydney/adelaide and -4 here in UK/Europe and the saying that there is no such thing as bad weather just bad clothing.

 

the big difference we notice with UK (east sussex) vs australia (adelaide) is the options presented, options for work, travel, play, courses, experience, learning, experience etc, we felt intellectually stifled, narrow and closed down in adelaide. Our network of friends that we have now regular contact with extends to Ireland, Africa, France, Channel Islands and the US (might pause on that while things settle down)....

 

For us its a journey, we are both Aus and EU citizens having lived in UK for many years prior to going out to oz, and it is always valuable to have options, right now Europe/Uk is where we choose.

We maybe moving back to East Sussex within 2 years. Would you mind me asking what school you chose in the end? Our son has leaning difficulties and gets minimal help here at his Private School in Australia, and we are constantly having to fight for this. In the UK he would receive more help under the SEND program. Sorry for being nosy but it is a genuine ask.....

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Have to agree with some of the school comments, I do feel for you, My Aussie daughter has commented the same , make-up, handbags etc ,there are a few Chav's as she calls them in her classes, however she has made a good small set of friends (3-4) same as in adelaide and to be honest, she also had Chav's in Adelaide even in her private school - just different accents and different clothes, it's life skill to be able to spot these people and navigate around them wherever you live. The clothes and appearance do not indicate the integrity of the person. Here projected GCES'a are looking mid-top band and that's where she needs to be.

 

We applied in-year, and our location was dictated by schools (minimum ofstead outstanding in all categories at least the preceding year) and not work (I work up in london , so any rail working network is fine lol ), we also had the kids baptised catholic in Oz which was very useful as our two teenagers went to the top of the queue and we had 2 Catholic schools to choose and one Grammar for each (had a bizarre father ted style interview to get them in lol, my CoE aussie wife thought it was hilarious)! Our youngest goes to the local village CoE, and that's been fine so far, except there is a little small mindedness amongst the local villagers on a certain topic, which my wife as an born and bred aussie stays well out of.

 

Our big key thing is that the school we have chosen is excellent at pastoral care, tuition and managing learning difficulties, our child is doing far far better than in Oz.

 

We had no issues with banks, security etc, I worked in law/criminal in Oz (lol that sounds wrong) but you get the jist. I also know how to push through the process and get things moving, even with no history of rental, no credit rating (which is a scam here to be honest) we managed a beautiful cottage in east sussex, pets no problem, bbq and open firepit, boys learning to shoot, and now a cat that hates me....

 

As regards friends, my wife is not entirely delighted that most of my old mates are still around London and we catchup whenever we can, but many have moved away and our life now revolves around the children - as it did in Oz, no difference there.

 

As regards Tuition fees, I don't think Australia is any cheaper , even with CSP , I had two chaps working for me in sydney in 2012 that had debts in the low 100's, and that was for a basic degree.

 

Weather is what you make of it, I've cycled in 38 degrees in Sydney/adelaide and -4 here in UK/Europe and the saying that there is no such thing as bad weather just bad clothing.

 

the big difference we notice with UK (east sussex) vs australia (adelaide) is the options presented, options for work, travel, play, courses, experience, learning, experience etc, we felt intellectually stifled, narrow and closed down in adelaide. Our network of friends that we have now regular contact with extends to Ireland, Africa, France, Channel Islands and the US (might pause on that while things settle down)....

 

For us its a journey, we are both Aus and EU citizens having lived in UK for many years prior to going out to oz, and it is always valuable to have options, right now Europe/Uk is where we

 

 

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T

Is that disability from the uk or Oz and with state pension do you mean uk or Oz if you parents are not retirment age and they go back to the uk to claim benefits they would need to got through the habitual residency test to get any benefit

One parent recieves both Austrlain and UK pension. The other parent is receiving a disability pension. Both have been to sick to work in Australia so I need to clarify if they will receive a proportion Australian pension if they return to the UK. One parent will continue to recieve the Uk pension and the other parent will be entitled to recieve the uk pension from next year, if they return to the uk.

However it appears that they will not be entitled to any low income benefits for 2 years as they will not pass the habitual test. Even though they have lived and worked most of their lives in the UK.

Does anyone one know a good legal firm that specialises in this area?

Thank you

I'll ask again are you following the outcome of this afternoons debate on PIP's, that is the real issue, do you ever consider that actually for a significant section of British society this Govt is not interested in them, they are seen as wasters, a drag on the economy, people who do not contribute and therefore the country has no responsibility for them, they should have to rely on charity.

That is the view of many in this country now , that is a view expressed by George Freeman, one of Mays advisers in regards to PIP'S.

Wake up, you live in a world lurching back to 1930's at an unprecedented rate of knots, whenever the country faces recession whether it be in this century, the 20th or the 19th century it's the little people who get screwed and the only difference is that now the little people includes the salaried middle class.

Yes very sad.... If only the people in power and control truly understood what it is like to live or have family to support who have a disability. Australia struggles with simular issues also..

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Follow todays parliamentary debate on further curtailment of access to "personal independence payments, PIP's, (what used to disability benefits) as the Government try to cut back eligibility after losing appeals by people refused PIP's.

Thank you - i have been listening in as listen to Radio 4/World Service 24/7

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I felt very positive about living in Australia initially.

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Sorry.... it gets tiring after 12 years....

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My Husband got fired from his job with no explanation via email! We tried calling and emailing for an a reason and no response.

Is this really the way people act in Australia?

Yes they are very unprofessional and i am so over it after 12 years. We are planning to go home within two years....

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You do your own thing and let your parents do their own thing I reckon. If they are concerned about moving back because of health care issues I would have to say that with 4 oldies in my stable (parents, aunt and uncle), the health care for them in their declining years has been fantastic (better than Canberra would have been for sure!). Pensions - hmm, whole different ball game but they should seek professional advice on that one.

Unfortunately may parents only receive the state pension as they have been too sick to work. One parent isn't even retirement age but on a disability pension.

Fair comment, but we wouldn't be coming back.

If your parents aren't keen to go back - is yourself/hubby moving back on your own an option?[/quote

 

 

its not something I want to do to be honest - we came over together so I would like to hope we can go home together.