Melbournelass

Hi Sophie, congratulations on your pregnancy! I am also due in October and have a 3 year old My partner is Australian and although his family live in another state, I still feel like we have family around. My parents also visit from the UK every year for 3 months which is amazing. If I didn't have this I would really struggle with being here, but I love our life here in Melbourne for now. I would also have to move to my childhood area for the level of support many have, and I don't think our quality of life would be great. Another area of the UK - absolutely! But we would be back to that position of having to build up a new network, which has taken so long to establish here. I say go - you have citizenship and there is absolutely nothing wrong with the UK! Many of my friends have made the move back after having kids and settled well, one has bought her dream home where she really wouldn't have had the opportunity here. I would be prepared for feeling unsettled on returning for a period, I hear it's quite common, like a reverse culture shock! But I truly believe that's just what happens when you've been an expat - you'll always leave a part of you in both Countries especially if you have experienced so much happiness there.

Thanks! No issues with a visa thank goodness! We would be hoping to find work immediately, it's more childcare I'd be concerned about as the gov help us out quite a bit

Sorry to hear you've found it difficult to make friends - I felt that way when I lived in London, I was very lonely with many aquaintances but few friends. My friendship group here is one of the reasons I would find it so hard to go back as my UK friends are now spread all over the Country - most have returned to the place they grew up. That wouldn't be an option for me unfortunately, I couldn't live in NE England.

Hi there As mentioned in a previous post, I am considering moving back down the line with my Aussie partner and 2 children. By that time, I will have lived in Aus around 10 years and kids will be about 6 and 2. I know it won't be a simple as picking up where I left off, especially as I left UK as single person. I wondered what I would need to consider. We currently receive some family assistance and 50% childcare rebate - would we have a long waiting period to claim anything in the UK? Would we be entitled to NHS care? We will be keeping our house here and renting in the UK if we go. Any advice would be appreciated and what I need consider - 'too hard basket' would probably make us reconsider our plans.

My other enquiry was about those who have moved back continuing to compare Aus and the UK sometimes years down the line, as if it's still something that constantly plays on their mind. Just my observations of friends who have moved and migration forums.

Thanks for the responses, and my aim definitely isn't to start and Aus Vs. UK debate. And of course I'll be doing what is right for my family & circumstances. I was genuinely just wondering why so many who have returned are so critical of the country they have left. I know personally that before I left the UK having visited Melbourne, I felt very unsettled there and very anti-UK, but since living happily here I haven't felt a need to play one Country off against the other. It makes me wonder if feelings of resentment are harboured as that is not something I want to experience. If we return it will be for the simple reason my parents are ageing and I want my children to spend some time with them and my family in the UK. But feeling displaced and unsettled is something I really struggle with and it does make me hesitant.

Hi all - I've lived in Melbourne for 7 years and like many, thoughts have crossed my mind about moving back to the UK temporarily or permanently. I love Australia, my partner and daughter are Australian and I have another little Aussie on the way. Partner is willing to move back (no visa issues). One thing I do wonder though - are people really happy when they move back? I know many who have - a couple of Ping Pongers too who state they made the right move but seem so hellbent in criticising Australia at every opportunity. I don't understand why? If they have moved on? These people also seem quite sour since they left - just going by email conversations. There is a negative slant on everything 'But we are so happy we moved back, Aus is so expensive etc'. I've noticed too that people who have moved back a while ago continue to post here? Criticise and 'warn' others about Australia, and I don't really get it if you are truly settled into your new life. I guess I'm struggling to trust people who have made the move back when they say it's great, because I wonder if they would admit if it wasn't....