MotherofMatilda

1 hour ago, dondons1uk said:

Many many congratulations. That's such great news!

Did you just get an email? And how long do you have to enter to validate visa?

Where in Oz will you be going?

You've given everyone hope.for Xmas presents so thank.you so much!!

Thank you.  We just got an email. There was nothing to say it was in review or anything. It was just appearing as submitted 2 days ago and then today we had the visas granted. I'm as surprised as everyone else! 

We will be moving to the Sunshine Coast. We have until next July to validate, but will be moving within the month as we are expecting our second child and would like to travel before the third trimester. 

I hope you get some good news soon

9 minutes ago, Askem81 said:

Congratulations! Wonderful news! Are you able to give some further details about your application? Married, kids etc? We applied in early April and have heard nothing - all front loaded too! 

Hi, yes of course. 

We have been married for 2 years, together for 5. We have a 2.5 year old and another one on the way ( we know how to make things stressful!!) 

We just had my husband's 309 and 100 Granted!!!!! We submitted our application on 19 June and front loaded all documents, medical checks and police checks for both he and I.

We are sooo excited and cant wait to be in Oz by Christmas!!! Best of Luck to you all xx 

On 14/08/2018 at 13:49, ramot said:

Interesting your comment about Bristol house prices, my son lives there, his not very special small back garden, 1930’s semi detached  3 bed extended house with a loft convertion is worth ridiculous money. Just sold for 635,000pds. We live on the Sunshine Coast and you can buy a pretty special house Here for the equivalent of over 1.1 million Oz dollars as you mention It Would almost buy a small terraced house in Sydney, but If selling something similar in London then it would be worth a lot more. So When I hear people say that Australian property is expensive, then it all depends where you are moving to in Oz as against where you are moving from and comparing like with like, and what your expectations are.

Realistically Sydney is expensive but so is London, and I wonder how many immigrants could actually afford to live in London.

2

I bet I know which area his place in Bristol is!! Ours isn't as flash but will still probably sell for around £420k. 

How do you like living on the Sunshine Coast? I have family based there and a couple of friends, but my husband has some concerns about making friends and building up a social network. I think he'll be fine but it would be great to hear other's experiences. 

On 12/08/2018 at 09:14, Samba said:

How weird about the IP! Lol...

regarding the public health - in the uk all prescriptions for children are free until they are 16 yrs old. Here you pay... and sometimes prices are high! Also for tests like ultrasounds or general x rays etc you’d have to pay for some part until you get a rebate from Medicare. Unless that’s different when you’re a citizen?

groceries prices I’m ok it’s just the house prices I feel are extremely expensive. It’s crazy!

my husband feels the same although he’s more distracted with his work but he’s worried about the financial side too and whether we would realistically be able to afford life here with two kids. 

Sydney is nuts! I have rellies that bought a doer upper in the inner west at an eyewatering price. 

But we live in Bristol and are will be relocating to the Sunshine Coast north of Brisbane - For what we paid for our 3bed semi here, we can get 4-5 bed place with pool 5km from the beach up there and still only be an hour from a capital city. Sydney house prices are totally ridiculous so I can see why that would feel daunting x

OMG woman! You are a bloody legend to make the move at 33 weeks. New country with a new baby is tough. it will take some time to settle in and find your groove. 

The prices will become more palatable once you are earning in Aussie dollars too. xx

Ahh you're welcome. I do understand how lonely it can be at times. The hardest part is that people just don't understand your references /don't have a shared experience.  

Are you working outside the home? ( I hate it when people suggest that staying at home with the kids isn't work!)

 I have a feeling its time to start getting a girl tribe together, so you have a connection with people that isn't about the kids or dependent on your husband.

31 minutes ago, Samba said:

Hi everyone, I'm new and I just need some help.

My family and I (me, husband and two young children) have moved to Sydney last November 2017 and at first, we loved it... However, as we got more settled, well, myself more, I've started to question whether it was the right move or not. 

We came on a sponsored visa via my husband. Anyway, I'm really struggling to adjust. I'm finding here so much more expensive than the UK. Everything... Housing, groceries, electricity bills, childcare... everything...not as many benefits on public health, etc, and I'm really questioning myself every day whether we made the right move coming here. I feel so isolated. Also, feels like Australia is about 30 years behind on everything....

Please, can you share your thoughts? Have you moved back to the UK and why? Or have you stayed here and why? I would love to hear everyone's opinions and pros and cons of living here.

Thanks so much

 

Hi, 

I read this and can tell you I feel exactly the same way.....except I'm talking about living in Bristol in the UK.  I feel like the UK is so far behind and I have so many issues with waiting times and the lack of choice in the NHS. I find the UK to be very depressing at the moment with the prospect of Brexit and austerity continuing! We are moving back to Oz later this year mainly because of this and I want my kids to grow up by the beach like I did. 

I have been here for 3 years and really struggled at first with a small child. But I started getting involved and that helped. 

I would say embrace all the free things there are to do, and that you can get outside without having to pack for every single weather occasion. Find an activity or group that you enjoy and get involved. I would say its great to have contact with some expat groups to bemoan the issues and challenges you are having, but make sure you have a balance with those who are enjoying it so you get both perspectives. I think the biggest issue people face is trying to live the same life they did back in their home country in a new environment. Do what the locals do!