robins_jessica

Thank you everyone for your comments.....all make sense. I knew Darwin was a bit out there, but seems possibly more so than we knew All food for thought for sure. We want to have a few years of which would be a real experience for the girls and us, not have some kind of traumatic survival exercise (tongue in cheek) so we may go soft and go south, but then again we really are not the norm. I'm still waiting to hear from Adelaide so I will update as and when we make any kind of decision.

Thank you so much, everyone much appreciated.Really helpful information. ...it certainly sounds as though Darwin would give us a radical change and completely different experience which is kind of what we are aiming for. We're still weighing up all of the options available ...there are pros and cons to each one! Thanks again

Hi, I've posted on the Darwin pages and had some great help, so thought I would try here too. i have the option to do my masters in early childhood at either Perth, or Darwin, or possibly Adelaide (not confirmed) We are a family of 4, two girls 4 and 6 (will be 5&7) husband skilled carpenter builder but aged 56. We currently live in the country with chickens and live miles form anyone. on this basis, we selected Darwin, as Perth seems soooooooo big. However, I want to know if I am writing Perth off too quickly. We have the funds for around $400-$550 rental and we can have a car. I wouldn't want to live in the city, I would need to get to UWA, but would like to have schools close to home for the kids. Hubby is going to find part time work probably self employed so it can fit around me. If any one does have experience of living in any of the Cities, Perth specific experience or just any general advice I would be grateful. it's so hard trying to make such a big decision without being able to get on the ground and have a look. Start date for me is hopefully 2022 Feb, so some time away yet, if it can come together....

Hi thank you all for your help all very helpful. We've done the research and we know it's going to cost us with the kids education, we could get free education in WA but the course in more expensive there so I guess it's swings and roundabouts in that respect. It's been really helpful re the climate, I knew it was hot and humid there but I've now researched and have read about the build up is that right :-) ...? I'd also read some news articles about taxi drivers refusing to go to certain areas so I kind of guessed there's issues in places the same as everywhere, I'll just need some help not to end up living in the wrong neck of the woods. My husband I think is too old to go down the mines (56) and tbh, he's worked his socks off so I really hope he can avoid the mines (unless of course it would lead to residency ha ha) We do have alternatives to Darwin, I am still waiting to hear from Adelaide, but I do have an offer from Perth, we were put off that offer though by the sheer size of the city ...it scares me ...if anyone has comments on any comparison between any of the locations that would also be helpful. That's great though, at least no ones told us not to do it :-) thank you all

I have been accepted for a post grad masters in Early Years Education at Darwin University, starting this August, so off shore for the moment and going on shore hopefully next Feb. We come from Cornwall and have 2 girls 5 and 7. My husband is mid 50's, he is a self employed builder here. I am 43 and so any permanent visa for us, as a family, would be down to sponsored employment. In my mind, we would most likely have 4 years in Australia, while I study and then on the graduate visa. For us it seems like a great opportunity to study and gain a qualification and for the kids to experience a new country. If it works out it might lead to more, but we are realistic that it might not lead to anything permanent. We have savings to pay for the course and income from the Uk that will pay for the majority of the rent and day to day whilst we are in Australia, But......Are we crazy to have come up with this plan? My husband will have full work rights under my visa, so I'd like to know if there's jobs available for him (part time) - he's one of those people that can do everything - he built our house so he plumbs, builds, fully trained carpenter, fits kitchens, bathrooms, roofs, digger and dumper driver (the list is endless) - ideally it would be great if he could work part time on a self employed basis as that's what we're used to here. I'd also like thoughts on Darwin for kids, areas to move to, ideas or thoughts or just any comment you might have!