debrob Posted August 20, 2012 Share Posted August 20, 2012 Hi, this is my first post and I understand everything you are saying. Ive been reading these blogs from 2008, before we received our ss 176 visa in June 2010. We moved to South Australia in June 2011 with our 4 children (bringing everything and selling the rest !!) We struggled to drive around and find somewhere we were comfortable with (we were looking for good schools with jobs available in a decent area with not too expensive rentals - maybe expecting too much in hindsight !!). Anyway we moved to Victor Harbor, a beautiful place but its just not enough for us, my husband found work after 12 weeks and completing an expensive licensing procedure to be self employed as there wasnt any jobs as a wall/floor tiler (that was really hard as he has always been the main earner bless him !!) but he really struggled to be accepted in the area even with his fantastic references, qualifications and 15 years experience in Uk and Germany, anyway the kids made friends at school but dont play out with friends as they live too far away, this was affecting 2/4 as they were so used to playing out with friends !?!, I am a qualified accountant but havent completed the conversion course in Australia so applied for 50+ various accounts assistant/office positions (part-time to be there for the family) - unforetunately the loacl job services think that its because im an outsider and my career is not in demand that i havent got a job, and where we live, so i am, at present, having a major career rethink ( i began nurse training pre children and had a job in aged-care for 10 years) so im taking part in a cert 3 in aged care - why not !! Anyway my eldest son (yr 12) has settled in great but is missing the action, my 13 yr old says the school is rubbish and they dont learn him anything - he is achieving what is expected with no effort according to his report(he was always in the upper half of his class and was never bored - bearing in mind we lived in the best school catchment area in Northumberland) my younger children, well one is lost as he feels as if he has no friends/playing out after school and my youngest says why do we have to be in the car forever just to go anywhere !! This is not to say that theyre not settling as the same children are nearly getting their p's driving and has a body board, going surfing and playing cricket in the summer, body boarding and playing cricket and swimming at the lake (the little ones !!) So its not all doom and gloom, we have friends which we bbq with once every 2 month aswell - its just not enough. We had a decent life in the Uk we just wanted better - HELP!! Me and my OH dont want to give up as we believe that Aus has what we want, we just dont know where ?? (Oh and my OH and I miss a social life at the pub - does that happen ??) We have thought about moving interstate to Queensland ( near the Gold Coast as it seems like it has all things that we miss !?!?) and are really scared about the big move again but willing to go through the unsettled feeling to get it right for our family !! CAN ANY ONE HELP - ANY ADVICE WOULD BE SO WELCOME:biggrin: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ali Posted August 20, 2012 Share Posted August 20, 2012 Visit the places you're interested in first to see if it fits in with what you're looking for. Is your eldest looking to go to Uni in Adelaide of interstate, I'm not sure that there is a pub culture in Aus like there is/was in the UK. Is not getting a job because you're an outsider a feeling you get or you know as a fact - if the latter than I'm sure there would be avenues to complain. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Petals Posted August 20, 2012 Share Posted August 20, 2012 Pub culture like UK not sure it exists in UK where we come from anymore. Pubs shut down all over the place. However the main reason people stay at home to entertain, young family, drink driving laws and people cannot live without a licence here due to distance. I think perhaps look at moving closer to the city or looking around the inner areas as there is a lot more to do. Outer areas tent to be mum and dad work all day and the people who are around are retired like me. What I am trying to say is that you may not have to move far to find what you want and this would be not so expensive and disrupting for the family. Good luck Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Perthbum Posted August 20, 2012 Share Posted August 20, 2012 You are in Australia, I honestly do not think you will find what you experienced in the UK...It is a different Country with different ways, I found most aussies prefer to stay in on the evenings with a few friends and a barbie and a few drinks, you will never find the pub culture that the UK has had for centuries. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
debrob Posted August 20, 2012 Author Share Posted August 20, 2012 Thanks for the feedback, I think moving closer to a city is definately looking like it would give us more options. Its not just the change in social life for us adults, its also the change for our children that would satisfy what we are missing. Its so hard to keep 6 people happy in any country ha ha !! Thanks anyway:laugh: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
debrob Posted August 21, 2012 Author Share Posted August 21, 2012 Hi - its tough for everyone getting used to a different way of socialising. My children find it difficult that they dont just go and play out with their friends after school aswell - is this common in Australia or is it because we live in a country area ??? Its strange the things that you accept as normal but differ dramatically in another country - never mind the warmer weather is coming and people seem to get together more so that should satisfy a few yearnings i reckon !!:biglaugh: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
debrob Posted August 21, 2012 Author Share Posted August 21, 2012 Visit the places you're interested in first to see if it fits in with what you're looking for. Is your eldest looking to go to Uni in Adelaide of interstate, I'm not sure that there is a pub culture in Aus like there is/was in the UK. Is not getting a job because you're an outsider a feeling you get or you know as a fact - if the latter than I'm sure there would be avenues to complain. Hi Ali - my eldest is hoping to go to Uni in Adelaide (has just applied last week), and as we live quite a distance to commute he is quite looking forward to staying at the Uni (the growing up, independence thing :rolleyes:). I went to a job services provider and the lady advised me that this is the case in the area, with many jobs earmarked before advertising but with positions still being advertised the correct procedure was being followed. I think i need to get to know more people !!! I suppose the unknown is a little scarier than I imagined !! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NicF Posted August 21, 2012 Share Posted August 21, 2012 Thanks for the feedback, I think moving closer to a city is definately looking like it would give us more options. Its not just the change in social life for us adults, its also the change for our children that would satisfy what we are missing. Its so hard to keep 6 people happy in any country ha ha !! Thanks anyway:laugh: Definitely move closer to the city. Last time we were on hols in Adelaide we visited Victor Harbour and I was really struck by how far away from everything and how quiet it was. You can still get quiet suburbs in Adelaide (if that's what you want) but be much nearer to other things. I'd suggest posting on the Poms in Adelaide site. The people over there will be able to give you lots of advice about where is good to live to have good schools and plenty of activity and still near the beach, if that's what you want. There are also lots of accounting type jobs advertised for the CBD (I come from a project accounting background and get daily emails from Seek which often have 15 or more jobs in accounting on). Get yourselves out on a day trip and check out places up the coast like Moana, Port Noarlunga, Christies Beach, Seaford and Hallott Cove. And possible get all the way up to Brighton, Glenelg and Henley Beach. I wouldn't live in any of them but I don't want to live near the beach. Good luck Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.