Kooky Posted January 20, 2014 Share Posted January 20, 2014 Just that really, we are both teachers and heading off to oz as long as we get our visa but i can't help but think this could be my opportunity to do something different, less stressful, less time consuming. I think if we go to Oz as teachers we will be in it for the long haul because thats what you do - you get on with it and used to it, but maybe this could be a chance to make a new start in everyway - we are changing our lives massively by moving so maybe it is an opportunity to take a few more risks!?! I know we won't earn as much money doing other stuff but maybe we will have more time with our kids (something i always feel bad about now - teaching is so time consuming these days that i feel my boys get a raw deal sometimes. we try to do as much as possible with them but in reality during the week by the time we get home they are tired and not far off bed time then weekends more often than not we have a day where i do school stuff and a day where my husband does. I am trying to think of how we can use our skills and do something a bit less stressful/time consuming. (haven't thought of much yet though to be honest!). Difficult though as you get used to the money you have too so not sure we could change and earn as much. if i am honest I would love to just make cakes and cupcakes all day but in reality i know thats not an option! :biglaugh: i think i am having a mid life crisis!!:rolleyes: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
calNgary Posted January 20, 2014 Share Posted January 20, 2014 If you have a PR visa there is nothing stopping you. Id be tempted to say stick with what you know whilst you get on your feet as the first few months to a year are quite stressful and looking into new occupations would just add to that. Once you are sure you know where you want to be, then one at a time you could start looking into and maybe even training for something new, if you do it one at a time at least you still have the others steady income. Lots of luck,it can be done, im now doing something completely different but Hubby who is the main earner and was the visa holder has stuck to his trade, this works for us right now. Cal x Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted January 20, 2014 Share Posted January 20, 2014 I have to say that your post rings alarm bells for me, I am wondering whether the desire to migrate to Australia is more about a desire to change your life? If that's the case save your money and change your life in the UK. It will be much easier to achieve a lifestyle change, if that is what you want. The good thing about teachers is they are needed everywhere in the UK so rather than moving to Australia why not move to a cheaper part of the UK? One or both of you could work part time? Or do something completely different in a country and culture you already understand. How about this http://www.zoopla.co.uk/for-sale/details/31513509 We thought our life would be different in Australia, it wasn't, in fact it was harder as we moved from a very affordable part of the UK to Perth so our cost of living shot up and we had less options to 'do something different'. Teaching in Australia looks no different than teaching in the UK - introduction of a national curriculum, NAPLAN tests (SAT's) - long hours, too much admin. I taught in the UK and have friends who are teachers in WA and it's the same story. I guess you realise that which is why you are asking the question! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tingtongman Posted January 20, 2014 Share Posted January 20, 2014 you can teach in a lot of other countries, were the wages are high compared to the standard of living. Middle east, South Korea and Japan to name a few, you and your OH could both work part time and have a lot of time free. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Que Sera Sera Posted January 20, 2014 Share Posted January 20, 2014 Why ever not? You are free to do whatever you choose. Good for you , I've completely changed my life and my OH us in the process of changing his career. Life is what you make it and yes why not use this opportunity it certainly has worked for us good luck! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flag of convenience Posted January 20, 2014 Share Posted January 20, 2014 Just that really, we are both teachers and heading off to oz as long as we get our visa but i can't help but think this could be my opportunity to do something different, less stressful, less time consuming. I think if we go to Oz as teachers we will be in it for the long haul because thats what you do - you get on with it and used to it, but maybe this could be a chance to make a new start in everyway - we are changing our lives massively by moving so maybe it is an opportunity to take a few more risks!?! I know we won't earn as much money doing other stuff but maybe we will have more time with our kids (something i always feel bad about now - teaching is so time consuming these days that i feel my boys get a raw deal sometimes. we try to do as much as possible with them but in reality during the week by the time we get home they are tired and not far off bed time then weekends more often than not we have a day where i do school stuff and a day where my husband does. I am trying to think of how we can use our skills and do something a bit less stressful/time consuming. (haven't thought of much yet though to be honest!). Difficult though as you get used to the money you have too so not sure we could change and earn as much. if i am honest I would love to just make cakes and cupcakes all day but in reality i know thats not an option! :biglaugh: i think i am having a mid life crisis!!:rolleyes: It would certainly be different but less stressful is far from a certainty. OZ is very expensive and wages don't always reflect this. Is training for something new really such an option. Especially in the early years. Far better to retrain where you are now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kooky Posted January 20, 2014 Author Share Posted January 20, 2014 thanks everyone - i knew there would be very mixed thoughts on this. I am almost 40 and have retrained before (to be a teacher) form hairdressing. I think i am after a less skilled role to be honest and at the moment it is all pipe dreams. But i am with Que sera sera in that life is what you make it. Lifes too short - lost my dad when he was 47 (he fell down the stairs and dies from head injuries) and my sister had a stroke at 40 (2 years ago) and is now very disabled (paralysed down right side and struggles to speak/read etc). My husband lost his mum and brother young (60 & 42). Life can be just over before you know it and i don't think i want to be drifting and not doing something i want to do! I guess i never want to look back and regret not doing something. I could stay in teaching (it pays well, i know what i am doing, it is a 'decent' profession) but do i really want that for the rest of my life? Not sure I do, perhaps the coffee shop idea Lady rainicorn suggested is a good one (but not in the UK!). I want sun, i want beaches, i want wildlife, i want exploration, i defiantly want to go to Oz. I just question if i want to go to Oz and teach or take a risk on something else. We are lucky we have enough money to go and have a good deposit or buy a small business. Just need thoughts on what to do. Thanks everyone - keep the ideas coming - we may end up sticking to what we know for safety but if you don't have ideas/dreams then life can be a little dull i reckon! :biggrin: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kooky Posted January 20, 2014 Author Share Posted January 20, 2014 I have to say that your post rings alarm bells for me, I am wondering whether the desire to migrate to Australia is more about a desire to change your life? If that's the case save your money and change your life in the UK. It will be much easier to achieve a lifestyle change, if that is what you want. The good thing about teachers is they are needed everywhere in the UK so rather than moving to Australia why not move to a cheaper part of the UK? One or both of you could work part time? Or do something completely different in a country and culture you already understand. we already live in a cheap part (West Yorkshire) and i work 3 days (though i find that more stressful then working full time as i miss so much i am always on catch up!). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sammy1 Posted January 20, 2014 Share Posted January 20, 2014 thanks everyone - i knew there would be very mixed thoughts on this. I am almost 40 and have retrained before (to be a teacher) form hairdressing. I think i am after a less skilled role to be honest and at the moment it is all pipe dreams. But i am with Que sera sera in that life is what you make it. Lifes too short - lost my dad when he was 47 (he fell down the stairs and dies from head injuries) and my sister had a stroke at 40 (2 years ago) and is now very disabled (paralysed down right side and struggles to speak/read etc). My husband lost his mum and brother young (60 & 42). Life can be just over before you know it and i don't think i want to be drifting and not doing something i want to do! I guess i never want to look back and regret not doing something. I could stay in teaching (it pays well, i know what i am doing, it is a 'decent' profession) but do i really want that for the rest of my life? Not sure I do, perhaps the coffee shop idea Lady rainicorn suggested is a good one (but not in the UK!). I want sun, i want beaches, i want wildlife, i want exploration, i defiantly want to go to Oz. I just question if i want to go to Oz and teach or take a risk on something else. We are lucky we have enough money to go and have a good deposit or buy a small business. Just need thoughts on what to do. Thanks everyone - keep the ideas coming - we may end up sticking to what we know for safety but if you don't have ideas/dreams then life can be a little dull i reckon! :biggrin: You may well find that you have no choice but to change career once you are here anyway. There are hundreds of teachers out of work in every part of Australia. There is still demand for maths, some science specialists able to teach another subject and design and technology secondary teachers, other than that not much. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
docboat Posted January 20, 2014 Share Posted January 20, 2014 There is no reason why you could not make a career out of making cupcakes and cakes. One of you working to support the family, the other - you - developing a business according to your desires. Life is what you make of it, and if you say it cannot be done, then you are right. Bu if you say it can be done, then you are also right. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Guest 47403 Posted January 20, 2014 Share Posted January 20, 2014 thanks everyone - i knew there would be very mixed thoughts on this. I am almost 40 and have retrained before (to be a teacher) form hairdressing. I think i am after a less skilled role to be honest and at the moment it is all pipe dreams. But i am with Que sera sera in that life is what you make it. Lifes too short - lost my dad when he was 47 (he fell down the stairs and dies from head injuries) and my sister had a stroke at 40 (2 years ago) and is now very disabled (paralysed down right side and struggles to speak/read etc). My husband lost his mum and brother young (60 & 42). Life can be just over before you know it and i don't think i want to be drifting and not doing something i want to do! I guess i never want to look back and regret not doing something. I could stay in teaching (it pays well, i know what i am doing, it is a 'decent' profession) but do i really want that for the rest of my life? Not sure I do, perhaps the coffee shop idea Lady rainicorn suggested is a good one (but not in the UK!). I want sun, i want beaches, i want wildlife, i want exploration, i defiantly want to go to Oz. I just question if i want to go to Oz and teach or take a risk on something else. We are lucky we have enough money to go and have a good deposit or buy a small business. Just need thoughts on what to do. Thanks everyone - keep the ideas coming - we may end up sticking to what we know for safety but if you don't have ideas/dreams then life can be a little dull i reckon! :biggrin: Good for you, go for it but I'd suggest just one of you at a time does it whilst supported by the other, I totally retrained a few years ago and am considering doing something different again when we move, there are plenty of people on this website making career changes/going to uni etc at an older age. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted January 20, 2014 Share Posted January 20, 2014 we already live in a cheap part (West Yorkshire) and i work 3 days (though i find that more stressful then working full time as i miss so much i am always on catch up!). Then make sure you do a lot of research on where to head in Australia otherwise you might find you have to work 5 days to make ends meet. I'd avoid the major cities - especially Perth, Melbourne and Sydney where the higher wages won't anywhere near compensate for the higher cost of living compared to West Yorkshire. The only benefit you have is you won't necessarily need to work in the city so you could work/live in a cheaper suburb which may make it more viable. I know what you mean about part-time being more stressful, especially in teaching there is never enough time anyway so you end up doing just as much work for part-time pay. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trabonita Posted January 20, 2014 Share Posted January 20, 2014 My husband is emigrating as a podiatrist and will get work as this for 6/12mths and then plans to do something totally different. We see it as an opportunity for him to do something he will enjoy as we plan to only have a very small mortgage. I say go for it! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maruska Posted January 20, 2014 Share Posted January 20, 2014 I`m planning to work as a nurse for the next 2 years or so and have a good look around, considering possible paths. I might want to stay in nursing but advance my degree. Whenever we went diving or on a boat trip, I always though it must be a fantastic job to be a marine biologist :biggrin:but not sure if it could be done as a full-time career or just a kind of a hobby. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fiooooona Posted January 20, 2014 Share Posted January 20, 2014 I would say do what you feel is right. If going to Australia is something you want to do then do it, if you want to back cakes all day then do it. I would say though, the first year can be incredibly hard with things like first birthday/christmas/new year ect without loved ones can be a sad and hard thing to go through, it definitely does get easier. Maybe find work in a school doing temp work so you have an income then branch out into something else? It can be hard but people make a new life for themselves all the time. Bear in mind the wages may be higher than in the UK but the cost of living is comparative to it. Don't expect it to be a straight forward life change but embrace the adventure. good luck. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kooky Posted January 20, 2014 Author Share Posted January 20, 2014 Thanks everyone. I think I am going in with my eyes open (but as with anything until you are there doing it you can only guess at what it will be like and how you will feel). I think if we decided to do some sort of change we will do some supply teaching if we can to help us start out in whatever it is we decide to do. Like I said before we have a decent amount in our house now (our mortgage is tiny) so will not be in a really bad position - my friends went over with 5grand to their name and they are doing pretty well now (5 years on) but it was a massive struggle the first year or so. Thanks for the positive posts - it's really encouraging! rainicorn I don't particularly like city living (my husband would get us out in the middle of nowhere if he could) so will be looking at the outskirts really. We are thinking Adelaide or Brisbane at the moment but a good way from the city. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quoll Posted January 20, 2014 Share Posted January 20, 2014 Have you thought about how you are going to get a visa? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kooky Posted January 20, 2014 Author Share Posted January 20, 2014 Have you thought about how you are going to get a visa? I know I sound pretty crazy but I am actually quite sane! :biggrin: In process at the moment - skills assessment complete, once papers get here will do EOI then hopefully get invite. Teachers on here seem to be getting invites pretty quickly. I have enough points so should be ok. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skippy79 Posted January 20, 2014 Share Posted January 20, 2014 We will be doing exactly the same thing, at the moment we have a hospitality business and we would be moving with the idea to start a business or buy one in a completely different branch, something that we would both be happy to do. If we start one OH would find part time work just to get some kind of income coming in to pay the rent while we build up the business. If we take over a business we would both want to be working in it and I do realize that I might have to do long hours, and possibly 7 days a week, but seeing that it's a hobby I wouldn't mind, done it before and love having my hobby as my job!!! Go for it I would say!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LKC Posted January 20, 2014 Share Posted January 20, 2014 Yes, I did it! In the UK I worked as an optometrist until I had our children. It is a fairly high-paid but stressful job. We moved over here when our youngest daughter was one, and I had been out of work for about 3 years (since I went on maternity leave with our eldest). Had we stayed in the UK, I would have most likely gone back to work as an optometrist, probably part-time/locum work. However, in moving to Australia I effectively ended my career because I would have had to re-sit my professional exams in order to practice out here, but having been out of work for so long, I wouldn't have been able to pass them due to lack of practice which I couldn't have got because I wasn't allowed to practice (if that all makes sense!). Plus, day to day I didn't enjoy the job, I found it incredibly stressful to the point that my health started to suffer. As a consequence I took a bit of time off with the kids, got us settled in to our new home etc, and then when eldest started school and I found myself with a bit of spare time, I started my own online business making and selling bridal jewellery and accessories, and importing and dyeing bridal/bridesmaids shoes to match dresses. I did this for about 2.5 years, but just before Christmas I closed the business, in part because I found brides very difficult to work with (bridezillas doesn't even cover it!), partly because OH's salary had finally increased from the $65k salary that he had started on and we could afford to lose my small income, and partly because I would like to pursue the career that I started in the first place - I have a degree in zoology that I did before optometry and my dream is to pursue this and go back off to uni to study conservation biology or something like that. I am a bit scared that at almost 40 I have left it too late, but on the other hand had I not left it this late we wouldn't have been in the financial position where we can afford for me to do it. My OH is lucky in that he enjoys the job he does very much, and actually it is my OH who has persuaded me that you only get one life so you may as well do something that you enjoy. I keep telling him that I have left it too late, but as he says, at 40 I am not even half way through my potential working life yet, so why not spend it doing something that I am passionate about. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Petals Posted January 20, 2014 Share Posted January 20, 2014 Nothing is set in concrete, when I was working I stayed in a job that I did not particularly enjoy. I think nowadays people get degrees and if they don't like the job they change and its a good thing. Just because a person has brains does not mean they want to be slotted in jobs which are considered for brainy people. Its our make up and our psyche that is so much more important. My friend's son in medicine trained with a doctor and once he graduated he decided it was not for him and became an actuary. I am having landscaping done presently and the guy that runs the business has degree in hospitality and ran big hotels then decided it was not for him. So many opportunities for us to do what we want these day. As long as it puts bread on the table its good enough. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marisawright Posted January 20, 2014 Share Posted January 20, 2014 Just that really, we are both teachers and heading off to oz as long as we get our visa but i can't help but think this could be my opportunity to do something different, less stressful, less time consuming. This rings alarm bells for me, too. We'd all like to have a job that makes enough money with fewer hours and less stress - but if it was that easy, we'd all be doing it! Running a small business is very hard work. Typically, anyone switching from a job to a small business finds they're working more hours, not less. Doing it before you understand Australian laws and business conditions, would be dangerous because you'd have no idea what pitfalls to look out for. If you want to do it, by all means go for it - but get settled first, and spend a year or two doing your research, before taking the plunge. There are some good courses at community colleges on starting a small business, and some free government services too. I have a friend, an ex-teacher, who makes cakes for a living now. It means she can be at home with her kids, but it's definitely not less time-consuming! Sometimes she's up at two in the morning baking, and she spends her evenings doing paperwork. She has far less free time than she did as a teacher. If she takes a holiday, the business makes no money because it would cost her more to hire someone than she could earn. In spite of all the hours she works, she's not making anything close to her teacher's salary. She says it's less stressful because she enjoys what she does, but if she didn't have a husband to provide an extra income, I suspect she wouldn't be enjoying it so much! My ex-husband was a teacher so I understand the stress of teaching. Teaching in Oz is much like teaching in the UK, but there are a few avenues you could consider. One is private schools - they're far more numerous here. You'll be expected to get involved in extra-curricular activities which will invade your Saturdays, but on the other hand you'll have better-behaved students, smaller classes and a lower teaching load. Then there's country schools - we started out in the country, and we're real city-dwellers so we weren't happy, but my husband enjoyed the teaching. Smaller classes, better-behaved kids, small teaching community. There are several private schools in big country towns, too, so you could even get a double whammy! BTW I notice you mention wildlife - where are you thinking of settling? There's not much wildlife in Australian cities, unless you want to live in Hobart (wallabies in the garden if you pick the right suburb). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul1Perth Posted January 21, 2014 Share Posted January 21, 2014 Don't know what job would give you more time with your kids than teaching tbh. You have the same holidays as them, you work the same sort of hours. It's great thinking about a sea change or whatever but with kids you have to be practical. If I were you and could get jobs in teaching first I would go for that and then try and think of something from the luxury of having a job. Working for yourself might sound promising and could work out to be more money but all the people I know who work for themselves are putting in more hours, are more worried and can't afford to turn a job down or have a day off sick. I'll stick to being a lowly employee with my set times of work, not so much stress, holiday allowances and sick leave. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul1Perth Posted January 21, 2014 Share Posted January 21, 2014 I`m planning to work as a nurse for the next 2 years or so and have a good look around, considering possible paths. I might want to stay in nursing but advance my degree. Whenever we went diving or on a boat trip, I always though it must be a fantastic job to be a marine biologist :biggrin:but not sure if it could be done as a full-time career or just a kind of a hobby. I know a couple of people that are marine biologists so there is a career path. You have to be lucky though, they both work for oil and gas companies, work away a lot and are on good salaries. Not many of those jobs going around though. There's always the department of fisheries too. I often used to look at windsurfing instructors when we were abroad from the UK and think I reckon I could handle that for a year or two. I think it's something you would have to get into young and single and do it for a couple of years, then get a real job. Unfortunately never got round to it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
starlight7 Posted January 21, 2014 Share Posted January 21, 2014 You might find teaching more enjoyable here- I did. I did change , though, because I got bored with the same old same old. First I went into teaching adults and then tapered that off and went into social work ( did a couple of courses) and then into management which, I have to say, was a whole lot easier than teaching though the hours were worse. A lot depends on your subjects, too. If I had my time again I would go into real estate I think, just always fancied it and always heaps of jobs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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