JonandVicky Posted August 16, 2014 Share Posted August 16, 2014 We have been mulling over moving to Australia for about 5yrs, a lot of people say we wouldn't be better off financially but our quality of life would be so much better. I worry that I'd be working every hour and my partner will be on her own with the kids with no other support. We know we would have to put ourselves out there but how willing are people, taking in new people into there community? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fifi69 Posted August 16, 2014 Share Posted August 16, 2014 Quality of life...depends on what's important to you!! if your after a more outdoorsy lifestyle, good weather, the simple things in life, then its pretty much a no brainer. if you don't have a open mind, need your extended family and mates that you've known since the year dot 24/7 then it may not be for you. as for money, can't comment, don't know what you do work wise. if you've had to ponder it for so long, then moving is probably not for you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quoll Posted August 16, 2014 Share Posted August 16, 2014 Nope, nothing miraculously better. You and your OH will have to be very self sufficient to cope with the isolation and that takes a lot of people by surprise. Sometimes you don't realize just how reliant you are until you have no one to rely on. If you have kids who are close to extended family then it will be a wrench for them and there is little joy in grand parenting via Skype! The weather thing is one of those often touted as being a "no brainer" but for me the UK weather is far preferable and you can always dress for the weather whereas there is no escape from an Aussie summer day (and going out in it may well not be on your agenda) - I used to sit inside in the summer with curtains and windows closed to keep the heat out. Here I walk pretty much every day! Aussies have fewer days holiday as a general rule and for most the working day is just the same. Developing friendships is a topic often discussed on here - my own experience is that true friendships are hard to come by - there is a certain superficiality about relationships and after 30+ yrs I had very few who've stood the test of time - most were situationally transient and the very few I maintained were long term migrants like myself. If you fancy an adventure, can head over to a concrete better opportunity and don't burn any bridges in the process (take a career break, don't sell the house etc) then give it a go. It's just another first world country really. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MARYROSE02 Posted August 16, 2014 Share Posted August 16, 2014 Statistically, most people who come to Australia, make a success of it, but you need to think positively. If the 'seed' has been planted in your mind, then do it. Don't be one of those people who looks back in 20 years time and thinks, 'well, we nearly went to Australia, but we were too scared.' Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JonandVicky Posted August 16, 2014 Author Share Posted August 16, 2014 Hi Quoll Many thanks for your feed back its always good to hear both sides, I am interested where in Australia you and your family settled or lived? We do have children and we would want to give them a life like no other. With all you have mentioned and taking into consideration the great distance there would be between our family's we are still determined to give it ago. The main things apart from work would be a suitable community with good schools and local amenities that ticked all the right boxes so the trans-scission fitting in would be as smooth as possible for them. We are currently looking at western Australia or Victoria?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scuffythetugboat Posted August 16, 2014 Share Posted August 16, 2014 We have been mulling over moving to Australia for about 5yrs, a lot of people say we wouldn't be better off financially but our quality of life would be so much better. I worry that I'd be working every hour and my partner will be on her own with the kids with no other support. We know we would have to put ourselves out there but how willing are people, taking in new people into there community? We lived like that for years when the children were younger, both in Sydney and Perth, then we gave up and moved back to the UK. Family draws you back, like a magnet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JonandVicky Posted August 16, 2014 Author Share Posted August 16, 2014 Hi scruffy What were your reasons for originally moving out to OZ and how long were you out there for? What did you do for work and how was the cost of living. Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quoll Posted August 16, 2014 Share Posted August 16, 2014 Hi QuollMany thanks for your feed back its always good to hear both sides, I am interested where in Australia you and your family settled or lived? We do have children and we would want to give them a life like no other. With all you have mentioned and taking into consideration the great distance there would be between our family's we are still determined to give it ago. The main things apart from work would be a suitable community with good schools and local amenities that ticked all the right boxes so the trans-scission fitting in would be as smooth as possible for them. We are currently looking at western Australia or Victoria?? We lived in Canberra - one of the better places if you have to live anywhere in Australia although everyone seems to have a downer on it (except those who've actually lived there) A life like no other - well, no, not really. Both of my now adult sons have independently expressed their regret at growing up away from extended family as both are partnered with girls from huge extended families. One of mine returned to UK for a post Uni gap year (over a decade ago!) and has absolutely no intention of ever returning as his opportunities in UK including being on the property ladder are far better than he could have achieved in Aus. He recently said that after having lived in London there really is nowhere in Aus he would ever think of moving to! When you've experienced the buzz of London life anything else is boring - he's even stopped visiting Aus for holidays preferring Europe, the Americas or the Far East. So as grandparents we have grand kids on opposite sides of the world! The other is a weird fellow, heavily into self sufficiency but I think he would have been better served by a UK upbringing. We chose a private education for both because, quite frankly, the local state offerings weren't up to much. Both boys went to a good university but both were disappointed by the quality of their course especially the one who has now experienced further education in UK. The odd one does look quite longingly at his brother's life experiences but having saddled himself with a wife who won't leave mummy and two kids he's a bit hamstrung! Offered the choice I think both my boys would have preferred to have been raised amidst extended family but it's made them very independent and self reliant and perhaps rather too selfish although their wives are doing their best to curb that! I won't say they've been disadvantaged by growing up in Aus but neither have they been advantaged. When compared with my friends' kids of the same age there's little to choose between them except none of my friends' kids have done the self sufficient drop out thing LOL Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pumpkin Posted August 16, 2014 Share Posted August 16, 2014 We have been mulling over moving to Australia for about 5yrs, a lot of people say we wouldn't be better off financially but our quality of life would be so much better. I worry that I'd be working every hour and my partner will be on her own with the kids with no other support. We know we would have to put ourselves out there but how willing are people, taking in new people into there community? No not, moving for a better quality of life is to me the single worst reason anyone could give for emigrating. It means you are making this enormous decision, fragmenting your extended family on nothing more than a vague notion. Most children are doing perfectly well in both of these countries, some children are not doing so well in both these countries. I think if somebody said they were moving for the weather it would make more sense to me. Because whilst it might be trivial, it Is at least fact based. It is warmer here, winters are much milder and some people will prefer the climate. We moved for an adventure and to explore this part of the world, also a bit trivial but again it is fact based. We are here and we are exploring, which is important to us. So my suggestion would be to sit down and have a think about your reasons and see if you can separate the fact based reasons (even trivial ones) from the notions. Then make your decision from there. And I am not a disgruntled migrant. I moved here and felt like a fish out of water for three weeks, then it just clicked into place and we have always been happy. But I didn't come here for a better life and whilst there are many things I like about being here, is to cannot say that it is a better life. It is just a different life. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jac2011 Posted August 16, 2014 Share Posted August 16, 2014 I think Australia is what you make of it. I believe I will have a better quality of life there but not because Australia is some sort of utopia that will offer it on a plate. Its because my husband and I have worked very hard in the past few years to ensure when we move to Australia we will be financially more secure. We have dreams and ambitions we want to follow such as Kayaking as a family that we cant do here as much due to finances (spent 3 years clearing debt and just about debt free) and the weather. One of the first thing we will do is buy 4 kayak's because we have budgeted that as part of our moving costs. We could easily had achieved this in England should we have wanted it enough, and we could have equally as good a quality of life, albeit a different style of living. Australia is now about our family sharing an adventure, working together as a team, including the children in the decision making and embracing life. It may be harder too for a while, finding jobs, housing etc but its something we are looking forward too. For us we have one advantage, we have already moved away from our families because 80% of our families need keeping at arms length and the 20% worth staying in touch with, we know will gladly visit and enjoy the chance to have trips. I wish you well with your decision, I think its best if you think of both the UK and Australia as equally the same quality, but different experiences and determine which lifestyle offers your family more. The Uk to us has more opportunities to travel, friends, familiarity, lovely cities, good shopping, Christmases and Halloween. But Australia has the relaxed, daily lifestyle where we can swim in the pool, walk in the sunshine, barbecue in the garden, enjoy asia, kayak, explore a new culture and society. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scuffythetugboat Posted August 16, 2014 Share Posted August 16, 2014 Hi scruffy What were your reasons for originally moving out to OZ and how long were you out there for? What did you do for work and how was the cost of living. Thanks We first came out in 1980 as migrants and we lived in Australia for 15 years. Back then it was at virtually no cost to come out. Back then Australia was a cheap country to live in. No more. We came out here again over 3 years ago for me to work (my wife can't get a job as she's not blonde and under 25) and as soon as we've got enough cash or we've had enough, we're going back to the UK where our son and daughter live. Don't let our experience put you off, these are different times and we're older but I can only say that the draw of family will never change. I've said it before to others that if you have a good life where you are, coming to Australia may not be a good idea. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Petals Posted August 16, 2014 Share Posted August 16, 2014 I do not think its something that another person can advise on, they can only tell of their experiences. We are all different, we have different upbringings and different family structures. For example my UK family is huge and lots of relatives but support from any of them would have been non existent, they were not are not into that sort of thing. So independence comes into the picture and being able to support yourselves and family with minimal or no support. People in Aus usually both work these days so there are not a lot of people around during the day with young children. Most young families have to have two cars so that if the wife stays home or the husband stays home they can get out and about. Transport can be poor if not living close into the centres. There is a lot to think about and you have to examine what you have now and what you like about your life and what you wold want to change. Then you have to take the plunge and accept that it might not be what you imagined at all, its very very very different living in Aus to the Uk. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted August 16, 2014 Share Posted August 16, 2014 Definitely not for us, we are very outdoorsy in the UK and truly thought the 'better' weather and 'laid back' lifestyle would have us 'living the dream' but in reality we found the heat much more restricting than the rain had ever been, the terrain boring (we were in WA) and financially we were much worse off so could no longer travel the way we used to. We worked longer hours, had to commute further, got much less holiday (20 days against 34 for me and no increase with service. In no way laid back! We also thought our son would be safer which was complete nonsense what we found was exactly the same drink, drug and violence problems as well as a scarily high fatal RTA rate and drowning to worry about too. We stayed 5 years - it took that long to get on our feet and our feeling was 'is this it?' For us Australia simply didn't offer enough (that we could afford to do) I wouldn't say Australians don't welcome you into their community, but my experience in Perth is that it is incredibly suburban and there really wasn't any community. Certainly not in the way I'm used to in the UK. Obviously lots of people love it so this was just my experience. You need to look very carefully at what you enjoy now and where in Australia would provide that - with the benefit of hindsight Perth was not the right place for us. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blossom Posted August 16, 2014 Share Posted August 16, 2014 Definitely not for us, we are very outdoorsy in the UK and truly thought the 'better' weather and 'laid back' lifestyle would have us 'living the dream' but in reality we found the heat much more restricting than the rain had ever been, the terrain boring (we were in WA) and financially we were much worse off so could no longer travel the way we used to. We worked longer hours, had to commute further, got much less holiday (20 days against 34 for me and no increase with service. In no way laid back! We also thought our son would be safer which was complete nonsense what we found was exactly the same drink, drug and violence problems as well as a scarily high fatal RTA rate and drowning to worry about too. We stayed 5 years - it took that long to get on our feet and our feeling was 'is this it?' For us Australia simply didn't offer enough (that we could afford to do) I wouldn't say Australians don't welcome you into their community, but my experience in Perth is that it is incredibly suburban and there really wasn't any community. Certainly not in the way I'm used to in the UK. Obviously lots of people love it so this was just my experience. You need to look very carefully at what you enjoy now and where in Australia would provide that - with the benefit of hindsight Perth was not the right place for us. I couldn't have put that better myself about Adelaide. Work benefits (money, holidays, sick leave, maternity etc) are way worse here for me. There isn't the same opportunities to succeed. The weather I do like, and that was the main reason I moved. I'm about to have my first child and do question bringing it up here. There are just not the same activities for little kids as there are in the uk (not totally surprising, there are far less people). The roads terrify me for kids, and once they get to drinking age, I don't even want to think. We moved from Manchester and my husband, who is a big socialiser, says he sees far more violence on a night out in Adelaide than he ever did in Manchester. I have split with my husband and am with an Aussie now, so I'm unlikely to leave, and it's not like i'm miserable or anything, but if I had my time again I wouldn't have come. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blossom Posted August 16, 2014 Share Posted August 16, 2014 Ps, I believe moving here helped to split up my marriage. It's kind of hard to feel good about the move when it's changed your life so dramatically (and it was my decision, so no feeling bitter to him there). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CaptainR Posted August 16, 2014 Share Posted August 16, 2014 Well, on the positive side moving away from the UK 6 years ago has worked well for us, and now living in Australia gives us better money and conditions with less work then if I was in the UK. We are a very self sufficient and close small family unit, and my parents are in the fortunate situation that cost isn't a concern when they want to come and visit us. Its mid winter and the kids spent all yesterday in the garden playing football, tennis, netball and golf. We had to drag them inside for dinner. Life is an adventure, you have 60-80 years on this earth if you are lucky, why waste it? I think ink we will settle here long term, but I still fancy doing some more expat contracts in Asia when the kids are older. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pumpkin Posted August 16, 2014 Share Posted August 16, 2014 Well, on the positive side moving away from the UK 6 years ago has worked well for us, and now living in Australia gives us better money and conditions with less work then if I was in the UK. We are a very self sufficient and close small family unit, and my parents are in the fortunate situation that cost isn't a concern when they want to come and visit us. Its mid winter and the kids spent all yesterday in the garden playing football, tennis, netball and golf. We had to drag them inside for dinner. Life is an adventure, you have 60-80 years on this earth if you are lucky, why waste it? I think ink we will settle here long term, but I still fancy doing some more expat contracts in Asia when the kids are older. I was just thinking that things were a bit negative sounding on the thread, so your post was very timely I think. I have been boasting that I have not yet put a coat on this winter and we have even had plenty of days in short sleeves. I didn't move for climate, but on the whole, I am really enjoying it and would find it hard to go back to the UK climate now. We do not regret coming and we are happy. We think our lives are better for the experience of living overseas because travel and experiencing different cultures are what we want to do. But on a day to day basis, we do not have a better life. Money similar, work similar, worse off financially because of Sydney house prices, but we are comfortable so that is not a complaint, just an observation. I think when I hear someone that has not yet moved use the cliché "better quality of life" I feel duty bound to try and bring about a reality check. Rarely do I hear someone that has moved, even yes the happy ones like myself, use the phrase "better quality of life". :smile: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VERYSTORMY Posted August 16, 2014 Share Posted August 16, 2014 What is a "better life"? You are moving from one first world country to another. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lucharmily Posted August 17, 2014 Share Posted August 17, 2014 There are experiences here that are unique to Australia and these are what can make it a pretty exciting place to be. My sister moved here 10 years ago as she wanted to have her own horse, something she has yearned for since childhood. She now has 4 and is very content as she has achieved something here not possible in the UK. I think this is an example of "a better life" - being able to do something here not possible in the UK. I think that's very important because on a day to day basis, jobs, money, bills etc are much the same. You have to have a passion for something specific to make it work rather than a vague "better life" idea. Hope this makes sense! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Que Sera Sera Posted August 17, 2014 Share Posted August 17, 2014 What do you do for a living? Do you have a visa already? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chortlepuss Posted August 17, 2014 Share Posted August 17, 2014 One thing to consider is where you live now, your current experiences and context. I know people who have moved over from places they hated (Nottingham, Manchester, Crawley) who love it here - have better opportunities to buy bigger houses, think that it is safer here, and more to do. When I talk to people who love their home town/city (York, Cardiff, Brighton) and came over for a bit of an adventure, not to 'run away' from anything they tend to miss home more, and feel they left a greater quality of life back in UK with countryside, culture, easy travel, job opportunities etc). I love to walk, travel, learn new languages and skills, participate in community activity so my personal quality of life is poorer. I'm from Sussex, UK and (gasp) prefer the climate there - BUT did enjoy the hot temperatures in Brissie for a couple of years until I realised how constraining they were with my pale complexion. If I liked sun-tanning, surfing, riding, trail biking, was rich enough to buy a boat for sailing - I might say the opposite I will say that Oz does offer amazing experiences - whale watching, rain-forest walks that can take your breath away and make you truly grateful for being able to live here. If you are rich, can afford the beach house, big yacht, international travel then I think it could be an incredible place to live. But the quality of life now is not higher for most people on average salaries. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flag of convenience Posted August 17, 2014 Share Posted August 17, 2014 Agree fully with Quoll as always on this particular subject. Why not take a year out and drive around Australia staying at places at will if looking for an adventure? I don't mean to sound high and mighty but I do believe those more intellectually inclined tend to fare far better off in Europe. A far more challenging and rewarding environment. Those in the trades area may do better here in Australia. As Quoll mentioned in her particular case the risk also of the kids moving on after studies can be a big risk as well. We know many couples, if not most where at least one of the kids has gone elsewhere. Not necessary overseas, but that too, but Perth to Melbourne seems rather popular. Never seen it as a better life for kids myself and had childhood in both countries. Couples going separate ways over time not too uncommon either. Just be aware of the astounding costs that can be involved with modern day life Down Under. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thinker78 Posted August 17, 2014 Share Posted August 17, 2014 Ok. Quality of life question- that's totally dependent on who you are and what you value for starters. Do people still need to work (most both adults), yes? do bills still need paying and housework doing and does life just take on the same sort of shape just 10,000 miles away? yes. Does the sun shine more? yes- but like others have said, it's not your 'laying near the Med sea in a bikini' type sun- it's really effing powerful and you can't even sit in it- i got burnt this week and it's mid bloody winter. your kids can't stay out in it for long without being slathered in sunscreen and UV protective clothing. last summer I spent 3 weeks holed up indoors during our heatwave, and the school was shut too due to bush fires and broken air con. No different to being snowed in. things i love about this country also drive me mad like the UK did. i love the space and smaller population but that too brings it's own issues. Community- less of! No pubs to walk to, often a case of suburban 'shut down' at 6pm, i've been here 2 years (Aus 9) and only just met some neighbours- very lonely often, ended up finally making friends with other ex pats- have made a lot of effort but don't kid yourself that it's the same. at least, it does take a really long time. I don't think quality of life is better. you have to fly everywhere, or drive immense distances, no rail connections, and if you are on a moderate income like we are it's really insanely expensive. that being said, i've had 9 great years here and have seen most of the country. i don't regret that. but i truly hand on heart do regret each day taking my child away from her extended family. others don't mind leaving theres, but for me, it's a no brainer what's more important. i don't mean to be negative. there's a lot to be said about adventure, just really think it through. it does cost a lot to get here after all. and you can't just pop back each year. being a migrant is bloody hard work- as adults you forget how much effort is required to 'start again' with social circles and building up a support network. i still don't have much of one even now and find it impossible with a family. hard choices, keep your house if you can in the uk, and give it a go, but prepare yourself for a rollercoaster...... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jessica Berry Posted August 17, 2014 Share Posted August 17, 2014 There is not a 'one size fits all' answer to this question, everyones experiences are going to be different and there are positives and negatives for both living in the UK and living in Australia. We are based in Adelaide and have been over here 7.5 years and we feel we have a good standard to living, but it has taken time and effort to achieve this. I think a lot of people are quite naïve, have unrealistic expectations and expect things to fall into place straight away and start panicking when they don't. In the past year, I have had a few people contact me and ask if I would be willing to meet up with them while they are over on reccies in Adelaide, as they want independent, honest and realistic advice regarding their job opportunities before they leave their well paid jobs and a high standard of living to emigrate. Often the information I give them is not what they had either been lead to believe or had envisaged in their mind. Perhaps in the current climate people are more cautious and want more information before they take the final leap, rather than getting carried away with 'living the dream'. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
docboat Posted August 17, 2014 Share Posted August 17, 2014 We have been mulling over moving to Australia for about 5yrs, a lot of people say we wouldn't be better off financially but our quality of life would be so much better. I worry that I'd be working every hour and my partner will be on her own with the kids with no other support. We know we would have to put ourselves out there but how willing are people, taking in new people into there community? Forgive my possibly jaundiced perception, but your whole post reeks of uncertainty, doubt and fear. Under such circumstances, do not even think about moving to another town, let alone across the world to another country. Set down for yourselves very clearly what it is you want, and why you want it. Get your real reasons, motives, emotions clearly laid out. Then look at where you want to be. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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