What are your Pros and cons about moving to Australia?

[marie]

Hi,

 

I would really appreciate any comments of pros and cons of moving to Australia from the Uk.

maybe there is some things I haven't thought about that others have

(info about me- no kids as yet and a married couple however looking to start a family. Planning on moving to Queensland-gold coast area)

 

 

For me cons are leaving behind family, Pros are definatly the weather.

However I am trying to be prepared for the cons of Australia before making the final move.

[Guest]

Before you put the weather on the pros list have a read of this

 

http://m.bbc.co.uk/news/world-australia-30225276

 

You are going to get a massive difference of opinion on whether there are pro's or not to Australia and it's almost pointless asking as it comes down to personal opinion so all I'm going to say is that from observation over 5 years on this forum that many women find it very difficult after having a family and once you have children in Australia you can end up trapped there if your partner wants to stay - I know it's probably hard to imagine but it splits couples up. Some are now getting 'pre-migration' agreements but it is difficult to see they would stand up in court. There is a sticky post about what you should know before moving with children - the same applies if you are planning to have them there.

 

If your family have the health and wealth to travel to Australia then there is maybe more hope of settling but if you are saying now you would miss them then check and double check the facts about what you expect to gain (& FACTS not opinions from forums or 'sales' pitches from the Australian government/states/migration agents/TV shows)

 

There was a lot of things we believed about Australia that simply are not true.

[Gbye grey sky]

Hi,

 

I would really appreciate any comments of pros and cons of moving to Australia from the Uk.

maybe there is some things I haven't thought about that others have

(info about me- no kids as yet and a married couple however looking to start a family. Planning on moving to Queensland-gold coast area)

 

 

For me cons are leaving behind family, Pros are definatly the weather.

However I am trying to be prepared for the cons of Australia before making the final move.

 

Don't you have a baby already as you mention this in other posts?

[Skani]

I think it's difficult to answer this question properly without first knowing

 

1. Have you ever been to Australia?

 

2. What is it you are hoping that Australia will give you that your present life doesn't?...(apart from the weather...and that doesn't suit everyone).

[Tina2]

As others have said this is a very difficult question and you will get many varied opinions.

As Lady Rainicorn said, if you are planning on having a family you must accept that with out the approval of your partner you will not be allowed to remove those children permanently from Australia. It is a very long thread LR refers to but one that anyone planing a move to Australia needs to take the time to read.

 

Weather, again love it or hate it. The Gold Coast gets very humid during summer, and can see some very scary storms. Winter is lovely though a bit like an English summer.

 

Schools again a widely discussed thread and one worth reading.

 

Jobs depends what you do, some find it easy to find work others don't.

 

Leisure what is there to do ? The beach, if you love swimming, surfing, sailing, fishing plenty of that for you to do and on the GC you have the theme parks. For me I have little interest in the beach, maybe because I burn so quickly.

Sport ? Aus is sport mad so plenty of sports clubs to join, theme parks well yes great for the first few visits after I find that they can become a boring.

 

You will need to get use to the distance that you need to travel to go shopping, see a movie or even visit a specialist doctor. Aussie see little or no issue with this but can come as a bit of a shock to new comers. You rarely get the little villages where you can walk to the shops or schools over here.

 

History ? Aus really only has a couple of hundred years of history since white settlement so you wont find buildings that are hundreds of years old, compared to the UK where history is many hundreds of year in the making. The aboriginal history of course goes back thousands of years and a culture well worth exploring.

 

It really is up to you if the Aus life style is what you are looking for. May be the best approach would be a working holiday of 6 to 12 months to allow you to have a good look around, we are all different and looking for different things.

[xxlornaxx]

I hate being cold so moved to qld...now I miss that cold feeling a bit n spend my days avoiding the heat N waiting on winter...on the bottest days I just want to fly bk to uk to live! But depends where u live. .im in north qld but on holiday in gold coast right now where its still hot but much more bearable n enjoyable. N i went to melbourne n i was freezing..was nice! Another con for me is the mental health care system but that may not b something that u come across. Oh and not getting free prescriptions like I did in scotland..ive nt had any health issues really but if I did I would rather be in uk I think. Internet expense n connection here is a letdwn compared to uk too. Other things that I thought were cons when I first moved here are just normal for me now like shops n food n day to day things. Pro for me is mostly just bein here, exploring n experiencing sumthin I always wanted to do n will never forget wherever I end up. oh and also pros are all the beautiful wildlife n sealife I have come across but I love animals..cons are meeting alot of pig hunters and meat eaters lol but its all personal n indivudual..I love my family but dnt miss them at all. Im only 18months in..no kids..came as married couple..now single lol

[Parley]

Presumably the education system is a lot better in Australia.

[Parley]

As others have said this is a very difficult question and you will get many varied opinions.

As Lady Rainicorn said, if you are planning on having a family you must accept that with out the approval of your partner you will not be allowed to remove those children permanently from Australia. It is a very long thread LR refers to but one that anyone planing a move to Australia needs to take the time to read.

 

Weather, again love it or hate it. The Gold Coast gets very humid during summer, and can see some very scary storms. Winter is lovely though a bit like an English summer.

 

Schools again a widely discussed thread and one worth reading.

 

Jobs depends what you do, some find it easy to find work others don't.

 

Leisure what is there to do ? The beach, if you love swimming, surfing, sailing, fishing plenty of that for you to do and on the GC you have the theme parks. For me I have little interest in the beach, maybe because I burn so quickly.

Sport ? Aus is sport mad so plenty of sports clubs to join, theme parks well yes great for the first few visits after I find that they can become a boring.

 

You will need to get use to the distance that you need to travel to go shopping, see a movie or even visit a specialist doctor. Aussie see little or no issue with this but can come as a bit of a shock to new comers. You rarely get the little villages where you can walk to the shops or schools over here.

 

History ? Aus really only has a couple of hundred years of history, compared to the UK where history is many hundreds of year in the making.

 

It really is up to you if the Aus life style is what you are looking for. May be the best approach would be a working holiday of 6 to 12 months to allow you to have a good look around, we are all different and looking for different things.

 

Be careful what you say Tina, that is very offensive saying Australia only has a couple of hundred years history.

What a shocking gaffe you have just made.

[Tina2]

Be careful what you say Tina, that is very offensive saying Australia only has a couple of hundred years history.

What a shocking gaffe you have just made.

Yes that is correct and I apologize for that I meant to say White history so i will fix it.

[VERYSTORMY]

It is a very individual thing and will differ for everybody.

Some jobs are in plentiful supply, some are very much not. So that depends on what you do.

Some love hot weather, some don't. Some, having been on holiday in hot climates "think" they will love living in it and find they don't.

 

Only you you can research the aspects that are relevant to you. You need to sit and think about why you want to make the move and then research if oz can realistically give you what you are hoping.

[MARYROSE02]

Once you have made that decision to go to Australia, don't listen to anything 'negative' either from people on PIO, or anybody you might meet in the UK, who has been here. The only way you will find out what it is like is to see, and 'live' (not 'holiday') for yourself.

 

Be prepared for a period of feeling 'unsettled.' It might not happen at all. I wrote in my diary for 1978 on 3rd November, 'My 1st impressions of Perth are really good. I like it and I want to stay.' (A month later, I arrived in Adelaide, and nearly went back to Perth because I missed my friends at the hostel.)

 

Homesickness is real, but it is often more 'family (and friends) sickness' and things about 'home' make you 'sicker' but they really are just 'things.' I doubt if I would have gone back so much, if at all, had my parents migrated with me.

 

This is actually my second time ('living' as opposed to 'holidaying') in Australia, and whether intentionally or not, I seem to have done it better the second time. I'm still living in the same flat in the same suburb (Surry Hills NSW), but I'm not so 'isolated' as I was before. I've done that by 'pushing' myself to talk to people more - in the cafes, shops, bars and restaurants in my neighbourhood I never knew the names of these people before, nor them mine.

 

So, my final bit of advice is to find a cafe or a pub or a restaurant, and start going there frequently, and talk to the people there. Tell them it's your first day in Australia. Introduce yourself and ask them their names. I stopped in Crown St today to tell a bloke watering the new gardens they are putting in on the edge of the pavement, 'It's starting to look nice now.' and he said 'Thank you.' In a cafe where I had my coffee, I got up to go without my hat, and a lady who was knitting on another table got up to get my hat and trailed her knitting along the floor. I thanked her, and asked her what she was knitting? 'A scarf for winter', and I told her about my Mum with her knitting machine, and asked her where her accent was from? Phillipines American.

 

Don't 'surrender' to isolation. Yes, the TV is c**p, Don't watch it. Did you really come ten thousand miles to watch the local TV? (Or to complain about the sausages, or compare (unfavourably of course) Coles to Sainsburys.)

[Quoll]

Pro for us was that it was a better opportunity at the time than what we had on the table in UK.

It wasn't a bad place to raise kids although the education system wasn't great and we were totally independent and self sufficient.

Cons - the weather - I put on 50kg because I sat inside all day trying to avoid the hot/cold/whichever; isolation from extended family and now living with grandkids on the other side of the world so my sympathies are with my parents who lived with that too! Biggest con though is never, despite all rational thinking, feeling like I belonged! Nice place for a holiday.

[docboat]

You have, OP, got the question very wrong. Your first question must be: "Do I really want to leave the UK?" if yes, then ask yourself why - the precise reason why - you want to leave the UK. Your next question will then be "Where in the world will I obtain the advantages I seek, that are not present in the UK?" You might find Canada is better suited, or South Africa or heck, just about any country in the world. Now, you obviously are some way along to moving to QLD, so I would suggest you get very clear the answers to the first question. Why? Because you will need to keep in mind why you are here, and not "back home" when the going gets tough.

[VERYSTORMY]

Maryrose, while I think your post offers a lot of balanced, good advice, I will go against your openening paragraph. There is a lot of good advice and some of it good negative advice about the move that people should listen to, and I am sure you have been around on here long enough to see some of the need.

 

I remember a poster who was adamant on moving to Darwin because he thought it would have no drinking culture

i have been called negative on a board for advising a geologist to move to WA because I said he will struggle for work (he has had to leave for lack of work)

 

it is important that potential migrants understand the warts and all. Many see the channel 4 programmes and think oz is some paradise. But it can be hard, with enormous risks.

 

People led need to be able to make a balanced decision.

[Katie22]

Pros are the guaranteed beautiful blue skies, warmth & sunshine. If you like sports, the beach etc it's just great. Less people can be a big positive, less traffic jams (I live in Adelaide so take that into account), big, wide open spaces.

 

Cons are being away from your family. Can be bearable when everyone's healthy and happy but not so bearable when illness or personal trauma comes along for you and them. You're thousands of miles away and that can be very hard to cope with. You'll be missing the big family get togethers, weddings, Christmas etc and they'll all be having a good time without you so you'll have to just get used to it! The sun can be very damaging too. Great for a 2 week holiday but when you have to live and work in it, the excessive sun takes a toll - too many years here and you'll look like an old leather handbag so keep up the sunscreen! Skin cancers get common as you get older too! I could go on but I think I'll stop!

[MARYROSE02]

I wasn't ago much opposed to people telling you all about the "dark underbelly" of OZ, as trying to discourage someone from going, once they are thinking seriously about it.

 

You know, "What do you want to go there for? You'll be sorry. Mark my words. I'm speaking from experience. I hated it and so will you. Anyway, you can have just a good life in the UK."

 

I would hate to see somebody change their minds without trying it, especially because someone tried to discourage them because of their own experiences.

[MARYROSE02]

So not ago. Predictive text again!

 

Can I drive from my bros place at Picnic Point to a beach in Eastern subs which is prob 35-40k but the rush hour is over just about I hope. Took his dogs for short walk and they and I are fagged out from December heat. And there is rain and thunder on way. Who wants heat in Dec?!

[Scrutineer]

The advantages to Australia over Britain are generally subjective, but I believe some are general truths - Australian pros - more space, easier people, easier driving, bigger houses, quieter parks, more child-friendly, Australian cons - far away from family, horribly hot summers, mosquitos everywhere, barking dogs in every other back garden, very expensive retail, poor quality vegetables and also it's getting ruined by Americanisation.

 

I would recommend Australia, particularly to raise kids. There are more tax breaks, and better childcare support. It's a fairer society as well. Get a nice place tucked away in the hills (you'll want elevation to escape the heat) and drop down a gear and Aussie is probably the best place in the world to live in. Be warned though - it's a harsh climate, and you will miss the strangest things from the old country...

[tina0101]

For me, the pros have outweighed the cons. I do agree that making the move should not depend on a list of things though!

 

Good things: Way more sunny and nice days than the UK, meaning you can go out and do things. The sun being up early so when you go to work, it feels better! It's not as expensive as people make out (depending on where you're from in the UK; we came from the commuter belt near London, so we're used to things being pricy!). Always room on the beach. People are friendlier (again, depends where you are from in the UK).

 

Cons: The bloody mozzies and every other insect that seems automatically attracted to me. Hail the size of golf balls (we've been lucky where we live). The lack of back roads if the motorway snarls up.

[Guest Ptp113]

The advantages to Australia over Britain are generally subjective, but I believe some are general truths - Australian pros - more space, easier people, easier driving, bigger houses, quieter parks, more child-friendly, Australian cons - far away from family, horribly hot summers, mosquitos everywhere, barking dogs in every other back garden, very expensive retail, poor quality vegetables and also it's getting ruined by Americanisation.

 

I would recommend Australia, particularly to raise kids. There are more tax breaks, and better childcare support. It's a fairer society as well. Get a nice place tucked away in the hills (you'll want elevation to escape the heat) and drop down a gear and Aussie is probably the best place in the world to live in. Be warned though - it's a harsh climate, and you will miss the strangest things from the old country...

 

Umm maybe poor quality veg where you are, not so here, and barking dogs rarely. You are getting better at this but still need a little assistance

[Marisawright]

This is the best advice in the whole thread:

 

Your first question must be: "Do I really want to leave the UK?" if yes, then ask yourself why - the precise reason why - you want to leave the UK. Your next question will then be "Where in the world will I obtain the advantages I seek, that are not present in the UK?"

 

Australia is not a paradise, it's just another country. Nice weather is not a good enough reason to move - it can get horribly humid in Queensland, and many people find themselves hiding indoors from the stifling, sticky heat for most of the summer!

 

The biggest con, for me, is the fact that you're planning to start a family. Just look at some of the forums here and you'll find young women whose whole attitude to their Australian adventure changed as soon as they had a baby. Although it would be harder to do, I'd be inclined to postpone the move until you'v had that first child and you know how prepared you are to move away from family support.

[Guest Ptp113]

This is the best advice in the whole thread:

 

Your first question must be: "Do I really want to leave the UK?" if yes, then ask yourself why - the precise reason why - you want to leave the UK. Your next question will then be "Where in the world will I obtain the advantages I seek, that are not present in the UK?"

 

Australia is not a paradise, it's just another country. Nice weather is not a good enough reason to move - it can get horribly humid in Queensland, and many people find themselves hiding indoors from the stifling, sticky heat for most of the summer!

 

The biggest con, for me, is the fact that you're planning to start a family. Just look at some of the forums here and you'll find young women whose whole attitude to their Australian adventure changed as soon as they had a baby. Although it would be harder to do, I'd be inclined to postpone the move until you'v had that first child and you know how prepared you are to move away from family support.

 

It is a paradise for some, but I sure wouldn't live in Queensland either

[Parley]

It is a paradise for some, but I sure wouldn't live in Queensland either

 

Millions do. Quite happily.

[Guest Ptp113]

Millions do. Quite happily.

 

Good luck to 'em!

[Scrutineer]

Umm maybe poor quality veg where you are, not so here, and barking dogs rarely. You are getting better at this but still need a little assistance

 

You need to remember that most of us live in Australia, not paradise where you live. Everywhere I have lived in Aus, which is quite a few places in two states, has had barking dogs all over the place. My neighbour is a former policeman and he's got a few stories about the problems they cause, I can tell you. Could be solved eith the stroke of a pen, but the political will's not there.