Considering emigrating to Aus
Discussion
This may be premature as we are not considering the move for a few years yet, but no harm starting researching early!
My partner and I are mid 30's and have a new-born son, so I'm ideally looking for opinions from families that have moved from the UK to Aus.
The intention is to continue running my business in the UK for a few more years whilst nipper is growing up (mum has finished work to raise him), then sell everything and make the move before he goes to school.
By then (and already) we should have a solid pot of cash, though naturally would need to come over on some kind of permit, which may be my missus as a qualified teacher, or myself as an 'entrepreneur'!
I've had plenty of friends go and come back from Aus, all saying they didn't gel with the place and found it overly expensive, but they haven't been the best examples to be honest as they have all seemingly gravitated to living back in the area they were born, where as we don't have the same desire to live within a 3 mile radius for life!!!
Apart from the huge upheaval, and the risks involved, we are keen to consider it. Naturally that far away from parents as they get older and unable to see their grandson isn't ideal, but we have to live our life; also ensuring our son the best start in life. The key issue and hopefully someone can advise, my missus has MS and a few other medical conditions, they are fairly under control and the climate closer to the equator actually helps, there is likely to be a requirement for ongoing medical assistance, something we cannot praise the NHS highly enough for, so unsure just how costly it can be in Aus?
Other than that, we'd love to take the chance and try something new. I've worked hard since 16 so never really had an opportunity to do what I want apart from a limited few very special holidays; we also have no particular warm feeling towards living in the UK any longer!
Any opinions welcome, best cities to be close to, medical advice etc
My partner and I are mid 30's and have a new-born son, so I'm ideally looking for opinions from families that have moved from the UK to Aus.
The intention is to continue running my business in the UK for a few more years whilst nipper is growing up (mum has finished work to raise him), then sell everything and make the move before he goes to school.
By then (and already) we should have a solid pot of cash, though naturally would need to come over on some kind of permit, which may be my missus as a qualified teacher, or myself as an 'entrepreneur'!
I've had plenty of friends go and come back from Aus, all saying they didn't gel with the place and found it overly expensive, but they haven't been the best examples to be honest as they have all seemingly gravitated to living back in the area they were born, where as we don't have the same desire to live within a 3 mile radius for life!!!
Apart from the huge upheaval, and the risks involved, we are keen to consider it. Naturally that far away from parents as they get older and unable to see their grandson isn't ideal, but we have to live our life; also ensuring our son the best start in life. The key issue and hopefully someone can advise, my missus has MS and a few other medical conditions, they are fairly under control and the climate closer to the equator actually helps, there is likely to be a requirement for ongoing medical assistance, something we cannot praise the NHS highly enough for, so unsure just how costly it can be in Aus?
Other than that, we'd love to take the chance and try something new. I've worked hard since 16 so never really had an opportunity to do what I want apart from a limited few very special holidays; we also have no particular warm feeling towards living in the UK any longer!
Any opinions welcome, best cities to be close to, medical advice etc
I will jump in first and put a shout out for (r)Adelaide. Its quieter than Sydney and Melbourne but that's a positive..its also cheaper, certainly on housing. We have been here for two years now (me second time, missus hadn't been here before). We both love it and while there are things we miss about the UK, we are so better off being here. We are both in our late 30s and we have a baby on the way. We have also just bought a small farm in McLaren Vale and am about to build our dream house - something we could never achieve in the UK.I love Melbourne and Sydney but what we save can give us a great weekend away every other month.
Interesting point about grandparents and health. Its something we have debated with mine but my wife is the medical field so can get things sorted. I understand it can be expensive especially if they have lots of prescribed medications.
Other friends in the UK and one recent arrival are struggling to get jobs in a similar field to yourself. They have both run their own companies but cant get opportunities in Adelaide. Really depends on your field...
Come out for a look but remember a holiday is very different to living here. Its a long way back to the UK for emergency flights.
Interesting point about grandparents and health. Its something we have debated with mine but my wife is the medical field so can get things sorted. I understand it can be expensive especially if they have lots of prescribed medications.
Other friends in the UK and one recent arrival are struggling to get jobs in a similar field to yourself. They have both run their own companies but cant get opportunities in Adelaide. Really depends on your field...
Come out for a look but remember a holiday is very different to living here. Its a long way back to the UK for emergency flights.
Part of my visa application involved a medical. My understanding is that they do this to identify anything that might mean you become a burden on the health service. I don't know how the view MS so it might be worthwhile contacting the consulate to get some advice before you start filling in forms etc just in case MS is a no go.
In general they are super helpful. I rang them to ask about a question on the form and got told "Just put anything in there, we don't really check it".
As a new immigrant you aren't given (at least I wasn't) full access to Medicare initially so have to pay full price for everything. As an example, a 15 minute doctors appointment costs $67.05 but I get $37.05 back now I'm eligible for full Medicare.
Almost everyone has private health cover - it is expensive ($230 per month for our family of 3). It also includes Ambulance membership - costs something like $70 per year for a family and saves you forking out $2,500 for a trip to hospital (will vary by state though).
In general, unless you are in the back of beyond the health service is good. Our doctors is open 7 days a week - weekdays from 8am until 8pm. The town currently has 2 GP surgeries (with 2 more being built). The one we go to is in the "Medical Centre" so has various visiting specialists, a physio, emergency treatment room, on-site pathology service, and an x-ray/ultrasound place next door. There are also 2 places (privately run so you pay) with CT machines within 20 minutes of us. The pharmacy next door is open 7 days as well. We live in a town 60 km from Melbourne with a population of about 10k!
In general they are super helpful. I rang them to ask about a question on the form and got told "Just put anything in there, we don't really check it".
As a new immigrant you aren't given (at least I wasn't) full access to Medicare initially so have to pay full price for everything. As an example, a 15 minute doctors appointment costs $67.05 but I get $37.05 back now I'm eligible for full Medicare.
Almost everyone has private health cover - it is expensive ($230 per month for our family of 3). It also includes Ambulance membership - costs something like $70 per year for a family and saves you forking out $2,500 for a trip to hospital (will vary by state though).
In general, unless you are in the back of beyond the health service is good. Our doctors is open 7 days a week - weekdays from 8am until 8pm. The town currently has 2 GP surgeries (with 2 more being built). The one we go to is in the "Medical Centre" so has various visiting specialists, a physio, emergency treatment room, on-site pathology service, and an x-ray/ultrasound place next door. There are also 2 places (privately run so you pay) with CT machines within 20 minutes of us. The pharmacy next door is open 7 days as well. We live in a town 60 km from Melbourne with a population of about 10k!
Firstly I'd say that you should go there, travel about, see what you think. Not on fun things, but living things, where you could be, what property costs and so on.
I employ people in Australia, run a company there and been a lot of times, we've seen probably more people going out deciding to stay but quite a few do want to come back to the UK for a whole variety of reasons. It really is something that you can only judge for yourself. An example, as above - Adelaide. Now having had a fair bit of time there Adelaide is probably the last city of any size I would choose, certainly way behind Sydney, Melbourne, Perth and Brisbane. But it's personal choice, quite valid for others to go for a different order or different places.
Do be aware of cost, the service is reasonably good but it's not NHS, cars cost a fortune and so on. It's hot - nice in theory but can you live in it in practice? Is all your family here, all the people you know who suddenly seem a hell of a lot of distance away when you move.
As I say, most of the people we move stay and love it, but a good number don't. Personally I'd suggest getting out there and spending time where you might live, look at places, try and find where you would live, what car you might afford etc.
I employ people in Australia, run a company there and been a lot of times, we've seen probably more people going out deciding to stay but quite a few do want to come back to the UK for a whole variety of reasons. It really is something that you can only judge for yourself. An example, as above - Adelaide. Now having had a fair bit of time there Adelaide is probably the last city of any size I would choose, certainly way behind Sydney, Melbourne, Perth and Brisbane. But it's personal choice, quite valid for others to go for a different order or different places.
Do be aware of cost, the service is reasonably good but it's not NHS, cars cost a fortune and so on. It's hot - nice in theory but can you live in it in practice? Is all your family here, all the people you know who suddenly seem a hell of a lot of distance away when you move.
As I say, most of the people we move stay and love it, but a good number don't. Personally I'd suggest getting out there and spending time where you might live, look at places, try and find where you would live, what car you might afford etc.
You could also view it as a 4 or 5 year adventure providing you get the right visa when you come out.
Your kids will qualify & get citizenship rights for life also if you wish.
2 1/2 years here now, 1 1/2 more & we will get our citizenship & we are then free to leave & come back in 20 years if we wish.
We will probably stay but its great to have the options..
Go for it only one life...
Your kids will qualify & get citizenship rights for life also if you wish.
2 1/2 years here now, 1 1/2 more & we will get our citizenship & we are then free to leave & come back in 20 years if we wish.
We will probably stay but its great to have the options..
Go for it only one life...
swings and roundabouts.
+vs, wether is great, people are pretty good, lots of outdoors stuff to do, big dream properties are affordable, fuel is cheaper, V8 utes
-vs, expensive, doesn't have the same charming character as Britain (or am I seeing Britain through rose tinted glasses?), I miss small British villages and pubs, Oz has no proper pubs, I miss old stone buildings and cottages and Europe. Oz is massive. And relatively sparsely populated with large distances between interesting stuff. So whereas in the UK, i'd be off every weekend seeing different parts of the UK and got to see most of it, I can only see a fraction of Victoria within a weekend's travel. I really miss popping over to Europe for a long weekend.
+vs, wether is great, people are pretty good, lots of outdoors stuff to do, big dream properties are affordable, fuel is cheaper, V8 utes
-vs, expensive, doesn't have the same charming character as Britain (or am I seeing Britain through rose tinted glasses?), I miss small British villages and pubs, Oz has no proper pubs, I miss old stone buildings and cottages and Europe. Oz is massive. And relatively sparsely populated with large distances between interesting stuff. So whereas in the UK, i'd be off every weekend seeing different parts of the UK and got to see most of it, I can only see a fraction of Victoria within a weekend's travel. I really miss popping over to Europe for a long weekend.
There are so many lifestyles in Oz, it would take 10 lifetimes to explore very many of them.
I spent my 20s in Sydney, developed a plastics auto products business, raced cars, did a lot of sailing, had a ball.
In my 30s, I went sailing around the near Pacific islands, then played with boats, doing tourist day trips in the Great Barrier Reef area.
Tried farming in my mid 40s in southern Queensland.
Came back to civilisation near Brisbane & the Gold Coast in my 50s/60s, back in manufacturing, for the kids schooling. Still had 20 acres for horses for the kids, with a comfortable commute.
So many options, you could never try them all. What are your main interests, as that has a big effect on where mat be good for you.
I spent my 20s in Sydney, developed a plastics auto products business, raced cars, did a lot of sailing, had a ball.
In my 30s, I went sailing around the near Pacific islands, then played with boats, doing tourist day trips in the Great Barrier Reef area.
Tried farming in my mid 40s in southern Queensland.
Came back to civilisation near Brisbane & the Gold Coast in my 50s/60s, back in manufacturing, for the kids schooling. Still had 20 acres for horses for the kids, with a comfortable commute.
So many options, you could never try them all. What are your main interests, as that has a big effect on where mat be good for you.
My wife, myself and 18 month old moved to Sydney about 3 years ago.
In a nutshell - love it.
The medical is excellent, although as others have said, expensive. If you earn over 80k you need to have medical insurance "health fund" or have to take an additional tax. There are private and public GP services. Some of the private ones do something called 'bulk billing' which means there is no charge, otherwise the medicare gives you $35-ish back from an appointment (around $85).
Although 'everything is more expensive', the salaries are higher - thus it all balances out.
The coffee is amazing
The weather is best in the winter IMO
Roads are great, but you have to ensure you abide by the rules as they're very strict
Cars are more expensive to buy and run. We imported ours, which was a good thing to do.
Schools are great
People are more laid back and much friendlier (than in London)
TV is awful
Radios are full of adverts
We came over on a 4 year visa and converted it to perm. You have to go though a few hurdles (including thorough health check).
Had another kid here, but she doesn't have any automatic rights - only absorbs the parents status.
We live next to a beach.
It's a great country
In a nutshell - love it.
The medical is excellent, although as others have said, expensive. If you earn over 80k you need to have medical insurance "health fund" or have to take an additional tax. There are private and public GP services. Some of the private ones do something called 'bulk billing' which means there is no charge, otherwise the medicare gives you $35-ish back from an appointment (around $85).
Although 'everything is more expensive', the salaries are higher - thus it all balances out.
The coffee is amazing
The weather is best in the winter IMO
Roads are great, but you have to ensure you abide by the rules as they're very strict
Cars are more expensive to buy and run. We imported ours, which was a good thing to do.
Schools are great
People are more laid back and much friendlier (than in London)
TV is awful
Radios are full of adverts
We came over on a 4 year visa and converted it to perm. You have to go though a few hurdles (including thorough health check).
Had another kid here, but she doesn't have any automatic rights - only absorbs the parents status.
We live next to a beach.
It's a great country
My wife and I moved to Perth 36 months ago and we've had our daughter in the last 5 months.
In a nutshell - love it.
The medical is excellent, although as others have said, expensive. If you have a single income and earn over 160k you need to have medical insurance "health fund" or have to take an additional tax. However if your income is only just above the threshold you can do things like superannuation (pension) contributions to pull your taxable income down below the threshold. There is a Medicare safety net that stops you going too far out-of-pocket. Its a gamble really and one we decided to play on the Medicare public side, saving ourselves thousands so far. All the care my wife and daughter had last year was excellent. She had a minor key-hole procedure before getting pregnant - Saw the consultant on the Friday and the op was on the following Thursday despite being in no way urgent. Our local hospital (Joondalup) is staffed mostly by UK and Irish, its pretty much brand new and we cant fault it.
There are private and public GP services. Some of the private ones do something called 'bulk billing' which means there is no charge, otherwise the medicare gives you $35-ish back from an appointment (around $85). Our GP does what many do and bulk-bills during office hours, after that you pay the $80 and the practice processes your refund claim for you.
Although 'everything is more expensive', the salaries are higher - thus it all balances out.
The weather is best in the spring and Autumn in Perth.
Roads are boring in WA and you have to ensure you abide by the rules as they're very strict
Cars are more expensive to buy and run. Import one from the UK if you can. Wish we'd done so.
Schools are great
People in Perth's North are just as laid back and friendly as those in the North of England - Probably because thats where most of them came from.
TV is awful
Radios are full of adverts - Use iTunes Radio
We came over on a permanent visa, medicals in the UK before we left. Originally the intention was to turn up and get a job anywhere that'd have me but in the end sorted a job before we arrived.
We live within sight of a beach which is 4 minutes walk away.
It's a great country
In a nutshell - love it.
The medical is excellent, although as others have said, expensive. If you have a single income and earn over 160k you need to have medical insurance "health fund" or have to take an additional tax. However if your income is only just above the threshold you can do things like superannuation (pension) contributions to pull your taxable income down below the threshold. There is a Medicare safety net that stops you going too far out-of-pocket. Its a gamble really and one we decided to play on the Medicare public side, saving ourselves thousands so far. All the care my wife and daughter had last year was excellent. She had a minor key-hole procedure before getting pregnant - Saw the consultant on the Friday and the op was on the following Thursday despite being in no way urgent. Our local hospital (Joondalup) is staffed mostly by UK and Irish, its pretty much brand new and we cant fault it.
There are private and public GP services. Some of the private ones do something called 'bulk billing' which means there is no charge, otherwise the medicare gives you $35-ish back from an appointment (around $85). Our GP does what many do and bulk-bills during office hours, after that you pay the $80 and the practice processes your refund claim for you.
Although 'everything is more expensive', the salaries are higher - thus it all balances out.
The weather is best in the spring and Autumn in Perth.
Roads are boring in WA and you have to ensure you abide by the rules as they're very strict
Cars are more expensive to buy and run. Import one from the UK if you can. Wish we'd done so.
Schools are great
People in Perth's North are just as laid back and friendly as those in the North of England - Probably because thats where most of them came from.
TV is awful
Radios are full of adverts - Use iTunes Radio
We came over on a permanent visa, medicals in the UK before we left. Originally the intention was to turn up and get a job anywhere that'd have me but in the end sorted a job before we arrived.
We live within sight of a beach which is 4 minutes walk away.
It's a great country
As I said above, many going there love it, but a lot don't, it's personal choice. What I would say though is that the health service part is problematic in the sense that it is not free, it does comprise of Medicare (1.5% of your income) plus another 1% unless you don't earn much. There is also a lot of additional cost - needing an ambulance, for example. We have recently advanced money to an Aussie employee so she could go and have an operation. It's a complex area but don't confuse it with the 'free' nature of NHS nor, in some cases, the quality of what is available.
Perth also is love it or hate it. You are so far from anywhere else you have to be in the mentality that you live and stay and exist in a small area because you are a hell of a long way from anywhere else. It's a bit like living in Birmingham but there being nowhere anywhere in Europe, the whole continent is empty except for you and the city. Somewhere like New York is as close as anywhere else is. So you have to love what is there, because nothing else is!
People in Australia tend to be rivals in someways, Sydney v Melbourne in most senses. Brisbane is smaller but thinking they are better (they aren't!). But roads aren't great and cars cost a fortune. But those 3 (2.5) cities largely ignore Perth and look down on Adelaide as weird.
But also remember that the place is, even now, expensive. Currently the exchange rate is not far off $2 to £1 but you need to earn at least 3 times, preferably 4 times as much. Someone we can employ here for £20k would need at least $70k there, we've moved someone from here on £25k to there on $90k and it is not a pay rise.
Weather is hotter, but hours don't change to the same extent. UK days when it's dark but 4 or 4.30pm are countered by ones when it is light through to 10 or 10.30pm (or beyond) here. But not in Australia, your summer days will be dark in the evening in a way that they aren't now. And it can get very hot, when the temperature is in the 30s and 40s it's beyond an environment where I can do anything beyond sit in air conditioning.
It is each to their own choice, well worth visiting and making your own opinion.
Perth also is love it or hate it. You are so far from anywhere else you have to be in the mentality that you live and stay and exist in a small area because you are a hell of a long way from anywhere else. It's a bit like living in Birmingham but there being nowhere anywhere in Europe, the whole continent is empty except for you and the city. Somewhere like New York is as close as anywhere else is. So you have to love what is there, because nothing else is!
People in Australia tend to be rivals in someways, Sydney v Melbourne in most senses. Brisbane is smaller but thinking they are better (they aren't!). But roads aren't great and cars cost a fortune. But those 3 (2.5) cities largely ignore Perth and look down on Adelaide as weird.
But also remember that the place is, even now, expensive. Currently the exchange rate is not far off $2 to £1 but you need to earn at least 3 times, preferably 4 times as much. Someone we can employ here for £20k would need at least $70k there, we've moved someone from here on £25k to there on $90k and it is not a pay rise.
Weather is hotter, but hours don't change to the same extent. UK days when it's dark but 4 or 4.30pm are countered by ones when it is light through to 10 or 10.30pm (or beyond) here. But not in Australia, your summer days will be dark in the evening in a way that they aren't now. And it can get very hot, when the temperature is in the 30s and 40s it's beyond an environment where I can do anything beyond sit in air conditioning.
It is each to their own choice, well worth visiting and making your own opinion.
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