Onthefence

Hi All,

I thought it was about time that I actually ask some questions on the ups and downs of returning back to the UK from Australia. I have been reading threads for many months now with the aim to help me to decide if its the right move or not.

Little background... currently 36 years old who is married to an Aussie guy, my 11 years old is from my previous relationship, who relocated countries without us so I didn't see any reason to stay in the uk at that time. Been in Australia for 6 years after i sold my house in Oxford and used the profit when I relocated and came over as a student and now a qualified social worker specialising in mental health (aussie quals)

My son struggled for a long time, mainly because of the terrible school he was in but now has settled in a different school. He has an extremely strong relationship ( through my hard work and encouragement) with his birth father and they contact each other weekly and see each other every year, My son mentions that he misses my family immensely and it surprises me just how family orientated he is, which just continues to break my heart.

We travel back every year which is costing a lot on air fares but at least we get accommodation with the family for free. I am 1 of 6 children and we are in contact all of the time, when we catch up, its like we only saw each other yesterday. Although my eldest brother does make mention that family tensions are apparent sometimes.

My husbands family are not really my cup of tea, I really struggle with them and when I mentioned to my husband that I did actually expect to have a good connection and laugh with them, he replied 'why should I expect that, they arnt my family!' So what am I doing really... Because my son is from another man, he (and me) are left on the outside and I am always protecting him from what the biological grandchildren receive and he doesn't, I receive zero support or help in regards to childcare or advice from any of them. The thought of having children here, on my own with no support and nasty in laws feels me with dread. My husbands isn't at all supportive of my concerns or homesickness and hasn't been particularly the husband that I was expecting in many ways, hence, its time to say 'see ya!

Whilst I don't regret moving here, its been a long and hard emotional rollercoaster and im ready to return to the uk, sans husband as he already mentioned that he would not leave this wonderful country even if I was struggling.

I fear mainly for my sons coping to readjusting but my family are really supportive, always have been. I was in the British Army since I was 17 years old, so relocating back to my home town in the South is somewhat exciting but a daunting prospect also.

My questions if someone could possibly correct or confirm them please, would really be appreciated.

My son and I both have UK and Aussie citizenship.

High school - My son is 12 this September(30th) so I believe he will enter into high school? I would also need to live in the area of high school choice? would I pay international or domestic fees?

Australian Undergraduate social work degree, I have received Honours, so I know that I can eventually apply to university for my masters of something in the future, is this correct? Secondly, how long do I have to reside in the uk before I can pay domestic fees? 3 years?

Job wise, nothing yet but im happy to clean toilets to make ends meet. I know there are heaps of care jobs out there so I dont actually expect to work as a social worker as soon as I get there.

Benefits - if needed, when would I likey be able to receive them? childcare allowance, rental assistance? any thing else? His father helps out financially also (pretty lucky)

I still have a uk bank account with savings, also a next clothing account which I pay of (thought it would help my credit rating).

Still have my UK license intact. I know my NI number and have paid voluntary contributions into it since I departed the UK in 2011. I know that I am entitled to a pension on age and also my military pension at 65.

What should I expect from NHS and GPS ect, I must admit I find that the healthcare system here in Aus has done me and my son a great service.

My sons dog will also relocate, I have zero idea on what I need to do with this, please advise.

My superannuation here, I believe will be given to me on my retirement age?

The cost of rental is daunting for me, I don't envisage being in rental for long as I will make a profit from the 2 homes I have here.

The saddest part is the disconnection between my son and his step father who doesn't have any legal rights for custody, I have tried my hardest to stick this out but... ( id prefer not to be abused with keyboard warriors please on this subject, I am good person with a wrong kind of guy).

...and that's it, realising that my thread is more like an insert into my personal diary, sorry. Any advise on what to expect in relocating would be great and have I missed anything?

I wonder if I make this move, it would be a mistake, I obviously left my hometown for reasons that I can no longer recall. I wonder if I would ever call any place home and whilst I spend a life time of deciding this, my son is in tow (albeit we have had the most amazing adventures together).
thanks in advance.

Pulaski

As a British citizens you and your son can just show up in the UK and register with the NHS - residence is all that's required. Someone reported that a bank statement addressed to your "home" (whatever that is) in the UK is all the evidence you need.

There are no fees to attend a state-funded school at all, ever, whether domestic or international. Full stop. School is free and mandatory even for children not living in the country legally. School is mandatory in the UK until at least 16 (not sure but that might have increased to 18, and if not "school" at least some sort of vocational training. ).

verystormy

For the dog, I would contact a specialist shipper such as Dogtainers. We used them in our move back from Oz in March. There is no quarantine in the UK now if you follow the correct process.

NHS, you are both entitled and just go to a GP and register.

Work, shouldn't be an issue as there is a shortage of social workers and I have met a couple of Oz trained ones.

There is no reason why you need to live back in the same place you used to live. We used to live in Leicester, a city I still like, but we are living now in Scotland which I love. However, getting a place to rent will mean you will either have to have a job or a heathy bank balance sufficient to show you can pay the rent.

Debidoos

Hi I'm sorry to hear of your dilemma and I hope you manage to come up with a solution in the long term. My son was 13 when I returned to live in the Uk and he easily settled into secondary school and made some lifelong friends- he also moved very near his birth dad and later went to live with him. He's now st university in England - the relationship between his dad and him unfortunately broke down - but I'm glad I took him back because I believe it was the right thing to do at that time in my life.

You won't pay for school education it's free until the age of 18. I'm not sure about child benefits but the benefit system in the uk now is what's known as universal credit and you have to be resident for three months before you can claim it. You won't be allowed domestic fees at uni unless you've lived there for three years. I don't think you will find it hard to get a job as a social worker but you might find that working for the NHS in the Uk is under paid and over worked(I have a health background and have worked for health service providers in the Uk,Australia and New Zealand where I live now. Local councils also employ social workers but I think they are also not paid well for the amount of responsibilities they carry. You can register with a GP and dentist and access free nhs treatment- you will find the time waiting to see a GP is very lengthy as well as other health requirements - I think prescriptions are about eight pounds now.

I stayed in the UK for six years -however I knew I wouldn't live there forever. Once you have moved abroad some people like me have difficulty staying in one place for long!! I do like England but I love living in New Zealand for now but I never say never! Both my adult children live there now so I go back on holidays as often as I can and may go back to retire there😀 Good luck with making your decision what ever you do. Oh and just to say that I left Aus for similar reasons to you - I ended up getting divorced from my second husband and it was a good decision in hindsite. I heard he moved back to Australia but I've no idea where he is - I lost contact with him haven't seen him for over 7 years!

Editha

You will need to apply to the HCPC (Health and Care Professions Council) to get your social-work qualifications recognised. You should start by contacting the British Association of Social Workers for advice.

Onthefence

Thankyou so much for your kind message and for the information, very helpful and encouraging.