It's hard to make a break and go for it........ but it's worth it!

Australia, rated as one of the leading countries for lifestyle, drew us to make a challenging move. Leaving behind our secure jobs, family and friends we made a break for a land where we could have children, appreciate space, safety and quality time as a family.

There always seems to be a reason to put off the "Big Move" ties; family, friends, job potential, home or the age the children are at/important school exams. Originally from England myself and my husband from France, before moving we had a good steady life in Switzerland and I was pregnant with our first child. We had a lot of reasons to stay where we were but we moved at one of those unobvious times.

What we longed for was a home we could afford on one salary, a new international job experience, space away from crowds, less commuting and the rarity of a bit more quality time together. If you're dreaming of the same, take a look at Australia.

One of the main reasons many people are now deciding to move down-under, other than moving to be near family or being moved by a job, is for the work and lifestyle possibilities.

Visa & Agents

There are several paths possible to take when thinking of applying to immigrate or relocate down-under. Aussie Migrant (www.aussiemigrant.com) or The Department of Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs (DIMA) (www.immi.gov.au) can provide detailed information on types of visas but in brief, there are four basic possibilities: 

• A Family Migration, meaning the applicant has a relative in Australia willing to sponsor them.
• Skilled Migration, which is where the applicant must have skills or special abilities which will contribute to the economy of Australia and other areas of Australian life.
• Job Sponsored Migration, which is when an Australian company sponsors your move.
• Refugee, Humanitarian and special assistance programs.

Since the process of applying can present many individual questions, and several forms asking for various evidence and information, it can be worth enlisting the help of a local or an overseas specialist immigration agent.

We applied for a skills migration permit and arrived here with no prearranged job, family or friends in Queensland. This is probably an extreme independence example and of course not the only way.

With "Skilled Migration", we submitted an application to immigrate and filled in forms giving information about our education, level of English language, work history, health, marital status and finance. At this point in time, work skills such as Accountants, Nurses, IT Professionals, Midwives, Teachers, and Pastry Chefs among many skills are of interest to the country.

We gathered and submitted a lot of detailed paper work to an agent to check all our forms. In total the application cost 3500$US. Our immigration agent only worked with us on our visa. We realized the limitations of this once we had arrived and needed to run around a lot to research and set up life. An alternative is an immigration specialist who can work with you on all steps of the immigration process, visa, jobs, moving, selling up a business, purchasing property, businesses etc.(www.aussiemigrant.com is a reputed one)

A skilled immigration application file is valid for two years, and if the file doesn't reach the top of the pile of immigration applications by this date, it goes in the bin. We heard we were to be granted a visa just as the two-year deadline arrived! This is the risk; gather a lot of paperwork, wait for two years and pay 3500$.

When we did get our visas and permission to immigrate, we were given roughly 8 weeks to enter Australia and have our passports stamped. Normally there is more time, anything up to a year is common, but short notice does happen. The day after we were granted our visas we started to sell furniture, pack, buy plane tickets and get organized for the "BIG MOVE"!

Shipping Luggage & Passing Customs

During our preparation time we discovered that the expense of shipping a container from central Europe to Australia is more expensive than the items we planned to take. So we only brought sentimental items and several small boxes by airfreight.

Something we became aware of upon arrival is that the Australian Government is very protective of the Australian eco-system. The list of goods to declare at customs can be a surprise. It ranges from outdoor boots or clothes which may have soil on them, to camping equipment, food, seeds and plant matter and any many types of wood. The entire luggage we took with us on the airplane was checked and inspected.

{mosgoogle left}Once arriving after a long flight we checked into a youth hostel for a week to sleep, visit Sydney and wait for our boxes to arrive. It was in a way a bit of a non-event. No big signs saying "You've Arrived" or "New Immigrants this way". This is again when you could visit an immigration specialists based here in Australia, once you've slept off the jet lag. It can be important to take on help with planning for the first twelve months and avoid panicking about job hunting or rushing out and buying a business or house without asking for local advice.

All these necessary moves can be difficult without the local know-how and can involve running from one financial expert/broker or adviser to another. It can be difficult to get started without a financial history here or if your situation doesn't allow you to put all the ticks in all the right boxes. Don't be put off though‚ all this initial start-up bureaucracy is very do-able and not such a daunting process once you get started and if you take on guidance, advice and help.

Immigration Specialists can talk and walk you through all the work possibilities, financial options and emotional stages you will go through within the first twelve months and help establish a realistic plan of action for now and the long term to help you meet your expectations.

12 months in Brisbane

 The first 3 months for us were blissful. We drove from Sydney to Brisbane stopping off overnight along the way. We headed to Brisbane due to wanting to live close to the water, close to the city for work and have a good balance between the facilities provided in built up areas and open space.

I found a job almost as soon as we had arrived and worked 3 days, checked in at a midwife/doctor birthing center to monitor my pregnancy. We rented a house in a green, friendly suburb and made friends with our neighbours. My husband found work within 6 months of being here. Our son arrived healthy and well. 18 months after arriving we bought a house not far from the sea, near to the train line and we continue to work in our chosen careers and have a life.

According to the Australian immigration department, people go primarily to Melbourne or Sydney for work or family reason, with Brisbane listed as the third most popular settlement destination. Brisbane is a growing city with a vibe and collects the over flow of work from the two other major cities. Whilst salaries aren't as high as Sydney or Melbourne the cost of living isn't either.

There are a lot of attractions and inexpensive things to do in Brisbane. BBQ and picnic areas litter the national parks, beaches and numerous green open spaces. There are city festivals virtually every month to celebrate anything from the river life to a new show opening. Australians love an opportunity to get together and have a beer out in the open.

We've been here two years now and haven't looked back. The move has been made easier by the helpfulness of Australians. The positive relaxed attitude they have about themselves, their country and life tends to rub off after a while.