better future??- thinking about the children.
Oct 9th 2006, 10:55 pm
#31
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Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 881
Re: better future??- thinking about the children.
Originally Posted by jad n rich
With a family that size you want to be as sure as you can, take a research trip, see it for yourself, not a spin round the tourist attractions in spring, a solid fact finding trip around schools, workplaces, wages, cost of living, do the trip in say mid summer, see if you can handle it. Gather facts on the day to day. Get out at rush hour, get out on friday night where the hoons hang, that sort of thing, you can barbeque and beach later when you live here.
Ignore the spin in the UK newspapers, start to read the australian newspapers, dont read the daily mails milk and honey stories, read the australians debates on education, health, workplace reform, political issues related to us living in the asian region.
Jobs, no child kid in australia is guaranteed a job, no more so than in the UK, many aussie professionals pack up and go overseas, with workplace reform that will only increase. Many posts will tell you some adults have found difficulty with finding work let alone their kids. Understand the paperwork required for just about everything.
Dont kid yourself on health and education funding either, or drugs or crime, understand much is the same.
Understand the emotional risk, 6 people, this might sound harsh but do you expect all of you will love it, ouch! but only saying it as that is the case with so many families, often with older kids you start something where one or more wont settle or will go back.
Family in UK, close to them or not? If close will your aussie budget allow for trips back, check the cost before answering that.
And finally dont do it to escape immigrants, 19.5 million of australias 21 million population are immigrants or from immigrant stock.
Turn the 'idea' into a well reasearched 'big' picture where you know the ups and the downs, if you still want to emigrate, you have a much better chance of being one of the ones who in 5 years time will still be here.
Ignore the spin in the UK newspapers, start to read the australian newspapers, dont read the daily mails milk and honey stories, read the australians debates on education, health, workplace reform, political issues related to us living in the asian region.
Jobs, no child kid in australia is guaranteed a job, no more so than in the UK, many aussie professionals pack up and go overseas, with workplace reform that will only increase. Many posts will tell you some adults have found difficulty with finding work let alone their kids. Understand the paperwork required for just about everything.
Dont kid yourself on health and education funding either, or drugs or crime, understand much is the same.
Understand the emotional risk, 6 people, this might sound harsh but do you expect all of you will love it, ouch! but only saying it as that is the case with so many families, often with older kids you start something where one or more wont settle or will go back.
Family in UK, close to them or not? If close will your aussie budget allow for trips back, check the cost before answering that.
And finally dont do it to escape immigrants, 19.5 million of australias 21 million population are immigrants or from immigrant stock.
Turn the 'idea' into a well reasearched 'big' picture where you know the ups and the downs, if you still want to emigrate, you have a much better chance of being one of the ones who in 5 years time will still be here.
- we could all be dead tomorrow !!!!
if you fancy trying to emigrate - give it a shot
if it doesn't work out - you go back
if you love it - you stay
but if you don't try - you'll always wonder - what if?
Life's short - enjoy
Oct 9th 2006, 11:04 pm
#32
Homebody
Joined: Jan 2005
Location: HOME
Posts: 23,181
Re: better future??- thinking about the children.
Originally Posted by ELLJAY
Good post...know what you're saying.....but (and it's a JLo) (big butt)
- we could all be dead tomorrow !!!!
if you fancy trying to emigrate - give it a shot
if it doesn't work out - you go back
if you love it - you stay
but if you don't try - you'll always wonder - what if?
Life's short - enjoy
- we could all be dead tomorrow !!!!
if you fancy trying to emigrate - give it a shot
if it doesn't work out - you go back
if you love it - you stay
but if you don't try - you'll always wonder - what if?
Life's short - enjoy
If you don't mind my saying so, your advice sounds somewhat irresponsible to me, given that the OP has teenage children whose lives would be severely disrupted by such a ping-pong move.
Your attitude is fine for people without children, grown-up children, or even very young children, but with older children, emigrating becomes infinitely more complicated.
Oct 9th 2006, 11:10 pm
#33
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 795
Re: better future??- thinking about the children.
Originally Posted by jad n rich
With a family that size you want to be as sure as you can, take a research trip, see it for yourself, not a spin round the tourist attractions in spring, a solid fact finding trip around schools, workplaces, wages, cost of living, do the trip in say mid summer, see if you can handle it. Gather facts on the day to day. Get out at rush hour, get out on friday night where the hoons hang, that sort of thing, you can barbeque and beach later when you live here.
Ignore the spin in the UK newspapers, start to read the australian newspapers, dont read the daily mails milk and honey stories, read the australians debates on education, health, workplace reform, political issues related to us living in the asian region.
Jobs, no child kid in australia is guaranteed a job, no more so than in the UK, many aussie professionals pack up and go overseas, with workplace reform that will only increase. Many posts will tell you some adults have found difficulty with finding work let alone their kids. Understand the paperwork required for just about everything.
Dont kid yourself on health and education funding either, or drugs or crime, understand much is the same.
Understand the emotional risk, 6 people, this might sound harsh but do you expect all of you will love it, ouch! but only saying it as that is the case with so many families, often with older kids you start something where one or more wont settle or will go back.
Family in UK, close to them or not? If close will your aussie budget allow for trips back, check the cost before answering that.
And finally dont do it to escape immigrants, 19.5 million of australias 21 million population are immigrants or from immigrant stock.
Turn the 'idea' into a well reasearched 'big' picture where you know the ups and the downs, if you still want to emigrate, you have a much better chance of being one of the ones who in 5 years time will still be here.
Ignore the spin in the UK newspapers, start to read the australian newspapers, dont read the daily mails milk and honey stories, read the australians debates on education, health, workplace reform, political issues related to us living in the asian region.
Jobs, no child kid in australia is guaranteed a job, no more so than in the UK, many aussie professionals pack up and go overseas, with workplace reform that will only increase. Many posts will tell you some adults have found difficulty with finding work let alone their kids. Understand the paperwork required for just about everything.
Dont kid yourself on health and education funding either, or drugs or crime, understand much is the same.
Understand the emotional risk, 6 people, this might sound harsh but do you expect all of you will love it, ouch! but only saying it as that is the case with so many families, often with older kids you start something where one or more wont settle or will go back.
Family in UK, close to them or not? If close will your aussie budget allow for trips back, check the cost before answering that.
And finally dont do it to escape immigrants, 19.5 million of australias 21 million population are immigrants or from immigrant stock.
Turn the 'idea' into a well reasearched 'big' picture where you know the ups and the downs, if you still want to emigrate, you have a much better chance of being one of the ones who in 5 years time will still be here.
The line about a better future for children is trotted out on a regular basis, and as someone said earlier , the truth is often parents move thinking it will be like one big holiday. I am not convinced that my daughter will have a better life in Oz than the UK, just a different one. The one thing that will make a difference to my daughter's life wherever we live will be how we raise her. There are problems that are universal ie crime, drugs, bullying, finding decent schools etc and it is our job as parents to equip our children to deal with or avoid problems and to provide as safe an environment as possible. These things are not necessarily solved simply by moving country.
Oct 9th 2006, 11:10 pm
#34
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Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 881
Re: better future??- thinking about the children.
Originally Posted by Elvira
If you don't mind my saying so, your advice sounds somewhat irresponsible to me, given that the OP has teenage children whose lives would be severely disrupted by such a ping-pong move.
Your attitude is fine for people without children, grown-up children, or even very young children, but with older children, emigrating becomes infinitely more complicated.
Your attitude is fine for people without children, grown-up children, or even very young children, but with older children, emigrating becomes infinitely more complicated.
That's just my opinion - call me irresponsible if you like
Oct 9th 2006, 11:12 pm
#35
Go the BNE Roar
Joined: May 2003
Location: Northside
Posts: 1,590
Re: better future??- thinking about the children.
Personally I think that they have the same chance of getting a decent job in England as they do in Oz. Swap the Polish immigrants for Asian and your in the same boat. All the same problems that the kids face growing up in England are replicated in Oz - drink, drugs and gangs etc are all here and every day news.
But do you want to be in Oz 10 years down the line thinking I wish I never came? the decision is all yours.
But do you want to be in Oz 10 years down the line thinking I wish I never came? the decision is all yours.
Originally Posted by flump
Hi everyone,
We are in the shall we or shan't we mode at the moment, We have 4 children the eldest being 15 and the youngest being 6, one of the main reasons for us considering the move to Oz is that we want the children to have a brighter, better future, the way things are going in this country at the moment it seems like there will be nothing for them, (even the local pie facory is employing polish!!) I am pretty confident that they will do well throughout school but i'm thinking 5/10/15 yrs down the road when they will be starting there adult life and having so much competition. I know that all sounds a bit waffled and i'm very confused about it all. And as we have never been to Oz, how they hell do I know that it offers a better future, it would be stepping in to the unknown. Your thoughts and advice(good or bad) would be much appreciated. I don't want to be here in 10yrs time thinking wot if.....
Thanks everyone for reading my waffle.
Claire
We are in the shall we or shan't we mode at the moment, We have 4 children the eldest being 15 and the youngest being 6, one of the main reasons for us considering the move to Oz is that we want the children to have a brighter, better future, the way things are going in this country at the moment it seems like there will be nothing for them, (even the local pie facory is employing polish!!) I am pretty confident that they will do well throughout school but i'm thinking 5/10/15 yrs down the road when they will be starting there adult life and having so much competition. I know that all sounds a bit waffled and i'm very confused about it all. And as we have never been to Oz, how they hell do I know that it offers a better future, it would be stepping in to the unknown. Your thoughts and advice(good or bad) would be much appreciated. I don't want to be here in 10yrs time thinking wot if.....
Thanks everyone for reading my waffle.
Claire
Oct 9th 2006, 11:23 pm
#36
Account Closed
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 881
Re: better future??- thinking about the children.
Originally Posted by Elvira
If you don't mind my saying so, your advice sounds somewhat irresponsible to me, given that the OP has teenage children whose lives would be severely disrupted by such a ping-pong move.
Your attitude is fine for people without children, grown-up children, or even very young children, but with older children, emigrating becomes infinitely more complicated.
Your attitude is fine for people without children, grown-up children, or even very young children, but with older children, emigrating becomes infinitely more complicated.
by Ann Wells of the Los Angeles Times
My brother-in-law opened the bottom drawer of my sister's bureau and lifted out
a tissue wrapped package.
"This is lingerie." He discarded the tissue and handed me the slip.
It was exquisite; silk, hand made and trimmed with a cobweb of lace. The price
tag with an astronomical figure on it was still attached.
"Jan bought this the first time we went to New York, at least 8 or 9 years ago.
She never wore it. She was saving it for a special occasion. Well, I guess this
is the occasion.
He took the slip from me and put it on the bed with the other clothes we were
taking to the mortician. His hands lingered on the soft material for a moment,
then he slammed the drawer shut and turned to me.
"Don't ever save anything for a special occasion. Every day you're alive is a
special occasion."
I remembered those words through the funeral and the days that followed when
I helped him and my niece attend to all the sad chores that follow an unexpected
death. I thought about them on the plane returning to California from the
Midwestern town where my sister's family live. I thought about all the things
that she hadn't seen or heard or done. I thought about the things she had done
without realising they were special.
I'm still thinking about his words, and they've changed my life. I'm reading more
and doing less. I'm sitting on the deck and admiring the view without worrying
about the weeds in the garden. I'm spending more time with my family and friends
and less time at committee meetings. Whenever possible, life should be a pattern
of experience to savour, not endure. I'm trying to recognise these moments now
and cherish them.
I'm not 'saving' anything; we use our good china and crystal for every special
event - such as losing a pound, getting the sink unstopped, the first camellia
blossom. I wear my good blazer to the market if I feel like it. My theory is if
I look prosperous, I can shell out $29.49 for one small bag of groceries without
wincing. I'm not saving my good perfume for special parties; clerks in hardware
stores and tellers in banks have noses that function as well as my party-going
friends.
"Some day" and "one of these days" are losing their grip on my vocabulary.
If it's worth seeing or hearing or doing, I want to see and hear and do it now.
I'm not sure what my sister would have done had she known she wouldn't be
here for the tomorrow we all take for granted. I think she would have called
family members and a few close friends. She might have called a few former
friends to apologize and mend fences for past squabbles. I like to think she
would have gone out for a Chinese dinner, her favorite food. I'm guessing -
I'll never know.
It's those little things left undone that would make me angry if I knew my hours
were limited. Angry because I put off seeing good friends whom I was going to
get in touch with some day. Angry because I hadn't written certain letters that
I intended to write one of these days. Angry and sorry that I didn't tell my
husband and daughter often enough how much I truly love them. I'm trying
very hard not to put off, hold back, or save anything that would add laughter
and lustre to our lives.
And every morning when I open my eyes, I tell myself that it is special.
Every day, every minute, every breath truly is . . . a gift from God."
Message: EVERY DAY IS A GIFT. THAT IS WHY THEY CALL IT THE PRESENT
Oct 9th 2006, 11:27 pm
#37
Account Closed
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 881
Re: better future??- thinking about the children.
Originally Posted by Elvira
If you don't mind my saying so, your advice sounds somewhat irresponsible to me, given that the OP has teenage children whose lives would be severely disrupted by such a ping-pong move.
Your attitude is fine for people without children, grown-up children, or even very young children, but with older children, emigrating becomes infinitely more complicated.
Your attitude is fine for people without children, grown-up children, or even very young children, but with older children, emigrating becomes infinitely more complicated.
Now i'm off...to have "fun" with my 3 children
Have a great day everyone
L-j xx
Oct 9th 2006, 11:34 pm
#38
Homebody
Joined: Jan 2005
Location: HOME
Posts: 23,181
Re: better future??- thinking about the children.
Originally Posted by ELLJAY
Please don't attack me - only giving my views. Hope you like the above story.
Now i'm off...to have "fun" with my 3 children
Have a great day everyone
L-j xx
Now i'm off...to have "fun" with my 3 children
Have a great day everyone
L-j xx
I am not attacking you, just pointing out that advising someone with nearly grown children : "If you fancy trying to emigrate - give it a shot - if it doesn't work out - you go back" is rather flippant.
Because it simply is not that easy. I am speaking from experience, and have observed plenty of people facing similar difficulties, with families ending up split by oceans.
All I am saying is that this needs to be considered and carefully thought out.
Oct 9th 2006, 11:41 pm
#39
Account Closed
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 881
Re: better future??- thinking about the children.
Originally Posted by Elvira
I am not attacking you, just pointing out that advising someone with nearly grown children : "If you fancy trying to emigrate - give it a shot - if it doesn't work out - you go back" is rather flippant.
Because it simply is not that easy. I am speaking from experience, and have observed plenty of people facing similar difficulties, with families ending up split by oceans.
All I am saying is that this needs to be considered and carefully thought out.
Because it simply is not that easy. I am speaking from experience, and have observed plenty of people facing similar difficulties, with families ending up split by oceans.
All I am saying is that this needs to be considered and carefully thought out.
Anyway - when the OP awakes in the morning - we've given her 2 differing opinions. That's what she wanted - good and bad - the choice is now hers. I think we've done well !!
Probably get an A+ if we were doing a debate in school !
Oct 10th 2006, 12:18 am
#40
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Joined: Sep 2005
Location: Eldorado (near Wangaratta) 'country Victoria'
Posts: 1,451
Re: better future??- thinking about the children.
If you emmigrate with children (especially older children) you have to do it knowing that they may well just up and move back as soon as they can. That said they may well emmigrate on their own if you don't move as the world is so much smaller these days. When we moved here our then 16 year old said from the start that he didn't want to be here and will leave as soon as he can. The truth is that he will probably still leave as soon as he can and he is having a really tough time here (although you wouldn't know it from his social life 
). It is easy to say that you are prepared for that to happen but when it does it is a completely different thing and there is no knowing how it will affect you.
I would say that my children have a more full life here and enjoy everything that Australia has to offer. From our point of view we have made the right decision even though I know that there is a very strong chance that one or more of our 4 children will move away from Australia in the future.
If that happens then we know that we are happy with our decision as we have not come here 'just for the children'. Whether we stay for ever depends on what the future brings but we came here with the view that it is a permanent move. As for the children, as a parent I want to give my children the experiences and confidence to take life and enjoy it and the downside of that is as better travelled people they will not have the worries about travelling themselves later in life so we may see less of them.
Sorry if I have gone on. Good luck with what ever you decide.
Nicky
). It is easy to say that you are prepared for that to happen but when it does it is a completely different thing and there is no knowing how it will affect you.I would say that my children have a more full life here and enjoy everything that Australia has to offer. From our point of view we have made the right decision even though I know that there is a very strong chance that one or more of our 4 children will move away from Australia in the future.
If that happens then we know that we are happy with our decision as we have not come here 'just for the children'. Whether we stay for ever depends on what the future brings but we came here with the view that it is a permanent move. As for the children, as a parent I want to give my children the experiences and confidence to take life and enjoy it and the downside of that is as better travelled people they will not have the worries about travelling themselves later in life so we may see less of them.
Sorry if I have gone on. Good luck with what ever you decide.
Nicky
Oct 10th 2006, 2:52 am
#41
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Oct 2005
Location: Perth
Posts: 3,453
Re: better future??- thinking about the children.
Originally Posted by flump
Hi everyone,
We are in the shall we or shan't we mode at the moment, We have 4 children the eldest being 15 and the youngest being 6, one of the main reasons for us considering the move to Oz is that we want the children to have a brighter, better future, the way things are going in this country at the moment it seems like there will be nothing for them, (even the local pie facory is employing polish!!) I am pretty confident that they will do well throughout school but i'm thinking 5/10/15 yrs down the road when they will be starting there adult life and having so much competition. I know that all sounds a bit waffled and i'm very confused about it all. And as we have never been to Oz, how they hell do I know that it offers a better future, it would be stepping in to the unknown. Your thoughts and advice(good or bad) would be much appreciated. I don't want to be here in 10yrs time thinking wot if.....
Thanks everyone for reading my waffle.
Claire
We are in the shall we or shan't we mode at the moment, We have 4 children the eldest being 15 and the youngest being 6, one of the main reasons for us considering the move to Oz is that we want the children to have a brighter, better future, the way things are going in this country at the moment it seems like there will be nothing for them, (even the local pie facory is employing polish!!) I am pretty confident that they will do well throughout school but i'm thinking 5/10/15 yrs down the road when they will be starting there adult life and having so much competition. I know that all sounds a bit waffled and i'm very confused about it all. And as we have never been to Oz, how they hell do I know that it offers a better future, it would be stepping in to the unknown. Your thoughts and advice(good or bad) would be much appreciated. I don't want to be here in 10yrs time thinking wot if.....
Thanks everyone for reading my waffle.
Claire
Very glad we came out here. Still have worries but that overall aim of giving them both countries remains.
Oct 10th 2006, 4:49 am
#42
Forum Regular
Joined: May 2004
Location: Kent, United Kingdom, now North West Sydney, Hills district and now Hawkesbury.
Posts: 121
Re: better future??- thinking about the children.
Originally Posted by NickyP
If you emmigrate with children (especially older children) you have to do it knowing that they may well just up and move back as soon as they can. That said they may well emmigrate on their own if you don't move as the world is so much smaller these days. When we moved here our then 16 year old said from the start that he didn't want to be here and will leave as soon as he can. The truth is that he will probably still leave as soon as he can and he is having a really tough time here (although you wouldn't know it from his social life ). It is easy to say that you are prepared for that to happen but when it does it is a completely different thing and there is no knowing how it will affect you.
I would say that my children have a more full life here and enjoy everything that Australia has to offer. From our point of view we have made the right decision even though I know that there is a very strong chance that one or more of our 4 children will move away from Australia in the future.
If that happens then we know that we are happy with our decision as we have not come here 'just for the children'. Whether we stay for ever depends on what the future brings but we came here with the view that it is a permanent move. As for the children, as a parent I want to give my children the experiences and confidence to take life and enjoy it and the downside of that is as better travelled people they will not have the worries about travelling themselves later in life so we may see less of them.
Sorry if I have gone on. Good luck with what ever you decide.
Nicky
). It is easy to say that you are prepared for that to happen but when it does it is a completely different thing and there is no knowing how it will affect you.I would say that my children have a more full life here and enjoy everything that Australia has to offer. From our point of view we have made the right decision even though I know that there is a very strong chance that one or more of our 4 children will move away from Australia in the future.
If that happens then we know that we are happy with our decision as we have not come here 'just for the children'. Whether we stay for ever depends on what the future brings but we came here with the view that it is a permanent move. As for the children, as a parent I want to give my children the experiences and confidence to take life and enjoy it and the downside of that is as better travelled people they will not have the worries about travelling themselves later in life so we may see less of them.
Sorry if I have gone on. Good luck with what ever you decide.
Nicky
Oct 10th 2006, 7:25 am
#43
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Jun 2006
Location: ASHBY, Perth.
Posts: 675
Re: better future??- thinking about the children.
Originally Posted by Elvira
I am not attacking you, just pointing out that advising someone with nearly grown children : "If you fancy trying to emigrate - give it a shot - if it doesn't work out - you go back" is rather flippant.
Because it simply is not that easy. I am speaking from experience, and have observed plenty of people facing similar difficulties, with families ending up split by oceans.
All I am saying is that this needs to be considered and carefully thought out.
Because it simply is not that easy. I am speaking from experience, and have observed plenty of people facing similar difficulties, with families ending up split by oceans.
All I am saying is that this needs to be considered and carefully thought out.
all the best
Dave
Oct 10th 2006, 9:14 am
#44
Breeding little aussies
Joined: Mar 2005
Location: Perth WA
Posts: 963
Re: better future??- thinking about the children.
nobody can know what the future holds for our chldren whichever country they are in, but i can honestly say that my kids are happier here than they were before we came here, ok so kids are happy wherever so long as homeis a happy place, but what i mean is they have more freedom, more sport and just more fun, or seem to anyway. I do know that if you asked either of them where they'd rather be you would get a resounding "here".
They will leave school or further education, educated to the same standard as the other kids in the state and to the best of their ability, will that be as good as if they had been in the UK? who knows and for them it doesn't really matter as they will be starting their adult life as Australians.
If i was in the OPs shoes i'd not be worrying if i was giving my kids a better futrure but if i was giving them a better present, are they going to be at their happiest if you make this move or if you stay put, but don't forget yourselves in all this, you too have to be happy with your decision or nobody will. It's a hard decision to make and not one i'd want to go into without some experience of what i was letting myself in for.
Lynn
They will leave school or further education, educated to the same standard as the other kids in the state and to the best of their ability, will that be as good as if they had been in the UK? who knows and for them it doesn't really matter as they will be starting their adult life as Australians.
If i was in the OPs shoes i'd not be worrying if i was giving my kids a better futrure but if i was giving them a better present, are they going to be at their happiest if you make this move or if you stay put, but don't forget yourselves in all this, you too have to be happy with your decision or nobody will. It's a hard decision to make and not one i'd want to go into without some experience of what i was letting myself in for.
Lynn
Oct 10th 2006, 10:46 am
#45
Forum Regular
Thread Starter
Joined: Apr 2006
Location: doncaster, south yorkshire
Posts: 178
Re: better future??- thinking about the children.
Originally Posted by jad n rich
With a family that size you want to be as sure as you can, take a research trip, see it for yourself, not a spin round the tourist attractions in spring, a solid fact finding trip around schools, workplaces, wages, cost of living, do the trip in say mid summer, see if you can handle it. Gather facts on the day to day. Get out at rush hour, get out on friday night where the hoons hang, that sort of thing, you can barbeque and beach later when you live here.
Ignore the spin in the UK newspapers, start to read the australian newspapers, dont read the daily mails milk and honey stories, read the australians debates on education, health, workplace reform, political issues related to us living in the asian region.
Jobs, no child kid in australia is guaranteed a job, no more so than in the UK, many aussie professionals pack up and go overseas, with workplace reform that will only increase. Many posts will tell you some adults have found difficulty with finding work let alone their kids. Understand the paperwork required for just about everything.
Dont kid yourself on health and education funding either, or drugs or crime, understand much is the same.
Understand the emotional risk, 6 people, this might sound harsh but do you expect all of you will love it, ouch! but only saying it as that is the case with so many families, often with older kids you start something where one or more wont settle or will go back.
Family in UK, close to them or not? If close will your aussie budget allow for trips back, check the cost before answering that.
And finally dont do it to escape immigrants, 19.5 million of australias 21 million population are immigrants or from immigrant stock.
Turn the 'idea' into a well reasearched 'big' picture where you know the ups and the downs, if you still want to emigrate, you have a much better chance of being one of the ones who in 5 years time will still be here.
Ignore the spin in the UK newspapers, start to read the australian newspapers, dont read the daily mails milk and honey stories, read the australians debates on education, health, workplace reform, political issues related to us living in the asian region.
Jobs, no child kid in australia is guaranteed a job, no more so than in the UK, many aussie professionals pack up and go overseas, with workplace reform that will only increase. Many posts will tell you some adults have found difficulty with finding work let alone their kids. Understand the paperwork required for just about everything.
Dont kid yourself on health and education funding either, or drugs or crime, understand much is the same.
Understand the emotional risk, 6 people, this might sound harsh but do you expect all of you will love it, ouch! but only saying it as that is the case with so many families, often with older kids you start something where one or more wont settle or will go back.
Family in UK, close to them or not? If close will your aussie budget allow for trips back, check the cost before answering that.
And finally dont do it to escape immigrants, 19.5 million of australias 21 million population are immigrants or from immigrant stock.
Turn the 'idea' into a well reasearched 'big' picture where you know the ups and the downs, if you still want to emigrate, you have a much better chance of being one of the ones who in 5 years time will still be here.
Thanks for your advice, its very much appreciated.
Claire
x