yes but the 120 days is full time. The work away will be hard but what a great experience and oppertunity to do something different in your life?

There you go. Ball is in your court. If you don't think its enough the re-negotiate. I did some pretty hard negotiating before I accepted a move. Having lived in Australia before the desire to move because of sun surf and sand meant nothing and it was all about the money

Sounds like your more normal like me than some of the high earners who seem to think you need $120k+ a year just to get by. I never earned above 30K in the UK, arrived here in Sydney as a engineering tradesmen and I have more disposable income than I've ever had. And i'm not earning anywhere near $120,000 so I've no doubt that you will be better off financially here with a slightly better standard of living. Essentials other than fuel are more expensive here than in the UK. A couple of links for you to help work out costs:- realestate.com.au , coles.com.au just put your postcode in as 2000 and pick a random store.

The major problems you will have is the isolation with your partner working FIFO and not having any friends. Not knowing people can get very lonely sometimes, especially as you wouldn't really be able to join a social scene so much with having to look after a child 100%. Saying that there do seem to be plenty of parent and child groups/meets here.

Thanks so much for replying! We as a household in the uk have never earned more than 25K and have "got by". I dont want a luxurious lifestyle in oz, just a comfortable one and hopefully manage to save some money too. I did think $120K meant that all of this was do-able?!

Divide $120,000 by your current UK salary. If this figure is more than 2.3 then you'll be better off financially than what you currently are in the UK.

doesn't take into account rent or being on a 457 Visa.

So additional medical expenses, dental, no tax credits (which a family earning 25k in the UK would get quite a bit of), school fees (in NSW).

If you read the OP correctly you will see that their medical expenses are being taken care of and that they have a baby, not a school age child. Tax credit upper limit for 1 child is 26000UKP so doubt they get enough to make any substantial difference. And rent you have to pay regardless of where you live, although I agree it is roughly twice the cost of UK rent(depending on where you live/moving to of course).

My biggest concern would be the 457 visa having been screwed over on it myself in the past. If you look at it as a temporary move and do not burn any bridges in the UK it will be fine.

I'm a citizen and I can't recall the last time I took advantage of the public health system. My over priced medical insurance covers all the big costs just like a 457's would. I stand by 2.3.

+1

I work FIFO and have done for more years than i would like to remember. It has some pluses, but it has a lot of negatives. Lots of people who start it realise fairly quickly it isnt for them. I had 6 new guys start this week. I reckon we will lose two after their first 2 week swing. For them, its not too big a deal as they Australians and so just look for another job. Thats not an option when you are here on a 457 visa.

I dont have children so its not the same for us, but to be honest, there i dont think i would even do my roster which is week on week off if i had a young family. The time at home is great, but i think my wife would find it too hard.

Think very carefully about this. Remember you will not only not have your partner, but you will be alone in a forign country on the other side of the world knowing nobody.

It can work and plenty of people make it work. But, it is not a life for everybody.

4 year contract....school fees
2 cars
rent
food
gas/electricity
insurances
mobiles
broadband

I said it's do-able, no doubt about it, but what's the point in do-able? Having a bit more free cash won't make up for having no friends, family or partner at home.

It's up to the OP, plenty of people on BE seem happy to scrape by just to get a bit of sun. I personally came for the money AND the chance to try something a bit different for a few years, without the money there isn't a chance in hell I'd be 10,000 miles away from my family and friends.

I'm from the UK on a 457 Visa, my medical insurance is titled "Inpatriate medical insurance for 457 Visa holders", all it does is refund me anything that Medicare doesn't pay, I DO NOT get private medical insurance. I'd expect this will also apply to the OP.

Medicare pays for next to nothing. I went to the doctor last week and it still cost me $60 and my private health care didn't cover that. I had a sports injury op last year and despite having private health care I was still $3000 out of pocket. The grass is certainly no greener as a resident or citizen. By the way, as you are from the UK, don't you receive receiprocal medicare rights - or am I mislead.

Anyhow the below are paid for no matter what country you live in.

2 cars
rent
food
gas/electricity
insurances
mobiles
broadband

All four of us have had major stuff done in the past 4 years, Medicare have covered all of it bar a few cancer drugs (heavily discounted) and a few private consultant appointments (and they've paid large amounts of those). We've probably had a good $50k of service out of them.

Why would the lifestyle be better on the other side of the World for a one year old girl, away from her extended family?

Maybe you have specific, Australia related, plans for your daughter when she is older... but otherwise, I think the move is more likely to be something you would consider because YOU want to.