How is life in Australia for a family of 4?
Feb 17th 2011, 9:02 am
#16
Where traffic lights rule
Joined: Aug 2006
Location: Brighton QLD
Posts: 2,460
Re: How is life in Australia for a family of 4?
Didn't bother with the reccie and still here after 10 years (unlike most people we met 10 years ago).
Just watch home and away
It's more realistic then wanted down under.
Just watch home and away
It's more realistic then wanted down under.Agree - save your money.
Even a three month reccie won't prepare you for the reality. Whether that's a good reality or bad is your decision, but a reccie is only a holiday however much you try and absorb things.
I worked in Australia for 4 months at a time over three years as well as coming here several dozen times and thought I knew what was what - but it certainly didn't turn out the way I imagined!
Even a three month reccie won't prepare you for the reality. Whether that's a good reality or bad is your decision, but a reccie is only a holiday however much you try and absorb things.
I worked in Australia for 4 months at a time over three years as well as coming here several dozen times and thought I knew what was what - but it certainly didn't turn out the way I imagined!
Feb 17th 2011, 10:36 am
#17
Forum Regular
Joined: Aug 2007
Location: Ferny Hills, Brisbane
Posts: 102
Re: How is life in Australia for a family of 4?
I think there are several factors to consider, and some (if not all) depend on hpw much money you have, or can spend.
We came over in Jan 09, my wife and our 2 girls who are now 13 & 11. My wife had been many years ago, though i had never been here before.
We pondered for a while, then asked ourselves just 1 question " IF we go and do not like it, we can maybe move somewhere else in Aus to see if that makes a difference or move back to UK, BUT if we do not go will we ever ask What if or I wonder..." On that basis it was time to start our adventure!
We have been here just over 2 yrs now and last month we moved into our own home. Never say never but this is now home for all of us.
Good luck
We came over in Jan 09, my wife and our 2 girls who are now 13 & 11. My wife had been many years ago, though i had never been here before.
We pondered for a while, then asked ourselves just 1 question " IF we go and do not like it, we can maybe move somewhere else in Aus to see if that makes a difference or move back to UK, BUT if we do not go will we ever ask What if or I wonder..." On that basis it was time to start our adventure!
We have been here just over 2 yrs now and last month we moved into our own home. Never say never but this is now home for all of us.
Good luck
Feb 17th 2011, 10:50 am
#18
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Jan 2009
Location: Brisbane
Posts: 20,821
Re: How is life in Australia for a family of 4?
I think there are several factors to consider, and some (if not all) depend on hpw much money you have, or can spend.
We came over in Jan 09, my wife and our 2 girls who are now 13 & 11. My wife had been many years ago, though i had never been here before.
We pondered for a while, then asked ourselves just 1 question " IF we go and do not like it, we can maybe move somewhere else in Aus to see if that makes a difference or move back to UK, BUT if we do not go will we ever ask What if or I wonder..." On that basis it was time to start our adventure!
We have been here just over 2 yrs now and last month we moved into our own home. Never say never but this is now home for all of us.
Good luck
We came over in Jan 09, my wife and our 2 girls who are now 13 & 11. My wife had been many years ago, though i had never been here before.
We pondered for a while, then asked ourselves just 1 question " IF we go and do not like it, we can maybe move somewhere else in Aus to see if that makes a difference or move back to UK, BUT if we do not go will we ever ask What if or I wonder..." On that basis it was time to start our adventure!
We have been here just over 2 yrs now and last month we moved into our own home. Never say never but this is now home for all of us.
Good luck
Feb 17th 2011, 6:23 pm
#19
Lets Rock !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 599
Re: How is life in Australia for a family of 4?
We just got here, god it's hot
We are wife/hubby and four kids six suitcases and a desire to get on with it here, so far it looks to be what we expected. But time will tell i supose. Holiday let to get us settled for a couple of weeks, while in that we are looking around different areas trying to find a rental we all like in an area thats close to potential work/schools etc, it is hard but we are stubborn buggers.
Also using a hire car for ten days, need to buy our own vehicle, just another thing to have on your list of things to buy asap, depending on your needs obviously. Remember this place is massive, even with good road networks it takes time to get around.
We are wife/hubby and four kids six suitcases and a desire to get on with it here, so far it looks to be what we expected. But time will tell i supose. Holiday let to get us settled for a couple of weeks, while in that we are looking around different areas trying to find a rental we all like in an area thats close to potential work/schools etc, it is hard but we are stubborn buggers.
Also using a hire car for ten days, need to buy our own vehicle, just another thing to have on your list of things to buy asap, depending on your needs obviously. Remember this place is massive, even with good road networks it takes time to get around.
Feb 17th 2011, 8:42 pm
#20
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Oct 2005
Location: Hill overlooking the SE Melbourne suburbs
Posts: 16,622
Re: How is life in Australia for a family of 4?
Massively variable. (Continue to read).
It's tough now with the financials more so than people who tried it 5 years+ ago.
I can't recommend it for most people to be honest. I reckon the odds are stacked against a lot of people. There you go...
It's tough now with the financials more so than people who tried it 5 years+ ago.
I can't recommend it for most people to be honest. I reckon the odds are stacked against a lot of people. There you go...
Feb 18th 2011, 3:12 am
#21
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 9,397
Re: How is life in Australia for a family of 4?
A very fair comment. With the housing and exchange markets as they are I think an awful lot of people will get into financial strife if they emigrate thinking it's going to be easy.
Feb 18th 2011, 8:56 am
#22
Forum Regular
Joined: May 2010
Location: Sydney, Australia
Posts: 51
Re: How is life in Australia for a family of 4?
I think there are several factors to consider, and some (if not all) depend on hpw much money you have, or can spend.
We came over in Jan 09, my wife and our 2 girls who are now 13 & 11. My wife had been many years ago, though i had never been here before.
We pondered for a while, then asked ourselves just 1 question " IF we go and do not like it, we can maybe move somewhere else in Aus to see if that makes a difference or move back to UK, BUT if we do not go will we ever ask What if or I wonder..." On that basis it was time to start our adventure!
We have been here just over 2 yrs now and last month we moved into our own home. Never say never but this is now home for all of us.
Good luck
We came over in Jan 09, my wife and our 2 girls who are now 13 & 11. My wife had been many years ago, though i had never been here before.
We pondered for a while, then asked ourselves just 1 question " IF we go and do not like it, we can maybe move somewhere else in Aus to see if that makes a difference or move back to UK, BUT if we do not go will we ever ask What if or I wonder..." On that basis it was time to start our adventure!
We have been here just over 2 yrs now and last month we moved into our own home. Never say never but this is now home for all of us.
Good luck
By the time we moved we had two preschool children so had to get them visas too (that was easy). We have been here for just over a year and love it. There are challenges, and it will take a few years to get back on our feet financially, but it has been worth it.
We lived in London in the UK, the change of lifestyle, particularly for the children, makes me smile everyday!
Feb 18th 2011, 11:34 am
#23
Forum Regular
Joined: Aug 2007
Location: Ferny Hills, Brisbane
Posts: 102
Re: How is life in Australia for a family of 4?
This pretty much sums up our point of view too, we were granted permanent residency in 2004 then I got cold feet about coming. Several years later we started talking about it again. With all the other costs involved (flights, shipping, home and car rental when you first arrive etc) we couldn't afford a reccie so in the end just went for it. We didn't want to look back in years to come and wonder 'what if'?
By the time we moved we had two preschool children so had to get them visas too (that was easy). We have been here for just over a year and love it. There are challenges, and it will take a few years to get back on our feet financially, but it has been worth it.
We lived in London in the UK, the change of lifestyle, particularly for the children, makes me smile everyday!
By the time we moved we had two preschool children so had to get them visas too (that was easy). We have been here for just over a year and love it. There are challenges, and it will take a few years to get back on our feet financially, but it has been worth it.
We lived in London in the UK, the change of lifestyle, particularly for the children, makes me smile everyday!
Feb 18th 2011, 11:50 pm
#24
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Oct 2005
Location: Hill overlooking the SE Melbourne suburbs
Posts: 16,622
Re: How is life in Australia for a family of 4?
At times, the people who seem to be the least suited for the move seem to do so.
5 -10 years ago the distractions and the lifestyle were able to keep some people. Not now.
If I'm being overly cautious, perhaps people report their situation more negatively than they should. And this doesn't necessarily apply to people already here.
Feb 19th 2011, 6:56 am
#25
Crazy Cat Lady
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 65,493
Re: How is life in Australia for a family of 4?
Good thanks.
