Looking to Move to Oz
 

Hi All

My Husband, 9 year old Son and I are thinking of a new life in Australia (Perth looking likely) within the next 3 years or so. we adopted our son who has special needs (ADHD, Autism) back in 2020 and where we look at our future here, it doesn't excite us. We want what it seems a lot of those who have moved to Australia went for... A more laid back lifestyle, the better weather, better work prospects etc. We are 37 and 36 years old.

My husband is a UK police detective and has heard about the recruitment of UK officers to areas like Perth and Melbourne. He's looked for the last 3 weeks and is sold already on going. Earnings seems to potentially a lot higher, Full residency Visa's provided (for him at least and I assume us too)

Our currently plan over the next 3 years was to Clear our debt and save for 2 solid years so we could move out and get our forever home here in Kent but when we look at it, a new life in Oz is super appealing. For me, I assume I would just be required to obtain a regular job to support our family as the move wouldn't be based on my work but his.

One concern is taking our son (who will be 12 by then) out of his special needs school and finding an equivalent in Australia and how difficult that could be. Also being able to access his medication as he does in the UK is imperative to his quality of life as we worked so hard in the UK to get to where we are now.

I've started this thread to simply spitball out plans and ideas and gage peoples feedback to help us form ideas on moving.

Appreciate everyones input

Lee

Re: Looking to Move to Oz
 

All I can say is that while it works for some, the common belief that you will have a more laid back lifestyle, better weather, better work prospects etc. is not given either.
Over the last few years I've seen plenty of people move back to Ireland who were also sold the Australian Dream. All recruiters try to sell the dream of life in the sun & more money, but reality can be very different. It might work for young people focused on most possible sunshine hours and who already live in large crowded cities and want an adventure, but at the same time I've seen people complain about the urban sprawl, weather, high cost of living and remoteness.

I'm no longer in the UK or Australia, just saying that nobody knows how you live now and everyone who likes the place will sell you their dream. Most people reach a stage in their life where they feel the future doesn't excite them, although sometimes you have to look at what you have now and be grateful. If it's your dream to move to Perth then nothing stopping you, but there are plenty of cheaper options closer to home to have an adventure. Saying that, I am in the EU so probably easier without the need of a Visa. It is good that you are thinking about your son and not just forcing a move on him.

Re: Looking to Move to Oz
 

Hi Lee, and welcome.

There have been others who have made the move with WAPOL, and there is a section for police looking to move - https://britishexpats.com/forum/police-79/

One of the issues you should consider is if your son will pass health checks for the visa.

I moved with my son who is on the mild end of the spectrum 12 years ago, and he was in a unit in a main stream school. I had to get additional assessments, and his health check took a lot longer. I have no idea how much support your son needs, but if your son is in a special needs school, he may not meet criteria. Also, you may not want to move him - I have no personal experience, but I have heard that support is much harder to find here in schools, therapy, etc

Re: Looking to Move to Oz
 

Yeah ive been reading up today and seen that our son's Autism diagnosis can be an issue. Certainly something we are going to need to look into before anything else.

Re: Looking to Move to Oz
 

If he is in special school and on specific meds, quite honestly, you are unlikely to get a visa but you had best run the situation past one of the agents who specialise in medical conditions - George Lombard is the one most usually mentioned. To be prepared though you should get all his assessments updated - cognitive assessment, current skill levels, adaptive behaviour (home and school) plus any speech/language assessments, paediatric assessments etc, George (or whoever) will then be in a good position to give you realistic chances of success

There is a real catch 22 situation here because if they determine that his needs will not incur a big cost to the Australian tax payer and they give you a visa, then he is unlikely to get much, if any support in school and reading your post implies that you believe he will require special ed support throughout his schooling - that in itself is often difficult to find in Australia where "mainstreaming" is God.

Ah yes, the "better life" "laidback lifestyle" thing! I happen to be one of those who believe that there is nothing magical about Australia other than it is hotter than UK (and has more flies). Lifestyle is what you live wherever you live it and people tend to do much the same stuff wherever they are. Dont get hung up on the "better weather" thing either - it is warmer most of the time but that isnt always positive (just think how you are for the 3 days of UK Heatwaves and multiply that by 30 with no relief) and when it rains you can go from bone dry to drowned rat in 30 seconds. We have fewer rec leave provisions here too and if you want to succeed in a career you are expected to go above and beyond - and if your husband did get a job in WA for example they wouldnt be posting you to a peachy seaside resort, it would likely be a rather gritty out of the way place with probably not the resources you would like for your son. Your DH OTOH would probably love it being out with the boys but you could find yourself rather restricted and isolated.

Adventures are great and I am all for them but I think in this situation it may be a bit too much of a challenge to meet all your needs. Good luck though - I know how depressing that mundane "nothing to excite me" feeling is.

Re: Looking to Move to Oz
 

Also be aware that you may well get a temporary work visa as the medical scrutiny is less restrictive BUT you will struggle to move to PR after moving and setting up life here due to stricter medical requirements.
If you are up for an expensive few years of an adventure here then you could do it but tbh I don’t think PR is doable, and as said above the catch 22 means that if you do pass then you are unlikely to get supported school place (which are rare anyway).
Those country towns are not like in Uk, often very isolated and a few hours drive to a bigger hub, which in itself is not more than a few thousand people. Some people really take to it but ……..