migrating to perth
 

hi,
we have visa application in. if all goes well, will have visa just after easter.
looking to move to perth. visited there in december, absolutely loved it.
favourite area to settle into, secret harbour. anyone stay there? info on life there and schools etc would be great to know.
also, I work in offshore oil and gas industry spending some time away from home. what about community stuff for wife and kids etc...?
anyone else due there this year? be good to hear from anyone else heading in the same direction as us.

cheers,
ian

Re: migrating to perth
 

hi ian
we applied 5 sept hopefully off same time house is sold just waiting 4 visa now meds on 28th feb pcc sent yesterday, we r heading 2 mandurah which i think is next to secret harbour but will b looking at secret harbour to buy land i think would b great 2 hear from anyone else in these areas 4 any info

thanks paula :rofl:

Re: migrating to perth
 

hi,
we looked at house and land packages in secret harbour, average of about $450 - 500K, @£200K. Houses are brilliant, big inside, with gardens big enough for a pool.
Mandurah is lovely. Land very expensive at water front areas.
where are you from? do you have kids?
everyone we spoke to over there recommended secret harbour for bring up kids and value for money etc.
ian carol greg (6) Beth (3)

Re: migrating to perth
 

hi we're from midlands yes we have 3 kids 2 boys aged 8&5 and 1 girl aged 3

did u look at any schools there how far is mandurah from secret harbour

Re: migrating to perth
 

hi ian

we are also going to secret harbour this year, we have got our meds on 1st feb, so hopefully it won't be too long before we are there.

we hear that it is very good for children, safe beaches, good schools etc.

so once you get the visas are you all set to go?

kind regards

jade, rich and kids

Re: migrating to perth
 

About 18k.

Re: migrating to perth
 

Hi all,

Does your wife work? I work as a relief medical receptionist & also a trained florist hopefully pick up a part time job? But I'm sure the taxi service will keep me busy enough and also kids friends.

I'm kind of dreading the medicals let me know how you get on.

The houses in Secret Harbour are lovely really big and good price.

Cheers Carol keep in touch

Re: migrating to perth
 

Hi all,

How old are your kids?

Carol

Re: migrating to perth
 

Hi all,

Mandurah is 10mins away from Secret Harbour but the houses are pricey in Mandurah.

Does your wife work? I'm a relief medical receptionist may pick up something out there but I'm sure the school run will keep me busy enough.

Speak soon Carol

Re: migrating to perth
 

hi carol

i work for a recruitment agency part time so hopefully it won't be too hard to find a job.

we have the medicals on thursday so we are a bit nervous, i'll let you know how we get on.

we have been looking for some houses on the internet and they all look well priced for the size of house.

i'm really looking forward to going now, are you all excited?

cheers
jade and rich:D

Re: migrating to perth
 

Hi Jade,

Still excited but very numb at the same time my nephew is in hospital at the moment getting a heart operation tomorrow, he is only six weeks old. My son is also very settled at school will he cope I'm sure he will. Also in the back of my mind, are we doing the right thing? You don't know that until you try.

Anyway hope all goes well with the medicals let me know just to see what I have to look forward to.

How old are your kids are they similar ages with ours?

Bye for now
Good luck
Carol

Re: migrating to perth
 

We're in Halls Head, Mandurah. Secret Harbour is nice but very new so not much there at the moment. The beach is nice but the surfing is based there for a reason - you get good waves and the rips that go with it although the swimming does have lifeguards. For younger children I would suggest Mandurah or Rockingham beaches especially to begin with.

Re: migrating to perth
 

hi carol

i'm sorry to hear about your nephew, i hope everything has gone ok today.
i'm sure that your son will be fine once he meets some friends and starts to enjoy himself.

our daughter is 4 and our son is 3, so hopefully they won't find it too hard to settle as they are still young.

xx
kind regards
jade and rich

ps i've sent you some karma to cheer you up a bit

pps i'll let you know how we get on with the medicals

Re: migrating to perth
 

cheers for that its always good advice where kids are concerned.

cheers again

jade and rich

Re: migrating to perth
 

Hi Jade,

How did the medicals go when will you know if everything is fine?
Operation didn't work with the wee one and don't know what the next step is kind of scared to ask.

When will you think of selling your house?
Carol

Re: migrating to perth
 

Hi, my husband, my self and our 2 kids (girl 13 & boy 12) have just started the process for visa application. We love the sound of Perth, and all going well hope to be out there by the end of this year. I am very worried about our children and how they may settle in as they are at that difficult age. They are both very excited about the move but also very scared. Anyone with kids a similar age who could give advice?

Bernadette (Manchester)

Re: migrating to perth
 

Same here....lol

Dave

Re: migrating to perth
 

Hi Bernadette,

Our kids are a bit younger boy nearly 6 and a girl nearly 3 it may be a bit easier for us but I'm sure in time they will settle. Why are you emigrating?
What do you both do for a living ?

I'm sure I'll be worse than the kids I may learn a few things from them.

We did have the best christmas ever in Perth we didn't want to come home nothing really keeping us here

Cheers Carol

Re: migrating to perth
 

Hi Carol,

You are the first expat I have spoken too. Nice to meet you.

We are emigrating for lots of reasons. We would like to be mortgage free and looking at the house prices in Perth we may just about be able to do that. Although we may have to borrow a small amount at the way the prices are rising. We also think that we would be able to enjoy life a bit more as we both feel that we do nothing but work, work, work and no play.
My husband is a chartered accountant and I believe they are in demand out there at the mo. I work as a receptionist and hope to get some part time work eventually too. Manchester has a lot to offer but unfortunately it has become very expensive to live here.

Re: migrating to perth
 

Hi Bernadette,

Nice to speak to you also.
My husband works offshore oil & gas but no prospects of future onshore work in Scotland. It would be nice for him to be home every night or shift work I work as a relief medical receptionist and I'm a qualified florist.

We don't have much support from families either as both of no longer have our mum's probably makes it easier for us. But I do value my friends and good friends are hard to find. Although we do have good friends in Perth she is an accountant and he works offshore.

We have great neighbours where we live as well which I value when my husband works away, will I have that when we go who knows until you try?
My husband will probably have to work offshore for a couple of years to get started in Oz.

Speak soon
Carol

Re: migrating to perth
 

Hi Carol

Found you!!!!! :lol: :lol:

Speak to you soon

Tracy x

Re: migrating to perth
 

hi there ! we are thinking of moving to Perth from Newcastle England.WE ARE JUST STARTING WITH THE VISA STUFF AND FINDING IT A LITTLE HARD, MAYBE WE ARE DOING SOMETHING WRONG.HOW LONG FROM START TO FINISH DID IT TAKE YOU TO SORT YOUR VISA OUT AND WHAT WAS THE COST.ARE YOU GOING OUT ON A SKILLED MIGRATION VISA.ANY INFO YOU COULD GIVE ME WOULD BE SUPER.
CHEERS
DON

Re: migrating to perth
 

HI THERE.
WE ARE JUST IN THE EARLY STAGES OF WANTING TO MIGRATE TO AUSTRALIA AND NEED AS MUCH ADVICE AS POSSIBLE.HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO GET A SKILLED MIGRATION VISA AND WHAT IS THE FINAL COST ETC. COULD YOU OFFER ME ANY ADVICE

CHEERS
DON

Re: migrating to perth
 

Hi there,

Are you doing the whole process on your own or are you going with an agency?

Cheers Carol

Re: migrating to perth
 

I have heard its quite nice from in laws but can you leave us some land? :) we wont get there til the end of this year and want to move there too with family. :)
On second thoughts its bl**dy awful, I wouldn't live there if I were you ;)

Re: migrating to perth
 

If you do decide on Secret Harbour will meet you there for a couple of drinks :)

Re: migrating to perth
 

Hi, i've sent my app in Nov (495 SIR) still waiting for Case Officer. :frown:

Im emigrating with my husband Barrie who is a painter/decorator and our daughter Ebony who is 1. My mam and stepdad are also applying!!! We are hoping to get there by Sept but think I'm hoping for too much!

We are hoping to go to the Mandurah area, been looking at Secret Harbour it looks lovely. Does anyone know what the other areas of Mandurah are like?? (Greenfields, Dudley Park, Silver Sands, Parklands etc) :confused:

Would love to hear from anyone looking to go to the same area or some that are already there.

Hayley
x:D

Re: migrating to perth
 

we are going thrugh Visa Beauro.its going to cost arround £3600.00 start to finish im told.a lot of money if it goes down the pan.

Re: migrating to perth
 

Hi,
First of all Secret harbour is very good for families with children. One of my friends has just moved to Secret Harbor and she absolutely loves it. She says it is great for kids there are loads of young families and the kids play out all the time. Secret Harbour school has a good reputation and the new school Comet Bay has just opened which is excellent, by all accounts.

As far as social support for your wife is concerned there are lots of expats in and around Mandurah who having been through the whole process of moving out here are very suppotive to new arrivals; for starters she would be welcome to join us at our weekly coffee mornings. The locals are very friendly and generally bend over backwards to help you settle in (in our experience so far). There are so many easily accessible activities for the kids to get involved in and as parents you do tend to meet lots of other parents at these activities. We live South of Mandurah and have been here for six months. My 10 year old boy who was never interested in extra curricular activities in the UK has so far completed two Hip Hop dance courses, two surfing courses (and won an award for catching the most awesome wave of the course!), 4 swimming levels (on going) and is currently doing a martial Arts weaponry and discipline course. This is the kid that would only go to trampoline classes once a week and had no interest in anything outside computer games before we came here. Our 3 year old has completed a Jumble Gym cousre (gymnastics), Artful Splodgers (cooking, arts and crafts) Clever Ducks (music, dance, speech and drama), swimming (on going) and is currently doing Mucky Ducks (arts and crafts) as well as 3 half days at Kindy. You do generally need a car to get to all the different activities but once you are mobile there is so much to do. There are lots of classes (sports, leisure and self improvement) available for adults too.

As for work you will walk into a job and be working in one of the highest paid industires in the state. A lot of the work is fly in fly out (usually 2 on 2 off or 9 days on 5 days off) but as I said before there is tons of work around and very good money to be made. My husband also works in gas and oil in refining. We took six months off when we first came out, hubby has now started his new job working in the Kwinana industrial area which might offer an alternative to fly in fly out if you fancied a change.

Anyway good luck with everything and as hard as it is it is totally worth it. Life in the UK is pretty good but for us life out here is even better.

Hope this has helped

ACE:)

Re: migrating to perth
 

Hi

I live in Rockingham - 10 mins up the road from Secret Harbour, it is a little more central, at present I don't think Public Transport is the best down there, but the train will be through this year which will make things a lot better.
Mandurah is about 20 minutes south of there and has an older population. I have an internet friend that lives there - he is 18 and cannot stand the place for lack of employment and things for Teen's to do (other than his footy). So that's something to think about if you have older kids. Perth is about 50min drive north.
Secret Harbour has a surf beach, but up a bit near us are lovely calm beach's. Shoalwater is very beautiful and the sea is a little deeper for a nice loll around.

(I don't actually go to the beach myself, have a pool)

I live between two very good state schools and a Baptist school that goes through to senior year. On the other corner is a supermarket, chemist and post office.

Our house will be on the market for sale in April, it is 4 x 2 with pool and double garage, also large games room, Refrigerated Air conditioning, Evaporative air-con and ceiling fans (can you tell I like to be cool :rofl: )

We are off to see what life is like in the UK and travel to Europe while we are young enough and can work in the UK to pay for it all.


I hope that is not too negative for anyone this time :)

Re: migrating to perth
 

Hi, there.

Are you originally from oz or are you an expat? Just wondered if you moved there and dont like it and are coming back?????

Out of curiousity, how much will your house for up for????????

Hayley
x

Re: migrating to perth
 

Hi

Hope to eventually move to around the Secret Harbour area - looks lovely from what we've seen online.

Hugs
K & A

Re: migrating to perth
 

Hi
We are putting our application in this week and have been looking extensively at Secret Harbour, houses look fantastic and so does the beach. I am a bit stuck on schools though has anyone got any feedback or info on schools in the area my daughter will be 7 when we go the other daughter is 2 so got some time with her yet :lol:

Re: migrating to perth
 

No I am not an expat, I was born in Brisbane and moved to Perth approx 11 years ago. We have had a good life in Perth, very well paid and we bought our house before the resources boom which pushed everything up to the most expensive housing in Australia - even worse than Sydney which really blows me away!

However for reasons I cannot state for fear of being crucified and the lure of cheap European Travel, we would like to live in the UK for at least 5 years maybe even permanently.

Our house will be on the market for approx $460K


For the other lady asking about Secret Harbour schools, Comet Bay is getting some good recommendations, a lot of people from Rockingham and putting their kids in there.

Re: migrating to perth
 

Hi we are using visa bureau and they have confirmed that once they have done an intitial assesment they then have a second verification process where a caseworker looks again to see if your application can possibly fail on anything, if this is the case you do get a full refund of your 50% deposit, they do state they won't take the case if there is the slightest chance of failure and as their site claims they have more than 97% pass rate so all should be ok:)

Good luck