Hi All

We've been discussing a move for 2 years now, we decided to start the process and the more I read about people living in Australia the more I think are we doing the right thing. I know everyones different and its our choice but is it worth the move?
My partner and I are both 28yrs old, he currently works for caterpillar in the UK and I'm a child care manager, we rent a house but but nothing tying us to the UK (family of course). We've looked at both Canada and Perth, i'm really pushed towards Perth. We're not moving to expect to make loads of money etc, the move would be so we're not stuck in the same place for the rest of our lifes one day regretting not going. I've worked at the same place for 10 years so i'm sure a change would be good.

Any advice or good stories (or bad i suppose)?

Thanks

Visa first of all.. Where are you with that? Have you applied for a specific one yet?

Do you qualify for a visa?

Yours is a question that needless to say has been asked countless times on here. do a search using said function to see what some previous threads have said.

FWIW, some people find moving here was the best thing they ever did; for others it's a disaster.

Ask yourselves what your motives are for moving; and I'm curious.... why Perth?

Why this obsession with Perth, have you been there ? To ME personally it would be the last place I would move to, it is the most isolated place in the world.

Why not give it a go, you can always come back later. Have you been to Australia? I would recommend coming over and having a look around first. Perth is a long way from anywhere but many people like it. As a Sydneysider I think Sydney has a lot to offer, but it is quite expensive to live here.

Your first step is to look at how the two of you might qualify for visas. There is a lot of information on this site and of course the Australian Government site.

Good Luck!

That's easier said than done. What if one of them loves it and the other doesn't? Then what - do they split up? What if they can't find work and run out of money? Can they always go back if they can't afford to ship themselves and their stuff?

Why not just have a good holiday?

It's an interesting place to visit but...

(What you are contemplating is much more extreme than you realise.)

Can you both take a sabbatical from work and come over on a WHV? A year of fruit picking, short term jobs, travelling could be just what the doctor ordered and then see what you want to do with your lives afterwards.

Not married? No kids?
As others have suggested if you have true freedom then go for it but do a WHV, that way you have a try before you buy option.
Lots of people love Perth and WA, I have never been there but certainly interested to visit. To live? Not sure, it is isolated and has its own little world but you will never know until you try it yourself. But also try QLD, NSW and SA as well, travel around light, odd jobbing casually and get a feel for the place.
Oh...one big 'but' though........if you don't care much for it and return to UK will you be able to get your old jobs back in this current and projected market?

Hi shell, just thought i'd give you a bit of info as my wife and I are in pretty much the same occupations as you,
We have been in Melbourne for 7 years, I am a fitter, working on heavy construction equipment for a hire company (including cat gear) and usually earn around $80,000 a year,
My wife is a child care manager and earns around $55,000.
We live comfortably on this, and thats with 2 young kids,
In these fields there is heaps of work in Melbourne, and from what ive heard perths the same, in both industrys we struggle to find people with the relevant skills needed,
We have had a great 7 years, have all got citizenship now (our son was born here) but that being said, we are moving home in july, mainly down to my wife missing family which only really came on about 6-12 months ago,
I would never regret doing the move, its been great and feel if we didnt do it, it would always be there in the back of our heads.

We are in pretty much the same position, so we are going there on a WHV this year to test the water and see what it's like. If we don't think it's somewhere we could live, at least we'll have a great extended holiday.

What does your partner do with Caterpillar? If he is a mechanic I don't think he'd have any trouble getting a job as long as he (you) are prepared to work outside a city.

Do the move I would say, you only get one life so why not.
my partner and me moved to perth for 6 years and I am now back in the UK, for the moment, we both blew vast amounts of money but I think I have had a hell of a ride, a hell of a life experience, its changed the way I see things.

I am back in the UK to sample life here for a year and might then head back to perth, not sure yet

Just do it though, the worst is you will lose some tiem and money, but you only get one life, dont spend it with regrets

Yes we qualify for visa's, my OH has been offered sponsorship.