Moving to Aus advice
 

Hi Guys,

We are a family of myself and wife along with 5 year old twins, seriously considering selling up and a move to Australia in the near future for a better life for us and our children.

Wondering if there is such thing as a company that can advise us with the hundreds of questions we have? i know there are agents that can help with visas etc, but would really like to sit down with someone and discuss the move in general.

One of the main issues is im currently running a flooring business here in the UK which i really want out of and looking to start a new career elsewhere. and also discuss how buying a home works and areas that would us,

Hope someone can help :)

Re: Moving to Aus advice
 

Hi, welcome to BE.

There may be a company, but you've found BE now, so no need to pay anybody for that kind of info! A good search of the forum and read of threads will get you started, and you can ask any and all questions here, and somebody will always try and help.

Best of luck.

Re: Moving to Aus advice
 

Thanks for the reply,

We have absolutely no idea where to start, but searching the forum this evening.

Were pretty sure that we dont want to stay here or bring our kids ups in this country, we will struggle leaving family behind, but its time we thought of ourselves!

Re: Moving to Aus advice
 

Hi and welcome to BE :welcome:

The Home Affairs visa finder is a good place to start. https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visa...sa/visa-finder Unfortunately not everyone who wants to live in Australia qualifies for a visa.

I'd suggest you have a look at work visas and see if there's one you think you qualify for, then come back and ask specific questions. Be prepared to give some (non-identifying) personal information such as job experience, qualifications, age etc if you want useful responses.

Re: Moving to Aus advice
 

Brilliant, at least we know where to make a start.

Thanks very much

Re: Moving to Aus advice
 

So basically ive ran our business as a floor fitter/salesman, i also have experance as a photographer idealy i would like to get into the photography trade. Kelly has experiance in admin and also working within our business.


would a working visa be what we should look into?

Re: Moving to Aus advice
 

Well unless one of you is an Australian citizen, then pretty much your only way in is going to be on a Skills Visa. The 189 is the best visa, if you qualify for it, as it gives you permanent residency without being tied to any employer. However you do need a trade that ison a skills list Have a look through this page
https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visa...ccupation-list

Re: Moving to Aus advice
 

Unless you’ve got millions to invest in Australia then from what you’ve written it’d be hard to find your qualification/skill/experience on the skills wanted list I would think, but talk to an agent. Meanwhile, try and be specific about what you think might make Australia a “better” life for you. It’s just another foreign first world country where you will be isolated on the other side of the world from friends and family. You might just as easily, and more cheaply, get the “better” thing going by a move within U.K.
Don’t stress about the house buying, choosing an area etc until you’re sure you can get a visa - a lot of people just don’t have what Australia wants these days

Re: Moving to Aus advice
 

This is a very good way to think. Leaving family is tough and some will be bitter and never get on a plane to see you, others will. But don't let stop you. The world is a big place, full of things to explore (not just on holiday but while living a daily life). A no regrets attitude is the way forward. Family will always be there.

Re: Moving to Aus advice
 

Just remember there are no guarantees that a move to Australia will result in a better life. As to discussing the move, do you mean like a paid consultant? Never heard of such a thing. Usually it is word of mouth from those already there or family or forums such as this.
All a personal journey, a lot will depend on the breaks you get on arrival in Australia. Quite a bit of luck required and having a few contacts would prove invaluable.

Re: Moving to Aus advice
 

you need to get another visa as you are looking to stay and work in australia

Re: Moving to Aus advice
 

Moving for a better life for the children would also concern me. There are issues galore here suggesting the 'picture painted life ' sometimes presented by marketing is far of track. Lots of social issues, mental health issues, isolation issues, drug issues, out there in the community.

Re: Moving to Aus advice
 

Talking to yourself again I see

Re: Moving to Aus advice
 

If the OP ever moved? Moving for a bettter life for the children seems to be mentioned all the time but I often wonder if it's really about kids these days. Nothing against OP personally but how often do you hear parents say it's about kids and in reality it's the parents who are unhappy with their own life and kids are actually used as an excuse. There's nothing wrong wanting to have a better life but I often see the same parents more interested in their mobile phones when the kids would actually be happy to play outside. The parents complain when it's raining outside and outdoor living is not possible, although the child never complained before. The parents are willing to give up a successful business or job for a better life for the kids and might even move to parts of the world that are more likely to suffer from climate change? If the better job and location comes with financial benefits, then take the chance but maybe some people should accept that their life isn't as bad as they make it and kids are actually pretty happy where they are.

Re: Moving to Aus advice
 

Scouse and his first wife (deceased) moved from Liverpool UK to Australia in 1990, for precisely the reason the OP gives, to give their children the chance of a better life. The job situation in Liverpool was dire at the time, scouse was a pipe fitter and although he did find jobs they were all in Germany or the Netherlands and fixed contracts - he spent long periods of time away from home and then even longer back home searching for work. He even went to Aberdeen for a month's work.

I know the move doesn't work for everyone, but it worked for them. Their boys really got into different sports, both at school and at outside clubs. The continual hacking cough that one had in the UK disappeared. They were happy, healthy and had a good education at a private school. Two of them have good careers, one just flits about doing this and that. There's always one :lol:

Scouse got a permanent job offshore on oil and gas rigs, earned good money and was able to buy a nice home for the family, provide everything the needed and take frequent holidays.

I know it doesn't work for everyone, but it doesn't not work for everyone either. As has been said, determining your visa eligibility is the first step. Then before you even think about applying, research. It's not something to just jump into, research research research, and then do some more research.

Question yourselves about what you want to achieve from the move. Make these concrete achievements, a better life is ok but you can't set performance indicators against a better life. You need to define what a better life for your children means in concrete terms (buying your own home? having well paid work? access to good health care? living in a safe environment? etc), and investigate the likelihood of Australia providing you with the opportunity to reach those goals.

Something people often leave out of the mix is the effect of moving away from their support network, family and friends. This isn't a big deal for some, for others it means the difference between being happy or miserable in Australia.

Whatever you decide I wish you the best of luck.

Re: Moving to Aus advice
 

I think sometimes people are buying into a dream. many have unrealistic expectations and pictures of their destination that are out of kilter with reality.

Re: Moving to Aus advice
 

No but over your head as usual I see.

Re: Moving to Aus advice
 

Very much agree. It somehow almost sounds like 'a get out of prison' card (doing for the kids) if it goes pear shaped, than taking responsibility that it is really parents desired choice. I would be very hesitate these days to part with success, in whatever form that may come on a whim.
I can understand a young couple, child free, deciding to strike out and see what the world has to offer, but they usually have the ability to return, if so desired.

Re: Moving to Aus advice
 

Indeed. Marketing is good at selling 'a dream'. The reality may be, offen is very different. But migration is big business these days so little will change.

Re: Moving to Aus advice
 

You only live once. Get out and explore. Worse case scenario, you had a life experience.

Re: Moving to Aus advice
 

Uh uh

Re: Moving to Aus advice
 

Lol. Easy to say when you own multiple properties and always had luck and plenty of cash. Don't forget that for some people 20K is a lot of money and life experience can be different for all. I agree and go out and explore but that could be anything.

Re: Moving to Aus advice
 

Don't put so much emphasis on 20k. Life experiences are priceless.

Re: Moving to Aus advice
 

True but life experiences can be anywhere, be it planting a tree or climbing up a mountain. I don't know many families with kids who said it was a great experience when all failed. It was said before but look at the families who used to move to Orlando after a trip to Disney. Daddy sold the business back home and opened a burger bar to get a visa and after a few months the dream was over and all money gone. This is worst case but unfortunately still happens and even in Spain forum, people have been told to not burn their bridges and be careful buying that pub after a nice holiday. It can all go well but first you need the right job in the right area and take it from there.

Re: Moving to Aus advice
 

Security is good. I thought of that a lot when I was on Skid Row ! Not sure that taking chances is always smart - especially when children are involved.

Re: Moving to Aus advice
 

"Daddy sold a successful business to open a burger bar in Orlando?"

Ok. If daddy had a successful business then one would assume he had money, and also made some good money by selling the business. So a year out trying a burger bar business is no great shakes. If daddy wasn't such the businessman he thought he was and failed at a burger business, so what, if he was smart he would have put part of the killings from his UK business aside, and risked some on a burger business. If daddy was dumb then bad luck, there will be some like Troubadour who can't make a go of their experience abroad. I am sure the kids enjoyed the beach and lots of additional sunshine in Florida.

Life experience ....... daddy can't run a burger business.

Re: Moving to Aus advice
 

That's the whole point and people are unpredictable, so call it dumb or maybe naive. A successful business doesn't always mean the person is swimming in money and what might be peanuts to you could be their life savings gone in a year.

Re: Moving to Aus advice
 

we will struggle leaving family behind,

This is the reason most people give who return to the UK.

If you spend a reasonable amount of time now visiting family/friends, the grandparents love visiting the children, kids enjoy playing with cousins etc, Christmas is always spent with family, then having none of this support network and a 24 hour flight to see anyone, seems to negatively affect people's ability to settle. Lost count of the number of people who say "we've made some friends, but its not the same'

Knowing before you go how much you are going to miss your family/friends is a telling comment.

Re: Moving to Aus advice
 

Any business that is successful is swimming in money. Anything short of that is not a successful business and worth giving up for a punt elsewhere.

Re: Moving to Aus advice
 

That's all relative and no business is the same, be it painter/decorator, farmer etc. and it can takes many years to grow your customer base. Money in each location is different too and for some people 50K is a paid off house but in your location it's just your rent in 2 years.

Re: Moving to Aus advice
 

This. Even people who don't think they're particularly close to their immediate family suddenly find they struggle to cope being unable to pop round for a chat. Others who are close find they cope quite nicely by the rellies coming out for six weeks at a time. :eek: :D

Re: Moving to Aus advice
 

You'd do all the better leaving me out of your snide comments. But in answer, your short comings are all the more highlighted, if I can put it like that, from overseas experience with people that can actually debate.
As for your claim of success in business, again it does not necessary suggest any such thing. A successful business does not infer money. It does though not losing it. It takes time to build up reserves, but a business may well be successful in the process of doing so.
Reasons for wanting change may be varied. Most likely a less stressful life Some value life quality over money.

Re: Moving to Aus advice
 

There are numerous life experiences to be had than packing up and moving to Australia on a whim though. Many more adventurous and less risky with an intact life to return to.

Re: Moving to Aus advice
 

Indeed. When children enter the equation, throwing life to chance by moving across the world in an attempt to recreate the security already in place is questionable.
Australia is very far removed from the country where success of sorts came rather easily for past generations.
Obviously all is possible but downsides need to be seriously considered.

Re: Moving to Aus advice
 

If this is the wrap up, then there is no reason for the OP not to give it a shot. They are obviously not valuing their life quality where they are otherwise the question would not be raised.

Re: Moving to Aus advice
 

They may well have bought into the 'picture' too often 'sold ' over in UK. Shows like 'Wanted Down Under' for example. The glossy promotion all very well but a dose of reality can shine a different light onto the matter.

Re: Moving to Aus advice
 

The majority of people who know we lived in Australia then returned home day "oh you must miss that lifestyle hugely" I ask if they have been (because they seem to know the lifestyle) and they say no but they watch all the TV programmes/shows on aus !! the ones who don't think we're mad for leaving have either visited Aus on a few occasions, have family who live in Australia or have lived in Australia themselves. I am all for "giving things ago" we did that ourselves but would I risk it if we were doing "well" for ourselves .... then no...because doing "well" is really a blessing in this day and age....anywhere.

Re: Moving to Aus advice
 

Indeed. Little is easy and Australia is far removed from the rewards it once brought UK migrants. Obviously sunshine is a big seller, quite probably one of the few aspects to living here, that hasn't changed dramatically over the decades. My thoughts are come when young and do the Back packing thing. That's the way to Australia, above and beyond what the average Australian experiences. At least until they retire and become a Grey Nomad. But later in life , serious questions should be asked as to the wisdom of such a move.
It has long become a business. Australia wants turbo population growth to grow/save the economy. How these people manage once arrived here is of little concern.
Life is expensive. It can prove very hard to develop 'real' friendships. People tend to be more standoffish than expected. Like all things some may benefit. Best just don't take it as a given. People should be aware of a break in relationships as well. One side likes it other detests it. All sorts of dynamics can come from that.

Re: Moving to Aus advice
 

Well said and what always surprises me the most is that people wanting to move to Australia, Canada etc. seem to be focused on the whole country and the whole country is great. If it's the UK, people will look at every aspect and the same person will not even move 50 miles away because they feel the school in City A is not as good as the one in City B. As the troubadour mentioned, sunshine is of course the big seller but even my Spanish friends look at other factors first and sunshine is the bonus and not the main factor. No doubt I also like the sun/sea and we're lucky enough to have a small place in Spain and could drive there before Covid but so far no job offer has made me want to move there permanently.

Re: Moving to Aus advice
 

I guess, in a sense Australia is more 'standardised' than UK. Most all capital city's, at any rate , have a choice of expensive private schools as well as 'ordinary' schools. Hence it is more a matter of employment prospects, and remember most all Australian cities are rather large in population compared to UK cities. Hence more focus on entirety of country.

More likely a case of successful marketing these days on the part of Australia, than any really meaningful betterment in living standards.