Jnschuchard

Hey,
My husband has received a job offer in Perth. I am so excited but, we have 5 kids and we all will be relocating. What do I need to know? Where are the good areas to raise a family? How are the schools? What times? On average what's the cost of living? What are good wages? And anything else! Thank you so much!

Dorothy

Some questions for you...
What visa are you coming on?
What work does he do?
Where will the jon be?

Jnschuchard

Hello,
To answer your first question, the 457 Visa. He will be working with an agriculture company that is located in these areas; Pingelly, Lake Grace and Boyup Brook.

the troubadour

The areas mentioned are far removed from Perth. Does this mean you will be based in Perth but your husband travel to given locations?


A 457 is only a temporally visa so you need to be aware what that involves.


Perth is hardly cheap but due to the resource industry decline, prices are in decline, so rents are a better proposition than a year and more back.


Good areas will depend on your budget.

Jnschuchard

How far off are these areas from Perth? Also, we are budgeting now and have money saved up. Plus, the American dollar is worth a little more over there. What are the areas like nearby? Can you steer me in the right direction. Like I said I have 5 children.

teza

300kms give or take, I'd look at Bunbury maybe as a base location. I mentioned in your other reply but incase you haven't seen it, as a 457 holder you will face $4000 in annual school fees per child

Dorothy

My partner's kids live not far from Boyup Brook. It's a 2.5 - 3 hour drive from our house to theirs.

The areas you mention are rural. But not like American rural. (I'm Canadian so do understand North American rural) The kids think nothing of driving an hour to the closest mall. The schools will be country schools so not much choice. The kids will likely be bussed to the nearest town with a school for their age group then to another, larger town for high school.

Trust me when I tell you that rural Western Australia is very VERY different from anything you'll have experienced in the US. Where are you from there btw?

Jnschuchard

Im from Fort Myers, Florida. Thank you so much for all of your posts! Any information you can give us would be amazing!

Jnschuchard

Also, here we drive our kids to school. Is that not the norm in Aus?

irishbloo

Children here,walk,catch a bus ,cycle, and get driven to school. Some even drive themselves. I'm guessing in rural areas they probably get buses .

Jnschuchard

What towns and/ or areas are good for families? What kind of extra curriculars are there?

Dorothy

Image moving to rural West Virginia. That's what the areas you're talking about ate like.

Google is your friend. Look at the towns' websites and take 50% of it with a grain of salt.

Jnschuchard

Thank you so much. What is the typical cost of living there? I've googled so much and keep finding conflicting numbers. What is a decent wage if you don't mind speaking about it.

verystormy

To be honest, with 5 kids, anything less than $100k a year is not going to be very good.

goldchoccycoin

With 5 kids of school age and $4000 per year per kid I wouldn't be wanting less than $150,000. And that depends on rent costs too.

Other may have a different opinion.