Hi Everyone,
Hoping someone can help me! My fiance and I are planning to move to Australia in the next 18 to 24 months. We will be moving for his job, he works in the offshore industry and his company need him in Australia. He is desperate to go and sees that there is nothing here for him in the UK, i am more apprehensive and scared. He will be working offshore for 6 months of the year and i will be on my own, as we dont have any kids as yet.
We do plan on getting married before we come down, i guess what I'm looking for is the reassurance from people that have made this move themselves, that this is a fantastic opportunity. The thing that gets me just now is leaving family behind and also how will i meet people if i am on my own and what about getting a job. So much to think about!
I would appreciate any help from you!
Thanks!

Where are you looking at settline? If your OH is going to be away for a good part of the time, then where YOU end up is vital.

Thanks for your reply!
I think it will probably be Perth. It depends on whether or not his company give us the option of choosing where we would settle. But I think Perth is at the top of the list!

It'll be an adventure if nothing else. If you like it you win and if you don't like it you can always move on. Just be sure to read all the posts on The Hague convention before you bring kids into the equation though! Good luck!

I know, we have been telling ourselves that! What's life if you don't do things that scare you? My main thing is the fact that I will living there every other month on my own, I don't know if i would be working, so i would need some way of meeting new people, otherwise thats a lonely existance!
The Hague Convention? What's that all about? Are there posts on here to read about this?

Re: the Hague Convention: With the best intentions, people on here like everyone to be well prepared, but hopefully you won't be worrying about what to do with kids that haven't been born yet, if your marriage (which hasn't happened yet) breaks down!!

On a more optimistic note, if you do move to Perth then as long as you are prepared to make the effort you will soon develop a good social life: what are your interests, or are there new interests you would like to take up (particularly of a sporting or an outdoor nature).

Best of luck, I'm back in the UK now but had seven fantastic years on the East coast and would recommend it to anybody with a sense of adventure and an open mind!

I've read up on it and see exactly what you mean by being well prepared. I dont think that it would be an issue should something like that happen, because he works offshore it would be unfair to keep the kids with him and he knows this.

I'm not big on the outdoors but i do love going for nice long walks and it would be great walking around and sussing a new place out, but other than that I'm not big into sports activities really! Boring eh?
I know a social life would take time to build, i just worry that it could become quite lonely to be there and have no one with you while the OH was away working for a month.

Make no mistake ...it will ve tough, very tough. But that makes us stronger.
Ate you independent ? Are you confident and secure on your own? If the answers are yes, you'll be fine.
FIFO statistics on social impact are becoming damning but if you are young and resilient, the opportunity is huge.
Go for it - but with your eyes wide open

I definitely am, I have no troubles getting to know people really. Its the idea of moving so far away and doing it thats daunting to me, we would be together to get to know the place then when he has to work its just me.
He is 29 and I'm 22, and he really wants to make a go of it, I do too. But I always think about things more first, whereas he likes to jump in and think about things later.

One advantage then is that you're still young enough to get yourself a WHV so you can get some work while you're here (if you want to). I don't know what you do in the UK, so can't tell whether you would qualify for any other kind of visa. Even some part-time work would get you out amongst people though and would be a way to meet people.

If she comes over on his (presumably sponsored) visa, she would probably be able to work anyway.

Quite possibly, but given she hasn't specified the exact nature of what he does, or what type of visa he is being considered for, or even how long they plan to stay, the WHV is an option based on age.

When we moved 5 years ago my hubby was doing 1 month on 1 month off and that started 3 weeks after we got here. We have no kids and at first I found it really hard knowing no one. It took me a good while to get settled. I found part time work after 6 months that fitted with hubby, so when he was home I got to see him. We also got a dog which was a god send really as I got to meet a few people out walking. We bought a house as soon as we arrived so I spent a lot of time getting that sorted and I spent a lot of time on here! It wasn't easy, there were a few tears on lonely evenings, but looking back now it was worth it. Its up to you to get yourself out there. Join the gym, if you're working, that really helps. Just enjoy, be prepared for tears and tantrums but I have no regrets at all.

The six months on your own will be a great opportunity to learn Russian. Look at it like that.

I would definately want to work, working at my current job, I'm a receptionist, has made me friends so i know that the skills could very well be transferred to Oz. My fiance is a chief officer in the offshore industry, and will be sponsored by his company, so I assume I would be able to get work this way? We plan to stay for at least 3 years, but could be for good.