Thinking of a life down under
 

...is the grass really greener? (well probably not literally greener than Scotland!) I am fed up of the damp grey Scottish weather and am considering a move down under. My husband is Head of Science teacher with a PhD in Astrophysics from St Andrews. I know we are eligible for a visa but what is the reality of finding a job when he is there. There doesn't seem to be that much on-line. I haven't worked for 6 years whilst bring up our three young boys 6 and under. I do plan on going back to work part-time when my youngest starts school so 2 years. My background is Coffee shop Manager but hope to make a move into Early Years, ie nursery assistant. My husband is a bit unsure of the transition from a scottish school to an australian one he has worked hard in this country to make a name for himself and is a bit nervous at giving that up for the unknown. How easy have others found it? and what is the standard of living like for a teacher? would he be able to be a Lead Teacher? And where to go?
Thanks for any help any one has to offer. Also is the Visa process really £5000 approx?

Re: Thinking of a life down under
 

I would suggest a holiday first to find out if you like it. It's not always what people expect.

Re: Thinking of a life down under
 

The weather will be sunnier in Australia and warmer no matter where you go. BUT good weather alone doth not a successful emigration make!


.....plenty of jobs for you in Melbourne.... the entire city business district runs on coffee.....


A head teacher I think earns about $130,000. However I believe that teaching jobs are competitive and he might have to do a couple of years in a very rural (read: aboriginal) area before being able to apply for a position in a more sought after school. Having said that I think Science teachers are more sought after than some.

Depends on what visa you apply for and whether you do it yourselves or use an agent. Ours would have been about 3500 pounds, about 2000 of which went to a very good agent and he definitely earned his money.

BB

Re: Thinking of a life down under
 

I agree that you probably should do a visit first, however, remember that you can't really compare that "holiday feeling" to "there every day working in and out" or, as my hubby says, I would have moved to pretty much every place we've visited ;-)

However, I don't want to put you off. If you've done your research and explored the place and visa, can handle being away from friends/family and (fingers crossed) jobs are sorted then why not. It's a huge thing to do but, in many cases, very rewarding.

Fear is fleeting, regret is forever (I've decided is my motto) ;-)

Good luck x

Re: Thinking of a life down under
 

Does your husband teach physics or chemistry? If so he will get a job easy (as long as the students can understand his accent!)

Re: Thinking of a life down under
 

NO

Why move, have a six week holiday. You will love Scotland.

Thats the cheap bit, when you get here, the system/goverment will haul you over by the roadside, pistoleers firing, you will hand over everything, then they will revisit you every month till you decide it ain't right for you! Rents are mad, mortgages are crippling.

I have had a terrible experience here, so my appologies, i maybe a little scorned, but hey life's a journey, it might be a little different for you? Just have a holiday, i did not, got no fingers, they are burnt off.

Re: Thinking of a life down under
 

Wise words.



I ended up liking it a lot more than I expected. And it was nothing like what I had expected, imagined even. In fact, I don't really know what I expected. :lol: but I was pleasantly surprised nonetheless.

Years of reading the forums (which I have) and taking in other people's views really don't count for anything towards your own personal experience but they do help you along the way.

Try it before you buy it I say.

Re: Thinking of a life down under
 

Hi there,
I am retired and have family here in Oz, so eight years ago came down for a five week look-see (property & area), with a view to moving here. Unfortunately we found that it was quite boring, with the emphasis on sport (not much else to keep them occupied) and the continual brainwashing, that 'Australia is the greatest country to live in!'. The television is terrible, with loads of thirty year old U.S. & U.K. Program's, eg. 'Happy Days & Get Smart' on offer. I also found driving a dangerous pastime, - no lane discipline with lots of undertaking! Then we get down to the 'Nitty Gritty', fire and floods that are an ever present danger to much of the country!
Anyway, we chose to move to Spain, with its fantastic culture, historic buildings and average of three hundred days of sunshine!!!!!
Eight years on and we decided to re-evaluate Oz with a ten week visit.....
I'm sorry to say that we find it still the same!!!!!!!!!

So to wind up, I would recommend a long holiday here to check things out.
We're back to Alicante next week, Yippee!!!!!!!!!!!!

Re: Thinking of a life down under
 

Maybe find a way to watch a few hours of Australian commercial TV online from there, then see if you still want to come. because it will give you a very good idea of what is considered culture and entertainment here and I'm pretty sure you will be astounded. It's like being stuck in a badly written and poorly acted high school play, and that's just the news.

Oh and if you do come for a holiday, don't stay in a 4 star hotel in sydney and do all the tourist things, go book a motel in dubbo or cowra or grafton or gympie or winton or geraldton or somewhere like that. That will give you an idea of what life will be like here once you've seen the opera house and the beach at surfers paradise, (well maybe a week at surfers would be an idea too, it's a shit hole).

And the person above hit the nail on the head with the "It's the best (fill in blank) in the world" comments all the time, Australians who have never been to another country will continualy boast that everything here is the best in the world, constantly, after the first 30 mins it starts to grate on you, after 25 years one almost becomes suicidal every time one hears it.

And if you don't like sport and halfwit commentators who scream at an excited fever pitch at everything including lawn bowls (I'm not kidding)..... OK I'll stop, but if you are an educated couple with any kind of appreciation for intelligence at all you probably won't like it here.

Re: Thinking of a life down under
 

You could sum it up by saying, be choosy where you live and avoid the suburbs. The TV is mainstream tabloid and again you can choose whether you want to live that life.

There is plenty of culture here for those that want it.
If you are a teacher you probably won't be mixing with the sort of people who think Australia is the best in the world...

As to, is the grass green - no, in Melbourne, around summer, the grass which is already lighter than English green in winter turns to lime green. It then goes to yellow or brown in heat waves - and stays that way to March.

Re: Thinking of a life down under
 

Where and what ?

Re: Thinking of a life down under
 

I agree with everything said by the other posters. Except i would give my i teeth to be living in St Andrews and not Melbourne:blink: but hey ho, you gotta get on with it.

Re: Thinking of a life down under
 

here's a few if you're in Perth

http://weloveperth.net.au/events/

Writers festivals
Markets
Music nights
Artist Talks
etc..

really depends on what you're looking for

Re: Thinking of a life down under
 

wow, what will one do with the other 360 days and nights of the year.

The burned a witch in new Guinea yesterday - I guess that's a form of their culture.

Re: Thinking of a life down under
 

the link is to a yearly event calendar