I currently live in the US. My husband is a coal miner and has had an opportunity come up where he can go to Australia and work in a coal mine. We are trying to do some research to see if this would be a good opportunity or not. We are a family of 6. Our kids are 13, 11, 7 and 5.

The two areas that were mentioned were Hunter Valley and Mudgee. The wage would be between $100,000 and $130,000. Would a family of 6 live comfortably in those areas or would it be a struggle to make ends meet?

Also, how would Australian kids interact with our kids in school?

I know nothing of that area, but just wanted to say that I work with a lot of Americans and they all seem to integrate easily. From what most of them tell me, they and their families have settled in well, but that they do find it expensive here. The guys I work with are very friendly and easy going, if a bit too intense when it comes to work.

Good luck.

If the visa is a 457 (temporary) then you will have to pay school fee's in NSW. They currently range from $4500-$5500 per child per year. Thats going to make a large hole in 130k a year. You would struggle on 130K with a family of 6 with 4 school age children, definitely if you are on a temporary visa.

On top of that you would have to have medical insurance here just like you do at home. There is no Medicare available to Americans on the 457.

OP, I'm thinking you're from either Wyoming or West Virginia/Pennsylvania? You're going to find Australia pretty expensive and very different to your neck of the woods if I'm right.

I haven't noticed that coal mining towns are nice anywhere. Are they different there?

Not any nicer than over there. Not from what I've seen anyway.

Although...We used to stop in Bluefield on the West Virginia/Virginia border when we would drive to Florida and it wasn't too bad.

Yeah, I saw some nice logging towns too, Pretty nice except for the absence of trees.

With your kids all that age, they will all fit in just fine. I don't know those areas in particular, but from our experience our kids have been very well accepted where we are.

Where are they at school? Iv been eyeing up schools in Aspley and Albany creek as they seem decent and the housing is affordable..

I haven't heard or seen anything about having to pay that for the public schools in Australia. I will have to research that a bit more.

Also, the company is paying our medical.

We are in Utah and it is actually a pretty area where we are located.

Here's the link to NSW education department which will help:

http://www.detinternational.nsw.edu...._residents.htm .
Fee's and payments pdf is near the bottom.

Note these fee's are ONLY applicable if you are coming on a temporary visa (457) AND if you are living in NSW or ACT.
AND you may be able to get an exemption if you can demonstrate financial difficulties. But you should factor the cost into your decision before coming over.
Or get employer to pay for them.

Daughter is at Indooroopilly. Son is now a UQ. Aspley and Albany areas look fine too me and I wouldn't have minded living around there either. Haven't researched the areas though.

Are they just paying for the medicals you have to do for immigration or are they paying for your medical insurance that you need to access the health care system in Australia?

Also, given the choice between Singleton and Mudgee I'd choose Singleton any day. Singleton is only an hour from Newcastle and the ocean and just under 3 hours to Sydney. Mudgee on the other hand is about 3.5 hours to Sydney or 4 hours to Newcastle, so either way a day trip to the beach would be impossible. You'd be far more remote there.

Singleton is also a bit bigger of a town with Maitland nearby that's even bigger if you want more shopping.

There are also a few wineries around the Singleton/Hunter Valley area.

The big concern for you would be the school fees if you're only coming on a temporary visa (like a 457) so find out what sort of visa you'd be coming on. If it's permanent then you'd have access to free schooling and also the health care system not to mention being able to stay permanently if you want.

Americans fit in well in Australia and are welcomed usually, having such a similar way of life. Most seem to find it expensive as US consumables are so cheap, but once US property taxes and healthcare are considered Australia, in my view, is a cheaper place to live.

Join expats in the hunter - a group on Facebook. You will get loads of info on there about the hunter valley.
Les