rickroar

Hello All,

Can anyone answer this one? What do Aussies and migrants do with the kids before and after school whilst they are still at work? I'm self employed so can drop off the kids at school and pick them up afterwards, but I will have a full time job when we emigrate, we also have the luxury of family to look after them as well, but when we move we will be alone. Our school at the moment runs a before and after school club for families with full time jobs, but we hate farming the kids out so don't currently use the club.
I Know its a odd question but its really playing on my wifes mind
Thanks in advance

Rickroar

ps the kids are aged 6 and 10

NickyC

Almost all primary schools (public and private) offer pre-school and after-school care.

If they didn't, they wouldn't have many kids at the school!

jad n rich

There is after school care and some before school care and vacation care at many schools, subject to availablity of course.

If your a woman tho, prepare your answers about childcare before you go to any job interview. Many employers will ask what you intend to do with your kids during work hours and if they get sick, holidays etc. Have an answer prepared. Men it seems dont get asked this question

Bella Donna

Well that's typical.... Why am I not surprised....?

Mrs Rangersman

There are before and after school day care centres that take to and pick-up from school, just have to find the one that goes to your childs school, not too expensive either.

Shellfish

I would have thought that's against the law given that during an interview you aren't allowed to ask whether someone is married or has children.

KatieStar

My friend sends her kids to before/after school care. She is happy with it. It seems convenient as they take the kids to and from school and look after them until she has finished work.

I am hoping my mum will be here by the time Zekie is in school.

Katie

Sandra

I relied on family and a registered child minder in the UK, when we came here we did rely on before and after school holiday care provided by the Primary School - there was no such provision in the high schools. As my son was only just turning 12 in Year 7 I found this very hard. There was no other child care facilities available for us at this time. My daughter in year six was one of only a handful of children who attend the after school child care facilities at the school - most went home alone after the age of 9/10. I was accused often by my daughter of being over protective and out of touch by making here attend child care - including the holiday sessions, which caused the most arguments. Now I just get to holidays and panic, although my husband is at home during the day he is asleep three days a week because of shift work. I sent her to England this past summer holiday $2000 for a flight was a cheaper alternative than some of the summer/holiday camps which started late morning and ended early by about 4.00.

I know I probably would have been much more relaxed leaving my kids had I had experience of the 'norm' or had more friends to share the kids about with. It is one of the greatest difficulties I have faced in Aus, feeling like a failure with adequate child care because I moved away from family and friends.

ABCDiamond

With most of the kids in my immediate area, one parent is at home at the right times.

However, with the ones where one parent works part time, they generally have other family help for the school holidays.

Migrants do have it tougher, as most don't have the extended family support that the Australian locals have.

ozzieeagle

23 years we have been parenting on our own, and the youngest only turns 8 this month.

I think there should be an award for this lol

After school and pre school care is everywhere here. Costs about 80 bucks per week for the two if they go to both. Dearer if it is private and non schoold affiliated.

If you earn more than 88,000 gross between you, you won't get a rebate either. Or anything resembling child endowment.

Tell you what though, the youngest has access to every gadget he desires, from xboxes through to tv's and DvD's not to mention the net, I think he has downloaded everything that the Gorrilaz have ever produced (including a virus called gorrilaz.exe lol) . There must be a word beyond worn out for this kind of thing.


It's funny you know, I'm sure I'm a better and more effective parent to my 8 year old than I was and still am to the 22 year old. Spend a hell of a lot less time on him as well. I'd only have to look at him, to get him to do what I want, whereas the oldest, there would have been an half an hour debate just to wash herself.

Am I ever craving freedom though !!


Thats probably one of the most overlooked factors in moving away from family, it really takes it's toll on the nuclear family for rearing children.

Vash the Stampede

You might think that, but I've had to answer both questions in most of my job applications here in the UK.

Vash the Stampede

On that amount of money, you shouldn't need any handouts from the government.

ozzieeagle

Child endowment happens in England, no matter what you earn. Schools provide books in the UK. Dental treatment for under 12's in the UK is free. I also reckon we would earn more than we earn here in the UK. (providing I could get a full time Night shift Job). Supposedly Education standards are better in the UK, I've got a sneaking suspicion on results attained that is quiet possible. It's possible that Finacially and end Educational results, the UK is possibly better for raising kids. Although the social based education system of Aussie would be hard to leave, Maybe aussie raises better people.

I'm sure In some ways Australia isn't as kid freindly as what people think it is.

Wait till you've got two kids Vash, and if you dont have your house fully paid off, you will be saying no to more kids acitivies than you will be saying yes to on 88,000 grand.

Vash the Stampede

Then it shouldn't. That's a complete waste of money. No wonder social services are going down the pan.

That's not enough to keep me in the UK.

I have yet to earn the same salary in the UK that I did back home in Australia. A 25-hour week in Western Australia paid me more money than I'm currently getting for 40 hours in the West Midlands.

All this talk of higher wages in the UK seems to be coming from long-term professionals in specialised industries. It certainly doesn't appear to be the norm in this country.

After 31 years in Australia and more than 2 years in the UK, I'm confident that it is. My wife and I will be having kids in Australia for that very reason. We wouldn't dare raise them here.

My family had a single income (dad worked; mum stayed at home) and my parents never owned their house outright. They successfully raised four kids who have since made their own way in the world - three of which (my sister, my twin brother and myself) have moved abroad, with every intention of returning to Australia in the near future.

So on the basis of personal experience, I don't believe that Australians need $88,000 and a steady stream of handouts from the government in order to give their children a decent head start in life.

When we move back to Australia, my wife and I will have enough money for a 50% deposit on a house. We will also have the support of family and friends.

We won't be living like kings, but I'm confident that we'll be just fine.

fraser

You're having a laugh right, I could do a labouring job in the uk and earn £15 an hour.

Today I earned $21 and next week I wont even bother going as they're now offering $34 a container