We have recently started thinking about making a move to Australia. We like the idea of the work/life balance everyone talks about (we have never been though and I find it bazar to be thinking of living somewhere never seen yet)! My uncle lives in Hastings Victoria and came here in November for first time in 15 years. He was realistic with his views and didn't give me rose coloured glasses but he is still there so something must be good! However, we have quite a nice life here, good jobs (with goods prospects), nice house and good school for daughters - what's the probelm then? The weather and pace of life! Any advice as been getting quite a lot of negative feed back about emigrating. Are at the stage of whether to spend the money applying for a visa or not. Husband is an electrician. HELP my head is exploding with worries and thoughts already

The question you need to ask yourself, is what are you trying to achieve by coming to Australia !


If you can answer that, then that will go some way towards deciding if it is right for you.

Don't overload yourself with making pesumptions about this and that, slow down, understand your reasons for wanting it, then take your time, consider you options home and away(excuse the pun)

The process is painfully slow, so you really need to take one step at a time otherwise your head will explode.

thanks for taking the time to give me advice. You are right - thinking too much all at once. I realised that today - I do have a habit of looking into everything a lot and this is too much to do that with. I will slow down and take each thought at a time!

I want to move because

I hate the weather in Scotland
I am a part-time working mum and really I have decided that I am wasting too much time rushing here there and everywhere and I am missing my girls.
My husband works hard and will always - it's his nature - but maybe a slower pace of life might allow him to enjoy time with the kids too. I know we need to work and its not cheaper there but here we work for a family business and I cant walk away from it to do nothing! I just want to be a mum and not the career girl that lies ahead of me when my girls get a bit older. Sounds so ungrateful I know but if it's not what you want from life then .....

All those things can be solved by moving to Europe or a different part of the UK.
I'm not sure why you think Australia will sort all that for you....

Your life sounds like it's really ok there.... so why Aus?

I don't mean to discourage you, just to make you think. It's a long way to come to regret giving things up back in the UK....

A truer word has never been spoken, TP. If you have a good life why give it all up for something you are unsure of?

Yes your right thats why decicision is so diffiult. We chose Australia because we don't speak any other language and because we have an aunt and uncle there. My uncle has been there for 15 years but still isn't really encouraging us either. I am getting a lot of negative feed back about it and I am taking it all on board. Any good reasons to go?

Sounds as if your heart is not really leading you towards Australia. I spent 25 years there and loved it...now in Dubai, making my way back to Scotland to die (that's not Australian for 'today' !) eventually that is (high road and the 'low road').

If you want English speaking places nearer to home and a much better climate than old Scotia...there is always the Channel Islands and Gibraltar. I'm sure electricians are always needed...and they have British electrical plugs and wiring systems.

work life balance... I get up at 5.30am sort kids out, get on the train at 7am back off the train at 6.40pm come in have a cuppa but usually have to pick milk up so getting home more like at 7pm. Then cook dinner and have another 2 hours work to do... usually roll in bed around NOW .... am sooo tired.

Weekends are catching up on homework and housework... but i wouldnt change it for the world... even wangled it to have the whole summer off just working PT but was pretty broke so couldnt do much unless it was free LOL

I would make up a list of the reasons why you are considering Australia.

If you decide to give it a go it is going to be a very long and difficult process, and it's going to have to be something you really want to do.

What in particular makes Australia attractive to you? Generally, no matter where you go in the world the basics of everyday life are going to be the same. Having lived and worked in Europe, Asia and Australia, I know for a fact that going to the office is still going to the office, and managing a household is still managing a household.
To feel you are changing your life for the better there should be things about your new home that are so special to you they make moving across the world worthwhile.

Are you after beaches or bushland? A change of housing or culture? What things that are different about Australia appeal to you?

thank you for taking the time to write that down. My life is good here to anyone looking at financial stability, nice home, family etc and I agree with all of that. I am not loooking for better but different. I want the sunshine and that is the long and short of it. Scotland where we live is often grey and dull and that in turn i feel affects the mood and atmosphere of the place. People go about all day with their faces screwed up sheltering against the weather. They are not optimistic about life and moan a lot (me included probably). What I read and see on tv australia seems to be an optimistic place. I don't know this as maybe I only see the good things. I also want to spend time with my children, we are always in a rush here. I am worried though that I think the grass is greener and maybe it isn't. One of my daughters aged 7 is very secure in her comfort zone, I can't get her to join clubs or groups with kids her own age, she goes to school and comes home to be with me and that is it. That is not necessarily bad but I feel she is missing out though she seems happy. She loves being outside and I would love her to be able to more but our weather hinders that. I took her and my other daughter (age four) to the cinema last weekend because we were stuck indoors all sat and sun - it cost me £22.00 for 3 tickets and one medium popcorn! How good would it have been to just for for a walk instead?

I am being naive?

You can get fed-up walking and depending on where you go, its too bloody hot to walk. People want the sun (I was one of them even though it doesnt agree with me} but you can soon get fed-up with it too. The pictures here are as expensive as Scotland and you dont get melted butter on your popcorn. What I'm saying is, you sound as if you want out but dont know why. (grass and greener etc). You have an itch and you need to scratch it and anything anybody says will not help. It may turn out to be an expensive mistake (I dont just mean financially) but you'll never know till you try. It can only be your decision but good luck and I hope its the correct one whatever way you go.

Monday to Friday is pretty much the same as in England, although I commute further now. I love weekends though and there is always something to do, much of it free or cheap. Always try and do something at the weekend, even if it is just a walk along the beach.

Our house is much bigger here & I spend a lot more time outside. This has been my first summer here and I would say the heat hasn't been as bad as I thought it would be.....guess that's down to air con everywhere, but I was going out for walks too. I have to admit that already 24 degrees seems a bit on the chilly side now, so i guess I wont be eating breakfast outside this winter as I was last

I have a better life out here. Put the move off for 20 years & wish I had done it a lot sooner. If you asked me why I wanted to come....I wouldn't of had a clue.......just always wanted to come. I was born here, so there was a link already, although I don't remember it (I was 4 when I left). I had been here a couple of times on holiday too. Needed a visa for my wife, but that was very simple and compared to what you will have to pay, it was cheap.

I'm not trying to encourage you one way or the other. You just sound like me....you want to come, but don't know why. For me it has worked out.

Good luck

My advice would be "Do want you and your family want to do" ... yes listen to the advice on the boards but don't let it rule your life.

In all honesty if Joe Bloggs walked up to you in the street and said Move to Oz or Don't move to Oz would you listen to them? Why is it any different with a forum...

If YOU want to move to Australia... Go for it. It's your pregrogative to do what YOU think is best for you and yours.

No-one can tell you whether Aus is best for you and your family they can only tell you how it has been for them and their family. Do your research, maybe try a holiday if you're unsure but don't let everyone piss on your parade before you've even made your mind up.

thankyou louise and medwaymark, I am feeling more positive about this, I think I was rushing everything in my head. I am going to plan a holiday first and take it a bit more slowly. We were rushing because my husband is 40 in spetember and it is his visa we would be coming on and he loses points then. It would be good to get the visa anyway and then decide but using an agent we have been quoted £1695.00 for their services plus £980 and another £980 for government fees so its quite a lot to us. I don't really have a big reason for wanting to come as you say I just do and that is enough to investigate it anyway x

<sharp intake of breath>

So young yet so cynical!