Originally Posted by Celtic_Angel

yeah Sue I agree you were having a bad day or what? Calm down hon I was just asking outta plain curiosity and am amazed at the response!

there's plenty of beautiful places out there!! Seems a little exteme to go all the way to Oz to catch some rays in my opinion and the fact that so many decide Oz is not for them cos of the shear distance away from family etc goes to show that it's not always the best place for a Brit to go so why the attraction?
just wondered in jest if all the Aussie t.v that's shown to people on a rainy day in U.k is brainwashing them into believing Oz is all "sun & Surf"

Oh and Sue in answer to your question no I've never even tried to get into Oz too many poisionous creepy crawlies for me :scared:

Originally Posted by dugongs

plus oz gets major brownie points with the average loonie left uk media journalist as they see it as some sort of model of egalitarianism untouched by thatcherite policies which so ruined their uk of the 1970's. the number of times oz is referred to here as the perfect country is unbelieveable but unless you have lived there you would not understand that most of what is said is at best only half the story or worst just untrue.

Originally Posted by jad n rich

Wise words, obviously from someone who HAS lived in both places, I could have written that myself.

Originally Posted by JAJ

And at the same time, for many people Australia is the perfect country.
Everyone is different.

Jeremy

Originally Posted by jad n rich

I personally dont think anywhere would be perfect, not living a real life in the real world, is it possible to describe anywhere as perfect?

Originally Posted by JAJ

Why Australia? Well, if you're British, not bilingual and want to emigrate you don't have a great deal of choice after you've ruled out:

- mainland Europe (language problems)
- Ireland (same problems as the UK, worse in some respects)
- US (difficult visa situation)
- South Africa (variety of reasons)
- small countries/territories, which are not for everyone (eg Isle of Man, Gibraltar, Singapore)

Which leaves pretty much Australia, Canada and New Zealand.

NZ has a small economy and climate not that dissimilar to Britain.
Canada is nice but the winters are too cold for some.

Which leaves Australia.

The two main attractions of Australia are the better climate and the increased amount of space vs the UK.

Those hoping for a better material standard of living will be disappointed, as the two countries are broadly the same.

As will those looking to escape from the usual problems that beset any developed Western society - they're all in Australia, to a greater or lesser extent.

Those who are dependent on close family or friends in the UK will feel isolated.

And those who like European travel will miss out. On the other hand being a long way from Europe is attractive for some.

Those who return to the UK find it difficult to understand how others could prefer to stay in Australia. At the end of the day's everyone's different.

It's important to think carefully about the pros and cons of migration before starting the process. Involve all family members, children included.

Write down (on separate sheets) the pros and cons of Australia versus the pros and cons of your current life. You should have data for all four elements - if not, think harder.

Consider the likely problems on arrival before getting there. What's going to happen if one spouse can't find a good job, or the other is homesick, or one of the kids doesn't settle at school.

Consider the alternatives to migration. Would relocation within the UK suit you better? What are you really looking for in life?

It's important to be adaptable, positive and willing to 'think Australian' to succeed in Australia.

Don't expect Australia to work out instantly. The culture of instant gratification suggests that it should, but life is not like that. A successful migration requires time and effort.

Do your financial planning - migration is not cheap. The visa costs are small in relation to the whole exercise.

Find out about requirements you may need to meet to work in your trade or profession in Australia. Don't assume it's the same as the UK. Also don't assume the different states in Australia are all the same.

Research, research and more research before leaving. Read Australian newspapers. Listen online to Australian radio stations. Get books on Australia from your bookshop and library. Find age-specific resources for the children.

By all means take a holiday beforehand - but try to see Australia from the point of view of a resident, not a tourist spending a stronger currency.

Choose your destination well in Australia. Employment opportunities and climate do vary greatly across the country. Be prepared to relocate interstate if necessary.

For British citizens, and others for whom dual citizenship is possible, it is a very good idea to consider staying long enough to get Australian citizenship and only then thinking about whether returning home is an option. This will benefit not only you if you later want to return (in retirement) or your children later in life.


Jeremy

Originally Posted by JAJ

And perhaps the least attractive feature of the UK is the constant 'doom and gloom' fed by certain sections of the media (with a correspondingly gilded view of places outside the UK) that masks the reality of the UK as a modern, dynamic industrial country with a lot going for it.

Jeremy

Originally Posted by Gareth W

That's about the truest thing I think I've read on here. The British media seem to be hopelessly addicted to gloom and misery. How many times have you watched the 6 o clock news thirty minute update of murder and misery then sat through the horror that is "Eastenders" and what's next ? Boom - one hour documentary telling you how you'd be better off living in Spain.

I wouldn't want the UK media to go as far down the "hurray for everything" route that some of the Aussie companies have but there's got to be a happy medium ?

Originally Posted by bridiej

I think you'd have to be pretty naive to make the decision to change your life so dramatically just from what you've seen on the news or soaps or whatever.
...

Originally Posted by HiddenPaw

I dunno....yoyu'd probably be surprised at the number of people who do emigrate based on the lure of sun and paradise. Some people on here have said as much.

As a prospective migrant, surely you must be sick of everyone you meet saying "ooh, emigrating to Oz? I'd love to live there, get out of this shithole that is the UK", etc etc. Half of them have never even been there...how do they know it's better than the UK?

Have to say, since I've been back in the UK I'm more dumbfounded than ever by people who ask me why I've come back to this hellhole and left such an idyllic place. They moan to me about how much tax they pay, how much crime there is, drugs, NHS crisis, the weather, long working hrs, etc. The only thing I can agree with is perhaps the weather. The rest is just laughable...

Originally Posted by HiddenPaw

I dunno....yoyu'd probably be surprised at the number of people who do emigrate based on the lure of sun and paradise. Some people on here have said as much.

As a prospective migrant, surely you must be sick of everyone you meet saying "ooh, emigrating to Oz? I'd love to live there, get out of this shithole that is the UK", etc etc. Half of them have never even been there...how do they know it's better than the UK?

Have to say, since I've been back in the UK I'm more dumbfounded than ever by people who ask me why I've come back to this hellhole and left such an idyllic place. They moan to me about how much tax they pay, how much crime there is, drugs, NHS crisis, the weather, long working hrs, etc. The only thing I can agree with is perhaps the weather. The rest is just laughable.

Originally Posted by jad n rich

That is what I am NOT looking forward to.

In February we left 40 degree heat, violent storms, workers collpasing from exhaustion, to be told WE were mad to be in the UK in February People often have NO idea do they? Peoples images of our lives in paradise were so far removed from reality it started out as funny, but by the end of the holiday you just wanted to wop someone for their stupidity.

I dont know how I will go listening to it long term.