Homeward bound
Aug 11th 2012, 6:44 am
#16
Forum Regular
Joined: May 2007
Location: Sydney, NSW
Posts: 154
Re: Homeward bound
Aug 26th 2012, 5:18 am
#17
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Jul 2008
Location: South Australia
Posts: 503
Re: Homeward bound
Hello again,
After 2.5 years in beautiful Sydney we have decided to call it a day and move back to the UK.
A number of reasons contributed to our decision : the removal of LAFHA and the general expensiveness of the place, my son needing to start school (necessitating a long term commitment to a place) and the difficulties of raising 2 small children without family to hand. It'll also be easier for me to return to work in the UK with more flexible and affordable day care and employers.
It's a 'sensible' move at a sensible time for us but we will all be leaving with heavy hearts. As seasoned expats (we've lived in various Asian countries, the Middle East and Italy) I was never excited by the idea of Australia. It just seemed like a sunny Britain with little to offer culturally, but it has blown me away with its natural beauty and the open, kind nature of its people (not to mention the food!) The ferry ride across the harbour (which my 5 year old says is "filled with diamonds") gets me every time.
Many things have irritated me about the place though. The supermarkets are dire, internet shopping and the general online revolution seems to have passed it by, the fashion is at least 6 months behind the rest of the world, the TV is awful (I haven't even switched it on for the past year), public transport is woefully lacking for a major world city, the lack of heated and insulated homes, despite some pretty cold winter temperatures seems stubborn and martyr-ish.
But it's a beautiful, wild and happy place, despite its 'backwardness' and I will miss it for the rest of my life.
After 2.5 years in beautiful Sydney we have decided to call it a day and move back to the UK.
A number of reasons contributed to our decision : the removal of LAFHA and the general expensiveness of the place, my son needing to start school (necessitating a long term commitment to a place) and the difficulties of raising 2 small children without family to hand. It'll also be easier for me to return to work in the UK with more flexible and affordable day care and employers.
It's a 'sensible' move at a sensible time for us but we will all be leaving with heavy hearts. As seasoned expats (we've lived in various Asian countries, the Middle East and Italy) I was never excited by the idea of Australia. It just seemed like a sunny Britain with little to offer culturally, but it has blown me away with its natural beauty and the open, kind nature of its people (not to mention the food!) The ferry ride across the harbour (which my 5 year old says is "filled with diamonds") gets me every time.
Many things have irritated me about the place though. The supermarkets are dire, internet shopping and the general online revolution seems to have passed it by, the fashion is at least 6 months behind the rest of the world, the TV is awful (I haven't even switched it on for the past year), public transport is woefully lacking for a major world city, the lack of heated and insulated homes, despite some pretty cold winter temperatures seems stubborn and martyr-ish.
But it's a beautiful, wild and happy place, despite its 'backwardness' and I will miss it for the rest of my life.
.All the best for the future and I hope it works out well for you and your family in the UK.
Sep 24th 2012, 10:34 pm
#18
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Feb 2008
Location: Ayrshire, Scotland
Posts: 1,119
Re: Homeward bound
Brilliant post mnicona! Sums up my thoughts and feelings exactly! Good luck with the move to Oz. I've been here for 5 weeks and so far i'm loving everything that this country has to offer. Oh yeah and experiencing the warmest start to an Oz Spring in 24 years has been a welcome bonus.
Dec 30th 2012, 7:51 am
#19
Just Joined
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 2
Re: Homeward bound
Only came across this forum today, shame I didn't come across it earlier.
Also returning to the UK from Australia, although the move isn't really my choice. In fact we left Brisbane in November this year after 23 months in the Australia. I was a 457 visa holder and unfortunately got made redundant. I wish I had gone for Permanent Residency earlier through the points system but was waiting for the 2 years with a sponsoring employer to elapse. Anyway, the prospects of finding alternative employment within the 28 days they give you wasn't looking good, so we had to cut our losses (and there were quite a few of those) and get on a plane.
Such is life! I left Australia with a bitter taste in my throat, wonderful place though it is.
If you're a 457 visa holder and keen on staying in Australia try and transition onto permanent residency as soon as you can. There's no longer any LAFHA so no real reason to remain a temporary resident any longer than you have to.
Also returning to the UK from Australia, although the move isn't really my choice. In fact we left Brisbane in November this year after 23 months in the Australia. I was a 457 visa holder and unfortunately got made redundant. I wish I had gone for Permanent Residency earlier through the points system but was waiting for the 2 years with a sponsoring employer to elapse. Anyway, the prospects of finding alternative employment within the 28 days they give you wasn't looking good, so we had to cut our losses (and there were quite a few of those) and get on a plane.
Such is life! I left Australia with a bitter taste in my throat, wonderful place though it is.
If you're a 457 visa holder and keen on staying in Australia try and transition onto permanent residency as soon as you can. There's no longer any LAFHA so no real reason to remain a temporary resident any longer than you have to.
Dec 31st 2012, 1:25 pm
#20
Forum Regular
Joined: Nov 2011
Location: WA PingPonger Maybe
Posts: 110
Re: Homeward bound
Too risky on 457 ,risky even permanent
Jan 9th 2013, 10:58 pm
#22
Just Joined
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 2
Re: Homeward bound
LAFHA Living Away From Home Allowance. A tax break offered to temporary residents by employers, it meant that only salary above a certain threshold was subject to tax. It was quite an attractive offer and made living in Australia a bit more affordable. Anyway it was phased out last year and probably affects Australia's ability to attract skilled workers as they can probably get a more competive salary package and lower tax elsewhere, although they wouldn't get the great Aussie lifestyle then.
Jan 10th 2013, 2:19 am
#23
Forum Regular
Joined: Nov 2011
Location: WA PingPonger Maybe
Posts: 110
Re: Homeward bound
Totally agree Crystal- good luck, the sensible decision.
Jan 10th 2013, 10:08 am
#24
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Jan 2009
Location: Brisbane
Posts: 20,821
Re: Homeward bound
Hello again,
After 2.5 years in beautiful Sydney we have decided to call it a day and move back to the UK.
A number of reasons contributed to our decision : the removal of LAFHA and the general expensiveness of the place, my son needing to start school (necessitating a long term commitment to a place) and the difficulties of raising 2 small children without family to hand. It'll also be easier for me to return to work in the UK with more flexible and affordable day care and employers.
It's a 'sensible' move at a sensible time for us but we will all be leaving with heavy hearts. As seasoned expats (we've lived in various Asian countries, the Middle East and Italy) I was never excited by the idea of Australia. It just seemed like a sunny Britain with little to offer culturally, but it has blown me away with its natural beauty and the open, kind nature of its people (not to mention the food!) The ferry ride across the harbour (which my 5 year old says is "filled with diamonds") gets me every time.
Many things have irritated me about the place though. The supermarkets are dire, internet shopping and the general online revolution seems to have passed it by, the fashion is at least 6 months behind the rest of the world, the TV is awful (I haven't even switched it on for the past year), public transport is woefully lacking for a major world city, the lack of heated and insulated homes, despite some pretty cold winter temperatures seems stubborn and martyr-ish.
But it's a beautiful, wild and happy place, despite its 'backwardness' and I will miss it for the rest of my life.
After 2.5 years in beautiful Sydney we have decided to call it a day and move back to the UK.
A number of reasons contributed to our decision : the removal of LAFHA and the general expensiveness of the place, my son needing to start school (necessitating a long term commitment to a place) and the difficulties of raising 2 small children without family to hand. It'll also be easier for me to return to work in the UK with more flexible and affordable day care and employers.
It's a 'sensible' move at a sensible time for us but we will all be leaving with heavy hearts. As seasoned expats (we've lived in various Asian countries, the Middle East and Italy) I was never excited by the idea of Australia. It just seemed like a sunny Britain with little to offer culturally, but it has blown me away with its natural beauty and the open, kind nature of its people (not to mention the food!) The ferry ride across the harbour (which my 5 year old says is "filled with diamonds") gets me every time.
Many things have irritated me about the place though. The supermarkets are dire, internet shopping and the general online revolution seems to have passed it by, the fashion is at least 6 months behind the rest of the world, the TV is awful (I haven't even switched it on for the past year), public transport is woefully lacking for a major world city, the lack of heated and insulated homes, despite some pretty cold winter temperatures seems stubborn and martyr-ish.
But it's a beautiful, wild and happy place, despite its 'backwardness' and I will miss it for the rest of my life.
Jan 10th 2013, 10:14 am
#25
Concierge
Joined: May 2006
Location: ex ex-pat, in Taunton
Posts: 27,211
Re: Homeward bound
Brilliant post mnicona! Sums up my thoughts and feelings exactly! Good luck with the move to Oz. I've been here for 5 weeks and so far i'm loving everything that this country has to offer. Oh yeah and experiencing the warmest start to an Oz Spring in 24 years has been a welcome bonus.
Jan 10th 2013, 10:28 am
#27
Concierge
Joined: May 2006
Location: ex ex-pat, in Taunton
Posts: 27,211
