Australia - To go or not to go?? Advise
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Topic: Australia - To go or not to go?? Advise
Posted By: nuttymama
Subject: Australia - To go or not to go?? Advise
Date Posted: 24 March 2008 at 7:58am
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DH and I have been playing with the idea of moving to Aussie more specifically the gold coast for years. Now we are seriously considering it for this coming January. He has two brother there and an Auntie and I have two uncles and my grandparents near Sydney.
Not surprisingly this is a huge move, we don't own a home here and probably never will and have become very disillusioned with NZ as a whole. But I worry about leaving family (My immediate family are here in CHCH and DH's are in Levin). And the affect on the kids who will be 11,7 & 4. To those that have lived there or are living there I have these questions: What did you enjoy most? What did you hate? How long did you stay? Was there a huge difference compared to NZ? Did you Have immediate family there? If you did why did you come back? Did you have children there and how did they adjust? Please share your thoughts even if they are negative, we really want to completely weigh up the pros and cons before we uproot our family. A big part of us wants to go but there is a little voice saying don't. ------------- Abigail 06/01/2005 Jayden 21/11/2001 Micheal 03/04/1997 |
Replies:
Posted By: mum2emj
Date Posted: 24 March 2008 at 10:03am
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my sister moved there in 2006, moved to brisbane first and was doing quite well there, happy and enjoying the lifestyle. her husband got transferred down to a suburb of sydney- my sister really loved sydney as a place to live but they found it really tough financially and they ended up struggling a bit so came home to nz end of last year. they only ever looked at it for short term were planning on staying for a few years at least though, but it got cut short.
we do have some family over there so she had some support. |
Posted By: JadeC
Date Posted: 24 March 2008 at 12:05pm
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My parents and sister moved 7 years ago to Melbourne, and haven't looked back, they love it there! They moved for a job, but really knew no-one, so it was very brave.
The only thing I saw that was annoying, is that Australians mock the crap out of them for their accents. Honestly, I refuse to believe it's still funny 7 years later, but there you go. So if you guys do move, give the kids a heads up in case it happens for them. ------------- http://pregnancy.baby-gaga.com/" rel="nofollow"> 
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Posted By: BellaBoo
Date Posted: 24 March 2008 at 12:23pm
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What did you enjoy most?
The weather was awesome, beaches are beautiful and money was good (depending on what you do). What did you hate? The people- glitzy, sleazy, weirdos, mutton dressed as lamb, fake, druggies etc How long did you stay? I was there for 2 years Was there a huge difference compared to NZ? Quite busy, and although you may earn more you tend to spend more. Did you Have immediate family there? No, at first I was fine about that but after two years I realised I missed them and especially my friends. If you did why did you come back? It is a place you get sick of. It is an absolutely great place to visit and live short term.....but long term? No way (for me anyway) Did you have children there and how did they adjust? No, but from the kids I saw there they were all active doing little nippers etc, act older than they are, and teenagers are exposed to alot of drugs. Hope that helps! Totally my opinion but many of the people I know that have moved there did end up coming back for the same reasons. In saying that though, some still live there and love it. I did really enjoy my time there though...maybe too much!! ------------- http://lilypie.com">   http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: Jennz
Date Posted: 24 March 2008 at 3:28pm
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We've just come from a 5 day trip to Melbourne- we went to have a look around and see what we thought as we are looking at going there when we come back over this side of the world.
For us our reason for possibly going is the lifestyle- DH can earn a good 40-60k more there than he can here, which means a nicer bigger house, private schools for the girls, holidays and the biggy for us- not fighting over money worries. I must admit after going there I wasn't that impressed- its certainly planted some seeds of doubt. The area we are looking at going has 3 private schools and the one we thought looked the best was really dissapointing. Good schooling is really important to me and if we can't find a decent school then thats a deal breaker for me. And although I do find NZ quite OTT PC I was quite shocked at some of the things that were appropriate for them to say on TV, and the radio especially. The biggotry was very blatant- lots of people wearing T shirts with "If you don't like it here, then f off back to your own country" etc. I can understand the sentiment but it just seems a bit gross to have something like that emblazoned over your chest. I would recommend going over for a decent time (like 3-4 weeks) and thoroughly checking out the area where you think you'll live, I wish we'd had more time there now. Its certainly given us some things to think over. ------------- Jen, Charlotte 7 & Kate 3 
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Posted By: BellaBoo
Date Posted: 24 March 2008 at 5:09pm
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Melbourne and Sydney are crazy for house prices but the GC isnt that bad...provided you are in more of the suburbs than the main strip. ------------- http://lilypie.com"> http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: baalamb
Date Posted: 24 March 2008 at 5:17pm
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When I went to GC a couple of years ago for a holiday with Mum, I thought 'yep! This is totally somewhere that I could live!'. However, on just spending a week there with DH and Ashlee, I really don't think that I would enjoy it as much as I enjoy living here. We have no family living there and I think both DH and I would miss our families.
One of my good friends is over there with her boyfriend and she's really enjoying it. The big thing is though is that she doesn't have any kids, has absolutely no ties whatsoever. She does miss 'home' and her parents. Sorry, I can't help with the questions but whatever you decide, I hope that you and your family are happy 
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Posted By: ShellandBella
Date Posted: 24 March 2008 at 6:44pm
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To those that have lived there or are living there I have these questions:
DH and I lived in Melbourne for 2 years after I finished my nursing degree (pre-baby)... What did you enjoy most? Great working conditions, money, tax rebates, choice (sometimes too much!), weather What did you hate? Found it really hard getting into a flat, DH had great difficulties getting a job as he wasn't qualified at the time, high insurance rates for EVERYTHING, having to pay for water (on top of electricity, phone - local too, gas), the 43 degree weather, being picked up on my accent EVERY day!! How long did you stay? 2 years Was there a huge difference compared to NZ? Culturally, no, but its the little things like I found the choice of groceries pretty poor for such a huge country Did you Have immediate family there? No, only DH's sister who lived in a different city If you did why did you come back? Came back because we both missed our families Did you have children there and how did they adjust? No Please share your thoughts even if they are negative, we really want to completely weigh up the pros and cons before we uproot our family. In hindsight, I really enjoyed living there, but found the initial move pretty tough being away from family, having no help, having to stand on our own two feet etc. however, the choice of work for me was endless, got paid so well (but then again higher cost of living in some instances). Still often think of whether life would be easier over there, but again, couldn't bear to leave my family now I have a baby and she has cousins here...Found some things SO expensive like buying a car, and the insurance for your car, contents etc. but their medicare health system is EXCELLENT. I could go on, but won't bore you. Sometimes the grass is always greener, and I guess you won't know until you go...  ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: MyMinis
Date Posted: 24 March 2008 at 8:15pm
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Melbourne isnt expensive we moved here in ausgust and absolutely LOVE IT!!!!
House/ rent prices are very cheap after living in Wellington, we can rent a brand new 3 - 5 bdrm home in Point Cook for under $400 the one we're looking at is 3bdrm+study+2bathroom for $280wk and its only 3yrs old (we paid $320 for a crusty 3bdrm in lower hutt). we moved here in Aug 07, my parents moved here in Jan 07 so we decided to move closer to family. wages are higher, rent is cheaper we can even afford to get our own home here - to build (which we are looking into), food we have found our grocery bills are way cheaper, power/gas we found is alot cheaper we dont spend anywhere near as much. Haleigh and james adjusted well tot eh move, but haleigh had moved from motueka - wellington - melb so we knew she would adjust well. the initial move can get stressful, but if you do move i would recomend relaly looking into it, opening up an account in australia to slowly put money into so you have some AUS$$ before you get here in an account, then all you need to do is go to your branch and get your card. also sort a place & work & centrelink before you get here we found we were actually entitled to alot when we moved here they back paid us for the 2months we had lived here before we knew to call them. once you have work you can get your medicare card, also if you get family assistance from centrelink you will also get a healthcare card which here in victoria can cut costs of water/ power/ phone/ public transport and a few mroe things. i guess it depends what state/ suburb you go to. we moved to west melb because it was nice, affordable and we have met so many friendly people clothes shop[ping is sooo cheap, so many great stores DFO, best & less, big w, and heaps more and the markets are awesome. I have only been to QLD once so i dont know much about that state. i think that answered everything hehe ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
http://lilypie.com"> 
http://tweetytweety85.bebo.com - bebo |
Posted By: nuttymama
Date Posted: 24 March 2008 at 8:15pm
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Thank you for your input eveyone, hearing things from a points of view gives us a better idea of where we are at. There are some really valid points here, I must admit I think family is going to be a huge thing for me especially with the kids having always lived near nana.
We thought that if or when we go it will be for at least a year minimum to give us a proper chance. I must be such a mummies girl. My dad told me that we have to live for us not other people which probably isn't bad advice. Also DH's mum and dad have said that there is a good chance they would follow us in a year or two as three of their four children would be over there and we are the only ones with grandchildren under 18? Lots to think about. ------------- Abigail 06/01/2005 Jayden 21/11/2001 Micheal 03/04/1997 |
Posted By: nuttymama
Date Posted: 24 March 2008 at 8:21pm
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We must have posted at the same time. It helps to hear from someone who is still there.
I have contacted centrelink and I would have to say they were so helpful and really nice. Can I ask did you ship your household contents over or did you buy there? ------------- Abigail 06/01/2005 Jayden 21/11/2001 Micheal 03/04/1997 |
Posted By: MyMinis
Date Posted: 24 March 2008 at 8:32pm
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we sold everything on TM before we left wellington, but my parents shipped everything over from Queenstown it was around $3000 plus a further $40 for quarintine (so something to think about when moving whetehr you stay ina motel for a short time or friends/ family or you sell everythign and buy new over here)
we picked up a very good lounge suite for just over $100 but because we have 2 young kids i would prefer to wait before we buy nice furniture lol, beds my parents had bought second hand along with the cot before we arrived, and table set we got for $80 from a friend of DFs from work, tv/ microwave and other electronics we got from DCE which is a kind of outlet store, the computer was the only thing sent over along with our bedding/ towels/ linen and the kids toys which we just sent over in the post for $500 for the lot ------------- http://lilypie.com">
http://lilypie.com">
http://tweetytweety85.bebo.com - bebo |
Posted By: MyMinis
Date Posted: 24 March 2008 at 8:33pm
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oops was meant to be $400 for quarentine ------------- http://lilypie.com">
http://lilypie.com">
http://tweetytweety85.bebo.com - bebo |
Posted By: AnnC
Date Posted: 24 March 2008 at 10:15pm
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we too are thinking of moving over the ditch but not for a couple of years till Josh finishes high school.
interesting to read feedback from this post the good and the bad. We own our home here and so will just rent it out till we know we want to buy over there and stay there. We are also looking at Gold caost/brisbane like inbetween. Food for thought. I just think I want to do it just to seeif the grass is greener or not. Don't wanna get old and past it with the regret of not going. ------------- Ann 
Also Mum to Josh (15) and Brooke (10) |
Posted By: nuttymama
Date Posted: 24 March 2008 at 10:17pm
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I can understand that. We have talked about it on and off for years, and it's one of those things were we wonder if we don't do it, will we spend the rest of our lives going "but what if" ------------- Abigail 06/01/2005 Jayden 21/11/2001 Micheal 03/04/1997 |
Posted By: AnnC
Date Posted: 24 March 2008 at 10:54pm
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here here nuttymumma we think the same. I have three kids, Brooke has 3 years including this one left of primary school so like to go before she sets off to High school which probably works in fine with when Josh leaves high school.
Just i am so close to my parents I would miss them so much. I am use to living with out other family as all my extended family is in the UK. ------------- Ann
Also Mum to Josh (15) and Brooke (10) |
Posted By: susieq
Date Posted: 25 March 2008 at 8:57am
| We talked about it for years too, my dh could probably earn more in his field but we would have to be there for two years before our special needs daughter(22) was entitled to any sort of benefit like invalids which she gets here |
Posted By: caliandjack
Date Posted: 25 March 2008 at 9:27am
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My brother and SIL were over there for five years, my brother is still there and won't be coming home, he is in Brisbane. there are a lot of work opportunities for him, and to get the same work back here he'd have to live in Akl which he doesn't want to do.
My niece started school in Australia and she thrived on their education system, she's a smart girl and achieved well. ------------- http://lilypie.com" rel="nofollow">   [/url] Angel June 2012 |
Posted By: nuttymama
Date Posted: 25 March 2008 at 9:32am
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See schooling is important Micheal is in his last year of primary then off to intermediate, and Jayden is in year two this year. So we figure if we go we have to do it soon before he starts high school and before Abby starts school.
As far as Micheal goes the support they will offer him there is huge compared to here where you have to fight tooth and nail to get any help. AnnC it sounds like you have very similar dilemmas to us. ------------- Abigail 06/01/2005 Jayden 21/11/2001 Micheal 03/04/1997 |
Posted By: MyMinis
Date Posted: 25 March 2008 at 10:58am
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the only thing i can say is a huge down fall about australia is no ACC and nothing like it.
so having good health insurance, ambulance cover is a must. but we love how some of your wages go towards super annuation, that is a fantastic idea. also its very unionised which i think they are trying to rid of its very hard for DF who runs a huge construction site cause once it hits over 35degrees if the boys cant be moved to a aircon site they go home, and even if its aircon'd and gets to 40 (which we had a few of last week) he has no choice but to send them home and they will push it to go aswell. it frustrates him since he's used to working in any weather back in nz. susieq, i thought since being a kiwi (under the anzac agreement) nzlnders are entitled to EVERYTHING an aussie is and vice versa?? things are changing a bit now since we have gone into labour government, they are trying to do away with alot of things brought in by the last government. which is a good & bad thing. what we found the weirdest was 110km is speed limit on open roads  and its illegal to talk on mobile while driving if your caught more than 3 times its lose of licence, cops carry guns, littering is a fineable offence, and the hook turns in the city OMG they freak the heck outa me with trams and other traffic in the way, i hate going in the city when in a car, much rather the public transport when i go into the city.
we're still trying to decide whether we will be here for the kids when they start school or move back to NZ, depending on how DF's job goes, and whether he gets transferred or not. ------------- http://lilypie.com">
http://lilypie.com">
http://tweetytweety85.bebo.com - bebo |
Posted By: my2angels
Date Posted: 25 March 2008 at 10:10pm
| My friend moved there last year and while she does love it she is really missing family and friends which she didnt think she would. She has found it a really clicky sort of place, a lot of the mothers groups didnt seem to welcoming. They have good jobs but mortgage and rent wise means they dont really seem much better off but they do like the lifestyle and there is heaps to do with the kids. We thought about going but after hearing her experience Im not really sure Im that keen anymore and she is seriously thinking of coming back end of next year anyway. |