OnOurWay Posted April 11, 2015 Report Share Posted April 11, 2015 What if, what if, what if......... What if one of you gets laid off at work in the UK? Here's a slightly different way of looking at it...... Your decision isn't really about should i move to Australia. The decision is should I move to Australia or should we stay in the UK. People often think that deciding not to move has no consequences, and I simply don't believe that. Doing nothing means you decide to remain in the UK. If that's what you decide, that's absolutely fine, but make sure its an active choice, and not a passive one. Both posters have been thinking about moving for years. Why is that? For years you've thought that there might be a better place to live your lives. That alone suggests you have reservations about the uk! Reality check.....leaving loved ones behind is tough. You can skype, but its just the same. Jobs wise (I think you really mean money!) the chances are one of you would be the main earner. You have no one to look after kids while you are both at work. Maybe a part time or flexible job for one of you. For us, money is tight. Let me put that in a bit of context though. We live in a beautiful 4 bed house with views over the Perth hills and my son is at private school. He could go to a state school and we could live in a smaller house if we really wanted to save money! We've been through what you guys are going through ( and all from Edinburgh too!). In the end our decision was based on simple thing. My wife's desire to give it a go was greater than my desire to stay in the UK. One of us wanted to come, the other wasn't that fussed (me!). Fear and lack of visibility weren't good enough reasons not to take plunge. House with a pool......you can rent one in a nice area here for about the same as a three bedroomed flat on leith walk! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
verystormy Posted April 11, 2015 Report Share Posted April 11, 2015 My advice is to weigh up the reasons why you want to move and what you think Oz will offer and then do LOTS of research to see if your expectations are real. I have, over the years, heard of all sorts of reasons for making the move. Some are valid and some are not Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jo and scott Posted April 12, 2015 Report Share Posted April 12, 2015 we don't know if we are making the right decision, neither of us have been to Australia before, but its exciting and we are looking forward to it. we have sold our house and all of our belongings and moved in with mil july 2013, are right at the end of our visa now, police checks are ready to be posted off tomorrow and medicals are booked for 2nd april, all that's left to do is have a massive sort out at home, which will start next week once the girls are back in school. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zozo03 Posted April 12, 2015 Author Report Share Posted April 12, 2015 My advice is to weigh up the reasons why you want to move and what you think Oz will offer and then do LOTS of research to see if your expectations are real. I have, over the years, heard of all sorts of reasons for making the move. Some are valid and some are not Been doing just that @verystormy - all week. The time factor is making everything more critical and I guess my 'migration clock' has started ringing very loudly with OH only having a year til he is 40. I don't think we can make a call until we have been out, spoken to recruitment consultants, checked out neighbourhoods and reminded (myself anyway) of the attraction. We have decided to invest in the gift of time by going for the visa. It's a lot of money if we decide in the end it's not for us but no more than the cost of a small car which depreciates every day. The visa gives us choice which is incredibly valuable whatever our ultimate decision may be. Thank you to everyone for commenting on this thread and to those who took the time to PM with further experiences, it really has helped. Will keep you updated on the journey and look forward to hearing about others' adventures too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
odies Posted April 13, 2015 Report Share Posted April 13, 2015 I hope this is right, as my world this week is about to turn upside down. Saying goodbyes is a killer, then looking around your home and where you live is a killer, thinking about moving this week is a killer. Biggest wobbles, cries and so emotional hope we are doing this and it turns out ok, it is not about the sun for us. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zozo03 Posted April 13, 2015 Author Report Share Posted April 13, 2015 My friend moved last year and was a wreck the few days before. It was one of the things holding me back. She was physically sick and devastated but she shook herself off at the airport and said they looked forward from that point on, not back. They arrived in Perth with 4 suitcases and not a key to their name and 15 months later have built a great life for themselves. It takes tremendous commitment from all involved which is why we have been so on the fence. If you are committed to making it work there is no reason why it shouldn't. Good luck @odies - I'm looking forward to hearing your success story as another inspiration for us! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
odies Posted April 13, 2015 Report Share Posted April 13, 2015 thanks zozo x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
verystormy Posted April 14, 2015 Report Share Posted April 14, 2015 Been doing just that @verystormy - all week. The time factor is making everything more critical and I guess my 'migration clock' has started ringing very loudly with OH only having a year til he is 40. I don't think we can make a call until we have been out, spoken to recruitment consultants, checked out neighbourhoods and reminded (myself anyway) of the attraction. We have decided to invest in the gift of time by going for the visa. It's a lot of money if we decide in the end it's not for us but no more than the cost of a small car which depreciates every day. The visa gives us choice which is incredibly valuable whatever our ultimate decision may be. Thank you to everyone for commenting on this thread and to those who took the time to PM with further experiences, it really has helped. Will keep you updated on the journey and look forward to hearing about others' adventures too. So, what are your reasons for wanting to move to the other side of the world? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zozo03 Posted April 14, 2015 Author Report Share Posted April 14, 2015 Outdoor lifestyle, kids moving away from iPads and kindles and computer games in the rain to swimming and camping. Also the investment in sports in schools versus here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LB1978 Posted April 14, 2015 Report Share Posted April 14, 2015 Outdoor lifestyle, kids moving away from iPads and kindles and computer games in the rain to swimming and camping. Also the investment in sports in schools versus here. Likewise! Hubby and I are definitely 'fair weather' people too. For half the year we hibernate and find it hard to get motivated to do much especially in the evenings. Something I would love is to be able to sit outside in the warmth when the wee man has gone to bed rather than huddled up indoors Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zozo03 Posted April 14, 2015 Author Report Share Posted April 14, 2015 My advice is to weigh up the reasons why you want to move and what you think Oz will offer and then do LOTS of research to see if your expectations are real. I have, over the years, heard of all sorts of reasons for making the move. Some are valid and some are not So what are valid reasons in your opinion? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LB1978 Posted April 15, 2015 Report Share Posted April 15, 2015 So.....first payment made to Go Matilda today so Visa process has officially started! Our heads are still spinning with everything and all the reasons we shouldn't go are weighing heavy in our minds but we decided to kick it off rather than procrastinate further....yikes! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zozo03 Posted April 15, 2015 Author Report Share Posted April 15, 2015 Congratulations! How much are Go Matilda charging if you don't mind my asking? We are talking to True Blue who are about $5200 and offer a no visa no fee guarantee but if they charge loads extra for that it's probably not worth it! Hubby still very in fence too thinks it's a lot of wasted money as he can't see himself moving but appreciates he might change his mind once he has been. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LB1978 Posted April 15, 2015 Report Share Posted April 15, 2015 Thanks! We're looking at it as a 2 year move at the moment which makes it easier to take the plunge. We'll make a decision at the end of that as to whether to come home or stay:-) Go Matilda are charging £1,850 plus VAT. There's also the IELTS of £140, skills assessment of $550 and the total visa costs for us will be $6,160 (3 of us). I didn't get any other quotes tbh as I'd read a lot online about Go Matilda being really good. So far, they've been great. As it happens I sent our CVs off about 2 years ago to another agency (I forget which) just out of interest, who came back and said we'd have no chance as both of us did a degree unrelated to our occupation. That was it. But when we decided to go for it, Go Matilda haven't even raised that. My husband won't get any education points because of that mind you but he has enough experience. He does have to get 8's in the IELTS though to get enough overall points. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zozo03 Posted April 15, 2015 Author Report Share Posted April 15, 2015 Sounds like a similar price. The medicals (around £300 per adult and £105 per child) and police checks are on top (about £43). We calculated just under £10k for a family of 5. A 2 year trial sounds like a sensible approach. Let me know how you get on...! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LoopyLauren Posted April 15, 2015 Report Share Posted April 15, 2015 I has cost us t least £10,00 for family of 4. Not kept a really strict tab on spending, but it does add up.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
domone Posted April 17, 2015 Report Share Posted April 17, 2015 We used trueblue and cant fault them. Responded to everything by the next day in detail. In fact it was likely us that held things up getting all my old references.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elmo Posted April 17, 2015 Report Share Posted April 17, 2015 I've heard a lot more positive than negative but also heard its not as easy to get a job as were told but that there is plenty of jobs (a friend went a few months ago). I'm hoping to go next September so reading up on everything now and seems like it'll be a great move Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.