beandownunder Posted March 20, 2014 Report Share Posted March 20, 2014 just out of interest what were/are the main reasons you wanted to migrate? people ask me "why do you want to live in Australia when you've never been there?" mostly I'm stumped but have always felt drawn to Australia.. ....(perhaps its the exposure i had to Aussie soaps from a young age, my mum loved the young doctors, sons and daughters, a country practice, the sullivans, etc!! and of course I fully expect life is exactly like that ;-) J x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SaffanZimbo Posted March 20, 2014 Report Share Posted March 20, 2014 OH and myself grew up on Southern Africa and although we have tried out best to settle in the UK since we arrived in 2000 & 2002 we have had to admit defeat. We love what the UK has to offer good jobs, healthcare, education for our children etc but the weather has worn us down. We really, really miss the sunshine and outdoor life. During our reccie to Perth in April last year (OH's first trip to Oz) we both decided that we wanted a better quality of life for our children and to give us the chance to do more outdoors all year round. We will miss a lot about the UK (especially our awesome neighbours!) and it will not be easy for the first year or two but hopefully in the long run we will be able to find good jobs and buy a house of own and get to enjoy being outdoors more often than we do now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beandownunder Posted March 20, 2014 Author Report Share Posted March 20, 2014 OH and myself grew up on Southern Africa and although we have tried out best to settle in the UK since we arrived in 2000 & 2002 we have had to admit defeat. We love what the UK has to offer good jobs, healthcare, education for our children etc but the weather has worn us down. We really, really miss the sunshine and outdoor life. During our reccie to Perth in April last year (OH's first trip to Oz) we both decided that we wanted a better quality of life for our children and to give us the chance to do more outdoors all year round. We will miss a lot about the UK (especially our awesome neighbours!) and it will not be easy for the first year or two but hopefully in the long run we will be able to find good jobs and buy a house of own and get to enjoy being outdoors more often than we do now. when are you hoping to head to aus SaffanZimbo? .... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SaffanZimbo Posted March 20, 2014 Report Share Posted March 20, 2014 when are you hoping to head to aus SaffanZimbo? .... OH flies the 2nd week of September and the girls and I will follow in late October/November once he (hopefully) has found work. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cocolevi Posted March 20, 2014 Report Share Posted March 20, 2014 Back when I was 2 my parents and god parents were due to move over , unfortunately the sell of our house fell through and didn't go, my god parents did but over the years we lost touch. Perhaps this is why I've always felt drawn to Australia but if people ask me I have to think better life for my children the weather fed up of the rain most of the year not being able to spend time outside . We don't want to spend the rest of our lives regretting not going Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
travelchic Posted March 20, 2014 Report Share Posted March 20, 2014 I was sat in a traffic jam on a bridge that's notorious for traffic jams and I ranted on Facebook about it. My friend from school seen it and messaged me saying how she loves it there and lucky I am to have a skill in demand that others wish they had and not to waste it. And I thought to myself, I could do with a change of environment. Not just for living but for work experience and to broaden my knowledge. And I want my son to experience as much as he can before he's old enough to make his own life choices. That was May 2012 and now here I am with a visa in my hand and a sold sign on my house. We have never been. We might love it, we might hate it but we've got nothing to lose as long as we're happy and healthy. now look out Australia coz jonny and me are on our way lol Debs Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
odies Posted March 20, 2014 Report Share Posted March 20, 2014 my aunty with my 6 cousins took the £10 pom to Adaelaide ,from living in a council house my uncle was a miner they have never looked back.Another uncle was already there and supported them ,my cousins still come over for holidays and I love listening to their stories.However it was unheard of when we got married and no way could we have afforded even the air fare. Then my eldest met his wife who's family live in Perth and moved over and had my grandchildren, so we hope to retire to be with them and enjoy the sun. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
j19jjr Posted March 20, 2014 Report Share Posted March 20, 2014 for an adventure and a change in lifestyle, just started the process so hopefully we don't have to wait too long! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beandownunder Posted March 20, 2014 Author Report Share Posted March 20, 2014 I was sat in a traffic jam on a bridge that's notorious for traffic jams and I ranted on Facebook about it. My friend from school seen it and messaged me saying how she loves it there and lucky I am to have a skill in demand that others wish they had and not to waste it. And I thought to myself, I could do with a change of environment. Not just for living but for work experience and to broaden my knowledge. And I want my son to experience as much as he can before he's old enough to make his own life choices. That was May 2012 and now here I am with a visa in my hand and a sold sign on my house. We have never been. We might love it, we might hate it but we've got nothing to lose as long as we're happy and healthy. now look out Australia coz jonny and me are on our way lol Debs so you are on Facebook then? I had a little scout out but couldn't find you :-) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nancy Posted March 20, 2014 Report Share Posted March 20, 2014 I've had itchy feet for a long time originally thought of oz but quarantine was too long then for the dogs, started looking to buy a property in France which would have meant Paul working in London mon to fri....so had a look at oz again and quarantine had been dropped, perth were offering sponsorship for my job and it all started.. Can't wait to get their now Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JenPen Posted March 20, 2014 Report Share Posted March 20, 2014 We both love it and we both want our children to experience A) stuff I never ever did B) and stuff MrJP did experience!! Plus I am fed up of this weather and stupid houses and I want some SUN and to be appreciated a little more for what I do! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nikkiwd Posted March 20, 2014 Report Share Posted March 20, 2014 For a more outoor lifestyle, my kids have been stuck in for 4 months pretty much! Here it gets light at 8.30am and dark at 3.30 in the winter... Oh and the warmth might be nice too! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
millar.wall.1985 Posted March 20, 2014 Report Share Posted March 20, 2014 like everyone else its the weather that gets us down. On a weekend when its bad weather I find myself drinking manky coffee in '' fun shak'' or '' crazy corner'' , just so I can get my little girly out for a bit. I am close to my family but my daughter means everything to me and I think we can give her a better life in austraila (more adventure). we are an out doors family we love the summer nights, spending our time in the garden chatting. Be nice not to shiver constantly as we do this. also myself and OH were meant to go travelling once I had completed my nurse training, however, we had a little suprise come along (in the shape of Poppy) we never made it travelling but all the same its an adventure and just the three of us Cant wait Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ali Posted March 20, 2014 Report Share Posted March 20, 2014 A chance to live and work in another country before we got too old to do so, although Hubby had started to feel a little disgruntled with living in the UK Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Amiio1 Posted March 20, 2014 Report Share Posted March 20, 2014 Beandownunder - when do you go? Where are you planning to live? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lou8670 Posted March 20, 2014 Report Share Posted March 20, 2014 I'm not really sure exactly what our reasons are but it's probably more a combinations of reasons that I can't really put my finger on. I moved to Jersey 20 years ago having moved here for the sun, sea and sand, a fab nightlife in a small community. I was going to save a load of money working in finance and travel the world but I fell in love with the island and a few years later met my OH. We are never more than 5/10 minutes from the sea but the long hot summers at the beach and water skiing in the bay are long gone and the weather most if the year is pants. Now there are 5 of us it costs an arm and leg to get off the rock, even for a weekend! There's a distinct culture of needing to keep up with the Joneses, property is expensive with the average 4 bedroom house costing £700k and the cost of living is high. This beautiful island for me has lost its sparkle. My parents have asked why don't we move to the UK but my OH won't move there having lived in Jersey all his life and to TBH I'm not drawn back there. We visited Australia in 1999 and had an amazing time. We visited my family in Melbourne who emigrated in the 1960s, the daughter of whom I have kept in touch with since I was 9 years old. We said then we would love to live in Oz but my OH had a promising job a the time which he couldn't walk away from and although my occupation was on the list I had not stayed working in that field so we didn't meet the skilled visa requirements. We visited again in 2009 with the children and by then my SIL had moved to Perth with the Australian Police. We looked again at whether we would meet the criteria for a visa but decided my OH would need to finish his exams before we could consider a move and TBH things were hectic with the children and we'd both just started new jobs which we loved so the incentive was not so great. However, at the end of 2012 things changed and it made us reconsider where we want to be. My SIL has never looked back. She loves where she lives and despite going through a marriage breakup she has never considered returning; so that must count for something! Sometimes we consider making changes to our lives, for whatever reason, sometimes opportunities come our way but the time isn't right and sometimes it is. This time the time is right and we are seizing the opportunity with both hands. It's going to be an experience of a lifetime and we are very lucky to have this opportunity and that the time is right for us. Lou x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Give me a break! Posted March 20, 2014 Report Share Posted March 20, 2014 Honestly because we were bored and wanted to try something different Best move we ever made Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bouncy Posted March 20, 2014 Report Share Posted March 20, 2014 Big adventure really!! Always wanted to live and work somewhere with good weather. I had a pen pal from Adelaide when I was in primary school, think that's what planted the seed really. I've got 2 young sons who love being out in the garden/beach and the winter months here just drag on so long!!! I know the heat will have its draw backs but can't be as bad as the cold! We have a great life here in the uk but just want to experience something else while we have the chance! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
verystormy Posted March 20, 2014 Report Share Posted March 20, 2014 Was offered a job and that was that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sideshowdeb Posted March 20, 2014 Report Share Posted March 20, 2014 My OH travelled for 10 years before we met and has lived in a few different countries over the years. He had just come back from a WHV, and planned to go back permanently as soon as he sorted out a visa and saved some money. Well, life sort of got in the way... One thing led to another and before we knew it a few years had passed. We were happy but not especially settled and moving was always something we talked about. We very nearly bought a house in Spain, thinking it might give us the best of both worlds, good jobs here and lots of holidays together in the sun. I think that's what made us think seriously about Australia again, Rich didn't want to make the move full time to anywhere other than an English speaking country and I didn't want to just live for the holidays. Australia seemed the perfect choice to give us the lifestyle (weather) we wanted and Rich had always wanted to go back. Then the recession hit and our lifestyle took quite a hit. The country lost a lot of its charm for us and we decided that we had to go for it. It's taken a ridiculous amount of time, but we're nearly there. To be honest, I would have moved pretty much anywhere safe with a nice climate, but now we've decided on Perth I'm really happy. 133 days and counting! :0) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest9824 Posted March 20, 2014 Report Share Posted March 20, 2014 Family already here, we visited in 91, fell in love with Perth, when we returned from that journey and future journeys I always had the same feelings, I never wanted to return to the Uk. I missed my family over the years, only really having my inlaws as support in the uk but nevertheless good support, then an opportunity came up to move lock stock and barrel to perth, great job opportunity for OH and we just couldn't turn it down, been here 6 years in April. Peax Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Akasully2 Posted March 20, 2014 Report Share Posted March 20, 2014 (edited) Looking back now it is hard to say where it all started. My earliest recollection is of me and the OH sitting in the garage of our old house in around 2003, him having a ciggy with a beer in hand and me sitting on a pile of dust sheets, also with a beer, putting the world to rights. We floated the idea of living abroad. He said Oz but I said I wasn't keen because I thought it would be flat, dry and boring. No history, too modern. I favoured NZ because of the natural beauty. Things progressed and we started researching the options, I bought a DVD of Billy Connolly's tour of NZ and studied it for an idea of what it was like. OH was still set on Oz as it had more opportunities work wise. Somehow we ended up beginning an application on line for Oz in around 2004 but I was pregnant with 2nd child and I got cold feet. The brakes went on but luckily as it hadn't been submitted yet, no fees paid. Time moved on but the dream just stayed. I suppose the reasons that have been thrown around over the years have included, the weather, life style, more chilled, work opportunities, adventure, life being short, changes to the UK since 1997 when the flood gates seemed to open here and the world at his mate decided to move to the UK regardless of what they had to offer. The challenges faced by home grow Brits who were confronted by others people's culture over taking their own culture, but too afraid to openly voice their opinion in case they were called racist. Other cultures were to be respected, nothing said incase of offending them but our own culture was given little value by some. The loss of traditional values. Grumble, grumble... Anyway, back in early 2012 we decided to go for it and restart the ball rolling. We got everything together ready to make an application only to find OH had been taken off the skills list! I didn't qualify anymore as I worked too part time as to be see as valid, although I was on the list. Gutted. Really felt like we had missed our opportunity. Kicked ourselves. With the feeling of wanting to try living elsewhere so strong, we switched to NZ. Convinced ourselves this was better for us. It was just after all the earth quakes and they said they were going to be crying out for people like my OH. We submitted the EOI and he applied for jobs and he was offered one after a couple of Skype interviews! So excited but acknowledged that the salaries would be much lower than in Oz. Just before I paid the money for the submission of the visa, out of pure curiosity I logged onto the Oz website to see if OH was back on the list. He was! I phoned him at work and said I know he hated me changing my mind but I thought I should draw this to his attention, he said let's go for it! So, in 2012 we started the long road to applying. We had one cock-up of the way but ploughed on and was granted the PR visa in summer 2013. As I said it is hard to remember exactly the driving force that got us here but I know it has never gone away. I refer to it as the itch that has to be scratched. Less about running away from anything but more about running to something new. An adventure, a road yet untravelled. We have experienced that gutted feeling a few times now but now our time has come. At least by being confronted by set backs it has made us certain that we want to try to make this work. Edited March 20, 2014 by Akasully2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nikkis2000 Posted March 20, 2014 Report Share Posted March 20, 2014 A lot of OH's extended family are over here. He had visited a few times before and had been on the verge of trying to come over just before we met in 2002. As so many others have said, life then just happened and I wasn't particularly keen on coming here, even for a holiday! It just wasn't somewhere that was on my to do list. Then in 2012 we were going to Thailand for a wedding and since we had had visits from ALL of his australian rellies at one point or another over the years (including for our wedding) we decided we were overdue a return visit. So we combined the Thailand trip with a couple of weeks here. Well - I think I had almost made my mind up by the time we had got to the farm from the airport. The next two weeks just consoldidated the feeling of belonging and wanting to live the lifestyle. I knew that OH would be well and truly up for it as we had both got somewhat disgruntled with the UK in recent years, and the fact that he had always wanted to come over. I mentioned it one night and we were online in a flash, looking if there was anyway for us to get a visa. There was! We contacted an mirgration agent two nights before we left to go back to the UK and 13 months later we touched down back here as permanent residents! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
portlaunay Posted March 20, 2014 Report Share Posted March 20, 2014 Was born in Essex and it never felt like home. I left the area as soon as I could escape from school and started travelling. Everywhere I went felt amazing, from feeling completely alone in the world in the north of Scotland to strolling through a dusty, noisy souk in Oman, I realised this tiny little rock was incredibly rich and varied and I wanted more of it. When I settled in London and started a family I felt myself resisting the roots that were creeping slowly into the earth and couldn't wait to pull free. I looked at my children and the kids around me, the knife crime and youth culture and the demands placed upon kids to grow up too quickly. I was mugged at knifepoint by three 14 year olds, in broad daylight, on a busy street and no one did anything to help. I didn't want my son being sucked into or affected by that world. We jumped. From the moment I arrived this has felt like home. I've met some extraordinarily warm, generous and kind hearted people and we all love it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tanya24 Posted March 21, 2014 Report Share Posted March 21, 2014 Ours would be the lock of sunshine we don't get here in the UK lol! the lifestyle for the kids and not to mention the beautiful beaches and better paid jobs (thats a must) we have never been before and has always been a dream of mine since i was a teenager and never get to experience the place, we did thought about going on holiday a few years ago but with a family of six it would be pretty expensive so we've decided to use the holiday funds to migrate instead! Anyone migrating who has never been before and are there any fears about living in a country you have never been before? Tan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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