E2306 Posted July 21, 2015 Report Share Posted July 21, 2015 Hi there, This is my first time posting. We are a family of five (3 year old twins and 1 year old) from Ireland considering moving to Perth. I have so many questions I don't know where to begin! My brother in law and his fiancé have been out there for four years so we are initially planning to join them until we find our feet. So I'm generally looking for advice on the following: Jobs & potential salaries : I'm a secondary school teacher and my husband is a joiner What visa type? Cost of living Cost of renting Best suburbs for schools and young families Education options Registered Childminder costs Healthcare I'm sure I've left plenty out but these are the key areas for now. We've also read that Australia could be heading for a recession and are wondering if it's a sensible time to make the move?? I would be extremely grateful for any advice or help! Erin ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Raychelsb Posted July 21, 2015 Report Share Posted July 21, 2015 Hi there, i can answer a few questions and I'm sure you will get more replies from others with more experience. Also, search through these forums, most of your questions have been asked many times. No idea about teaching jobs but joinery / carpenter jobs seem to be plentiful - my husbands a carpenter and been in full time permanent work since he arrived last year and turned down job offers. He earns more then he did back home, but that only balances out the higher cost of living here. We came on a permanent residency 189 skilled visa carpenter, although in the UK he was classed as a joiner. Have a look at the skills assessment requirements for both joiners and carpenters to see what your hubby fits best. Cost of living is a difficult one to answer - personally we find car insurance cheaper but home insurance more than UK. Grocery shopping can be cheap - some veggies and meat for example, but you don't get really cheap brands for cleaning products for example, so they cost more. (Im used to Asda smart price!) Renting can range dependent on suburb. check out realestate.com.au for some ideas. For example, our friends live in the southern suburbs with two kids so 4 beds and pay around $2200 - $2500 a month rent) Healthcare so far we have found good, we are with a fully bulk billed doctor so appointments have all been free. We have decided as a couple not to get private insurance for our own personal reasons. Some will think we are mad, but we are happy to go public, as we did in the UK with the nhs. If we need dental work doing, we are prepared to pay for it, rather than fork out a couple of hundred dollars a month to insurance when we may only need a filling every few years! I'd also say the economy has definitely seen a downturn over the last year or two, I work as a sales rep and retail is struggling as of course is th mining sector, But they are still building houses and shopping centres all over, so tradies must be getting plenty of work! And new housing estates usually generate a new primary school. (Not sure on secondary...) it will definitely be a help for you to live with someone initially until you find work. Otherwise it could be risky and costly. We have been very lucky, I know others have struggled. well I hope this has helped a little, it's a but general and some may give more specific examples. If you need any advice on your husbands line of work, feel free to pm me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
E2306 Posted July 21, 2015 Author Report Share Posted July 21, 2015 I'm not actually sure how to pm! Thank you so much for this information it is very much appreciated. This is a massive decision for us with having three young children and I just want to cover all bases. How long have you been in Perth and do you have any kids? The main reason we are making the move is for them, a better quality of life, more opportunities, more family time, hopefully better jobs/salaries for myself and my husband Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Raychelsb Posted July 21, 2015 Report Share Posted July 21, 2015 I will pm you so you can reply if needed. We don't have kids no, and no plans to. We made the move purely for us, better way of life, weather etc. Hubby came in August, I came in October. It hasn't been the dream I had hoped, although I don't want to go home and hope it will eventually turn into the dream. Winter is colder than I expected, I am earning a lot less money in a job I don't enjoy, and finding it very difficult to find anything else in my field (my type of role is mainly found on the east coast) so we have had to adapt. From a joinery/carpentry point of view it is also different - things are done differently out here. Outdoor living is the big plus here, great opportunities for kids, and free too - beaches, parks, bbq facilities all over, all free, including parking in most areas other than the city. I'm not actually sure how to pm! Thank you so much for this information it is very much appreciated. This is a massive decision for us with having three young children and I just want to cover all bases. How long have you been in Perth and do you have any kids? The main reason we are making the move is for them, a better quality of life, more opportunities, more family time, hopefully better jobs/salaries for myself and my husband Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
verystormy Posted July 22, 2015 Report Share Posted July 22, 2015 I will just give a few words of caution. First, do your research carefully. Not every occupation pays more - I earn about 40% less here. We we work long hours. Australians work the longest hours in the developed world. We also get less annual leave with most companies only giving 20 days a year. I don't think it offers kids a better life. Just a different one. We are just another developed world country with all the pluses and minuses that brings. Certainly no better opportunity. We have issues with jouvinile crime, drugs and a youth unemployment rate that is actually higher than the UK. Universities are more expensive and most young people can not afford to live away from home while at uni. There re are pluses. The summer weather is hot and sunny. But winter is cold and rainy - as I write it is cold grey and raining. Summer can be too hot. After seven years I have come from enjoying the novelty of the heat in the first couple of years to despising summer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Raychelsb Posted July 22, 2015 Report Share Posted July 22, 2015 verystormy makes a good point - with regards to offering kids a 'better life'. In my opinion, and I don't have kids, so its an observation, I think the place is great for kids as they are young - great outdoor life, get them away from the computers and ipads, opportunities for sports etc. But I was only saying to my husband the other day, what prospects for jobs do kids have over here?...career wise I would say there are more limitations. And yes, the university fees too....There aren't the professional opportunities like back home or in the eastern states where the head offices for a lot of national and international companies are based. Lots of sales reps job if that's your thing! Which means lots of driving and long hours. I also agree with the winter - I have been really surprised, and quite fed up with the weather for the last 3 months really. And the dark nights - sun setting at 5.30. I get home from work and could be in the UK. That said, I LOVE hot weather so the summers for me bring them on. I also earn less money and work longer hours, but I wouldn't say that is general across all sectors - certainly a lot of tradies get early finishes, my husband works less hours and is paid more than the UK. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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