Thinking of taking the plunge

[debb2302]

Have been looking on this forum for a few days, so mind boggling. Myself, husband and 12 year old triplets are thinking of moving to australia in the foreseeable future (possible job opportunities for hubby!). The main issues for us are the cost of living, wages and house prices. Wondered if anyone could help? For eg, whats the cost of a pint of milk, loaf of bread, gallon of petrol/diesel. There are so many things we need to take into consideration before pursuing job opportunties. Can anyone help us?

[kaz101]

Hi Deb2302,

Welcome to the forum!

Wow triplets!

There is a cost of living thread towards the top of the forum and I'll enter some details in there from a recent shopping list since everyone asks this

How about visas? Do you know how you would get in?

Regards,
Karen

[debb2302]

Dont understand the visa process, not looked into too much yet, jobs are there in hubbys company, its up to us now to decide if we want to go. Lots more opportunities we think in australia, especially for the children. We are trying to get as much info as we can before he speaks to his company about relocating. Thanks for getting back to me so quick, i will take a look at the link. Thanks again. Hope to speak to you soon.

[kaz101]

Hi Debb2302,

Some people find the visa process easy and some hard, and a lot of the time it depends on the visa itself. Since the job is within the company then I assume the company will help you go through the visa process (since it will be sponsored) and the relocation process.

regards,
Karen

[debb2302]

Have been glued to this forum since weekend and the australian expo keeps cropping up. Are they worth going to and how much info can you get from the expo? Can anybody advise on the process, ie visas, jobs, house hunting. Is there anywhere on the forums a link with the best order in which to tackle things.

Hope someone can help.

By the way is there anyone from Liverpool on the forum looking to relocate to oz. If so, maybe we can exchange details and talk in more detail.

[debb2302]

Hi Kaz101

Just looked on your link to cost of living, thanks very much for itemising some of your shopping list as well as petrol/diesel prices. Some things appear to be similar prices to here in UK but other are cheaper, especially the petrol/diesel, its a joke here in the UK being over a £1.00 a litre now.

Thanks again speak soon.

[kaz101]

Originally Posted by debb2302

Have been glued to this forum since weekend and the australian expo keeps cropping up. Are they worth going to and how much info can you get from the expo? Can anybody advise on the process, ie visas, jobs, house hunting. Is there anywhere on the forums a link with the best order in which to tackle things.

The expos have loads of information at them. There are seminars in how to chose a country to move, what to do, and then there are emigration agents (and you can book free consultations) and there are movers as well. The experts are at the expos whereas on here you have people telling you what they did and a occasionally an agent (but it's summer holidays here at present).

There isn't a best order since it depends on your visa so I guess it puts the visa at number one

Our order was ( and this covered several years!):
Have Australian holiday and loved it
Check Australian website to see if we could get in & with what visa
Go to first expo to get info
Ring 3 emigration agents and chose the one who said we could get in
Had free consultation with agent and signed up with them
Do skilled assessments (ACS for me, TRA for husband) & get approved
Holiday in Australia and tour around a bit
Send in visa application
Have medicals & police checks
Receive visa approval!
Couple of years later
Go to second expo for movers
Trip to Australia to decide where to live & bought house in Australia
Sell house in UK ( & have movers in)
Move to Australia
Find job
Receive stuff from UK

I don't know if my process is a typical one.

There are various visas depending on age, work experience, career / job, and whether you want a temporary or permanent move.
Some people can re-locate with their firm on a sponsored visa with the firm taking care of most things whereas others (like us) applied via a skilled independent visa.

So is your husbands company going to sponsor him?
If so are they going to help with$ the paperwork or do you have to do that.

I looked at houses over the internet first and then investigated places in person on trips over here that were also holidays.

Since we weren't sponsored it was a case of getting jobs once we were here. I have an online business I can run from anywhere (and we're looking for more people to join us) and my husband just started applying for anything. It took him about 6 weeks to find a job but that's because he wasn't registered with the good agencies in town.

I hope that helps....

Karen

[debb2302]

Hi Kaz101

Thanks for your details, they help in some respects. My husband's company have emailed select few!! within his company of job vacancies at moment, they say they will help with visas, relocation costs and various other things. He is going to have a good look over weekend of what is on offer and if anything suits his experience, contact them and see what happens from there.

We are keen to relocate, if not as much for us, but more for the children. My only concern is leaving my parents and I also have another daughter who is 21 and does not want to come with us. I dont know if i'm going to be able to go without her, even though she does not live at home, i might get so homesick, especially for her.

I know things have moved on so much these days with the use of the internet, msn, and being able to not only to speak to family and friends but you also see each other now via these web cams.

If we decide to take the plunge, then I can see myself and my other three children on the internet every single day.

Speak soon.

[kaz101]

Originally Posted by debb2302

My only concern is leaving my parents and I also have another daughter who is 21 and does not want to come with us. I dont know if i'm going to be able to go without her, even though she does not live at home, i might get so homesick, especially for her.

I know things have moved on so much these days with the use of the internet, msn, and being able to not only to speak to family and friends but you also see each other now via these web cams.

It is tough leaving loved ones behind. For some that's the hardest part. I'm an only child and my parents are still in the UK. However I speak to them every few days either on the phone or on Skype, and yes I use a webcam. Without that, especially when we first moved over, I would have been lost.

Regards,
Karen