Moving to Australia, Part One: Sizing Up The Move

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Moving to Australia, Part One: Sizing Up The Move

The prospect of moving to a new country can be exciting and daunting in equal measure. Australia has the benefit of being English speaking with a seemingly similar culture to the UK or USA, but the distance is a huge drawback. Will this hold you back from the opportunity of a lifetime?

Sharon Swift shares her experience of moving from the UK to Australia.

Timing is everything. If you decide to embark on this adventure, you will need to consider the planning time you have available. This will be determined by visa processing periods, your job offer, personal circumstances such as children and pets, and ensuring you have enough money to make the move – or all of these.

If you are relocating with your job, it may be a matter of weeks before you can set sail – in which case, there is much to do in a very short time. If you are planning a more permanent move, your visa may take 12-24 months, and you may need this length of time, or longer, to obtain the visa and financial security necessary to make the leap.

Australia is a large country, and a flight from the west (e.g. Perth) to east (e.g. Sydney) coast will take five hours. Flights between the other capitals can take one to three hours, with the Adelaide-Melbourne leg being the shortest and Sydney-Melbourne being the most travelled. Driving long distances is common, with many who wouldn’t flinch at driving eight to ten hours straight from Sydney to Melbourne, for example.

Of course, you will be considering the trip back to the UK, say, to visit family and friends. If you are lucky enough, they may also have the means and enthusiasm to pay you a visit to share your experience in Australia. But the distances involved cannot be ignored – the prospect of 24 hours of travelling is daunting.

Managing jet lag and other effects of the long journey can also add to the stress of what should be a fun trip. Returning with children can challenge the most patient of people.

Having said that, there are tens of flights a day to the UK from most cities in Australia. The 24-hour journey between Australia and the UK is affectionately known as the ‘Kangaroo Route’.

In the whole scheme of things, the cost is good value considering the distance. Airlines have picked up their game significantly over the years, mostly due to the stiff and unforgiving level of competition on this route, and the experience can be quite comfortable with patience and the right frame of mind.
You can soften the effects of the long journey by having stopovers in fantastic cities such as Singapore, Dubai or Bangkok. This all adds to the fun and adventure of a life Down Under.

Sharon Swift’s book ‘So, You’re Moving to Australia’ can be purchased here:

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Moving Abroad Checklist

Initial Considerations

Will your partner be travelling with you?

If so, what will they be giving up in your present home and will they be able to continue with their career in your new home? You will need to check whether a separate visa is required for your partner to work or if your visa gives that right. If they are unable to work you will need to decide on the effect on your finances and what alternatives are available to give a fulfilling life (home business, training, voluntary work).

Are you taking family with you?

Moving with family raises many exciting opportunities, but also can create challenges. The HSBC Expat Explorer survey indicates that expat kids can take six months to settle in to their new country (see article). Getting young or even older children to prepare to move and leave their friends and family behind can be a challenge and should be thought through.

The options for education is another area that needs to be thought through.

Moving your child to a new country with a different education system can be a great opportunity to broaden their experience, but if they are close to key exams the timing can make this inadvisable. If you do take your family with you, it is important to decide between joining the local school system or choosing an international school.

Where will you be living?

Whether you will be living in a house or apartment, furnished or unfurnished, these decisions will affect what you need to take with you. The time you are planning to live overseas will also affect whether you should leave your property at home empty, rent it out or sell it. See the article Sell, Store or Ship.