Movin' to Oz? - YouLookFab Forum

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Movin' to Oz?

Beth Ann

Veteran

DH announced he wants to move to Australia. Well, really we're just at our wit's end dealing with some difficult issues --- nasty health insurance difficulties, lots of things that need to be done, but not enough hours to accomplish anything........you know -- life.

Well, DH says he can work anywhere with an internet connection, which may rule out parts of the Outback, but I think maybe I should steer him away from anyplace without beautiful scenery, cultural opportunities, and, most importantly, Fabbers!

Maybe I can at least finagle a reconnaissance trip out of this............Maybe a grand tour?

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22 replies

Latest reply was from Adelfa

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Wow. Pack me in your suitcase, please! A YLF OZ meetup sounds so amazing.

Mochi

Veteran

Hah, Beth Ann. Is this kind of like, "WAH! I can't take it anymore! I am going to indulge in my fantasy of moving to Australia!"? or is he for realz?

I think immigration/legal residency may be a bit of a barrier. I had a friend who tried to emigrate and was past the age cutoff for her category. But anyway, it'll be interesting to look into it. And yes, by all means make a recon trip!

Beth Ann

Veteran

Mochi: DH has always wanted to be in Australia, and would have done his doctorate work there, but all the seminaries reserve their "alien" spots for students from Asia. It makes sense, really, since there are so many schools here and in Europe open to Americans.

Since he works online full-time for Liberty University, and would stay employed, I think we might be able to get a Visa. He supervises other Liberty professors in other parts of the world. Since all of our parents are living, but aging (aren't we all), I doubt we would be that drastic and go that far. We have, however, thought of relocating out of Illinois.

Really, I think we need to travel for at least 6 months to find the place for us! And I could totally do that, as long as I had my own little "mommy tent" for quiet time!

BTW: I think Boston is out. We tried to drive in Boston once. Yeah. NYC, LA (I've lived in both) are a piece of cake compared to Boston drivers (lol)!

amiable

Veteran

Beth Ann - I regularly indulge in similar dreams - but doubt that they'll actually happen any time soon. How fun to have work flexible enough to go anywhere! (I too have a flexible-location job, but with our kids young, we're currently opting to stay near our extended family. I still regularly dream about moving far away - anywhere with an internet connection....)

Beth Ann

Veteran

Yes, Amy, my kids are just 11 and 12, although we're 3 1/2 hours from my folks and 12 hours from DH's (Kansas). Still, that's a far cry from beautiful Australia.

Of course, If we move, I have to clean out the crawl space.

Anonymous

Beth Ann, I know a couple who did all the work to move there -- including time working there, quarantine of pets, etc.; it's all pretty complicated -- and wound up moving back to the States after several months there. It wasn't as easy as they'd imagined to make new friends in adulthood and adjust to life in another culture.

Your experience might be very different, of course!

Adelfa

Veteran

Exciting. I support moving!

Beth Ann

Veteran

Alicat: You are so right! Adults in midlife often have the "set" of friends, and cross-culturally it's even more difficult. I think you have to move with more of a purpose than just relocation. That's one of the factors that has prevented us from moving in the last year -- a sense of calling, which is certainly not restricted to people of faith, but in our case, is a matter of faith.

You know that sense that it's time to move on, for something new, but you have no idea what it is? Well, I've had it for a long time, but DH is catching it now too. It's not that we dislike our neighbors and friends (although the state and local governments in Illinois are rather a mess at the moment). We've just got this feeling that we're at the end of a chapter --- but the page hasn't turned yet to reveal what comes next!

We could start with a long vacay..........

annaj

Veteran

I love living here! I'm on the west coast, so away from most of the other fabbers, and we are also the most isolated city in the world, but we have the best beaches, some beautiful bush areas, and some lovely wineries. I wouldn't live anywhere else!

But shhh! please! We love our sleepy city lifestyle here - don't want too much of an influx (Fabbers would of course be welcome!)

Lyn D.

Veteran

Oh- so exciting!
Don't forget that Deborah and I live in and near Melbourne.
Second busiest city with temperate weather and great cultural and fashion opportunities.
Please keep us informed

froggiebecky

Veteran

I did it! Ditched corporate life in the US and moved to Oz. I'm happy to answer any questions you might have, but I will say this: working--even online--may not be enough for you/DH to get a visa. A lot of the immigration pathways have narrowed over the past 5 years, and the new PM (Tony Abbott) certainly isn't looking to change that. I ended up "pimping my brain" and going for a PhD.

If you want "close but not quite", I hear NZ is much more welcoming. I think they're suffering from a bit of a brain drain at the moment, and are happy to have smart people who work hard. Be aware, though, that if you take that route, you cannot use it as a stepping stone to emigrate to Aus.

Lantana

Veteran

Beth Ann, you know the welcome mat is out for you at my place anytime you care to drop by.
This is the strange irony of our country: officialdom makes you jump through all sorts of hoops in order to get into Oz to live or work but individual Australians are by and large an hospitable lot. Certainly countryfolk are.
You could explore the possibility of a working holiday. I think it would be difficult to find work in the cities and big centres but Australia is vast and it is difficult to get workers to take on rural and remote positions. I spent 6+ years teaching in remote indigenous communities where there is a constant need for people of good will to work as teachers, administrators, health professionals and more. Everywhere I worked out bush had internet connection, BTW.
So, it might be worth investigating "working visas".
On the other hand Beth Ann, you could do a Fab Hop all around Australia. Geographically I'm middlish and southish and probably the most rusticated fabber in Oz but there are fabbers dotted all over the continent.
One piece of serious research you must do before you go any further with dreams of Australia is watch a movie called The Castle. It's essential viewing.
Penny

Beth Ann

Veteran

Thank you, Aussie Fabbers,!
Wouldn't be lovely to have a world without borders (I sound like a John Lennon Song)? Penny and Lyn, your homes sound rich and lovely. I joke with my DH that his hometown in Kansas is rather like the bush! And I applaud your resourcefulness, FroggieBecky! You are having travels of a lifetime!

A working vacation wouldn't be a bad idea. You know, many Voice Over artists work while traveling. Soundproofing in a suitcase, with a quality mic and an iPad. Yep and iPad! Will do it! One Pro had a soundproofed RV that she used to travel all over the U.S. Of course, she didn't have an RV AND two preteens! However, we're homeschooling, at least for Junior High, so kids can travel, too! I'm aware that we are only a couple of years from High School and the time when my kids will value time with their friends more than anything else.

Of course, we could just "head for the border" and move to Wisconsin. That's just 7 miles!

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

There are plenty of Ozzie YLF'ers who will make you feel right at home. It's a small world. xo

froggiebecky

Veteran

Working visas are kind of tricky. The one that's easy to get (a working holiday) requires that you be under 30, and you can't work for any one employer for more than 6 mos. It is good for a year. The other working visas are really quite sector dependent. Take a look at the skilled occupations list--both the federal one and the ones for the individual states. The longest lists (i.e., most permissive) are going to be Western Australia, Northern Territory, and Tasmania. Possibly Queensland as well. It's a points-based system, and there's a few online calculators that can give you an idea of whether or not you'll have a shot without needing a sponsor. Points are awarded on age (younger migrants preferred), health (I know someone who was rejected for having Crohn's disease), education, work experience, work sector, etc.

Deborah

Veteran

Beth Ann, we would welcome you with open arms. Australia is a very lovely country to live in. Generally speaking I think we have a wonderful lifestyle with lots of opportunities. If you are scouting locations, check out Bendigo, we are in central Victoria with everything the city has to offer but at a slightly more relaxed pace.

Beth Ann

Veteran

Thanks, Angie! Yes, the world is changing. We're just trying to be open and curious.

Becky: Fascinating detail. No way we'll pass for under 30, and I doubt that "Biblical Scholar" and "Soprano" are high on the list (lol)! EU countries are quite difficult, too, although DH might be able to get a Visa through a missionary agency and teach a class or two for them while continuing the online work that pays the bills. This kind of scenario is probably more likely for us when the kids are out of highschool, which, since they're already 11 and 12, is not so far ahead!

dlb1960

I'm a Sydney girl. Gotta love oz. The lucky country!!!

Sarah A

Veteran

This has been a very interesting post. I had no idea of the immigration requirements for VISAs. I must admit is does sounds exciting. I hope, Beth Ann, that you and DH find the direction of your calling so you may start on that road

londonkiwi (now back in NZ)

Veteran

Well, if you are going to consider Australia, you may as well jump across the ditch and consider little old New Zealand!

We have a points based system for immigration here too. Not sure if it is easier or harder than Australia. I presume that it is fairly similar.

A 6 month holiday (4 months in Australia and 2 in New Zealand) would be a great idea!

You might like the idea of living in Bethlehem (near Tauranga - it has a Biblical College)!

Anonymous

How exciting, I would just suggest researching all of that legalese and immigration issues. As someone else pointed out, things have changed in recent years. Best of luck and how fun!

Adelfa

Veteran

How wonderful to be at a place in your life where you feel free to go.... anywhere.