[FrairTuck]

Hello,

My husband and I are thinking of immigrating to Australia with our 4 kids (ages 19 months- 6 years old). We currently live in Canada, and are sick and tired of the weather (today is -34 with the wind chill). We live in a rural town, and we are both educators. We have good paying jobs in Canada and a good pension. We are 3 hours away from a major city with an airport. We are not outdoorsy people (especially in Winter) so the 7-8 months of winter is brutal for us here. Also, the closest cultural community that we have is 3 hours away, so our children are lacking in the cultural experiences that we wish them to have.To live in a city in Canada now, it is hard to find a full time job with good pay, benefits, and pension plans (hence why we have been living rural for 7 years).

My husband's cousin and his family are well established in Perth, and has told us that there are many opportunities for us out there. Is it worth the move to Australia, and will it be feasible to provide our children the same financial standard that we have here?

Negatives to Staying in Canada
- Weather
- Lack of cultural experiences for our children
- Hard to find a similar job as we have now in cities.

Positives to staying in Canada
- Good paying jobs
- Close to family

Negatives to Immigrating to Aust
- Cost : this will use most if not all our savings to make the move
- Uncertainty
- Stress of moving across the globe

Positives to Immigrating to Aust
- WEATHER
- potential opportunities that are available
- children are exposed to more cultures, including our own
- likelihood of living in a metropolitan city (preferably Perth)

We are aware of the cost that this will all entail. We know that there is potential cost to our children's education if we are not PR.

Is this a feasible idea to move our family across the globe? Is it worth it? What is the best way to get there with a PR status?

Or, are we chasing a far fetched dream.

Thank you for any suggestions or opinions.

 

[wrussell]

45C is probably better than -36C.
Canada does not allow unregistered persons to give migration advice, Australia does.
It might pay you to consult a registered migration agent for an assessment.

 

[LadyRogueRayne]

If you are both educators, you could look into the 189 skilled visa, depending on what type of educators you are. I'm a secondary teacher here in WA, 3 hours south of Perth. I had no issues finding a teaching job. I highly suggest you contact a RMA (Westly is one and responded to your post).

As for the weather, I am so much happier here than I was in the US. I understand what you are talking about with -34, as I lived in Alaska for 12 years. Coming to Australia was the best thing I ever did for me and my children.

 

[ampk]

Good paying jobs is hard to compare put against a country and within a country.

But if you are willing to do a few years remote as "educators" in Australia (if you can get visas) you certainly can save a very good amount of $'s if you wish. But some locations will give culture experience but be tough, other different experience but not tough.

A path to Permanent Visa if an option gives your kids more options.

 

[FrairTuck]

Thank you for responding. As trivial as some people may look at it, weather really plays a major determinate in your life when its so extreme. Glad you were able to find a place you love.

Did you apply to jobs and then move? Or did you do your PR first then move? How expensive was your move from Alaska? Did you have your children at the time of the move, and did you need to pay for education?

I appreciate all your responses.
Thank you

 

[JandE]

Hello,

My husband and I are thinking of immigrating to Australia with our 4 kids (ages 19 months- 6 years old). We currently live in Canada, and are sick and tired of the weather (today is -34 with the wind chill).

Is that -34F (-1C) or -34c.

The change in weather might hit you hard, especially if you move in December time, which I did...

Is it worth it? Probably, if you can find the work you want, and if you can settle into the Australian ways.

Most children do adapt, make new friends etc. Especially at the younger ages.

The weather was a big one for me, and I only came from England, although a very cold and wet one at the time...

I think it's worth the move, if you have the ability to get a PR visa.

 

[LadyRogueRayne]

Is that -34F (-1C) or -34c.

Once you hit -40C/-40F they are the same. So really not much different. However, in Canada they use Celsius.

I came to Australia on an ETA, brought my sons with me and we applied for the 820 visa here in WA. I found a position after I applied for the 820 visa and got work rights. I had to get my teaching credentials organized here in WA before I could apply for a position; so, I did it here in Australia. I did have to pay tuition for my youngest son for the first 3 months (until we applied for the 820 visa). My sons love Australia and easily made the transition.

It would have been easier and less stressful to do the visa applications before I came to Australia; however, my husband couldn't come to the US at the time so it would have been horrible being away from him all that time. The way we did it, it worked for us. However, that doesn't always work for everyone.

It was expensive. The 820 visa ended up costing us over $10,000 to apply, then add the medicals, police checks, airplane tickets, etc. My husband got us a house just before I came over, but we also had to put out money to get established (lease, furniture/appliances, household items). So, yes, it is going to cost a good amount of money to move and get established. We had savings and my husband was working here in Australia (before I could work). Without that, it would not have happened.

 

[Savage_Flame]

I did a winter in Fairbanks, Alaska.

Having never experienced those kinds of temperatures being from Australia, I will never forget the moment I walked outside in -35 celcius temps. My eyes stuck together and nostril hair froze

 

[LadyRogueRayne]

I did a winter in Fairbanks, Alaska.

Having never experienced those kinds of temperatures being from Australia, I will never forget the moment I walked outside in -35 celcius temps. My eyes stuck together and nostril hair froze

I lived there in Fairbanks for 10 years (did 2 years stationed on Adak Island during my Navy time). I used to race sled dogs. I've tried to explain what it's like to my husband; but there's just no true understanding until you experience it. I've been out in -70F weather. I was used to chunks of ice on my eyelashes and feeling the burning cold going into the lungs. I froze the tips of my fingers a few too many times, as well as my toes, cheeks and tip of my nose; so can't handle the cold anymore. Definitely do NOT miss it in any way, that's for sure!