Adelaide or Brisbane for older kids??

[jim and adel]

This seems like a very touchy site at the moment, so at the risk of upsetting several othewise-mild members, I thought I'd add my view on the OP's question: if I were a 17 or 18yo, I'd want to go to Brisbane over Adelaide every time. If I were a parent of the teenager, I'd vote for Adelaide.

Both places have their attractions and their downsides, but as a teenager I'd be looking for the most lively (but I recognise not all teenagers are the same - I can only go on what I looked for in life at that age) and Brisbane wins on that basis.

Regarding moving interstate, the reality is most teenagers don't move away unless with their parents; if people move independently, they are most likely to do this once they hit 25yo. In percentage terms, more younger people (25-29) move interstate from Adelaide than from any other mainland capital, and SA has the slowest growing population and is ageing the fastest, so it is struggling to keep its share of younger people and doesn't manage to attract them in enough quantities from other states. In recent years, though, the number of younger people leaving SA has decreased slightly. There are many factors at play with all this, so make of it what you will.

Jim

[sarahsmartiepants]

Just to throw a spanner in the works............. It should be to down to where the parents of any child want to live, not where the kids want to live!

[jim and adel]

Just to throw a spanner in the works............. It should be to down to where the parents of any child want to live, not where the kids want to live!

Not sure it's likely to be that clear cut when 17/18 year olds are involved. I know that had my parents decided to move abroad when I was that age, I wouldn't have gone somewhere I didn't fancy. I'd have expected a big say in the move or would have stayed where I was (which would have been the most likely outcome).

Jim

[SA Great]

This seems like a very touchy site at the moment, so at the risk of upsetting several othewise-mild members, I thought I'd add my view on the OP's question: if I were a 17 or 18yo, I'd want to go to Brisbane over Adelaide every time. If I were a parent of the teenager, I'd vote for Adelaide.

Both places have their attractions and their downsides, but as a teenager I'd be looking for the most lively (but I recognise not all teenagers are the same - I can only go on what I looked for in life at that age) and Brisbane wins on that basis.

Regarding moving interstate, the reality is most teenagers don't move away unless with their parents; if people move independently, they are most likely to do this once they hit 25yo. In percentage terms, more younger people (25-29) move interstate from Adelaide than from any other mainland capital, and SA has the slowest growing population and is ageing the fastest, so it is struggling to keep its share of younger people and doesn't manage to attract them in enough quantities from other states. In recent years, though, the number of younger people leaving SA has decreased slightly. There are many factors at play with all this, so make of it what you will.

Jim

Excellent post Jim and I agree with everything you have said.

[Peachie]

As a parent oldest is almost 13 I have chosen adelaide as I am happer about the amout of freedom she will be given in the years to come I almost went to the gold coast and do know the area well and feel I had a lucky excape look at coolangata south of gold coast by tweed heads and check out what the teenagers are getting up too it makes hutt st look like a family evening out!!!!! I don't want either of my kids within 100kms of that place I am much more confident of my daughter and her friends having a good time and being safe here in adelaide than most cities I have ever visited its not perfect but its not that bad either which wins the debate for me!!!

[laurenburton92]

We tried adelaide and are now relocating to brisbane, we feel brisbane suits us all best, there is me (18) brother (12) and sister (8), and mum and dad, we feel that adelaide doesn't have enough opportunities for us all and brisbane does! Its not just my age that suits brisbane its all of us! Mum has a better job there and more opportunities and same for me! We are looking forward to the move and hope it suits us more than adelaide has x

[SA Great]

We tried adelaide and are now relocating to brisbane, we feel brisbane suits us all best, there is me (18) brother (12) and sister (8), and mum and dad, we feel that adelaide doesn't have enough opportunities for us all and brisbane does! Its not just my age that suits brisbane its all of us! Mum has a better job there and more opportunities and same for me! We are looking forward to the move and hope it suits us more than adelaide has x

Come on Lauren, why on earth would you want to go to Brisbane when we have all the latest music coming here like James Galway and Kenny Rogers? I would go with you but can't change my name to QLD Great....it doesnt have the same ring! I think Adelaide is a great place for families who have kids (not me) but does lack a bit of excitement

[Peachie]

Better job prospects and better wage are the reasons we stayed in adelaide as my oh job is very specialised there are few or no jobs in his current line of work down under there were only 2 places in uk

aftter giving up good jobs in the uk it is great to have that bit of secruriy with jobs here but I would move interstate tomorrow to ensure a good income for my family brisssie has some great places to live loved the west side by the river st lucia i think its called good luck lauren x