Where,where,where to look on a visa visit

[Guest R175]

We are coming for visa activation in November with a view to move permanently in July 2011 BUT we still dont know what areas to be looking at for homes and more importantly SCHOOLS...

 

My wife is a nurse so will probably try and get work in CBD. I work in employment services so will take anything that comes along.

 

We will be looking at a rental of about $300 - 400 PW but will pay upto $500 PW for a GOOD school catchment area. We have 2 children aged 7 & 8 (8 & 9) by time we come across.

 

We arent to worried about travel time (an hour or so is fine) and I live in Newcastle right now so areas arent that much of a worry BUT again schools are....

 

PLEASE any help would be much appreciated :notworthy:

 

(hope there is enough info for people to give some advice)

 

I have looked at a place called Linden Park primary which looks nice (a moderator reviewed it)

[Diane]

Flat coast people, or hilly tree people? Hobbies outside of work? (yours and the kids') Rural or suburban? Would you want to be driving into the City, taking public transport, or cycling? Do your kids excel at anything in particular? If so, you don't want to be too far from the City and its surrounds, as most high level sports clubs, music activities, etc, are based centrally - you don't want to be spending your life behind the wheel of a car drdiving to and from after school and weekend actvities.

 

There are great hospitals in the north, in the south and in the centre - so your wife may well end up not working in the City.

 

Also, what do you mean by "good" schools? Private or state? Any particular areas of specialism? Primary schools aren't such a big deal as most don't stick to strict catchment areas, but if you're looking long-term, it might be worth considering various high schools and looking for primaries that 'feed' into those so you won't have to think about moving areas again in two or three years. State high schools do often adhere to strict catchment areas, and there are some that specialise in particular areas, such as music, languages, sport, performing arts....

 

As for not minding travelling - in my opinion, and if your wife is a nurse and may be working shifts, an hour's commute is really going to wear thin pretty fast. Roads here aren't the most fun places, with strict speed limits, loads of speed cameras, umpteen traffic lights - I do half hour each way to the place I work and to be honest, that's pretty much on the limit - Adelaide drivers are not the most wonderful in the world and driving can be pretty frustrating at times!

 

I hope I haven't confused you even more! Try and narrow down your choices, in terms of what you are after, and we'll try and suggest areas that might suit you. As I always say though, one man's meat and all that, so keep an open mind and decide for yourself once you've got jobs sorted out and know where you'll be working.

[Guest R175]

Hi Diane and thanks for the info.

 

Kids do dancing (ballet, tap, modern and hip hop) and karate (the 8yrs old is due to take her black belt - Junior), the wife also partakes in karate...I watch from the sidelines.

 

Schools dont need to specialise in anything but my children will both need stretching as they are working 2 years above at school already...must get their brains from me...lol

 

I have been warned about the driving and you are probably right 30 - 40 mins is probably quite enough.

 

From the information I can get Elizabeth is probably my best bet for working in the employment I am suited to (Employment advisor - disability and disadvantaged finding work). We have heard there is some good hospitals in North, not sure if there is any Oncology (cancer) units there though.

 

The wife would like seaside but I dont care as long is it is preferably flat.

 

I had my heart set on Seaford BUT not sure if this is to far out for hospitals as we havent been yet and Elizabeth is a bloody long way away

 

When we come out in November we will be staying in Henley beach area.

 

Again thanks for your quick response Diane

[Guest whitfan]

You could try and get something in the Findon/Woodville area. It's not as new or nice as way down south (Seaford really is practically in the sicks as far as commuting), but its proximity to the sea, the city (WCH and Royal Adelaide (and the soon to be built Marj)) and the QEH make it a good option. Anywhere in the western suburbs would suit really. Even if your wife goes private nursing there would be enough hospitals around to find work. Ashford springs to mind. As for you, I think you would find agency work anywhere. Elizabeth is the biggest dive in the city, but recruitment companies have agencies all over and offices in the CBD.

[Diane]

Henley Beach is a great choice to base yourself for a recce (or to live!) so when you come to visit it might be best to do some driving around and checking out employment opportunities and locations for you and your wife. Another place that might offer you employment options is the Port Adelaide area, which is in the North West.

 

There are areas all over that are probably best avoided to live in - in the north (some of Elizabeth, but not all, perhaps Smithfield and Davoren Park...), south west (some areas are "developing"!), and north west (again, "developing", from a history of lots of social housing). Best way to work out the "less-desirable areas" is look on Real Estate, Property, Land and Homes for Sale, lease and rent - realestate.com.au and do a search for 3 bedroom houses in and around Adelaide - sort by price and the cheapest ones are probably cheapest for a reason!! Either they will be miles away, or if not, then in a "developing" area......!!

 

The South East and North East probably might be a bit hilly if you prefer flat, although both have some lovely areas. South East (such as around Belair, Blackwood) are probably about 15 mins from the beach, whereas North East tends to be about 30 minutes.

 

The "best" (i.e. most expensive!) areas are those fairly near to the City (Norwood, Unley, North Adelaide) - and all have very good state primaries. There is a website - Find a school | ACARA - which you might like to have a browse on which has statistics and comparisons between schools here, but there's no "league-table" as such (yet)

 

Once you know where your best work options are, you will have a wide range of suburbs and schools to choose from.

 

When we came out we thought the same as you - find a school first, then find somewhere to live on that basis, but actually, finding a good school is probably the easiest thing - after finding work and finding a nice rental within sensible commuting distance and in a location that keeps the whole family happy! Of course, not everyone finds the "right" school straight away, but there are loads to choose from so it really is a matter of sorting the other two factors out, then visiting as many schools in the area and chatting to the staff to see which will suit your kids best. Don't rush to get them into school either, I think you have about three months before you have to have them somewhere!

 

You may find that private schools might be able to cater to your kids' needs better - I was really happy with my kids' state primary, but I know that sometimes a child that is at either end of the spectrum, either particularly bright or struggling, might get a bit 'lost' in the state system - again though, it does vary. Some schools have something called the SHIP Program or the Ignite Program (for kids with high intellectual potential) - so something to ask the staff of any school you look at will be how they will make sure your kids are stretched to their full potential. You might like to have a read of the Education Departments policy on Gifted and Talented Children - http://www.decs.sa.gov.au/docs/documents/1/GiftedChildrenandStudents.pdf (page 9 has the high schools around Adelaide that offer special programs)

 

There's a list of Karate Clubs here: AKF - SA | Australia Karate Federation - Adelaide and some dance clubs here: Dance Classes - SA

 

Sorry to waffle on - I'm avoiding doing housework!!!!

[antlet]

We were the same, looked at the schools before deciding where we live. Our daughter is in secondary education so I can't answer too specifically re primary schools, but there are good one's in and around Henley/Glenelg. My daughter is a hip hop teacher and herself goes to Henley High which has been fantastic. I have some contacts with martial arts crowds also.... if you want to pm me I'm happy to meet you when you land and perhaps give you a reccie.

 

Beach, but central in my opinion would be Glenelg,Henley, West Beach, Semaphore directions. Beautiful stretches of beach but very close to the city and outskirts

 

Not sure how much help this is.....but guess it all helps!

[Guest R175]

Wow. Thank you all for the responses.

 

That really does give us alot of info to look at.

 

WHITFAN. I had heard that Elizabeth was a bit on the ruff side...lol. BUT it is this reason I want to work with people from this area as my background comes from working in the most deprived areas of Newcastle...Yes I know most of Newcastle is a bit off just some are a bit more...hahaha

 

DIANE. My wife says that I only come on hear to avoid doing house work too, so I agree with you hin...lol

[Guest R175]

We were the same, looked at the schools before deciding where we live. Our daughter is in secondary education so I can't answer too specifically re primary schools, but there are good one's in and around Henley/Glenelg. My daughter is a hip hop teacher and herself goes to Henley High which has been fantastic. I have some contacts with martial arts crowds also.... if you want to pm me I'm happy to meet you when you land and perhaps give you a reccie.

 

Beach, but central in my opinion would be Glenelg,Henley, West Beach, Semaphore directions. Beautiful stretches of beach but very close to the city and outskirts

 

Not sure how much help this is.....but guess it all helps!

Hi Antlet

 

I have tried to PM you but not sure if it worked as I have no sign of it. If you know more than me please message me so I can get bck to you with regarding your kind offer.

 

R175