validating visa - what we learned

[Guest lynne]

At first we were not going to vailidate but we are so glad we have. These are our personal findings.

 

Well we have been in Adelaide for 3 weeks now to validate our visa. This is what we have learned by coming to validate. Our family consists of myself and my husband 2 children aged 10 and 18 and grandad who is 86 years old. We have been lucky because we have had help off people who have lived here for over 30 years and some Auses have also helped us. We have had the pleasure of speaking to a teacher who has taught in state schools and private. We have also met up with people who have been here for a few years.

 

We now know Adelaide houses are not built for cold winters. They need insulation and double glazing. Double glazing is compulsary in areas near the airport, but it is not common. However, because the winters are short the houses are not well insulated. Its cold at the moment in Adelaide, its the sort of damp cold you get back in England. I was hoping that my asthma would be better in Adelaide but this is not the case.

 

We have also discovered there are lots of good areas to buy houses. The bad areas just get renamed so be careful!!!! For anyone moving to Adelaide who have a 2 or 3 bedroomed semi, there are lots of choices to improve on the type and size of house you had in the UK. However, if you have a large house in the UK with grounds, than the choice of a similar standard of house in Adelaide is difficult to come by. Lots of old large plots have the house demolished by the builders and than the same builder will build 3 or 4 houses on the same plot.

 

Adelaide still has problems with alcohol, drugs and violence but it is to a lesser extent than in the UK. It feels more safer and friendly than in the UK. Also children are welcomed everywhere, exact the gaming rooms.

 

For the elderly there are lots of activities going on, in all different areas.

Transport is good if you are in an area near the city, such as on the tram route or rail line but if you are out further out than public transport is none existance.

 

For our 18 year old who has left school Adelaide is a very quite area for him to be in. Yes there are young men in cars driving too fast and experimenting. There are bikers gangs (these are not young people) who go round and can cause trouble between the different gangs. Alot of young people go to University in Adelaide than they move to Melbourne etc.

 

Well for our 10 year old we found an excellent private school were he will fit in nicely. So that was a big relief. Schools in Adelaide are like schools in the UK, you have good schools and bad schools. The schooling here for young children are very different, they concentrate more on social skills and respect. Where as English schools concentrate more on reading and writing. In my opinion both systems are too much one way, but as long as the children are happy and learning that is the main priority.

 

Oringally we wanted to buy straight away but we have learned it will be better to rent a house for 6 months to 2 years and even move around with the rentals so we don't make a mistake and buy in the wrong area. In case we do not find a house, my husband already has the plans for a house, if we decide to build. But first we must find a large plot.

 

Now for jobs. I am senior nurse in England and I am very use to managing my own patients, starting patients on insulin and changing medicaton according to what the patient needs (eg blood results). I can walk into a job tomorrow. But the standard of nursing here is many years behind the UK. This is not for the benefit of the patient. Diabete care here is adhoc and in some places it does not happen. But on the bright side they have just started to advertise posts for nurse educators etc to try to change the way things are done here.

 

Food. There are lots of choices of food. Eating areas in the shopping areas tend to be in one area. This means you can all have different meals and still sit together and eat. But be warned the portion sizes of meals and cakes are very large. (Not good for anyone)

 

Conclusion:- If you live in a large house in the UK with good jobs and are well paid than the benefits of moving to Adelaide are less. However, if you have a normal size house and standard pay than there are a lot of benefits in moving to Adelaide.

 

Adelaide itself can provide a very happy family friendly lifestyle. Alot of the things here remind me of Spain or America.

 

These are mine and my families finding. We hope people are not rude about what we have written, as these are our personal findings. We hope this will help other people who are coming to Adelaide.

[Guest swampo]

Thanks for a good, honest post. We did a validation trip (not by choice) back in May and found similar information. Most people are not going to live like kings over there, but the lifestyle does genuinely seem to be more relaxed, the people more friendly and the children/youths less threatening.

 

I do understand that these are your finding (and ours) and you have been very kind in sharing them with us all. Lets hope that the few 'hecklers' on this site can also respect that.

[Guest Trakki]

Thanks for that, always great to get peoples views on Adelaide, thanks for the insight into nursing. I am a childrens nurse and have a job at the women and childrens hospital. People I have already spoken to have told me that they ar ea bit behind us but I am always up for a challenge!!

 

Thanks again

[Guest Aussie pat]

Hi Lynne,

 

I'm going to PM entered on this thread by mistake.

[Guest rockpool crab]

Conclusion:- If you live in a large house in the UK with good jobs and are well paid than the benefits of moving to Adelaide are less.

 

Hi thanks for the posting.

 

This is the bit that scares me though as our house is a reasonable size and we both have good jobs. I just know it's going to be worse before it gets better when we move. I know I can handle it ...as it's me that's driving this..but I'd hate for any of my family to turn round and cuss it up :-( gosh I'm sure they wouldn't..but I'll feel guilty if it's hard at the beginning which it's most definitely going to be. Well..nothing ventured eh...he who dares wins and all that

 

Chow for now .. Carol Ann

[Trevali]

Hi Lyn

What a lovely post. Thanks for sharing your experiences with us. I am sure these will help those moving/ready to move to Oz. Good luck for the future. Keep us posted.

Alison x

[ianb]

i think you just about summed it up a treat. Good luck and hope it all works out

[Guest natdan]

At first we were not going to vailidate but we are so glad we have. These are our personal findings

 

Great post , so informative ,thanks for sharing your experiences with us. Can i ask why your validating your visas , have you not sold your house yet or are you just having a visit before totally comitting yourselves !!. Also why do you say that you would rent before buying is it because of the costs etc or just that until you check out the areas you would not lay roots , which areas have you liked the look of !! and why.

Lynne , you also mention about house sizes and quality of life etc and people feeling better off !! We live in a 4 bed detached and are both working , we have a good life here in the uk and want for nothing , but so want a better life for all of us [ better weather , slower pace of life , less crime etc etc ! ] is this possible for your average family , without killing your self !!. We do not want to be in a worse situation , if you know what i mean.

 

We to need to validate are visas very soon , just trying to sort out flights [ SO EXPENSIVE AT PRESENT !! ] cannot sell the house at the mo , have reduced it but will not give it away. we to are a family of 4 , children are of similar ages to yours , so we are both looking for the same things in Adelaide most probably.

 

When are you hoping to finally go. GOOD LUCK when you do, may see you on the otherside .

 

Louise n Wayne.

[ozzieclare2be]

yep nursing is definetly behind here and nurses where i work are not encouraged to use own initiative or be autonomous (though i beleive public is better) .To be honest now working in private id rather not bother with private health cover as alot of my aussie colleagues dont and say the would rather be treated in the public system (the doctor cover is non existant and you have to ring a consultant for everything!! ) But the staff are lovely and the pays not bad even though they have stuffed up my first one

[Guest lynne]

Dear Louise,

 

We had a delay in getting our visas due to having to provide additional information on Grandad (whos 86 yrs old) and also we had to provide additional information for our 11 year old son.

Orginally we were aiming to be out here permanently by September 08 but due to the delay we have only just got our visas and have not yet put our house on the market.

We believe in real terms (we are in a recession in UK) it will take us about 1 year to sell our house. Our house is beautiful and needs nothing done to it but there are not a lot of buyers in the UK market.

 

Lots of people come to Adelaide believing they want to live at the seafront or in other areas and than they discover the cold winds off the sea, make a difference to your house. Also the sand makes your windows dirty, so unless you clean all your windows regularly (weekly) than you are always looking throught dirty windows. Also alot of people will walk along the seafront and look at the houses. (This is normal) but it makes you feel like you are in a fish bowl being examined all the time.

Areas are different and just because one area suits you when you arrive you may find you change jobs or the children change schools and than it would be better to change your rental. Obviously, if you have brought a house than this is more difficult and not possible for some people. But there are lots of nice areas to buy houses and the houses are not being brought up so quickly, so you can take time and look.

 

The areas we like are Unley and Colonel light Gardens. Colonel Light Gardens have right of ways at the back of the houses, so they are good to park boats or caravan at the bottem of the garden. The lots are large, but as we said before some lots have been subdivided. Hazelwood park and Hahndoft, Mclaren Vale are all lovely places to live. But there are so many more areas that are also good. Its a case of coming over here, assessing what you need as a family and than going to look. New houses seem to be also short of insulation.

 

We need a 4 bedroomed house with a granny flat (or space to put a granny flat), so they are not as common as regular houses.

 

If you have a 4 bedroomed home (well insulated and warm) and with a large garden than you will find it difficult to find such a property. If you want for nothing back home than Adelaide can offer you a more family way of lifestyle. But it may be difficult to find a good job which you are happy and content with. But as we have said Adelaide offers a very relaxed family lifestlye.

 

We will also go and look at other areas in Australia and than assess as a family which one is more suitable for us.

[Guest Nick11]

What a great post.

I think you summed up life here to perfection.

[Andrew from Vista Financial]

Good post.

 

 

Andy

[Guest HALT]

Really good post! thought it was just me who felt like that.

i worked as a nurse specialist in the Uk, complete autonomously own case load etc. was offered a job on the casual pool here. Has made me completely re think the job front. Husband and I are AA employed so dropped our income by almost 2/3rds to come here. Big mistake!! Think we bought into the sunshine and better life style but still to see that yet, especially the sunshine bit.

We have got a slightly bigger house(rental) but cars are much poorer quality and outgoings higher as can't get medicare, have to pay for schooling on our visas. Why don't we go home??? We will give it 1 years then review it.

I do however know not everyone feels as we do and i really believe you have to give it a go, there is no point to living with regrets.

[Guest caoimhe]

outgoings higher as can't get medicare, have to pay for schooling on our visas.

Can I ask why you can't get medicare, I thought it was available as an agreement between UK and OZ. Also is it private schools you are paying for as I also thought state school fees where reasonable and paid by everyone

What type of visa are you on

[Jo & Steve]

Thanks for the great post have enjoyed reading it. Hope all goes well for you and your family. Good Luck.

Jo x

[Guest KP Nuts]

Great read Lynne, thanks for taking the time.

 

Good luck

[Guest HALT]

Can I ask why you can't get medicare, I thought it was available as an agreement between UK and OZ. Also is it private schools you are paying for as I also thought state school fees where reasonable and paid by everyone

What type of visa are you on

Hi caoimhe We are on a 442 visa now but came over on a Business ETA first as the immigration agent messed things up. Our visa has changed several times since coming here but that is because my husband works for the government. Thankfully don't have to pay school fees now was fairly expensive to start (thousands). This was for a state school not private. Not all visas allow you to have medicare or free schooling. My husbands company have paid for the health insurance but the excess is expensive $250 each time.I can only work 20hrs per week as well on this visa type. Hope this helps.