Scottish family who moved to Australia share warning to anyone thinking of going to live there
Starting a new life Down Under isn’t always what it’s cracked up to be
A family who relocated from Scotland to Australia have issued a warning to families thinking of doing the same.
Life in the UK can sometimes be downright miserable. Cramped into tiny flats and house shares due to the cost of living crisis, and living under a near-constant canopy of rain, it’s understandable why do many Brits dream of a sunnier life on the other side of the world.
Enter Australia, where life seems to be non-stop sunshine and easy living, with around 1.1million British nationals living in country (per statistics from the Australian Government).
Certainly looks a lot brighter than skies in the UK (Getty Stock Images)
However, one family who made the move have since warned that life Down Under is not all it’s cracked up to be.
Sharing her experience online is Scottish vlogger Kimberley Lucas, who outlined the reasons behind her decision to move home after two years in New South Wales.
Outlining the reasons behind the family’s decision to move back home, Lucas revealed the high costs of living in Australia as a foreign national – including extra costs for non-permanent residents in the country.
“Childcare is so expensive. We are not on a permanent resident visa so get no help with costs,” she said, adding that Adelaide – the city which the family were considering relocating to – charged extra for non-permanent residents.
“Public school is $7,000-per-year for us and daycare is $23,700-per-year for three days (a week),” Lucas continued.
“In Scotland, education is free and we get 30 hours each week towards nursery fees.
“Permanent residency takes eight to 10 months after applying which means we would be $31,000 just for childcare next year.”
Poor work-life balance and family bonding were also major concerns for the family.
(Instagram/Kimberlylucas_)
“My husband works crazy hours here compared to the UK,” Lucas explained later in the video, adding that it’s common for employees in the construction business to do lots of unpaid overtime.
“His contract hours are 39 but everyone works longer with no overtime, which is just insane.”
The long hours her husband is away from the house have also had an impact on their happiness as a family, with the combination of the above reasons seeing them decide to head back to Scotland.
Explaining how she felt after making the decision, Lucas said: “Ever since we have made that decision we have felt a massive relief just come off us. I am just happy to go home.”
Sharing her advice for any Brits thinking of making the same decision, the vlogger added the she recommends coming over for an extended period of time rather than putting ‘pressure’ on themselves to make a new life ‘work out’.
