Quoll

As time is slipping away from you you could start to preempt things maybe by getting your youngest settled back in school living with friends /rellies before the rest of the family move back - you might even be able to swing it for your eldest the same way - couple of years in college then a gap year before uni if that's the way they want to go.

You could pack in your job and go and live with your wife while she waits for a visa - that would at least show a genuine relationship and would be far more concrete evidence to Immigration than praying to whichever deity you happen to believe in. You have your visa so you can come and go. That might be the cheapest option too.

Well, you did ask for advice. I guess if you've heard differently somewhere else then they must know something that the rest of us do not. But from what you've said I don't think anyone else will tell you different but consult an agent and see if they can pull a magic rabbit out of a hat - nothing is going to be either quick or cheap.

You may be past the point of no return but never say never. You either go now while you can get your youngest into further education without penalty (international student fees, A levels etc) or you wait until your youngest has done with uni and risk that they won't want to return with you. If your eldest is heading for Uni you might think of leaving them alone to finish that in Australia and hope that they do do decide their future lies on Europe. Never think of a move forward (you can never go back to what you had) as a failure, it's just another step in a life adventure. Why would your pride be shaken by it? Life is too short to be living where you don't want to be, step on to the next adventure and have a go.

You probably only need to ask the same question once and be patient, the Aussies are all asleep

Look upon it as an adventure and expect to return then you wont be disappointed. Take a career break if you can, rent out your home and suck it and see. Nothing wrong with an adventure from time to time. Be aware of the Hague Convention though just in case one of you decides you love it to bits and the other cant wait to leave for whatever reason (forewarned is forearmed)

If you are on a short term temporary visa then there is no pathway to permanent residence. As for the medium term, they change the rules all the time, occupations drop off the list of skills in demand, he may fall out with his employer and have to leave or he may be made redundant, medical issues - lots of reasons, there is no cast iron guarantee. If you have the skills to apply for permanent residence now, then that would be the thing to do. Hard to believe that one of the big 4 can't attract local middle level personnel though that they need to import them from overseas - usual reason might be that people at that level locally aren't prepared to work for that salary because it is below the market level. Do beware of the school fees/child care thing though, that catches a few people out when they think their kids will be getting free schooling/subsidised child care - it'll take quite a hefty chunk of your income.

Are you permanent residents or is this going to be a temporary visa? If the latter then you’re going to have to pay $5k+ in school fees per school age child and if you decided to go back to work - bearing in mind that the dependents of temporary residents find it very hard to get meaningful career based work - you will get no support with child care which is going to set you back about $150 a day. Bear in mind, too, not all temporary residents are able to make a permanent move. So, on balance, I think you’re going to struggle to have the same sort of lifestyle on that. If you’re citizens returning or PR then it’ll be better.

I don't recall it in 87 and we didn't arrive until early 79 but it did snow in Ballarat on Christmas Day 2001 while ACT was having a Bushfire

NSW police, the best cops money can buy they do say. They imported a UK cop to clean up the service some years ago and boy did he cop some flak for trying to stamp out the corruption.

Dont get hung up on the school, you'll probably find that the school you are zoned for, once you find the home you want to live in 24/7, is going to be just as good. Find a place you want to live in and go from there. I find it surprising that they'd recommend rorting the system too, they'd get their knuckles rapped for that.

That rather depends on where you're going to live and work. Additional support can be very haphazard, it can depend on the principal of the moment and can change from year to year. It'd be worth your while to get all assessments updated before you leave if you can. Have the full psychoeducational battery of cognitive assessments, physio, speech therapy and adaptive behaviour done. It's unlikely with those diagnoses alone that there will be any disability support anywhere but if there's a cognitive impairment or significant physical impairment you might get lucky.

No matter where I am I am always going to be in the other side of the world from one lot! We will go back when my dad pops his clogs - we are caring for him - but only because I've promised to do so. I much prefer England - weather, things to do, variety, belonging etc but my DH is Aussie and we still have a house in Australia. I have a friend who comes to UK from Canada for a few months each year and she finds house sitting or airbnb to be quite reasonable. Being retired has its advantages though as the dreadful w-o-r-k doesn't get in the way. But it seems to me that UK had generally better leave provisions than Australia in general.

Absolutely!!!! Foreign country different education system! Don't get hung up on the year labels!!!

Yup. Not easy is it? I find that regular visits are enough for the most part - a month of solid quality time trumps the odd day here or there. We do Skype but none of us finds it that fantastic - the girls would rather be off playing than sitting still talking to an old person who is trying to elicit conversation by asking loads of questions. Some days - like yesterday - I get the odd wave of overwhelming sadness that I couldn't give them a hug (more for me than for them) but generally I get by quite nicely with out of sight out of mind. We get regular updates and the odd pic from daddy and they know that we love them and think about them then we have a special month when we do lots with them. With my grandson who lives in UK, we Skype, he would rather be playing and we get to see him maybe once every couple of months for a day - much the same really. Probably more pics of the grandson because his daddy has better technology. No magic answer really other than do with your life what you want to do! There are always holidays in whichever direction you find that you are not.

In 2019 she will be in year 2 because she turns 8 after 30 April

Doesn't matter where you get married. Timbuctu if you like although your fiance's family might have some thing to say in the matter. First thing is will the children's father let them leave the Country? If he won't, then you could be on a hiding to nothing. Options - either a partner visa if you've been together over a year, can show your commitment through shared accounts, rental agreement in joint names, statements from friends etc etc. Apply in London now and you could get lucky with the timings. Or you could apply for a prospective marriage visa which will give you 9 months before you need to get married, again, apply in London. No, you don't need to be a citizen. And don't go to Australia because you think the politicians /politics are going to be any better.

You're unlikely to find anything special anywhere. The issues you've mentioned aren't going to attract any additional funding through disability programs so any support is going to have to come from within school resources and in secondary that tends to amount to diddly squat. They might, if you are lucky, get the odd accommodation in tests like extra time or assistive technology but I wouldn't be banking on it. If you want small classes and good pastoral care you're probably heading for private schools but they may not want kids who aren't going to cope in mainstream (they'll never say that to your face though) but it very much depends on where you're planning to live.

You're right about the "no exceptions" thing - just yesterday the relative of a friend of mine discovered that he couldn't bamboozle the authorities and get his Balinese wife a visa just because he he needed her to help care for his elderly mother and he had no income or any savings. He was much shocked apparently as he's the sort of bloke who expects rules to be broken for him - the *itch in me had to smile and give the thumbs up to the bureaucrats on the job. On the plus side, a UK spouse visa doesn't cost $7k!

One assumes then that any school age child would be subject to international student fees which can be quite $cary! For 5 years that could be challenging.

Yes, his visa could be an issue for you. You will need to prove you have a job paying £18.5k or have £62.5k in savings - he doesn't get a visa just because he's with you. It doesn't matter what he then does as it is you who will be sponsoring him. Your probably better see if your ex will give permission otherwise everything else is moot.

You will screw up your eldest's education if you don't move back ASAP. She needs to get on that GCSE merry go round. If otoh you go and it doesn't work out you've got 2 years before she needs to start her year 11 course in Aus, or she could suck it up until after A levels by which time your next child would still be in time to start yr 11 should you go back. However you may have a couple of stumbling blocks - will the kids ' dad let them leave Australia because even if he is the worst dad on the planet if he says no, you're screwed, the court won't let them leave the country. Other hurdle could be how are you going to get your partner into the UK? If he has any UK ancestry you'll be OK but if you're going to have to rely on the spouse visa that will require you to have a good job to ensure the income requirement. All reports from returnees seem to suggest that the UK schools have been very good for their kids, helping them catch up And getting back on track to where they need to be.

You go with a healthy bank balance and then when your course is finished you leave much poorer. Simples. You don't try and work illegally because that's a sure way to find your bum on a plane on your way out before your course finishes.

Yes but individuals take leave at that time so it may be that your CO takes their annual leave and won't be back until after Australia Day at the end of Jan so don't hold your breath

Congratulations on your impending new arrivals! My 2c worth - go home before it's too late and while you might have some chance to retrieve part of your old life. If you've the feeling of dread now then the best you are likely to hope for is desensitisation and a perpetual feeling of being alien. I'm guessing that your dissatisfaction with UK before you left was mainly because you thought the grass was greener in Australia after your backpacking years.