RozinOz Posted April 2, 2014 Report Share Posted April 2, 2014 Hi AllI have been a member for a while now, and have lurked (as I suspect many do), gaining an insight into what many different people are going through while either considering the move to Aus, or actually doing it.The forum has been a fantastic resource - I hope that I am able to give back even 1% of what I have gained here.Well, time to come out of the woodwork, so to speak (That's why some wood requires fumigation )To summarize:We're a nice nuclear family, with an 18 year old daughter, and a 15 year old son. My wife and I are in our late forties.My better half applied for skills visa on my behalf in early 2010 - I was dead against the idea, but she was keen, so I said go ahead, I'll sign where I need to.She expected the visas to take at least at least two years, but they were granted after 9 months.We did a validation trip in 2011, and the clock was now ticking.As we approached the end of the five year visa validity period, I began to warm to the idea of a move, while at the same time my better half started to cool off.In the meanwhile, our daughter had decided she was going anyway, and applied to (and was accepted into) a uni in Gold Coast - She leaves at the end of June.In December 2013, I suggested to the rest of the clan that we begin to make a decision one way or the other.After much debate, it was agreed that, on balance, we make the move - So we're beginning to sell up, and the house was sold this past weekend - It was very "final" to see the SOLD sign outside the gate. We plan to leave at year end.My thoughts:We have a very comfortable life here - I've come to realize that a move like this is best done when one is young, prior to building one's wealth. The fact that the sum total of everything we own is about to be diminished by 90% is a sobering thought indeed.My decision was based purely on gut feel - My instinct tells me that if I pass up this opportunity, I will one day regret it.I am approaching this adventure with an open mind, and a positive attitude. In five years time, I will say one of two things - "This is the best thing we ever did", or "This was the biggest mistake we ever made"My gut says it will be the former. 7 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndreaL Posted April 2, 2014 Report Share Posted April 2, 2014 Hello and welcome!All I can say is trust your gut, possible not the most rational advice, but, as you so rightly say, if you pass the opportunity up, you will regret it.The other point is that your daughter is starting Uni here.............she will grow and flourish and, I am pretty certain, make Australia her home anyway, so it is good that the rest of the family will be here too.Good luck. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eva Posted April 3, 2014 Report Share Posted April 3, 2014 Welcome to the forum. We also made the move in our forties and starting over is not as easy when you are older. And yes, you divide your money by (almost) ten but you start again and life is pretty good. As time goes by who knows what the rand will do, so dividing by 10 may not sound so bad in time to come. All the best.... p.s. with the gazillion (so it seems!) South Africans on the Gold Coast you might just think you are still in South Africa! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lynnie Posted April 3, 2014 Report Share Posted April 3, 2014 Welcome to the forum Is it worth coming to Aus? A MILLION times YES!!! It does take some time to settle in - rather regret the things you didn't do, than the things you did do in life Goodluck with your journey... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RichardH Posted April 3, 2014 Report Share Posted April 3, 2014 Good on yer for making the leap and not sitting in your comfort zone in SA, because while it feels comfortable now, it is going to get decidedly uncomfortable much further down the road. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Minks Posted April 4, 2014 Report Share Posted April 4, 2014 With your daughter going to uni in Aus, I think that you have made the right decision. (I completely agree with AndreaL's 2nd point).Good luck with preparing for the "great trek"! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gordonza Posted April 8, 2014 Report Share Posted April 8, 2014 Staying in SA would just have meant your worth was devaluing anyway... I am sure anyone still in SA is well aware of just how much you are loosing every year with the purchasing power (ha ha ha) of your Rands.RozinOz, great decision and I am sure you won't regret it!We are also in our forties and have also been through similar thought processes. I have no doubt we are making the correct decision for us.... For us we leave on the 2nd of July... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bronwyn&Co Posted April 9, 2014 Report Share Posted April 9, 2014 (edited) BronwynHi AllI have been a member for a while now, and have lurked (as I suspect many do), gaining an insight into what many different people are going through while either considering the move to Aus, or actually doing it.The forum has been a fantastic resource - I hope that I am able to give back even 1% of what I have gained here.Well, time to come out of the woodwork, so to speak (That's why some wood requires fumigation )To summarize:In the meanwhile, our daughter had decided she was going anyway, and applied to (and was accepted into) a uni in Gold Coast - She leaves at the end of JuneMy decision was based purely on gut feel - My instinct tells me that if I pass up this opportunity, I will one day regret it.I am approaching this adventure with an open mind, and a positive attitude. In five years time, I will say one of two things - "This is the best thing we ever did", or "This was the biggest mistake we ever made"My gut says it will be the former.Roz I wanted to say that I also have a daughter doing first year uni but we're in Brisbane. Does your daughter know anybody here yet? I'm sure my daughter would love to meet her for a coffee, or whatever if she has questions or just needs someone her own age to talk to.Wondering what she will study? My daughter is doing creative industries (film) and business My son is 16 so our kids are similar ages. But we're about 50 mins away from the GC.Anyhow, PM me if she needs any assistance!Bronwyn Edited April 9, 2014 by Bronwyn&Co 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RozinOz Posted April 9, 2014 Author Report Share Posted April 9, 2014 @Bronwyn - Thanks for the offer! - She's been accepted into Nutrition and Dietetics at Griffith GC, but she will possibly apply for Medicine of Bio-medical Engineering when applications reopen in August. She'll be on her own in GC, as the rest of the family will be moving to Sydney.She's independent and headstrong, and knows far more than I could ever hope to , but she has finally seen the benefit of building a network, and has made contact with a couple people her age in the area she will be living.I'll PM you before she leaves to get your daughter's number. Thanks again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HFamily Posted April 9, 2014 Report Share Posted April 9, 2014 Roz, we're also in our forties and have been debating this move for the past 3 years. We have also decided it's now or never, so once we had done our LSD trip in January, we were completely sold on the idea. My husband has exactly the same apprehensions as you, but our primary reason for doing this is for our 14yo son and his future, which is looking pretty bleak right now. We just keep that foremost in our minds!Good luck with everything! 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RozinOz Posted April 9, 2014 Author Report Share Posted April 9, 2014 @MaxiMom - Wishing you all of the very best! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bronwyn&Co Posted April 9, 2014 Report Share Posted April 9, 2014 @Bronwyn - Thanks for the offer! - She's been accepted into Nutrition and Dietetics at Griffith GC, but she will possibly apply for Medicine of Bio-medical Engineering when applications reopen in August. She'll be on her own in GC, as the rest of the family will be moving to Sydney.She's independent and headstrong, and knows far more than I could ever hope to , but she has finally seen the benefit of building a network, and has made contact with a couple people her age in the area she will be living.I'll PM you before she leaves to get your daughter's number. Thanks again. Sounds good Roz! It's good that she is a go-getter. It will help her. Sounds a bit like mine, actually. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bronwyn&Co Posted April 10, 2014 Report Share Posted April 10, 2014 (edited) @Bronwyn - Thanks for the offer! - She's been accepted into Nutrition and Dietetics at Griffith GC, but she will possibly apply for Medicine of Bio-medical Engineering when applications reopen in August. She'll be on her own in GC, as the rest of the family will be moving to Sydney.She's independent and headstrong, and knows far more than I could ever hope to , but she has finally seen the benefit of building a network, and has made contact with a couple people her age in the area she will be living.I'll PM you before she leaves to get your daughter's number. Thanks again. Roz it just crossed my mind to ask whether your daughter already has her driver's licence? If she does, she should be able to do a simple conversion here, but if not she will have to do 100 hours of supervised driving in Brisbane before she can do her test. This will be very difficult if she's living alone on the GC. I'm sure you've already sorted it out, just thought I'd mention it! Edited April 10, 2014 by Bronwyn&Co 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob Posted April 10, 2014 Report Share Posted April 10, 2014 (edited) My youngest daughter went to Griffith Uni for five years and graduated last December.She loved the Gold Coast. It is a great place for young people . . . surf, sun, freedom, security.My daughter, coming from Adelaide in South Australia is now living in Brisbane about 100 kms north of the Gold Coast and enjoys her work there. She is a dentist working out of two public hospitals in the southern suburbs of Brisbane, earning lots.With the pay levels for graduates in Australia and the opportunities she will have here, there is a big possibility your daughter will not go back to South Africa for work or to live after she has spent 4 or 5 years in Australia on the Gold Coast, so if you personally decide to stay in South Africa, you'll only be visitors to her in her new life. . . . . not the best scenario. Edited April 10, 2014 by Bob 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RozinOz Posted April 11, 2014 Author Report Share Posted April 11, 2014 Roz it just crossed my mind to ask whether your daughter already has her driver's licence? If she does, she should be able to do a simple conversion here, but if not she will have to do 100 hours of supervised driving in Brisbane before she can do her test. This will be very difficult if she's living alone on the GC. I'm sure you've already sorted it out, just thought I'd mention it!Yep - this is something I have researched a bit - She does have her SA license, but it appears that, as she is under 25, she will have to do a learners, and then a driving test. I believe these can literally be done one after the other. Is this consistent with what you understand?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bronwyn&Co Posted April 12, 2014 Report Share Posted April 12, 2014 (edited) Yep - this is something I have researched a bit - She does have her SA license, but it appears that, as she is under 25, she will have to do a learners, and then a driving test. I believe these can literally be done one after the other. Is this consistent with what you understand??I don't know Roz - I'll try & find out. My daughter's friend is 18 & she got her license in Columbia. She has just been driving on her Columbian license in Bne, but they don't have PR yet. Edited April 12, 2014 by Bronwyn&Co 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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