Guide

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Events

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Education

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Money

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Wellness

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EWmums

EWfood

ewmoda

Aussies that went 'home' over the summer...

298

Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 26 August 2011 - 19:53

thoughts?

Everyone I have spoken to had the same opinion of their time there in relation to attitudes, costs, generral 'moral' etc.

Curious to see if it was my bunch that had a similar experience or was all 'round?

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2340

Posts

EW EXPERT

Latest post on 28 August 2011 - 07:04

Must depend on the school and the area Stardust. My sister's kids are in a WA private school and at every level max numbers are under 30. Private schools...high demand *can* equal big class sizes and BIG profits! That's probably true globally!

1579

Posts

EW EXPERT

Latest post on 27 August 2011 - 16:54

I visited schools at the beginning of the year and some of the PRIVATE schools are taking 32-36 children per class! Were they Catholic schools? My children went to Anglican schools in WA and the maximum number never exceeded 26.

349

Posts

EW EXPLORER

Latest post on 27 August 2011 - 16:20

We've been back in Aus almost 12 months and it's (sadly) a pretty depressing place to be. We're living on the Sunshine Coast but only made that decision because my husband literally scoured the country, couldn't get work anywhere and we had to make a choice before my son started school. Mum lives here and my son is in a gorgeous little state school, so here we are. My sister married a bloke from WA and they've lived there for 8 yrs. Things are relatively brighter over in WA...for Western Australians. There is plenty of work advertised over there but at every single phone interview my husband got the, "Oh, you're from over east" line and was told WA experience was essential. Bl**dy ridiculous. It was the same story 3yrs ago when he tried to get a job there. My husband finally got a FIFO job with a construction mob in NT. He's on what should be good money. It's almost the same as our combined earnings six years ago. It's not nearly enough for a comfortable lifestyle today. When we left Dubai I knew I'd miss my friends, the Creek, souqs...never thought I'd wish I was still living there though. I come from WA and the biggest problem is schooling - it is a shambles! I visited schools at the beginning of the year and some of the PRIVATE schools are taking 32-36 children per class!

2340

Posts

EW EXPERT

Latest post on 27 August 2011 - 15:38

On a brighter note...bananas are coming back. :) I bought some of the very first crop out of Tully the other day. A bargain at $4.99/kg for the smallest cavandish bananas I've ever seen. :D

2340

Posts

EW EXPERT

Latest post on 27 August 2011 - 15:37

We've been back in Aus almost 12 months and it's (sadly) a pretty depressing place to be. We're living on the Sunshine Coast but only made that decision because my husband literally scoured the country, couldn't get work anywhere and we had to make a choice before my son started school. Mum lives here and my son is in a gorgeous little state school, so here we are. My sister married a bloke from WA and they've lived there for 8 yrs. Things are relatively brighter over in WA...for Western Australians. There is plenty of work advertised over there but at every single phone interview my husband got the, "Oh, you're from over east" line and was told WA experience was essential. Bl**dy ridiculous. It was the same story 3yrs ago when he tried to get a job there. My husband finally got a FIFO job with a construction mob in NT. He's on what should be good money. It's almost the same as our combined earnings six years ago. It's not nearly enough for a comfortable lifestyle today. When we left Dubai I knew I'd miss my friends, the Creek, souqs...never thought I'd wish I was still living there though.

200

Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 27 August 2011 - 13:49

Thank goodness! I was wondering if I was reading about a different country. All of my family are in Perth, no job losses and in fact my younger brother and sister now earn over 100k! Of course people complain about the price of bananas. As a formerly double income professional family, life is tougher financially over here. Lol, the price of bananas is always a hot topic when we have family over in Dubai!! I'm from Perth too and TBH we were better off and still would be even during these times if we were in Perth. It is more difficult for me to earn a good income here (I'm in healthcare) so my salary brings the double income down for us. The exchange rate makes it hard for us to keep up with financial commitments back home too. All of our family and friends in Perth are loving life, going on regular holidays, buying whatever they like just as they did before and no job losses. Perth is still the place to be, apart from it being a bit boring at times... :D

845

Posts

EW GURU

Latest post on 27 August 2011 - 09:21

Glad we don't venture back for the hols then! As all my sons are here now there is little need to go back. Just shows how behind Australia is...the recession finall got there!

298

Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 26 August 2011 - 21:17

I do think that things are much better in the west than the east coast- primarily due to the "2 Speed Economy" A Rancher makes reference to below and the Mining and Resources boom that is continuing in Western Australia. Shelley- *everyone* was complaining about Carbon Tax! Shall be interesting to see how that pans out. I do know that using their little online calculator thing (that I assume calculates rather conservatively) we would again be worse off, but that is to be expected. ;)

1403

Posts

EW OLDHAND

Latest post on 26 August 2011 - 21:07

We haven't been home yet this summer but for the most part, financially and work wise, our family/friends are not falling on hard times... touch wood! But we have noticed the last few times we've been back within the last 12 months that prices are rising, and yes, everyone is complaining about it. I'd have to say (and I don't want this to turn political) that the biggest thing everyone is complaining about and angry about is this Carbon Tax. That would have to be the most complained about issue I'm hearing from home, amongst friends of ours from all over Oz. Interestingly, friends (Aussies) we have in various countries around the world who are unhappy in their current expat positions are all wanting to move to Dubai as opposed to home.

587

Posts

EW GURU

Latest post on 26 August 2011 - 21:04

Life is good in the West. Prices are, as they always were, comparative to Dubai but the job market is better with employees currently holding more negotiation ability than employers. Rental prices are still ridiculous but they have been the last 4 years really. I feel that crime is no worse, but also no better, than it was 2 years ago. The lifestyle that we take for granted is still as great as it always was. *All that said there are still days where I miss Dubai and the friends I left behind* Thank goodness! I was wondering if I was reading about a different country. All of my family are in Perth, no job losses and in fact my younger brother and sister now earn over 100k! Of course people complain about the price of bananas. As a formerly double income professional family, life is tougher financially over here.

1579

Posts

EW EXPERT

Latest post on 26 August 2011 - 20:57

Life is good in the West. Prices are, as they always were, comparative to Dubai but the job market is better with employees currently holding more negotiation ability than employers. Rental prices are still ridiculous but they have been the last 4 years really. I feel that crime is no worse, but also no better, than it was 2 years ago. The lifestyle that we take for granted is still as great as it always was. *All that said there are still days where I miss Dubai and the friends I left behind*

1811

Posts

EW EXPERT

Latest post on 26 August 2011 - 20:56

We went back to Brisbane for the summer and I was amazed at how expensive everything was too. A lot of my friends seemed to be struggling to make ends meet. I read a bit in the paper about "a 2 speed economy";mining industry is doing really well with strong growth but everything else is very slow. I heard property prices are expected to fall; my niece and her family want to move but they are being offered less than they paid for their unit 3 years ago. They've seen a place they like but the sellers would not sign a contract that was conditional on the sale of their unit as the market is so slow.

298

Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 26 August 2011 - 20:17

I am a QLDer, the general morale was quite low. Prices going up, wages not, businesses struggling on the verge of closure, property being put on the market left, right and centre - enough to make me say I don't want to go back to live there and try and convince my mother to come over here where we can take care of her. Not QLD as I know it. A handful of friends had the opposite morale - things were great, business booming, bigger homes, but they were the minority. What was your experience? Exactly the same as yours Amy. Cripplingly expensive Negative attitudes about everything Business closing all over the place People genuinely struggling to make ends meet- even those with what I consider high incomes Crime much much MUCH worse than I remember (particularly on the Gold Coast- wowsers!!) Convinced we won't retun there to live. (I'm a QLD'er as well)

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