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We're from the UK and are looking to emigrate to Oz in a few years, just before our youngest starts school and are looking for a family friendly place near the beach, with lots to do. I am a Nurse so need a Hospital close-by. People have told me queensland is the place to be for paradise and family but I would like to know ihter peoples opinions please!
We're from the UK and are looking to emigrate to Oz in a few years, just before our youngest starts school and are looking for a family friendly place near the beach, with lots to do. I am a Nurse so need a Hospital close-by. People have told me queensland is the place to be for paradise and family but I would like to know ihter peoples opinions please!
I don't know about good places to live in Queensland. I've visited there but that's not the same as living any place. Just about the entire population lives along the coast and most of our big cities are on it. How near the beach you live depends on how much money you have, as the closer to the sea you get, the higher the price. And our housing costs are amongst the least affordable in the world.
Lots of Poms (people from the UK) in Perth and many of them had the same desire as you - to live near the beach - so many of our northern and southern beach suburbs are known as Little Britain (in a nice way ). Lots of nurses from the UK here so they tend to live near hospitals.
Family-friendly? I assume you mean low-density housing, parks, schools, daycare, and other child-related amenities? Probably most of suburbia here qualifies. And our cities have a lot of suburbia to them, some cities more so than others.
Be careful about wishing for paradise. Oz doesn't live up to that for some. I know of several Poms who've returned because they didn't find paradise. Grass is always greener, and all that. It's very isolated here, be sure you won't mind the separation from grandparents, aunties, uncles, friends. But if you can manage at least a few years, go for it. Living in another country is always a valuable experience. Who knows, it may be paradise for you afterall
I have actually seen Brtis on the britishexpat forum write that they like Adelaide. Lots of them there. Slower pace. A few hospitals. Beaches. Warm climate. Winter can be chilly but no where close to the UK. I personally would go for Melbourne as I need more of a city, but if I had a family Adelaide would be a good choice.
The southern end of Gold Coast, QLD and northern NSW are good places to live. There are a choice of about 6 or 7 hospitals. Qld health is building a new hospital in Southport and is extending it's Robina hospital as well. So they will be looking for more nurses to fill them. I don't think they will be opening till next year or even into 2011 but not sure. My wife is a midwife at gold coast hospital in Southport and likes it. She works with a few Poms as well. She is from the States and it has taken time to feel settled and find good friends, so as Vichel has mentioned you might feel a little home sick till you settle? There are good private and public schools but also some not so good but do your research and you will find the good ones.
Best of luck!
If you don't mind forgoing large cities, I would look at Coff's Harbour: has a population of 70,000, is regarded has having the best weather in Australia and is an up and coming area. It's downside is that it's 5-7 hours drive to Brisbane (north) or Sydney (south).
Another place to look at is the sunshine coast area, about three hours north of brisbane.
Those are the sorts of places I'd look at for bringing up a family. You shouldn't have a problem finding work as a nurse in any of those areas.
Gold Coast! We traveled around the east coast of Australia and loved the Gold Coast area. We ended living there a few years. Beautiful beaches, nice houses, good shopping areas and the school I attended was great (Sommerset College). We also liked the Sunshine Coast, but found it too small to call home.
I may be a bit late to this discussion, but you say you're a nurse and are looking for a family-friendly place near the beach - I have to say Coffs Harbour.
The Coffs Coast is about halfway between Sydney and Brisbane and enjoys a perfect, subtropical climate. There are dozens of beaches, one after the other, that are only a little busy during school holidays but nothing like the Gold Coast or the big cities.
Coffs Harbour has various hospitals including one large regional Health Campus and encourages health professionals such as doctors, nurses, carers, specialists etc. to make the move and relocate to the beautiful Coffs Coast.
There's even a special website set up for this purpose: www.coffscoasthealth.net.au - which has all the info you need about moving to and living in Coffs Harbour plus a comprehensive overview of the health sector and links to all currently advertised job openings.
Location: The western periphery of Terra Australis
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It seems most cities and towns in Australia could fit your criteria.
Anywhere along the NSW Central and North coasts would fit the bill. Coffs is nice but I find the town itself a bit boring. The Great Lakes region is really scenic, Taree, Forster, Tuncurry, Toronto.
I may be a bit late to this discussion, but you say you're a nurse and are looking for a family-friendly place near the beach - I have to say Coffs Harbour.
The Coffs Coast is about halfway between Sydney and Brisbane and enjoys a perfect, subtropical climate. There are dozens of beaches, one after the other, that are only a little busy during school holidays but nothing like the Gold Coast or the big cities.
Coffs Harbour has various hospitals including one large regional Health Campus and encourages health professionals such as doctors, nurses, carers, specialists etc. to make the move and relocate to the beautiful Coffs Coast.
There's even a special website set up for this purpose: www.coffscoasthealth.net.au - which has all the info you need about moving to and living in Coffs Harbour plus a comprehensive overview of the health sector and links to all currently advertised job openings.
LOL, do you think you're plugging Coffs Harbour hard enough?
Perth seems to be the default option for poms.
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We're from the UK and are looking to emigrate to Oz in a few years, just before our youngest starts school and are looking for a family friendly place near the beach, with lots to do. I am a Nurse so need a Hospital close-by. People have told me queensland is the place to be for paradise and family but I would like to know ihter peoples opinions please!
). Lots of nurses from the UK here so they tend to live near hospitals.
Coffs Harbour NSW is ideal for doctors & nurses
