A Scottish family who moved to Sydney less than two years ago have revealed they are packing up and returning home after struggling to adapt to Australian life.
Mother-of-two Kimberley Lucas has been upfront about the financial and social challenges her and her family have faced since moving to Australia in early 2023.
In a recent video shared to TikTok, Ms Lucas explained why the Aussie lifestyle isn’t for them.
One reason for their departure was their shock at the long hours expected of blue collar workers.
‘My husband works crazy hours here compared to the UK,’ Ms Lucas said.
‘He’s in construction and works a minimum of 50 hours per week, sometimes 60+ hours.
‘He’s away before we wake up and usually just makes it home for the kids’ bedtime.
‘His contract hours are 39 but everyone works longer with no overtime, which is just insane.’
Ms Lucas and her partner have also struggled to keep up with the high childcare costs non-permanent residents experience.
‘Childcare is so expensive. We are not on a permanent resident visa so get no help with costs,’ she said.
‘Public school is $7,000-per-year for us and daycare is $23,700-per-year for three days (a week).
‘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.’
Ms Lucas was also worried about the family bonding her children would miss out on while living away from Scotland.
‘It seems like an obvious one, but I miss family so much,’ she said.
‘Just popping in for a coffee whilst the kids get spoilt at their grandparents house or a sleepover at their aunties.
‘Some of my best childhood memories were with my grandparents, and I hate that my kids can’t get to experience that.
‘People visit, but it feels so bittersweet as you know they are leaving again and you won’t see them for another year.’
The mother has struggled to ‘make friends’ and maintain a close relationship with her husband while living abroad.
‘People are happy to talk to you but it doesn’t seem to go any further,’ she wrote.
‘A lot of mums seem to be a little older which means I don’t have a lot in common – I may be a mum but I love to go out once in a while and let my hair down.
‘I miss quality time with my husband. Because he works crazy hours here, I’m so limited to time with him without us both being tired and tapped out.
‘I see him so much less here and without family support we are sacrificing date night/popping out together or even booking a last minute city break to Europe.
‘I felt like we were happier in our relationship when we had time for one another.’
Several social media users agreed with Ms Lucas that the expat life isn’t always all it’s cracked up to be and applauded her for putting her family’s happiness first.
‘As a Kiwi living in Aus I agree with the friends thing. It’s so hard to make friends here!’ one said.
‘Life isn’t linear & when things no longer feel right we should makes changes. No regrets, it’s just another chapter in your story,’ another wrote.
‘I relate to the making friends part and this didn’t happen for me until the kids went to school,’ a third wrote.
‘I found that people have already got their friends and their family so have little need for it.’
‘All the best lovely least you gave it a shot!! We’re from NZ and been here 11 years. Cost of living and work-life balance has defo gotten hard lately!’ another wrote.
In other posts, Ms Lucas explained that while her family were ‘incredibly grateful’ for the chance to live in Australia, it didn’t ‘feel like home’.
‘There’s no doubt it’s a beautiful country. But there are many people who visit and don’t have the same “love” for it as many others, and that’s okay,’ she wrote.
‘I’m forever feeling like I have to explain to people why I don’t feel the same – when reality is, it’s just not home.’
