Soon to be in Perth

[DesertDaisy]

Hi! I posted this in the "Intro" section, and it was suggested that I also post it here! Any thoughts would be welcome.




Hi. I am a South African mum of 2, currently living in Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates. My dh has recently accepted a job in Australia, and starts work in Perth in November.

I am really excited at our upcoming relocation, despite the fact that I hate moving.

An Aussie friend of mine here in Abu Dhabi recommended this site as a great place for finding information.

At the moment, the key concerns for me about moving to Perth is finding the right schools for my girls, and then finding somewhere to live! Lots of people have said I should rather look for a suburb I like and then just go to the nearest school.

I feel that I would rather find the school first and then find a place any of the catchment areas for that school!

My eldest is 6, and has just completed Year 1 in a school that follows the British education system. My youngest is 3, and will need a kindy.

I'd love some suggestions for good schools/good areas on a tight budget in Perth, as well as any other tips you have for a mum new to the area!

I've been fortunate to have access to some lovely playgroups and mums groups in Abu Dhabi, and I would love to know whats available in Perth.

[Rhoxie]

Hi and Welcome :)

Since you will be on a tight budget I'd go with the reccommendation of picking the suburb first then deciding on the school.
If you had bottomless pockets then you would pick your preferred private school first then settle in one of the surrounding suburbs.
(However there is no point deciding on a school and then finding out that the suburb is out of your price range or that none of the available houses meet your needs or that it is too far from work).
However, there are ALOT more state schools than there are private and usually you can find one you like in most areas. For example in my suburb there are 3 state schools and another 2 in the next suburb over which I visited to pick from.

Most suburbs have a playgroup (some suburbs have several) but you may not need a playgroup if your youngest is starting kindy. Our ages for starting kindy next year are those turning 4 between 1 jul 06 and 30 June 07. If she doesn't turn 4 until after June 30 next year then she won't be starting kindergarten until 2008.

Depending on where your husband is working you may like to narrow your choices that way.
If he is working in the city within normal hours it may be better to live on a train line to save the nasty bumper to bumper twice a day. Or if he's Perth based but fly in fly out with a mining company then it would be better to live towards the east so you only have a short drive to and from the airport.
Then when you get here go for a drive to the areas you decided on and see if you like what's there - check out where the shops, schools, libraries and local sporting grounds are located. (as a parent you'll be spending time at all those places)

Perth has a small population (just over 2 million) but it covers a very large area. Get a map out and mark out where hubby will be working then decide what your budget for a house is. Both of those should narrow it down a bit.

As with most places, where people choose to live in Perth is a very personal decision and a lot of factors come into it.

Best of luck ! :D and lots of hugs Moving across countries must be very scary !

[DesertDaisy]

Thanks Rhoxie!

Are there some state schools that are better than others, or is the quality fairly good across all suburbs? We've been a bit spoilt here, in that she goes to a really good school! My little one will be 4 in May so she falls into the kindy category. Are most kindys attached to schools, or are they independent?

Are there some suburbs where its best to avoid because of crime (you can tell I'm South African LOL!), proximity to industrial plants/wastage, bad reputation etc etc?

We are not entirely sure where he will be based, though we do know he will spend his first two weeks in Belmont at his employers HQ.

I absolutely HATE moving, and we actually have two moves! We leave Abu Dhabi on 15 September to return to South Africa, where we'll be until its time to go to Aus! My 6 year old is handling the moving thing like a pro, just concerned about finding friends and ballet classes when we get to Perth. My 3 year old on the other hand is finding everything a bit much, and unfortunately, her behaviour is affected.... I'm doing my best to limit their stress, and we are actually returning home to SA before my hubby, so that they don't have to see their toys etc being packed up.

We've been living in Abu Dhabi for 2 years now (arrived when the little one was just 9 mths old), so its all she's ever known, other than short trips to SA for holidays. Its been fantastic, just very hot. Unfortunately, there is no real future for us in SA, and we believe that Australia is a fantastic place to make a life and bring up children. I for one, am really looking forward to settling down, and so was absolutely delighted when my dh heard he had the job.

[Rhoxie]

Some state schools are better than others - but ..and it's a big but - there is no 'ranking' and it can vary from year to year. It depends largely on the commitment of the Principal and the attitude of the teaching staff. Most schools get a similar amount of funding (ie not enough). Extra reasources depend solely on the schools ability to collect the non compulsory school fees and the committment of the parents towards paying said school fees and helping to fund raise.
State schools are about community if the teaching staff and the parents don't communicate and work together it all falls in a heap.

I been to some truly awful state schools in fantastic areas where the teachers and parents do not support each other at all. Then again the school my children go to is in a poor suburb but the teaching staff, parents and principal have made it a really great school. (my DD who is now 6 was reading at the end of kindy). The only way you can tell is to visit a school and see what you think.. ask around the neighbourhood & go from word of mouth opinions

Probably about 80% of Kindy's are attached to school with the remaining 20% being separate community kindergartens.
I've experienced both. I found the community kindy we went to be better resourced than the school ones (they get direct govt funding which they do not have to share with a whole school + they are also eligible for funding grants where school kindys' are not).

The level of teaching at both is very similiar although I found the community kindy was more progressive with alot more of a play based and child centred approach.

Most of our 'heavy industrial' type industry is located down in Kwinana which is out of the main part of the city anyway and they have quite strict zoning regulations and emmissions regulations to keep people and emmissions away from each other. Then there are a few 'light industrial' areas scattered around the city - osborne park, balcatta, belmont, maddington, o'connor etc. Light industrial is for warehouse style buildings but no noxious chemicals or raw materials processing. and generally they are quite happy to co-exist in the same suburb as housing so long as they are separated by a main road etc as things like car panel beaters and furniture factories can be noisy during the day.

Crime is a lot different here to SA ! Most crime is opportunistic theft of cars and property and vandalism (tagging of walls and bus shelters etc). (ie if you secure your items and have an alarm you are pretty safe). I live in what most people would call a lower socio economic area and I'm quite happy walking the streets after dark and there seems to be quite a few other people around the neighbourhood and surrounds who do it also. (never been harrassed by anyone)

Crime as it has affected me after 10+ years in the city - we have had a bicycle stolen off our back verandah (unsecured). A wallet and laptop taken from our kitchen (hubby left the back door open one night) and our car was stolen from the local shops (it was an old one without an imoboliser). We got the car back two days later and everything else was replaced by insurance and we now have an alarm on the house and a car with a security system LOL .

Perth is a quiet city the lifestyle is based around friends and family, socialising and being active. We have a leisure based lifestyle and most shops are closed after 5.30pm on a week day (except thursdays which is late night trading til 9pm) and shops generally don't open at all on Sundays. Our weekends are for kids sports, catching up with friends, Bbq's, the beach, entertaining etc.
A word to the wise - do not ever complain to a Perthite that the city is quiet, dull or boring LOL ;) They'll just see you as a whinger and will not invite you to their next Bbq in case they aren't entertaining enough for you.

[DesertDaisy]

Thanks Rhoxie! All very helpful info indeed!

We are looking forward to our move, and I am quite glad to hear that Perth is very relaxed. ABu Dhabi is like that too - very family oriented and community minded despite it being actually quite big! I used to live in Johannesburg, all hustle and bustle, so I quite like the relaxed nature of things.

At the moment we are still investigating suburbs for rental homes, and I actually feel kind of lost. Its really hard to tell if you'll like a suburb from pictures on a website! We know for sure that the coastal suburbs are already out of our budget, but other than that... We are still trying to work out cost of living, but I think we could probably manage a rental place at about 200 a week. We think! I think for me the key winners would be proximity to a good school, proximity to parks (we have some stunning ones in Abu Dhabi); proximity to a community centre of some kind where the kids could do afterschool activities at a reasonable cost.

Fortunately we have somewhere to stay when we arrive, as I have family in Perth, but its not immediate family, and I don't want to burden them by overstaying our welcome!

For the first few months, while we settle the kids, I wont be working, but financially thats not a long term option. Ideally I'd love a half-day or flexitime job, but have no idea if they are easily available. I know in South Africa they aren't - SA companies are not very mom-friendly. WHile here I've been working freelance as a writer (I'm a Communications/PR type personal normally) which I've loved, but I don't know if it will be economically viable in Perth.

Ah well, I'll live and learn I suppose. And we'll make the best of it, because we really see Australia as our long-term home. I am sick and tired of moving about....

[loopi1]

:wave: DesertDaisy,

What a big move you and your family are making, you'll love Perth it's so beautiful and laid back. But that's easy for me to say as I'm Australian. I have been in WA for 12 1/2 yrs but only 1 1/2 in Perth and since my DS isn't close to school age yet I haven't even looked for schools myself, so I have no advice for you on that I'm afraid. I just wanted to say Hi and goodluck with your move.

I think Rhoxie has it all sowen up for you anyway she has had some great advice.

I think Mirrabooka has a big African community, I think please don't quote me on that I not 100% sure. That's if you wanted to be around other people from your nationality.

And yes pick a suburb first then the school, also maybe find out where hubby will be working and try and find a place close by.

Anyway goodluck and welcome to Australia.

[Tori'smum]

Hi,

Good luck with your move to Perth. I can probably off a little advice on schools in Perth as I am a primary school teacher (however no expert at all). Like Rohxie has said there are usually 2 or 3 schools in each suburb and some in the next suburb over.
As with all schools much of it comes down to the dedication and motivation of the staff- this is a little more difficult to predict than the quality of the schools themselves. Most primary schools have onsite Kindys, one thing you might want to look into in terms of Kindy is whether you want your Daughter to go 4 half days or 2 full days. Each kindy differs on how they run their sessions.
Have visited the Education Department website? From there you can access information on schools, and it tells you about there location, teaching staff, school priority areas etc.
I hope you are able to find a suitable rental property, have you tried the realestate.com website.
Belmont is actualley a really nice suburb ( I am slightly biased as I grew up there) and there some great schools in the area.

Anyway good luck finding out some information and I hope the move go smoothly for you.

[DesertDaisy]

Thank you both for your input. Everyone I've chatted to online so far has been so helpful!

I have looked at the Education Dept website, but was clueless as to where to begin! Same with the real estate website... I've looked at both, but there seems to be so many options.....

I guess I will just have to wait until November and see for myself. Though if anyone does have specific recommendations ;) I'd love to know.

[Paris04]

Hi and Welcome

Have you had a look at this website www.aussiemove.com. There is some good information about suburbs, then links to the schools available in the area. I often refer to it myself as we are looking at buying another house and I need to know what schools are available in particular areas.

I guess it comes down to where your husband is working and how far he is prepared to travel to get to work.

Goodluck with the move

[DesertDaisy]

Thanks, will check out the site!