Sami Veloso, Perth

My name is Sami. I am Portuguese by birth, but have lived in South Africa (20 years), Germany (6 years) and Portugal (12 years). I moved to Perth to accompany my husband who had been offered a job. We came in January 2007. Although we were happy in Portugal, there was always a wish to … Read more

Stella Hartley, Coober Pedy

My name is Stella Hartley, a police woman from Barnsley, UK. I needed a change, simple as that. I wanted a better lifestyle and quality of life and was in desperate need of some sunshine. It really was all about me. I had no real commitments in the UK, and although the decision to leave … Read more

Sarah Husselmann, Sydney

I’m Sarah Husselmann, a British freelance writer, who moved from London to Sydney in January 2010. I relocated with my husband and two preschool children. Whilst settling the children into their new home, I’ve created a blog and website providing help for mums moving to Australia- Mum’s gone 2 Aus. I’ve been thrilled with the … Read more

Suzer, Adelaide

My name is Suzer, an expat originally from the US. Initially, I moved to England for post-graduate study. While I was there, I went on a backpacker tour of Ireland for Christmas, and met a bloke from Australia, who ended up becoming my husband. We spent a year in New Zealand before settling in Adelaide, … Read more

Russell Ward, Sydney

I’m Russell Ward, a thirty-something expat living on Sydney’s northern beaches in New South Wales, Australia and the writer of an expat blog, www.insearchofalifelessordinary.blogspot.com. I divide my time between government consulting, travelling the world, enjoying a bit of cooking and gardening, and writing whenever I can. I lived in the UK until 2003, before emigrating … Read more

Sheila Wick, Canberra

[Expat Focus: Sheila has kindly shared her sad story with Expat Focus in order to make Expats living or considering moving to a Commonwealth Country aware of what may happen to their UK State Pension.] "On receiving the Age Pension, it enabled me to live in Australia. What I wasn't prepared for was the fact … Read more

Jennifer Tice, Sydney

My name is Jennifer Tice – Former Marketing Manager and now travel blogger at www.jennifertice.com. I decided I needed a big change in my life, sold all of my belongings and headed overseas for an indefinite period of time. So far stops include two weeks in New Zealand, one year in Australia, and then off … Read more

Lesley Snell, Northern Beaches, Sydney

My name is Lesley Snell. I live on the Northern Beaches in Sydney with my husband and three children. I am a UK trained primary schoolteacher and Director of a small business on the Northern Beaches in Sydney, Australia. I have been very lucky to have moved around a fair bit. Over the past twenty … Read more

Gordon Dolan, Perth

My name is Gordon Dolan; for many years I wanted to migrate but had cold feet, until a recruitment team from HM Naval Base, Auckland, visited Plymouth where I worked in the Devonport Dockyard; being selected for migration with costs paid was too good to pass up, my partner Diana agreed and off to New … Read more

Nick Jay, WA

My name is Nick Jay and I come from Norfolk in the UK. I first moved overseas in October 2006 to Berri in South Australia. It’s a lovely little town in the heart of the Riverland about 3 hours from Adelaide. This was not our first choice but it was the only opportunity open to … Read more