If you are thinking of moving from the UK to live and work in Australia, what could be more helpful than valuable insight from people who have been through the same process?
In the past couple of years, we’ve shared with you the experiences of two bdhSterling colleagues who have done just that:
- Ané Lindenbaum, who emigrated to Australia in 2023.
- Then, more recently, our Group Managing Director, Simon Harvey, made the same transition.
We can now add Josh Scott to the list, as he emigrated from the UK to Australia at the end of 2025.
Unlike Ané and Simon, who settled on the West Coast around Perth, Josh is living in Melbourne on the other side of the country.
After his move, we asked him a series of questions about his transition to living on the other side of the world and whether he had any advice for anyone thinking about following the same journey.
His experiences offer a different perspective on life in Australia, and he also provides useful advice and guidance if you are planning to move there.
The background to my move
I first considered a career in financial planning after a placement year at university, during which I worked for Grant Thornton in Sheffield. I then worked in several roles after returning home.
I also met my now fiancée, Taylah, who is Australian and was brought up in Melbourne.
In 2023, we visited her family and did a tour of the East Coast. Once we came back to London, we decided we could see ourselves living there, primarily because of the outdoor lifestyle we both love.
By the summer of 2024, we were ready to commit to the move, with a target date of the end of 2025.
Once we decided to move to Australia, I started a new role with bdhSterling, which I knew had offices in both the UK and Australia and specialises in helping clients with the financial aspects of the transition between the two.
Dealing with the logistical issues of moving
The first thing I can say is that moving 12,000 miles is hard work!
There is a lot to sort out, including:
- Travel arrangements
- Shipping belongings
- Sorting out visas
- Finding somewhere to live and work.
Then there are all the issues relating to leaving our lives in the UK. It is much more time-consuming than I thought it would be.
Happily, I was able to get a “partner visa” through Taylah, but even then, there were a lot of hoops to jump through, involving forms, witness statements, displaying evidence and medicals.
This obviously made planning difficult, as we needed the visa before making any firm commitments.
Against that, I was able to secure a job in Australia with bdhSterling before my move, which relieved the stress of not having a job when I got out here. That was a big plus.
I was also lucky that, because Taylah is originally from Melbourne, we did not have to find somewhere to live straight away, as her parents allowed us to live with them whilst we found our feet.
I also had her network of friends and family to help settle me in.
Financially, moving to Australia isn’t cheap. The moving costs soon add up, as do expenses after you arrive, so you must take all of this into account when planning your move.
My first impressions of Australia
Moving just before Christmas 2025 meant we experienced summer in Melbourne, which was great. Although, I am still unsure of a hot Christmas!
I love sport, and I have been lucky enough to see England win the Boxing Day test at the MCG (we will ignore the other tests), go to the Australian Open Tennis, and the F1, all in the space of a few months.
The weather in Melbourne is very unpredictable. I was told this before I moved, but I did not believe it until I saw it firsthand! The hot days are very hot, but it can be very cold the next day. One day this summer, it was 42 degrees, the next, 19 degrees!
The houses are also very cold indoors. They are built to let heat out, so on a cold day, the inside is often colder than the outdoors!
Melbourne is a very liveable city, with a nice European feel. I would say it is not too different from the UK, but with slightly better weather, though it does not have the traditional beaches you would expect from Australia, like you get on the Gold Coast or in Perth.
The bdhSterling office in Melbourne is relatively small (with plans to expand), so I see a good opportunity to grow our presence in Melbourne and network in the city.
Settling into life in Australia
The first important step was getting my finances and life admin sorted out, including banking, healthcare, and phone service.
I’d strongly recommend researching these aspects before you leave.
On the first day I arrived, I registered for Medicare and my ATO tax file number, as both can take a bit of time, and it is good to get the ball rolling as soon as you can.
My bank allowed me to set up an account before I left the UK, so I was able to go into a branch, verify my ID, and then I was good to go.
I would also recommend getting an Australian phone number as soon as you land, since you need one to verify other accounts.
It is all very simple to set up and not much different to the UK. There are lots of helpful guides online, too.
It can be very difficult to find somewhere to live when you are still in the UK. Simon’s article gave a good steer on this.
The market moves very quickly over here, and you will likely miss out on a few before getting the one you want. This is what happened to us and many other people we have spoken to. Although, we have since found somewhere to buy and are moving in imminently, which is very exciting.
In terms of lifestyle, we certainly spend more time in coffee shops, outdoors, and having brunch than we did in the UK!
I think it goes without saying that family and friends are what I miss most. It has been hard with the time difference, especially on the East Coast. You really have to make time to stay in contact and it is usually first thing in the morning or late at night.
As with Simon, I also miss football in the UK. I used to go to watch Southampton on most weekends with my brothers, and I miss it.
I’m now well-placed to help expats with their finances
bdhSterling were great with helping me with the move.
As a UK-qualified Financial Planner, my skill set is not in high demand in Australia. However, when I first started speaking with bdhSterling about employment, they were great. They were able to accommodate me working in Melbourne and are helping me with my Australian financial planning qualifications as we speak. This means I will soon be able to advise both countries shortly.
Speaking with clients who have made a move similar to mine makes it much easier to understand their difficulties.
Little things like trying to get hold of your providers back in the UK can be difficult with the time difference and international phone costs; it is very relatable.
So, I think that facing issues similar to our clients’ makes it easier to help them and understand their pain points.
It also means I can reassure people that bdhSterling can help with a large part of their move.
My 3 top bits of advice
Having made the move, here’s what I’d recommend as top priorities if you are thinking of doing the same:
- Start your research early! The sooner you start thinking about your move, the easier it is to plan.
- It is worth paying for professional help, as you don’t know what you don’t know. Experts can guide you through the process and relieve some of the stress. They also will likely be able to speed up the process.
- Make applying for your visa a priority, as this underpins all the other steps you need to take.
Get in touch
As you have read here, we have a wealth of experience helping people move from the UK to live in Australia.
If you would like to talk about your own plans, please get in touch with us.
Please note
The value of your investment can go down as well as up, and you may not get back the full amount you invested. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance.
This article is for information only; it does not take into account your personal objectives, financial situation, or needs. Please do not solely rely on anything you have read in this article, and ensure that you conduct your own research to ensure any actions you may take are suitable for your circumstances. All contents are based on our understanding of HMRC and ATO legislation, which is subject to change.