0:44:50 > 0:44:57.
0:45:04 > 0:45:08In 2009, the Foster family were faced with a heartbreaking dilemma -
0:45:08 > 0:45:11they hoped a move to Australia
0:45:11 > 0:45:13could offer them the ideal life they'd dreamt of.
0:45:13 > 0:45:15But it would come at the cost
0:45:15 > 0:45:17of leaving behind one of their children.
0:45:17 > 0:45:22Today, we're catching up with them to find out what they decided to do.
0:45:22 > 0:45:24Wayne Foster was thinking of
0:45:24 > 0:45:26moving his family to the other side of the world.
0:45:26 > 0:45:31My main hope and dream is to give them a good start in life,
0:45:31 > 0:45:34that's really driving our decision to go.
0:45:34 > 0:45:36But wife Lois was torn
0:45:36 > 0:45:40because her daughter Amy refused to join them.
0:45:40 > 0:45:43It's so painful,
0:45:43 > 0:45:47but I have three young children who I have to think of in this.
0:45:47 > 0:45:52And as the week unfolded, she found the decision impossible to bear.
0:45:52 > 0:45:55The thing is, I'm really fearful.
0:45:57 > 0:46:04But my hopes are phenomenal, my hopes are so exciting and so passionate,
0:46:04 > 0:46:09and my hopes for my boys and for Amy are what drive me, definitely.
0:46:36 > 0:46:39In 2009, the Fosters faced a huge decision -
0:46:39 > 0:46:44whether to swap their home in the UK for a new start in Australia.
0:46:44 > 0:46:48We gave them one week to experience the reality of living down under,
0:46:48 > 0:46:51but what's happened since we last met them?
0:46:51 > 0:46:56MUSIC: "Wedding March" by Felix Mendelssohn
0:46:56 > 0:46:59After four years together, Lois and Wayne tied the knot,
0:46:59 > 0:47:04surrounded by their family and friends.
0:47:04 > 0:47:06They were about to leave all they knew and loved
0:47:06 > 0:47:10to see what life could be like in Australia.
0:47:12 > 0:47:15The couple lived in Derby with Amy,
0:47:15 > 0:47:18Lois's daughter from a previous relationship,
0:47:18 > 0:47:20and their sons, three-year-old Isaac
0:47:20 > 0:47:23and the twins, Jackson and Elliott.
0:47:23 > 0:47:26Or was it Elliott and Jackson?
0:47:26 > 0:47:29Wayne had recently taken voluntary redundancy from his job
0:47:29 > 0:47:32as a security manager for a national retail chain,
0:47:32 > 0:47:37and was ready for a brand-new experience.
0:47:37 > 0:47:41My main hope and dream in terms of going to Australia with the boys is
0:47:41 > 0:47:43to give them a good start in life.
0:47:43 > 0:47:47I'm hoping the Australian culture is a bit more steady-paced,
0:47:47 > 0:47:51a bit more family-orientated, because that's important to us.
0:47:51 > 0:47:54That's really driving our decision to go.
0:47:56 > 0:47:59But Lois faced a massive dilemma.
0:47:59 > 0:48:01Amy, at the moment, cos she is 14,
0:48:01 > 0:48:05doesn't want to come to Australia, for various reasons.
0:48:05 > 0:48:07I think when you're 14,
0:48:07 > 0:48:10your friends are very, very important to you, your schooling.
0:48:10 > 0:48:14But it's difficult as a family to make that decision to allow her
0:48:14 > 0:48:17the freedom of choice to not come if she wants to.
0:48:19 > 0:48:22It's difficult to know you're going to leave your daughter behind,
0:48:22 > 0:48:26but I've come to the decision that I love her enough to let her go.
0:48:26 > 0:48:30Yeah, not a day goes past that I don't sit and think,
0:48:30 > 0:48:33"What if she doesn't come?"
0:48:33 > 0:48:36I have good days and bad days where I think, "She must come."
0:48:36 > 0:48:37But I can't force her to come.
0:48:39 > 0:48:41As a trial run,
0:48:41 > 0:48:44Amy was staying part-time at the home of a family friend,
0:48:44 > 0:48:48and was sure that a move down under wasn't for her.
0:48:48 > 0:48:51I don't want to go to Australia because it's too far away.
0:48:51 > 0:48:57I'm close with all my friends, and I have a nice life in Derby.
0:48:57 > 0:48:59If they want to go, they can go,
0:48:59 > 0:49:01I don't want to stop them because of me.
0:49:01 > 0:49:05But I will miss Isaac and the twins.
0:49:07 > 0:49:10As well as the difficult decision of leaving Amy behind,
0:49:10 > 0:49:14Lois would also have faced giving up her job
0:49:14 > 0:49:16as a senior nurse in a general practice.
0:49:16 > 0:49:19Having worked hard to build up her career,
0:49:19 > 0:49:21she was loath to take a backward step.
0:49:21 > 0:49:24One of the reasons for us going to Australia is to find a job
0:49:24 > 0:49:27like I do now that pays as much as I'd have now.
0:49:27 > 0:49:31So if there's not the job that pays as well as I'm anticipating,
0:49:31 > 0:49:32then that is a dilemma.
0:49:32 > 0:49:35And husband Wayne also had concerns.
0:49:35 > 0:49:38I believe it's a multicultural society over there,
0:49:38 > 0:49:41so I'd hope the boys fitted in,
0:49:41 > 0:49:43but again, once they get to school age,
0:49:43 > 0:49:45if they didn't fit in and didn't settle,
0:49:45 > 0:49:49that would drive our decision maybe not to stay in Australia.
0:49:49 > 0:49:51Wayne's parents had passed away,
0:49:51 > 0:49:53but Lois found telling her mum and dad
0:49:53 > 0:49:57about their plans for Australia particularly difficult.
0:49:57 > 0:50:01I think, initially, it was devastation, and I think it still is,
0:50:01 > 0:50:06trying to get their head around the fact that their grandchildren are
0:50:06 > 0:50:09at such a young age, they may potentially miss so much.
0:50:12 > 0:50:15Wayne thought that Australia would be best for the boys,
0:50:15 > 0:50:21but could Lois leave her daughter, her parents and her career behind?
0:50:24 > 0:50:26For their week down under,
0:50:26 > 0:50:30the Fosters went to Perth, the capital of Western Australia.
0:50:30 > 0:50:33As a small but busy city,
0:50:33 > 0:50:36it offered good work opportunities for both Wayne and Lois.
0:50:36 > 0:50:39With plenty of suburbs spreading out all along the coast,
0:50:39 > 0:50:43they could get more property for their pound.
0:50:44 > 0:50:48After a 10,000-mile journey and 18 hours in the air
0:50:48 > 0:50:52with three young children, the Fosters landed in Perth.
0:50:52 > 0:50:55How were they feeling?
0:50:55 > 0:50:58I just want a cup of tea!
0:50:58 > 0:50:59That was really good.
0:50:59 > 0:51:01I'm not as tired as I thought I would be, which is good.
0:51:01 > 0:51:04I'm still pretty fresh.
0:51:06 > 0:51:09Then, it was on to their home for the week.
0:51:09 > 0:51:10The Fosters were staying
0:51:10 > 0:51:14in a spacious four-bedroom house in the Seville Grove area.
0:51:14 > 0:51:17This is great, very similar to what I was saying
0:51:17 > 0:51:19about the American houses,
0:51:19 > 0:51:23where it is just a very large, open-space, bungalow-type scenario.
0:51:23 > 0:51:26- Very good, really good. - It'll fit all our furniture in.
0:51:26 > 0:51:28Yeah, easily. A really good base.
0:51:28 > 0:51:29It would worry me
0:51:29 > 0:51:32we wouldn't initially be able to afford somewhere this big,
0:51:32 > 0:51:35but I suppose it's what you aim for, isn't it?
0:51:35 > 0:51:38It was a good start, especially as Lois and Wayne had
0:51:38 > 0:51:40a week of big decisions ahead of them,
0:51:40 > 0:51:43although Isaac didn't seem too worried.
0:51:48 > 0:51:52Back in the UK, Lois and Wayne had a four-bedroom house in Derby.
0:51:52 > 0:51:56They'd recently added a new kitchen and family room,
0:51:56 > 0:52:03which Lois loved, so any house in Perth had a lot to live up to.
0:52:03 > 0:52:06In Australia, they had a budget of around £235,000.
0:52:06 > 0:52:10As they prepared to head off to the first property,
0:52:10 > 0:52:12Lois was already thinking about
0:52:12 > 0:52:15how to make this work for the whole family.
0:52:15 > 0:52:17We're looking primarily for a four-bed,
0:52:17 > 0:52:21so that if Amy changes her mind and comes out,
0:52:21 > 0:52:23we've got an extra bedroom waiting.
0:52:24 > 0:52:27So we showed them three different homes.
0:52:27 > 0:52:30The first was a four-bedroom house in Port Kennedy.
0:52:30 > 0:52:33It was on the market for £245,000,
0:52:33 > 0:52:37so at a push, they would have been able to afford it.
0:52:38 > 0:52:42While our local childminder took care of the children,
0:52:42 > 0:52:45Lois and Wayne looked around the house.
0:52:46 > 0:52:48- Wow!- Very nice.
0:52:48 > 0:52:52It's lovely, isn't it? It feels very low, though.
0:52:52 > 0:52:54If you notice, the ceilings feel quite low.
0:52:54 > 0:52:57The kitchen didn't match up to what they were used to.
0:52:57 > 0:53:00I think it's workable, it's good.
0:53:00 > 0:53:03But it's difficult when you've got the kitchen at home,
0:53:03 > 0:53:07- you compare every kitchen thereafter to the kitchen at home.- Same toaster.
0:53:07 > 0:53:09It is, isn't it?
0:53:09 > 0:53:11Although the kitchen was a bit small,
0:53:11 > 0:53:15there were spacious rooms that impressed Lois and Wayne.
0:53:15 > 0:53:16Now we're talking.
0:53:16 > 0:53:19His and hers sinks, very nice.
0:53:19 > 0:53:20This is good.
0:53:21 > 0:53:25And with a large garden, hot tub and pond,
0:53:25 > 0:53:29there was plenty of space for Wayne, Lois and the children.
0:53:29 > 0:53:34For the size you get, I think it's quite competitive, really, isn't it?
0:53:34 > 0:53:37Then it was on to the second house.
0:53:37 > 0:53:42Also in Port Kennedy, this five-bedroom home was on the market
0:53:42 > 0:53:46for £255,000. A little above their budget,
0:53:46 > 0:53:48but with some haggling on the price,
0:53:48 > 0:53:50they should have been able to afford it.
0:53:53 > 0:53:55- This is nice.- It's a massive room.
0:53:55 > 0:53:59I do like this space, and I do love the windows.
0:53:59 > 0:54:03And it wasn't just the windows that took Lois's fancy.
0:54:03 > 0:54:05This is an unusual use of space.
0:54:05 > 0:54:09This house has got five bedrooms, so Isaac could have one room,
0:54:09 > 0:54:11Amy could have another, the twins could share,
0:54:11 > 0:54:13and then they could go separate.
0:54:13 > 0:54:18That puts a different slant on it with it being five, doesn't it?
0:54:18 > 0:54:20No, I'm quite impressed with that.
0:54:20 > 0:54:22- Shall we go and have a look outside?- Yeah.
0:54:24 > 0:54:26Gosh, look at the barbecue!
0:54:26 > 0:54:29It looks like it's all geared up towards outdoor entertaining.
0:54:29 > 0:54:32- And there's a pool, shall we go and have a look?- Yeah, yeah.
0:54:32 > 0:54:34It's massive.
0:54:34 > 0:54:36I'm not big on pools, though, me.
0:54:36 > 0:54:39I just look at it and think it's lovely, I just think it's a shame,
0:54:39 > 0:54:43the waste of space in the garden, because you wouldn't use this
0:54:43 > 0:54:47as much as you'd use the outdoor with your wellies and a rain mac.
0:54:47 > 0:54:51Wellies and a rain mac?! Was Lois confusing Australia with the UK?
0:54:51 > 0:54:53It's lovely, but would you fill it in?
0:54:53 > 0:54:55- Mmm, probably.- I don't want a pool.
0:54:55 > 0:54:57I don't know if I'd pay that kind of price for it,
0:54:57 > 0:54:59maybe put an offer in a bit lower than that.
0:55:00 > 0:55:04So, a house with a pool wasn't for the Fosters.
0:55:04 > 0:55:07Everything now rested on the final property.
0:55:07 > 0:55:11The third house was in the suburb of Baldivis, 30 miles' drive from central Perth.
0:55:11 > 0:55:13Being slightly more inland,
0:55:13 > 0:55:16this five-bedroom property offered more value for money.
0:55:16 > 0:55:22It was on the market for £240,000, just within the Fosters' budget.
0:55:27 > 0:55:28Oh, this is lovely.
0:55:28 > 0:55:30Oh, yeah.
0:55:30 > 0:55:32This open-plan stuff, it's fantastic, really is.
0:55:32 > 0:55:35- It's just the size, isn't it? - I know, I know.
0:55:35 > 0:55:38I know. You'd get lost in there. It's lovely.
0:55:38 > 0:55:40With lots of large rooms,
0:55:40 > 0:55:44there was plenty of space for Lois, Wayne and the children,
0:55:44 > 0:55:47including Amy, if she decided to come.
0:55:47 > 0:55:52It's another double bedroom. I can't believe we have so many double beds.
0:55:52 > 0:55:54This is fine for me, really,
0:55:54 > 0:55:57because the kids can still get a decent run around.
0:55:57 > 0:55:59No, nothing wrong with the size.
0:55:59 > 0:56:02For some reason, I just thought it would be bigger.
0:56:02 > 0:56:04- I can see myself in this one.- Yes.
0:56:04 > 0:56:07I can see people coming to visit, entertaining outdoors.
0:56:07 > 0:56:09Very good. Really good.
0:56:09 > 0:56:12The Fosters had seen three different houses,
0:56:12 > 0:56:16but was it enough to choose Australia over their home in the UK?
0:56:16 > 0:56:19It was time to vote on property.
0:56:19 > 0:56:21We've had a great day looking at property.
0:56:21 > 0:56:23We've seen three lovely properties,
0:56:23 > 0:56:25and we can really see ourselves in all three.
0:56:25 > 0:56:27And our vote is...
0:56:27 > 0:56:29- Australia.- Australia.
0:56:29 > 0:56:31You surprised me.
0:56:31 > 0:56:33I thought I would.
0:56:39 > 0:56:44The Fosters were hoping that Australia would provide a better lifestyle for their family,
0:56:44 > 0:56:47So we sent them to get a taste of it in Fremantle,
0:56:47 > 0:56:52a city to the south of Perth, famous for its shops, harbour and markets.
0:56:53 > 0:56:56Lois and Wayne were keen to sample the Aussie produce,
0:56:56 > 0:56:59and headed out to see how it all compared to the UK.
0:57:02 > 0:57:05And Isaac soon spotted one of his favourite foods.
0:57:05 > 0:57:09Are these the big strawberries that you were on about?
0:57:11 > 0:57:14Wow-wee! You want another one?
0:57:14 > 0:57:15Lois was impressed.
0:57:15 > 0:57:19The difference in taste is fantastic. Because these are grown locally,
0:57:19 > 0:57:23the taste is fantastic. We've noticed that in the bigger ones.
0:57:23 > 0:57:25- Our season's full in swing now.- Yeah?
0:57:25 > 0:57:27Yeah, this is the strawberry season.
0:57:27 > 0:57:31A happy family then headed on to take in
0:57:31 > 0:57:33more of Fremantle's delights.
0:57:36 > 0:57:39There was plenty of space for young families to play.
0:57:39 > 0:57:43Wayne knew it would take a lot more than parks and fresh fruit
0:57:43 > 0:57:45to convince Lois to make the move.
0:57:45 > 0:57:47Lois has got the situation with Amy
0:57:47 > 0:57:50that she wants to resolve before she decides what she wants to do.
0:57:50 > 0:57:54We've talked about it a lot, but I don't want it to feel like I'm dragging Lois here.
0:57:54 > 0:57:57It isn't that. Lois understands that my thoughts are
0:57:57 > 0:57:58bringing the boys here.
0:57:58 > 0:58:01She's got the same thoughts, because they're her children too.
0:58:01 > 0:58:03But she has got this decision,
0:58:03 > 0:58:07this overbearing decision with Amy, that we've got to try and solve.
0:58:07 > 0:58:12And the issue of her daughter Amy was weighing heavily.
0:58:12 > 0:58:13My hopes for the future are
0:58:13 > 0:58:18Amy wishes to come and join us as a family and be with us as a family.
0:58:18 > 0:58:21That's what I hope. Because we are a family.
0:58:21 > 0:58:27But it's the reality of, yes, if we come here, she's not here.
0:58:35 > 0:58:37And that's just really hard,
0:58:37 > 0:58:39as a mother,
0:58:39 > 0:58:42to adjust to.
0:58:42 > 0:58:46It was a day of highs and lows for Lois and Wayne.
0:58:46 > 0:58:50But what had they made of the lifestyle down under,
0:58:50 > 0:58:52and how would they vote?
0:58:53 > 0:58:56And our vote is...
0:58:56 > 0:58:59- UK.- Did you?
0:58:59 > 0:59:01I know I might surprise you.
0:59:01 > 0:59:06That's just really, really, really surprised me. Why?
0:59:06 > 0:59:08I know at the moment we've got more choice in the UK
0:59:08 > 0:59:11as to where we go with the boys and being outdoor with the boys.
0:59:11 > 0:59:14The problem is, which we've always said, is the weather -
0:59:14 > 0:59:16it stops us getting out and about.
0:59:16 > 0:59:18Here, it has been really sunny,
0:59:18 > 0:59:20but I've not seen enough of Fremantle or Perth yet
0:59:20 > 0:59:23to say definitely the UK. But for now, yeah, it is the UK.
0:59:23 > 0:59:26For me, it's just very similar,
0:59:26 > 0:59:29I could be in England on a summer's day.
0:59:36 > 0:59:40In the UK, Lois had a successful career,
0:59:40 > 0:59:43working as a senior nurse in a general practice.
0:59:43 > 0:59:45She had worked hard to develop it,
0:59:45 > 0:59:48and this specialised role had responsibilities that gave her
0:59:48 > 0:59:54plenty of job satisfaction. She was earning £35,000 a year,
0:59:54 > 0:59:57so if Lois was going to consider emigrating,
0:59:57 > 1:00:00it was vital she found a similar position with similar pay.
1:00:00 > 1:00:02So we arranged for her to visit
1:00:02 > 1:00:06Glengarry Private Hospital in North Perth,
1:00:06 > 1:00:09where she could find out about her job prospects.
1:00:09 > 1:00:12She met with Sally Harris, acting director of nursing,
1:00:12 > 1:00:16who wasted no time showing her around the wards.
1:00:16 > 1:00:18You're a very experienced nurse.
1:00:18 > 1:00:23- Thank you.- Your particular role that you're looking for is similar?
1:00:23 > 1:00:25I'm looking for something very similar,
1:00:25 > 1:00:29but I'm really worried I'm not going to find the same role here.
1:00:29 > 1:00:31To be honest, you probably wouldn't.
1:00:31 > 1:00:36Australia is still only developing the nurse practitioner role.
1:00:36 > 1:00:40Here, probably, the role that would be nearest to that
1:00:40 > 1:00:42would be an after-hours manager position.
1:00:42 > 1:00:46It looked as if Lois wouldn't be able to do her UK job here.
1:00:46 > 1:00:49Back at the house, Wayne was looking after the boys,
1:00:49 > 1:00:51and knew how much work meant to her.
1:00:51 > 1:00:54We're aware that Australia aren't
1:00:54 > 1:00:57quite up to speed with nurse practitioners.
1:00:57 > 1:00:59I'm not 100% prepared for her to consider
1:00:59 > 1:01:01taking a lower position here
1:01:01 > 1:01:03and actually not being happy in that position.
1:01:03 > 1:01:06If it doesn't work for Lois, then it doesn't work for me -
1:01:06 > 1:01:07I want her to be happy.
1:01:07 > 1:01:11Meanwhile, she had the chance to spend some time with Rachel,
1:01:11 > 1:01:14whose role was the nearest equivalent
1:01:14 > 1:01:16to her nurse practitioner position.
1:01:16 > 1:01:20I work, myself, four days a week.
1:01:20 > 1:01:22I use day-care one day a week,
1:01:22 > 1:01:25and I have a fantastic mum who can help pick up kids from school.
1:01:25 > 1:01:29I wouldn't have any family here to do the pick-up after school.
1:01:29 > 1:01:33Do schools have after-school clubs, is there day-care?
1:01:33 > 1:01:35Yes, if you have children that are school age,
1:01:35 > 1:01:38then we do have after-school care, that's not a problem.
1:01:38 > 1:01:42This is a typical birthing suite.
1:01:42 > 1:01:43Do you mind if I ask you
1:01:43 > 1:01:46what your salary is, in comparison to mine in the UK?
1:01:46 > 1:01:51Sure, you would probably earn about 60,000 per annum for a 30-hour week.
1:01:51 > 1:01:53Gosh. So it's not as much, is it?
1:01:53 > 1:01:57I thought it would be a little bit more than that, to be honest.
1:01:57 > 1:01:59But I think what you do is fantastic,
1:01:59 > 1:02:01and I do love the sound of the job, it sounds amazing.
1:02:01 > 1:02:04But I think, financially, it wouldn't support our family.
1:02:04 > 1:02:07It wasn't good news.
1:02:07 > 1:02:11And Wayne knew the move depended on Lois being able to earn similar pay
1:02:11 > 1:02:12to her UK salary.
1:02:12 > 1:02:16We've talked about what we would do to get this off the ground.
1:02:16 > 1:02:19We know we'd have to achieve certain salaries
1:02:19 > 1:02:21to afford certain living standards.
1:02:21 > 1:02:24We're just not sure whether we'd actually go that far
1:02:24 > 1:02:29as to sacrifice where we've got to to really make this thing work.
1:02:29 > 1:02:33Back at the hospital, Lois was taking stock of the situation.
1:02:33 > 1:02:36I think what I've found is that everybody's really, really friendly,
1:02:36 > 1:02:37which is fantastic.
1:02:37 > 1:02:42Unfortunately, I think the salaries aren't comparable to the UK.
1:02:42 > 1:02:46My job now doesn't exist here, but I can use what I do in other jobs,
1:02:46 > 1:02:49which is kind of exciting in many other ways,
1:02:49 > 1:02:52which is kind of... What I've got from today is that
1:02:52 > 1:02:55I can do the job here, just not what I'm doing now.
1:02:55 > 1:02:59However, what Wayne had discovered since he'd got to Perth
1:02:59 > 1:03:01had made him reassess their position.
1:03:01 > 1:03:03To make ends meet in Australia,
1:03:03 > 1:03:06what we've seen even when we're out shopping in Fremantle,
1:03:06 > 1:03:07things are expensive.
1:03:07 > 1:03:11So it's difficult to say that we can make my salary,
1:03:11 > 1:03:14Lois's lowest salary work to get us where we want to go.
1:03:14 > 1:03:16As much as it pains me to say it,
1:03:16 > 1:03:19would we come if we couldn't get the jobs? Probably we would not, no.
1:03:21 > 1:03:23Although Lois was impressed
1:03:23 > 1:03:26by the kind of work she could do in Australia,
1:03:26 > 1:03:31her job prospects seemed uncertain. So, how would she vote?
1:03:31 > 1:03:34My vote is...
1:03:35 > 1:03:37I can't decide.
1:03:37 > 1:03:39Love my role that I do.
1:03:39 > 1:03:41Love the potential that it has here.
1:03:41 > 1:03:43Like my salary,
1:03:43 > 1:03:47not sure what my salary will be, so kind of...
1:03:47 > 1:03:49undecided.
1:03:49 > 1:03:50If that's allowed.
1:03:57 > 1:04:00In the UK, the Fosters owned a four-bedroom house in Derby,
1:04:00 > 1:04:04which they bought for just under £140,000.
1:04:04 > 1:04:08They'd done a lot of work on it, including a recent extension,
1:04:08 > 1:04:11and they hoped it was worth around 170,000.
1:04:13 > 1:04:17They needed every penny to afford a move.
1:04:20 > 1:04:24So, we sent round two estate agents to give us their valuations.
1:04:33 > 1:04:36Wow, what a lovely family room.
1:04:36 > 1:04:38Lovely contemporary kitchen.
1:04:38 > 1:04:42It doesn't look like our house, does it? It's weird, isn't it?
1:04:45 > 1:04:47Good-sized double room.
1:04:47 > 1:04:49Lovely, light, large en-suite.
1:04:49 > 1:04:53If we were looking to put the house to the market,
1:04:53 > 1:04:56in today's market, we'd put it on at 155,000.
1:04:56 > 1:05:02However, if a quick sale be needed, I'd look to put it on at 140,000.
1:05:02 > 1:05:03We were wrong.
1:05:08 > 1:05:10At the moment, in the current market conditions,
1:05:10 > 1:05:14we're looking at an asking price in the region of £140,000.
1:05:14 > 1:05:20For a quick sale, somewhere in the region of 130 to £135,000.
1:05:20 > 1:05:24At £30,000 less than they were hoping,
1:05:24 > 1:05:27it definitely wasn't the news they wanted to hear.
1:05:27 > 1:05:30Selling isn't going to be an option.
1:05:30 > 1:05:32The lowest valuation for a quick sale,
1:05:32 > 1:05:35which ideally we'd want, is at 130.
1:05:35 > 1:05:38Well, that wouldn't even cover the mortgage, would it?
1:05:38 > 1:05:43I'm looking for a bit more in terms of rental, if we were to come out.
1:05:43 > 1:05:46Because it just means having to send the money back
1:05:46 > 1:05:47to cover the shortfall.
1:05:47 > 1:05:50That's a lot to cover the shortfall,
1:05:50 > 1:05:53which goes back to everything we've said today
1:05:53 > 1:05:57about my wages reflecting what we need to function.
1:05:57 > 1:06:01Hmm. Anyway, on that note, do you want a cup of coffee?
1:06:01 > 1:06:04A shot of whisky for me, I think!
1:06:04 > 1:06:07To help Lois and Wayne see
1:06:07 > 1:06:09if they really could afford to make the move,
1:06:09 > 1:06:14we gave them a comparison of living costs between the UK and Australia.
1:06:14 > 1:06:19The mortgage they're saying in Australia being 1,400.
1:06:19 > 1:06:24Which is significantly more than at home.
1:06:24 > 1:06:25This is interesting.
1:06:25 > 1:06:30Private health insurance for a whole family of six is £178 a month.
1:06:30 > 1:06:32That's a lot.
1:06:32 > 1:06:34I think looking at that as a snapshot,
1:06:34 > 1:06:37Australia is more expensive in terms of living costs.
1:06:37 > 1:06:40The figures didn't look promising.
1:06:40 > 1:06:44- OK.- We may have to consider being more rural
1:06:44 > 1:06:46and not being so city centre-based.
1:06:46 > 1:06:49I'm not sure I'm 100% comfortable with that.
1:06:49 > 1:06:54Obviously, bringing the boys up with that kind of small-town mentality,
1:06:54 > 1:06:55that's how it feels.
1:06:57 > 1:06:59The Fosters' future was in the balance.
1:06:59 > 1:07:02So, which way did they vote?
1:07:02 > 1:07:06- UK.- UK.
1:07:06 > 1:07:09This is looking pretty bad!
1:07:14 > 1:07:18If the Fosters were to emigrate, they wanted to be sure
1:07:18 > 1:07:20they could make new friends.
1:07:20 > 1:07:22So, we arranged for them to meet up
1:07:22 > 1:07:25with locals Suresh and Elizabeth Rejan and their sons
1:07:25 > 1:07:28- for a picnic in the park. - That's Isaac.- Hi, Isaac.
1:07:28 > 1:07:31But as they settled, the grey clouds rolled in.
1:07:33 > 1:07:35We had fine weather all of the last few weeks,
1:07:35 > 1:07:38and as you've arrived, you've brought the...
1:07:40 > 1:07:44While the children got to play together, Suresh was keen
1:07:44 > 1:07:48to reassure Wayne about Australia's multicultural credentials.
1:07:48 > 1:07:52Some of the studies indicate that there are levels of racism
1:07:52 > 1:07:56that exist in Australia generally, and Western Australia in particular.
1:07:56 > 1:07:59Mainstream Australians are still trying to come to terms
1:07:59 > 1:08:02with how these people fit into the society, but generally,
1:08:02 > 1:08:08I'd say it's a very peaceful place, very harmonious place.
1:08:08 > 1:08:12In Western Australia, we've got some huge diversity.
1:08:13 > 1:08:16People seem very welcoming and very willing to start conversation,
1:08:16 > 1:08:19as opposed to wait for you to kick things off.
1:08:19 > 1:08:23It all seems very good and very acceptable in terms of actually
1:08:23 > 1:08:25the way the boys would be brought up over here.
1:08:25 > 1:08:27I'm quite pleased about that.
1:08:27 > 1:08:31And Lois was feeling positive about what she'd seen of Australia.
1:08:31 > 1:08:34One thing that I know we've not talked about...
1:08:34 > 1:08:37I think, from what I've seen,
1:08:37 > 1:08:41some of the cities are so, you know, cosmopolitan and so culturally mixed.
1:08:41 > 1:08:45For me, I don't think it's an issue.
1:08:45 > 1:08:47Certainly, the school the boys go to.
1:08:47 > 1:08:49Shakele's little boys' club, his friends,
1:08:49 > 1:08:52Mwansa is from Zambia, his family,
1:08:52 > 1:08:54his other little friend, Alex, they're Croatian,
1:08:54 > 1:08:58and then he's got another one which is Malaysian-Italian mix,
1:08:58 > 1:09:03- and a lot of African boys here.- Whee!
1:09:03 > 1:09:06It was a positive morning for the Fosters,
1:09:06 > 1:09:09and it looked as if they'd definitely made some new friends.
1:09:15 > 1:09:19To help Wayne and Lois weigh up the emotional cost of emigrating,
1:09:19 > 1:09:22we recorded some messages from loved ones back home.
1:09:22 > 1:09:25While our childminder looked after the boys,
1:09:25 > 1:09:28Mum and Dad watched a DVD.
1:09:28 > 1:09:33- Hi, Lois, Wayne and Isaac. - Hi, Zac. Hi, Jackson. Hi, Elliott.
1:09:33 > 1:09:37Hi, Isaac. Hi, Mum. Hi, Wayne. Hi, twins. I hope you're having a good week.
1:09:37 > 1:09:40Hi, Lois. Hello, Wayne. How you doing?
1:09:40 > 1:09:41When they first told us,
1:09:41 > 1:09:44we were absolutely gobsmacked and devastated.
1:09:44 > 1:09:48It took us a few weeks, really, for it to sink in. Lot of tears,
1:09:48 > 1:09:53it was awful, it was an awful time.
1:09:53 > 1:09:54From a selfish point of view,
1:09:54 > 1:09:57that my brother's not up the road any more.
1:09:57 > 1:10:01He's not, like, "I'll see you in 20 or 40 minutes."
1:10:01 > 1:10:03That's going to be difficult.
1:10:03 > 1:10:06If it does happen, I'm not sure how I'll feel,
1:10:06 > 1:10:08but I know they won't be there.
1:10:10 > 1:10:14I'm trying not to talk about them, because it upsets me so much.
1:10:18 > 1:10:25My only fear for them is obviously Amy being back in England
1:10:25 > 1:10:28and for any mum, that's a really hard thing to do,
1:10:28 > 1:10:32is leave one of your children back at home.
1:10:32 > 1:10:37If my mum goes to Australia,, the thing I'll miss most is Isaac
1:10:37 > 1:10:41because I love Isaac, he means everything to me.
1:10:41 > 1:10:47It must be very daunting for a young teenager to suddenly uproot everything that you know.
1:10:47 > 1:10:51She hasn't got the emotional stability as an adult would have.
1:10:51 > 1:10:55Certainly with Amy, if she could maybe
1:10:55 > 1:10:59think beyond that, the initial leaving her friends...
1:10:59 > 1:11:02If she considered going,
1:11:02 > 1:11:06she might look back and think, "Yes, it was a good move to do, or try."
1:11:06 > 1:11:09I haven't really thought if she goes to Australia,
1:11:09 > 1:11:10who'll do my washing.
1:11:10 > 1:11:12I suppose I'll just have to learn.
1:11:14 > 1:11:17I'm too young to be independent.
1:11:19 > 1:11:22I understand you've got a lot of decisions to make,
1:11:22 > 1:11:25some really difficult decisions but I'm sure you'll make the right ones.
1:11:25 > 1:11:27We're here, no matter what.
1:11:27 > 1:11:29I love you all. Take it easy.
1:11:29 > 1:11:33I hope you make the right decision of going or not going,
1:11:33 > 1:11:37and I'll see you when you get back home, to give Isaac a big hug.
1:11:37 > 1:11:41I want you to really think hard about what you're going to do.
1:11:41 > 1:11:45Listen to your head, maybe, and listen to your heart.
1:11:45 > 1:11:50There's lots of decisions to be made and, just take your time over it
1:11:50 > 1:11:56- and you'll come to the right decision, I know you will. I love you. Bye.- Love you, too.
1:11:59 > 1:12:01OK? No.
1:12:07 > 1:12:10I still think my mum thinks I shouldn't go.
1:12:10 > 1:12:13I know. I know.
1:12:13 > 1:12:16If it was just you and I, then...
1:12:16 > 1:12:19I can understand everybody saying we shouldn't go.
1:12:19 > 1:12:24But we know why we're doing this and that's the thing. That's the thing.
1:12:26 > 1:12:29I don't know, it's just a really...
1:12:31 > 1:12:34A really tough decision.
1:12:34 > 1:12:37The messages from their friends and family
1:12:37 > 1:12:40rocked both Lois and Wayne.
1:12:42 > 1:12:45When I stop and sit down...
1:12:47 > 1:12:49..I don't cope.
1:12:52 > 1:12:58And I think the opportunity that here offers the boys I think is phenomenal
1:12:58 > 1:13:01and it's like I keep thinking to myself,
1:13:01 > 1:13:03"That has to be the drive,"
1:13:03 > 1:13:08because they are so, so important in all this
1:13:08 > 1:13:14and I can't let what I'm feeling cloud that.
1:13:14 > 1:13:17It doesn't work if Lois isn't happy, it doesn't.
1:13:17 > 1:13:20Because she's a centrepiece.
1:13:20 > 1:13:24I can't repair the situation with Amy, so I'd just look at it
1:13:24 > 1:13:28and think either Lois is good with this or she's not. If she's not,
1:13:28 > 1:13:32I'll support her in that situation and if she wants to go back, we go back and try something different.
1:13:32 > 1:13:38That worries me for the boys, but if that's right for Lois, long-term, that's what we have to consider.
1:13:38 > 1:13:42It's whether she genuinely believes that the boys are enough.
1:13:42 > 1:13:45Whether that's enough for her to make that break.
1:13:45 > 1:13:48It doesn't make it feel great.
1:13:48 > 1:13:53It doesn't make it feel exciting like it should...
1:13:53 > 1:13:55But I know the bigger picture,
1:13:55 > 1:14:00like Michael said. My hopes and my fears, you have to balance them out.
1:14:00 > 1:14:03And the fears are really fearful.
1:14:05 > 1:14:08But my hopes are phenomenal.
1:14:08 > 1:14:14My hopes are so exciting and so passionate, my hopes for my boys,
1:14:14 > 1:14:17and for Amy are what drives me, definitely.
1:14:26 > 1:14:30The Fosters' week down under had certainly been emotional,
1:14:30 > 1:14:33and there was a huge amount for them to consider.
1:14:37 > 1:14:40After seven eventful days,
1:14:40 > 1:14:43the Fosters were at the end of their journey.
1:14:43 > 1:14:48It started well when they discovered they could afford their ideal home on their budget.
1:14:48 > 1:14:52But Lois was disappointed to find she wouldn't be able to work in her nursing role,
1:14:52 > 1:14:55and that the equivalent job didn't pay as well.
1:14:55 > 1:14:59And the dream of a new life was dealt another blow
1:14:59 > 1:15:04when the valuation on their house came out much lower than expected.
1:15:04 > 1:15:06- 'That's 155,000.'- That's low.
1:15:06 > 1:15:09But beyond all of this was the issue of
1:15:09 > 1:15:13whether Lois could leave her daughter, Amy, behind in the UK.
1:15:17 > 1:15:20With such a massive decision facing them, which way did they vote?
1:15:22 > 1:15:24We've had a fantastic week in Perth.
1:15:24 > 1:15:27We've looked at some amazing houses.
1:15:27 > 1:15:29We've met some really friendly people.
1:15:29 > 1:15:32We've sampled the lifestyle, and we've seen the videos from our
1:15:32 > 1:15:37family and friends and with all that in mind, we've come to our decision.
1:15:37 > 1:15:39And it is...
1:15:39 > 1:15:41- Australia.- Australia.
1:15:41 > 1:15:42I'm so glad you did.
1:15:42 > 1:15:45I thought you wouldn't!
1:15:45 > 1:15:47No, has to be.
1:15:51 > 1:15:54After an emotional week of soul-searching,
1:15:54 > 1:15:57the Fosters chose a new start down under,
1:15:57 > 1:16:01and so, two years on, were they able to take that final step
1:16:01 > 1:16:03and uproot their lives for good?
1:16:05 > 1:16:10It's the middle of 2011, and the Fosters are living in...
1:16:10 > 1:16:12Australia!
1:16:12 > 1:16:17Lois and Wayne stuck by their final vote and emigrated ten months ago.
1:16:19 > 1:16:21They have chosen the leafy suburbs,
1:16:21 > 1:16:25but it's not in Perth, where they stayed during their trial week.
1:16:25 > 1:16:27Now, they're on the outskirts of Melbourne.
1:16:30 > 1:16:33As the second-largest city in Australia,
1:16:33 > 1:16:37Lois and Wayne felt it had more to offer their family.
1:16:37 > 1:16:41After we came to Perth, we then visited Melbourne for a week,
1:16:41 > 1:16:42just to compare the two cities.
1:16:42 > 1:16:47But I just loved Melbourne - had a lot more job opportunities,
1:16:47 > 1:16:51had a lot more things going on, so we chose Melbourne in the end.
1:16:53 > 1:16:56The Fosters are still exploring where they might settle,
1:16:56 > 1:16:59but until then, they're renting in the suburb of Cranbourne.
1:16:59 > 1:17:03With shops, schools and large parks all close by,
1:17:03 > 1:17:06it's an ideal location.
1:17:06 > 1:17:09Which is just as well, because for the first few weeks,
1:17:09 > 1:17:11there wasn't much in their home.
1:17:12 > 1:17:16For about, what, a month and a half, we just had eight suitcases,
1:17:16 > 1:17:18and that's it, of all your belongings.
1:17:18 > 1:17:20Had a great time on the eight suitcases,
1:17:20 > 1:17:24but eventually you do want your own things around you,
1:17:24 > 1:17:26and when that day came and the container turned up here,
1:17:26 > 1:17:30and we obviously got all our stuff back, that was a fantastic occasion.
1:17:30 > 1:17:32It was like Christmas.
1:17:32 > 1:17:34It was just so nice to see your house here.
1:17:34 > 1:17:37- It was just lovely, it was just really nice.- Mm.
1:17:38 > 1:17:41With this spacious three-bedroom house,
1:17:41 > 1:17:44they have everything they need from a family home.
1:17:44 > 1:17:49However, they are still missing one very important piece of the family jigsaw.
1:17:49 > 1:17:51Amy.
1:17:53 > 1:17:58In 2009, Lois's 15-year-old daughter didn't want to join them
1:17:58 > 1:18:02in Australia, and is now living with family friends in Derby.
1:18:02 > 1:18:05People couldn't understand the family dynamics,
1:18:05 > 1:18:09where I would let Amy make that decision
1:18:09 > 1:18:12as much as she wanted to, really.
1:18:12 > 1:18:14And it's like I've said to friends,
1:18:14 > 1:18:16I loved her enough to let her make that choice,
1:18:16 > 1:18:18and as a parent, sometimes you have to be around
1:18:18 > 1:18:24and let them make the decisions, the mistakes and pick up the pieces and be there afterwards.
1:18:24 > 1:18:26So she's gone to college.
1:18:26 > 1:18:30She's gone to college to do business. I don't think she's enjoying it,
1:18:30 > 1:18:33cos she's wanted to be a hairdresser since she was three.
1:18:33 > 1:18:38So she's now changing her path into the apprenticeship route.
1:18:38 > 1:18:41And then hopefully she's coming out here at the end of the year
1:18:41 > 1:18:44and then maybe sample some apprenticeships out here,
1:18:44 > 1:18:48have six weeks' stay, see what she thinks.
1:18:48 > 1:18:50Put your hands on your chin.
1:18:50 > 1:18:52'Lois has been fantastic.
1:18:52 > 1:18:55'She's putting on a really brave face.'
1:18:55 > 1:18:57And day-to-day, that is the genuine face
1:18:57 > 1:18:59of the woman I love and married.
1:18:59 > 1:19:04But I also know that she's got this daily battle that she has to have
1:19:04 > 1:19:07with not having her daughter here. I can't change that,
1:19:07 > 1:19:10but it's an acceptance that that'll always be the case.
1:19:10 > 1:19:13Lois speaks to Amy every day on the Internet and phone,
1:19:13 > 1:19:16and she's reassured by what she hears.
1:19:16 > 1:19:17She's grown up a lot.
1:19:17 > 1:19:20She's grown up an awful lot, and it's been fantastic to see
1:19:20 > 1:19:24the maturity in her, because of the decisions she's making
1:19:24 > 1:19:28and the growth that that's given her, so, yeah, it's been amazing.
1:19:28 > 1:19:31It's been hard, it's been very, very hard
1:19:31 > 1:19:32and there's been a lot of tears
1:19:32 > 1:19:35and, you know, I'm just more content, I'm happier.
1:19:35 > 1:19:39Whereas before, when we first came, it was emotional.
1:19:39 > 1:19:42Very emotional and very tough.
1:19:44 > 1:19:49At the end of their first visit, leaving Amy wasn't the only barrier they had to overcome.
1:19:49 > 1:19:52Their financial situation looked very bleak.
1:19:52 > 1:19:56Their UK home was worth less than they'd hoped for,
1:19:56 > 1:19:58- and Australian prices seemed high. - That's a lot.
1:19:58 > 1:20:02Looking at that as a snapshot, Australia is more expensive in terms of living costs.
1:20:02 > 1:20:05And Lois's earning potential was limited.
1:20:05 > 1:20:08I love the sound of the job, it sounds amazing,
1:20:08 > 1:20:11but I think, financially, it wouldn't support our family.
1:20:11 > 1:20:14So how did they manage to resolve their money worries?
1:20:23 > 1:20:26After an hour's daily commute, Lois arrives at her new job,
1:20:26 > 1:20:28right in the centre of Melbourne.
1:20:31 > 1:20:34I work at a primary health service
1:20:34 > 1:20:37in the middle of Melbourne City Centre.
1:20:37 > 1:20:39It's for primarily people with drug and alcohol problems,
1:20:39 > 1:20:42who may be homeless or live in temporary accommodation.
1:20:42 > 1:20:45And they can come in and sit in the open space
1:20:45 > 1:20:47and access health care at the same time,
1:20:47 > 1:20:51and I work alongside three GPs, and it's great.
1:20:52 > 1:20:54Morning. You all right?
1:20:54 > 1:20:57It's a break from Lois's UK job as a nurse practitioner,
1:20:57 > 1:21:00but as the main visa applicant, she had little choice.
1:21:02 > 1:21:05My role in the UK doesn't exist here at all.
1:21:05 > 1:21:08I've had to have a real career change,
1:21:08 > 1:21:10because some of the qualifications I got in the UK
1:21:10 > 1:21:14that took a long time to get, I can't transfer here -
1:21:14 > 1:21:19I have to go through, like, a recognised learning, prior learning.
1:21:19 > 1:21:20And that in itself takes time,
1:21:20 > 1:21:24cos the pathway is being redesigned in the nursing board.
1:21:24 > 1:21:26It took me seven months,
1:21:26 > 1:21:29seven months to get my nursing registration transferred.
1:21:29 > 1:21:33But despite having had to make a career change,
1:21:33 > 1:21:37Lois seems won over by her new role, and the Aussie approach to work.
1:21:37 > 1:21:41Because we have young people come in who can be drug-affected,
1:21:41 > 1:21:45substance-affected, sometimes they're at risk of overdose.
1:21:45 > 1:21:47And yesterday was an example of that -
1:21:47 > 1:21:52a friend brought his friend in, who had been substance-affected,
1:21:52 > 1:21:54and his breathing was so slow,
1:21:54 > 1:21:57it was possible that if I didn't call an ambulance and get him seen,
1:21:57 > 1:22:01he was going to have what we call a respiratory arrest,
1:22:01 > 1:22:03and overdose, so it was a highly-strung, emotional day
1:22:03 > 1:22:05yesterday looking after them.
1:22:05 > 1:22:09And that doesn't happen very often, but luckily,
1:22:09 > 1:22:12because of the environment I work in and the colleagues I work with,
1:22:12 > 1:22:17we're all very calm and very controlled, and it just really helps.
1:22:17 > 1:22:21And we're all really supportive afterwards and have a debrief,
1:22:21 > 1:22:22which really helps.
1:22:23 > 1:22:26They're more easy-going here, a lot more easy-going -
1:22:26 > 1:22:29they're not so stressed, it doesn't seem so...
1:22:29 > 1:22:31There's not as many sick days, either.
1:22:31 > 1:22:33What I've found is people don't take sick
1:22:33 > 1:22:36like they do in the UK - you'd have a duvet day.
1:22:38 > 1:22:40And they don't do that here.
1:22:40 > 1:22:42No, people just don't randomly go off sick.
1:22:42 > 1:22:47I think it's a different lifestyle. I think it affects people differently.
1:22:47 > 1:22:51However, with Lois having to add two hours' commuting
1:22:51 > 1:22:55to her working day, their family life is far from ideal.
1:22:55 > 1:22:58Come on, I'll do some toast. We'll just all eat some toast, OK?
1:22:58 > 1:23:03'Lois used to finish at five o'clock and be home for five,
1:23:03 > 1:23:05'and now she's finishing and getting home for seven,
1:23:05 > 1:23:08'and we try to get the boys in bed for half seven,'
1:23:08 > 1:23:11there or thereabouts, so she has a quick bit of time with them,
1:23:11 > 1:23:13putting them to bed, reading them a story.
1:23:13 > 1:23:16I know that that probably plays on her mind a bit in the week itself.
1:23:16 > 1:23:18We're trying to change that,
1:23:18 > 1:23:22we're looking at where we want to live as we go forward,
1:23:22 > 1:23:24trying to make that commute a lot shorter,
1:23:24 > 1:23:28so we can build the quality back in in the weekdays.
1:23:28 > 1:23:31Wayne had wanted a change from his job as a security manager.
1:23:31 > 1:23:34And, recently, he's managed to do just that.
1:23:35 > 1:23:38You probably would look at it as being a prison officer,
1:23:38 > 1:23:40but we're linked to the court system as well,
1:23:40 > 1:23:44so we take prisoners from various prisons all over Melbourne
1:23:44 > 1:23:46and then they get deposited into our facility
1:23:46 > 1:23:50and we look after them until they go into court
1:23:50 > 1:23:52and they either get sentenced, bailed, all that stuff.
1:23:52 > 1:23:55Then we take them back into the system and they get bailed
1:23:55 > 1:23:57or they go and get remanded or whatever.
1:23:57 > 1:24:00So it's a challenge for me to get used to that,
1:24:00 > 1:24:02but I've been in the job now for six months,
1:24:02 > 1:24:07so it's just trying to manoeuvre a career out of it realistically.
1:24:13 > 1:24:16For Lois and Wayne, the biggest reason to emigrate
1:24:16 > 1:24:18was to give their boys a better quality of life.
1:24:18 > 1:24:21The abundance of parks and nature reserves in the area
1:24:21 > 1:24:23seems to suit all the Fosters.
1:24:23 > 1:24:25Ssh! Be quiet now!
1:24:25 > 1:24:26Ssh!
1:24:26 > 1:24:29'The boys love it here, they absolutely love it.
1:24:29 > 1:24:32'And when I said we were coming this afternoon, they got so excited.'
1:24:32 > 1:24:34SHE CLICKS HER TONGUE
1:24:34 > 1:24:35There's a baby kangaroo.
1:24:35 > 1:24:37'I love places like this, cos it's just...
1:24:37 > 1:24:41'It's all Australian natural wildlife, it's all local.
1:24:41 > 1:24:43'It's just lovely, it's just so natural.
1:24:43 > 1:24:46'It's just great for the children to see and appreciate'
1:24:46 > 1:24:48their new natural wildlife.
1:24:48 > 1:24:52- I want to feed him! - You want to feed that one?- Yeah.
1:24:52 > 1:24:53There you go.
1:24:55 > 1:24:56Until I found this little gem,
1:24:56 > 1:24:58I didn't realise we could get quite close
1:24:58 > 1:25:01and really teach and educate the children,
1:25:01 > 1:25:03one, to be respectful of animals
1:25:03 > 1:25:06but really appreciate the new natural wildlife.
1:25:06 > 1:25:09Wayne and Lois also felt that Australia
1:25:09 > 1:25:11would give the children a brighter future
1:25:11 > 1:25:13and, although it's early days,
1:25:13 > 1:25:16they're pleased with what they found.
1:25:16 > 1:25:19People will judge us on the next ten years with the children.
1:25:19 > 1:25:22If they turn out to be scallywags, I'll kill 'em!
1:25:22 > 1:25:26But in terms of just being here and not there with them,
1:25:26 > 1:25:29I think there's more opportunity here for them.
1:25:29 > 1:25:30That's his leg.
1:25:31 > 1:25:34'What we talked about in England is sometimes you feel,
1:25:34 > 1:25:38'depending on where you live, your children have a label'
1:25:38 > 1:25:40before they've even achieved anything
1:25:40 > 1:25:43or been anywhere, and that was very apparent.
1:25:43 > 1:25:47So I think, coming here, there's not that same...
1:25:47 > 1:25:48prejudice.
1:25:50 > 1:25:56It's more cosmopolitan... in the right sense. It's not...
1:25:56 > 1:25:59It's not ghettoised, it's not... People stick together here.
1:25:59 > 1:26:01You live on an estate.
1:26:01 > 1:26:03It's very mixed on the estate where you live, so it's...
1:26:03 > 1:26:06There's things here that we've seen that are positive.
1:26:06 > 1:26:09PARROT SQUAWKS Oh, dear! Oh, noisy bird!
1:26:10 > 1:26:13There's a kookaburra.
1:26:13 > 1:26:16And it's not just about days out.
1:26:16 > 1:26:17Jackson, Elliott and Isaac
1:26:17 > 1:26:20have benefited from their change in lifestyle.
1:26:32 > 1:26:36They're a lot more active, they've learnt to ride their bikes,
1:26:36 > 1:26:40they want to be out more, they're asking all the time to come out more,
1:26:40 > 1:26:43because there's just so many nice parks
1:26:43 > 1:26:47and so many nice things to do that they ask, every spare minute, "Can we go out and play?"
1:26:47 > 1:26:49- Cool.- Big bumps!
1:26:49 > 1:26:51In terms of the lifestyle here,
1:26:51 > 1:26:55we haven't scratched the surface here, and we're having a good time,
1:26:55 > 1:26:58a really good time, and we know that gets better.
1:26:58 > 1:27:00We're just about going into our first summer.
1:27:00 > 1:27:02We've got cars, we can get where we want to go,
1:27:02 > 1:27:05all these places people are telling us, "You must go here, must go there."
1:27:05 > 1:27:08It's just a big list that we can just start ticking off.
1:27:08 > 1:27:12And it's made the pain of emigrating to the other side of the world
1:27:12 > 1:27:14that much easier.
1:27:14 > 1:27:17I never doubted, ever once, even through all the heartache
1:27:17 > 1:27:19and the tears and the trauma...
1:27:19 > 1:27:23I never once ever doubted it, even with the move
1:27:23 > 1:27:26and missing everybody and it being really, really hard,
1:27:26 > 1:27:29I still feel that this is the right thing
1:27:29 > 1:27:33and it is the right thing for all of my children.
1:27:33 > 1:27:35THE CHILDREN LAUGH
1:27:35 > 1:27:38There's no doubt that moving to another country
1:27:38 > 1:27:41without once of your children is a tough choice to make.
1:27:41 > 1:27:44But with the Fosters enjoying their new lives in Melbourne,
1:27:44 > 1:27:47the future looks bright for the whole family.
1:27:47 > 1:27:49We wish them the very best of luck.
1:28:12 > 1:28:15Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd