Woodland Family Wanted Down Under Revisited

If you were desperate to spend more time with the people you love,

would you consider going to the

other side of the world to achieve it?

In 2013, John Woodland spent a week in Australia, hoping to

persuade his wife and daughter to make it their permanent home.

Today we'll find out if he succeeded.

Years working away from home had taken a heavy

toll on John Woodland's family life.

I understood why he had to go away but it was just horrible.

Desperate for more time with them, he hoped Australia was the answer.

This is my dream, this is, love, to be home every single day

and spend time with you.

But daughter Chloe was unsure about moving,

and wife Kerry wasn't willing to leave her behind.

I don't physically feel that I could leave her in this country

and move over with just me and John.

So one year after the family's trial week,

have they gone ahead and made the move?

My hopes for the future for all of us is that we're all happy.

Australia offers the chance of an ideal

family life to more than 35,000 Brits who emigrate there each year.

With its mild climate and beautiful beaches it's easy to see why.

But, it doesn't work out for everyone -

for many, the dream ends back where it started.

Missing out on family life,

John Woodland was convinced a move down under would give him

the time he desperately needed with his wife and daughter.

One year ago, he had a week to try and persuade them

a move to Australia was worth giving up their lives in the UK.

Today we'll find out if the family have achieved the dream life

John was chasing.

A lengthy delay in London meant the Woodland's

trial week in 2013 started in Perth much later than scheduled,

and the marathon journey of over 10,000 miles had taken its toll.

Our flight was very, very long.

It was very, very tiring.

But everyone was still raring to go.

Now we're here, you know, it's not just talking and maybe,

it's going to be making our mind up time.

Just to see really what Australia's got to offer

and what my dad has been bragging about and if it is for me, really.

I'm quite excited about the whole thing at the moment,

so let the adventure begin, I say.

Ahead was a week which could change their lives forever.

The Woodlands were from Gwent in South Wales.

They were John, Kerry, and daughter Chloe, then 19.

Australia had been on John's mind

since an army posting 17 years previously.

I thought, "What a beautiful country, so laid back, so relaxed."

When John returned from Australia he was really excited about what

he'd experienced out there, and for a long while after that he did say,

you know, it's something that we

should perhaps think about in the future.

John had been an HGV driver in the army.

On leaving the forces, a lack of jobs left him with no choice

but to continue with that career.

But time spent on the road had meant long spells away from home.

I've had sole responsibility for Chloe's... Bringing Chloe up,

for looking after the house, for doing everything, really, that

normally a family would do together, I've done everything alone.

And providing for his family meant he'd completely missed

out on Chloe's childhood.

Not being able to see him through the week, not, like, him

being able to see me grow up and be who I am today, really.

She's missed so much and I've missed so much not being with her.

It was a painful situation,

but John thought a move down under could be the answer.

My perfect outcome in Australia would be to find a job where

I am working 6 till 4 or 4 till 6, whatever hours it is,

but being home every single day to spend more time with my family.

John and Kerry both felt Australia

could offer Chloe a much better future.

I work in a chip shop.

I go to college and I do nail technology.

I would like her to experience more out of life than

living in a small town and spending all her days here.

It's the opportunities which she could have over there.

But while Chloe could see some appeal in moving far

away from home, it would mean saying goodbye to her boyfriend.

I've been with Sam for around a year now. Don't really want to lose him.

And leaving Chloe wasn't an option for Kerry.

If Chloe decided that she wouldn't want to

live in Australia, I think that the whole idea, really, would just

be forgotten because I don't physically feel that

I could leave her in this country and move over with just me and John.

I do feel a bit pressured in to going a bit.

John had just one week to convince Chloe

and Kerry his dream of a better life down under was worth giving

up their lives in the UK.

The Woodlands were spending their trial week in Perth,

the country's fastest-growing major city.

With less than 5% unemployment, it was a popular

destination for new arrivals seeking a fresh start down under.

It was late - and dark -

when the family arrived at their temporary home.

Hopefully it wouldn't disappoint.

Quite big, isn't it?

I like the open plan, I like the kitchen

and the living area all together.

Quite a big telly, isn't it?

Put the kettle on, love!

John was settling in nicely but Chloe wasn't so keen.

It's nice...

I just don't think it's nothing compared

-to what we've got back home.

-No.

It wasn't the start John was hoping for

but what they could see outside did look more promising.

-Oh, this is nice, John.

-Is it?

It's got a glass roof.

-Massive out here.

-I know.

As everyone settled in, John knew he'd have to work hard

if he was to convince his wife and daughter to make the move.

This could give us an opportunity of a lifetime

but at the end of the day I won't force my wife

and my daughter to do something they wouldn't want to do.

The whole point of coming is to hopefully make

a decision that we all agree on, but obviously

if that doesn't happen then we are back to the drawing board.

Back in the UK, home for the Woodlands was a three-bedroom

terraced house in Tredegar in Gwent, South Wales.

The area's very pretty.

We have a lot of countryside and mountains and I feel that if we

move to Australia we would probably like to live in one of the suburbs.

We'd like that nice community feel that we have here in Tredegar.

Just like meet people and get the old barbecue stuff

and things like that, isn't it, really?

I know that Chloe would love to have a pool

but I think the most important thing is that it's just a family home

and just somewhere that you're happy.

The Woodlands planned to rent in Australia.

We showed them three properties, based on what

they could afford, their ideal home, and something in between.

First up was a modern three bedroom house in the seaside

town of Trinity.

35 minutes' drive north of Perth's city centre,

it could have offered the family the community feel they were after.

Oh, look at that. It's nice, isn't it?

-Wow.

-Ours is lovely, Chloe.

This is really nice. This would be my room.

-This would be your room.

-Would it really?

-Yeah.

It was looking good.

There you are, Chloe, this is your wardrobe.

Oh, man. Look at that.

Chloe's always wanted a walk-in wardrobe.

And Kerry was loving the open-plan design.

This is lovely.

-This is really nice.

-It is, isn't it?

I quite like all the glass.

The room is really light and airy.

It feels nice and sunny and bright.

But the garden wasn't ideal.

It's not a very big garden though, Kerry, is it?

You've got the beach literally opposite.

You have got the outside space

so you wouldn't be just confined to your garden.

Right, Chloe I think this one might be your room after all.

Chloe seemed sold.

I really like this house.

I think it's a lot better than our house back home.

It's plenty big enough for the three of us.

With the day off to a positive start,

John should have been pleased.

But was this house within their £1,250 a month rental budget?

-Shall we have a look?

-Shall we?

Go on, then, Chloe.

£1,210 pounds a month.

That's about what we planned on really, wasn't it?

That's not too bad at all. That would be manageable, I think.

If we could afford a house like this or we could get a house like this

on that sort of money, if we can get the jobs over here, then...

Brilliant, really pleased with that price.

Won you over yet, Chloe?

A little.

Yes!

The next property was a stylish four-bedroom home.

It was located in Tapping - 20 miles north of Perth

but only five minutes from the amenities of the nearby

town of Joondalup and close to the beach.

Oh, this is lovely, isn't it?

Oh, this is like a little study.

Should imagine it's a nice street where you get to

meet your neighbours.

You know, everyone's quite close by.

That could have meant the location was right

and John spotted another potential upside.

That's not going to be a walk-in wardrobe, is it?..

Go and have a look.

Shock horror.

Go on, then, that's nice

That's lovely. It's huge, Chloe.

That was one box ticked.

And then you've got the en-suite.

Oh, wow. This is lovely.

-This is 'wow', isn't it?

-Yeah.

-Yeah.

There's no other word for it, is there?

You can't explain it, it's absolutely beautiful.

The house had plenty going for it

but there was one feature Kerry wasn't too keen on.

The only thing I didn't like about

this room is the pool table in the middle.

Not an issue for John!

-No, I think that's all right.

-You like it. You don't mind it.

-That can stay there, can't it, Chlo?

-Yeah, we like that.

It was all going well until Chloe spotted a problem.

This is small.

Yeah, but it's nice, though, isn't it? It's big enough.

Outside was one feature which could have brought her round.

It's just luxury, isn't it, having a hot tub sat in the garden there.

I like the garden but I just...

-Don't get the right feel for it.

-Don't like the house itself.

I just don't think it's...

-Not for you?

-Not for me, no.

Even with a hot tub, this house wasn't wowing Chloe.

But John and Kerry could see some appeal.

I think this house is lovely. I think it's got a lovely size.

It's got plenty of bedrooms if people come to stay.

It is a nice house.

I wouldn't have any qualms with living here.

But was it somewhere they could afford to call home?

What do you reckon?

Don't know, no idea.

Cheaper than the last place or dearer?

No, probably a lot more expensive.

It was almost £200 a month over budget.

But....

-Oh!

-Not much dearer.

I was expecting this to be hugely, if not double, the last one.

It's a good price, isn't it?

-But you still don't like the house?

-I still don't like the house.

With two properties down, the pressure was on to find

somewhere the whole family would move around the world for.

The final viewing was also in the Tapping area.

With four bedrooms, this house should have offered the space

and comfort the family wanted.

-That's a nice little garden, John.

-It is, isn't it?

Little bit of a driveway.

Nice, John, isn't it?

-This is lovely, isn't it?

-I do like this, yeah.

Decorated really nice, aren't they?

Ah, it's nice and big.

It looked promising

and the bathroom was an improvement on the last property.

Do you think this is bigger?

-Yeah, a lot bigger.

-Do you?!

-Yeah.

Oh, dear me.

Oh, this is nice, isn't it? Lovely.

Why have you always got walk-in wardrobes and I haven't got either.

The master bedroom had another attractive feature.

-We've got our own private porch.

-That's private, yeah.

Ah, that's really nice, yeah.

Kerry sitting down with her orange juice in the morning.

But there was a slight problem.

I might have to get rid of the plants

or trim them back a little bit.

-Cos you're scared of spiders.

-Scared of spiders.

What? A big Welshman like you John?!

Oh, this is nice.

This is huge. It's almost like two separate living areas,

three separate living areas.

-Look at the size of the kitchen.

-The kitchen's absolutely massive.

Outside was a feature which appealed to everyone.

What's out there?

HE LAUGHS

Nice big fridge, oh, and a pool!

This is nice, isn't it? This is lovely, isn't it?

And, again, it's undercover which is perfect.

You even got sides, John, that you can pull down.

So had the Woodlands found their dream home?

It's everything I would like if I moved to Australia.

I actually haven't got anything negative to say about it.

-Good girl.

-No, I know.

The house was a hit with the whole family.

But was the price right?

Do you reckon it will be more or less?

-Oh, definitely more.

-Do you think so?

I reckon it might be even.

No, I think it's a lot more expensive.

I don't think it's something you could afford at this point.

-Are you ready?

-Go on.

That was more than £400 over budget.

-Yeah, it's quite high.

-£1,667.

But Kerry was optimistic.

Surprisingly, it's cheaper than I thought it would be.

I did think it would be a lot more than that, definitely.

I wouldn't want second best so I would work hard

and then get something like this, I would.

So what had the Woodlands made of Perth properties?

The first house had been within budget

but the size of the garden let it down.

Property number two was somewhere Kerry and John could call home

but Chloe hadn't been convinced.

And the final house had the wow factor

but also a price tag to match.

So had they seen enough to persuade them

to give up their home in the UK?

Based on the properties we've seen today we are voting for...

-Australia.

-Australia.

-Australia.

-Why did you vote for it?

-So why did you vote Australia?

Because I think the houses over here

-are a lot better than the ones in the UK.

-I'm the same.

I don't think you can deny the fact that the houses are lovely.

-And then seeing house three, that just nailed it for me.

-Yeah.

-Yeah.

-Australia.

Absolutely - well done, girl!

It was a perfect start for John.

With Kerry and Chloe both choosing Australia,

his dream had taken a step forward.

If the family were to make the move, it was crucial John

and Kerry found the jobs to fund it.

Kerry was the main visa applicant.

Back in the UK she was an experienced midwife.

I've been a midwife for seven years.

I've enjoyed the job even though it can be very, very stressful

and demanding,

and I do feel that going to a new trust in a new area,

a new country would be quite daunting.

We arranged for Kerry to spend some time at Joondalup Health Campus -

a local private hospital with a brand-new maternity wing.

I'm a little bit nervous about this today, just going into, sort of,

an environment that I'm not familiar with but also excited

to find out what the possibilities could be for me in the future.

It was John's job in the UK that had driven him towards emigrating.

My cab is my apartment for the week.

It's where I live all week. I sleep there.

I've been doing it for eight years.

I'm gone on a Monday, coming home on a Friday.

He was hoping working in Australia would give him the time

with his family he so desperately wanted.

To find out about his work options, he met Dean Hewitt,

a driving recruitment expert who was also from the UK.

The licence you have is fully transferable into Australia.

-So is there much opportunities for me, then, is there?

-Absolutely.

It can take maybe a week or two and once you've got your driving

licence, you should be ready to be in full-time employment.

It seemed opportunities could exist

but what about the hours and salary?

You would be home of an evening

and we work with you closely to advance your skills.

You could be expecting to earn

between 80,000 and 100,000 per year.

80,000 to 100,000 per year?!

80,000 to 100,000 working an average of a 50-hour week,

Monday to Friday.

Phew - I'm well happy with that.

That was a potential 50% increase in salary with

regular hours.

Back at the hospital, Kerry was keen to find out from unit manager

Sandy if her prospects were as promising.

Job prospects for you, absolutely fabulous, and reviewing your CV

and what you could bring to the table, absolutely wonderful again.

Great to have you on a team.

What type of salary would I be looking at earning?

OK, for the level of years of experience, starting salary,

base salary, would be about 73,000.

That's really, really good.

That was about £20,000 more than Kerry earned at home.

When John and Kerry met up to compare notes

they came to a staggering realisation.

So between us we could possibly earn £40,000 a year more.

40 yeah - 40 grand a year more.

Hmm, what do you say to that?

You can't say nothing to that, can you?

It's shocking, isn't it?

I wasn't expecting as much as that, I've got to be honest.

So how did they vote on working in Perth?

Based on our works experience we are voting for...

BOTH: Australia.

-This is my dream, this is, love.

-Yeah.

To work normal day shifts, like, I'd be home every single day to

spend time with you.

John was on cloud nine.

With a better result than he could ever have hoped for,

his dream was potentially on track.

-I'm well happy, I am!

-Brilliant.

-Yep. Brilliant.

Life in Australia was starting to look promising for the Woodlands,

but John still had to get Chloe on board.

To sample Australia's lifestyle opportunities,

the family visited Perth's iconic Cottesloe Beach.

It was a rare day out together.

Watching Kerry and Chloe both enjoying

themselves on their bikes, I haven't seen it before cos, like I say,

I work away a lot back home and family time together is quite

limited but to watch them today, yeah, has been very entertaining.

Seeing Mum and Dad together was having a positive effect on Chloe.

They never get time to go out and do stuff like this back in the UK

so I think the move out here would make them a lot more happy

and a lot more like they're back in love together rather than

being separated all the time.

A local pub gave the family the chance to consider what

Australia could offer.

To do something like this every weekend, that would be nice,

especially spend a lot more time with yourself.

It does make you realise, doesn't it, what else there could be to life

rather than just, sort of, work and the house and TV.

John was pleased with how the day seemed to have affected Chloe.

The more she has the time over here, the more that she realises

that Australia could offer a lot more than

what were we live does and I think she's coming round to the idea.

At the beginning of the week I was quite scared just

because I didn't know what there was to do but today have given me...

Well, opened my eyes, really.

-Cheers for a good day.

-Cheers.

-Cheers.

But time out had also made Kerry realise just how big

a decision the family were facing.

It's just a shame that if we did move over

here it would be just the three of us.

It wouldn't be that you'd have your family there or the people

that you would normally spend days with.

Mm, yeah, true enough.

Based on lifestyle, though, did the family choose Australia or the UK?

Based on our lifestyle activity today, we are voting for...

-Australia.

-Australia.

-Australia.

I enjoyed today. I think it was lovely to spend, you know,

time doing something different, enjoying the weather

and enjoying each other's company.

I enjoyed watching you enjoy yourself, I did,

-watching you on the bicycle.

-Aw!

A full house for the Aussie lifestyle had taken John

another step closer to his dream

but he needed to know if the family could afford to live down under.

The Woodlands hoped to rent out their UK home for £400 a month

to help with expenses,

but did two local estate agents agree with that valuation?

Seems so weird, doesn't it?

It's clear to me the property is very well presented.

It's tastefully decorated through the lounge and dining area.

Yeah, it's a nice cosy dining area leading through into the kitchen.

Nice patio doors through to outside. Very good. Very good.

This kitchen is a very good size again.

They've done a nice finish in the high gloss units which we see.

This really is a fantastically sized bedroom with the fitted

wardrobes at the end is obviously an added incentive to the room as well.

In the current market conditions this house should

sell for in the region of £75,000.

For a quick sale I'd expect £67,500.

However, if they were prepared to put it on the rental market

I'd expect to achieve about £425 per calendar month.

In the current market conditions

I would value this property at £75,000.

For a quick sale I would value it at £69,950 and for the rental market

I would hope to achieve in the region of £450 per calendar month.

-Even better.

-Happy with that?

It was a good result but what about the cost of living in Perth?

The couple compared their finances at home with those in Australia,

starting with the weekly food shop.

OK, let's have a little look.

Potatoes - £8.40!

£8.40 compared to £3 in the UK for a 5kg bag.

That's really expensive.

Everything just seems to be a lot more here in Australia.

£49.32 a week.

-Worse off?

-Worse off.

And that was just the food bill. Next up were the bigger costs

such as rent down under.

Back in the UK the couple's mortgage cost £200 a month.

The rental here would be £1,667

-but, again, that would be on the nicer house.

-Yeah.

It would cost almost £1,500 more a month to rent in Perth

but with an increase of £40,000 in earnings down under,

was Kerry in for a pleasant surprise?

-So £921 pounds...

-A month.

Better off in Australia.

And that's the most expensive.

And that's with the most expensive house.

-Shocking.

-Bit of a result there, isn't it?

Yeah, it's brilliant.

And the all-important bottom line?

BOTH: £11,052 a year...

better off.

HE CHUCKLES

-That's good, that is.

-There you go.

It was possibly the easiest decision of the week for the Woodlands.

Based on our cost of living, we are voting for...

BOTH: Australia.

And we would be silly not to because the figures speak for themselves.

Being home every day as well, which is a bonus, and nice house.

Australia could have meant more time together for the Woodlands

but with John's dream within touching distance,

the family had yet to face their biggest hurdle.

As they sat down to watch a DVD of messages from home,

would the reality of leaving loved ones behind prove too much to

bear for Chloe and Kerry?

Hiya, John. Hiya, Kerry. Hiya, Chloe.

All right, Chloe, Kerry and John, missing you loads.

My relationship with Kerry is we are best friends,

we can tell each other anything.

Soul of the party, really, John. Yeah.

-He's not just a cousin, he's also our friend as well.

-Yeah.

I love being in a relationship with Chloe.

She makes me feel really happy.

She's really fun to be with, we always have a laugh.

You don't really expect your children to up

and go to the other side of the world

but at the same point

I'm happy for her, for the three of them.

Aw, poor Nan.

If Chloe moved to Australia, I would miss her loads.

I'd be thinking about her all the time, really.

I'd be gutted.

I think over the last few years we've just got a really close

bond and I would miss her.

Sorry.

Whatever decision you make, it will be the right one

and we will miss you lots.

This is an opportunity of a lifetime, you have to take it.

Grasp it with both hands and enjoy it.

Bye.

I hope you don't want to be without me but you've got to do

what makes you happy.

I love you loads and I'll see you soon.

Make your decision.

Either stay or come back to us.

Love you lots, Mam.

It makes you realise, doesn't it, everybody that you're going

to be leaving behind and, you know, how much they're going to

miss you, not just how much you're going to miss them.

Leaving loved ones had always been Chloe and Kerry's biggest concern.

It was now time for some serious thinking. Would they decide

a new life down under was worth sacrificing what they had at home?

To leave all you've got to leave back home,

with the normality of life back home what you're used to

and all that, would be a big choice and decision for us to make

but I believe that we could make it over here.

I've seen my mum and dad's relationship become a lot

more closer. They seem to be a lot more, as you'd say, loved up.

It's been lovely having John home every day, or being with us

every day and doing...just doing things together as a family.

If we decide to stay or go I think the biggest thing is that

I'd like to spend more time with my wife and my daughter.

I do dream of walking with my wife whether it be on a beach or just

in a park but just spending time and doing just normal things with Kerry.

The week had been John's last chance to achieve the family life

he'd been dreaming of for years.

So when it came to the crucial vote, what did the Woodlands decide?

After an amazing week in Australia the country that we chose to

live in is...

-Australia.

-Undecided.

-Australia. I knew you'd choose that.

-Did you?

I just feel I need a little bit more time to

sort of get my own thoughts together and have a good think about it.

No, I understand that Kerry.

I mean, is it the thought of leaving family and friends behind

which has swayed you to be undecided?

I think that's one of the main reasons

and I also think it's fear of, you know, you're leaving

-everything that you're familiar with back home.

-OK.

How about you, Chloe, why have you chosen Australia?

Because I just think it's going to be a better lifestyle altogether.

Well, I thought you'd be the one being undecided, not your mum.

I can see all the points that you've made.

They're all valid points.

I just think it just needs a little bit more deciding for me.

It had been a week to remember for the Woodlands.

Although Chloe had finally come round to her dad's idea of a future

together in Australia, Kerry just wasn't 100% on board.

It looked like John's dream of a fresh start was on hold.

So, a year after we last saw them,

is it still Wales the Woodlands call home?

It's 2014 and 12 months on, John and Kerry are now living in...

Perth, Western Australia!

Despite being undecided about a move after their trial week,

on their return to Wales Kerry had a change of heart.

Even though I could have taken or left the move, I think that it was

something John and Chloe wanted to do and I didn't

want to be the one person that stopped them fulfilling their

futures and their dreams.

When Kerry said yes to coming over here, it made me happy

because our life in the UK wasn't exactly perfect with me being

away all the time.

We just got to the point, didn't we, that we just sort of said,

"If we're going to do it then we just need to do it,"

and we literally said that

and booked the flights the following day!

The couple arranged their flights to coincide with John's birthday.

By finally agreeing to the move, Kerry had given him

the ultimate present.

And she was quick to secure work.

I did contact a few hospitals in Perth.

I was really fortunate that I secured employment.

Knowing that I had a job to come to did take some of the pressure off us

cos we knew that we would have some income coming in.

After a final Christmas in the UK, John's birthday arrived and the

couple flew to Perth in January 2014...

But Chloe wasn't on board.

I thought me and Kerry would come over

and set things up for when Chloe decides

to come and its all set up for her, then.

I think Chloe agreed she didn't want to be in a situation where we were

all cooped up in a holiday let with the stress of looking for somewhere

to live and John looking for work.

Just come over when everything was sorted and settled.

Leaving their only child behind wasn't easy for the couple and

although only temporary, Kerry had concerns.

It was horrible knowing you were leaving her because you

knew you weren't going to see her for a month.

Being separated from my mum and dad was tough

but it was also nice, the fact that I could spend some more time

with my nan and the rest of the family.

The biggest fear was that we would be here and she would suddenly

ring me and say "I'm not coming."

Chloe didn't have a change of heart though -

a month after her parents made the move, she finally joined them.

We were wondering, would she change her mind at the last

minute and not arrive?

So it was almost like a big relief on the day that she

flew in to Perth because you knew that she was here.

When I was reunited with my mam and dad it was a really, really

good moment after not being with them for a month and then having

to come out to a brand-new country, brand-new house. It was really nice.

Picked her up in the airport I had tears in my eyes.

I hadn't been away from my daughter for that length of time before.

It was a big weight off our shoulders and we'd missed her

just happy to be a family again and have us all under one roof.

And Chloe hadn't made the journey alone.

I was upset about the thought of leaving Sam in the UK.

When Sam said that he was willing to come over to Australia with me

I was shocked at the fact he was willing to leave

all his family, his friends to come and make a new life with me

and my family.

I wouldn't have liked to leave her coming over here

and I would have been on my own in the UK.

I wouldn't live in the UK without Chloe, no.

But I was also relieved as well, the fact that I didn't have to worry

about having to leave it there

so that took a lot of stress off myself to actually be able to move.

One last arrival made the family complete.

Come on, then. Come on. Have your dinner. Good boy.

It was the big count down then.

He was the last member of our family

that we needed to be a complete unit.

The family dog, Sid,

made his appearance in Perth soon after Chloe and Sam.

He's settle down quite well. He loves the beach.

He really does love the beach!

With the dog arriving, my daughter arriving,

we just felt like a family unit again.

With the whole family reunited in Australia,

it was time to start their new lives together

in the rental property John and Kerry had found

south of Perth in the suburb of Port Kennedy.

We come in here and we just seen the pool and thought,

"Yeah, it's a pool, man. Happy days!"

It just ticked all the boxes, really.

It was like, "We want this house."

This is our master bedroom at the front of the house

here in Australia.

We have two walk-in wardrobes, one on either side

and it's really useful then just having the en-suite.

This is our main living area.

You've got all your dining area, living area

and kitchen all in one space.

And now we have the main entertaining area where we spend

most of our time in the summer months.

Managed to pick up a nice cheap little pool table.

This is our favourite part of the house, this is our swimming pool.

When you're working and it's been nice and hot, coming home

and it's still warm at 8pm or 9pm, you just dive in.

It's just brilliant.

A home in Port Kennedy is convenient for Kerry's job

but it's not the perfect area.

Living in Port Kennedy is not the ideal, it wasn't really where we

wanted to be. We had planned to be in the Northern Suburbs.

That's where we know people, that's where our social network is.

Port Kennedy doesn't have a community feel.

There's not much really to do.

Kerry started work as a midwife in a hospital three weeks after arriving

but the transition to work wasn't easy.

Even though the job itself is the same, the private system works

differently to the NHS.

Things have taken a lot of adjustment and in some ways

have knocked my confidence in the job

because where in the UK I felt exactly I knew what I was doing,

here I felt as though I was learning again from the start.

Although Kerry's taking time to adapt to her new role,

John's not looking back when it comes to his new job.

After gaining his Australian HGV licence, he's now

back in the driving seat and making the most of his new working pattern.

I'm happy where I am because I'm doing the same line of work

as I was doing in the UK on the car transporters.

I enjoy it and it's local work.

I'm home every day, no weekend work as of yet.

I come to Australia for spending more time at home with my family

and the job I'm doing now enables me to do that.

John now has much more time with the family.

It's a world away from his life in the UK

when days spent on the road meant he was hardly ever at home.

You don't realise what you've missed until it's too late and I know I've

missed a lot of my daughter's growing up years

but I'm glad she's over here and glad I'm spending more time with her.

It's nice, it's what families should be.

It's quite nice to see that they're connecting again.

You can see them having quality time.

And it's not only father-daughter time that's improved down under -

having his evenings and weekends free also means John can spend

quality time with his wife.

In the UK we lived almost separate lives, really, haven't we?

I was at home you worked away.

I think that spending more time together here in Australia

definitely made us a little bit closer.

We do lots more different things, even if it's just going to the beach

or going to the local pub or even

just sitting in the garden and chatting.

Seeing my mam and dad really happy is such a nice thing to see just

because of the way they were back in the UK and how things have changed.

It's really, really lovely to see.

The Australian lifestyle's also agreeing with another loved-up

couple making the most of their new life together down under.

Me and Sam, when we've got spare time we usually go down the beach,

we usually go out to the local pub

or maybe go to the city and stuff like that.

Yeah, I think we've got more of a better social life in Australia

than we did back in the UK.

Both Chloe and Sam have found jobs

which are helping to ease the transition.

Chloe's working in telecommunications

while Sam's a carpet salesman.

I am really, really enjoying my new job working with nice people,

working with people my own age so I know that I can go out with them.

Sam has settled in, I think, quite good

considering he got no family over here as such.

With my job I drive around and see lots of different

places of Western Australia.

There's definitely better opportunities out here for me

rather than back home.

Chloe did have an initial bout of homesickness when she arrived,

but having Sam around has helped her find her feet down under.

When it was the first few weeks of being in Australia

I found it really hard but then after them few weeks pass

and you've started to settle in, you've started to get a job,

you've started to meet new people, it went a lot easier.

Obviously with Sam being here,

it's helped my daughter settle down a lot quicker.

I think Chloe's adapting quite quickly to being in Australia.

She feels a lot better about it now than when we first got here.

When Chloe's having one of her bad days I do try and help her through.

While Chloe and Sam are now settling in to an Australian routine,

Kerry does sometimes struggle being so far from loved ones at home.

The worst thing for me...

Um...

-See?

-I know.

That's the only problem being the other side of the world

is your friends and your family

which, obviously, my wife still misses.

You're saying goodbye to the people you care about

and you don't really know when you're going to see them again.

-And I think that's the worst bit, isn't it?

-Yeah.

And that means, although it's still early days,

she's not 100% convinced the move to the other side of the

world's a permanent one.

I'm not sure I definitely want to be in Australia.

I could probably quite easily go home at the minute,

but I know that realistically I've not given it a fair chance.

So I think my biggest concern is maybe going back for a holiday

and realising I don't want to be here.

Kerry's aware her feelings have impacted on the move for John.

I think John initially was absolutely fine.

I've probably worn him down a little bit

and I do sort of nag on at him a little bit

and I do think that sometimes I've maybe emotionally drained him.

My concern is your happiness, really.

If you decide to go back home, obviously I'll come with you.

-My main concern is if our Chloe wants to...

-Didn't want to come.

-Yeah.

But ironically, the person most opposed to a move

in the first place,

Chloe's now certain Australia's where her future lies.

I'm glad that my dad persuaded me to move over to Australia because

if I didn't, I would never have realised what a beautiful country

and what opportunities lay in here.

You almost feel like you've shot yourself in the foot

cos she was the one that didn't want to come

and now she's here, she's the one that doesn't want to go back.

I think my life now is in Australia. I don't think I would ever go back

to the UK to live.

And boyfriend Sam also sees a sunny outlook down under.

I think I'd like to stay in Australia forever.

It's just a lot nicer place.

I actually feel like I'm getting somewhere.

The Woodlands have now been together in Australia for six months

and homesickness aside,

they're determined to give it their best shot.

Now we've actually made the move and we're starting to feel

a little bit more settled, I think that the future

can only get better really.

I think that we've done most of the hard work,

we've got over most of the hurdles

of moving and settling and finding jobs

and finding our feet and I'm thinking

that we'll probably start enjoying all that Australia has to offer.

I think we made the right move to come over to Australia.

People say you've got to give it two years.

I mean, once I've settled down

and I know where I want to be then that's it.

And wherever it may lie, John

and Kerry are both looking to the future.

My hopes for the future for all of us, really,

is that we're all happy and we decide where we want to be.

If we stay over here, I'd like to build my own house and then

live that Australian dream by getting myself a boat or a jet ski.

It may have taken some time but the Woodland family are finally back

together under the same roof, this time, half a world away from Wales.

We wish them every continued happiness as they embark

on their new lives down under.