0:00:02 > 0:00:04If living in the UK had you feeling the pinch,
0:00:04 > 0:00:06how far would you go to give your family
0:00:06 > 0:00:09the life you felt they deserved?
0:00:09 > 0:00:13In 2014, Liz Power was considering a move to the other
0:00:13 > 0:00:17side of the world, one which would mean potentially splitting
0:00:17 > 0:00:20her close family up for good.
0:00:20 > 0:00:2512 months on, we'll discover how and where her family are now.
0:00:27 > 0:00:30Back in 2014, single mum Liz Power was struggling
0:00:30 > 0:00:32to make ends meet.
0:00:32 > 0:00:35I had to ask the school to give Mo a new blazer
0:00:35 > 0:00:37and they very kindly gave her one, cos I couldn't buy her one.
0:00:37 > 0:00:40But trial week in Australia showed a different way of life.
0:00:40 > 0:00:42Oh, my God!
0:00:42 > 0:00:44- It's so beautiful! - Look at the house!
0:00:44 > 0:00:48But Liz was torn at the prospect of splitting up her family.
0:00:48 > 0:00:49Right now, this second,
0:00:49 > 0:00:53I don't know if I could move to Australia without Alice.
0:00:53 > 0:00:57So, 12 months on, where do the Powers call home?
0:00:57 > 0:01:00If you could write a tick list of what I wanted out of Australia,
0:01:00 > 0:01:02I'm ticking almost all of the boxes.
0:01:24 > 0:01:2830 times bigger than the UK but with around a third of the population,
0:01:28 > 0:01:31Australia promises a laid-back lifestyle in the sunshine.
0:01:31 > 0:01:36Every year, enough British residents to fill more than 60 jumbo jets
0:01:36 > 0:01:38pack away their umbrellas and fly off
0:01:38 > 0:01:41in pursuit of a sun-soaked life down under.
0:01:41 > 0:01:43But the grass isn't always greener -
0:01:43 > 0:01:47of those that make the move, around a half return home.
0:01:47 > 0:01:52In 2014, Liz Power was desperate for a fresh start
0:01:52 > 0:01:55and believed Australia could be the solution.
0:01:55 > 0:01:59But with oldest daughter Alice set to start art college in the UK,
0:01:59 > 0:02:03any move would mean breaking up her close-knit family.
0:02:03 > 0:02:05Liz had one week in Australia
0:02:05 > 0:02:09to see if life there could justify separating the siblings.
0:02:09 > 0:02:12Today, we'll find out what happened next.
0:02:14 > 0:02:15The trial week started
0:02:15 > 0:02:17with 20 hours flying 10,000 miles
0:02:17 > 0:02:21from London to Melbourne and when they landed in Australia,
0:02:21 > 0:02:26the time in the air had taken a toll on teenage Mo's body clock.
0:02:26 > 0:02:28They gave me a lunch and then they gave me a breakfast
0:02:28 > 0:02:30- and I got really confused. - LIZ CHUCKLES
0:02:30 > 0:02:32I was like, "Why are you giving this to me?" And she said,
0:02:32 > 0:02:34- "Well, it's breakfast time." - It's morning.
0:02:34 > 0:02:36I was like, "No, you're supposed to give me a dinner."
0:02:36 > 0:02:40Mum Liz had mixed emotions about making it down under.
0:02:40 > 0:02:43I feel really nervous. I feel, really, a bit scared,
0:02:43 > 0:02:45but actually a lot more excited than anything.
0:02:45 > 0:02:48I'm a little apprehensive because Alice is at home
0:02:48 > 0:02:51and this is the first time we've ever been away without her.
0:02:51 > 0:02:53Nerves had set in with Jack too.
0:02:53 > 0:02:55I'm concerned about when we sit down
0:02:55 > 0:02:58and look at the financial side of things,
0:02:58 > 0:03:01whether we can actually maintain our life out here.
0:03:01 > 0:03:03The week ahead would address everyone's fears
0:03:03 > 0:03:07and see if Liz could leave her daughter Alice behind.
0:03:08 > 0:03:10It would be much easier if we get here and say,
0:03:10 > 0:03:12"Yeah, it's been lovely, but actually it's not for us."
0:03:12 > 0:03:14I don't want it to come to that.
0:03:14 > 0:03:16I think this is the start of something new
0:03:16 > 0:03:17and I don't want it to stop now.
0:03:17 > 0:03:21Where the Powers would call home was riding on the next seven days.
0:03:27 > 0:03:28In 2014, Mum Liz,
0:03:28 > 0:03:31Jack, who was then 16,
0:03:31 > 0:03:34and Mo, who was 15, were living in Holbeach, in Lincolnshire,
0:03:34 > 0:03:36with Alice, who was 21.
0:03:36 > 0:03:41Life for the Powers in this country is all about me working,
0:03:41 > 0:03:46them going to school and us standing on the side of a rugby field.
0:03:46 > 0:03:47Go on, Jack!
0:03:47 > 0:03:49No, not in his face.
0:03:49 > 0:03:51Since becoming a single-parent family nine years earlier,
0:03:51 > 0:03:56Liz and her three children had developed an unbreakable bond.
0:03:56 > 0:03:59As a family, we are very close
0:03:59 > 0:04:02because we've been through a lot together
0:04:02 > 0:04:04and we've always stuck by each other.
0:04:04 > 0:04:06We always call ourselves the Power Pack,
0:04:06 > 0:04:09because we are just... We're a herd
0:04:09 > 0:04:11and we can't lose a member of the group
0:04:11 > 0:04:14because we wouldn't be able to survive.
0:04:14 > 0:04:16The break-up had left Liz as a sole breadwinner
0:04:16 > 0:04:19and she'd found the transition tough.
0:04:19 > 0:04:22One minute you're living a fairly affluent life,
0:04:22 > 0:04:24owning a house, having money,
0:04:24 > 0:04:27having foreign holidays, having big cars,
0:04:27 > 0:04:30to suddenly it all going in an instant.
0:04:30 > 0:04:33Nurse Liz was working around the clock to provide for her family
0:04:33 > 0:04:36and stretching her salary was a challenge.
0:04:36 > 0:04:38It's difficult, it's...it's hard.
0:04:38 > 0:04:40And, you know, there isn't any spare.
0:04:40 > 0:04:42And we just manage, we just do.
0:04:42 > 0:04:45Every month, we... You juggle and hope that you,
0:04:45 > 0:04:49you know, get to the end of it before we get to payday again.
0:04:49 > 0:04:52And she felt guilty about the impact that had on her children.
0:04:52 > 0:04:57I would just really love a better standard of living for them.
0:04:57 > 0:05:00I had to ask the school to give Mo a new blazer
0:05:00 > 0:05:03and they very kindly gave her one, cos I couldn't buy her one.
0:05:03 > 0:05:06Liz was desperate to give her children a more financially
0:05:06 > 0:05:10stable future and believed Australia could be the place to do it.
0:05:10 > 0:05:13Two years earlier, she had even bought a return plane ticket
0:05:13 > 0:05:14to check it out.
0:05:14 > 0:05:18Not for herself, but for daughter Alice, who was then only 18.
0:05:20 > 0:05:24I sent Alice out to Australia for a month for her to look around,
0:05:24 > 0:05:27because of the three of them, she was the one that was,
0:05:27 > 0:05:28"Nah, I don't want to do it."
0:05:28 > 0:05:31To begin with, she enjoyed it.
0:05:31 > 0:05:32But news from home
0:05:32 > 0:05:36that her mum had been in a car crash changed everything for Alice.
0:05:36 > 0:05:39Knowing that she was dealing with those things on her own,
0:05:39 > 0:05:45and it happening so soon into me being away, it was awful.
0:05:45 > 0:05:47I spent the entire holiday wanting to go home.
0:05:47 > 0:05:50Once back, Alice had made it clear,
0:05:50 > 0:05:52if they emigrated she'd be staying home.
0:05:54 > 0:05:59By 2014, Liz believed it could be time to make the move, but pursuing
0:05:59 > 0:06:03the future she wanted for Mo and Jack meant breaking up the family.
0:06:03 > 0:06:07I think, ultimately, I will have to decide between them.
0:06:10 > 0:06:13And part of me thinks that's a really bad thing to do.
0:06:13 > 0:06:14Alice didn't want them to go
0:06:14 > 0:06:17but agreed with her mum that it could be for the best.
0:06:17 > 0:06:21I would never ever try and stop them from going.
0:06:21 > 0:06:26Because I still believe Australia's where they're meant to be.
0:06:26 > 0:06:28Tired of financial struggles,
0:06:28 > 0:06:31Liz believed Australia could give Jack and Mo a better life.
0:06:31 > 0:06:33But leaving Alice would mean the end of the road
0:06:33 > 0:06:35for the close-knit family unit.
0:06:35 > 0:06:37I'll miss her terribly.
0:06:42 > 0:06:44She's my dolly.
0:06:52 > 0:06:54For their first taste of Australian living,
0:06:54 > 0:06:59the family visited Melbourne, the country's second-largest city.
0:06:59 > 0:07:01Previously voted the most liveable city in the world, it could
0:07:01 > 0:07:05have been the perfect place for the fresh start Liz was craving.
0:07:08 > 0:07:10Their temporary base for the week
0:07:10 > 0:07:13was the family-friendly suburb of Yarraville,
0:07:13 > 0:07:15just a few miles west of the city centre.
0:07:15 > 0:07:18And they were impressed straight away.
0:07:18 > 0:07:20Oh, my goodness! Look at this.
0:07:20 > 0:07:22- It's so open.- Yeah.
0:07:22 > 0:07:24It seemed to have all they required.
0:07:24 > 0:07:26Big, open-plan, one big room.
0:07:26 > 0:07:30Kitchen, living, dining, everything. All in one.
0:07:30 > 0:07:34Happy with the house, the week was off to a good start.
0:07:34 > 0:07:37But as they made themselves at home, it was clear Liz was still
0:07:37 > 0:07:41struggling with the thought of leaving her oldest daughter behind.
0:07:41 > 0:07:43Right now, this second,
0:07:43 > 0:07:46I don't know if I could move to Australia without Alice.
0:07:58 > 0:08:03In 2014, the Powers were renting a three-bedroom bungalow in Holbeach.
0:08:03 > 0:08:06I like quirky houses, really. I like Victorian houses.
0:08:06 > 0:08:10But I like quirky houses. And this isn't it.
0:08:10 > 0:08:12And opinions were divided on the kind of house
0:08:12 > 0:08:14they wanted in Australia.
0:08:14 > 0:08:18I don't want a big house. I'd like an open-plan living area.
0:08:18 > 0:08:20I like kitchen, living, dining rooms all in one.
0:08:20 > 0:08:23I would like everybody to have their own bedroom.
0:08:23 > 0:08:25But other than that, I'm not that fussed.
0:08:25 > 0:08:28- I'd prefer it to be modern. - I'd prefer it to be old.- Exactly.
0:08:28 > 0:08:31- That's why... - LIZ LAUGHS
0:08:35 > 0:08:37Liz planned to rent in Australia
0:08:37 > 0:08:39and had £1,300 to spend per calendar month.
0:08:40 > 0:08:43To find out what kind of house they could have,
0:08:43 > 0:08:45we showed them three properties.
0:08:45 > 0:08:49Two on budget and a third which could have been their dream home.
0:08:49 > 0:08:51After seeing each one, they'd discover its value.
0:08:54 > 0:08:57The search began six miles north-west of Melbourne city centre
0:08:57 > 0:08:58in Aberfeldie.
0:08:58 > 0:09:02Offering a village feel with parks, shops, schools,
0:09:02 > 0:09:04and a hospital close by,
0:09:04 > 0:09:07the area should have been perfect for the youngsters and nurse Liz.
0:09:09 > 0:09:12This is light and airy, isn't it?
0:09:12 > 0:09:13It's lovely.
0:09:13 > 0:09:15Oh! Look at the fireplace!
0:09:15 > 0:09:17Things sounded positive.
0:09:17 > 0:09:20Until a look at the bathrooms split opinions.
0:09:20 > 0:09:23- That's a really nice-sized bath. - Do you think? I don't.
0:09:23 > 0:09:25- I don't think so at all. - No.- I think it's tiny.- Yeah.
0:09:25 > 0:09:28- Compared to the rest of the rooms.- Yeah.
0:09:28 > 0:09:31Fortunately the living area with open-plan design
0:09:31 > 0:09:33appealed to everyone.
0:09:33 > 0:09:36Oh, my goodness, this is huge!
0:09:36 > 0:09:39- This is nice.- Open-plan living.
0:09:39 > 0:09:42- This is excellent. - Look at that kitchen.
0:09:42 > 0:09:45And downstairs lay something which took everyone's breath away.
0:09:48 > 0:09:52- What?! You're not going to believe it.- No way!
0:09:52 > 0:09:54- What?!- Oh, my God!- Oh, my God!
0:09:54 > 0:09:56No!
0:09:56 > 0:10:00It wasn't on their wish list, but the house had its own pool.
0:10:00 > 0:10:02This has got to make Alice want to come out here.
0:10:02 > 0:10:04How bizarre. I was just thinking exactly the same thing.
0:10:04 > 0:10:07I thought, "This would bring Alice out."
0:10:07 > 0:10:09With Alice never far from everyone's thoughts,
0:10:09 > 0:10:11the family explored the garden.
0:10:11 > 0:10:16Oh, look. You're going to have to get a goat.
0:10:16 > 0:10:19But before Liz got carried away, the family needed to find out
0:10:19 > 0:10:23if their £1,300 budget would be enough to meet the rent every month.
0:10:27 > 0:10:29I don't want to look.
0:10:29 > 0:10:30SHE LAUGHS
0:10:30 > 0:10:32What?!
0:10:32 > 0:10:34What? That can't be right.
0:10:34 > 0:10:36That's insane. That's a bang on our budget.
0:10:36 > 0:10:39- LAUGHING:- No.
0:10:39 > 0:10:41We can afford a pool in our house.
0:10:42 > 0:10:43Oh, my God.
0:10:43 > 0:10:45That's amazing.
0:10:45 > 0:10:48I'm really, really surprised at that.
0:10:48 > 0:10:50It looked like Melbourne's rental market offered more
0:10:50 > 0:10:53value for money than the Powers got back home.
0:10:53 > 0:10:56And they still had two more properties to view.
0:10:57 > 0:11:00The next was in the coastal suburb of Williamstown.
0:11:00 > 0:11:02The area's popular with families,
0:11:02 > 0:11:05but did the three-bedroom period house please the Powers?
0:11:07 > 0:11:10I'd say it's compact but you know what it's like,
0:11:10 > 0:11:13they just keep going, don't they?
0:11:13 > 0:11:15Beautiful. Victorian seaside.
0:11:15 > 0:11:19This is what it looks like in all our seaside towns. This is lovely.
0:11:19 > 0:11:22- I like a more modern house. - It's too old for you, isn't it?
0:11:22 > 0:11:25- Yeah.- Whereas I feel completely at home here.
0:11:25 > 0:11:28Liz and Jack had conflicting opinions on the decor
0:11:28 > 0:11:31and things went from bad to worse in the bathroom.
0:11:31 > 0:11:33Oh, my goodness!
0:11:33 > 0:11:35- Wow.- It smells old.
0:11:35 > 0:11:38"It smells old."
0:11:38 > 0:11:41- I like the bath.- I love this room!
0:11:41 > 0:11:45- But I can feel beside me you absolutely hate it.- Hate it.
0:11:45 > 0:11:48It wasn't the modern look Jack was after.
0:11:49 > 0:11:51This is better.
0:11:51 > 0:11:53- OK, I'm liking this.- This is better.
0:11:53 > 0:11:55This is nice and modern. I like this.
0:11:55 > 0:11:58OK, if we just have this side of the house that will be great.
0:11:58 > 0:12:01Yeah, we'll lock this door, keep you that side.
0:12:01 > 0:12:03Keep me that side.
0:12:03 > 0:12:05Despite first impressions,
0:12:05 > 0:12:08a complete tour of the house proved there was something for everyone.
0:12:08 > 0:12:11And even in the weather, the gardens looked good too.
0:12:11 > 0:12:13It's just another sitting room
0:12:13 > 0:12:15cos you could use it whatever the weather.
0:12:15 > 0:12:16This house is beautiful.
0:12:17 > 0:12:21But could they afford a house that offered something for everyone?
0:12:21 > 0:12:24The family's budget was £1,300 per month.
0:12:28 > 0:12:31What? No! That can't be...
0:12:33 > 0:12:36The last house was beautiful, don't get me wrong.
0:12:36 > 0:12:39But I just see myself living in a place like this.
0:12:39 > 0:12:41This house had captured Liz's heart,
0:12:41 > 0:12:44but there was still one more to consider.
0:12:44 > 0:12:45Situated in Kingsville,
0:12:45 > 0:12:49one of the city's most affordable inner suburbs, we had found a
0:12:49 > 0:12:53Victorian four-bedroom property with plenty of room for Alice to visit.
0:12:53 > 0:12:55With old and new interiors,
0:12:55 > 0:12:57it should have been everyone's dream house.
0:12:58 > 0:12:59This is big.
0:12:59 > 0:13:03Split over two levels, the bedrooms were on the ground floor.
0:13:03 > 0:13:04It's an artist's house.
0:13:04 > 0:13:06- You've got a walk-in wardrobe there.- Is there?
0:13:06 > 0:13:08Yeah.
0:13:08 > 0:13:10Wow!
0:13:10 > 0:13:11Lovely.
0:13:11 > 0:13:14- I like this house cos it's old-fashioned. It's Victorian.- Yeah.
0:13:14 > 0:13:16I'm not too sure about it.
0:13:16 > 0:13:18Again, Jack wasn't convinced.
0:13:18 > 0:13:21And the kitchen did little to win him over.
0:13:21 > 0:13:23LIZ LAUGHS
0:13:23 > 0:13:25This is nice.
0:13:25 > 0:13:26This is lovely!
0:13:26 > 0:13:29I don't like how dark it is throughout the house.
0:13:29 > 0:13:31And the garden was an issue too.
0:13:31 > 0:13:34I don't know. It feels slightly weird, this garden.
0:13:34 > 0:13:37It is very pretty, but feels cramped.
0:13:37 > 0:13:40- Given what we've seen before, it feels quite cramped.- Yeah.
0:13:40 > 0:13:42- It's just a very different property.- Yeah.
0:13:42 > 0:13:46Moving upstairs though, the house revealed a potential hidden gem.
0:13:46 > 0:13:48Oh, wow!
0:13:48 > 0:13:49Look at this.
0:13:49 > 0:13:51It's like a studio.
0:13:51 > 0:13:54Liz thought it could be a selling point for art student Alice.
0:13:54 > 0:13:57If Alice saw this she'd definitely move to Australia, wouldn't she?
0:13:57 > 0:14:00And take over the top floor of the house.
0:14:01 > 0:14:05But did discovering what the house cost change everything?
0:14:07 > 0:14:09I think it's going to be the least of all of them.
0:14:09 > 0:14:12I'd be surprised if it's more than the last house.
0:14:19 > 0:14:20No!
0:14:20 > 0:14:22- Oh, my goodness!- Really?
0:14:22 > 0:14:26£340 over budget made it the dearest property of the day.
0:14:26 > 0:14:28- What?!- Why?
0:14:28 > 0:14:30- It must be the area.- Yeah.
0:14:30 > 0:14:34House-hunting had been thought-provoking for the Powers.
0:14:34 > 0:14:38Property one was on budget, leaving the family stunned to discover
0:14:38 > 0:14:40they could afford a house with a pool.
0:14:40 > 0:14:45The interiors of property two caused conflict between Liz and Jack.
0:14:45 > 0:14:46But close to budget,
0:14:46 > 0:14:49again it showed they could afford a better home down under.
0:14:49 > 0:14:52But the dream house didn't meet expectations
0:14:52 > 0:14:57and discovering it was £340 over budget was a surprise for everyone.
0:14:59 > 0:15:02Based on the houses that we've seen today,
0:15:02 > 0:15:04we have decided to vote for...
0:15:12 > 0:15:14- Australia.- Australia.- UK.
0:15:17 > 0:15:19- Really?- Uh-huh.- Why?
0:15:19 > 0:15:22It's just the houses I didn't think were modern enough.
0:15:22 > 0:15:25- The prices surprised me so much...- Yeah.
0:15:25 > 0:15:28- ..in Australia.- Me too. - I like the idea of that.
0:15:33 > 0:15:37Australian property had fuelled Liz's yearning for a new beginning.
0:15:37 > 0:15:40But she knew if she was to escape her financial
0:15:40 > 0:15:44struggles in the UK and give Mo and Jack the future she wanted
0:15:44 > 0:15:47for them, the pressure was on for her to find a well-paid job.
0:15:51 > 0:15:53Can you sit yourself down?
0:15:53 > 0:15:55In the UK, Liz was a children's ward sister
0:15:55 > 0:15:57in a hospital near Peterborough.
0:15:57 > 0:15:59Are you ready?
0:15:59 > 0:16:02There are days when it's the worst job in the world.
0:16:02 > 0:16:03What's in here?
0:16:03 > 0:16:06And then the next day you come back and something really beautiful
0:16:06 > 0:16:12happens and you just think, "I couldn't do anything else."
0:16:14 > 0:16:17But doing the job she loved didn't always pay the bills.
0:16:17 > 0:16:21The cost of living in this country has got higher and higher.
0:16:21 > 0:16:24I earn too much for any help but not enough to manage.
0:16:24 > 0:16:27OK, won't be a minute. Bye.
0:16:27 > 0:16:30Liz hoped her earnings would increase in Australia.
0:16:30 > 0:16:32So exploring work options were crucial
0:16:32 > 0:16:35if she was to make her dream a reality.
0:16:35 > 0:16:38She met Naomi McKenzie, associate unit manager at a
0:16:38 > 0:16:42paediatric unit at Austin Hospital in Heidelberg.
0:16:42 > 0:16:45- Hello, Liz. I'm Naomi. - Hi there. Nice to meet you.
0:16:45 > 0:16:47- Shall I show you around? - That would be lovely.
0:16:47 > 0:16:50Naomi's role was similar to Liz's in the UK.
0:16:50 > 0:16:53But there were some differences when it came to shift patterns.
0:16:54 > 0:16:57Have you ever worked 12-hour shifts straight
0:16:57 > 0:16:59so you have two shifts a day?
0:16:59 > 0:17:02- No.- No.- No.
0:17:02 > 0:17:04- That's too exhausting. - Yeah, it is.
0:17:04 > 0:17:07- Is that what you do?- Yeah, we do. I work 7.00 till 7.30.
0:17:07 > 0:17:10Shorter shifts were a definite plus.
0:17:10 > 0:17:12Jack and Mo were anxious to find out how
0:17:12 > 0:17:14they might fit into Australian school life.
0:17:14 > 0:17:17So we had arranged for them to visit Maribyrnong College,
0:17:17 > 0:17:20a popular choice for international students.
0:17:20 > 0:17:25Rugby-mad Jack got a tour of the facilities at the sports academy.
0:17:25 > 0:17:28You could spend nearly one third of your week in here training,
0:17:28 > 0:17:31preparing and learning the skills of being an athlete.
0:17:31 > 0:17:34And you do your normal academic subjects, your English and your PE
0:17:34 > 0:17:37and your geography. That all happens.
0:17:37 > 0:17:40I dream of being able to do something like this.
0:17:40 > 0:17:43Add more sports to my lifestyle and school time.
0:17:43 > 0:17:46Meanwhile, Mo discovered the school played to her passion
0:17:46 > 0:17:47for performing arts.
0:17:47 > 0:17:50Assistant principal, Dani Anjelico,
0:17:50 > 0:17:53had invited her to rehearsals for their annual production.
0:17:53 > 0:17:57There was no time for stage fright as Mo pitched in.
0:17:57 > 0:18:03# This time, baby, I'll be bulletproof. #
0:18:03 > 0:18:07Theatre studies weren't yet an option at Mo's school in the UK.
0:18:07 > 0:18:10So realising she could combine her passion with her education
0:18:10 > 0:18:13was a real incentive. But she knew if mum, Liz,
0:18:13 > 0:18:18couldn't find work, it would be the final curtain for a life down under.
0:18:18 > 0:18:22Everything really relies on this part of the experience, really.
0:18:22 > 0:18:26- This is Paula, she's head of human resources here.- Hi there.
0:18:26 > 0:18:27Liz, welcome.
0:18:27 > 0:18:29Back at the hospital, Liz had hooked up with
0:18:29 > 0:18:32human resources executive Paula Jeffs.
0:18:32 > 0:18:35Knowing she would need to register as a nurse in Australia
0:18:35 > 0:18:39before finding work, she was keen to explore potential opportunities.
0:18:39 > 0:18:43Looking at your resume, it does appear to map really nicely to what
0:18:43 > 0:18:47we call an associate nurse unit manager role.
0:18:47 > 0:18:49The competition that you've got though is high,
0:18:49 > 0:18:52cos there's a lot of people who are in the system already,
0:18:52 > 0:18:54who are waiting for those roles to come up.
0:18:54 > 0:18:56One of the things you might want to think about is
0:18:56 > 0:19:00applying for a role as a senior nurse and get in the system.
0:19:00 > 0:19:02Once you get into the system, into a ward,
0:19:02 > 0:19:05and see what's going on, then you're really able to compete.
0:19:05 > 0:19:06It wasn't great news.
0:19:06 > 0:19:08If Liz wanted to find work quickly,
0:19:08 > 0:19:12she'd have needed to take a step back from her more senior role.
0:19:12 > 0:19:17So, your salary would be close to 80,000 per annum.
0:19:17 > 0:19:21If you were translating then into what you're more qualified for,
0:19:21 > 0:19:23the associate nurse unit manager role,
0:19:23 > 0:19:27you'd then start to earn three or four dollars more an hour
0:19:27 > 0:19:28on top of that rate.
0:19:28 > 0:19:31Even undertaking a more junior role,
0:19:31 > 0:19:33if Liz worked full-time in Australia,
0:19:33 > 0:19:35she'd earn almost double what she did in the UK.
0:19:35 > 0:19:38It was a great result
0:19:38 > 0:19:40and one she couldn't wait to share with Jack and Mo.
0:19:40 > 0:19:43- I had a really good time in there. Really nice ward.- Good.
0:19:43 > 0:19:44Lovely staff.
0:19:44 > 0:19:48And looks like, yeah, I could get a job here quite easily.
0:19:48 > 0:19:52And the salary looks really, really, really good.
0:19:52 > 0:19:54The deal looked pretty much done
0:19:54 > 0:19:57as Liz chose between work in Australia and the UK.
0:19:57 > 0:20:01So, based on what I've seen today with regarding my job,
0:20:01 > 0:20:03my decision is...
0:20:07 > 0:20:08Australia.
0:20:15 > 0:20:18Knowing she could find well-paid work in Australia
0:20:18 > 0:20:22was a massive relief for Liz and put her a step closer
0:20:22 > 0:20:23to giving Mo and Jack the fresh start
0:20:23 > 0:20:25she wanted for them.
0:20:25 > 0:20:27To get a taste of what life could be like down under,
0:20:27 > 0:20:31the family took advantage of Melbourne's bike share system
0:20:31 > 0:20:33to explore the city from the saddle.
0:20:34 > 0:20:36- We look like a little biking crew! - THEY LAUGH
0:20:39 > 0:20:44I last rode a bike 14 years ago and fell off, but that was good.
0:20:44 > 0:20:46Well worth getting back on again.
0:20:46 > 0:20:48After all their exercise,
0:20:48 > 0:20:50it was time for some rest and relaxation
0:20:50 > 0:20:52with a chilled out gondola ride.
0:20:54 > 0:20:56Beautiful.
0:20:56 > 0:20:57That'll shut Jack out there.
0:20:57 > 0:21:00Do that, Mo, and then you can't see Jack!
0:21:00 > 0:21:03The man-made lake was in Melbourne's botanical gardens.
0:21:03 > 0:21:06Feels like it should be a million miles away from a city
0:21:06 > 0:21:09- and then you look over there and... - Yeah, and you can see the city.
0:21:09 > 0:21:12The family ended their day with time out in the gardens
0:21:12 > 0:21:15and reflected on the lifestyle Australia offered.
0:21:15 > 0:21:20Every weekend like this would be cool instead of being at home
0:21:20 > 0:21:22stuck in the rain.
0:21:22 > 0:21:25It's just paradise, really.
0:21:25 > 0:21:28But used to having all three of her children close by,
0:21:28 > 0:21:31the reality of living on the other side of the world
0:21:31 > 0:21:34from daughter Alice had hit home with Liz.
0:21:34 > 0:21:35I think that that would be something
0:21:35 > 0:21:37that we'd really need to think about.
0:21:37 > 0:21:40Is this enough to give up what we've got in England?
0:21:40 > 0:21:42And it's stopped being about the money now.
0:21:42 > 0:21:46It's more about our family life.
0:21:46 > 0:21:49As the end of their trial week crept closer,
0:21:49 > 0:21:52it was clear the family would face an increasingly difficult decision,
0:21:52 > 0:21:57but did the Australian lifestyle live up to their expectations?
0:21:57 > 0:21:59Today we're going to vote for...
0:22:06 > 0:22:09- ALL:- Australia.
0:22:09 > 0:22:11I think we've had a great day. We've seen the city.
0:22:11 > 0:22:13The weather's been fabulous.
0:22:13 > 0:22:15We don't really go out in the weekends together
0:22:15 > 0:22:16as a family.
0:22:16 > 0:22:18I think here we'd be able to do that.
0:22:23 > 0:22:26Falling in love with the lifestyle was all very well,
0:22:26 > 0:22:28but for the move to happen,
0:22:28 > 0:22:31Liz needed to be 100% certain the country could deliver
0:22:31 > 0:22:35the financially secure future she was holding out for.
0:22:35 > 0:22:38To help calculate how their figures would fare in Australia,
0:22:38 > 0:22:40we'd prepared a cost of living comparison.
0:22:40 > 0:22:41Right then, guys.
0:22:41 > 0:22:44This is the moment of truth, really, to see whether it's viable or not.
0:22:44 > 0:22:47Stage one was a look at the weekly food shop.
0:22:47 > 0:22:50How can Marmite be cheaper in this country?
0:22:50 > 0:22:51That's amazing.
0:22:51 > 0:22:53Mince is cheaper, much cheaper.
0:22:53 > 0:22:57- So, what does that make?- £99.84.
0:22:57 > 0:23:01Per month, they'd be spending just under £20 less than in the UK.
0:23:01 > 0:23:03That's slightly surprised me
0:23:03 > 0:23:06because I thought groceries were dearer in this country.
0:23:06 > 0:23:07More expensive, yeah.
0:23:07 > 0:23:09Realising their food bill wasn't higher
0:23:09 > 0:23:11was an encouraging start,
0:23:11 > 0:23:14but they still needed to see how the bigger bills would compare.
0:23:14 > 0:23:17Their calculations were based on the first property they viewed.
0:23:17 > 0:23:2195.67. Gosh, that's cheaper.
0:23:21 > 0:23:22Council tax.
0:23:22 > 0:23:25Water's more. 90 for water.
0:23:25 > 0:23:30Total for Australia is £2,885.
0:23:30 > 0:23:34So, basically, it would cost £300 a month more to live here.
0:23:34 > 0:23:37Fearing a move was financially impossible,
0:23:37 > 0:23:40Liz got Jack to calculate how much higher her salary would be
0:23:40 > 0:23:41each month down under.
0:23:41 > 0:23:45The income here in Australia is 3,577
0:23:45 > 0:23:47and that's minus 2,450.
0:23:49 > 0:23:511,127.
0:23:55 > 0:23:57No, do that again. That's not right.
0:23:58 > 0:24:01That can't be right. What... 3,577.
0:24:03 > 0:24:07- Yeah.- Minus 2,450.
0:24:09 > 0:24:13- Is?- 1,127.
0:24:13 > 0:24:16It wasn't a mistake, and Liz was stunned to realise
0:24:16 > 0:24:19she'd earn £1,000 more every month in Australia.
0:24:22 > 0:24:24I don't get what that means.
0:24:32 > 0:24:34Oh, it's so hard in the UK.
0:24:41 > 0:24:43I love my job so much...
0:24:45 > 0:24:47..but I can't pay my bills
0:24:47 > 0:24:50and I can't give them what they want and what they need.
0:24:50 > 0:24:53With her mind racing, Liz rejoined Jack and Mo
0:24:53 > 0:24:55to work out how much would be left over
0:24:55 > 0:24:59when they'd subtracted potential outgoings in Australia.
0:24:59 > 0:25:04It is 802.8.
0:25:04 > 0:25:08We would be just over £800 a month better off living as we live now,
0:25:08 > 0:25:10except we'd be able to pay all the bills.
0:25:10 > 0:25:15And over the year, it's just over 9,500.
0:25:15 > 0:25:16And you know what that is?
0:25:16 > 0:25:21That is a deposit on a house in a year.
0:25:21 > 0:25:23It had been an emotional afternoon,
0:25:23 > 0:25:26but the financial facts suggested the Powers' money worries
0:25:26 > 0:25:29could have been over in Australia.
0:25:29 > 0:25:32Based on the figures, we have decided to vote for...
0:25:41 > 0:25:43- ALL:- Australia.
0:25:43 > 0:25:45I think that's pretty easy.
0:25:45 > 0:25:49I think any of us would've been stupid to choose England.
0:25:49 > 0:25:53I am still shocked by the figures, but I'll get used to them.
0:25:59 > 0:26:02With Australia promising the Powers the financial security
0:26:02 > 0:26:03Liz had been longing for,
0:26:03 > 0:26:07it looked like a new beginning for the family was within reach,
0:26:07 > 0:26:10but the decision to move was far from made.
0:26:10 > 0:26:14Liz still faced having to choose between fortune and family
0:26:14 > 0:26:17as she sat down to watch messages from loved ones back home
0:26:17 > 0:26:19with Mo and Jack.
0:26:19 > 0:26:22Hi, Liz. Hi, Jack. Hi, Mo.
0:26:22 > 0:26:24- BOTH:- Hi, Power Pack!- Hi, guys!
0:26:24 > 0:26:27Hi, guys. I hope you're having fun.
0:26:27 > 0:26:28Mo tries to be friends with everyone,
0:26:28 > 0:26:30- which is really good.- Yeah.
0:26:31 > 0:26:33They mean everything to me, those three.
0:26:33 > 0:26:36I would do anything for them.
0:26:36 > 0:26:39It wouldn't be the same when we were doing the family thing,
0:26:39 > 0:26:41but if it's the right thing for them,
0:26:41 > 0:26:43then we'll support it all the way.
0:26:43 > 0:26:45Yeah. Definitely.
0:26:45 > 0:26:49Yeah. Liz is like the sister I've never had. Um...
0:26:49 > 0:26:52- Well, we're all family really, aren't we?- Mm.
0:26:52 > 0:26:57It will be the hardest thing saying goodbye to them
0:26:57 > 0:26:59because I love them dearly.
0:27:02 > 0:27:05But it will be the right thing to do if they want to go.
0:27:06 > 0:27:10I think the only thing I can say is you have to follow your hearts,
0:27:10 > 0:27:13but don't forget all of the people that love you back here.
0:27:13 > 0:27:15Just remember that it's not
0:27:15 > 0:27:17just about a bit more money
0:27:17 > 0:27:19or nice warm sunshine.
0:27:19 > 0:27:21It's about the people that you share your life with.
0:27:22 > 0:27:25I love you all and I want you to be happy.
0:27:27 > 0:27:30And I what you do have new experiences.
0:27:30 > 0:27:35And I want you to make this decision based on that and not what's here.
0:27:37 > 0:27:39I would really miss you guys.
0:27:39 > 0:27:42It would just be the hardest thing ever.
0:27:48 > 0:27:51Went to bed last night thinking "Yeah, I'll be all right today
0:27:51 > 0:27:54"cos I know my decision, know what I think we should do."
0:27:54 > 0:27:58Now I feel the opposite again.
0:27:58 > 0:28:00Can we actually physically do it?
0:28:00 > 0:28:03Can I actually...
0:28:03 > 0:28:05walk away from Alice?
0:28:13 > 0:28:16The realisation of how much they'd be missed
0:28:16 > 0:28:18was a heartbreaking moment for everyone,
0:28:18 > 0:28:21but their week in Australia had given them a glimpse
0:28:21 > 0:28:22of what they stood to gain.
0:28:23 > 0:28:28The reality check, the salary one, just hit me like a tonne of bricks.
0:28:28 > 0:28:31It was a fantastic thought that, you know, I'd go to work,
0:28:31 > 0:28:34come home and not worry about which bill to pay.
0:28:34 > 0:28:36The trip also removed some of Jack's concerns.
0:28:36 > 0:28:40I was worried about exclusion from people
0:28:40 > 0:28:41and not feeling the community,
0:28:41 > 0:28:45but after speaking to the kids at the school,
0:28:45 > 0:28:48it's kind of settled those worries.
0:28:48 > 0:28:51For Mo, the experience had been a dream come true.
0:28:51 > 0:28:54We'll be able to live in a beautiful house
0:28:54 > 0:28:57and the sun will be great just as a bonus.
0:28:57 > 0:29:01And I'd love the school. It's just endless, the list, really.
0:29:01 > 0:29:02But the week had magnified
0:29:02 > 0:29:05what it meant to live on the other side of the world
0:29:05 > 0:29:06from loved ones.
0:29:06 > 0:29:09It makes me really upset because I realise how far away
0:29:09 > 0:29:13I am from my grandparents, who I love so much,
0:29:13 > 0:29:16and then my sister, who I can't imagine living without.
0:29:16 > 0:29:19For Liz, the fear of leaving daughter Alice in the UK
0:29:19 > 0:29:22was a dilemma she battled all week.
0:29:22 > 0:29:25Fundamentally, your children are supposed to leave you,
0:29:25 > 0:29:26you're not supposed to leave them.
0:29:26 > 0:29:28She's my baby.
0:29:29 > 0:29:32Liz, Mo and Jack face an agonising choice.
0:29:32 > 0:29:34Would they remain the tight family unit of four
0:29:34 > 0:29:36they'd all relied on
0:29:36 > 0:29:40or pursue the financially secure future they'd dreamt of?
0:29:40 > 0:29:44After much soul-searching, it was time to make up their minds.
0:29:48 > 0:29:51Based on everything we've experienced this week,
0:29:51 > 0:29:53we have decided to vote for...
0:30:02 > 0:30:04- Australia.- Australia.
0:30:04 > 0:30:05Australia.
0:30:06 > 0:30:09- Great, isn't it?- Mm-hm. - It's a good decision.
0:30:09 > 0:30:10Good decision.
0:30:10 > 0:30:12I'm just so excited.
0:30:12 > 0:30:14I'm so glad you two have chosen it too.
0:30:14 > 0:30:17It feels weird thinking about moving.
0:30:17 > 0:30:20The bottom line is it's going to give you more.
0:30:20 > 0:30:21It's going to be better for you guys.
0:30:21 > 0:30:23I think the problems that we've got, you know,
0:30:23 > 0:30:25with who we're going to leave in England
0:30:25 > 0:30:27and the whole business with Alice,
0:30:27 > 0:30:28we'll just work it out.
0:30:28 > 0:30:30We will work it out.
0:30:30 > 0:30:32- It just seems like the right thing to do right now.- Yeah.
0:30:47 > 0:30:50After years of struggling to get by in the UK,
0:30:50 > 0:30:54Liz had decided the financial gains Australia offered
0:30:54 > 0:30:56were just too great to turn down.
0:30:56 > 0:30:59So, 12 months since we last saw them,
0:30:59 > 0:31:02where are the Power Pack now?
0:31:02 > 0:31:07It's May, 2015, and the Powers have moved to...
0:31:07 > 0:31:09Cowbit in Lincolnshire.
0:31:09 > 0:31:13After a unanimous decision to make Australia their home,
0:31:13 > 0:31:14Liz was reconciled to the idea
0:31:14 > 0:31:16of living on the other side of the world
0:31:16 > 0:31:18from oldest daughter Alice.
0:31:18 > 0:31:23On the plane home we talked a lot about how we could make this work
0:31:23 > 0:31:25and that it is a plane ride.
0:31:25 > 0:31:28It's a long plane ride, but it is... the world is a tiny place,
0:31:28 > 0:31:32and we came back fully determined to head out there.
0:31:33 > 0:31:37Once home, Alice took the news they'd be moving in her stride.
0:31:37 > 0:31:44She was sad and she did struggle with the whole us not being here,
0:31:44 > 0:31:46but she was kind of resigned to the fact that
0:31:46 > 0:31:48she knew we'd come back and want to go.
0:31:48 > 0:31:51While Alice prepared to leave home and start university,
0:31:51 > 0:31:53Mo and Jack were excited at the prospect
0:31:53 > 0:31:56of their new life in Australia.
0:31:56 > 0:31:59We were all ready to go because
0:31:59 > 0:32:01it really showed us a different life.
0:32:01 > 0:32:05We were buzzing to move out there.
0:32:05 > 0:32:07Confident she could find a job down under,
0:32:07 > 0:32:11Liz set the wheels in motion to make the dream their reality.
0:32:11 > 0:32:13I handed my notice in at work.
0:32:13 > 0:32:17We moved house quite quickly to reduce our outgoings
0:32:17 > 0:32:19so that we could save up for the flights.
0:32:19 > 0:32:21I opened bank accounts in Australia,
0:32:21 > 0:32:25and I started filling in all the applications
0:32:25 > 0:32:26to change my license.
0:32:29 > 0:32:31The family stayed in touch with Naomi,
0:32:31 > 0:32:34the nurse Liz met at Austin Hospital during her trial week,
0:32:34 > 0:32:38after discovering she used to live with one of Liz's best friends.
0:32:38 > 0:32:41She'd offer for us to move in with her
0:32:41 > 0:32:46and her husband for the time it needed for us to find a house
0:32:46 > 0:32:48so that we weren't renting a house that we hadn't seen
0:32:48 > 0:32:51before we arrived, which was such a gift.
0:32:51 > 0:32:52It was so fantastic.
0:32:54 > 0:32:55After much discussion,
0:32:55 > 0:33:00Liz settled on the fifth of January, 2015 for flights to Australia.
0:33:00 > 0:33:04We were going to have Christmas at home and then fly out
0:33:04 > 0:33:06the very first week of January to start school
0:33:06 > 0:33:08the very first week of February.
0:33:09 > 0:33:14I was feeling really positive and that it was the right thing to do.
0:33:14 > 0:33:18I knew there was just one hurdle, which was going to be my parents,
0:33:18 > 0:33:21but other than that, we were ready to go.
0:33:23 > 0:33:24At the time Liz's mum
0:33:24 > 0:33:26was undergoing treatment for breast cancer,
0:33:26 > 0:33:28and not wishing to add to her suffering,
0:33:28 > 0:33:32Liz had decided to keep her emigration plans under wraps.
0:33:34 > 0:33:36I wanted to have it all sorted in my own head
0:33:36 > 0:33:40and set in stone before I sort of shared that with them.
0:33:40 > 0:33:42Plus the fact my mum was really sick,
0:33:42 > 0:33:44and I knew it was going to be difficult.
0:33:46 > 0:33:50But the news hit her mum harder than Liz could ever have imagined.
0:33:51 > 0:33:54It's really upset her and really hurt her.
0:33:54 > 0:33:58I felt like I'd broken her. It was awful. Really awful.
0:33:58 > 0:33:59She really struggled.
0:34:00 > 0:34:05Mo was devastated at the thought of causing so much heartache.
0:34:05 > 0:34:07I love my grandma so much that
0:34:07 > 0:34:09I didn't want to do anything to hurt her.
0:34:09 > 0:34:12And Jack quickly realised the lifestyle they'd fallen for
0:34:12 > 0:34:13was slipping out of reach.
0:34:15 > 0:34:20When Mum came back and told us about how my grandma had reacted,
0:34:20 > 0:34:24I think then we all kind of thought, "This isn't going to really happen."
0:34:24 > 0:34:28Regrouping, Liz, Mo and Jack decided it wasn't the right time
0:34:28 > 0:34:29to make the move.
0:34:31 > 0:34:32We sort of came to a halt
0:34:32 > 0:34:35and decided to look at other options.
0:34:35 > 0:34:39Ultimately, family had to come first.
0:34:39 > 0:34:42We function as a Power Pack really, don't we? As a group.
0:34:42 > 0:34:44I was kind of disappointed when
0:34:44 > 0:34:46I realised we weren't going to move out there,
0:34:46 > 0:34:51but at the same time I saw it was the right decision to not go.
0:34:51 > 0:34:54And although she'd happily settled at uni,
0:34:54 > 0:34:57Mo was glad they didn't have to say goodbye to her big sister.
0:34:59 > 0:35:02I think that Alice was quite happy when we weren't moving.
0:35:02 > 0:35:04I think when we got back,
0:35:04 > 0:35:07it scared her that we had all said yes to Australia,
0:35:07 > 0:35:12but I suppose she would always be happy for us whatever we did,
0:35:12 > 0:35:17but staying with her has worked out better than moving.
0:35:17 > 0:35:20But after witnessing how good their life could be in Australia,
0:35:20 > 0:35:23Liz didn't want to settle back into the routine
0:35:23 > 0:35:24she'd been trying to escape.
0:35:26 > 0:35:30Cos I felt like everything needed to change, so I changed everything.
0:35:30 > 0:35:33Instead of withdrawing her resignation from the hospital,
0:35:33 > 0:35:35she decided to pursue a new career.
0:35:36 > 0:35:38Work thought I was going to stay.
0:35:38 > 0:35:41They thought, "Oh, she's not going to Australia. It's all fine."
0:35:41 > 0:35:43Then I sort of said, "No. I'm going to be brave.
0:35:43 > 0:35:44"I'm going to do it.
0:35:44 > 0:35:47"I'm going to go out on my own and see what happens."
0:35:47 > 0:35:48Liz did her last shift
0:35:48 > 0:35:51on the children's ward in December, 2014,
0:35:51 > 0:35:54and is now running her own business -
0:35:54 > 0:35:56giving development and sexual health classes
0:35:56 > 0:35:58in primary and secondary schools.
0:35:59 > 0:36:04It's all new and exciting and working out really well.
0:36:04 > 0:36:07I'm going to need two volunteers.
0:36:07 > 0:36:12After 27 years in the NHS, she admits it's been a bold move.
0:36:12 > 0:36:14It's not all plain sailing, you know?
0:36:14 > 0:36:16I'm in charge of my own destiny now.
0:36:16 > 0:36:20If I don't advertise and I don't bring work in, you know,
0:36:20 > 0:36:23there's no monthly wage if I don't make it happen.
0:36:23 > 0:36:25Although she misses being a nurse,
0:36:25 > 0:36:27Liz has no plans to return to the wards,
0:36:27 > 0:36:29but she's open to all possibilities.
0:36:30 > 0:36:31Never say never.
0:36:31 > 0:36:34I might end up doing Saturday night in a nursing home at some point
0:36:34 > 0:36:35just to make ends meet,
0:36:35 > 0:36:38but I don't think that's going to happen.
0:36:38 > 0:36:40With 12-hour shifts a thing of the past,
0:36:40 > 0:36:43Mo and Jack are enjoying more time with their mum,
0:36:43 > 0:36:46even if the financial rewards aren't as great as in Australia.
0:36:49 > 0:36:52Her job was so stressful. It was upsetting her so much.
0:36:52 > 0:36:55And I'm so glad that she left it when she did.
0:36:55 > 0:36:58It didn't give us more money, but it didn't really matter.
0:36:58 > 0:37:00We were still happy as a family,
0:37:00 > 0:37:04and seeing Mum much happier in the job she's in now,
0:37:04 > 0:37:06it all came together quite well.
0:37:06 > 0:37:08The kids are really settled.
0:37:08 > 0:37:10They're up to their eyeballs in exams at the moment,
0:37:10 > 0:37:14but coping with it beautifully and, you know, I'm thankful for that.
0:37:14 > 0:37:16And I don't think they would've been
0:37:16 > 0:37:18if we'd have been carrying on the way that we were
0:37:18 > 0:37:20cos I was never home.
0:37:20 > 0:37:22Little things, like I realised the other day
0:37:22 > 0:37:25I know exactly what Jack is studying at the moment in geography
0:37:25 > 0:37:28and I'm around to help Mo.
0:37:28 > 0:37:30We've done stuff this year that we would never have done
0:37:30 > 0:37:33if I'd have been working on the ward.
0:37:33 > 0:37:36Happily, despite Liz giving up her regular income,
0:37:36 > 0:37:40the Powers' finances are looking healthier than ever.
0:37:40 > 0:37:43At the moment, we are holding our own with regards
0:37:43 > 0:37:46to the family finances because our outgoings are so much less.
0:37:46 > 0:37:48We've made changes to, you know,
0:37:48 > 0:37:51how we shop, how I run the car, everything.
0:37:51 > 0:37:53They reality check was good because it made me sit
0:37:53 > 0:37:56and look at what we spend our money on.
0:37:57 > 0:38:00The family have also settled into the two-bedroom house
0:38:00 > 0:38:04they'd moved into to cut costs while saving to emigrate.
0:38:04 > 0:38:07We call it the Wendy house. It's a little baby bungalow.
0:38:07 > 0:38:11It has five rooms in total and it's lovely.
0:38:11 > 0:38:13It's not as spacious as the houses down under,
0:38:13 > 0:38:16but with the rent and utility bills halved,
0:38:16 > 0:38:18everyone's happy with their new home.
0:38:18 > 0:38:20We don't really mind what house we're in
0:38:20 > 0:38:23as long as we're together as a family
0:38:23 > 0:38:26and as long as Alice always has a place to come back to.
0:38:26 > 0:38:30Alice comes to stay in her little holiday home on the back drive.
0:38:30 > 0:38:32It's just fabulous. I love it.
0:38:32 > 0:38:34I never thought I'd love a bungalow,
0:38:34 > 0:38:36but actually it's just perfect for us.
0:38:41 > 0:38:43With friends and family on the doorstep,
0:38:43 > 0:38:44the location is ideal,
0:38:44 > 0:38:46and if Liz's business takes off,
0:38:46 > 0:38:49she's already made inquiries about purchasing the house
0:38:49 > 0:38:52to make it a more permanent home.
0:38:52 > 0:38:55I've got really lovely plans for it so that I get a bedroom.
0:38:55 > 0:38:58I'm going to turn this room into two bedrooms
0:38:58 > 0:39:00and face the house that way,
0:39:00 > 0:39:02and a little bit of Australia will pop in
0:39:02 > 0:39:04because I want to knock the kitchen into Jack's bedroom
0:39:04 > 0:39:08to make one living area like we had when we were out there,
0:39:08 > 0:39:10because I did love that.
0:39:10 > 0:39:12Things are looking good for Mo too
0:39:12 > 0:39:15as she pursues her hopes of working in musical theatre.
0:39:15 > 0:39:17I've just started my GCSEs
0:39:17 > 0:39:21and after that I'm hoping to go to a theatre school in Stanford.
0:39:21 > 0:39:24I had my audition last year and I got in,
0:39:24 > 0:39:26so I was really happy when that happened.
0:39:26 > 0:39:29Having fallen for the school she visited in Melbourne,
0:39:29 > 0:39:33Mo feared she'd never be able to afford drama school in the UK,
0:39:33 > 0:39:36so being offered a place in a fully-funded academy
0:39:36 > 0:39:37was a dream come true.
0:39:37 > 0:39:39I couldn't believe that
0:39:39 > 0:39:41I could still have my career in this country,
0:39:41 > 0:39:45and that just made Australia disappear.
0:39:45 > 0:39:48I think for Mo, because she wants to do musical theatre,
0:39:48 > 0:39:50and London is the place for that,
0:39:50 > 0:39:52then she looks to be heading that way.
0:39:52 > 0:39:55So, for her, her path's set.
0:39:55 > 0:39:59Short-term, Mo also has a trip to Uganda to look forward to.
0:39:59 > 0:40:04I'm going to work with some special needs children in a school
0:40:04 > 0:40:07and I'm going to do that for two weeks in the summer holidays
0:40:07 > 0:40:11after my exams because Australia just made me want to travel more
0:40:11 > 0:40:15and do more, and I thought, "Why not help someone else?"
0:40:15 > 0:40:18Jack, meanwhile, has recently changed schools
0:40:18 > 0:40:19to study for his A levels,
0:40:19 > 0:40:22and he's happy with how things have panned out.
0:40:22 > 0:40:25All the changes have been positive.
0:40:25 > 0:40:30Looking at everything, now that I'm well into my A levels,
0:40:30 > 0:40:34and Mo's excited for her new performing arts school
0:40:34 > 0:40:39and Mum's got a job that she enjoys...
0:40:39 > 0:40:41I guess for all of us it is better.
0:40:41 > 0:40:43Also bitten by the travel bug,
0:40:43 > 0:40:46he recently enjoyed a school trip to Morocco
0:40:46 > 0:40:49and plans to go travelling after university.
0:40:49 > 0:40:52After the flight to Australia,
0:40:52 > 0:40:56I'm probably prepared to travel anywhere now.
0:40:56 > 0:40:59The Powers may not have made it to the other side of the world,
0:40:59 > 0:41:02but Liz credits their trial week down under
0:41:02 > 0:41:04as the catalyst for the life they've got now.
0:41:04 > 0:41:08I knew I needed to change life, but I didn't know how.
0:41:10 > 0:41:14And I think that going to Australia has done that for us.
0:41:14 > 0:41:16Not in the way I thought,
0:41:16 > 0:41:18but then that's always life, isn't it?
0:41:18 > 0:41:21You think you're in charge, but actually you're not at all.
0:41:21 > 0:41:23But I think definitely...
0:41:25 > 0:41:28I've managed to change my life, how I want it to be,
0:41:28 > 0:41:31much more than I thought I could in this country.
0:41:31 > 0:41:33Off we go.
0:41:33 > 0:41:36And it looks like she's found most of what she was looking for.
0:41:36 > 0:41:40If you could write a tick list of what I wanted out of Australia,
0:41:40 > 0:41:42I'm ticking almost all of the boxes.
0:41:42 > 0:41:45Ultimately, the family's trial week in Melbourne was the start
0:41:45 > 0:41:47of a much bigger journey,
0:41:47 > 0:41:51and it might be some time before they reach their final destination.
0:41:51 > 0:41:54I think Australia will always be in the back of my mind.
0:41:54 > 0:41:57I think there'll always be a what if?
0:41:57 > 0:41:59But I think I'm realistic,
0:41:59 > 0:42:03Australia's probably not going to happen for me.
0:42:03 > 0:42:07But it might for the children yet, particularly Jack.
0:42:09 > 0:42:11And I'll have to deal with that when it comes to it.
0:42:11 > 0:42:14The desire to move out to Australia is still there.
0:42:14 > 0:42:20I'd still say Australia outweighs the UK by miles
0:42:20 > 0:42:24in most aspects, apart from family.
0:42:24 > 0:42:27Staying here has worked out better for us for now,
0:42:27 > 0:42:28and I don't think it's off the cards.
0:42:28 > 0:42:31I do think there is still a chance that we could move out there,
0:42:31 > 0:42:34but right now we're quite settled where we are
0:42:34 > 0:42:36and we don't want to go anywhere just yet.
0:42:36 > 0:42:39I don't think staying here is a poor second now.
0:42:39 > 0:42:40I did initially, but I don't now.
0:42:40 > 0:42:43I feel like we've made the right decision to stay.
0:42:43 > 0:42:45I think I'm happier now than I've ever been.
0:42:47 > 0:42:48And I'm not there.
0:42:54 > 0:42:56For the time being at least,
0:42:56 > 0:42:58it'll be the UK the Powers call home,
0:42:58 > 0:43:02but, thankfully, all the changes Liz has made
0:43:02 > 0:43:05means it's under much better circumstances.
0:43:05 > 0:43:06And who knows?
0:43:06 > 0:43:10She, Jack and Mo may still make it down under one day.
0:43:10 > 0:43:14On whichever side of the world the Powers decide to settle,
0:43:14 > 0:43:16we wish them all the very best.