Jones Family Wanted Down Under

After years struggling as a single mum, you finally scrape together

the cash to achieve the new life you've been dreaming of for decades.

Now, all you have to do is persuade your children to move

to the other side of the world.

For 20 years, Paula Jones has been craving a new life in Australia.

It means the world to me.

I want the best for my children.

But daughter's Kacey's far from sold.

I feel like I'm going to have to leave everything behind

to make everybody else happy.

Whilst a trial week down under is a massive hit...

This is our dream house.

-Yeah.

-This is the dream house.

I'd want to come here as soon as possible. It's just great.

It's just brilliant, I don't want to go home.

..will Kacey missing loved ones ultimately derail the dream?

BOTH: Hi!

My dad and my best friend...

I don't think I could live properly without them.

For the last two decades, Australia's been the number one destination

for British citizens moving abroad.

Every day, around 23 families leave the UK to start

a new life in the country.

Boasting an average temperature 13 degrees higher than Britain's,

it's easy to understand why so many

are lured to a land with more than 10,000 beaches.

Since she was a teenager,

mum Paula Jones has dreamt of a life in the Australian sunshine.

Now, over 20 years later, it could finally be within reach.

Over the next week, Paula and her two children

will discover everything the country could offer them

before deciding whether to take the plunge

and move to the other side of the world or stay put in the UK.

Flying via Singapore,

it takes a family over 24 hours to get from the UK to Australia.

Everyone's on fine form though when they finally touch down in Adelaide.

The flight was good. Enjoyed it.

I spent most of the time watching movies, eating, drinking,

bit of shopping. I don't know what anyone complains about really.

I slept for most of the flight, so I'm not tired.

Arriving on Australian soil for the first time has been emotional for Paula.

The minute I landed, I'm flying.

So pleased to be here.

She's like, "Oh, my goodness! I'm finally in Australia!"

And we just looked at her like, "What?"

And she's already worried the country won't live up to the image

she's created in two decades of dreaming.

I'm nervous in case I don't like it, I'm nervous in case

my dream gets shattered and it's not what I think it's going to be.

Paula's in no doubt as to what's at stake over the next week.

This is it, I've waited years for this week to come.

It's make or break.

Ahead of the Jones' lies seven days to discover

if they can achieve the life Paula desires.

I think it's quite warm, actually.

Told you we were hardened Brits.

Meet the Jones family from Prestatyn in North Wales.

They're mum Paula, 18-year-old Luke and 13-year-old Kacey.

Life's been far from plain sailing for Paula.

Leaving home at the age of just 15,

she met her future husband one year later and had Luke when she was 18.

But it's been the last decade that's proved particularly hard.

I ran my own dry-cleaning business and then the recession hit

and, well, I lost the business and my marriage broke down

and we divorced and Luke was eight and Kacey was nearly three.

I think life for mum has been pretty tough, to be honest.

Ooh, I'll buy that!

Ever since becoming a single parent,

making ends meet has been a struggle.

Even when I was a kid there was never really any money.

I didn't have all the things I wanted to have.

We've had some difficult times, but we stick together as a family

and we get on, don't we?

We just get on with it.

Financially, the family situation has left them no alternative

but to rely on the state for support.

I've had no choice but to claim benefits,

housing benefit, council tax benefit and tax credits,

in order to survive as a single parent.

Even though I have always worked.

Depending on government assistance is something Paula's always been

determined to escape.

It made me feel very worthless

and not a full person within society really, from the day I started

to claim benefits, I tried to find a way out of that trap.

Four years ago,

she took decisive action to turn her family's life around and juggled

looking after Kacey and Luke with studying to become a radiographer.

I did an access course, I went to university,

I've worked hard, I've got my degree, I've got a good job.

Yeah, she's found it tough, but I'm quite proud of her really.

Paula's driven herself hard, but had only limited success.

Even now, I still have to rely on tax credits.

Desperate to steer out of the benefits trap

and provide a better future for her family,

Paula's now considering a move to the other side of the world.

It's not the first time emigrating has been on the cards.

When I was 16 I used to write to my uncle

who lived in New Zealand at the time.

We discussed then for me to go over to New Zealand

and hopefully start a new life then.

It didn't work out.

Determined to make it down under one day,

Paula turned her attention to settling in Australia

and started saving every penny she could scrape together

to fund a move.

Years later, she's managed to build up a small nest egg.

But Paula faces a difficult dilemma.

On the one hand, her new-found career could be the road to

a new life in Australia for her, Luke and Kacey.

I think my potential for work in Australia

and career prospects for the children are better in Australia.

To not have to rely on the government for any kind of hand-out,

whether it be tax credits or any kind of benefit,

would make me feel free and happy.

But on the other,

it could at last provide them with a home to call their own in the UK.

I've managed to save enough money for a deposit on a house.

It's great have an opportunity to buy a house,

I've been trying buy a house for ten years.

Paula's torn as to which option will prove best for her and her children

in the long run.

I'm in a complete dilemma as to whether

I spend what savings I've got on the deposit

and settle here and stay in the UK, or whether I use the money to apply

for visas and flights to go over to Australia and start a new life out there.

While Luke doesn't feel much love for life in North Wales

and is ready for a change...

I don't like living around here a lot.

It's very dull and boring. Nothing ever to do.

I think he starting to realise that it's going to be very

difficult for him to get the job that he wants in the UK.

..persuading Kacey to uproot to Australia will be a much tougher battle.

I've only just made like, the best bunch of friends ever.

It's so scary...

I feel like I'm going to have to leave everything behind

to make everybody else happy.

Kacey's very reluctant to go

and she's very reluctant to leave her family and her friends.

Kacey's very close to her dad.

She sees her dad on a regular basis.

Paula feels she must act now if she's ever to stand

a chance of achieving her dream of living in Australia.

I think the time's right now, because I know deep down that

if I don't do it now, I'll probably never go.

But in the back of her mind,

she knows choosing a fresh start in the country could mean closing

the door on financial security in the UK for good.

Moving to Australia would be a huge gamble for me now.

Simply because if I spend all the money that I've got for

a deposit on going to Australia, I haven't got anything to come back to.

I'll be back at square one, we'll be back to ten years ago.

And she's concerned that the reality of life down under

might not square up to her dreams.

Looking at Australia in pictures and magazines

and the internet isn't the same as being there.

I'm a little bit worried that it might not

actually be what I'm expecting.

The next week will decide once and for all where Paula

and her family will call home.

This is it for us, as a family.

It means the world to me.

I just want... I want the best for my children.

The family are spending their trial week visiting Adelaide.

The driest Australian state capital,

almost one in 12 of its inhabitants hail from the UK.

Home for the week is a three-bedroom house at just a ten-minute walk

from the white sands of Henley Beach.

About 20 minutes west of the city.

Even before they're out of the car,

the family are over the moon with their temporary base.

It looks like one of those houses you buy if you've

just won the lottery.

Wow, I really like it.

Inside, everyone's soon claiming the master bedroom as their own.

-This is my room.

-"This is my room!"

-Now this can be my room.

-No, it's not.

I've got my own walk-in wardrobe... Two walk-in wardrobes!

This is definitely my room, yes, definitely the master bedroom.

-It's going to be mine, I love it.

-It's mine.

-THEY LAUGH

-That's it.

Paula's bowled over by the open plan kitchen-diner and living room.

I really like the open space. I can see myself cooking on here.

I can see you cooking on there too.

Cheeky!

The garden goes down well too.

-It's nice, isn't it?

-Nice barbecue.

Compared to the garden at home, this is lovely, isn't it? It's big.

It's actually got grass as opposed to mud.

Paula's settled in quickly.

So far, we really like it. Feel at home.

-Feel like I should have always been here.

-It is nice. I like it.

And Luke's first impressions of Australia are pretty positive.

It reminds me of like, a bigger, less serious Britain.

Has all the qualities, but it's just... It's just like that.

But the gamble she could be taking with her life savings

is already playing on Paula's mind.

I haven't got enough money to move out here AND buy a house in the UK.

It's one or the other.

And if I do move out here, I'm going to be sacrificing the deposit I've

got on the house for the UK and I'll have to live

in rented accommodation here.

And Kacey's thinking of who she's leaving behind in the UK.

I worry to move to Australia because of my friends

and my dad and his family.

Because my dad loves seeing me all the time.

He really would miss me so, so much.

Paula's under no illusion as to how critical the week ahead is.

By the end of this week, the dream will come to a conclusion.

We'll either be moving to Australia or we won't.

It's make or break.

Back in the UK, the Jones family live in a three-bedroom rented house

in the North Wales seaside town of Prestatyn.

Whilst Paula enjoys living there for half the year...

I really do like Prestatyn. I like living very close to the beach.

In the summer it's fantastic.

..the other six months leave her cold.

In the winter, it's my worst nightmare.

The family has struggled to find a permanent home.

-I think they've lived in...

-How many have we lived in? 15 houses.

-No.

Yeah, me and Luke have.

-If you include your dad's houses...

-He's only lived in like, two.

From our point of view, from what we lived in,

I think we've lived in eight different houses.

For a home down under, there's one thing on Luke and Kacey's wish list.

I'd want a house that's definitely got a swimming pool.

I'd love that.

I think it's great, but I think they're unrealistic.

I'd be quite happy with just a modern three-bedroom house.

To find out what kind of house the Jones' could have in Australia,

today we'll show them three properties.

Two on budget, and a third which could be their dream home.

Only after they've seen each one

will they find out how much they'd cost to rent.

The family have a monthly rental budget of £1,000.

First the family head to Brompton,

a suburb ten minutes north of Adelaide city centre.

So, will this three-bedroom townhouse be to the family's taste?

Outside, first impressions are good.

-Very...

-I like it.

-..posh.

And inside, the house continues to work its charm.

Oh, this is nice.

Ooh, look at the shiny floors!

Oh, my goodness!

The spacious kitchen has one appealing feature.

I like it. I just like the fact it's got a dishwasher.

That's definitely your job, Luke.

All right.

And Paula takes the opportunity to test the water with Kacey.

Would you move from the UK for this house?

-Maybe.

-Yeah.

Not bad, considering they're only just in the door.

Upstairs, Paula's already assigning rooms.

This is a Luke room.

No, it's probably the smallest room. So that's not happening, is it?

PAULA LAUGHS

Luke's got his eye on the master bedroom.

See, this could be my room. It's big.

It's massive!

This bed's definitely made for the queen and that'll be me.

But some hidden features mean Kacey's laying claim too.

Oh, my God!

It's a wardrobe. And an en-suite.

-Oh, this is mine. I'm having this!

-That's very nice.

Kacey seems swayed.

I'd have this. I've come to Australia for this, for this big room.

If I thought for a minute that this would actually make you come

to Australia, I'd let you have this room.

Oh, that's quite interesting, really.

Outside lies the one thing Kacey and Luke wanted.

Very nice.

-Look at the pool!

-Oh, my goodness.

It's got a pool.

We'd have some fantastic times out here.

I think it's wonderful, I love it.

I could see myself coming here every morning, waking up,

having a nice swim before I go to work. Really nice.

This house has been a big hit with the whole family,

but could they afford it with their monthly rental budget of £1,000?

I think this is going to be over budget.

You couldn't get anything like this in the UK, anyway.

I reckon it'll cost about £915.

I reckon £1,050.

-I think maybe a little bit more.

-Maybe even £1,100.

-Do you want to have a look?

-Yeah, you ready?

-Yeah, I'm ready.

Oh, my goodness. Seriously?

That's just £40 over budget.

Now you've seen how much it's going to cost,

would you move from the UK, for this house?

Maybe.

I'd still miss my dad and my friends.

And the rest of the family.

I think it's good, for what it is.

This means that we can actually afford to come to Australia

-and live here...

-..in a nice house.

..in a really nice house.

It looks like Paula's still got work on her hands convincing Kacey.

Will house number two do the job?

The Jones' head ten miles northwest of the city, to Largs bay.

It's an ideal suburb for families, with schools, cafes and shops nearby.

And a beach just a five minute stroll away.

-Oh, I like it, the trees.

-Very nice.

-Nice.

The property's spacious interiors are an instant hit.

-Oh, lovely.

-This is quite nice.

-Big.

-It's giant.

But, unlike the last house, this isn't a shiny new-build.

The property's more dated.

-I don't think it is.

-It is,

this is a much older property than the ones that we've seen.

Yeah, it looks older, it has an older feel to it.

Plus, the layout's a potential fly in the ointment for Paula.

I'm not overkeen on the master bedroom

being right at the front of the house.

-Mm.

-Cos I'm not keen on sleeping right in front of the house.

While the living room decor pleases Kacey and Paula...

-I like the fireplace, it's lovely.

-It's gorgeous.

..Luke spots something's amiss.

Where's the TV?

-I don't know.

-They don't have a TV.

I think that we could replace the mirror that's on the mantelpiece

with a TV. It would make more sense.

The open-plan kitchen-dining area gets the thumbs up.

-Aw!

-I like this.

-Very big, open-plan.

-Kitchen-diner, yeah, I like it, it's nice.

-Yeah, it's got a little island in the middle, hasn't it?

-Yeah.

-You're into these islands, aren't you?

-Yeah, I really do like these.

But Paula and Luke can't help but compare it to the first property.

It's not as good as the one in the last house, I don't think.

And I agree with Luke, I actually prefer the one in the last house.

Despite boasting a large garden...

-This is massive.

-Oh, my goodness!

-It's nice.

-This is gorgeous.

-It even has a tree that you could climb.

..this house just isn't cutting the mustard.

I like the garden, but the house just isn't modern enough for me.

I don't like this sort of house.

It's nice, but I still don't think it's for us.

So this property isn't one the family would want to call home.

But could they afford it, with their £1,000 a month budget?

-I think it's over budget.

-I think it's over budget, too.

-But it has got four bedrooms.

-I reckon it's going to be about...

Hm... £1,200.

I reckon £1,250.

I'm going to go with Luke, I think that it's about £1,200.

-So shall we have a look, see how much it is?

-Yeah.

-Yeah.

-Whoa!

-Oh.

That's £40 under budget.

So do you think this price would sway it?

Not really, I still don't like the house that much.

I think, for the price, it's quite good,

but I still wouldn't want to live here.

-We'll have to have a think about it, won't we?

-Yeah.

For their final viewing, we've found what we think could be

the family's dream home, in the newly created suburb of St Clair.

While the area's still under construction,

it benefits from a recreation centre,

offering sports and leisure activities,

and is only ten minutes' drive from the nearest beach.

Once more, the exteriors impress.

-This is huge.

-This is great.

-This is absolutely beautiful.

-Do you like it?

-Yeah.

-Yeah.

-Yeah, brand-new house,

brand-new area, brand-new start.

But what about inside?

-Oh, wow!

-This is massive.

-Oh, my God.

-Oh, my goodness!

-This is huge.

Luke's worried about how much this shiny, new house would cost.

Never going to be able to afford something like this.

Oh, my goodness.

But Kacey's already sold.

-This is our dream house.

-Yeah, this is the dream house.

The first of three living spaces has everyone enchanted.

-This is, like, amazing.

-Look at it.

-Aw! Oh, my goodness. Crazy!

-This is mad.

This is the dream house.

This is the house that I'd go anywhere in the world for.

The open-plan kitchen-dining and living room

doesn't disappoint either.

This is well good.

-Oh, my...

-It goes all the way round.

-That's really nice.

-Oh, I love it.

It is perfect for me.

Could definitely live in this house, definitely.

I'd do anything to live in a house like this.

-Would you clean the floors?

-Yeah.

-Would you?

-I'd clean the whole house.

-Wow.

My word, that's quite an endorsement, Luke.

Upstairs lie four bedrooms and a third living area.

Oh, my God.

-A sitting area upstairs.

-Yeah.

-How cool.

CASEY GASPS While the bedrooms impress...

Nice room.

I like it.

..it's the master suite, with French doors leading onto a balcony,

that's the real winner.

-Oh, my God.

-Oh, my...

-This is gorgeous.

Oh, my... This is my dream room!

Wow, look at this.

-Oh, my goodness.

-Look, there's a lake.

-This is a really nice ensuite.

-Wow.

It's a bubbly bath!

And Paula can't help but try out the spa bath for size.

Oh, yeah! Could I have some candles, please?

Let's just go.

Are you just leaving me? Don't leave me, come back!

A spacious garden, with pool, is the icing on the cake.

It's got a pool, barbecue.

It's got everything.

This is so good.

Think of the parties we could have here in the summer.

Oh, my goodness. Barbecues.

I feel like I'm in a different life, if I lived here.

-Do you?

-This is the Hollywood dream.

-Yeah.

-That's what I feel like.

-Prince of Bel Air, Luke?

-Yeah.

So is this a house only suited to Hollywood stars?

Or could it be somewhere the Jones' could afford with their

£1,000 a month rental budget?

I don't think we're ever going to be able to afford

a house this expensive. I reckon it's going to be £1,500 a month.

About £1,400.

And you?

I'm going to go with you, Mum, £1,500.

OK, have a look, go on, then.

KACEY GASPS

-Oh, my God, what?

-That's not that bad at all, is it?

-£1,200.

-You're kidding me?

That's £290 over budget.

-That's well good.

-That is amazing.

-It's much cheaper than I thought it was going to be.

-Yeah.

-OK.

-It's great.

Let's see how I get on for jobs.

It's been an overwhelmingly positive day for the Jones',

checking out properties in the Adelaide suburbs.

Property 1 hit the spot,

with it's fought-over master bedroom and inviting pool area.

Despite its size, property 2 disappointed,

with a floor plan that failed to win praise.

Property 3 was the clear favourite, though,

with generously sized rooms, numerous living areas and its perfect pool.

So, when it comes to properties,

has everything they've seen been enough for everyone

to choose Australia over the UK?

-Australia.

-Australia.

-Australia.

For me, it was an easy decision.

All the houses are big, they're all spacious.

In Australia, the houses are definitely better.

British houses are just tiny.

And they're more modern,

instead of having old Victorian houses.

I reckon we should just drop everything,

sell everything we've got and come live here.

-Do you think so?

-Yeah, we'll slowly buy furniture.

PAULA LAUGHS

A clean sweep of votes for Australia's just what Paula

had been hoping for,

but, if she's to afford her dream home,

a good job and salary will be essential.

Back in the UK, Paula's a radiographer, working for the NHS.

I take X-rays and produce images, so that doctors can use those images.

OK, Dawn, so is it your right wrist?

'I love working with the general public and I enjoy what I do

'and I feel that every day I'm at work, I help people.'

Down under, she'd be keen to develop her career.

I will definitely look into being a diagnostic radiographer,

but I definitely will also be looking for future career prospects

in Australia.

Ideally, I want to go on to do a master's degree.

As the sole earner in the family, she's all too aware,

a move relies on her job prospects.

It's very important that I get the right job

and the right salary in Australia.

If I don't get the right salary,

it will kill my dream and I won't be able to go.

We've arranged for Paula to visit the Royal Adelaide Hospital,

the largest in the city.

First up, she meets Dominic, a team leader in a radiology department,

and wastes no time in asking about the working week.

So what kind of shift pattern do you work here and how many hours a week?

-We have 37.5 hour week.

-Very nice.

We have four shift groups, who rotate across shifts in a pattern.

So day shifts, afternoons and night shifts and weekends.

Seven days and then four days off and then seven days again, five days off.

So, you actually do get quite a chunk of time

-where you get quite a few days off together?

-Mm-hm.

-Correct, yeah.

-So, really, it's very good for you...

It's very flexible.

..for your lifestyle, really, and your general wellbeing?

-It is, yeah.

-That sounds good to me.

Nearing the end of his A-levels in the UK,

Luke's keen to research options for further education in Adelaide.

So he's off to Flinders University to find out more.

He meets prospective student advisor Kym Sara.

-Hi, I'm Luke.

-Hi, I'm Kym, welcome to Flinders.

-Let's have a look around.

-OK.

After a quick campus tour,

Luke asks if he could qualify for a degree course

in his favourite subject of psychology.

Coming from overseas, what would normally happen,

assuming you'd be a permanent resident,

we would look at your overseas qualifications.

They're assessed by the South Australian Tertiary Admissions Centre, so SATAC.

And they'd look at what you've done overseas.

Is it better for me to be an international student or would it be

better coming over as a permanent resident with my mother?

Mm-hm. Well, you could do either.

If you're going to be applying as a permanent resident,

there's a lot more benefits for you.

So that's access to be able to get in,

so entry options that you've got, as well as all the things

like the fees and how much you're going to be paying for the course.

Outside, Luke's delighted with what he's discovered.

I'd probably want to come here as soon as possible, it's just great.

Hopefully, mum's got the news she needed,

if she hasn't, then,

maybe, this isn't for us, but hopefully she has.

Back at the hospital, Paula meets with operations manager Michael,

and is eager to learn if her qualifications

would be transferable to Australia.

My UK qualification is a Bachelor of Science,

-so would that be recognised here?

-I would assume that it would be,

however AHPRA, being the regulatory body for registration,

would need to recognise that as well.

OK, good. Sounds great.

So career progression is really important to me,

so if I couldn't go into reporting,

I'd like to go into MRI, maybe ultrasound.

So how do you see that in the future?

When we don't have anyone training in those areas

and we require that resource, we put out an expression of interest,

to all the staff, so it's fair and equitable.

We put together a training plan for the department

and select individuals based on that.

So, as a recently qualified radiographer,

what could Paula expect to earn?

-Around 60,000, 62,000...

-OK.

-..per year.

If you put shift penalties on top of that,

there's a high chance that doing

general radiography you'd be on a shift roster,

you can probably add an additional 5,000 on top of that,

-with penalties.

-OK, so about 65,000 a year?

Yeah, I would say 65,000, comfortably.

OK. So, after a few years, when I've got some more experience,

if I wanted to apply for a senior position,

what's the salary for that?

You'd be starting at around the 70,000 mark.

A staring salary of 65,000 is about £33,000.

A whopping 50% more than Paula currently earns.

That's £11,000 over what I'm getting paid currently in the UK,

for the same job, same hours.

And the shift pattern seems better for lifestyle.

So, yeah, I'm quite happy.

Time for Paula to cast her vote.

Based on the information I found out about work today, my vote goes to...

Australia.

As soon as I heard the salary that I could earn

and the potential salary that I could earn in the future,

that was definitely the decision maker for me.

Discovering his potential options appears to have already sold Luke

on the idea of a new start in Adelaide.

But Paula's always known Kacey would be the biggest barrier

to achieving her lifelong dream.

So, will a day spent experiencing the lifestyle

the family could enjoy in Australia be enough

to put the whole family on the same page?

Being adventure lovers, the Jones' head to Woodhouse Activity Centre,

in the Adelaide hills.

Where Simon mentally prepares them for what lies ahead.

-I hope you don't mind a little bit of an adrenaline rush.

-Oh, my God.

First up, is a ride on a larger than life swing.

Oh, this is quite cool

How many times do we swing?

THEY SCREAM

This is well good!

That was loads of fun, it was brilliant.

Really enjoyed that.

Back on terra firma, it's time to tackle the centre's assault course.

Ready, steady, go!

Whoa!

Then, Kacey spots one of Australia's most famous, yet elusive, animals,

as it puts in a guest appearance.

A koala bear!

Oh, yeah.

Kacey's certainly getting into the swing of things.

I enjoyed it all today, because it's just been a really nice day.

And Luke's lapping up the Aussie lifestyle too.

I feel more at home here than I do at home.

Taking a breather gives the family the opportunity to catch up

on how the week's going.

So what you thinking so far about Australia?

-It's pretty good.

-I want to move here.

Oh, my goodness.

Life in Australia could mean Paula finally waving goodbye to benefits.

Coming to Australia would actually mean that I'm completely free of

any kind of tax credit or benefit and it would make me feel like

I don't have to be reliant on the government.

Luke may be sold, but Paula's desperately hoping today will have

worked wonders on Kacey.

Every time I think I've got there with Kacey,

she's going to be happy and she's definitely going to want to be here,

she'll then say to me, "Oh, I'm not quite sure."

She, though, is torn, still thinking of who

she'd have to leave behind in the UK.

Holding me back the most is probably my dad and my best friends,

because I don't think I could live properly without them,

because it would just be on my mind constantly.

The whole family have enjoyed their day together in the Australian bush.

So how will they vote when it comes to lifestyle?

Based upon the lifestyle activities we've enjoyed today,

our vote goes to...

-Australia.

-Australia.

Undecided.

Really? How can you be undecided on today?

Yeah, what is there to in Britain?

I think we could do most of this in the UK,

so I'm quite happy with my decision.

I'm quite surprised that you voted undecided.

Kacey's fear of leaving friends and family

threatens to derail Paula's dream.

At home, her passion is performing arts,

so we've arranged for her to visit a local drama group,

to give her a feel for how she could settle in.

One! Two! Three! Four! Five!

I'm just hoping that Kacey enjoys herself and that she makes some new friends

and that she realises that it's not as scary as she thinks it is,

coming to a new country.

-Kick, two, three, four...

-There is a lot riding on tonight,

because if I get along with people and if I like it,

then we're probably going to come.

And if you concentrate on the other person, your nerves will disappear.

As mum watches from the back of the room,

Kacey takes to her new class like an old-timer.

Oh, my God! Hey, hey, can I get a quick picture?

-Sorry, do I know you?

-Can I get a picture, please? Is it you?

Sorry, I don't have time for this at the moment,

-you'll have to do it another time.

-But...

Aw!

Afterwards, she gets to know some of her classmates.

How long have you been coming here and what's it like?

A couple of years, it's just really good. I love it.

What do you do with your weekends, then?

I'm a trainer for Glenelg footy club, like, the seniors, so I spend

a lot of my weekends with them.

Paula's happy to hear Kacey's had a fun evening.

-So do you feel a little bit better now?

-Yeah, I feel a lot better.

Reassured there was nice people.

There are nice people, I kept telling you this.

-Yeah, happy?

-Yeah.

-Good.

With Kacey perhaps coming round to a move, it's more important

than ever for the Jones' finances to stack up down under.

The family sit down to compare the cost of living in Australia

with the UK.

Starting with the weekly food shop.

Oh, my God. Look how much pizza is.

It's really expensive here, compared to the UK.

Potatoes are £5 more here.

-£5 more expensive for a bag of spuds?

-£5, yeah.

Ham's cheaper by £1.25.

That's quite a lot, isn't it, really?

-So it's £19.14 a week more expensive.

-That's not that much.

At around £80 a month more in Australia,

the food shop doesn't cause too much concern,

but they've still to look at the bigger bills.

The family base their calculations on the first property they saw.

Obviously, the rent's going to be more expensive,

but we knew that, well, I knew that,

because I wanted to get a much better house here, in Australia,

-than the one in the UK.

-Yeah.

Electricity's more expensive, but that's probably

because of all the air conditioning that people use over here.

Paula would be spending £304 more per month in Australia.

And losing benefits she'd get at home, means,

despite her higher salary down under,

the overall figure doesn't look good either.

So that's £321 a month worse off.

In total, the family would be nearly £4,000 a year worse off,

but Paula's determined that needn't hold them back.

We don't have to live in that really nice house that we've chose,

we could live in something a little bit cheaper.

So, we'd be better off in Britain?

A little bit, but it'll rain all year.

Paula feels they could make up the shortfall,

but will the necessary compromises be ones they're happy to make?

As they cast their votes on finances in Australia.

Based on the results of the reality check today, our vote goes to...

-Australia.

-Australia.

Undecided.

-So you're undecided again?

-Yeah.

-Why?

-Because, if we moved here,

I'd want to move for a really good reason and we couldn't have a house with a pool.

We'd have a better life.

So what you're saying is that you'd not really want to

compromise on a cheaper house?

It's not that, it's that I wouldn't want to come all the way out here

and leave my friends and family if we didn't have a pool,

because the pool's one of the main things I wanted.

With a little bit of imagination and some sacrifices,

Paula's confident the finances could work,

but Kacey's still not ready to commit to making the move.

Now Paula faces, potentially, her biggest hurdle,

as the family sit down to watch messages from friends and family

back in the UK.

-Hi.

-Hi, Paula.

-Hope you're having a good time.

Hope you're not missing us too much.

-Hello!

-Hi.

All right, Luke. Hi, Paula. Hi, Kacey.

What on earth do you want to go and live in Australia for?

-When you could be here in sunny...

-Beautiful, sunny north Wales.

The family's very close, we all are, really.

Paula's a brilliant girl.

Paula is one of the most chilled, easy-going people that I know,

which is probably why we get on so well.

She's a good laugh at school and she's very nice and kind.

A good friend.

Luke is lovely, confident, silly, daft,

has grown up to be a lovely young man.

She seems to want to go for her mum's side,

because her mum's really excited to go.

She doesn't want to leave, cos she'd miss us all.

-Australia's gain would be our loss.

-Oh, definitely, yeah.

-Because we would miss her very much.

-Definitely.

I'd miss their phone calls,

I would miss Sunday meals and I'd miss my daughter.

Luke, if you like what you're seeing so far and you're enjoying it,

I think you should go for it.

But, don't forget, if you do decide to go, you can always come home.

Oh, my God. I'm actually going to cry.

Don't consider anybody else, think about you and the children and

how you feel in Australia at the moment

and make your decision based on that.

Bye for now, bye!

What are you thinking?

I reckon we should come over. Maybe.

-What do you think?

-That's what they all think.

-I'm not really sure.

-You're still unsure.

Yeah, I'm still unsure, cos I know I'd miss them.

Messages from home have been a poignant reminder of

just how hard it would be to leave loved ones behind in the UK.

For decades, Paula's dream of a new life in Australia

has been out of reach.

Now, she's closer than ever to finally making it a reality,

but, with two undecided votes so far from Kacey,

will her plans for a fresh start in Australia

slip from her grasp at the last moment?

A week ago, when the Jones family arrived

for their trial week in Adelaide,

Paula was pinning her hopes on Australia

delivering a brighter future.

It's completely lived up to expectation.

In fact, if anything, it's got better, it's better than I expected.

It's just brilliant, I don't want to go home.

For Luke, Australia hasn't put a foot wrong.

The week's been really good, I've had a good time.

It makes me want to move here now.

I could definitely call it home, straight away.

But the week has thrown some obstacles in Paula's direction.

There's been a couple of little disappointing moments,

especially where Kacey's involved,

cos I know she's a little bit unsure of what she wants.

I think I'm the one keeping us back from doing it

and I feel quite upset for doing it,

but I'd just miss everybody too much.

Kacey knows her vote could have a massive impact

on the future direction of the family's lives.

There is a lot of pressure put on me today, in the voting,

because if I say yes, then I know we're definitely coming

in the next year, but if I say Britain, then, obviously,

they'd get very upset.

PAULA SIGHS

If Kacey votes for the UK today, I will be upset, I'll be gutted.

Paula's dream will live or die on the approaching final turn of the cards.

I'm really hoping to get a clear outcome for Australia today.

I think now's the time. I think if I'm going to do it,

I should do it now.

It's time for the family to decide

where they will spend the rest of their lives.

We've had a fantastic week, this week, in Australia.

We've learnt a lot about Adelaide. We've really, really enjoyed it.

So, based upon our experience this week, our vote goes to...

-Australia.

-Undecided.

-Australia.

-Are you undecided, still?

-Yeah.

-OK.

-You voted that every time, apart from once.

Yeah, but I'm not really sure where I want to be right now,

whether it's in Australia or the UK.

I definitely want to come here when I'm older.

So it's definitely an option to still move out here,

-when you're a little bit older?

-Yeah, definitely.

-Yeah, is that a promise?

-Definitely.

-Can I have a pinkie promise?

-Go on, pinkie promise.

-Pinkie promise!

-When you're older.

-Are you kidding me?

-No, come on!

-No you've got to pinkie on it.

-Oh, fine.

-Pinkie promise, yeah, happy with that?

-Yeah.

What about you, happy with that?

Yeah, I definitely want to move here. Definitely.

-Come on.

-Are you kidding me? Is this actually happening?

-I don't want to hug.

-Group hug!

Do you think I've made the right decision, Mum?

Well, you haven't made the decision.

-I'm very excited now.

-Why?

-I'm excited,

cos I know that we might not be able to come straight away,

but Luke will come and then we'll follow him.

It's not the definitive result that she had hoped for,

but Paula remains optimistic that, with time,

the family will make it down under.

Her dream's not dead yet.

We hope, wherever Paula, Luke and Kacey choose to settle,

the future brings them every happiness.