Sanders Wanted Down Under

Hello and welcome to Wanted Down Under, the show which catapults a British family

right across the other side of the world

to help them make the biggest decision of their life.

Busy single mum Becci Sanders and her 11-year-old son Keelan

are considering swapping the daily grind in Northampton

for a new life in Australia,

even though they've never been to see what it's like.

I feel as if we've outgrown this area, the house.

There's opportunities to be had elsewhere that aren't available here,

not only for me but for Keelan as well.

Keelan's hoping that a move to Australia will mean more quality time with his mum.

We'll be doing a lot more, I reckon, in Australia which we wouldn't do here.

My mum will take me swimming more, and cinemas maybe less because it's hot outside.

But will the reality of life in Australia prove a huge disappointment?

They feel like holiday apartments.

They don't feel like somewhere that you could live.

One of the reasons we want to get out of the UK is everybody

is living on top of everybody else.

Would moving away from his friends in pursuit of a dream life

be too much for Keelan to bear?

Do you want a hug?

Will that leave the Sanders family's plans in tatters

or will they decide to press ahead with a move down under?

When you look out of the window and all you see is grey clouds and rain,

the prospect of a new life in Australia can seem pretty appealing.

For people under 45 and with a skill that's in demand,

it's a realistic option to make the move.

But, if you've never even set foot down under,

it's a massive undertaking.

What if you haven't thought everything through before you make this life-changing decision?

We've given 20 British families the chance of a lifetime,

a week down under to see for themselves if it's all

they dreamt it would be.

They'll be asked then to vote one way or the other,

whether to stay in the UK or move to Australia.

Becci and Keelan Sanders live with their dog Munchy in Northampton.

Becci has long wanted to make the world her oyster

and hopes her job may be their ticket out of the UK.

She's a qualified occupational therapist

but currently works as a mental health advocate.

I want to make a difference to people's lives.

I think everyone that does nursing, OT and social work would say the same thing.

I don't feel as if I'm able to put that into practice here

because of the restraints with funding and budgets.

I feel there'll be more opportunities to make a difference to people's lives elsewhere.

While wanting to help others,

Becci also struggles with her own vulnerability.

For four or five months of the year, I suffer from depression.

My life is pretty much governed by Seasonal Affective Disorder.

It means that during the winter months I do very little.

I get up in the morning and sort Keelan out for school.

And I go to work and I come home and sleep,

and that's about all we do during the winter,

and it obviously has an effect on Keelan as well.

Well, it affects me because even the slightest thing

could make her really angry at me.

Which I don't like.

He has to do a lot more during the winter months to help me out around the house.

He has to do a lot more housework,

so I do feel guilty that I need to rely on him sometimes.

'I've got a very, very strong relationship with my mum.'

I look after her when she's ill, she looks after me when I'm ill.

Although they're close, Becci and Keelan have a strong support network

which extends beyond the two of them.

My mum will miss her best friend Heather a lot

because if one of them's had a bad day they'll go and see the other and cheer them up.

So that's what my mum will miss most, miss her friends.

-There isn't a day goes by when we don't talk.

-No, no.

That's going to be the weirdest thing.

You don't realise how much you rely on someone

until they're not around.

I don't want to think about it cos I get upset!

If they can't replace those close emotional contacts,

they really will be on their own.

If we don't manage to make friends out there,

that will be quite difficult.

'It'll obviously make it more intense,'

the fact that I miss friends and family here.

I'll be sad I'm leaving them. If something really bad happened

to one of them then I'd have to come back.

Becci and Keelan have so much to think about

in considering a move to Australia.

Becci has decided they'll rent a property rather than buy

if they make the move.

But, to help them discover whether Australia can live up to their expectations,

we gave them a week's trial in the capital of the Northern Territory, Darwin.

We found three different lifestyles for our family to sample.

One in the country, one in the city and one on the coast,

each one with the offer of a job and a brand-new way of life

for them to enjoy on their budget.

First, let's take a look at the country lifestyle.

In rural Darwin, you can make the most of the area's outdoor spaces

and year-long balmy temperatures.

With a salary in the region of £23,000,

you may find rural living more affordable.

You could rent a two-bedroom air-conditioned flat in Gray

for 350 a week, which works out at around £600 a month.

Plus there's wildlife and stunning scenery

to be found right on your doorstep.

Cain Ellis is practice manager at a community-managed health service

which is on the lookout for people like you.

Our clinic services the Darwin region for indigenous people and their families.

We see a lot of people with chronic diseases such as diabetes,

heart disease, renal failure.

While we don't have openings in the mental health area at the moment,

we'd love to go down that track

and hopefully we can have a chat with you about the future.

First, you get to come and experience Darwin.

The culture, the weather. You might as well come and see for yourself.

So that was the kind of lifestyle they could enjoy in the country.

Let's take a look at what's possible in the city on their budget.

Capital of the Northern Territory,

Darwin is one of Australia's most buzzing and multicultural cities.

The rental market in Darwin city offers two-bedroom accommodation

for around 700 to £900 a month, so there's something for everyone.

You could work in a private practice like this one

which is owned by Terina Saunders.

The variety of work is what makes health and rehab quite exciting.

It could be a hand injury, injuries to their lower limbs,

spinal injuries, amputees - quite a range of different clientele.

The real plus of living in Darwin, of course, is the lifestyle.

It's such a great place to live and work.

Most of the year it's just beautiful, sunny, warm, lovely days.

You don't have to worry about getting cold.

It looks like their lifestyle could shape up pretty well in the city,

but what about a new life on the coast?

The Darwin coast offers a superb choice of recreational activities,

from fun watersports to excellent fishing.

With some of Darwin's most expensive residential areas lying on the coast,

renting here could strain your finances, costing from £750 to £1,000 a month.

The benefits, though, are many, not least a relaxed way of life,

where you can enjoy the beach from sunrise to sunset.

Local government employs occupational therapists.

One of the managers, Penny Fielding, tells us more.

The work that we have here is a range of general activities

and so we need someone who can be responsive to a range of different needs.

So, Becci, when you're in town, feel free to come by and have a chat.

So, the three options for Becci and Keelan all look appealing in different ways,

but they could only try one.

A new country lifestyle could mean better, cheaper accommodation

but may be too remote.

A move to the city of Darwin would mean being around people more

and easier access to work and school,

and the coast offers the outdoors lifestyle that they dream of,

but at a cost that may be out of reach.

So, three very different possibilities for our family to try.

Which one suited them best?

We sent the Sanders off to test life in the city for their trial week in Australia.

Becci and Keelan have certainly got a lot to work out in the coming days.

They've always been fine just the two of them,

but nearly 9,000 miles away from their friends and family, they may begin to feel isolated.

As they land at Darwin Airport after a gruelling 22-hour journey, they're raring to go.

Slightly apprehensive cos we don't really know what's going to happen,

-but we're very much looking forward to it, and prepared to throw ourselves in completely.

-Yeah.

Can't wait to see it in daylight!

There's still a few hours to go before sunrise.

They're staying in the heart of Darwin city centre.

Wow.

-Oh, wow.

-Look at the size of the kitchen! I'll get lost.

Their base for the week is on the third floor of a block of flats with two bedrooms and a bathroom each.

You've got your own toilet and shower!

-It's a huge room.

-It is actually.

-It's really big.

-Keelan's happy and Becci's keen to forge relationships with the locals straight away.

A shower big enough to fit two people in.

So I need to go and find another person!

Well, hopefully there'll be plenty of time to make new friends, Becci!

For now, just enjoy the unfamiliar view from the terrace.

Oh, wow. The balcony's cool.

-It's lovely.

-Yeah.

They haven't had time to stop, but thoughts are already turning to the loved ones

they could be leaving behind.

It was very strange because Heather gave us a lift to the airport.

That was hard.

I think saying goodbye to Heather especially,

because she came in and had a cup of coffee with us at the airport,

and then she sort of went, "Bye,"

and that was quite strange cos it suddenly hit me that we could be doing that for real quite soon.

Tomorrow the adventure begins in earnest.

Will Becci and Keelan find that life so far from home is all that they've imagined?

Back in the UK, Becci and Keelan live in a two-bedroom house in Northampton.

It's big enough for them and Munchy, but they're ready to move on.

As a single mum, Becci's finances are limited

and she's not looking to buy a house in Australia straight away.

She's hoping to rent, and her budget is up to £750 a month.

In the last five years, Darwin has been experiencing a boom

which has led to a shortage of accommodation, so rents are among the highest in Australia.

Will Becci's budget allow her and Keelan to find a property that they'd be happy to live in?

We've found three homes to rent in Darwin.

The first is in Coconut Grove to the north of the city

and will cost Becci around £750 a month,

which is as much as she wanted to spend.

It has two bedrooms, a modest-sized living space and a balcony.

The area is still under development, so they might need some imagination.

Aha! Yeah. More brick walls.

It's too built up, there's no garden.

It could be a property absolutely anywhere in the world and I want to feel as if I'm in Australia.

-It doesn't feel like a...

-Yeah.

-It feels like it's just anywhere.

-No.

-Not us, is it?

-No.

And, if that wasn't bad enough, the utility room and bathroom turn out to be the same room.

I don't know if I like having the laundry in with the toilet and shower.

It could be a bit noisy and stuff.

No, that's a bit strange.

Mm.

Well, the interior of property number one just isn't cutting the mustard with these two

and it's unfortunate that it's slap-bang next to a building site.

A temporary thing, but I don't think that's going to convince the Sanders.

-There is a garden area, look.

-Yeah.

Obviously you'd have to share that with everybody else.

-Yeah.

-It's not really suitable, is it?

They feel like holiday apartments. They don't feel like somewhere that you could live.

And I'm sure people do live in them and quite happily, but it's not what we're looking for.

One of the reasons that we want to get out of the UK

is because everybody is living on top of everybody else

-and it feels quite claustrophobic, and this has exactly the same feeling.

-Yeah.

Although the weather's nice and the apartments are lovely,

it still feels as though you're all scrunched into a small space.

-It's not really what we're looking for, is it?

-No.

Keelan and Becci aren't too mad about high-rise living,

but in many areas of Darwin it might be their only affordable option.

In that case, property two may be more up their street.

It's in Nightcliff, a very sought-after area of the city.

It's got two bedrooms and one bathroom and would cost around £700 per month.

Oh, wow. It is gorgeous.

That's really nice.

It's stunning.

-It's like a little hideaway.

-Yeah.

It is, it's gorgeous. It's gorgeous.

Well, they like what they've seen so far.

Let's hope the bedrooms will be up to the mark.

Oh, wow. This looks beautiful. Yeah, that'll do!

So Becci's got her tropical hideaway and Keelan's off next door to see if his is up to scratch.

So this would be your room. It looks nice.

-Without the extra bed, there'd be a lot more room.

-There would, yeah.

-Quite like that.

-It is nice.

Right, so that's a tick next to the living area and both bedrooms.

Oh, yeah.

-Yes.

-Yeah!

Can we stay, please?

Last stop is to compare the garden with their own in the UK.

It doesn't compare to the garden back home. It's just fantastic.

-And you've got all this space.

-Yeah.

Patio area.

But this is my ideal garden with all the tropical plants and...

-It's already got the plants there.

-Yeah. It looks beautiful. It's lovely.

The inside is possibly slightly smaller than I thought it was going to be,

but then the outside space is just so fantastic we wouldn't spend that much time inside anyway.

Apart from that, it looks like next door's got a swimming pool, so they'd be very important to get to know!

Yeah, yeah!

Surely it would be better to have your own pool, like at property number three.

It's another flat, this time close to the centre of town and a stone throw from the sea.

It has two bedrooms and two bathrooms and extensive living space.

The monthly rent on this place would be just over £840 per month -

more than Becci was hoping to spend.

-Ooh! Lovely.

-Yeah, there's so much room.

It feels more like a home as opposed to something that's bright and sort of like a holiday apartment.

This feels more like a home. This kitchen's gorgeous!

This flat seems to be allaying some of their doubts about apartment living,

and a bedroom for Keelan is next on the tour.

This is quite a big room.

It's a completely different style of apartment.

-It's 100% different.

-Really, really nice.

The master bedroom has its own en-suite,

so Keelan would have exclusive use of the second bathroom.

Hey, this is nice.

It's not huge, is it?

-Then again...

-It is actually!

-It is actually quite huge.

-All of your storage is in there.

Cos you've got a walk-through wardrobe.

-It is lovely, and I love the fact there's a bath.

-Yeah.

Enough fawning over your bathroom, Becci!

You haven't even been out on the balcony yet.

That's stunning.

-You can see the sea.

-Oh, wow!

-How close is that?

-That's very close.

-Cos the sand's just there.

-I might have to cut a hole in the trees!

Just so you can see right through.

That's very close.

That's a better-size pool.

That's a bit better.

This time, although it's a shared pool, it's close to perfect.

-We should have brought our swimming costumes, shouldn't we?

-Yeah.

It's lovely.

Yes, I could imagine lounging around out here.

There won't be much time for lounging around with this much rent to pay.

The Sanders were a little disappointed that Becci's tight budget

means their property options are limited.

The lush garden at property two made up for the relative lack of space inside,

but property one got it wrong on so many levels.

Property three proved a resounding success

with both Becci and Keelan finding something to love,

but the rent would be a real stretch.

It's time to find out how the reality of renting in Darwin

will affect how they feel overall about property.

Will they vote for the home they rent out in the UK,

or what they've seen is possible to rent in Australia?

So, on the basis of the three properties we've seen today

and compared to the property we've got at home, our vote has to be...

Australia!

It's been a long day.

As Keelan heads for the beach, Becci has a moment to reflect.

She wants to create a positive future for both of them,

and the responsibility weighs heavily on her shoulders.

The warmth and light will surely help her Seasonal Affective Disorder.

The SAD has a huge effect in the UK.

There's only sort of three or four months of the year

where we actually go out and do outside activities, and the rest of the time we're cocooned in the house,

and it obviously has an effect on Keelan as well because we do things together.

If I don't feel like going out then he doesn't get to go out either.

I can't see it being a problem out here at all.

It's pretty much always sunny.

I feel like a different person here already.

I've only been here a few days and I feel different already.

It's becoming clear how much they NEED to make this move,

but although her job is on the skills shortage list,

it's by no means certain that there will be a job waiting for her in Australia.

I would have to have a definite job offer, a definite job to come to.

I'm not in a financial position to come over here and look for work and set up a home in the meantime,

so I would have to have a job to sort of walk straight into,

and that is purely due to finances.

Tomorrow, the pressure will be on Becci to impress a potential employer.

Whether they'll be able to move hangs in the balance.

Becci trained as an occupational therapist, although she's chosen to work as a mental health advocate.

While her occupational therapy qualification would get her a visa to live in Australia,

finding a job that's up her street poses a different problem.

It's 8am and, after dropping Keelan off at the local scout group,

Becci's on the road early to do some research into the kind of job she could hope for if she made the move.

Having found that living as they'd like to in Darwin would cost more than expected,

Becci knows there's a lot at stake this morning.

I'm just really hoping that, from this visit, something definite comes from it.

We wouldn't be able to come out here if I didn't have a definite job offer.

So the pressure's really on.

She's come to meet Terina Saunders at Darwin Private Hospital, to see if she's got what it takes

to make it as an occupational therapist in Australia.

So I gather you're out here to find out a little bit about the occupational therapy opportunities.

-Yes, yeah, definitely.

-Yeah.

-I worked in the UK many, many years ago...

-OK.

..quite a few years back, and I quite enjoyed working there.

-Mm.

-So it's good to see someone's coming in this direction to consider Australia.

-Yeah.

Well, Terina's obviously open to having a Brit join the team, provided that Brit measures up.

..So new staff members, someone like yourself, if you were applying for a position with us,

we'd be looking and asking you what you feel you could offer.

Hopefully there'd also be some areas that I could bring some fresh ideas into as well.

Yes. Absolutely...

Good start. Hopefully Becci will be able to get a feel for the potential working environment.

Although most aspects are similar, there are one or two exceptions.

It's amazing the sorts of things that people will do to their hands unfortunately.

Sometimes in the line of work and sometimes sporting accidents, motor vehicle accidents.

We've even had injuries from crocodile bites,

which, unfortunately, aren't a very nice injury because of the risk of infection.

In one particular case the crocodile grabbed the chap's hand and did what they call a death roll,

so it rolled and that really caused quite a traumatic injury. So...

Things like dingo bites as well.

Not something we get in the UK!

Yeah, yeah. OK, well...

Come in and take a seat.

The tour's given Becci the chance to ask some questions of her own.

Can you tell me a little bit about shift patterns and working hours?

Yes. Most of the time basically Monday to Friday, so...

And is it fairly family-friendly? I'm a single mum.

-Yes, yeah.

-So obviously, you know, I have to sort of fit around Keelan -

school hours possibly and school activities and things.

Yeah, we've usually tailored positions to the staff.

I guess that's one of the things we pride ourselves on

in private practice, and this being my own business,

that I can employ people under conditions and hours that suit

and that are fairly family friendly from that basis.

-Sounds it.

-Yeah, yeah.

So what does Terina think of Becci's prospects?

She's an occupational therapist with a couple of years' experience.

She has a little bit of life, work experience, prior to that,

which, certainly for the line of work we're in,

we do look for people with maturity and skills from other areas.

That sounds promising. Could this be the good news Becci's hoping for?

-OK, Terina. Thank you so much for your time.

-Yeah.

-It's been lovely to meet you.

-Yeah.

Yeah, well, all the best and I hope you consider coming out to Australia

because it's a great place to work, and good luck with the job-seeking.

OK, all right. See you then.

The chances for Becci for finding employment are pretty good,

though I would say she would have to be prepared to probably go to more remote areas of Australia.

Oh, not so promising after all.

Fierce competition for jobs in Darwin means it's unlikely Becci would find work easily there.

Certainly in the Northern Territory, Alice Springs and Katherine are always looking for OTs,

so I'm sure Becci would find work if she chose to come out here, yeah.

They've both fallen in love with the place,

but they wouldn't be able to move without that all-important job,

so will she vote for the UK or Australia?

Having spent some time with Terina today and getting a better idea of what OTs do in Australia

and although I'm aware there isn't a specific job available at the moment,

I am prepared to walk the streets and find something.

And compared to the type of OT work in the UK, I think my vote would have to be...

..Australia.

Becci seems sure about her decision, but if she can't find a job, their move will be impossible.

Anyone thinking of going to live in the Northern Territory

needs to be aware of some of the more hazardous aspects of this part of Australia.

And here's some information about one of the biggest potential dangers.

I think they're going to need a bigger boat!

Anyone that comes to live in the territory

needs a good understanding of saltwater crocodiles.

They've been protected since the early '70s.

That protection basically has afforded the population to increase dramatically,

and they do eat people, there's no doubt about it.

It's a really good idea to stay out of the water.

A saltwater croc's jaws are more powerful than those of a Tyrannosaurus Rex.

The biggest one confirmed that I know of is probably about six and a half metres -

just a massive animal.

When you see them, you think, "This is a dinosaur, this is huge."

An animal that size has got no problems taking down cattle, buffalo.

The downward pressure is equivalent to the weight of a large truck.

Cattle come to regular places to drink,

and the crocodile will hang around there for days, weeks, months sometimes.

The animal comes for a drink and he'll shoot out of the water. They grab the animal, pull them under.

They'll do what they call a death roll.

They'll grab the animal by the snout or the neck

and just twist and twist and twist until something gives.

Crocodiles that have been kicked out of their territory

will look for other areas and they'll travel vast, vast distances to find new territories.

So, in areas where last year you came for a swim and you know there's no crocodiles there,

you come this year...

There could be one sitting under there.

That happened recently. A lady was attacked at Lichfield Park.

She's lived out there, she's a resident, she knows the place.

She went in to wash her hands and a crocodile shot out and grabbed her.

Luckily she got away, but some people aren't so fortunate.

Salties have a tiny brain, but they're built for the hunt.

They can run on land at speeds of over 10mph.

It looks like a big, lumbering, slow animal but, if you're within his biting range,

the speed that he can flip around and nail you,

is quicker than you can move so, for anyone moving to Darwin,

there's probably three rules you'd need to take care of

and that's read the signs...

Don't be habitual near a water body. If you're going camping, enjoy it,

but go to a different place each time.

And thirdly, just understand and respect that these critters

are in their environment and you're coming into their environment.

Hey, you eat too, and they've got to eat as well, so just be careful. Be careful.

Becci and Keelan Sanders both believe their lives would be improved immeasurably

if they move to Australia.

They're convinced that broader horizons, better weather

and a more relaxed lifestyle could all be possible.

-Very much looking forward to it, and prepared to throw ourselves in completely.

-Yeah.

But they were disappointed that Becci's budget limits their choices of where they could live.

Although the weather's nice and the apartments are lovely,

it still feels as though you're all scrunched into a very small space.

-That's not really what we're looking for, is it?

-No.

And, most importantly, it seems Becci would struggle to get work

in her chosen branch of occupational therapy.

I would say she would probably have to be prepared to go to more remote areas of Australia.

And, without that all-important job, a move is out of the question.

A vital part of settling in any new place is making real and lasting friends.

Research shows that friends are crucial to people's happiness wherever they live.

So we decided to throw Keelan in at the deep end.

If he'd been hoping his trip to Australia was going to be something of a holiday,

he's in for a surprise.

Today is his first day at school.

Nice to meet you.

Local boy Charlie Burke has offered to show him around.

What's your school like?

It's very small compared to some of the schools in Darwin here.

-There's no bullying or anything so...

-Oh, that's good.

I'd rather be in a smaller school, really.

Yeah.

I think Keelan was a bit worried about going to school and spending time there.

I've been surprised at how much he's thrown himself into it.

And then from year seven to ten, you then go to sixth form.

I am a little bit worried about taking him away from his friends and stuff in the UK.

But he can fit in pretty much anywhere and make new friends.

Do you have, like, assemblies and stuff?

Yeah, we have assemblies.

The class is having a science lesson and it's really hands-on.

What you'll do is break into groups.

Each group is going to focus on one of the animals.

You're going to be thinking of work to do with that animal.

Obviously you're not going to all be with Bob the croc...

It seems the other main difference in Australian schools

is that they include a small unit on crocodile wrangling!

But, as we've seen, it pays to know the dangers of the wildlife you might run into, no matter how small.

Do you want to hold him? Hold him like that, cos his mouth's not going to swing round and bite, OK?

My only concern really is to do with the dangers that are here

that we don't face in the UK, to do with wildlife and things.

Charlie can go first.

-Come on, man, he won't bite you.

-They're quite rough.

-Have you ever seen a crocodile before...?

-Yes.

-Be careful of his leg.

TEACHER: By now, you should have your first ten words down

and you should now be handling the animal.

Put words down that relate to what you feel, what you see when you're up close to it, OK?

Spiky or scaly or...?

-Yeah, scaly, I'd say.

-He's the longest living dinosaur, isn't he?

'Everyone seems really friendly, whereas in England,'

if you met someone, they might seem a little bit hostile at first.

It would take a while for them to start being friendly to you.

Children, adults, they just seem to want to get to know you.

Keelan's fitting in well, but if Becci could only find work in remote parts of Australia,

he might find his problem is less whether he can make friends

and more whether he can find friends at all to make.

I think if I was offered a job sort of in the middle of nowhere,

I would have to consider Keelan and the benefits to him.

He's at an age where he needs to interact with other people

and build social skills, so I would have to take that into account.

Keelan's done incredibly well today and his new friends have really taken to him.

But will his vote reflect how he feels about them?

I had a good day at school, I made a lot of friends and the work is all easier than it is in England.

Australia!

THEY CHEER

ALL: Aussie, Aussie, Aussie! Oi, oi, oi!

Well, he loves school here, but, what with helping his mother out at home during her winter depression,

Keelan doesn't always have this much time to be a kid.

If we don't manage to come out here,

I guess we'll just go back to the routine that we were in before,

where he has to be more helpful to me during the winter months.

And we go back to just the usual routine in the UK - me being on medication,

him, you know, doing the things he has to do.

So Becci's really beginning to worry about whether she could make it work in Australia.

Despite some disappointments, Becci and Keelan have remained positive throughout the week

and seem set on a new life down under.

Keelan's had no problems fitting in in Darwin,

but Becci still worries about taking him away from loved ones back home.

Before Becci and Keelan decide whether they're going to move to Australia,

we've got some messages from loved ones to remind them of their ties to the UK.

First up is Becci's best friend, Heather.

Hey, Becci, hey, Kee. How are you?

I hope everything's going really well out there.

I'd just like to say that

I'm going to miss you very much,

especially when you come round for your dinners on Sundays...

Generally she's usually thinking about other people,

and obviously Keelan and her get on really well,

and they've got quite a good relationship

and it spills over onto other people really.

You can't imagine

one without the other, if you know what I mean.

It's just a nice relationship. It's nice to see them together.

He's, like, funny, but...

I'm sure he'll be fine,

but at the moment it's, like, feeling quite sad, sort of thing.

He's very clever.

For a lad of his age, he's really clever,

and I think he's got the maturity and the responsibility

to really make something of this experience.

I know that Becci and Keelan are together and will always have each other,

but you can still be lonely for, you know, your sister

who's just around the corner and the rest of the family who aren't too far away,

and I know that, from my point of view, I would...

I would probably feel a bit lonely from time to time, and that's a scary thought.

We get on very well.

We're really more like a sister than mother and daughter, really.

We really do get on well, and I'm very proud of her.

I'm sure her dad would have been too.

I wouldn't want her ever to feel alone...

and helpless, and if anything...

you know, things go wrong, I'd want her to know that she's always got someone

that'll be on the end of the phone no matter what, and help you out.

When she was my bridesmaid on my wedding day, it was just...

It really was just the best thing in the world to have her there.

Becci was the one that told me I looked stupid in frills, that I wasn't allowed to wear red,

and that I had to make sure that I had nice underwear on.

And she was the one that chose it all with me.

I'm almost angry at her for leaving, but at the same time you can't be,

because it's achieving the main thing she's ever wanted.

She deserves a better life and I won't hold her back, although I will be sad and I shall miss her.

I can't wait to see you when you come back from the trip

and I'll have some chicken taters waiting for you when you come round.

I'll miss the hugs the most.

It's a hug that only someone who really understands where you're coming from can give you.

And she is often the only one that can understand where I'm coming from.

I'm going to miss you guys so much.

You have been absolutely fabulous to me since the day I met you.

Kee, I'm so proud of everything that you've done.

You've worked so hard to help your mum and support her and make her proud every single day.

Just cos you're going to Australia, don't think that has to stop.

And, Becci, it's going to be really hard here without you,

but I know that every time I come to see you

you're going to be happier every time, and you deserve it.

Look after each other and we will see you real soon.

That was hard, watching that, wasn't it?

Yeah.

Yeah, that was really hard.

I knew that I'd get emotional with Heather's bit.

It was almost as if she was in the room with us.

Yeah.

It doesn't change our potential plans, no.

What it does do is makes me realise that we need to be somewhere

that friends and family can come out and visit us and stay,

and that we need to keep lines of communication open, definitely.

Whether that be phone, internet or whatever.

Do you want a hug?

We'll have to persuade Heather and David to move out here as well.

-Try to.

-Yeah.

-And Nanny.

-And the rest.

Nanny's got to come out to cook us chicken taters.

I'll hold her to that as well!

Yeah.

Oh, that's the hardest part, and Becci and Keelan have had to face facts.

Any gains they might make by moving to Darwin come with a huge loss.

It's been a challenging week for Becci and Keelan Sanders,

9,000 miles from their home in Northampton.

Slightly apprehensive cos we don't really know what's going to happen.

But I can't wait to see it in daylight.

Keelan seemed to have no problems fitting in in Darwin.

It was actually really enjoyable. I was quite shocked.

In Australia, I shouldn't have to go to school when I'm not even living here,

and I actually really enjoyed it.

ALL: Aussie, Aussie, Aussie! Oi, oi, oi!

But they weren't totally sold on the idea of city living.

I think with the property, it would be cheaper

and we tend to get more land with a property on the outskirts.

Becci's Seasonal Affective Disorder was nowhere in sight,

so, if they can't make the move, life might return to depressing normality.

If we don't manage to come out here,

I guess we'll just go back to the routine that we were in before.

Me being on medication and him, you know, doing the things that he has to do.

Messages from friends and family back home were a wake-up call.

I didn't think it would be that bad. I didn't think I'd get emotional.

I thought I'd just keep cool, but...

I struggled a little bit.

Seeing Heather, it was very emotional.

It's almost going to be like losing a limb.

I probably will never have a friendship like that again.

And, with no job fixed up for Becci to come to, they might not be able to make the move at all.

If she does find a job down under, as a single mum with no support network,

times might be hard for her and Keelan.

And, if I thought that he was going to be horribly miserable out here, then I would have to think again

about what we were doing and why.

So it's crunch time.

Becci and Keelan must make their final vote.

After considering everything involved in a possible move down under,

do they prefer their lives back home in the UK,

or have they been convinced that their future lies here in Australia?

How will they vote?

After what seemed like a very long week here,

I've decided that I really like it here.

I've enjoyed everything that I've done so far

and, even though the friends and family bit was sad, they still want to be happy for us.

Having spent the week here, I think it's made me realise

that there's more to moving to Australia than I'd originally thought.

Darwin has really got under my skin and I think we've both fallen in love with Darwin completely.

If we had to choose between the UK and Australia, it would have to be...

BOTH: Australia!

The week's been a real hit and Becci and Keelan have loved everything they experienced in Darwin.

If, and it's a big if, Becci can find work,

then they're dead set on moving where they're wanted down under.

Join us next time when we find out what happens when another British family have to decide

whether to move where they're wanted down under.

Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd