Stitt Family Wanted Down Under

Moving halfway around the world in search of a better family life

is a huge gamble.

But if the price of your job is rarely seeing the people you love,

is it a risk worth taking?

With their future on the line,

it's a choice that will push one family to their limit.

The Stitts are desperate for a new life.

I just don't want, in ten years' time,

for my children to say, "Daddy, who are you?"

But it will come at a huge cost.

That's what we have to give up, that, to make...

It's a huge, huge stumbling block.

And they will have to deal with some harsh realities.

It's really not my idea of living the Australian dream. I'm sorry.

With so much at stake,

they face a week that could change their lives forever.

With its British connections and sunny climate,

Australia is the number one destination

for people leaving the UK in search of a new life.

In fact, over 35,000 emigrate there every year.

However, the grass isn't always greener

and nearly a third return to the UK.

The Stitts will have to decide whether they can face the reality

of swapping their lives in Northern Ireland

for a new start in Australia.

It's one week that could change their entire future.

It all starts with a gruelling 9,000 miles

and 20 hours of flying to reach Perth.

The time to think over what they're taking on

has brought out plenty of worries.

I'm just thinking,

"What if we don't like it? What are we going to do?

"Is our situation so bad that we have to leave Northern Ireland?

"Do we have to come to the other side of the world?

"Can't we do something else? Can't we just do what we're doing?

"Can I put up with it? No, I can't put up with it."

I've just been up and down.

But there are some plus points to their week in Australia.

-Nice to get to spend a bit of time together.

-Yes, yeah.

-As a family.

Cos we don't get a lot of that, family time together.

So, that's an opportunity for us to be together and...

see how that works out!

As they set off for their week down under,

it's a far cry from their life in Northern Ireland.

In the UK, Eric, Corinne and daughters, nine-year-old Jodie

and Madison, aged five, live in Bangor.

It's an area that gives them a lifestyle they all love.

Both Eric and I are born and bred Northern Ireland

and we're proud to be Northern Irish.

-We have a lot going on here.

-We do love where we live.

We live in a very nice area, we're so close to the school the kids go to.

We've been able to provide the girls lots of opportunities for things.

So, with such an idyllic home life,

why do the Stitts want to give it up for Australia?

It seems there's a problem that's tearing the family apart.

In a month, Eric would be away for two or three weeks at a time.

He's home for the weekend and he would have one full day with us.

And in that stage, everything is rushed into the full day

and then, the next day, Eric's away off to the airport,

away to work, and it could be for another two weeks.

This day-to-day absence from Eric is taking its toll on all of them.

He has missed out over the years on those things where, really,

you know, he should be there. And he does feel it.

It can be very hard trying to explain to a five-year-old

that Daddy has to go to work, you have to keep a roof over your heads.

OK, have you got a kiss for Daddy?

Eric runs his own business designing pipe systems for oil and gas rigs.

Working all over Europe and offshore

means he can't take his family with him.

'I just don't want, in ten years' time,

'for my children to turn round and say, "Daddy, who are you?

'"Where have you been?"'

-You behave yourself, now, for your mummy.

-OK.

'It's vitally important that we do get our lives sorted out

'and get to spend the time together as a family that we need to.'

-Try...

-You're all right.

-OK. See you. Take care.

'Corinne does feel it hard sometimes.

'She has to be here 24/7 for the girls.'

Everything is on her shoulders.

She says she feels like she's a single parent.

It's not easy for her and I do appreciate that.

The Stitts are looking to Australia

to give them their dream of a normal family life.

They hope its booming oil industry will mean Eric can find a job

that allows him to be at home a lot more.

Just hoping for a lifestyle that's...

you work to live, you don't live to work.

And the girls can see the benefits.

We would like to go to Australia.

-Wouldn't we?

-Yeah.

It would be fun to spend some time with Dad and everything.

And he'll help us with our homework.

But if the Stitts do move down under they're all too aware

how much they stand to lose.

We are quite a close family.

It's very daunting, I suppose, sometimes, just to think that

you're going to be the other side of the world.

That you're not going to be there when they need you.

It's not that easy to get back to see them.

It's a difficult decision that's leaving them torn.

There's so much at stake

but Corinne can't bear things as they are.

I just sort of have to think outside the box, now, sort of think,

I love Northern Ireland but it just doesn't provide for us,

as a family, what we need.

And I think if we didn't take this opportunity to go and see

what Australia's about and didn't do it for the children,

we would regret it.

It's a heart-wrenching dilemma.

Eric and Corinne are happy in their home

but are simply unable to spend time together.

And, if Australia can't give them an answer,

it will mean giving up hope of the life they want.

This week down under really will

make them face their toughest choice ever.

The Stitts want to find out if Perth in Western Australia

could be the right location for a new start.

With its booming oil and gas industries, it should offer

good work opportunities for Eric.

And its year-round warm climate

should also give the family a chance to spend some quality time together.

Their base for the week is just south of the city.

-This is lovely.

-Yeah.

This is really, really, lovely.

-Do you want to go and pick bedrooms?

-Mmm... Yeah.

This three-bedroom cottage is only five minutes from the beach

and has plenty of space.

It should give them a good taste of what Australian life can offer.

Everything's here that we need. It's really nice and it's clean

and it's modern with that sort of shabby chic-y twist to it.

And it's all really different from what we have at home,

which is nice as well.

To stay in something that's just not what you're used to.

I think it's nice.

Corinne and Eric are well aware of how big a deal

the next seven days will be.

I really want it to go well,

for this to be a really positive experience for us.

Otherwise, we're going to be down the road in another ten years' time

and wonder what we've done with ourselves.

A lot really does ride on it.

Although they're looking for a future in Australia,

falling for life here could have huge repercussions.

I worry that if I really, really do like it,

that people at home are going to be a bit...

There's a sense of guilt.

There's a wee sense of that,

that there's going to be a lot of sad faces.

I don't know whether they really have realised

that this is a serious decision for us.

This is... If we like this, we're coming out here.

We're not hanging about.

Actually being here now brings home to you just how big a decision

it would be to make the move.

Key to the Stitts making the move

is finding a house that offers them all they want in Aussie living.

With recent years bringing big changes in house prices

and exchange rates, finding that dream home could be a tall order.

Back in the UK,

the Stitts live in a three-bedroom house in Bangor, Northern Ireland.

They've got plenty of ideas about what

an Australian house needs to deliver.

The right sort of property would be very important.

My dream property in Australia would be a pretty big house.

In the middle of nowhere.

We'd be looking for five bedrooms

to give us the possibility to have friends and family.

-Probably room for stables.

-It has to have a swimming pool for the girls.

And just somewhere where we can spread out

and just enjoy being outdoors and just having room around us.

That sounds great but it won't come cheap.

The Stitts have a budget of around £300,000,

if they can get the right price for their house.

Today we're going to give them a taste of the Perth property market.

We'll show them three options

based upon what they want from their ideal home, what they can afford

and the real price of houses down under.

After seeing first hand what's on offer,

we'll reveal to the family just how much each house costs.

However, prices in Perth are the most expensive

in Western Australia.

Can their wallets keep up with their dreams?

Property one is in the Byford area, 20 miles due south of Perth.

Although a long way inland, it's popular with young families

and is probably the best value for money area in Perth.

So, what will they make of this three-bedroom house and its price?

Looks like a box with windows.

THEY LAUGH

It's going to be quite close to the neighbours.

Yeah, you're close to the neighbours,

it looks like it's been squeezed onto a small site from the front.

Not a winning start. Perhaps it's best to move inside.

Straight into the living room. A bit smaller than I thought.

-No, I don't like this at all.

-You're not keen on coming straight in...

No, I don't like walking straight in from the front into a living area.

I think it wouldn't be used, it would be a glorified hall for me.

I guess a house without a hallway was never on their wish list.

What about the main living space?

If this is the main area and that's your living room, it's small.

Mmm.

I would feel that I would be sitting in my kitchen all the time.

It's really not what I would come out here for.

If the house is too small,

can the garden change their opinion?

I know we don't have a big back garden at home,

but this is even smaller.

It's just not practical at all, not for having kids.

-Where are you going to play?

-What are they going to do out here?

-Go round in a circle on their bikes?

-No, that's not working for me at all.

No.

That's a real big letdown.

This house has failed on all fronts but they still don't know the price.

If it costs anywhere near their budget,

would it really be worth giving up life in the UK for?

So, what's the price?

ERIC SNIGGERS

£250,000 sterling.

That's a blow.

Their budget is between £250 and £300,000.

That is a lot of money for what you're getting.

Definitely think you get a lot more for your money back home.

There needs to be a wee bit of reality on that

cos this house is not worth £250,000 of anybody's money.

-That's a big letdown for me.

-Yeah.

-Serious letdown.

That bodes badly for the Stitts.

If this property isn't worth considering,

will the right house be beyond their means?

Hopefully, property two can restore their faith in Australian houses.

Set in the Baldivis area, it's only a couple of miles

from some of the best beaches in the region.

And being a small town, it means shops and restaurants are close by.

With four bedrooms and two lounges,

hopefully this house will be more up their street.

Ahh, you see, this is a hall.

It's a better start but what will they make of the Australian-style living area?

-This is better.

-This has a nice feel about it.

-Yeah, this is better.

It's open plan but it works a lot better than that other property.

Yeah, it's a bigger area.

Definitely do not feel as hemmed in in this house

as we did in the other.

This is only the second house

and the Stitts seem to have found something they like.

Will the garden keep them happy?

Oh, it's like...

Pfft.

-That's like the...

-Peace wall.

-That's like a peace wall.

A DOG BARKS

Er... It's a wee bit...

No, the house is nice, this here is a big no-no. I couldn't, no way.

No way, I have to be honest with you, no way. That...

That is like a prison boundary. I can't cope with that.

-I couldn't look out at that.

-It's a wee bit industrial, isn't it?

-It's an industrial site with houses on it.

-You see the extent of it.

It goes for... I don't know how far.

It reminds me of a particular place at home

and I just couldn't cope with it, looking at that, sorry.

It's not... No way.

Pfft.

It's not my dream,

it's really not my idea of living the Australian dream.

It doesn't do it for me, I'm sorry.

Can we go?

It may seem like an extreme reaction but it's a painful reminder

of something they're trying to leave behind.

It reminds us both of a boundary wall in Belfast

called the peace wall,

which separates two communities in Belfast.

It's there to keep people apart.

It doesn't affect Eric and I where we live, but it is a symbol

of something that we have been affected by over the years.

I'm not coming to Western Australia to look at that

-or be reminded of it, thanks very much.

-No.

I'm sure Corinne won't be too concerned

about the price of this property, but could they afford it anyway?

Leaving the garden aside, it is a house they all liked.

315,000.

It's probably over-valued at 315,000.

Well, basing it and comparing it to...

Comparing it to what I would get at home, yeah.

But I certainly would not pay it for here. No.

As if the reminder wasn't enough, it's at the top of their budget.

If this kind of house is the best they can buy,

will Eric and Corinne have to rethink their future?

Everything rests on the last house.

The third property is set in the mysterious sounding

Secret Harbour area.

It's only a few minutes walk from the beach

and close to the countryside.

The downside is that it's nearly 40 miles south of Perth.

It should mean the Stitts get more for their money

but at the price of a long commute for Eric.

But after two disappointments, there's a lot at stake.

This is nice.

-That's nice. Lots of kiddies about, as well.

-Yeah.

-You'd have friends to play with.

-Nice mixture of houses as well.

A lot more green to the front. Phew!

It's a promising start.

Can the inside also deliver?

-Oh, this is really swanky, isn't it? This is lovely.

-Yeah, this is nice.

-Which way will we go?

-Erm... follow Dad.

-This way?

-Go this way.

Master bedroom, I think.

-That's lovely.

-That's beautiful.

-That's really nice,

the decor, as well, is really nice.

That looks like an en suite.

-Oh, wow!

-Woo!

-That's bigger than our bathroom at home!

-Probably is.

This house certainly seems to have picked up

Corinne and Eric's spirits.

Wow! I like this.

-Wow factor, there.

-Yeah, this is what I'm talking about.

And there's even a bonus room that should appeal to Eric.

Ooh.

-Ooh. Big screen!

-This is the cinema room you're talking about.

-Yes.

-Does this make you happy?

-Yes.

-HE LAUGHS

-It makes him happy.

This is like being at the movies, isn't it?

Imagine having this in your own house.

Mummy, are you going to get this house?

Wow, she is going to get it.

-Well, it ticks a lot of my boxes.

-It's ticking all the boxes so far.

Madison seems to have made up her mind about this house,

but Corinne has spotted something in the garden.

You're here, you're looking at your TV, your living area

and what else are you looking at?

Oh, aye. What can you see out there, girls?

-What is it?

-A pool.

A pool.

This house seems to be the one.

In fact, Corinne can already see themselves at home here.

Can you see yourself coming home on a Friday,

coming down that freeway and coming home and getting the shorts on

and getting a beer out and throwing yourself...?

-Or not? No? Does that work for you?

-That works for me.

Works for me, too. I'll probably be in it before you get home.

Take you for a dip.

MADISON SQUEALS

No tears this time.

ERIC LAUGHS

Quite happy.

Everyone might be happy, but they've yet to find out the price.

Property three has got the Australian dream back on track

but could the cost bring it all to a juddering halt?

400.

-Approximately 400,000.

-Yep.

I think, the finish, the detail,

the swimming pool, that all adds up.

They've found the ideal house but it's well over budget.

Surely the Stitts will have to settle for a lot less in Australia.

-We'll have to see what I can expect, obviously, to earn.

-Yep.

It would have to take

a house like this or similar standard

for us to make the move.

It's been an emotional day.

The first house was not one

they would ever dream of giving up the UK for.

The second left Corinne

distraught and dismayed with Australian houses.

However, the third home lived up to their dreams

but would mean Eric having to earn a lot more than his current salary.

So which way will they vote on houses in Australia?

Based on the houses we've looked at today

and what we think we can get,

our decision is...

ALL: Australia!

Depending on the wages and job opportunities and that,

but if it's achievable...

-The potential...

-Yeah, the potential is there

-that yeah, I would vote for Australia.

-Yep.

It's a great result for Eric and Corinne's dream,

but there are still plenty of unanswered questions.

A vote for property in Perth is a great start

even if it comes at a high price.

But it's spending time as a family

that's driving Eric and Corinne's decision.

And if Perth can't give them the lifestyle they all want,

then the dream could be for nothing.

So we've arranged for them

to spend the day with Aaron, Lara and their two children.

Aaron is taking them for a spin on the water.

As a marine engineer, Eric has a real passion for boats

and although it doesn't come cheap,

he hopes joining a boat club will be a good way to meet other families.

-This is Jodie and this is Madison.

-Hello.

-Hi.

-Nice to meet you.

Beautiful. Let's fire up and let's get going.

I'm like a kid in a toy shop.

It's proving a great way to see what Australian life can offer,

and when they drop anchor

Eric and Corinne have lots of questions.

So what about the social aspect

of being in the boating community and the sailing club?

It very much adds to the enjoyment of boating.

The sailing club atmosphere's great. Awesome grounds for the kids,

the restaurant is beautiful, it's a lovely place to be down there.

It's so good just to see Jodie and Madison actually be content now

and they're happy and playing. It's our big fear, obviously...

bringing the kids over

-to something new.

-They'll be fine. Kids are so adaptable.

Also, for us, it's important that we can mix and meet people.

You will. Everybody's very warm here.

I moved over here from Africa, from Zimbabwe.

You do miss your family at first but you build new relationships

and obviously, you become very close to your friends

when you don't have your family around you.

That's it, it is important that you meet people and you can sort of...

-Develop that support network, in a way.

-You do need that, I think.

That certainly seems to have taken some weight off Eric's shoulders.

-Put your feet up.

-No!

-Go on.

-Eric.

Woo! I'm flying! I'm flying!

And as they head back,

Corinne is noticing the effects on the children.

Today, Jodie's come out of her shell.

She's really starting to enjoy it

and see what sort of lifestyle she could probably be part of and enjoy.

As they come to the end of the day,

it's also dawning on Eric what he'd be leaving behind.

We have had a really, really amazing positive day today,

but in a way, it does reinforce too

the sacrifice that we're going to have to make,

the fact that we're going to have to leave loved ones behind.

We're not going to be able just to go and see them whenever we want.

And yeah, you can't get away from that.

The boat trip proved a success

but has made the Stitts realise what they'd be giving up.

Will they vote for the lifestyle in Oz

or will the tug of loved ones push them towards the UK?

Aaron, Laura and their children have all made us feel really welcome.

It's helped Eric and I realise

that the kids would have no problems in Australia,

meeting other kids and making friends

and just enjoying the lifestyle.

So our vote goes to...

ALL: Australia!

Another unanimous vote for Australia!

The Stitts are one step closer to deciding their future.

With the family sold on Perth's lifestyle,

that's another great result for the Stitts' dream.

Everything now depends on Eric finding a job

that offers both the salary and the work-life balance

he came to Australia looking for.

Back home in Northern Ireland, Eric runs his own company

designing pipework for the oil and gas industry

and earns £75,000 a year.

We do have a comfortable standard of living, but it's apart.

It's the cost that lifestyle comes at at the minute.

The problem is that Eric is away from home

for up to three weeks at a time.

So we've arranged for Eric to meet a specialist recruitment consultant

for the oil and gas industry.

Having built up his business over five years,

Eric knows he'd be taking a huge gamble giving it all up.

I do have reservations about leaving the job I have in the UK at present.

Things have been going very well for me.

I enjoy the work

so yeah, I'm worried about possibly leaving that behind,

taking the plunge for pastures new.

There's a lot riding on Eric's interview, and while he prepares,

Corinne's giving the girls a taste of Aussie life.

-I'm Suzanne.

-Hi, I'm Corinne.

-This is Jodie and Madison.

-How you going, guys?

-Good.

-Looking forward to having a ride?

-Yes.

-Yeah.

As Jodie has begun horse riding lessons in the UK,

being able to ride in Australia is a must.

And the girls don't waste any time getting into the saddle.

-CLICKS HER TONGUE

-Walk on.

Aah!

Back in the city, recruitment manager Andrei Sarpe

has been poring over Eric's CV.

The positive thing is, because of the industry where it is,

it's at a massive growth stage

so it's the right time for anyone to come into the industry

if they'll ever have a chance of coming in.

-Yeah.

-Both onshore and offshore, there is a lot of work.

-It's reassuring to hear that.

-Fantastic.

That the opportunities do exist.

Definitely, the opportunities are boundless

and I think the skills that you've already got

and the packages that you've been working with,

are very transferable to the market here.

That's exactly what Eric wanted to hear.

At the stables, Corinne's time alone with the girls

is reminding her why their life needs to change.

Eric misses out on a lot of the kids' day-to-day activities.

And when he does come home from work he feels absolutely wrecked.

But at the end of the day, it's not an option

when you've two young kids, you have to get up and out there

and that's when we feel the pressure.

We pack everything into the short time he is home.

And then the routine starts again,

and that's when the upset starts, when Eric heads off again,

and you just think, you're putting your kids through that all the time.

Find it hard.

SHE SOBS

Find it really difficult. I find it difficult.

I find emotionally, sometimes I'm wrecked, just with...

I feel so much for the kids.

I just really do feel for them

and it's just like I have to put them first.

It sounds silly, but I have to be a big girl about things now

and my kids have to come first.

My family have to come first

and I can't really cope much longer

with the upset that it causes them.

It's this upset that has pushed them

to consider emigrating to the other side of the world.

However, the move will be pointless if Eric has to work away from home.

Most of the work is office-based in Perth

and most of the companies do have facilities in the CBD.

So there's infrequent travel

to offshore and maybe onshore sites as well,

but definitely 95% of the work is done in the CBD

so it is more family-friendly, compared to a lot of other places.

The CBD is Perth's Central Business District.

Set in the heart of the city,

a job here would mean Eric and his family

could finally lead the normal life they dream of.

To get an opportunity to work in the CBD,

in the same city, the same country as my wife and children...

-You get to go home every night.

-To go home every night would be fantastic.

That just leaves one big question.

Based on the contract rules, what would you...

Ballpark figure, would you see salary potential?

The salary ranges can start anywhere between 180

up into the vicinity of the 300,000s

for the senior roles and the lead roles.

Yeah, just trying to do the sums in my head there

but I think that compares really favourably,

certainly the news I wanted to hear.

Fantastic.

I think those figures will go down well with my wife as well!

I'm sure they will!

Even the lowest possible salary is £113,000.

38,000 more than Eric currently earns.

Suddenly, a future where he can be part of the family looks possible.

I wonder how he'll vote on work in the UK vs Australia.

Today's gone really positive.

I heard all I needed to hear,

probably a little bit more.

Based on all I've been able to find out today,

my vote goes to...

..Australia!

-Hi, everybody.

-Hi.

Back at the house, Corinne is keen to know what Eric has found out.

So where would you be located? Would you have to do any offshore work?

-It's all based in the CBD.

-Office-based?

Those big tall new buildings you're looking at in the centre of Perth,

a lot of them are all the major oil companies

-so all Perth-based, CBD.

-That's what you want, isn't it?

-So you're not having to worry about looking...

-Isn't that good?

Do you like that? Do you like that, Madison?

-Mm-hmm.

-Daddy working in a job that he'd be home every night?

-Mm-hmm.

-Yeah?

-Yeah?

-Oh, dear.

-I haven't told you what the salary was yet.

-All right, tell me.

He reckons he doesn't see why you couldn't be looking at

250,000-300,000 Australian dollars.

What?

And that's before you start even moving into management.

CORINNE LAUGHS

Serious!

-I don't believe you.

-Seriously.

What do you think about that, then?

Yeah, when can I start?

Can you do overtime?

Not yet!

-Can you work weekends? It is 7-7?

-I don't think they do weekends.

OK, that's something you need to find out.

THEY LAUGH

We're OK, we'll amuse ourselves.

The news about Eric's potential salary is very welcome.

But even with strong prospects,

affording the house and the lifestyle they want

could all hinge on getting a good price for their UK home.

Corinne and Eric's house has been on the market

for 12 months at £180,000.

If they can't get a decent price, they're thinking of renting it out

and getting a bigger mortgage in Australia.

We sent round two estate agents to get their opinion.

OK, let's see what they say.

OK, living room's been nicely decorated,

natural colours, which most people are looking for,

an attractive fireplace with slate tiling

and reclaimed brick with the mantle.

-I built that.

-Nicely done.

The kitchen's modern

and most buyers are looking for natural wood kitchens.

Nicely done, and most people should be impressed.

-Very good.

-That's good.

-That's nice.

This is a well-proportioned bedroom

certainly capable of taking a double bed,

and obviously a little girl's room, but that shouldn't affect the price.

I'm not little!

Oh, here's your room, Madison.

-My room!

-This is obviously used as a third bedroom.

It is quite a small room.

It might be best utilised as a study, or a nursery.

But you can get a single bed

and there's a huge storage cupboard there as well, so it's not...

-No.

-It's not small.

In today's market, I would value this house at £160,000

and for quick sale, £150,000

-and for a rental, somewhere in the region of £650 per month.

-Yep.

-Yes?

I would expect under current market conditions

that the property should achieve a figure in the region of £165,000.

In terms of rental value,

I would expect it to achieve between £600 and £650 per calendar month.

-Yeah.

-Yeah, that's OK.

-That's exactly...

-What we thought.

Maybe actually a wee bit more on the sale of the house,

although I still think the idea of renting it is good.

Oh, rental, definitely.

See how nice the house can look, girls, when it's tidied?

-My bedroom's tidy!

-Do you promise to keep it that tidy when you go home?

Yeah, she does.

I'm going to mess my teddies up

and I'm going to put my teddies everywhere.

-Are you?

-Yeah!

No big surprises there, it seems,

but what will the cost of living reveal?

We've prepared a comparison of prices in Australia

compared to those in the UK.

Can they actually afford to live the lifestyle they want

or will the cost of living down under be too much to handle?

This is weekly.

Eggs are a good bit more expensive.

-So's bread.

-That's £49. It's actually going up 20%.

So at home, our mortgage payments are coming out at £673

so that's obviously an increase.

£12 a month...

Just over slightly doubled.

The cost of living is,

basically, slightly more than double what it would be in the UK.

That's a massive difference.

Can Eric's higher salary make up for this hole in their finances?

Right, so looking at the figures, in the UK, we can get £80,000 a year.

-Yep.

-In Australia, going in at the mid-range,

you're looking at £110,000 a year

with the potential to go up another 10-15,000

if you're looking towards the higher end of the income range.

So, right away, you are £30,000 a year better off here.

We can achieve the dream of being together as a family

and financially we're not going to suffer.

We can have our cake and eat it, in a way.

Gosh. That's good.

I'm just really, really excited now.

That's making me so happy.

It's better than what we possibly thought.

Have the Stitts worked out a way to get their dream life?

How will they vote on living costs?

Taking into consideration the salary Eric would earn in Australia

against the salary in the UK

and also the cost of living...

..our vote goes to...

BOTH: ..Australia!

With a big leap in their possible incomes,

the figures look too good to be true for Eric and Corinne.

But there's one final cost they have yet to face.

The pain of leaving loved ones behind.

Hearing messages from family and friends can be very emotional

and Jodie has decided against watching them.

Eric and Corinne are happy for Madison to join them,

to see how she feels.

Let's see what everyone has to say about us back home.

Hi, Eric and Corinne,

Jodie and Madison!

About a year and a half ago, they came to see us one night

and they happened to say

that they were thinking of going to Australia

and how did we feel about it?

Well,

-we were shocked.

-Mm-hmm.

But we understood the situation, we understood how they felt.

We'll miss sometimes having to go to school to collect the kids,

bring them home,

just doing different things in general with them.

It'll be different that

a family member lives over there,

so close to you, but...

..if it helps their family life, and betters...

It'll be good for them, you know.

I will feel very emotional about it.

It did affect me, yes. Sometimes I try not to show it.

But it does.

If they do go,

and if they stay,

I know we've always said we would never fly

but we will try to go to see them.

But God willing, they'll come back to see us.

And we'll keep in touch as best we can.

You know there'll always be a big place for you

here in Northern Ireland

but it's very much up to you

to decide where suits your family situation best at the minute.

You'll give it your very best.

And I just think that...

All the best, son. All the best.

Think about it.

Take in, weigh the pros and cons

of what you have in Australia and what you have here at home

and weigh out the difference

and make the right decision, both of yous.

We love yous. God bless.

Brings it home to you a wee bit more, sitting here seeing that, I suppose.

Och aye, it does.

But at the end of the day,

they understand that my quality of life just isn't there.

Exactly.

And that's the compromise.

We're OK financially here,

we're OK with the lifestyle,

that's our compromise.

That's what we have to give up

and that, to me, is a huge,

huge stumbling block.

It's emotional. There's no doubt about it.

Seeing their loved ones has brought home how painful the move would be.

If it's a loss that's too much to bear,

will they give up their dream of Australia?

You can see the emotions, you can see how people feel,

and it is, it's a significant sacrifice.

You are walking away from your life, your established life,

everything you know, everything that's familiar to you,

and there is a risk involved in that.

We have to weigh up the pros and cons.

Obviously on the minus side

is the sacrifice of leaving people behind,

but the plus side is the opportunities and lifestyle

that it could offer Jodie and Madison.

It's the end of an emotional week for the Stitts.

They've had a taste of their ideal lifestyle,

seen a downside to the dream home

and found a path that could lead to a better future.

Now it's time for them to make their final, crucial vote.

Will the promise of a new life

be enough to overcome the pull of home and loved ones?

We started off, we weren't too sure

how we would fit in with Australian life.

But all in all,

we as a family have enjoyed our experience here in Perth.

It's been a positive experience.

I think we all can see that the dream is more of a possibility now.

Our vote goes to...

ALL: Australia!

Are you happy enough with your decision?

Yeah, I think so.

-I think it's just reinforced what we were thinking before we came.

-Dada!

I think they can make it work for us.

Yeah, I think we could work together.

You want a kiss too? Mwah!

-You get one?

-Eugh!

-No?

After an experience to remember, the Stitt family have decided

that Australia can offer them the life they've been searching for.

And they're hoping it's just the beginning of their next journey.

Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd

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