Kennedy Family Wanted Down Under

If you believed you had an ideal life at home,

could you be persuaded to give it up and emigrate halfway around the world,

especially when your partner and your children were ready to pack their bags?

Peter Kennedy is convinced his family could have a better life in Australia.

I'm sure in my heart of hearts that...

..it's for the right reasons.

But wife Nicky can't see any reason to give up all she loves.

I like the life that I've got in York,

you know, like my home, I like where we live,

friends, family, everything.

A week Down Under will leave her torn...

Now I just need to convince Mum that Australia's the place for the family.

Is it enough that the children and Pete's happy, or do I need to be happy, as well?

..and the entire family divided.

Are you staying in England with me? OK.

-I'm coming to Australia.

-With me?

With its sunny climate and relaxed outdoor lifestyle,

it's no surprise that Australia is the top destination for Brits

starting a new life abroad.

But moving halfway across the globe and leaving behind everything and everyone you know

can turn this dream into the hardest challenge of your life.

Over the next seven days,

the Kennedy family will experience the reality

of everyday life in Australia.

Then they'll have to make a critical choice

whether to stay in the UK or to make the move for good.

23 hours after leaving their house in York,

the Kennedy family complete a 10,000-mile journey.

One person is very glad this part of the trip is over.

-You were dreading it.

-I was dreading it.

I wouldn't want to do it again too soon.

And Nicky also has major worries about the week ahead.

I suppose I'm a bit worried that we do really like it,

and then there's all the, you know, the issues that go with that,

which is mainly leaving friends and family.

However, Peter is taking it all in his stride.

It's still the start of the journey.

We'll look at the work prospects and the whole picture

and just see how that all comes together.

Ahead is one of the most important weeks of their lives,

half a world away from their home back in the UK.

Peter and Nicky Kennedy live in York with their three children,

Joseph, aged nine, Ruby, who's seven, and baby Jude.

For years, Peter's been pushing the idea of moving his family to Australia

and has successfully applied for a visa.

However, his desire to move isn't straightforward.

It's not one reason, it's not one thing

that is either pushing or pulling me to go.

It's the adventure, the opportunity for work, erm,

and opportunities in the medium term for the kids.

We're not being pushed. We're happy here.

It's comfortable. The location's great.

Peter may dream of moving for a new life Down Under,

but it's a different story for Nicky.

I've had ups and downs, really.

He'll show me some nice houses with swimming pools

and I'll think, "Oh, right, that sounds nice."

And then my mum comes round or I go out with friends

and I think, "How could I leave all this?"

I just get a panic, thinking about packing everything up and leaving everything I know

and going across the world.

While Nicky may be torn about the pain and practicalities of moving,

Joseph and Ruby don't have any doubts.

I can't wait to play on the beach and go in the swimming pool.

I'd never thought about moving to a different country,

especially a country that's the other side of the world.

So I just never thought. But when Dad mentioned it to me,

I decided that that was quite a good idea.

As the only one against emigrating, the pressure is on Nicky,

and she knows it's an issue she can't avoid.

I know that a decision is going to have to be made sooner or later

and part of me just wishes the problem would go away.

I'm really happy with my life here.

We live in a really nice place, we've got a lot of great friends.

It would be really difficult to leave them.

But the worst thing would be leaving my mum.

As an only child, Nicky has a very close relationship with her mum,

as do the grandchildren.

She sees a lot of the kids,

has always looked after the kids and babysat for them and adores the children.

I'll miss my friends and Grandma quite a lot.

I guess you can make new friends, but you can't have a new grandma, can you?

I'm going to miss my grandma and my cousins most.

At the moment, we tend not to discuss it too much because...

..she clearly, you know, is upset.

And not that she'd want to stop us,

and she absolutely can see why it would be great for the kids,

but, equally, she would be quite devastated if we left.

I feel bad about putting her through it

and making her have this stress,

but I'm sure in my heart of hearts that it's for the right reasons

and it will turn out all right.

Australia may be Peter's dream

but Nicky's worries, and the heartache they may cause, are creating uncertainty.

I'm not 100 percent set on it. I've got worries and doubts.

But I feel positive about it. It's something that I'm...

-You're not...

-I'm just 50-50, I think, at the minute.

I'm still struggling with everything that I'm leaving behind.

The easiest thing in the world would be to just say,

"Let's just not bother.

"Let's just stay here, quite comfortable. We'll get by.

"Shall we just not bother?"

Yes, let's not bother!

The Kennedys are trapped on opposite sides of a dream.

For Nicky, giving up all she has at home is a heart-breaking prospect,

but Peter believes the rewards of moving could make the pain worthwhile.

Ahead is one of the most important weeks of their lives.

Perth is Western Australia's largest city, with nearly two million residents.

The relaxed lifestyle and high standard of living

are a big attraction for families like the Kennedys,

and the city's mining and oil industry

could offer great business potential for Peter.

The family will be staying in this four-bedroom house in Mullaloo,

17 miles north of the city centre

and close to popular beaches.

This is the Kennedys' first real taste of Australia,

so what would their all-important first impression be?

-CHILDREN: Whoa!

-That is so cool!

Oh, look, there's a bedroom in there.

You can have this room.

That's your bedroom, Jude. What do you think?

Look. It's got Winnie the Pooh.

Look at that little bath, Rubes!

CHILDREN GIGGLE

The children might be happy,

but Mum and Dad seem a tad underwhelmed.

It's OK. It's nice. It's not something we'd probably look at buying.

The kids are happy. There's a pool and some toys,

so they'll be fine.

Hopefully, the rest of the week will lift their spirits,

because the family are aware their future is riding on this trip.

I think Dad, so far, wants to come here more than Mum,

erm, and Mum's kind of following on.

We've got to decide this week. We'll not be coming back again.

I like the life I've got in York,

so for me to uproot myself and the family to come to Perth,

it's got to be really something...

..it's got to be something really special

that I really think it's worth leaving all that behind for.

I can't force Nick to like it. There's a distinct possibility that I won't like it.

It's not my decision. It's a joint decision.

It's just the beginning of their journey,

but with a huge choice on the horizon,

it looks like the Kennedys could be in for a bumpy ride.

The family live in this six-bedroom house close to the centre of York.

After 13 years living here, their home is exactly as they want it.

Finding an Australian property to match this won't be easy.

Where we live here, it's just outside the middle of York.

The location's great, the schools are good.

We've got a nice, big family house in a nice area,

and that's what we'd want to have in Perth.

It's got to be big enough that people can come out and visit.

I really like to swim,

so I'd look forward to having a swimming pool over in Australia.

I would love to have a really big house

so I can run around in it.

Peter and Nicky think their house is worth £375,000,

which they hope will give them a budget

of around £530,000 in Australia.

But will it be enough to afford their dream home?

Today, we'll give the Kennedys a taste of Perth's property market.

We'll show them three options

based on what they want from their ideal home and what they can afford.

After seeing for themselves what's on offer,

they'll find out how much each house costs.

The first house is in Woodvale Waters,

a suburb 15 miles north of Perth.

There are good transport links

and the local state school is one of Perth's best,

making it a great option for the Kennedys.

Just ten minutes from the coast, and with a huge park and lake right next door,

does this four-bedroom house have the wow factor Nicky's looking for?

-What's there, Rubes?

-This.

Oh, like a little office.

-This is nice, isn't it?

-It's a nice size.

It's a bit old fashioned, decor-wise, isn't it?

-I like it.

-Do you, Joe?

What about the big light fitting, Joe?

I like the chandeliers, actually.

-This is nice, isn't it?

-It's nice.

It's a nice kitchen.

This house seems to be a hit with the children,

but Mum and Dad have some reservations.

-It feels like it's in England, don't you think?

-Yes.

Maybe it was an English family that had it.

I guess if you're going to move all the way to Australia,

you might want a house that feels Australian.

What about the large bedrooms? Can they make a difference?

-Ah, this is lovely.

-Yes.

-Ah!

-It's nice, isn't it?

-Is that a Jacuzzi?

Yes, it's a Jacuzzi.

-Ah, that's nice!

-Very sweet.

Ruby, that's nice,

because look what you can see out of your bedroom window.

-It's a pool!

-Yes! We've got a swimming pool!

The pool might be a bonus but, overall, this house just hasn't impressed Nicky.

It's not what I was thinking

of a property that we would buy over here.

-This reminds me of an English house.

-Yes.

This house may not have won them over,

but can the price make it more appealing to their £530,000 budget?

How much do you think it's worth?

Well, it's interesting, because it's in a good area for schools, so it'll be worth...

-About 800 and...

-850.

-850 Australia dollars.

5,000.

-5,000.

-Do you want to have a look, Joe?

-Oh.

-Ooh! 850! I don't think we'd want to pay that for this house.

No, because we'd want to spend money on doing it,

and if you're spending the top end

you want to move straight in and not spend on it.

For a house that's only just within their budget,

this property hasn't made much of an impression.

Will they have better luck on the second property

or will they need to reconsider what kind of house they can afford?

The next home is in Mindarie.

Being further from Perth and transport links than the first house,

it could mean a longer commute for Peter.

But it is right on the coast - perfect for family days at the beach.

-It's lovely, isn't it? You'd be able to go on your bike, wouldn't you?

-Definitely.

You wouldn't be able to get up, though!

It's gorgeous, that.

The sea views might be a good start,

but will this four-bedroom house be modern enough for Nicky and Peter?

Oh, this has an upstairs.

This must be the master bedroom, then, at the front of the house.

-The bathroom...

-Yes.

-That's quite a nice size.

-Similar layout to the first one, with the bathroom and the shower.

-Ooh!

-Oh, look at this!

-That's a nice big room, isn't it?

-This is a bit more like it at the back.

The last one was a bit smaller at the back, wasn't it? This is...

-Yes.

-You'd arrange it differently.

It's sounding quite positive so far.

Will the garden make this a house they'd consider calling home?

It's nice, but there's nowhere for them to play,

kick a ball or... They'd maybe do that on the beach.

Dad says there isn't that much space to play.

The small outdoor space might be far from ideal,

but there is a room upstairs that may help change their minds.

-This is lovely!

-This is nice.

-This is lovely, isn't it?

-Yes.

It's really nice.

-The views are lovely, aren't they?

-Oh, yes.

It's a bit of a waste, though, to have it as a games room.

You'd want it more to entertain, wouldn't you, because of the views and everything?

-I don't know.

-It's a bit of a waste for the kids, just playing table tennis.

Have a look, Rubes.

You're really not far from the sea, look.

-Just straight down that road there, I think, Joe.

-Yes.

-So, what do you think? Do you like this one, Ruby?

-No. I like the other one better.

-Do you?

-Yes. The other one was nicer.

-Yes.

I guess it's going to take more than a room with a view to win Ruby over.

But will the price be within Mum and Dad's £530,000 budget?

We would need to do quite a lot to it to get it how we would want it,

so I think 800,000 Australian dollars.

I think a bit less. 750.

Shall we have a look?

Duh-duh...!

-Ooh, 468.

-We were all close!

750. I think it's maybe a little bit overpriced, to be honest.

What do you think, kids? It needs to be a bit more special for us to leave our house in York.

I don't really like it as much as the first house.

It's not quite what we were looking for, is it?

-No, but they are out there, though, aren't they?

-Hopefully.

-We just haven't found our dream house yet, have we?

-No.

Let's see what the next one's like.

Despite being within their budget, this house has been a bit of a disappointment.

It seems their home back in the UK is a tough act to beat.

Can the last property make the difference?

It's situated in Connolly, in the Joondalup area.

The location offers popular schools, good transport links to Perth

and plenty of shopping.

On paper, this modern five-bedroom house has everything the Kennedys are after,

but will the reality impress?

-Let's have a look.

-It's nice from the outside.

-First impressions...

This is nice. This is absolutely gorgeous.

-Do you like this one?

-Yes.

Jude will like this room because it's big.

-He'd like to play on that rug.

-This is more like us, I think.

-Ohh!

-This is nice.

-This is nice.

-There's a bar! Dad!

This house has definitely got the wow factor the Kennedys have been looking for.

But that's got them worrying about the price.

It looks like somewhere you can't afford, Joe.

I'd be pleased if it turns out to be 468,000.

-Will you?

-Yes.

-The same as the last one?

-Yes.

-I think it'll be more than that.

Would you pay more than the last one for this one?

I would pay all my pocket money.

-You haven't seen the bedrooms yet.

-But so far, I really like it.

-Do you? OK.

At last, the Kennedys have found a property that's a hit with everyone.

It looks as if Ruby might not be the only one

willing to give up their pocket money.

-Ahh, nice!

-Ahh, cool!

-It's nice up here, isn't it?

-Where's the hockey table?

It's lovely out here. Come and have a look at this. Nice views, isn't it?

-I wonder how much it is.

-If you like it, you can't afford it.

Is Peter right, or will this house actually be within their reach?

Let's take a look at the price.

Based on the house and the street, I think it's our favourite.

Easy 900.

Turn it over, Rubes.

That's £70,000 over budget.

-Right.

-So...

-That is a lot, isn't it?

-It is.

-It must be a nice area, then.

-Yes.

-We can't afford it, though, guys!

Ahh! Back to England, eh? RUBY GROANS

-I wanted to live here!

-If we can't afford it, we can't afford it, Rubes.

House-hunting has been a real eye-opener for the Kennedys.

The first property

was not what they'd imagined their Australian home to look like,

and it was right at the top end of their budget.

The second was a lot more affordable,

but it just didn't have the wow factor to make it a contender.

The modern and spacious layout of the last house made it a winner,

but a large price tag could mean it's out of their reach.

So after a day sampling Perth property,

could they give up their UK home,

or have Australian houses fallen short of the mark?

Based on the three properties we've viewed today,

my vote is...

-UK!

-UK.

UK.

UK!

Why have you voted UK, then, Joe?

Er, because I really like the house that we've got so far,

and I wouldn't be willing to give up that house

and my awesome, awesome bedroom for one of those houses.

I really wanted the last house but we couldn't afford it.

If we could afford the last house, I would've voted Australia.

I voted UK because I didn't see any properties today, including the last one,

that I would want to leave my home in the UK for.

The last property was really nice, erm,

but it wasn't something that, erm,

you'd walk away from the UK for.

This is a huge blow for Peter.

He'd hoped that finding their dream home in Australia

would've really helped persuade Nicky towards emigrating.

If we'd seen a property that I really loved, in budget,

I might be feeling differently.

But as it is, it's kind of proven the point to me

that maybe we can't afford the lifestyle

that we would like over here.

I thought we had quite a realistic budget,

but, you know, it may not be.

There's a lot more work to be done, I think.

For me, I'm thinking, "Well, that's fine.

"If we can't afford it, let's go home because I like it at home."

But I know Pete won't have given up yet.

With Aussie homes looking overpriced and underwhelming,

it's not the start Peter was hoping for.

But Nicky seemed much happier to receive bad news.

After an early setback, it's vital that Perth can offer good job prospects for Peter.

In the UK, Peter works as an electrical engineer on large industrial projects.

He has a secure job with a successful company.

But like many in the UK, the recession has made him worry about the future

and pushed him to apply for a visa to work in Australia.

I'd say over the last four or five years,

it's been appalling in the construction industry.

It's a weekly occurrence we hear about companies that are closing, and it's really tough.

With question marks over his long-term prospects,

Peter's hoping that Australia will give more opportunities

to progress his career.

Nicky currently manages a call centre,

but if they move, the plan would be for her to stay at home and help settle the children.

Also, they're considering sending them to a private school,

increasing the strain on Peter's income.

There's a certain salary that we've got in mind

that if he doesn't get a job offer of that salary,

I just don't think we can afford to go.

It's no good going for the same standard of living.

It's got to be better. It's got to feel better.

And I've got to earn enough money to provide all that.

With so much resting on Peter's job,

we've arranged for him to spend the day at a local electrical engineering company.

He's met by Tim, one of the managers,

who'll be showing him around the site.

This is our estimating department. We've got the project director, one of the estimators here.

-Through here is one of the jobs we're currently looking at...

-Excellent.

..which is a hospital development.

-There's a lot of work around at the moment, which is good.

-Good news.

As well as covering schools and hospitals in Perth,

the company also provides electrics for Western Australia's mining, oil and gas industries.

But there is a downside.

The sites are spread out over huge distances,

so some staff - known as "fly-in fly-out workers" -

spend days living and working on site, then fly home to rest.

So, how does mining and working up in the northwest appeal to you?

Er, it's something I've considered.

I've looked at the fly-in fly-out, the different rosters

and the opportunity that provides.

Obviously, it's a lot tougher on the family side of things, you're away from home,

but the benefits are financial.

It's definitely something that I'd consider.

-Have you got a good understanding of the distance involved in travelling?

-Yes.

-You use planes like we use buses!

-Exactly!

While Peter explores his work prospects,

Nicky has taken the children to a local school

to see if private education could be an option in Australia.

I've done a lot of research on the schools, and this is the one that we really liked the look of.

I wanted to get a look at it,

meet some of the staff and just get a feel for the place.

Head teacher Dawn Clements is on-hand to show them around.

We do cricket and we do soccer and we do allsorts of other sports.

-I really like cricket.

-You really like cricket?

Well, Australians are very good at cricket,

so that is definitely one sport that we do like to do!

At nearly £6,000 a year,

private school could be a strain on the family budget,

so it has to be worth it.

What do you think about the size of it, guys?

-It's massive.

-It's absolutely huge.

-It is, isn't it?

We've got about 850 students in the high school here.

And in the primary school, we've got about 450, rounded off.

-That doesn't put you off, does it?

-CHILDREN: No.

-It seems like a really lovely school.

-I can't wait till year seven

because I really want to get into that design and enterprises,

-because I really like making things.

-Looks good.

-What did you like about it, Ruby?

-I just really like it because it's so big.

-And the library looked nice, didn't it?

-Yes.

If we do come, we need to get your names on the waiting list.

Because it's such a good school,

you've got to wait until there's a place available.

It sounds like everyone's been impressed.

But it all depends on how much Peter can earn.

With his tour over, he's met by Tim's colleague Adrian,

who emigrated to Perth three years ago.

He should be able to address Peter's big concerns.

Looking at your CV, there's plenty of jobs here.

And for somebody of your skills and background,

you'd probably be looking at 140 to 150 for a package.

Oh, right. That's excellent.

That's, erm, probably a little bit more than I was expecting.

A salary close to £100,000

could offer a big jump in his income,

but it could well mean spending time away from home as a fly-in fly-out worker.

So, are the benefits worth it?

We do have a relocation package, as well,

because we realise we need to bring people from further afield to come into Australia.

I never even expected that. That's 100 percent on top of what I'd, you know...

I was expecting to do everything off my own back.

It's been a positive morning for Peter.

With so much riding on his salary,

has finding out he'd be able to earn a lot more in Australia

made up for the disappointments of house-hunting?

It's definitely reassured me that A, there is plenty of work out there

and B, the companies are looking to positively recruit

and they do want people.

Based on today's outcome, my vote is...

..Australia.

The salary meets my expectations.

The overall package looks good.

That's a very happy Peter Kennedy.

His work prospects look to have put his dream firmly back on track.

But persuading Nicky to give up the home she loves will be a lot harder

if they can't get a good price for it.

The Kennedys think their house is worth £375,000.

But is that achievable? We sent two estate agents round to give their opinions.

Nice flooring. Nice doors.

Nice kitchen. Granite tops.

And then out onto the garden at the back...

-You did that picture, Rubes.

-"Nice little room for the kids."

BABY MURMURS

Is that lady going in our house?

Lovely-sized dining room. Beautiful.

Where's she going now?

Aww, this is lovely!

This is a really lovely little nursery.

But the bedroom is a very good size, so when their baby does grow

it's a big enough bedroom for the child to grow into.

Aw, this is lovely. This is a lovely size.

Very nice, with the en suite hidden away.

Aw, the princess bedroom! This is every girl's dream.

This is lovely. Again, a lovely-size bedroom.

-Do you think it looks nice, Rubes?

-Yes.

What a great-size room.

Great to play up here.

And a fantastic view over the garden. Very nice.

"I would put an asking price on in the current market place,

"we've got to be realistic,

I think 385 would be a good place to start.

I think if anyone claimed close to 360,

in this current market place, it should be looked at.

I believe the marketing price for this property

should be around the 350,000 mark.

If the family do need to sell quickly, they could reduce that.

I guess somewhere in between both of those valuations

would be good.

I don't think any of the properties we saw...

-..are half as good at that.

-No.

I'd find it really difficult to leave that house.

And I suppose what's more difficult is,

I've not seen anything over here that's made me want to sell it.

It's not going well for Peter.

Watching that DVD seems to have only reminded Nicky

just how much she loves their UK home and lifestyle.

Peter really needs to show her the advantages of emigrating.

While the children play,

Mum and Dad get to see if there'd be any financial benefits.

We've prepared some figures

so they can compare the living costs.

Peppers... That's a bit odd. They look more expensive.

Nappies are about the same price.

So, how would that affect their weekly food bill?

£24...

-So about 20 percent.

-It's better than I thought, actually.

So now onto the property.

The three that we saw, we wouldn't buy any of them,

but if we use the 850 as a benchmark...

With a 300,000 deposit,

-you'd be looking at monthly payments of 1,693.

-Pounds.

-Which does sound really high.

-Yes.

That's an increase of nearly £1,500 a month in mortgage payments.

How much would that leave in their wallet?

Equals...

Gosh.

£1,412.

Have you got that right?!

You haven't got school fees on there, have you?

It was looking very promising, but could those schooling costs push them into the red?

We'd be £800 a month...

..better off.

That's just the financial side of it, though.

-There's more to it than that.

-Oh, yes.

£800 left over a month is quite a result.

And the Kennedys could have more to spend on a house than they'd budgeted for.

So, have they been tempted by the financial gains they could make? It's time to vote.

Based on the cost of living, taking all things into consideration,

the vote today is...

..Australia.

Australia.

We could come over here and live on one salary,

have a really nice lifestyle. You can't argue with that.

-So I'm basing my vote on that...

-Yes, the figures.

..on the fact that the salaries and the cost of living

would mean we could have a good lifestyle over here.

Nicky's vote for Oz was exactly what Peter was hoping for.

And if the famous outdoor Aussie lifestyle can prove just as rewarding,

his plans for a new life could be one step closer.

Having plenty of quality time together as a family is very important to the Kennedys.

So to see what kinds of things they could get up to in Australia,

they're spending a day on the beach having a surfing lesson.

I'm feeling really excited

because I really want to fall in the sea and get all wet.

I'm really nervous because I've never, ever been able to stand up on a skateboard.

-We're not doing skateboards.

-I know, but Dad says it's the same but on the sea.

While Nicky and Jude keep their feet dry,

Peter and the children get started on the basics.

That looks good, Joe. Nice.

We'll run through that a couple more times and then we'll hit the water.

When you think that they could come down most days and do this,

it does make you think that it's an option we should be considering.

It is absolutely amazing. Really good.

Go on, Ruby!

Whoo! Go on!

It's just reaffirming what I think it's going to be like.

When you see the kids enjoying themselves,

doing something they've never done before, it's good. Great.

I just need to convince Mum that Australia's the place for the family

because me, Joe and Dad all want to live here.

I bet Jude does, as well.

So we all need to persuade Mum so she'll let us

and then we can live here and do this on the weekend.

It looks as if the pressure is growing on Nicky.

But despite her worries, she can see the positives in emigrating.

It was really nice to see them out in the sunshine

and in the sea, enjoying themselves.

But then that makes it even harder for me, really,

because I can see why this would be the right move for them,

but it doesn't really make me want to do it any more.

I'm sure Nicky will come to her own decision.

But it's going to be ups and downs. This is one of the ups, obviously.

I like the life that I've got in York and my home.

I like where we live, friends, family, everything.

But I also wonder if I'm a little bit too old to start again, erm,

you know, in a place where we don't know anybody.

I think the thought of starting again is really scary.

I want to make the right decision for them,

but it needs to be the right decision for me, as well.

-How was that, then?

-Really good.

-Amazing!

-Did you really enjoy it?

-Yes. Amazing.

Has seeing how much the family enjoyed the Australian lifestyle helped change Nicky's mind?

If not, this could be another blow to Peter and the children's dream

of moving Down Under.

Today we've been surfing

and we've had a really good time.

Based on that lifestyle activity, we have decided to vote for...

..Australia!

Australia!

I base that decision on Pete and the kids

and the day out that they've had,

and what is obviously a much nicer lifestyle.

It was a no-brainer for me today because I liked being outside, just messing about.

It's something we don't normally get to do in the UK, so it was great.

A clean sweep of votes is a real testament to the Aussie lifestyle.

Even so, it seems Nicky hasn't been completely won over yet.

I loved it today!

I know, but the thing is, Joe, it has to be right for everybody.

Everyone has to be happy, do you know what I mean?

Another vote for Perth is more good news for Peter and two very happy young Kennedys.

Is Nicky really coming round to the idea of a new life Down Under?

Facing her fear of leaving loved ones behind

could be make or break.

We've prepared a DVD of messages from family and friends back in the UK

to give the Kennedys an idea of their thoughts.

-Are you sure you want to watch this?

-Yes.

-You won't be too upset?

-No.

-BOTH: OK.

-No, I'll watch it.

-Cool.

"Hi! Hope you're having a great week."

-ALL: Hi, guys.

-Hope you're having a really good time!

"I hope you're not getting too much of a sun tan."

-Hi, guys.

-Hi, Pete. Hi, Nicky. How are you doing?

Hi, kids. I hope you're doing well out there.

"And I hope it's not too hot for you."

Nicky's such a genuine person.

I don't think there's many people that you really meet in life

that you feel is someone who's a real genuine individual but a really good friend, as well.

Peter's always been...

..a bit of a lad, really!

SHE LAUGHS

He gets something in his head and he goes down that path.

It's been about six, seven years Pete's been talking about it,

but we didn't really think that he'd go this far.

But Nicky has never really been that keen about going.

She's the only child,

so leaving her mum would be really upsetting for her.

We didn't really know how serious he was about it.

We just thought it was something he was investigating

and not really sure that he was 100 percent about it.

I'm not quite sure whether I agree with them going to Australia.

I think they can only do what is best for the children

and that's the only thing I ask of them.

I think myself and Pete, we've known each other for long enough now

if we don't see each other for two months or two years...

-He's not bothered!

-..we'd pick up where we left off.

I think the thing that we'll miss is the children growing up.

I thought our kids would grow up together like me and Nicky have.

I'll miss him because he, erm, he's like a good friend.

-"You'll miss them a lot, won't you?"

-"I've known him since I was born. And Ruby, too."

I don't think the reality's set in for me.

When she actually goes, that's when I will realise just how much I'll miss her.

As it stands now, they've got everything going for them here,

apart from the climate, I presume.

I'm really going to miss you, fella.

We've had some good times. Erm, yes...

Bad news to see you go, mate.

"Nicky, I'm really, really going to miss you."

I don't think you realise just how much of a great friend you've been to me

and how much of a loss you're going to be.

We're going to miss Sunday dinners, coming to the caravan parties.

"And we're going to miss you so, so much."

And I hope you're having a nice time.

The selfish part of me is hoping you're going to say no. But who knows...

"Maybe you've gone out there and absolutely loved it and you want to go."

"I'm going to miss you to bits and I don't know what I'm going to do without you."

You're like a sister to me and we've just always been there for each other.

That's all I can say because I'm going to get upset!

-What did you think?

-I wanted Grandma to be on there.

-Grandma Jill? Grandma Jill's too upset to be on there.

-She's too sad.

That's always been the worry for me,

leaving, erm, my mum

and some of those... our friends there.

So, erm... And that's not gone away.

Whatever's happened this week,

my mum and our friends are still always at the back of your mind...

..even if we can afford to live here.

What did you think, Joe? Are you a bit upset? Which bit upset you?

-When they were saying about Max and Sam.

-Oh, I know.

You would make new friends out here. You know that, don't you? Don't let that upset you.

-You're not upset, Rubes?

-No! I'm definitely not upset!

-Do you feel differently now, Joe?

-Because you've been up for it all the way through.

Are you staying in England with me? OK.

-I'm coming to Australia.

-With me? Fantastic.

It's not what Peter wanted.

It seems the family are even more uncertain about emigrating than before.

Watching messages has left the Kennedys divided about their future plans.

So with their week over,

and having seen how much they stand to gain and lose by moving to Australia,

which way will they vote?

After a week full of ups and downs, there's still a lot to weigh up.

There is pressure on me,

because it would make it easy all round

if I could just turn round and say that I was happy to come and...

..pack up home and come and live here.

Obviously, there's practicalities to sort out and all the boring stuff,

but I could quite easily see myself staying here and making a go of it.

And, you know, I'd work as hard as I needed to do to make it all perfect.

I've really liked doing all the different activities,

I like the lifestyle and the houses.

The only thing I think it's missing

is all my friends from England, really.

I feel for Nicky, actually. I think she'll be quite torn

between what she wants for the kids, but also, she's got to think about herself.

It is a big decision because there's nothing pushing us away from the UK.

Everything's great over there.

I'm convinced that the kids and Pete could be happy,

but for me, I still don't know that it's the place for me.

If Mum picks the UK, I'm going to be really upset

because I do want to live in Australia,

because I want to have a new life.

Is it enough that the children and Pete are happy?

Should that be enough for me to do it,

or do I need to be happy, as well?

It's the end of their week in Australia

and time for the Kennedys to make their crucial final decision.

Will they choose to make a new start Down Under

or stick with the life they know in the UK?

Based on this trial week in Australia,

we have decided to vote for...

PETE, RUBY AND JOE: Australia!

NICKY: UK.

Sorry, guys.

PETE GROANS GOOD-NATUREDLY

At that moment, inside, I felt Australia was right for me.

I voted Australia because nothing's changed.

It's reinforced what I initially felt.

I wanted to come, I wanted to try it

and I've found no reason, personally, why I shouldn't.

That's just my personal opinion and personal vote.

I've always said that I'm happy with our life in the UK,

but I came to Australia with an open mind.

Although it's been lovely, I haven't found enough to make me...

..make the decision to come and live here.

I wasn't happy that Mum voted the UK

because I wanted all of us, erm, to want to live here.

I've got to vote for what I think and how I feel,

and that's how I'm feeling.

Choosing to emigrate is never easy

but when the pull of home is so strong,

it's often a risk that's simply too big to take.

Wherever their journey takes them, we wish the Kennedys the very best of luck.

Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd