McGrath Jackson Family Wanted Down Under

Fond memories of time spent abroad can often plant the seed

of something more permanent,

but are they enough to convince your family to move halfway around the world?

And what if you believe that emigrating wasn't just your dream, but your destiny?

For Lucy Jackson, Australia offers a chance to live the life she dreams of.

-If we're meant to be there, we just will be.

-But her partner Lee isn't so sure.

-I don't want to be at the other side of the world feeling trapped.

-And if the numbers don't add up...

-The cost is quite a bit higher.

-..they won't be going anywhere.

I really don't know. I really, really don't know. I am genuinely torn.

For thousands of new arrivals every year, Australia offers the chance to live an ideal family life.

Watching your children grow up in the sunshine

amidst the great outdoors can seem like a dream come true.

But for many, life down under doesn't deliver the paradise they hoped for and they return home.

The McGrath-Jackson family have one week

to experience the reality of living in Australia.

At the end of it, they'll face a life-changing decision -

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

After three plane changes, 12,000 miles and 72 hours' travelling,

the McGrath-Jacksons touch down on Aussie soil.

After a very long haul, they're tired, but looking forward to the week ahead.

The journey was long and it was different with children.

I'm feeling good about the week ahead. I'm ready for the surprises, see what hits us.

A little bit apprehensive, but feeling good, feeling positive. But I think the jet lag's kicking in.

Thankfully for Lee, it's just a short drive to their rented accommodation.

Back in the UK, the McGrath-Jackson family live in the village of Burghead near Inverness

on the Moray Firth.

They are Lee, manager of a local charity,

Lucy, an alternative therapy practitioner,

and their three children - Rosie, aged 11,

and twins Poppy and Jack, aged nine.

For Lucy, the idea of emigrating first took root in the 1990s

after a fateful meeting changed the course of her life.

Originally, I was a costume designer-maker in Norwich in England

and I kind of felt lost, I didn't know where I was going.

Although I had a great job, I just didn't feel right somehow.

So I saw a friend who was a clairvoyant

and he said, "You need to be in Australia. You're in the wrong area. You need to go there."

And I absolutely, 100% knew he was right.

I went out to Australia to study Australian bush flowers, which he said that I had to work with.

I travelled across Australia and I studied lovely courses and it just all flowed.

And it all came together.

Lucy brought her alternative therapy experience back with her

and now runs her own flower remedy sessions at home.

But returning to the place that inspired her has always been her dream.

I'd like to go out into the bush and work with the flowers one to one and see them in their natural habitat.

There's nothing physical that says, "Go now."

It is definitely based on energy similar to the flowers.

It's like... Yeah, it's based on a feeling.

Australia may be Lucy's passion, but for Lee,

following it to the other side of the world has him torn.

I wouldn't say I've been seriously considering emigrating, but I've been thinking about it

because obviously, I'm living with a lass that's really keen on the idea of emigrating.

We have children together and we love each other to bits. You know, I want to be with her.

At this present time, I'm prepared to go out to Australia. I'm prepared to look at the options out there

and decide if this is going to be feasible for us.

Lee has two jobs. He runs a social enterprise, reconditioning computers for disadvantaged communities,

as well as tutoring others starting up their own business.

Australia would mean leaving a work life he loves, but he knows what that would mean to Lucy.

Lucy's passion for the flowers is up there with her passion for her children and her family,

so it's something that Lucy lives by day to day

through her work and also through her own personal life as well.

Australia could also signal big changes for the children.

At the moment, they are home-schooled

and moving down under could mean giving up an important part of the family's lifestyle.

They learn all a spectrum of learning, rather than just academic.

Academic is covered too, of course. It has to be.

But they're learning the everyday things that you need in order to move, fly the nest...

-To the next stage, yeah.

-Children can do that whilst going to school.

The major difference is the relaxed atmosphere when you walk in the home. It's so much more relaxed.

But Lee's not the only one who needs convincing about moving down under.

Me and my dad are kind of the ones who are not as keen to go.

It's more the twins and Mum who want to go the most.

I'd like to go to Australia because it's great to have new experiences.

I would like to go to Australia to surf.

The family is split down the middle, but they all know what they stand to lose if they decide to emigrate.

I know that my mum and dad would be very upset if we left the area

and I would be very upset to leave them.

And the opportunity we have at the moment...

We can go and visit Lucy's folks and Lucy's family down south three or four times a year.

It won't be that possible if we're on the other side of the world.

Lee's roots run deep in Scotland, but if he can't face letting go of them,

Lucy knows her dream will be over.

I would never drag him across there, leaving all his family and things.

He has to feel it or it won't happen.

I will go as far as...

I'd move to the other side of the world, I'd move to the moon to make Lucy happy,

as long as as a family unit, we're all happy.

I think if you just really let go and jump,

sometimes amazing things come.

I don't have many worries about it because I know if we're meant to be there, we just will be.

The McGrath-Jacksons face a test of faith.

Lucy believes that a move down under will be the start of a bright new adventure for her family,

but Lee knows that making such a huge choice could cost them dearly,

so will they choose their future with their hearts or with their heads?

The McGrath-Jacksons are visiting Ipswich, a growing city 25 miles inland from Brisbane.

With Australia's third biggest city nearby, there should be good work opportunities for Lee

and plenty of chances to enjoy the benefits of the Aussie outdoor lifestyle.

They'll stay at this traditional, four-bedroom Queenslander house.

Hopefully, it will get things off to a good start.

-Wow!

-Oh, wow!

-Very colonial.

-That's lovely, isn't it?

-Yeah.

-Yeah, impressive.

Really nice.

-For me, if we look at this as our move-in house, it's too dated for me.

-Yeah.

-I like mixing old and new.

I just want to find out how much it costs.

Although Lucy has been here before, Australia is a new experience for the rest of the family

and as the unpacking begins, thoughts soon turn to the week ahead.

There's certainly an excited feel about it, but I've got to work out the difference

between holiday excitement and "new things" excitement and the practicals of it,

but it's certainly feeling quite exciting at the moment.

It's not really a fact-finding thing for me. It never was.

It was really based on a good feeling. I always follow whatever feels like the right thing to do.

It is a new thing for all of us. That was the joy of coming.

It's for everyone. We can all look at this area and say, "Is this a possibility for our family to live?"

Back home, the McGrath-Jacksons rent a three-bedroom modern house.

Lucy also owns a plot of land near her family home which could help to raise funds for emigrating.

They have a budget of £125,000 in mind

if they can find the right property.

I'd love the kids to have a bedroom each. The twins have never experienced that.

That would be fantastic. And some space to work where we could in the future build on

and make something for me to work from home and also somewhere for people to stay.

-That's really important for people to stay, but the absolute dream is all made of wood, isn't it?

-Yeah.

-I kind of go with that, but...

-A beautiful swinging seat on the veranda.

-Yeah.

Today, we'll give the McGrath-Jacksons a taste of Brisbane's housing 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.

Ipswich is known for its old-style Queenslander houses.

For years, they were a cheap option for families emigrating on a tight budget,

but as UK exchange rates have fallen, property prices in Australia have rocketed

and the days of bargain basements are a thing of the past.

So will Lee and Lucy's budget be able to keep up with their hopes?

The first house is a classic Queenslander design.

According to the estate agents, it's an inviting family home, but will the McGrath-Jacksons agree?

-It's massive.

-Look at this, Dad.

-Whoa!

-It's like a cabin.

-That wasn't expected, was it?

-Wow!

-Let's have a look out here. It's nice to come out on to a balcony.

Oh, my God, this was like a kind of dream of ours, having a balcony!

This was our wraparound balcony, wasn't it, guys?

No, that's a really... I'm not so sure about the road.

But it's a doer-upper, isn't it? It's a real doer-upper.

That's not a bad start, although at more than 60 years old, this house could definitely use some TLC.

For the children, it's their first taste of an Aussie backyard.

-We definitely don't get these plants in Scotland.

-Definitely not.

-They don't grow a lot.

The house also has plenty of Aussie character, but with only three bedrooms, it may be short on space,

at least upstairs.

-OK...

-Oh, my gosh!

Wow!

This is a shock. I didn't realise this was underneath.

I mean, this makes up for not having the fourth bedroom upstairs.

Yeah. The other thing you could potentially have here as well is your healing.

It's quite a bit of work, but if you had enough money left over, you could do it.

It all comes down to the price.

It may be missing a fourth bedroom,

but the feel and the downstairs space are what the McGrath-Jacksons were looking for in an Aussie home.

The big question is, can they afford it on their £125,000 budget?

-Shall we have a look at the price, guys?

-You can have a look.

You turn it, Poppy.

£196,000.

196,000. OK, yeah, I reckon...

-We couldn't afford that.

-For everything we wanted to do in the house, it would be 30 to 50 K.

It's a tough start to the day.

This house may be what the family wanted, but it's at least £70,000 over budget.

It is more than I would pay for it.

-Definitely.

-We might have to find a slightly poorer area to shop around for a house.

Lee is staying positive, but finding a house the McGrath-Jacksons can love and afford

looks like it could be a real challenge.

The second property is ten minutes from Ipswich city centre, close to local shops and schools.

It's another doer-upper which should help its price,

but can it lift everyone's spirits after the first home?

Well, it's, um...a nice colour!

Maybe not on the outside, but what about indoors?

-It's quite dark, isn't it?

-Very dark.

-It is very dark.

-It's like pitch-dark in here.

-You need disco lights!

I'm not picking up good vibes in here at all.

-It doesn't give a nice, warm feeling in your belly.

-It's freaking me out, standing in this room.

I don't know what's gone on in here, but I don't like the feel of it.

Let's have a look about, guys, and we'll get a feel for it.

-It's not as positive as the last one.

-No, no.

OK, let's have a look about.

That's not a great sign. The house does have front and rear gardens.

But turning it into a family home will take some work.

That's if Lee and Lucy are willing.

-Oh, my God!

-I'm not getting that lovely, warm feeling.

-No.

-I can't even stand in that room. I'll have to go out the room.

-OK.

-It's the nicest feeling room yet.

-It's a big room.

-It's because the light's coming in. That side of the house is quite dark, physically dark.

-Yeah.

It's still scary though.

-Yeah.

-It's freaking me out. It's really freaking me out, this house.

-Yeah.

For Lucy, Australia is all about finding a house that feels right and despite her hopes,

it's clear that this one simply doesn't.

-Let's head out, shall we?

-We'll head out and have a look in the garden and see.

There's something out there. I don't know what it is.

-It's not a bad-sized garden.

-It's quite a good size, yeah.

I'm not sure about the bar area.

And Jack may have hit the nail on the head.

It looks like a bachelor pad, even worse than a bachelor pad.

They're into alcohol, a lot into alcohol, actually.

More than I've ever known somebody to be into alcohol. Two bars!

It's been an uncomfortable experience for Lucy.

It just freaks me out.

It's just a freak-out feeling and I wouldn't want to even try clearing that.

It just feels freaky.

Converting this house into a family home would require a lot of work.

But could all its shortcomings be made up for in its price?

With finances looking tight, how will it fit into Lee and Lucy's budget?

-Jack, are you ready to turn it over?

-Let's look at this price.

-"Find the price" time.

I think it's going to take a while to sell at that price.

It's set up as a bachelor pad.

If you're aiming to sell a house, you have to neutralise it and give it a bit more of a feel

-because it just doesn't feel right at all.

-No.

-It's not somewhere we'd want to live.

Despite its failings, this house is still £20,000 over budget

and it's looking like this move might not be about feel, but exchange rates instead.

After another disappointment, the family head out of the city to a far more familiar setting.

Glamorgan Vale is a rural community in the outback.

With fewer than 500 residents, it's a quiet backwater with a similar feel to home.

Like today's other houses, this three-bedroom property needs renovation,

but its wrapped-around veranda looks out over ten acres of land,

offering a peaceful alternative to life in the city.

OK...

-So we've come in here to the kitchen, I think.

-Mm-hm.

-It's a reasonable size.

-Yeah.

-Yeah, it's a reasonable size.

-Wow, yeah!

-Yeah...

-Wow!

The features are really nice like these things and those doors.

-It needs just lots of love and care.

-Yeah, this is all right.

Although it needs a lot of work and renovation, I really... I feel better here.

-Definitely.

-It's got potential and I like the location.

It's a bit further to travel, but you'd be willing to travel that distance

to have somewhere to live like this sort of area.

That's a far happier Lee and Lucy and the children are already getting to know the locals.

Don't touch it on its head. It doesn't like it.

You're a good horse. Yes, you are.

Pets, large and small, wouldn't be a problem here.

In fact, there's plenty of room for everyone.

-There's a lot of potential here.

-Mm-hm.

But faced with a tight budget, is this a house not for now, but perhaps the future?

-Ready? Shall we turn this over and see how much it's worth?

-Are we going to get a shock?

Oh, wow!

-OK.

-Yeah.

-So it's a little bit less...

-215,500.

Yeah.

Although it's a renovation project,

it didn't really put me off.

It wasn't like a bad feeling.

It was just... It was a good... It felt fine, didn't it?

It felt nice going round and having a look round at the possibilities

and getting a bit of inspiration about what we could do.

It does put a lot more pressure on me for the work, which is a little bit worrying.

I'll be working a lot of hours and I'll be away a lot,

having to earn the money in order for us to have this.

But in saying that, you sometimes have to do that in order to get what you want.

Despite being way over budget, this house impressed everyone.

And after seeing how tough a move may be, Lee has ended the day on a high note.

The first property had the right feel and plenty of potential,

but its price tag came as a nasty surprise.

Although cheaper, the second was definitely not wanted down under!

And even though it may be out of reach for now,

the final house showed everyone

a glimpse of what outback living is all about.

So we've looked today at three properties

and now it's time to vote, guys.

-OK.

-OK.

-UK.

-I don't know!

Australia!

-The houses ultimately didn't appeal to me. The land at the last house did.

-Yeah.

But when I'm looking at the costs,

that's where I kind of sat, based on what we've seen.

Seeing those three properties, it's not finalised whether I could vote one way or the other,

so that's why I chose "I don't know".

OK. Yeah.

-So a bit split.

-We couldn't be more split if we tried, guys, could we, really?

We've got a mixed bag.

A mixed bag. A mixed bag of fruit.

A mixed fruit bag.

Those high property prices got the week off to a difficult start for the McGrath-Jacksons

and affording a new life down under already looks like it's going to be a tall order,

so could their work prospects in Australia make up for a very disappointing day?

At home, Lee is the manager of a charitable company

that reconditions computers for the disadvantaged.

It's a job he loves that offers more rewards than just salary.

It's the other half of my life. If I'm not with the kids and Lucy, I'm in work.

It's very important that I'm in a job that I enjoy,

I get that sparkle, I get that lift in the morning going to work.

It's his skills that hold the key to getting a visa and living Lucy's dream.

And finding a job that could pay the bills and fulfil his passion

would be a big step in the right direction.

-Hi. Lee?

-Yes.

-It's Mark. Nice to meet you.

-Nice to meet you, mate.

-Come with me for a chat.

OK, thank you.

Mark Simms manages a company similar to Lee's, but can he offer some much needed good news?

Mark, you've seen my CV. Do you think there's an opportunity for someone like me with my skills

-in this area for that type of work?

-I think so.

Looking at what you've achieved, it's great. We're looking to set up a second branch in Logan,

-the next city to Brisbane.

-OK.

-Doing a very similar thing, trying to reach out to that community.

-OK.

-So it's quite good that you came at this time because your skills could be utilised in running that.

That's an ideal start. And across town Lucy's hoping for more of the same.

While the children are being looked after by a child minder,

she's meeting Kelly, a fellow practitioner to talk about their love of Australian flower therapy.

We've got enough people who understand us now

that there's a really solid footing, but we're still on the ground level, with lots of room for movement.

And lots of people are starting to become interested and engaged,

not only in this medicine, but the actual bush flowers themselves.

A lot of people I work with are doctors and physiotherapists. That's really taking off,

that understanding of working together.

It sounds like both could find work, but making Lucy's dream happen depends on how much they'd earn,

particularly Lee, who's the main breadwinner.

So what sort of salary would you be looking at for a role such as that?

-Typically, we'd pay 40,000-50,000 per year.

-Yeah?

-There's a lot of potential in developing the business

that could certainly help you bring that figure up a bit.

No, that sounds very reasonable. Superb.

That's comparable to what Lee earns at home,

but would working Down Under give him time to spend with the family?

In the UK, it's quite heavy-going on workloads. Is it similar here?

Yeah, I guess it probably is. I'm pretty passionate about what I do,

so I tend to put quite a few hours into it and we do a fair bit of work overseas, so there's timezone issues

as Australia doesn't match up to a lot of other countries.

So Lee could end up working long hours for a similar wage.

It's not really what he wanted from a new life in Australia,

but could Lucy's earnings offer a silver lining?

If you're going to do consultations, most people charge 50-60 an hour.

Then usually 10-15 per essence on top of that.

So if you're doing four consultations a day, you could do that. Or if you do one a day,

you're still pulling in quite good money.

Finding clients may take time, but the figures sound good.

However, for Lucy, the day's been about far more than money.

It really is special to hear it from someone who lives here who is Australian born and bred

and really has a connection with plant life here.

Just to know that the amount of money you'd earn is the same as I'm earning in Scotland,

that's great. It's really good.

While the children round off the day with a picnic,

Lucy catches up with Lee to hear his news.

Yeah, really, really positive. Hopefully with the possibility of work there as well.

-And what about the finance? Did that pan out?

-Again, the finance was quite good,

comparable to the UK, probably a little bit more.

It's flipped my head around. I'm a little bit pickled in my brain because I didn't expect it.

-But it's certainly something that's looking pretty positive, yeah.

-That's great.

-That's really great.

-Yeah, it is. Yeah.

For Lucy, it's probably the easiest decision of the week,

but once again Lee is cautiously positive about living in Australia.

So has he seen enough to convince him that working down under could be worth leaving the job he loves?

-Australia!

-I don't know!

-Yeah, makes sense. Makes sense. That's where the flowers are.

-It wasn't a surprise.

-It wasn't.

The flowers grow here. It's like a dream to me, so being with them would be brilliant.

-Agreed, yeah.

-So it's a definite, 100%...

-Australia.

-What about you?

-I still can't...

-Can't decide.

-I can't decide at all.

The offers that I had were superb.

-I still worry if it's going to be enough, financially. It's the unknown a little bit.

-Yeah.

There's a little bit of fear there, but brilliant

and I'm moving round! The UK flag is slowly disappearing. Yeah, cool.

Lucy's passion for her therapies was never in doubt, but Lee's prospects have him in two minds.

As much as this move was about fulfilling a dream,

it looks like hard facts will decide whether it can come true or not.

To help Lucy and Lee figure out the cost of living Down Under,

we've prepared a comparison of their household expenditure in Australia and back home.

One thing that has really shocked me here is 4 litres of milk.

-Organic milk.

-Yeah. £7.40!

That would be a problem for me. I wouldn't drink...

normal milk, nor would the kids. So that's a bit of a problem.

-That's hugely different. We eat organic a lot, don't we?

-Yeah.

-And we did wonder about that.

-We didn't know how accessible things were.

-We know it's expensive.

-It would be, yeah.

Organic food is an important lifestyle choice for the whole family, but will it add up here?

-That week was £92.36.

-Yeah.

-But it would be £148.

-We're getting close to 50% higher.

-That's... It is, yeah.

-Rent or mortgage...

-This is the UK, isn't it?

-OK.

Lee and Lucy pay a low rent on their family home, so to make the figures comparable,

they've based their mortgage payments on the cheapest property they viewed.

Let's add this up and see what it costs to live in Australia.

-OK, so we're down in Australia.

-Minus.

-Yeah.

-£198.49

-OK.

So there's a difference in there of £600.

In theory, I think that impacts in a way which makes you start questioning your whole lifestyle,

which would be questioning would the kids have to go back to school,

-would I have to work full-time.

-To be honest, yeah.

-I would.

-We'd have the choice to home educate the kids.

-You can't just put them back because of money.

-No.

-We've just got to earn more money. Just earn more money.

The numbers don't lie and living in Australia could mean making big changes to the lifestyle

the McGrath-Jacksons love. But is that a price they are willing to pay to live here?

We've done some figures for cost of living and now it's time to vote.

-Don't know.

-Don't know.

OK.

It's stacked up against us, but then it didn't feel like it did,

-even though it did on paper.

-On paper it didn't look that hot, but there are things you can work on

-to balance it out.

-So not giving up just yet. Not based on money, never.

Lee and Lucy are staying positive, but a jump in living costs could mean facing some hard choices.

With question marks hanging over this move, Lucy must show her family what inspired her dream.

A taste of the Aussie lifestyle could be just the ticket.

Back in the UK, Jack, Rosie and Poppy are home educated.

It's an important part of their way of life and one Lee and Lucy would be keen to continue in Australia.

They're used to having a network of home educators and family to support them,

so today they're visiting a local community centre to meet like-minded mums and dads.

So you were happy home schooling in Scotland and obviously that's been a good experience for you.

-Were you worried about coming out here and continuing to do that?

-I don't think we're worried.

If it's meant to be, it will be and it will all sort of fall in.

It's good to find places like this to share and not to feel alone.

-We're coming out here, there'll be no family.

-Yeah.

-Which is a concern.

-It's like anything. You can be as involved as you choose to be.

If you want to do a lot in the community, you can do that.

You can make it cater to you.

Making friends would be vital in continuing the lifestyle Lee and Lucy believe in.

It's no problem for the children.

Is it true that some people say that there's a magic leprechaun that lives in Scotland?

They came from Ireland. In Scotland,

the thing you might not know about is the Loch Ness Monster.

While the zoology lesson continues, Lucy reflects on how her thoughts about Australia have changed

since she last visited.

It's been really different coming out with a family.

I'd been looking to come here so much and when I got here, we still have to wash up, cook,

all these things we do in the UK. It's shown me that - this sounds cheesy -

but happiness comes from within, not from the outside world.

If your family are happy, you could live anywhere and it wouldn't matter.

That's been good for me to see.

But have Lee's eyes been opened, too?

Everything's as I'd pictured it.

Has it changed my mind about living in Scotland? I'm not sure.

It's great to know there are networks like this to support you,

but they're not my family.

Meeting like-minded families would be crucial in building a life so far from home,

even if they could never replace those left behind, but has the Aussie lifestyle won their vote?

Based on Australian lifestyle, we are now going to vote.

Australia!

Middle.

-Why did you choose 50/50, Rosie?

-I chose 50/50 because I still like playing in Scotland.

-You do like playing in Scotland.

-That's a first for me.

First Australian win for Lee!

-The lifestyle feels... more relaxed and more in my favour here.

-Yeah.

It's almost a full house, but now Rosie's in two minds.

I don't know. I just would miss... Because it's so far away, I'd miss my family and my friends mostly.

Yeah, hmm.

A day sampling its lifestyle showed the family all the benefits of living in Australia

and, much to Lucy's delight, nearly everyone was won over.

But Rosie's words could be a warning as they watch messages from home.

Lucy and Lee have decided to watch the DVD together with the children,

-so everyone can share what's being said.

-OK, everybody ready? I'll press the button.

-Hi, guys!

-Hi, guys! How you doing?

Hi, Lee, Lucy, Rosie, Poppy and Jack! Gammy and Gampy here.

Hi, Lu, Lee, Rosie, Poppy and Jack! We're sure you've had a fantastic time out in Australia.

I think one of two things will happen with Lee.

He'll either go there and think, "I should have done this 15 years ago,"

or I think it's going to reinforce the fact that he's always lived in Scotland,

he does like Scotland, he's a home bird, Lee. A home bird.

I think if they decide to stay in Australia,

it'll be great for the children to experience an outdoor life.

It would be totally different here without them. Yeah, it would be a big hole, really, to fill,

which you probably couldn't.

-You know if you did go out there...

-Don't worry at all because we'll be over to see you.

-We're missing you...

-And we will miss you.

Staying out there, if you decide to stay out there, it's your choice. Nobody else's.

I just hope that you make it for the right reasons and take everything into consideration

because it will be very difficult for us. We will miss you.

-And, er...

-And we don't want you to go.

But if you do, then...that's for you to do.

OK, hug for Daddy.

It was always going to be hard with your parents, wasn't it?

-No, no...

-You've got a thingy on the end of your nose. It was always going to be difficult.

We knew that, you know, we knew that,

but...they knew we weren't always going to be in Scotland forever.

Yeah, I know. It's just it's the other side of the world.

-I know. It's a bit far.

-It would be easier...

-In the UK.

-Somewhere in the UK.

Lee's tears came as a real shock to the family and showed just how much loved ones mean to them.

But if they can't face the pain of leaving them, it could be the end of Lucy's dream.

With their future in the balance, it's time to make their final vote.

The experience we've had out here so far,

it's obviously a beautiful place to live.

But then there's home. And home is home to me. I really, really don't know.

I am genuinely torn.

There's no point coming across the world for Lee to be miserable and missing home.

At the same time, if Lee doesn't try something new, he might spend the rest of his years in Scotland

and think, "I wish I'd done that when I was younger."

At first I didn't want to go to Australia, but now I've been here I like it much more, yes.

I really do like it. You've got to try something first.

It's more sunny, so you can go out more and have an adventure.

I don't feel like I'm going to live in Australia

and then I don't feel like I'm going to live in Scotland. So it's going to be a bit awkward.

Lee started this adventure daunted by the prospect of leaving home and loved ones.

But now Lucy's dream rests in his hands.

So after seeing all the McGrath-Jacksons could gain and lose by emigrating,

-where will their final vote take them?

-All right, guys. We've had a lovely week Down Under.

And now we've got the final vote.

-Are you ready?

-Yeah.

-Yeah.

OK, go.

-Australia!

-Don't know!

-UK!

-So why did you vote, well...?

-I think it's been probably kind of obvious the whole time.

There's no problem with it here. There's just a problem with...

-do I want to be at the other side of the world, away from my friends, family?

-You know,

you don't have to see it as the rest of your life. It could just be an adventure, something new.

-It's a difficult one. We need to get back, sit down as a family...

-And process it a bit.

-Process it.

You never know. Come back and speak to me in a couple of weeks and it might be that way. I don't know.

After experiencing the highs and lows of living Down Under,

the McGrath-Jackson family still have plenty of thinking to do.

So has Lucy managed to win them all over or has being home been too big a reminder

of what they'd leave behind? I've come to find out.

'Since we last saw them, the family stayed on in Australia and did some more research.

'They returned just a few days ago.'

When we last saw you, Lee, you said you wanted just a little bit more time

to mull it all over, take it all in.

It was quite a short period of time to absorb everything, especially when I wasn't pro-Australia.

And my heart was still held in Scotland.

That's the big tie I have back in the UK. Friends and family.

So we used Skype over there back to friends and family, which was great.

-And that did again break me slowly into the Australian lifestyle.

-That makes a big difference,

-being able to see grandparents, they see grandchildren.

-Absolutely.

It does open it up, but if you can't afford that lifestyle, it's not going to work.

Absolutely. I think it would depend greatly on what I'm doing with my work also.

But in terms of Lee's job, he would hope to earn a bit more than what was on offer.

-There are lots of opportunities that will allow us to be out there.

-So there are avenues

-that you're exploring, shall we say?

-Very seriously.

That extra few weeks has given me the time to absorb everything,

take it on board and do my practical thing.

-Shall we get the children back in and do it one last time?

-Definitely!

-Kids, are you there? Fancy a final vote? Come on in.

-OK.

Would you like to vote for the final time?

-ALL: Yes.

-OK. Let's get the flags.

There we are. We'll get Mummy and Daddy to join you.

This is it. For one final time, is it going to be the UK or Australia?

-UK!

-Australia!

-Australia!

-UK!

-Oh! So it's still a split vote, isn't it?

-Split still.

Yeah.

-So who's changed their mind?

-You stayed the same. I've changed.

Daddy's changed. So, Lee, this is a huge change.

It is, yeah. Some of the things we were looking at doing

was getting out there for short periods of time and living there 3-6 months,

maybe some sort of consultancy work.

-So mine is on the proviso that...

-We can do that.

-That way.

-And come and go a bit.

If I can do it in those bite-size pieces and get more of a feel, living and breathing it,

working there, then it may become more permanent. I don't know.

It shows the way forward. Anything's possible.

And what about you guys? Are you surprised Daddy voted Australia?

-Yeah!

-If it all goes to plan, you'll pop back to the UK as well.

Best of both worlds! We wish you all the very best. Let us know how you get on.

-We will.

-Thank you.

-Thank you.

-Bye!

-Bye!

That's great news.

After doing some more research, it seems they can afford the life they want in Australia.

And Lucy's dream is one step closer, this time for everyone.

Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd