Carroll Family Wanted Down Under

All parents want the best possible life for their children.

But what if you believed the right place could be

on the other side of the world and they didn't agree?

For Stuart Carroll, Australia holds the key to a better life for him...

Put the footie on, Scott. Oh, yeah! It's just perfect!

..and his family...

I didn't think I'd be able to stand up so quickly. That was so cool.

..but not everyone can bear the heartache emigrating is bound

to cause.

I think they'd love it here, but...I can't make them come.

Sorry.

With its sunny climate and connections to the UK, Australia has

always been a favourite destination for Brits seeking a new life.

But the grass isn't always greener, and leaving everything you

know thousands of miles away can be a lot harder than you expect.

Over the next week,

the Carrolls will 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 for good.

Flying 13,000 miles around the world to land in Melbourne,

the Carrolls have completed the first part of their journey,

ready for the challenges ahead.

It's a long way. They seemed to cope quite well. I'm not sure about Deb.

No. They slept, but we didn't. So we're tired and they're not.

It is a long time. But I'm hoping it's going to be worth it.

Just looking forward to seeing it, seeing Melbourne for the first time.

Back home in Warrington, the Carroll family are Stuart, Debbie

and their 16-year-old triplets, Scott, Shan and Sophie.

They came here just a year ago from Liverpool, but Stuart

and Debbie have been dreaming of a bigger move for even longer.

It started off, I think, with an email that came round my work,

suggesting that there might be opportunities in Australia,

so the email just planted a little seed.

Mentioned it to Debbie and it escalated from there.

It seemed to have opportunities, the weather,

the lifestyle and the culture that was exciting

but at the same time, not massively different to what we've got here,

so it would be a huge culture shock.

For Debbie, Australia offered the chance to have the family life

she's always wanted.

Stuart used to work away a lot then. Long hours.

I think it sort of progressed from there because we thought,

well, over in Australia, you hear them saying, we go to work

early, finish early and then you spend the evening with your family.

I thought, maybe this is a way Stuart can get out of working away from home.

Emigrating to the other side of the world is an extreme move.

But they're convinced it would benefit the whole family.

We've had to take into consideration the children's views,

but we are hoping that this will be the best for all of us

and the children will be able to see that they will get a better life out there.

Unfortunately for Debbie and Stuart,

the triplets are divided on the idea of emigrating.

My and my mum and my dad, we're all positive,

but Shan and Sophie are not.

I think it's because Sophie is scared about making new friends,

and stuff like that.

I don't really want to go at all.

Australia's good, but it's good here as well.

I don't see why we have to move.

If we do move to Australia, I won't blame them for it cos I do know they are thinking about us.

My dad's been saying that, like, it's easier to get a job

and stuff over there.

It'd just be better for us to sort of grow up, but we've mainly

like grown up now, so I think it's a weird time to try and move us.

And there's one big issue that could tear the family apart.

Debbie has an older daughter, Natalie.

She lives nearby with her baby Sara

and will definitely not be making the move.

They just said that they were going and they asked me

if I wanted to go and I said no, I'm not interested.

And it's a decision that's already causing heartache.

Technology these days, it is a lot easier to be in contact.

The only thing is you don't have that physical contact with people.

And that's the thing I think that upsets me really, the...

The thing... Sorry.

Leaving Sara is just one of the hardest things to think about.

So I just try not to think of it cos I just don't want to do it.

Things like the hugs and the kisses off the baby.

They'll be the things that I miss.

That's what I'll find really hard.

And when she comes running to you and...

It would be a case of just touching the screen.

Sorry.

The Carrolls face the classic parents' dilemma

with an Aussie twist.

They want to give their family the best possible future they can

and believe Australia could be the right place for it.

But their children are growing up fast and want lives of their own.

And persuading them to emigrate could be a very tough task.

The Carrolls will have a week in Melbourne to see

if life Down Under really could give them everything they need.

Set along miles of golden beaches,

it's ideal for enjoying the outdoor Aussie lifestyle.

And as the second largest city, there's plenty of culture

and buzz in the centre.

Their home for the week is in the coastal district of Point Lonsdale.

What will they make of this modern Australian home?

It's all very exciting!

Nice big open plan, what we like.

-Woo-hoo!

-Nice and cool.

-This is nice. Wow!

-It's lovely.

It's certainly a good start to their week and upstairs,

the bedrooms don't disappoint either.

-God! It's big.

-Yeah, quite big.

Oh! See you later.

For Stuart and Debbie, this is the culmination of years of dreaming.

It's very real now. The sun's out, we're on the other side of the world,

it's a beautiful day, we've got a long and busy week ahead of us.

It's really exciting.

Never been to Melbourne before.

So I think we need to do a bit of exploring to see

if Melbourne's for us.

But the house, I feel really comfortable and that makes me

feel at home here.

In the UK, the Carrolls own this spacious five bedroom house

in Warrington. It's a home they're proud of and they have high

expectations of what they want Down Under.

I think what we're looking for is space.

In your face, open plan, from the second you open the door.

Preferably four bedroomed.

If we could get five in our price range, that would be even better.

The Carrolls think their house is worth £360,000, which would

give them a budget of around 400,000 for a house in Australia.

We've arranged for the Carrolls to sample Melbourne's housing market.

We'll show them three typical options, ranging from what

they want from their ideal home to what they can afford.

After seeing for themselves what's on offer,

they'll discover the price of each one.

The first property's in the Ocean Grove area.

It's right on the coast with superb surfing beaches.

However, it's an hour and a half from central Melbourne,

meaning a long commute for Stuart.

But could this four bedroom house impress them enough to make it worth the journey?

Nice, open, airy.

Make yourself at home.

Oh, yeah. That's nice. Looking at the garden, that's quite a large garden.

Great, good start.

This might already feel like home to Stuart,

but unfortunately that's not such a good thing for Scott.

This just doesn't look Australian. It's more English.

If Scott wants something more Australian, there's a room that might be just the thing.

-Ah, this is the den. This is the media room.

-There's your media room, Scott.

-This is nice.

-This is nice.

Let's just see if the football's on the telly. Oh, yeah. I could do this.

Watch the football, maybe catch up on some of the Premier League stuff,

bit of motor racing, watch a couple of movies. Nice big screen there.

I can see myself here for a few hours with a couple of tinnies.

It just looks weird though because it's old and new.

They contrast each other.

OK, so it's the furniture that Scott doesn't like.

That could be easily fixed. What about the bedrooms?

Can they make this house more appealing?

-This is a spacious bedroom.

-Is this the master bedroom?

-I don't know.

-It's got a walk-in wardrobe.

-That's ticked your boxes then!

-Yeah.

It certainly sounds as if Debbie likes what she sees. Or does she?

I don't think this master bedroom is really my cup of tea.

I think it's the furniture. It's not what I would have at home.

Could the Carrolls be forgetting they can fit this house out

to their own tastes?

Maybe the garden will help them see it from a different perspective.

To be honest, I think the garden is probably the best feature of the whole house.

Oh, dear! That's a "no" then!

Perhaps the price will change their opinion.

How does this house fit with their £400,000 budget?

-Let's see.

-Moment of truth.

Ooh!

That's just under their limit.

-That's shocked me, that.

-Yeah, that's steep.

This is dearer than our house at home and...our house, to me,

I feel is far superior to this.

I wouldn't spend 600,000 on a property of this nature.

We might change our mind when we see the price of other properties,

but right now, that's a surprise.

This is a bad start for Stuart and Debbie.

Hopefully, the second property won't be such a surprise.

Set in Portarlington, it's a 60 mile commute to Melbourne

but with great beaches and plenty of shops and cafes,

there should be something for all the Carrolls.

This three bedroom house is definitely

set in an impressive location.

-That view is stunning!

-Yeah.

-Absolutely stunning!

Hopefully, the inside will be just as appealing.

Very optimistic about this one.

Oh! Wow!

Blimey, that's different!

Not overly keen on the tiles, but...

It's like you're walking into a bathroom.

That doesn't sound too promising.

But Shan's spotted something for Stuart.

-Dad, look. It's what you've always wanted.

-Oh, my God!

-Home gym.

-I feel tired, just looking at it.

Come on, Stuart. I thought you wanted to embrace the Australian lifestyle.

There is a room that might be more to Stuart's liking though.

-This is what you call a media room!

-This is fantastic!

And Stuart isn't too tired to give the equipment here a test run.

Put the footie on, Scott.

Oh, yeah.

In your mind, when you're thinking of large spacious Australian

properties, you're thinking about rooms of this nature.

You'd never get anything like this at home.

Typically Australian, the bedrooms are downstairs.

But that doesn't seem to be a problem.

-This one's mine because it has an en suite.

-We'll all be fighting for this room.

Look at that. Stepping out into the pool, brilliant!

Upstairs, the views from the living space are even more impressive.

You can't really put a price on a view like that.

-I think someone's going to!

-Yeah!

That's absolutely gorgeous.

Everyone's certainly happy with what they've seen from upstairs.

But Debbie's spotted a problem. This house only has three bedrooms.

If anybody else came over to stay,

where would we put them?

I think it's dead important that we find a place that can hold

Natalie and the baby cos then she'll want to come out more.

-Yeah, you couldn't do that here.

-You couldn't do that in this property.

It started well for this house,

but it's looking like everyone's lost interest in it.

Can the price show them they could make it work?

-I'm shocked at that.

-You're having a laugh!

-This is cheaper.

£355,000 is well under their 400,000 budget.

At that price, I would almost consider buying it,

knocking it down and building a house that fits.

That's really encouraging.

Although this house is too small for the Carrolls,

being in a less developed area does mean relatively low prices.

Can the last property give them what they're after?

Back in the Ocean Grove area, it's a large four bedroom home.

Hopefully the extra space will be enough to make the difference.

Oh, wow!

Wow!

That is just gorgeous.

Even though it's so big and open, there's that cosy feeling.

It does really work.

I think this kitchen's nice. It works well.

You've got all the family area together.

I like this.

I love spiral stairs.

This is nice.

This would be perfect for the baby.

You can make this into some kind of seating area

for the kids. Some kind of den.

I'm thinking about the media room type arrangement.

-Oh!

-That does not seem safe!

I changed my mind. I'll have this one.

There is one downside.

The unusual layout upstairs could mean problems if Natalie

and baby Sara visit, but Stuart has it all figured out.

We have this area as Shan's room, say,

and then we put this room aside for when Natalie and Sara are here.

Natalie could stay in this bit,

either with Sara or we could put a temporary bed for Sara in here.

You'd love that, having Sara with you.

Problem solved. It's time to see what's outside.

-Oh, God! This is lovely!

-I like the size of it.

-Go on, Scott.

-No.

I've always wanted a trampoline!

LAUGHTER

SCOTT: That is so embarrassing!

Now, that's what I call enjoying time together!

Although not everyone's smiling.

That was the most embarrassing thing ever.

If that goes on TV, I'm suing the BBC!

Of course we wouldn't do that, Scott(!)

This house has certainly put a smile on everyone's face.

Let's hope the price doesn't bring a tear to the eye.

Will you turn over the card, please, mate?

£415,000 would mean going over budget.

Based on the other two properties we've seen,

I actually think that's a really good price.

This house is my favourite of the ones we've seen today.

I think it's because it has more of a UK-type feel to it. It's cosy.

It's been an eye-opening day for the Carrolls.

The first property had the TV room for Stuart,

but was simply not a contender for the children.

The second house would have been ideal,

if they could knock it down and build another in its place!

And the final house put a smile on everyone's face,

although Scott would rather it hadn't.

So, how will they vote?

-UK.

-Australia.

-Australia.

Why UK?

I picked the UK cos I feel the three properties that we've seen

today, none of them actually would accommodate us as a family

and also any family or friends that were looking to come over.

Based on what we've seen today,

I wouldn't want to give up our home for any of those ones.

I'm quite confident that we can find something perfect for us.

Their day house hunting wasn't the big success that Stuart

and Debbie may have been hoping for, but two and a half votes

out of three is an encouraging sign from the children.

However, with property looking expensive, it puts

the pressure on Stuart to find good work opportunities in Melbourne.

At home in Warrington, Stuart is an IT architect

and Debbie works in administration.

Stuart's job provides the main salary, but it does mean long hours.

He's hoping emigrating will help redress the balance.

My perception is the Australians have a much better

grip on the work-life balance than we have in the UK.

They put their lifestyle ahead of their working life

and that means that whilst they work hard,

they know when to switch off, that's the working day over,

I'm going to transition into my home life.

The Carrolls' hopes of getting a visa depend on Stuart's job prospects.

So he's spending the morning at one of Melbourne's largest IT companies.

Before the interview, Stuart is given a glimpse of just how high his career could go.

-Hello.

-How are you?

-Very good, thank you.

-Nice to meet you.

-And you.

-You could get used to this quite quickly.

-Yeah.

It's one of the tallest buildings in Melbourne and it overlooks the Docklands Precinct.

-My view tends to be staring out over a small green area.

-Rolling hills?

No, just a small green area! A rolling lump of grass. It's very small.

This is fundamentally different. This is about as different as it could be.

Right. Fantastic.

While Stuart contemplates the Melbourne high-life,

Debbie and the triplets are keeping their feet on the ground.

Today, it's their chance to sample big city living.

However, Debbie's thoughts are elsewhere.

As I stand here, I can actually see the building Stuart's in.

Quite nervous, anxious.

The move to Australia actually all depends on how well

that's going to go.

You couldn't ask for anything better than down here.

It's absolutely gorgeous.

Melbourne is a far cry from Warrington and the chance to see

what they'd be gaining has brought to mind what they stand to lose.

I feel like I've got to choose between Natalie and Sara

and my nan and everyone.

And my mum and dad.

And I don't want to like ruin their dream,

but I would rather stay at home with Natalie and Sara.

There's not a day gone by when I've not actually thought of Natalie

and Sara.

Um... I think they'd love it here, but I can't make them come.

Sorry.

It's the hardest decision for me to ever make in my life.

Back in the office, Stuart is with MD Mack Lemon

and group director Marie Rouane.

This is the perfect opportunity for him to talk shop.

The professional services side is geared to capability uplift

-and we also do the heavy lifting.

-Predominantly within the architecture space.

Infrastructure architecture, where obviously your specialisation lies.

-Enterprise architectural methodologies.

-An important architecture discipline.

Predominantly on enterprise architecture,

spanned into solution architecture and different domains.

-People who have an understanding of the language.

-It's important to have that common vocabulary.

-Exactly.

Well, I'm sure that all made sense to them(!)

but what about Stuart's big reasons for wanting to emigrate?

I understand you moved to Australia yourself in recent years.

Culturally, how have you found the difference?

If you think you're going to come here and knock off at four

and go to the beach, that's not going to happen.

-Right, that's a disappointment.

-I'm sorry.

I don't mind a little hard work every now and again.

Stuart might be smiling, but that's a real blow.

His whole reason for moving is to work less hours.

I'm very curious, very keen to understand, the salary expectations.

I would say for a permanent role, you'd be looking anywhere

in a range of about 160-180, which equates to about £120,000.

Right, OK. So that's a substantial difference to the UK.

That's over double Stuart's UK salary

and a great end to the meeting.

And when Stuart catches up with his family,

they're all eager to know what he found out.

I don't think we're going to struggle finding gainful employment at all.

-We undervalued ourselves a little.

-How much?

It all depends on this!

-We need to factor in a few things, the cost of living...

-Just tell us.

But I think we're looking at somewhere in the region

-of 160-180,000 a year.

-Gosh! Wow!

-And that's permanent.

When are we moving then?

So having discovered he could double his salary,

do we need to ask which way Stuart will vote?

Based on the job opportunities I've seen today, I'm voting for...

..undecided.

Why?

The salary's very attractive, I've got to say.

The earning potential's fantastic. But it's not just about that.

What I learned about the Australian work ethic was a little

bit of a surprise. People come in early, people go late.

That's a surprise. I need to factor that in.

-It's no good earning the salary if you can't be at home, enjoying it.

-I'm shocked.

I really thought you'd go for Australia, but I'm purely basing on financial terms.

-It's not that I'm afraid of hard work.

-I know that.

I just don't know if I want to come chasing all the way to Australia after it.

I may as well do that at home.

Stuart's undecided vote was a big surprise.

But it highlighted just how much this move really means to him.

Even so, there's no getting away from money matters just yet.

As the sale of their UK home could be crucial

to their finances in Australia.

The Carrolls own this five bedroom detached house in Warrington.

They bought it for £360,000 and need to get as close to

that as possible to afford their Aussie dream.

So we asked two estate agents to give us their valuations.

A spacious family dining kitchen,

with French doors that lead out onto the rear garden.

Oh, wow! This is a gorgeous room!

If we can get a buyer like her, we'll be fine.

The family entertaining space, which has been very attractively appointed.

-There we are.

-Thank you.

Leading out onto the rear garden.

Great double bedroom and a built-in wardrobe.

A study or additional office space, which is a popular requirement,

in the current climate for homeworkers.

Definitely helps with the value of the house. People like storage.

They've not got things out showing then. This is the en suite.

Four piece en suite, you don't often see that.

Crunch time now!

I'd recommend that it was placed on the market at £360,000

and I would suggest that we probably would be

looking at offers at £340,000 for a quick sale.

In today's market conditions, I would put value this property at £360,000.

However, for a quick sale,

I would recommend putting on the market at £350,000.

-Bit less than what we thought.

-I was expecting it to be 360.

That's what we paid.

So we'll have to think about whether we're going to sell it or rent it.

I think we can afford to be patient.

I don't think we're going to buy the moment we turn up on the Australian shore.

We're going to rent for probably a year.

The Carrolls may not be willing to sell their house at a loss,

but can they afford Australia if they rent it?

We've prepared a comparison of their costs to help them decide.

-Milk.

-There's a difference in price!

-Look at the milk!

-That's huge.

-That's five times more.

-That's enormous.

We'll have to get our own cow.

-Yeah.

-That's huge.

So...

So the grand difference per week, in terms of the food in Australia,

is going to be around £63.64 more expensive.

That's nearly £250 extra per month on the shopping bill.

And there's still the difference in rent and bills to take into account.

OK, so according to these calculations,

it's going to cost us another £468 per month to live in Australia.

That's a big hike in outgoings.

But Stuart would be getting a higher salary,

so how does this affect the final figure?

About £39,000 a year difference.

Well...it's a no brainer.

Three and a quarter thousand pounds a month better off in Australia.

That's quite a lot of money left over each month.

Australia must be looking even more promising now.

So have Debbie and Stuart been convinced?

Based on our reality check, we're voting for...

BOTH: Australia.

It's a no brainer. Absolute no brainer, based on the finances alone.

Yeah, we'd be foolish not to move. Just got to convince the kids now.

On paper, Stuart and Debbie's Australian dream looks very

promising indeed.

But persuading the children to share it will take more than numbers.

If they're to have a future in Australia,

it's crucial the lifestyle Down Under is right for them too.

The Carrolls would love to spend more time outside

together as a family, but the UK weather means it rarely happens.

There's not an awful lot you can do with the children in the winter.

You do find that you sit in different rooms,

talk less and you kind of drift apart as a family.

Stuart and Debbie are hoping the Aussie lifestyle

and climate can help convince the triplets to emigrate.

So today, the Carrolls have come to do exactly what Australia is

renowned for, surfing. Well, maybe not all the Carrolls.

-You didn't fancy it?

-No, it's not for me.

-I think the kids will enjoy it much more than we will.

-You're probably right.

-If we got involved, we'd probably cramp their style.

-I think we would.

Mum and Dad in wetsuits! Doesn't go down too good.

That's a very weak excuse, Debbie!

Fortunately, the triplets have no such worries

and they're going to enjoy a surf lesson in warm Aussie seas.

Despite never having surfed before,

everyone's keeping their heads above water. Just!

I am getting the hang of it. Step by step.

It's very hard. Harder than it looks.

I haven't managed to stand up just yet, but I'm getting there.

And it seems one person isn't just getting there,

I think Shan has arrived!

Well done! You're a star!

I didn't think I'd be able to stand up so quickly.

It was so cool. Yeah, I could do this every day.

Blue skies, clear seas and plenty of surf,

today has delivered everything Stuart and Debbie have dreamt of.

I think this kind of thing is what we should be encouraging them

to get involved in cos I do think that the more of this kind

of thing they do, the more they'll buy into the Aussie lifestyle.

I can't remember the last time we did something like this together.

And immersing themselves in the lifestyle has made

the children see Australia in a very different light.

At home, we don't really do anything together

because there's nothing that we all like.

So I think being able to do this would definitely bring us closer, especially me and Sophie.

The surfing has made me feel a lot better about moving to Australia cos I know this is

something I'd definitely want to do and get involved in.

So it has made Australia seem like a better place to come to

and made me feel more comfortable.

-It's all right.

-It's boss!

-Would you do it again?

-Love to.

-I'd definitely do it again.

-Brilliant.

-Spot on. Hungry?

-Yeah.

-Come on, let's go.

Then it's time for the Carrolls to enjoy that other Aussie tradition, the barbie.

This is one activity that Stuart is happy to join in with.

Oh, look at that grease! Fantastic!

-Here's to our first Aussie barbie! Cheers.

-Cheers!

And Stuart doesn't waste a chance to sell the Australian lifestyle.

Comparing this to what we might be doing back at home, on a miserable

spring dank dark day, how does this compare as a lifestyle choice?

You make England sound so great(!)

I would much rather be here, doing this.

I think if it was like this, we would spend more time together.

So it would be a much better lifestyle.

So, after a very Aussie afternoon together, has today convinced

all the Carrolls moving Down Under could be worth the upheaval?

Based on the Australian lifestyle, we are voting for...

-Australia.

-Australia.

-Undecided!

Why are you undecided?

Because the lifestyle's really good here,

but because I'm so sporty and I am active, I do get out quite

a lot more than you and I do enjoy the stuff back in England as well.

I've had such a fantastic day. That's why I picked Australia.

I think the opportunities here are just so much more frequent.

You wouldn't have to work as hard to enjoy yourselves.

A day experiencing the classic Aussie lifestyle was a big hit with

the Carrolls and an almost unanimous vote gave a huge boost

to Stuart and Debbie's hopes of winning the children over.

But emigrating seldom comes without facing tough choices,

as watching messages from home could prove.

So we've prepared a DVD of thoughts from family and friends in the UK.

Hello, folks. Hope you're enjoying yourselves out there.

-Hi.

-Hi, everyone.

Hi, everybody.

When I was a young man, younger than Stu, I wanted to do what

he wants to do and never did it.

-And regretted it.

-DEBBIE: I didn't know that.

So I'm fully behind what they're doing.

And if the triplets buy into it, there's a great future, I think.

I do worry about his mum,

in the sense that I don't think she'll cope very well.

I could be losing them.

And I wouldn't expect them to be coming over here for many

holidays because it would be costing too much.

It's things like this that will upset me.

It's difficult because I can understand why they'd be going.

If it is to give my brother and sisters a better chance,

but then I still don't want them to go.

I'd feel like I was being abandoned.

I think it's not the things you do you regret,

it's the things you don't do.

And if that's what they want to do,

I think they've got to give it a try.

I don't think it's fair forcing three 16-year-olds to go,

potentially, against their will.

It's something I don't really agree with.

I don't think we're trying to force anyone.

We're not forcing them to come.

But they're not my children. I can't keep them here.

You know, I am going to miss them terribly, and I can't help...

I have been upset since they have

really thought about going to Australia.

DEBBIE: You don't realise how people feel, do you?

It's such a great family. They're my family.

And I love them all.

I love them all so much and for them

to want to move to the other side of the world, it's just heartbreaking.

Oh, God! I knew it would be hard, but...

We're being very selfish. Natalie doesn't want to come and that's understandable.

What do you do? I know we've got these three to consider as well.

Do you think that Natalie's right when she says she feels as

though we're forcing you to come with us?

No, I don't think you're forcing us.

I just think you're trying to persuade us.

We mind Sara, if she stays at ours of a weekend

and we wouldn't have that week in week out, would we?

I'm going to find that really hard.

Seeing their loved ones was a painful experience for the Carrolls,

but if the life Stuart and Debbie want isn't for everyone in their family,

their dream could be over for good.

With their future resting in the balance,

it's time for the Carrolls to make their final vote.

It's been an eye-opening week for everyone.

I think Natalie in the friends and family video

did use some very evocative terms.

She thought we were forcing the kids into doing something

that they perhaps didn't want to do

and I hadn't thought of it in quite those terms,

but it is making me think more about

how much pressure we are putting on the kids.

Are we trying to push them along too hard to meet our dreams

and aspirations without taking into account theirs?

I do feel like we are under a bit of pressure to move.

I know that it is the dream.

It's, like, even just by saying that it puts you under pressure

because I don't want to be the person to, like, ruin their dreams.

There's a pull and a push between enjoying the lifestyle

and leaving behind the family and everything we've got at home.

We are creating a bit of a gap.

I don't know that we can fill that gap with telephone calls

and with the occasional visit.

When Natalie was saying, like, how we are a family

and we're a massive part of her life,

that one sentence really showed me that she does actually care.

I don't think I'd be able to cope without her - not now anyway.

I would love to make a new life over here

with Shan, Sophie and Scott, and Stuart of course,

but I can't sort of stop thinking about Natalie and Sara.

My dream would be for Natalie and Sara to follow us...

but I can't make that decision for her.

Now with their future on the line, it's time to make the last

crucial decision.

It's been a pretty incredible week.

It's been very busy and at the end of that very long week,

the country that we are going to choose to live in is...

ALL: Australia! Undecided!

Have you gone for Australia, mate?

What's the big wow factor for you?

Everything. It's just a much nicer place to live.

What is it that's pulling you into Australia?

-I don't know.

-It's a nice lifestyle and everything,

but you and me mum seem dead happy out here.

We don't want you to choose just because we're happy.

We have to be happy as a family.

I know but, I want you two to be as happy as, like, we are.

So I don't want it to just be about us.

You're going to make me cry in a minute, babe.

It seems like it could be really good place to live.

And I'd really enjoy it.

But I also like the UK as well...

-So you're still thinking about it.

-Yeah.

We need to go and think about whether or not

we can really put that distance between the people we love back home.

The Carrolls' week in Melbourne has shown them

how difficult a choice it is for any family thinking of moving abroad

and with strong feelings all round,

are they any closer to making that final decision?

The family have been back for six weeks and I've come to meet them.

As Debbie and Stuart are the ones who have been driving this move,

I thought I'd speak with them first.

So what's the next step?

We've said to the children, we're not planning on going forever,

let's just try it. Give it a year, two years.

If we don't like it, we'll come home.

I just feel if I don't go, I'll always have that regret.

Basically we're going to wait until the kids have finished their GCSEs,

and if we can convince them to give it a go, then fantastic,

we'll be off this year.

Otherwise I think what we'll probably look to do

is really let them do their A-levels in the UK...

And if it has just to be the two of us, then we need to give it a go.

We'll go because they'll be young adults then.

They can do what they want to do anyway.

We've also got to talk about Natalie and little Sara.

Was that the dream when we started off?

It was but I suppose from day one, I knew that it was never going

to be the case.

Maybe if we get out there, in a year or two she might follow us out,

having come for a short visit and seeing what it's all about.

But that's a bit of a pipe-dream right now.

If we decide to leave it another couple of years,

it could then be harder again

because we might not just be leaving one child...

We could be leaving up to four.

That's a difficult decision to make, isn't it?

Debbie, how do you think the girls are feeling now?

Scott's sold on Australia

but the girls are the ones with the big question mark.

I still think that they won't come with us. I'm almost convinced.

In years to come, they'll... If we don't go, they'll probably look back

and say, "We should've listened to my mum and dad".

We should've gone. I feel that I've just got to try it.

-You don't want to live with regrets.

-No.

And if we go and we don't like it, then we've tried.

So how do the triplets feel since their return?

Although the girls didn't vote for Australia,

they were taken by the experience.

I thought before we went that I was going to hate it

cos I didn't want to move in the first place,

and to be honest, I'm not really fond of hot weather. I prefer the winter.

But when I got there, I was really surprised about how good it was,

and I really enjoyed it.

Australia ticks all the boxes.

LAUGHS

You're sold!

If we could just pick everyone up and take them with us, then I'd move.

But I don't know.

Like, it was a brilliant country, and I would love to live there.

Just with everyone. Because I just don't want to leave everyone.

In a way, I don't want to move, but like you said, my mum and dad

have been thinking about this for ages.

It's become their dream so I don't want to be, like, the person to say,

"I'm not going", and take that away from them.

So it's, like, sort of choosing between what I want

and what they want because I don't want to make them upset

by saying, "No, I don't want to go".

It's a joint decision for everybody,

but it's also a big individual one as well, isn't it?

Shall we go back and join Mum and Dad?

The triplets have all been excited by Australia,

but Sophie and Shan are obviously torn about their future.

What I'd like to know is have they made their final decision?

It's been great talking to you all about this experience

in Australia, but some of you are undecided,

so I'm going to ask you to vote one more time

to see if anything's changed.

Is it going to be life in the UK or Australia?

GIRLS: UK!

No surprises there.

-I feel really bad!

-You shouldn't because this is what you feel.

You can't help the way you feel.

Best get your exams over with, and then we'll have a chat then.

Well, you've got a lot on your plate at the moment.

I hope you get fantastic grades with your exams,

and we wish you the best of luck with whatever decision you make,

individually and as a family. Thank you.

ALL: Thank you.

Family ties are always the hardest to break and at the moment,

the Carrolls are going to stay together in the UK.

Whatever their future holds, we wish them the best.

Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd