Wynn Family Wanted Down Under

How far would you go to start a new life

on the other side of the world?

Especially if your other half doesn't share your dream.

Like most of us, Debbie Wynn is sick of British winters.

It's cold, it's windy, it's wet, it's dark, it's dull.

Saying she's determined to move to Australia is an understatement.

I've been a bit obsessive.

There's no way round it, really.

But with husband, Carl, happy at home...

The heart tells me this is the place to be and we're OK.

And finance is refusing to add up.

We'd be £2,764 per year worse off.

Can we afford to buy this house? Oh...

Will Debbie's dream be dealt a knockout blow?

Although Australia is the smallest, flattest continent in the world,

it has more than 31,000 miles of coastline,

so it's not surprising around 80% of the Australians live within 40 miles

of the beach, or to see why it's such a magnet for British families.

Ahead of Debbie Wynn is just one week to convince husband,

Carl, to give up everything he loves at home

for a brand-new life in Australia.

After that, the family will have to make a massive decision,

one that could change their lives forever,

whether to stay in the UK, or to start again down under.

With a stop-over in Singapore, the Wynns' journey to Australia

begins with an arduous 22 hours in the air.

Everything went smoothly, all the transfers were great.

The on-board entertainment was good, Ella was a little star.

She was fantastic, we were expecting her to be quite difficult,

tiring, hard work, it was brilliant.

It really was, a really good flight and we're here.

-That's not to say we're not tired.

-Yeah.

Debbie's delighted to be on Australian soil,

but what about Carl?

I'm quite excited to see what's out here, to be honest.

It's going to be really interesting to see what life has to offer.

-What about you, Ella, where do you want to live?

-In Australia.

Ella's already on board

but now Debbie needs to get Carl to feel the same way.

In the UK, Carl and Debbie Wynn live with Debbie's teenage son, Jacob,

and the couple's three-year-old daughter, Ella,

in Wrexham, North Wales.

The couple both work in education

and the family enjoy a good standard of living.

But, for Debbie, life in the UK has one major drawback.

What we've got here is gorgeous, it's beautiful, but we can only

enjoy it for about... I can only enjoy it

for about eight weeks a year.

Any time other than that it's cold, it's windy, it's wet,

it's dark, it's dull.

And she's had enough of dressing up to keep British winters at bay.

November, December, January, February, I'm wearing three coats.

-Yeah.

-From the minute I wake up in the morning, if I'm at home,

until I go to bed at night.

I think if she could hibernate, she probably would.

Debbie realised Australia could potentially offer her and her family

a brighter future after spending three weeks

bedridden with an illness.

The dream for me is the lifestyle that Australia has to offer.

To start the day in the garden with the blue sunshine,

fills your soul with joy before you've even started.

How can you not then pass that on through your day.

For Ella, for her to have her life in the sunshine,

having the beach on the doorstep

and being able to get out and about more.

Before long, Debbie was working furiously to turn her dream into a reality.

The first thing she did when she got well was start

sending e-mails to people about the possibility of living there.

It really has been a... Pretty much full-time second job for her.

And for the last 18 months the talk in the household has been

-of nothing else.

-I've been a bit obsessive.

There's no way around it, really. I know I've been obsessive.

There's a constant barrage of information about Australia, why it would be better.

The more I've looked into it, the more and more I wanted it.

I think that this really is a good move for us.

Unfortunately, Debbie's dream faces one huge hurdle,

Carl doesn't share it.

For him, leaving the UK would be a massive wrench.

It would mean not only giving up the job he loves,

but a packed life outside work, too.

I really enjoy playing drums. I play with a band, two bands.

I also love doing shows for children.

I do a mixture of magic and Punch and Judy.

The heart tells me this is the place to be and we're OK.

We're fine as we are.

But for every argument Carl has for staying at home,

Debbie has one for moving down under.

There is always a benefit, isn't there?

It can always be turned into a positive towards Australia.

Oh, it can, everything can be turned into a positive towards Australia.

-Lots of thought processes.

-I'm very persuasive.

It would be so much easier if you just said, "Yes" and just did it.

It would be a lot less painful for everybody.

But Debbie's obsession is beginning to impact on the family.

It's wearing, 18 months of Australia, Australia, Australia.

It is very, very wearing.

It's wearing to be doing it as much as to be listening.

It's not a comfortable...

For either of us, I know, it's been a difficult 18 months.

Because I know, I know in my heart I just have to keep going.

Debbie's son, Jacob, is up for the move,

but he's also feeling the tension the issue is now causing in the Wynn household.

My stepfather is looking at the other points about it.

Like, not being able to... not survive over there,

but get jobs and meet the family's needs and things like that.

Yeah, it's been quite hard, where to step and things in the house.

The week ahead is Debbie's best shot at persuading Carl

to share her dream, once and for all.

I want Carl to enjoy it and long for it, and want it, as much as I do.

I want there to be something out there for him, as much as for me.

I haven't got the same passion, I don't share the same ideas.

She deserves the chance to persuade me.

Debbie has just one week to convince Carl that making a new life

in Australia is a journey the whole family should be making.

For their first ever trip down under, the Wynns are visiting

Australia's third largest city,

Brisbane, in the state of Queensland.

Home for the week is a four bedroomed property in Cleveland,

a vibrant coastal village, 15 miles south-east of the city's centre.

For Debbie, it's a first taste of Aussie-style living

and she likes what she sees.

Wow! Look!

That's our pool.

We're going to stay there for a whole week.

Oh, look.

It's absolutely gorgeous.

And the enthusiasm continues inside.

I wasn't expecting it to be this size, either.

-It's definitely open-plan living thing, isn't it?

-It is.

-Really family...

-The outdoors is an extension of the indoors.

Even Carl's given a stamp of approval.

The house has been a great start to the week

and Debbie hopes the next few days will make just as big a splash.

I'm really excited about this week.

I'm really excited to see what we can...if we can do it.

If...if...

As two teachers, as a family of four,

with what we've got, the age we are, if it's possible.

But Carl's staying practical.

It's very easy to walk into a place like this and think,

"Yeah, I'd love to live here" and I am sure that's exactly what Debbie would do.

Um, but the reality has got to be there, as well.

Back in the UK, home for the Wynns is a four-bedroomed detached house

in Wrexham, North Wales.

When it comes to property down under,

Debbie's in two minds as to what she's looking for.

I want to really downsize

and spend as little as possible on the basics,

so we've each got a room and we have got the private garden

and we are within ten minutes to a beach.

Then partly I'm also drawn to actually maybe to get what

we would really like, the dream house, the big four-bedroomed,

so there's room for everybody.

We can see a little bit of the sea from one of the windows

but there's a separate outdoor annexe for parents and families

to be able to come and stay, completely independently, all those things.

If it's within reach, I imagine I'll want that when I get there.

For Carl, any Australian home will need to have a space

he can call his own.

My one stipulation would be I need a man cave.

At the end of the day, what's in the house is always Debbie's house/home.

Um, things that don't live in the house/home live in a man cave.

The Wynns would have between £275,000 and £300,000

to spend on a home down under.

Today we're going to give them an idea of what that might buy.

We'll show them three properties based on what we know they need,

what they think they want

and what they can actually afford.

First port of call is Ormiston in the Redlands district.

Clear sea views and tree-lined streets

mean this quiet suburb offers the bay-side living Debbie desires.

But will this three-bedroomed house be some place

Carl can imagine calling home?

It's a nice little street, isn't it? Really quiet.

Big space, isn't it?

Yeah, nice.

Seems dark.

But probably because the blinds, they need the dark for the cool, possibly.

Debbie's looking on the bright side.

Wowee! A big space!

A really big space. I wasn't expecting to see this

-big dining room space.

-The counter.

-Bright, it's fresh.

Yeah, nice-sized kitchen.

It needs a bit of care and attention but the space is here, isn't?

Yeah, not a lot really, it's only basic cosmetic.

This is a good size too. Cos it looks so small from the front, compact.

-It does, doesn't it?

-Nice big bed.

-Reasonable size.

Huge storage space and nice and bright.

As well as three bedrooms,

a converted garage could be perfect for Carl.

Wow, a drum room for Daddy, Ella.

-What do you think?

-Wow, big!

It's a space, it's got more light than the garage at home.

It has, probably not as soundproof. This could be a fabulous space.

-The possible, um, dwelling place of the man.

-Your man cave?

Could be a man cave. It's a very posh man cave, yeah.

Carl can see the potential,

and outside is something which should make Debbie smile.

It's a huge garden with a big space.

And an enormous, gorgeous pool. Look!

This is the house seller. The garden and the pool.

It's huge. It's huge.

We could have street parties in there.

-It's absolutely gorgeous.

-It's lovely.

This house could be a perfect fit for the Wynns,

but if it's not within their £275,000 to £300,000 budget,

it could also be a wake-up call for Debbie.

Can we afford to buy this house?

SHE GASPS

No! Not really. Just, just... it would be a push.

It would be a push and it's a case of is it worth the push?

This house had what Debbie and Carl wanted,

but around £10,000 over budget,

it looks like it could be a slight stretch for the Wynns.

Debbie's dream home could be beyond her reach.

Staying in the Ormiston area,

property number two is a modern bungalow

and with four bedrooms, three living areas and a double garage,

it should offer all the space the Wynns could want.

It's got a lovely frontage, this house.

-Oh, office there.

-Office, is that?

-Yeah.

-Nice.

-Master bedroom as well. En suite.

-Oh, wow.

-This is definitely my room.

This is how you imagine the layout to be, don't you?

-Come in the front door.

-I want to be in that one.

-A big shower.

-A big shower room. Big bed.

Cupboard space, presumably that's the toilet area and cupboard?

Walk-in wardrobe, wow! Look.

Definitely a Mummy room then.

There's a lot to like so far.

But a typical feature of Aussie homes,

wide eaves to protect the house from the sun,

isn't going down well with Carl.

It is dark. It's one of the major factors of our house you keep moaning about,

is the fact it's so dark there.

I can see every lamp in the house being on constantly.

This isn't light, bright or airy,

but it's very pretty from the outside, it's in a very nice area.

-Reserved, it's quiet.

-It's a big enough space.

It's got merits, it has.

Despite some redeeming features,

it doesn't sound like this house is winning anyone over.

It's an all-right sized bedroom.

This one seems a bit bigger than the other one.

My heart wouldn't be in the move from the UK, I wouldn't move

over for it with excitement in my heart and soul.

-No, I'm disappointed with the indoors.

-Yeah, and me.

The outdoor look of the house, the area, the whole package,

you'd expect something different.

You'd expect the wow factor inside and it just hasn't got it.

It's got all the space they need,

but the dingy interior is a disappointment.

Will it be within reach of their £275,000-£300,000 budget?

Go on then, Ella. Let's see.

SHE GASPS

-Very expensive.

-I thought it would be more expensive than that.

I actually thought it would be more than that as well,

because it's just such a lovely area, location.

And it's got a lot of space, it has got a lot of space, it's a big house.

-Just not the sort of space I think we want.

-No, it just doesn't do it for us.

It's got room to roam and a perfect location,

but with an overhanging roof and an over-budget price,

this isn't the house for the Wynns either.

Properties so far aren't helping Debbie sell Carl

her vision of a better life in Australia.

Two down, one to go, but will it be enough to convince Carl

to move to the other side of the world?

The family's final stop is just 30 minutes from Brisbane city centre

in the sought-after area of Alexandra Hills.

This five-bedroomed house promises

spacious and modern interiors for buyers on a budget.

Will it be enough to excite both Debbie and Carl?

Oh, this is a big room, isn't it? Wow! Look, a bouncy castle too.

-Big, open space. Nice family space.

-Straight into it as well.

-Yeah.

-Good-sized kitchen.

-What do you think, Ella-Boo?

-It's gorgeous.

You like it, it's gorgeous.

Ella is impressed.

-Do you think this is a master bedroom?

-I don't know.

-Having a double bed?

-I don't know, it's small.

-It's really small.

The room is small for the bad.

It would be OK for your room, it fits a double or a single bed.

The bedrooms might not be quite big enough, but what about the rest of the house?

Wow, I wasn't expecting this entire part of the house.

Another lovely second family space, movie room, snug, second living room.

-The outside as well.

-So, en suite, double-use en suite.

-This one is bigger.

-Yeah, big, bright, light.

-Storage.

-That's a nice master bedroom.

Yeah, and you got the light coming through the windows there. Air con.

And you're private again. This is a fabulous space.

And there's more of that word yet again outside.

-This is a fantastic space, this is huge.

-It is, isn't it?

-Big space for a pool.

-Nice garden.

While it doesn't have a pool, outside does offer

something for Carl, and Debbie is quick to spot potential.

This, Carl is fantastic. It's a must, it could become a complete studio.

For drums or just a whole cave for you, really.

It's not a big loss if we don't have a pool, of course it's on the

wish list, but also on the wish list is not killing ourselves financially.

So it's getting that balance really between being able to live and enjoy life.

And we are so close to the bays here.

Debbie is prepared to sacrifice a pool

if it means this house is within reach. But is it?

What do you think price-wise? It's got to be top end, if not way above.

-Way above.

-Way above.

-But again it would support everything, family coming to visit...

-It would, yes.

-..and a growing family home.

-More than enough space, what do you think?

-I think it's way over.

Are we ready?

Really?! Under, way under. That's amazing.

That's amazing, I didn't expect that.

I'm really surprised, that's brilliant.

That's a really nice thing, to know we can get something on this scale.

-Property's there if you're looking for it, isn't it?

-Yes.

It's been a day of ups and downs. Property one had

room for a Carl cave and a pool,

but was out of reach financially.

House number two had lots of space but dingy decor.

But the last property turned things around -

big, bright and in a good area, it went down well with the whole family

and was within reach, financially.

It's time to vote on Australian properties.

Will Debbie's dream be one step closer

or will Carl believe home is where the heart is?

Based on the properties we've seen today, our vote goes to...

ALL: Australia.

Wow. Wow! Australia! You want to live in Australia, Ella?

-And you do?

-My vote's a surprise to me, as well.

Because I'm surprised we could afford anything

remotely like what we've got. I'm not looking like for like, either,

I was looking more for what it would offer us

in terms of property in this country, linked to lifestyle, Ella.

-So, yeah, I'm quite surprised myself.

-This is a fantastic start.

I genuinely didn't think that we'd get the Oz card so soon.

So that's a fabulous start for the week,

and it's really good place to go from.

An early vote for Oz from Carl has given Debbie a glimmer of hope.

But she knows that for him to give her dream serious consideration,

it will take much more than a nice house.

Back in the UK, Carl earns around £40,000 as a teacher and adviser,

specialising in primary education.

It's a job he'll find hard to leave behind.

I love my job, I get to work with lots and lots of interesting people,

a huge variety all the time.

I can't really see how I'd get anything similar.

I must admit, I don't know what's available in Australia yet.

Debbie's a part-time primary teacher earning around £20,000,

and she'd be keen to do the same in Australia.

It's definitely the vocation.

I joke about, "I'm happy to work anywhere, as long as it's sunny,"

but, really, I'm not at all.

If Debbie is to realise her dream of spending her future in the sunshine,

getting the right job for her and Carl in Oz will be crucial.

To get an idea of their work prospects,

they're visiting Sheldon College, a private school

catering for children from 18 months to 17 years old

in the town of Capalaba.

-Hi, Carl, I'm Michelle.

-Welcome to Australia and welcome to Sheldon.

Thank you very much. Thank you for having us.

Carl meets college principal Dr Lyn Bishop,

and is keen to hear about the school's philosophy.

In this school, it's always about how what we do with children

has an immediate transference into the real world.

So, it's not just learning out of a textbook any more,

it's about how can I take the concept out of a textbook

and apply that in a real-world setting.

It just makes education far more relevant,

-meaningful and wonderful for children.

-Yeah, real life.

It's time to go again.

Carl likes what he's hearing.

Debbie's getting a tour from Michelle,

the school's Director Of Early Learning,

and it turns out Aussie-style education

could offer her a fringe benefit.

There's indoor/outdoor space time,

so basically what happens in the initial part of the day,

we work predominantly towards the climate,

so if it's the summer months, we come outside for a start.

Teaching in the sun isn't something Debbie gets much of at home,

and she's impressed by the school's teaching style.

I could see myself teaching here.

Quite simply, it's got so many elements, so much scope.

I think I could find a place here.

Carl's always felt moving to Australia would be too big a gamble.

Would an Australian teacher's salary help lessen the risk?

How much would a teacher in Australia

be realistically expecting to earn?

It would depend what year level you are.

If you're coming out as a beginning teacher,

you'd be on around 53,000-54,000 a year.

When you get to the top of your pay scale,

you'd be looking at about 86,000-87,000.

But then you have the opportunity to go into promotional bands,

and the promotional bands will take you up in the 90s, 100,000 plus.

In spite of his experience,

Carl worries at what level he'd be able to enter Australian teaching.

As a teacher, coming in relatively high on a scale at the moment,

how long would it take me to slot into something?

Would I start at the bottom?

No, you'd be able to show experience that you've had elsewhere,

and you'd be credited with that

and then you'd be put on a level and a band.

And then your salary would be commensurate

with where you are in terms of your experience.

It's far from clear-cut for Carl.

He'd have to be able to prove his teaching experience

to get a salary he'd be happy with.

And, even then, there could be another hurdle to overcome.

What's demand for jobs like?

We seem to have a lot of people who've been trained

that aren't necessarily employed at this stage.

And it's really a buyer's market, you might say.

It sounds like securing a job may not be easy.

Debbie wants to understand more

about how her qualifications would transfer.

I actually did a three-year BA teaching degree,

which I understand isn't enough

for me to actually be qualified straightaway to teach here.

Do you know what I'd have to do in order to top up that qualification?

Your first step would be to apply

for a recognition of your qualification.

Sometimes, depending on the sector that you would like to work in,

they will actually take that degree.

But, for example, in the early years in the childcare setting

or in the kindergarten years,

you can actually look at that as a starting point.

Then you would have to retrain to be able to teach

above the preparatory years.

Extra training could mean a delay before Debbie started work.

While Aussie-style education has appealed to both Debbie and Carl,

getting a job may not be straightforward for either of them.

So when it comes to work, is Debbie's dream still on track?

Based on the information that we've received today, our vote goes to...

-UK.

-I'm not sure!

Why aren't you sure?

What we saw, the place we've been, has just been fantastic,

an awful lot of opportunities.

But the process of us getting there, especially with me

having a three-year degree, is going to be a very difficult road.

I'd also have to fight for my salary,

if you know what I mean, for my level of pay.

I'd have to go through a process of justifying where I am

on the pay scale, experience, etc, otherwise I'll start at the start.

-So, as a family, that would be a big financial hit.

-A big hit.

This isn't the end of the dream for us,

because there are ways round everything, there will be a solution,

there will be a pathway, we just need to keep going forward

and to keep looking and keep searching,

because the rest of the dream for me is still a dream.

It looks like Debbie's dream of a new life in Australia

could be in real trouble.

But she's not giving up that easily.

She's hoping a taste of the Aussie lifestyle

will be enough to get her husband back onside.

Today, the family are heading to Redcliffe to experience

the annual seaside carnival.

With sand, sea and sunshine, it's everything Debbie wants.

But will their day out be enough to persuade Carl

Australia is where the family should be?

It turns out, there's a big surprise in store for him.

I know Mr Punch has made it to Australia as I've Googled him.

I wasn't expecting to see a...

Timing's good.

# If you're happy and you know it Clap your hands. #

It might be child's play, but a packed audience

has Carl entertaining some serious possibilities.

When the curtain comes down on the show, he takes the opportunity

to quiz puppeteer Julia Baker, herself an expat.

There is definitely a big market here for children's entertainment

and people will pay. Birthday parties are huge.

-Are they?

-Really?

-Yes, and they pay good.

Is it enough to sustain as a full-time profession?

Full-time?

If you market yourself... It would all be weekend work.

Punch and Judy... I mean, another big market is childcare centres.

I mean, the money's good, but you will have to market yourself.

Nobody's just going to come knocking on your door.

I really enjoyed it.

Even as an 18-year-old who's seen the show loads of times before,

with Carl doing it. Still, the fact that they changed it.

If we were to come over, it would definitely be something

I would like to explore anyway, so it's put a sunny side on the...

..the question.

Things could be on the up for Debbie.

A short stroll to the beach is chance for her to reflect

on the week so far.

It's been quite an emotional rollercoaster, to be honest, this week.

One minute, I'm thinking "Yes, we can do this, it is possible,

"the dream is a reality, we can make this work."

Then, the next, I'm thinking, "Do you know what? Am I in fantasy land?

"Are we really, really going to be able to make this work?"

Despite her fears, Debbie's still determined a life down under

is worth fighting for.

Australia itself is beyond paradise, it is the dream,

it's beyond my dream.

So, every obstacle we encounter, we'll find a solution.

In my mind, in my world, we'll find a way round it.

While Jacob's enjoyed the day out...

I'm really happy today, I enjoyed the lifestyle

just how we can come out here and enjoy the beach and the sea.

..Debbie knows it's not him she needs to convince.

To be honest, I'm still worried with Carl.

I still don't know which way he's going to take it,

I really don't know which way he's going to go.

Because he is happy at home, we're all happy at home,

but...this is bigger than that, it's about the future.

Sampling the Aussie lifestyle has given Carl an appreciation

of what the country could offer the family.

I can't argue with what's on offer, it's all here.

There's enough stuff to keep everybody happy.

Yeah, it's a great environment for everyone. Yeah, definitely.

Everyone's having a great time.

But the practical issues behind a move are still weighing on his mind.

I really don't like the idea of just jumping into something

to make everybody happy, and then finding out

that the struggle's going to be long-term or an uphill struggle,

it's going to take a long time.

It's the heart that needs changing, really, at the end of the day.

So, when it comes to the vote,

will Carl have been persuaded by the lifestyle Australia can offer?

Based on our day at the beach today, our vote goes to...

-JACOB AND DEBBIE: Australia!

-Australia.

All of us? One, two, three, four!

Come on then, Carl, what convinced you?

Based on today?

It's the lifestyle, opportunity,

you three are obviously really, really happy with it.

-I can see the possibilities.

-For Ella?

-For everybody.

-The vote for me today was easy-peasy.

This is what it's all about.

This is what the last 18 months of research has been about,

the last 18 months of arguments has been about.

This is what I'm fighting for -

for myself, for my family, for my grandchildren.

With Carl's second vote for Australia,

Debbie's dream lives another day.

But he's always been concerned a move is just too big a gamble.

So getting the finances to add up will be key.

The Wynns believe their house back in the UK is worth around £220,000.

But would two local estate agents agree?

OK, nice and bright, open-plan.

Stairs in the lounge is a little bit of a negative -

families, it's 50-50 whether they would like that or not.

OK, sitting room. Excellent use of the extension. Really nice room.

That looks quite nice, doesn't it?

Once again, nice, spacious room.

Good family space.

-Quite dark, though.

-It does look dark.

Kitchen. A little bit dated, but still quite practical.

-Really nice garden.

-Thank goodness for that!

Quite private. Excellent.

White bathroom suite, little tired around the edges,

this'll probably need replacing.

Master bedroom, spacious and bright.

Not overlooked from the front. Nice room.

Overall, this is a good-sized family home.

With a little bit more expenditure, it could be even better.

In the current market,

I would value this house at £190,000.

And for a quick sale, I would say £175,000.

That's low.

My current valuation of this property is £195,000.

For a quick sale, £180,000.

That was low.

So...where would that leave us?

Well, that coupled with potential lack of earnings.

-Yeah, it's a big factor.

-There's even less there.

You're relying on collateral for the house.

Their house has been valued at £30,000 less

than the couple were expecting.

It's all Debbie's wanted for the last 18 months,

but whether she could afford the move is now in serious doubt.

To help them see if the figures could work,

we've put together a comparison of living costs

in the UK and Australia.

First up is the family's weekly food shop.

-Butter. Right, we know is 1.62. Minus...

-Minus 1.67.

-Move your finger down a bit.

-Sorry. Milk.

Not that much expensive, is it? It's still expensive, but...

-It's still more expensive.

-So, nought...

It's a good job we're not big eaters.

-Couldn't afford to eat!

-No!

-Free-range eggs.

-3.06.

-3.06 minus 1.68.

1.38. Oh, it's double!

Despite their small appetites,

the family's weekly food shop is still £63 more expensive down under.

That's difficult, isn't it? With the...

..not knowing how much is going to come in, anyway.

You can't not eat, can you?

£63.11 a week, it doesn't sound that bad,

but when you look at it monthly,

you get paid monthly, it all adds up, doesn't it?

Yeah. Over a year.

With less equity from their house in the UK,

even if they were to buy the cheapest property they saw,

their mortgage repayments in Australia would double.

But Debbie planned to work full-time down under.

Would that tip the scales in her favour?

The difference in wages was 16,000...

Take away 16,681.

-Which means we're £2,764 worse off per year.

-Pounds.

-Pounds.

-Worse off.

Financially.

OK. Two grand, nearly 3,000 a year.

That's nominal, really. I mean, it's disappointing it's minus.

But, on an annual salary, it's the summer holiday.

It's less than a summer holiday that we don't need to buy.

Because we've got sunshine all the year round.

-Just doing that to survive.

-I know, but...

-That's on the basics.

You're not talking summer holiday, you're not talking savings, you're

not talking anything on there, that's purely day-to-day living.

Once more, Debbie's trying to stay optimistic,

but the figures have confirmed Carl's fears.

Based on the finances, our vote goes to...

-UK.

-In the middle.

-UK? OK, I'm not surprised there.

-Yeah.

Just too much uncertainty. Remember, it's based on the basics.

It is more expensive and it will be more of a challenge

to balance the budget,

but I think we can do it, I think, for the gains...

It was only a little bit more expensive

and we won't be spending every season on new outfits and new coats

and new boots, because we just need flip-flops, hats and shorts.

I think it'll be cheaper to live here

once we've got here and worked it out. So, I'm in the middle.

She may be willing to make sacrifices on the fashion front,

but Debbie, Carl and Jacob face another hurdle

before they decide once and for all where their future lies.

As Ella's looked after by a childminder,

the rest of the family sit down to watch messages from home.

-OK, are you ready for this? Are you sure?

-Definitely.

Let's give it a go, see how it goes.

My heart's in my mouth.

Hi, guys! Hope you are having a wonderful time out there.

Hello, everybody. Hope you're having a wonderful time.

Hi, guys, hope all is well and you're having a fab time in Australia.

Debbie, what can I say, she's an absolutely wonderful daughter.

She's my best friend. We've always been very, very close.

Always there for each other.

-Carl is such a clever guy.

-Oh, he's lovely.

That man... I mean, he amazes me.

He's like a son to us.

Yeah, and he's like a brother to our children.

We've only got to get on the telephone and say,

"Carl, we've got a problem." He'll be here.

Jacob, he's turned out to be a super lad.

Yes, he's a very, very loving child. He's had a really good upbringing.

We'll undoubtedly miss all of them. Jake and Ella and Debbie and Carl.

-Yeah.

-Of course we will. They've been part of...

Carl's been part of our lives for the best part of...

..30 years. And we've had Debbie and Jake and Ella.

Jake's lovely.

You are lovely.

'Well, I would miss them.'

I know that they're there now.

And although we don't see as much of each other as I would like,

I would miss them very much.

I am the one that's going to miss them the most.

I am the one that's in their lives the most, especially Debbie and Ella.

And it is going to be heartbreaking, it really will be heartbreaking...

..us having to be apart. But they will do it with my blessing.

If you did decide to move to Australia,

I would miss you all lots.

But we'd be very supportive of your decision

and we'd wish you all the best on your adventure.

I hope that when you've done the trip to...

..Brisbane that you find it everything you wished for...

..and that the Australian lifestyle is what you really want.

But...if you decide it's not for you,

then we will welcome you back into our lives as we've always done.

Whatever you decide, you know I will back you up all the way.

It's what I want for all of you - to follow your hearts and to be happy.

And yes, it's going to be absolutely awful when you go,

if you do decide to go, but we will overcome all that,

because we just want what's right for the four of you.

We miss you now, and we will miss you if you decide to stay there.

But we'd both like to thank you for your help, love,

and consideration that you've given us over the past...27 years.

Take care of yourselves, and live the life.

-That's hard. Isn't that hard?

-(Didn't think I'd be the one.)

That's hard. Because that...

It's always been the family, that's what life is all about,

that's what living is all about.

And that's been the motto for 36 years in my world.

That there's no point in having sunshine

if you've got nobody to share it with.

Seeing messages from loved ones back home has knocked the family for six.

Moving to Australia has been all Debbie's talked about

for the past 18 months.

But while the last week has shown them what they stand to gain,

it's also revealed everything they'd lose.

Now it's time to decide where their future lies.

The family's week in Brisbane has given them a real insight

into the kind of life they could be living down under.

Although the local property market didn't instantly blow them away,

they did eventually find a house the whole family loved.

-What do you think, Ella-boo?

-It's good.

Discovering the ideal job might be harder to come by

didn't help Carl's reservations about the move.

What's the demand for jobs like?

It's really a buyer's market, you might say.

But for Debbie, the chance to see her children experience

the Australian lifestyle chased away any concerns...

Australia itself is beyond paradise. It is the dream.

I'm really happy today, I enjoyed the lifestyle.

..until the real cost of living in Australia dealt a devastating blow.

You're not talking summer holiday, you're not talking savings,

that's purely day-to-day living.

For Debbie, Australia's been everything she was hoping for.

Australia is more than I thought it was going to be.

It exceeds the dream.

And the last week has been her best shot at persuading Carl

the country could offer the whole family a better future.

I know I've persuaded Jacob, I know I've persuaded Ella.

They weren't going to take much persuading anyway.

Carl, I'm not sure if I've persuaded Carl or not, really.

Because I've spent 18 months telling him all the wonderful things

Australia has to offer.

But his heart needs to be in it, too,

and he's got more family to leave behind.

He's finding it a lot more difficult. So, I'm not sure.

Carl knows just how much Debbie's dream means to her.

Debbie was over the moon, because it's everything she's ever wanted,

but to see me, sort of, excited by some of the possibilities

there would be by the move, I think she's got her hopes up.

While Jacob could always see the benefits of a move...

I hope that we'll all get to come out here together

and enjoy this lifestyle.

..Carl's all too aware of what he would have to leave behind in the UK.

I'm torn, I'm just about torn.

There's something strong holding me back,

but I am torn, because I've seen a lot of positives

from being out here.

So, never say never.

For Debbie, the moment of truth has finally arrived.

Has she done enough to convince her husband to move their family

to the other side of the world?

Everything rests on their final decision as the family choose

between a future in the UK or Australia.

After the week we've had in Australia, our vote today goes to...

-Australia!

-Australia!

OK, well, two out of three, what about you, Jake, you loved it?

-Yeah, definitely. It was amazing.

-And UK.

-Yeah, predictably, I think.

-Bit disappointing.

I wanted to go flat on, I think.

Lots of possibilities,

some reservations about the friends and family.

For me, I still have reservations, as well,

but the benefits far outweigh the uncertainties and I just feel,

as a family, we've got the skills we need to make it work,

so Australia it is.

Despite Debbie's very best efforts, it looks like she still has some way

to go to persuade Carl that a life down under is a dream worth chasing.

Wherever their future lies, we wish the family the very best of luck.