Savage Family Wanted Down Under

Loved ones left behind in the UK, looking for new careers,

finding the perfect home

to start again...

all emotional dilemmas faced by thousands of Brits every year

in search of a better life abroad.

This is Wanted Down Under.

The Savage family had always dreamed of emigrating, but in 2009,

the sudden death of husband and father Paul

brought all that to an end.

We lost a big part of our lives, you know, and it changed us all.

Mum Helene feels guilty that her eldest daughter had to grow up

so quickly.

She is a good girl and I don't appreciate her sometimes

for everything that she does do.

Now, she's determined to put the tragic past behind them

with a new life down under.

What she wants to do is to rebuild our family and try

and make us all come closer together.

But, to achieve it, she's going to have to take them away

from the family who've supported them through the tragedy.

I don't really think words would be able to describe

how much I miss them.

Tiernan every day reminds me more of my daddy.

Almost a quarter of all UK residents living abroad

are based in Australia.

With its sunny climate and outdoor lifestyle,

it's a magnet for Brits seeking a new life,

but the grass isn't always greener and leaving everything you know

half a world away can be a lot harder than you think.

The Savage family are about to set out on a journey that could

change their lives for ever.

They'll be spending the week in Perth,

discovering everything Australia has to offer before deciding

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

After two days and 10,000 miles,

the Savages have finally arrived in Australia

for the first time and it's hit home just how far away it is.

We left Belfast at three o'clock on Sunday,

and it's now...

20 to two on Tuesday!

But, despite the long journey, they're excited about the week.

I'm looking forward to just everything that's ahead.

-It's just...I can't wait.

-I've never been to Australia before.

I just can't wait to see Perth, to see what it has to offer.

I have this image in my head that this is a wonderful place,

and what if it's not?

Ahead of them is a week of discovery away from everything they know

on the other side of the world.

Meet the Savages.

They are mum Helene, Nicole, who's 17,

Tiernan, who's 13,

and Erin aged 7.

They live in Toomebridge in Northern Ireland.

Emigrating has been Helene's dream for as long as she can remember.

I've always been attracted to Australia.

It's just a beautiful place and I've just always wanted to go.

That's my dream...

to be in Australia, nice house, and just enjoying life.

But her dreams were dashed when her husband, Paul,

suddenly passed away four years ago.

We...

lost a big part of our lives, you know, and it changed us all.

'I didn't have the support there any more...

'of their father.'

With no father figure around,

Helene looked to daughter Nicole for support.

She was just 13 when Paul died,

and soon found herself helping to bring up Tiernan and Erin.

I knew that I was going to need to start helping, so...

that's what I done.

'And I would, like, get them their dinner and help them with

'their homework and I would bath them and put them to bed.

'You just have to basically do what Mum usually does.'

Helene feels Nicole missed out on part of growing up.

She is a good girl and I don't appreciate her sometimes

for everything that she does do.

She never got to do the things that other girls were doing,

which I feel guilty for, sometimes, now.

Most of my friends, like, would rely on their mummy and daddy to

do things for them, but my mummy relies on me to do things for her.

Mother and daughter now have an unbreakable bond.

It's made us who we are today...

and...

..we're stronger people for it,

I believe.

And we're much closer.

I don't think we could have managed without her stepping up...

to, you know, the role that she has.

After everything they've been through,

Helene believes Australia can help her family get over their loss.

'I do feel we've been through a lot and, you know,

'just the change. A change in'

the environment and the atmosphere just might, you know,

bring us all out of ourselves a wee bit more.

And a better life for Tiernan and Erin is at the heart of her plans.

I think, just things that I want for the children,

the better lifestyle for them.

I feel really excited because the beach is really, like, big

and I would like to throw all the sand at Tiernan.

SHE LAUGHS

In Australia, I'd love to see a koala

-and a kangaroo that boxes people.

-Boing, boing, boing!

Erin's a bit young and she'll just go with the flow.

-Tiernan knows what he wants.

-'It'd be good to make new friends'

and go to a whole new school.

But if she's to give her family the life she dreams of,

Helene is only too aware of the sacrifices they'll have to make.

My mum doesn't want us to go.

She has all these fears and, you know, what-ifs.

Paul's mum, Catherine, is going to be the one who'll feel it the most,

with losing Paul

and then...

the two grandchildren being the only thing that she has left from him.

And taking them away from her, I think, will just break her heart.

The children will also be saying goodbye to their half-sister Cleona,

and, for Nicole, that's too much to bear.

It's just leaving them...

Nanny and Grandad, mostly.

-I'm...

-SHE CRIES

You're all right.

Just being the first grandchild, they've always been there.

You know, you won't have that when you go...

to the other side of the world.

Helene is torn between her plans to improve their lives

and Nicole's reaction.

My fear is that when we go out there...

..you know, it is just me and her with the two wee ones. You know...

If she's having a bad day there's no family member she can turn to.

Am I doing the right thing, taking her away from that?

And if she can't bring Nicole around,

the dream of a better life could be over.

'I don't want Nicole going and being unhappy.

'If it's going to work, it has to work for us all.'

You know, if we come back, we all come back. If we stay, we all stay.

Despite the support 17-year-old Nicole has been able to offer,

Helene feels she has to be the mother in this decision.

I'm a single parent going with three children.

I have to get it right in my head and know that it's right for all of us...

before I jump.

Helene's convinced Australia could give her family a brighter future,

but, if it's ever to happen,

she'll have to put her own concerns to rest and get Nicole on board,

and, with just one week to convince her, the pressure really is on.

For their week down under,

the Savages are staying in Joondalup just 26 miles north of Perth.

The area is named after Lake Joondalup,

an Aboriginal word meaning, "Place of great whiteness or glistening."

Home for the week is this four-bedroom town house.

It's the family's first taste of Aussie style living.

Cool! Fabulous!

-Cool!

-Oh, I love the TV.

The picture is weird.

It doesn't go with the room.

-Walk-in wardrobe.

-That's my bedroom!

If it's a master bedroom, then I shall be having it.

-We'll see what the other rooms are like.

-We'll do heads or tails.

Good try, Nicole!

Pool table! Cool! I'm so excited now.

I love the kitchen.

It's a wee bit dated to me, but, sure, I mean, it's...

-it's not bad.

-And as for outdoor space...

It's warm in this bit, isn't it?

Is this it?

OK, not perfect, but Helene's staying positive.

Well, it doesn't feel real to be here. It's strange.

I have to keep pinching myself.

It never really dawned on me until I was travelling...

the length of time of the flight.

It still doesn't put me off.

You know, I have to think about us...

..in the long-term.

But Nicole's already thinking of who she's left behind.

I couldn't picture any of my grannies doing this, or my grandad

or anybody doing this, because it's just...it's too much.

It really, really isn't that easy.

I do think it's fear with Nicole.

I think Nicole is afraid because it is just me and her that...

..you know, God forbid something happened to me,

then she's left in the country...

with nobody to help her.

If my mum wanted to come here and I didn't, then...

it would be hard for both of us, but...

I wouldn't want to leave my mummy.

This'll be the decider, whether we stay or we go.

Um, and, either way, it'll be out of our system.

Back in the UK, the Savages live in this

four-bedroom bungalow in County Antrim.

I'm in this house ten years come this December.

I've put a lot of money into it, um, you know...

refurbished all the rooms.

Um...I like my house here and it's a lovely area, you know,

it's great for young families.

We all have our own bedrooms.

Um, you know, four-bedroom house, kids all have their own rooms.

I would like the same in Australia. Maybe an extra for visitors to come.

I would love...

a lovely open-plan kitchen-living area. A pool!

And to be beside the coast, I want the beach and the pool.

Yeah! Maybe a nice, wee, small lounge,

um, with the TV and stuff in it that's separate from

the big living area... barbecue area...

Um, I'm being greedy. I want the whole lot.

If the family do make the move, Helene plans to rent initially,

so, to show them what's available on the Perth rental market,

we've chosen three different properties based on what

they want and what they can afford.

Only after seeing each house will they discover how much it costs.

The search begins in the suburb of Alkimos, 26 miles north of Perth.

This area is still under construction,

but, once completed, will have all the facilities young families need.

It's also close to the beach, which should please Helene.

The Savages are viewing this four-bedroom former show home.

Will it meet their expectations?

Oh, wow. Look.

-Oh, this is lovely.

-It is nice.

-One bathroom.

-There's a shower.

-That's amazing.

-That's just what I want, the big shower area!

Very modern living, just what I would like.

Let's go and see another room.

Oh, wow!

-(Wow.)

-Oh, cool.

This is it.

It's all cosy and just the family space for to chill out

-and have family time.

-I just love the colours, it's lovely.

I'm just speechless. I don't know what to say. It's beautiful.

So far, so good.

-Yeah, this is definitely my typical room.

-Oh, is it?

-Yeah.

-Now, this is my type of room.

-THEY LAUGH

This is what I want, big time. I really have...

This is what I've looked for

-in an Australian home.

-Would this make you come here, then?

-Yeah.

-Yeah?

-Mm-hm.

Cos you were a bit iffy.

Well, I still am, but...

-Now, you're coming round a bit.

-A bit, yeah.

Not a bad start.

The modern design of this house is certainly getting

the thumbs up from Nicole.

-Wow!

-Wow!

-Oh, wow!

-This is lovely.

-Oh, my God, when can we move in?!

-I know, it's just perfect.

-This is beautiful.

There's just so much to take in.

You could picture yourself standing over here and cooking breakfast.

You cooking and me sitting up here, having a chat

and the kids just playing and...

It's just so family friendly, like, everything's just...perfect

and I just...

I just want to live here right now!

That's music to Helene's ears, but, there's something missing.

This ticks all the boxes for me.

-Except for one.

-Except for one -

I can't see no swimming pool!

And Helene's not the only one disappointed.

This is lovely.

I'm not happy because there's no pool.

HELENE CHUCKLES

So, we want a nice house like this and a swimming pool?

Yeah.

And a barbecue.

-We're not asking much, are we?

-No.

-No.

This house has everything but a pool,

but could the family afford it on their £1,200 a month rental budget?

Let's find out how much this house is.

Oh!

£1,220 a month!

It's a new-build, I suppose, you're paying for what you get.

As much as we could afford it, probably just...

we said four bedrooms, maybe five, and a pool.

But, if that's four bedrooms without a pool....

you know, I think, maybe, we would need to...

..reconsider what we're looking.

Not quite the start Helene was hoping for.

Property number two is in the well-established suburb of Butler,

25 miles north of Perth.

It's a family friendly area with plenty of facilities

right on the doorstep, offering the community feel Helene's looking for.

OK.

THEY GASP

-Oh, wow!

-This is lovely.

-Hmm.

-This is gorgeous.

I think it's lovely, so it is, the paintings and all.

-Could you picture yourself living here?

-I could.

Tiernan's sold.

You know, I was sitting there watching TV or you playing

out in the garden...

..standing cooking...

I just like...I just love the open-plan idea,

I can keep an eye on yous when yous are running about.

But Nicole's just not feeling it.

I know it's very open-plan and all, but...

..I don't know, it's just not me.

-Do you not like it?

-It just doesn't feel homely.

Perhaps the bedrooms can improve things.

-Oh, this is lovely.

-Look at this, Mummy.

Look, a walk-in wardrobe.

What do you think of that, Erin?

This is not my room!

Looks like Erin's hard to please, too!

-Hey, Erin's room.

-This is my room.

Yay, it's about time she said that.

This is my room, definitely.

But, once again, Helene's spotted a problem.

-There's only three.

-There's only three bedrooms.

Oh! Ah!

-Hmm.

-A master and two kids'.

It's a lovely house, like, it's really...just really

family friendly and all, but there's not enough bedrooms.

There is too much of an age gap between each of yous to share a room.

-I know.

-I'm a bit disappointed, actually...

because it's a very nice property.

Though it's only got three bedrooms, the area's perfect for the Savages.

Could the price win them round?

It's a beautiful house.

I like it. I love the space, the light...

..you know, it's well-presented.

The downside is, it's only three bedrooms.

Erin, do you want to turn the card over and let us know if we can...

-afford this house?

-OK.

Oh, dear.

That's almost £200 over budget.

I'm not impressed with that price for a three-bedroom house.

-No way.

-That's far too much.

-Well, I think it would be that

price because of the location, it's right beside the park and...

you know, just the design of it and all.

I agree with you, you're paying for being close to local amenities

and, um, you know, I suppose that's what you're going to get,

the further out you go, the cheaper it'll become.

I wouldn't pay that for this, I genuinely wouldn't.

-It's hard. We want it all...

-Yeah.

-..but we want it for nothing.

With two properties down,

there's just one chance left to find the perfect home.

The final house is also in the Butler area,

with four bedrooms, it could deliver the full package.

-It's lovely. It's a big space, it's...

-I love these chairs.

It's bright.

Nice.

-Another walk-in wardrobe.

-Ah!

-This is lovely.

-A walk-in wardrobe.

Another lovely kitchen.

-I like it.

-It's gorgeous.

I still love that fact that you can stand here and look out.

And Nicole's changed her mind about Aussie style living.

I know I said I didn't like anything that was all just the one...

-Open-plan.

-..open-plan, but I do like this.

Yeah! Let's move in.

-Right now.

-Yeah.

But it feels a bit like home from home to me,

it's just what I pictured.

-This is my room! Look at the baby goldfish!

-So cute!

-This is nice.

-This is definitely my room.

-It's lovely. This is a pretty house. I really like this house.

-So do I.

-Cool lamp.

-Mm-hm.

-Cool lamp.

-It just feels like home.

-Yeah, I could live here.

-Same.

This house seems to be the perfect fit

and there's another reason it could make a splash.

What about the view out that window, Erin?

ERIN GASPS

Would that view be OK for you?

-Yeah, definitely.

-Are you sure?

At last, this property seems to have everything the family have

been looking for.

This is what it was all about coming here - four bedrooms, a pool...

I want to go in right now.

It even seems to be working some magic on Nicole.

I know I was against it, but now that I've seen this house,

I just want to move right now.

The whole family can imagine this house as their home,

but will it be within their £1,200 a month budget?

I think this is the closest that we're going to get to

a property that we wanted.

-Are we ready? ALL:

-Yes!

A house that ticks all the boxes for me anyway.

-And me.

-One, two, three.

Oh!

That's £350 over budget.

SHE LAUGHS Speechless!

It's worth it, though. It's a bit over budget.

For me, it's not what I had in mind, but I would consider it.

Can we afford it?

As it...

At the minute, looking at it, I don't know.

That's my honest answer.

I would like to think we could, because this is what I would like.

That's a bit of a setback,

but Helene's not giving up on the dream home just yet.

The first house was achievable, but no pool meant no deal.

Property number two was a hit for Helene,

but the missing fourth bedroom let it down.

The final house was everything the Savages dreamed of,

but the price tag could put it beyond their reach.

So, when it comes to properties, will the family choose home or away?

Based on our experience of looking at properties in Australia,

we are voting for...

Australia.

Unsure. What did you pick?

UK. What did you pick?

Australia and Erin picked Australia.

I picked...

not sure, because the properties that we've looked at are all beautiful,

I like them all, but I'm a bit unsure whether I really want...

the expense.

After years of dreaming of a better life for her family in Australia,

today's house hunting has been a disappointment for Helene.

Perth's property prices have been a wake-up call and if she's going

to secure her ideal home, everything rests on her work opportunities.

Back in the UK, Helene works as a nurse, caring for the elderly.

It's a job she loves.

I have been working here in this care setting for the past two years.

I love the residents and I have great friends here

and the staff are lovely.

If I choose to move to Australia,

I would want a job similar to what I'm doing.

We've arranged for Helene to spend time at a local care home in Perth.

-Welcome to Bethanie Beachside.

-Hello.

-Lovely to meet you.

-Thank you.

-My name's Michelle.

-I'm Helene.

I'm one of the regional managers for Bethanie.

-I'm going to show you around.

-OK.

-Have a look.

This is an area where the families, when they visit,

they can have a look and see what's been happening this week.

We've got Australia Day, which is a significant day for us,

you know, we really love our Australia Day barbecue.

Our residents and volunteers.

Then, over here, we've got our children coming in from

the local schools, doing a nativity programme.

-A hairdresser.

-OK.

Uh, doctor's visiting room.

4 and 7 - 47.

They're residents calling out the numbers, not staff.

OK. He's a sprightly resident!

Well, you have to make the most of the years that you can still

-do things. Our newsletter is done by our residents.

-Oh, very good.

-That's great.

-Cos it's their news.

It's an amazing facility, you know, that it offers so much.

And happy staff is really important too. Happy staff...

-happy residents.

-Happy residents. Yeah.

-APPLAUSE

-OK.

Across town, Nicole's checking out her options.

In the UK, she's studying to be a hairdresser

and she's keen to find out

if she could continue her training should she move to Australia.

I would really love to be a hairdresser

if we moved out here because it would just make me

feel more used to people and get more used to the feeling

and the lifestyle of Australia.

While Tiernan and Erin are looked after by a child minder,

Nicole visits a local college where lecturer Dawn shows

her around the hairdressing facility.

So, it's a simulated working salon, so we actually take bookings

for clients through for cutting, colouring, perming.

This is our hairdresser department.

The students are actually working towards a Cert III in hairdressing.

We do 680 hours here for the total course for a Cert III in

hairdressing and in the UK, probably similar, about 560 hours in total.

The units are very, very similar.

I was expecting it to be a wee bit different, but, thank God it's not,

-it's just the same as back home.

-No, exactly the same. Cut hair,

colour hair, perm hair, all over the world, exactly the same.

That's just what Nicole wanted to hear.

So, Polly, what are you actually doing today with Sheryl?

I'm basically refreshing the haircut that Sheryl has

put in through before, which is layers and I'm putting a nice solid

edge to it as well, just to make sure that her hair looks nice and thick.

Student Polly used to study hairdressing in Ireland.

I have to say, I enjoy the school in Australia better than

I did the one in Ireland.

So, yeah, I just think the people are actually a little bit more attentive.

-Yeah.

-You kind of get a little bit more

one-on-one with your, you know, teachers.

And meeting her is a chance for Nicole to get some answers

about her potential future.

Did you find it a lot more difficult when you moved here from Ireland?

It wasn't actually too bad,

I mean, the immigration process was fairly straightforward.

I started my course and became a student,

which basically gives me the right to work 20 hours every week.

Would you recommend the course to me?

It's definitely more hands-on, which is great,

so you definitely can feel that you actually are gaining

the knowledge and you become more and more confident.

The staff in campus are lovely and the students are really nice as well.

It's definitely challenging at times, it can be quite busy,

but I think that's a positive more than a negative.

Hearing how easy the transition can be is reassuring for Nicole,

but back at the care home, Helene's got some questions of her own.

Going round this facility today, it's great, you know.

Would there be, you know, job opportunities here for me?

Most definitely, I mean,

the Bethanie Group really welcomes UK and American nurses.

You have to apply through the Nursing Registration.

In this facility, I've probably sponsored about four nurses,

three from the UK.

But I can actually put you in touch with an HR advisor...

-OK.

-..who can actually help you.

As a full-time clinical nurse,

what type of salary could I expect here in Australia?

Between 75,000 and 80,000,

-which would be about £56,000 sterling today.

-No way!

I don't know what it would be tomorrow cos of the changing pound.

SHE GASPS Oh, wow.

-That is a big increase in salary, definitely.

-I guess it's full-time.

You know, in our industry, you know,

full-time can be between 8 and 5 or 7 and 3.

-OK.

-Yeah.

-That's great news and that, you know...

-Yes.

..is a lot to take in and a lot to think about.

As a single mum, Helene's ability to earn enough to provide for

-her family has always been a major concern.

-I'm surprised.

I work part-time as a nurse in the UK and, if I was full-time,

I could earn between £19,000 and £21,000.

Um, as a full-time nurse working here, I could earn, um,

within the region of £55,000 sterling.

That's life-changing in job terms, you know.

It's given me a lot to think about. Um...

Can I do this by myself? And, you know, now I'm thinking I can.

It's a big step in the right direction

and could bring Helene's dream home within reach.

Will the news be as good for Nicole?

If I came here, would I have to start from the very, very beginning?

If you've got what we call comparison units,

we can transfer them over, but to be able to do that,

you would actually, um, have to join the course.

We would evaluate your skills.

What would the salary be for me as, what I would say, a trainee?

For the first year, you would expect in excess of 300 per week

and that can range right the way through to when you finish

as the senior stylist, and it can be anything from 700 up

to about 800, depending on the salon.

I'm only earning £50 a week.

So, here, it's a lot more.

'Both Nicole and Helene would substantially increase

'their earning power, if they made the move down under.'

Based on our work experience today in Australia, we are voting for...

BOTH: Australia!

The money Helene and Nicole could earn in Australia has

shown them both a potential upside to life down under,

but while Nicole appears to be coming round to the idea of

the move, Helene knows she still has her work cut out to convince her.

Part of Helene's dream is to spend more time together

away from the British weather, so, today, the Savages

are checking out the facilities on offer in the local Perth area.

It's a far cry from the dark, dank skies of home.

Standing here in Australia in this beautiful sunshine,

no expense, a beach, a towel, a few bottles of water,

some sandwiches, I mean, what more could you ask for?

It's a wishing well, Erin.

Back home, it's opening your blinds and all you see is grey skies

and you're like, "Should we go here? Should we go there?"

When you can't go anywhere, cos you depend on the weather.

And Nicole's noticed a change for the better in Mum.

'She seems more happy and just more herself than

'back home.'

The kids are all in the house playing,

I'm trying to do things round them. I'm getting stressed out.

So, when we're over here and we're all out,

I am less stressed over silly things.

BOTH: Loser buys ice cream.

Helene's delighted to see Nicole let her hair down.

Nicole is a mature 17-year-old, she's had to grow up pretty quickly,

but, you know, to come out and have days like this,

it's nice to let her...get that childish side out of herself.

The sunshine's even had an effect on Tiernan and Erin's relationship.

Cos there's that bit of an age difference, the two of them

don't really get on, but when they're out

and about like today, I have seen the two of them

have got on so well and I'm just really pleased to see that.

-Have yous all had a fun day? ALL:

-Uh-huh.

This is the way I want it to be, you know,

I bring up three children, I want them to grow up happy.

'They've been great today and I hope this is the beginning of new things.'

Based on our lifestyle experiences today, we are voting for...

ALL: Australia!

Yay! I think that was pretty obvious today, was it?

-ALL:

-Yeah.

-And we want fun days like this a lot of the time, don't we?

-Yeah!

Life in Australia is beginning to look very promising

for the Savages, but now they have to establish if they can afford it.

Helene plans to sell the family home in the UK to help fund

a move down under.

She thinks it's worth around £130,000,

so we sent round two estate agents to give an up-to-date valuation.

THEY LAUGH

This is a typical semidetached property.

It has been up probably about 20 years

and maybe needs a little bit of a...

-modernisation.

-What?!

This is a nice, inviting front room with an open fire,

plenty of room for furniture in here and a nice bay window.

This is a really modern kitchen with a range of appliances.

The only negative is it's quite small for dining.

What?!

Ah, nicely enclosed garden here, with a large decking area,

south facing aspect.

Very nice.

This a very nice children's bedroom, it's a nice feature wall,

and we also have fitted wardrobes here.

Miss your wee room?

Yeah, typical bathroom for this type of property.

White suite, which is always very popular, doesn't date.

This is a really good size bedroom.

Um, I like the range of fitted units here.

The one thing I will say, because it's downstairs, it could actually

be used as a separate dining room because the kitchen is quite small.

No!

That's my room!

-TIERNAN GASPS

-'Oh!'

'Oh, God!'

Yes, here we have upstairs now, a good...

double room.

This is a spacious master bedroom, um, I like the, uh,

VELUX window letting in plenty of daylight.

I also like the fact that they've made the most of the space

again, with these built-in units.

Oh, look at all our photographs.

Given the current market conditions here in Northern Ireland,

-I would value this property in the region of £100,000.

-What?!

Um, if they required a quick sale,

I'd be expecting offers around £90,000 for this property.

-No way, no.

-No way, mister.

In the current market conditions,

I would value this property at £115,000.

For a quick sale, um,

they would need to be marketing at around 95,000.

I'm not happy. I'm actually quite shocked at that.

How much did you think the house would be worth?

I was expecting at least 130.

Does that mean that we can't move here, then?

I don't know, son. Um, I think it'd be something that...

..I'll really have to think about.

A valuation much lower than expected has thrown any move into real doubt.

Is there any way they can make the figures stack up?

To help them work it out, we've provided a comparison of their

finances in the UK and Australia, starting with the weekly food shop.

Looking at this - ham...

-now, you know the amount of ham that we go through in our house.

-Yeah.

-£5 in the UK.

-Yes.

-That would be two big packets of ham that we would use.

£8.16...

-here.

-What about your bread?

£1.71...

of a difference. Dearer over here for a loaf.

That's scandalous.

Average what we would spend back home - £95 a week.

-It can vary, you know, a pound or two here or there.

-Yeah.

Here, for the same...

is £124.26 a week.

So, equals...

£29.26...

pence of a difference.

OK, we'll have a wee look at...

Back in the UK, Helene's monthly mortgage is £500.

Basing her rental outgoings in Australia on the dream property

they saw, she would be paying triple that figure down under.

But could her potential earning power balance the books?

My income in the UK at the minute, um, for working part-time, is, um...

£11,185 and...

over here, um, you know, I would earn,

-that's the equivalent in English pounds...

-Yeah.

-..£50,700.

-That's a big difference, like.

-I'm serious!

It's great news, but will it be enough to cover the bills?

That's your phone and internet.

OK, and then groceries. Yeah, this was it...

They're more expensive here. Equals...

We are in a plus of...

£1,271.

A month!

A month!

Oh, my God!

That's mad.

£15,252...

..better off a year.

That's life-changing to us, Nicole,

it just opens so many doors for us, financially, you know.

A big weight off my shoulders.

Based on our cost of living, we are voting for...

BOTH: Australia!

That's a big weight off my mind, you know, to know that we

can come out here, we're not scrimping and scraping,

the lifestyle we could have...I would be stupid not to.

The finances could mean a move to Australia is more likely,

but, for Nicole, there's still one last stumbling block.

She's always worried about leaving relatives and friends in the UK.

So, as their final decision approaches,

the family sit down together to watch a DVD of messages from home.

-Hi, Helene, hi, kids.

-Hi.

-Hope you're enjoying the sunshine.

Hi, guys. I miss yous.

-Hi, kids.

-Hope yous are doing well.

Hi, Helene. Hi, kids.

Helene and the kids are really, really close.

We gel together, we tend to look after each other,

and help each other out as well.

Helene is very fun and she's great company.

She's a good mum.

Um, she works hard,

she looks after her children very well.

Tiernan's...

jolly, bubbly.

Erin, she's just a wee live wire, a wee princess, too.

Nicole's fun to be around.

Well, after Paul died,

she actually had to grow up and become an adult.

She's helped out, she's been a great helper,

her mummy would be lost without her.

If she moves to Australia, I don't think...

..it would be a better life, you know,

cos I think she's better off here

with...

-friends and family...

-God, I didn't think he felt like that.

I don't really think words would be

able to describe how much I miss them.

Watching them grow up. Tiernan every day reminds me more of my daddy.

Erin's the youngest of all my wee brothers and sisters.

She's like my wee princess.

We'll not forget yous.

-Never.

-You'll always been in our prayers

and we'll be thinking about yous all the time.

I hope it's everything you want it to be.

And more, but...

..we'll be always here for you and the kids.

-Love yous.

-Hope you enjoy.

(Hug.)

Well, Helene, love, it's up to you now.

It's your decision and all I can is wish you all the best,

see you soon, love yous loads.

Bye.

NICOLE CRIES

That's horrible to watch. You all right?

You not want to go now? I knew that would change your mind.

We will miss them, but...

..they could come over and visit, and we can go over and visit.

It'd be heartbreaking, I mean, there's Cleona says that you

remind her more every day of her daddy, your daddy.

Well, I think we've a lot to talk about.

Your mind's changed completely.

I don't want to come any more.

With Nicole consistently voting for Australia,

it had looked like Helene had brought her daughter around

to the idea of a shared future down under, but the thought of

leaving loved ones behind in the UK has badly affected Nicole.

Is Helene's dream in danger of slipping from her grasp?

Having seen the positive effect the week has had on her children,

that's the last thing Helene wants.

'Since being here, you know, I've noticed a change in all of us'

in a different way.

Tiernan, for the first time today, actually went into the sea,

enjoying the beach that he said he never liked.

And, Erin, you know,

she's out here and she's burning off all that energy.

Tiernan's noticed a difference in his mum.

While Mum's been in Australia, I thought

maybe she's been shouting less and we've been all getting along better.

While Erin has also bought into the whole lifestyle.

I really, really like Australia.

It's really good, and I love the beach.

Australia could offer the Savages the new start they've been

searching for.

'I feel we've been through enough.

'We've had enough sadness in our lives'

over the past couple of years, that...

you know, why not, let's make a fresh start

'and let's do what we always wanted to do...

'you know, as a family?'

While Nicole can see what her mum's trying to achieve...

What she wants to try and do is rebuild our family and try

and make us all come closer together.

..she's still undecided where her future lies.

To me, it is a hard decision to try and choose here or home.

And I don't know what I actually think myself I want yet.

Because home is where the memories lie and here you're

starting from scratch and you don't have any memories yet.

So, have the whole family been convinced Australia's

where their future lies, or is the other side of the world just

too far from loved ones at home?

After our amazing week here in Australia,

we have decided to live in...

ALL: Australia!

Yay! Everybody's the same! Oh!

I didn't think that would have happened!

I need to think of my future, not just...

of what it would be like back home.

I need to think of the positive, instead of the negative.

I'm surprised everybody voted Australia.

I knew us three would have, but I didn't think you would have

after...you know, being upset because of family and friends.

But, good. Yay! We're all going to Australia!

So, Australia it is!

With the whole family on board, the Savages will hopefully soon

be on their way to starting a new life together down under.

We wish them all the very best.