Wanted Down Under
Season 11
If the job that you do is on the list of those in short supply in Australia, you are under 45 and you are thinking of emigrating then the Australian government will help to fast track you through the immigration procedure. The BBC has found 20 such families and offers them a chance to sample life Down Under for a week to help make the decision.
Where to Watch Season 11
24 Episodes
- Ramoth FamilyE1
Ramoth FamilyLee once dreamed of a better life in Australia, but his wife Lauren was more than happy in the UK. However, ten years on and the roles have been reversed - Lauren can see the potential for a move down under, but Lee has a successful business in UK and is worried about separating their children from their grandparents. A trial week in Perth gives Lauren and Lee an insight into the reality of living in Australia. - Murray FamilyE2
Murray FamilySingle mum Lisa feels she can provide her ten-year-old daughter Jessica with a better lifestyle in Australia. A childcare centre manager, Lisa need to know whether the move would work financially. Having never set foot in the country before, they visit the Gold Coast for a trial stay - Royle-Evatt/Rowley FamilyE3
Royle-Evatt/Rowley FamilyAfter ten years of active military service, Mathew Royle-Evatt feels Australia is the place to settle down with his fiancée. But for Phillipa, the thought of leaving everyone she loves back in the UK is a scary prospect. The couple spend a trial week in Perth. - Hedworth/Romaine FamilyE4
Hedworth/Romaine FamilyJimmy has been dreaming of a move to Australia ever since he visited in his teens. Now with a young family, he believes he would achieve a better work-life balance there. Jimmy is hoping a week in Melbourne will convince his partner Sharday, who has never left the UK, that their future lies down under. - Goodson FamilyE5
Goodson FamilyDoctors Jo and Angus spend a trial week in Tauranga on New Zealand's north island. Jo would like her husband to have a more leisurely lifestyle for the sake of their children, but Angus is worried about finding a job down under and separating the kids from their grandparents. - Mungur FamilyE6
Mungur FamilySeries in which British families are given a look at life in Australia or New Zealand ahead of a possible move there. A horrific car crash 8 years ago left Nazeem Mungur the shadow of the man he once was. Although he has never been to Australia, he is now convinced that emigrating to the southern hemisphere could help turn his health around. Nazeem is now hoping that a trial week in Australia's Gold Coast will reveal the promise of a better quality of life and put to bed his wife's concerns about a move. - Fisher Maclean FamilyE7
Fisher Maclean FamilySeries in which British families are given a look at life in Australia or New Zealand ahead of a possible move there. Simon Maclean moved to the UK from Australia as a child, almost 50 years ago, and has spent most of his adult life longing to return. With his sons from a previous marriage grown up, now on the cusp of a new career he believes the time could finally be right to make his dream a reality. The only thing standing in his way is fiancÚe Jane. An only child, Jane fears leaving her elderly mum in the UK on her own and is torn at the prospect of saying goodbye to the best friend who is more like a sister. - Nicholls FamilyE8
Nicholls FamilySeries in which British families are given a look at life in Australia or New Zealand ahead of a possible move there. Running three fitness businesses has left Paul and Tracey Nicholls struggling to combine work with bringing up three young children. Desperate to escape the relentless routine, Paul believes moving to New Zealand would give the whole family a more relaxed pace of life and the opportunity to enjoy a healthier, outdoors lifestyle. - Barratt FamilyE9
Barratt FamilySeries in which British families are given a look at life in Australia or New Zealand ahead of a possible move there. Melanie Barratt's first experience of Australia was when she represented Great Britain as a swimmer at the Sydney 2000 Paralympic Games. After winning gold, silver and bronze medals, her success was topped with a proposal on the Sydney Harbour Bridge from her then boyfriend Richard. Sixteen years later the pair are married and parents to two young boys, but the heady concoction of success and romance down under has left a lasting impression on Melanie. - Jamieson FamilyE10
Jamieson FamilySeries in which British families are given a look at life in Australia or New Zealand ahead of a possible move there. When Hedydd Jamieson's husband Steven first declared undying love for her 16 years ago, her plans for a forthcoming trip to Australia were abruptly abandoned. Now owners of a busy restaurant, the couple are struggling to combine working 70-plus hours a week with bringing up their three young sons. Desperate to address their work-life balance Hedydd, has resurrected her dream of making Australia her home and, believing emigrating would help give them the family time they need, she is more passionate than ever about making the move. - Lancelott FamilyE11
Lancelott FamilySeries in which British families are given a look at life in Australia or New Zealand ahead of a possible move there. Juggling family life with work, Amanda dreams of more quality time with her husband and two young daughters. Despite never having been, she believes Australia is the place to turn her vision into a reality - but her grand ideas have split the family down the middle. Husband Dave and oldest girl Morgan are more than happy with the life have in the UK, while youngest child Naomi has fully embraced her mum's desire to start again down under. Seven days on Australia's Gold Coast gives the whole family an introduction to what their life could be like - but will it be enough to unite them when it comes to choosing, once and for all, which side of the world they want to call home? - Vickerstaff FamilyE12
Vickerstaff FamilySeries in which British families are given a look at life in Australia or New Zealand ahead of a possible move there. For as long as he can remember, Dave has wanted to make Australia his home. With most of his extended family already living there, he is more desperate than ever to make the move. For wife Becky the situation is complicated, because while moving would put Dave closer to his family, it would also mean cutting close ties to hers in the UK. A trial week in Perth provides Dave and Becky with the opportunity to explore what their life could look like down under. But after years of discussion and debate, will it be enough to see them agree on which side of the globe their future really lies? - Daniels FamilyE13
Daniels FamilySeries in which British families are given a look at life in Australia or New Zealand ahead of a possible move there. Keen to put the past behind them after tough times in the UK, Debbie and husband Lee are contemplating moving to the other side of the world in pursuit of a fresh start. Originally Debbie's idea, Lee is enthusiastic about making the move. Ironically though, concerns about leaving the job and family she loves in the UK, have led Debbie to now question the move. So will a trial week in Auckland be enough to seal the deal and put the couple on the path to a happier future, or will the Daniels decide there is no place like home? - Guest FamilyE14
Guest FamilySeries in which British families are given a look at life in Australia or New Zealand ahead of a possible move there. Nurse Melissa believes her family's work-life balance would be improved in Australia, but husband Chris has never wanted to live anywhere outside of Sutton Coldfield - never mind the other side of the world. Will a trial week in the country be enough to persuade Chris to leave the town he loves to call home, or will Melissa be forced to give up her Australian dream? - Williams FamilyE15
Williams FamilySeries in which British families are given a look at life in Australia or New Zealand ahead of a possible move there. Martyn has dreamt of returning to Australia ever since a car crash cut his trip down under short when he was just 22. Now over 20 years later, and with wife Leona and three children in tow, Martyn is desperate to finally make the move. All he needs to do is persuade Leona to leave behind close family, a beautiful home and the good life they have worked hard to build in the UK. He already has Joshua on side, but the rest of the family need convincing too - and as he nears the cut-off age for visas Martyn knows this really is his last chance. Will a trial week in Adelaide be enough to secure him the future he longs for, or will he be forced to bury the dream once and for all? - Hooper FamilyE16
Hooper FamilySuffering from chronic fatigue syndrome, Hayley Hooper has spent years struggling to cope with everyday life in the UK. At its worst, the condition has left Hayley in bed for up to 18 hours a day, and she is frustrated at being robbed of the chance to be a hands-on mum to son Lewis and daughter Aimee. Believing a warmer climate could improve things significantly, she is now convinced that moving to the southern hemisphere is the answer to her problem. But having recently got her health back on an even keel, husband Phil is far from convinced. He worries about coping without the support of friends and family if Hayley's health doesn't improve as she hopes. As the family's main provider, he also questions the financial implications of moving to the other side of the world. A week in Australia's Gold Coast could be Hayley's best shot at getting Phil to sign up to her vision for their family's future. Will it be the key to the fresh start she wants or close the door on her dream forever? - Chahal FamilyE17
Chahal FamilyWhen Suckie Chahal was 14 years old, her family cancelled plans to emigrate to Australia, but for her, the idea of moving never went away. When she married at 19, thoughts of a life down under were shelved once more as she turned her attention to running a convenience store with her husband and starting a family. Now, having survived the heartache of losing her husband and brother in quick succession, Suckie is determined to pursue a happier future and resurrect her dream of moving to the other side of the world. All she needs to do is convince children Aaron and Priya that it's the right place for them too. Although they are old enough to remain in the UK, she won't contemplate going without them. A trial week in Melbourne is Suckie's first experience of Australian living and a chance to get Aaron and Priya signed up to a move. Will the country be everything she wants it to be, and if so, can her children be convinced of the merits of moving to the other side of the world? - Maguire/Quinn FamilyE18
Maguire/Quinn FamilyHaving met in a cafe in Manchester two years ago, Pam and Claire have recently got engaged and are looking forward to married life. Longing for a more outdoor, active lifestyle, they passionately believe New Zealand is the perfect place to start the next chapter in their lives - despite the fact neither of them have even been. But for Pam the decision to move to the other side of the world is complicated. With two children from previous relationships, she knows she would only be able to take one of them with her. A trial week in Auckland gives Claire, Pam and her daughter Lucy a chance to experience what their life could be like down under. - Reeves/Sibson FamilyE19
Reeves/Sibson FamilySince visiting Australia on a family holiday over ten years ago, James Reeves has been obsessed with making the country his home. He celebrates Australia Day over St George's Day and regularly cooks kangaroo burgers for tea. But while his actions have given children Ewan and Evelyn an appetite for their dad's dream, partner Kelly just doesn't share his enthusiasm. With strong family ties in the UK, she hates the sun and doesn't enjoy travelling, so tempting her to relocate to the other side of the world is proving challenging. A trial week in Melbourne could be James's best chance yet at getting the life he wants. - Crawford FamilyE20
Crawford FamilySouth African-born Candice met husband Sean during a working holiday in the Lake District. When they married and became parents to Shannon and Nathan soon after, Candice struggled to feel at home in the UK. Desperate to give her children the outdoor childhood she had enjoyed, she persuaded the family to relocate to her home country in 2010. - Howells FamilyE21
Howells FamilyDeborah and Gethin were bowled over by the Australian lifestyle on honeymoon there in 2004, making a pact to return permanently once they had started a family. Their plans suffered a setback when both their fathers died suddenly within a week of each other and the couple resigned themselves to staying close to their mums in Wales. But their desire for an outdoor lifestyle was too great to ignore. Encouraged by work opportunities, they moved to Dubai in 2012, believing it would give them the lifestyle they wanted while knowing they were still close enough to home should they be needed. - Hanson FamilyE22
Hanson FamilyCaptivated by family tales of adventure and romance in a land down under, Keith and Mary Hanson have talked of creating their own reality in Australia. With Keith now in his forties, he thinks they should make the move sooner rather than later - and believing it is the perfect place for him and Mary to start a family, he has already secured a visa. - Farooq FamilyE23
Farooq FamilyEver since his twin sister emigrated to Sydney, Rehan Farooq has longed to follow in her footsteps. Now a dad to two young children, he is more convinced than ever that his family should make the move too. But having relocated ten times in the last fourteen years because of Rehan's job, his wife Tanya thinks Australia could be a step too far. Currently living round the corner from her parents, she worries about leaving them behind and taking their only grandchildren away from them. - Evans FamilyE24
Evans FamilyLaura Evans thought her life would be perfect when she set up her dream bridal business but, although business is booming, she didn't realise just how much she would have to sacrifice to succeed. Now working seven days a week, she has precious little time with her husband Andrew and young son Brodie. Desperate to turn things around, she thinks life could be better in Australia. Although she has never been, Andrew has told her all about it, following his travels there over ten years ago. Will a trial week in Perth convince both Laura and Andrew the country really does offer the work-life balance they crave, or will they decide the emotional cost of leaving loved ones at home is too high a price to pay?