"Nobody has set out to move to Australia for a worse life. We've all done it because we believe this is a really good move for the benefit of everybody in our family."

Moving to Australia with children brings a whole layer of complexity on top of the usual relocation admin, from visas and schooling to helping your kids find their feet socially and emotionally in a completely new environment.

In this episode of the New Life in Australia podcast, Karen sits down with Sam, founder of Courageous Girls Club, who moved from the UK to Bribie Island in Queensland with her husband and two boys in 2019, just months before COVID hit. Sam shas plenty to share as she has lived through the highs and lows of relocating with young kids, and through Courageous Girls Club she now spends her days helping children build confidence and resilience.

It's a warm, honest conversation covering the mistakes to avoid, what resilience really looks like in kids, how to help children settle socially and what it takes to build a business from scratch when you land.

What you'll learn in this episode

• Why Sam and her family chose Bribie Island over the bigger cities
• The costly visa mistake Sam made early on, and why getting the right migration advice from the start can save you thousands
• Why checking for Wi-Fi at a rental property matters more than you'd think when you're moving with kids
• How Sam's two sons experienced the move completely differently, and what that reveals about children's need for routine after a big transition
• Simple, practical ways to help settle children quickly, from local clubs and activities to getting them into kindy or school as soon as possible
• What resilience actually looks like in children and how to support kids through friendship struggles, new school systems and unfamiliar Aussie slang
• How to let go of parental guilt about the decision to move
• Sam's experience setting up a business in Australia as a migrant, including the support and networking opportunities she found when she looked beyond her local area
• Sam's one big piece of advice for families preparing to move

Why this episode matters for your move to Australia

Relocating with kids means managing your own settling-in process while also supporting theirs, and the two don't always look the same. Sam's story is a reminder that children can surprise you (her nine-year-old was desperate to get back into a school routine within days of landing) and that resilience in kids is built through discomfort and repetition, not by hiding from the challenges. Whether you're still planning your move or already navigating the early months in Australia, this episode offers practical, reassuring guidance for the whole family.

Additional resources

• Find out more about Courageous Girls Club, with clubs popping up across Australia to help girls build confidence and resilience.
• Find Courageous Girls Club in the Move to Australia Directory.
• Visit the Move to Australia Directory to explore services and connect with businesses that support your relocation journey.

If you enjoyed listening, don’t forget to subscribe to the show wherever you listen to podcasts. All positive reviews would be really appreciated!

Find the full show notes and transcript at https://smartstepstoaustralia.com/episode-51

Find all of the migration and relocation services you need in one handy place in the Move to Australia Directory.

Find out more about TorFX and find the details of their $100 credit offer for New Life in Australia listeners at https://directory.smartstepstoaustralia.com/places/torfx/

Get your Ultimate Emigration Checklist Bundle at MovetoAustraliaToolkit.com.

Support the show