A New Life on the Other Side of the World
From Heerlen to Australia – the emigration story of the De Silva family. In November 2024, the De Silva family, consisting of Silvia, Tom and their two sons Dex (14) and Naud (12), took a life-changing step: emigrating from Heerlen to Australia. What began as a dream became reality after an intensive preparation process that was completed within a year.
The Beginning
In January 2023, Silvia and Tom contacted Visa4you for the first time, upon recommendation of the Australian Embassy. “There are so many visa options; you really don’t know where to start,” Silvia explains. During this exciting phase, personal involvement was essential for them. “At Visa4you, we immediately felt at ease. And that is so important when you’re making such a big decision.”
Because Silvia’s father was born in Australia, she was eligible to apply for Australian citizenship. Once she received her passport, Tom was able to apply for a partner visa. Thanks to this route, the visa process became much simpler for the entire family.
They’ve already spotted their first wallabies and koalas!
Health
One of the main reasons for emigrating was Silvia’s health. Due to a medical condition, she struggled with the cold and unpredictable Dutch climate. “I used a mobility scooter and could hardly do anything anymore,” she says. “But here in Australia, I feel so much better. I can walk short distances again and feel much fitter.” The milder climate makes a big difference. “It’s autumn now and still between 22 and 27 degrees. And no more winter blues,” Tom adds.
Everything Sold: Off to the Adventure
In January 2024, all visas were approved. The family sold their house and nearly all their belongings. Only one pallet with 30 boxes filled with personal items and memories made the journey to the other side of the world. “We’ll buy the rest here, for example at IKEA.” In November 2024, they departed for Australia. The start of their big adventure.
First Impressions in Queensland
The family has now been living for five months in Redland, a suburb of Brisbane. They rent a beautiful home, but soon faced a culture shock. “After one month, we were without electricity due to a storm. In this region, everyone is prepared for that, with water bottles, a generator and a stock of food at home. That’s something we’re definitely not used to in the Netherlands.”
Finding Work: A Real Challenge
For Tom, finding a job turned out to be a major challenge. “I sent about 200 to 250 applications and received only three responses.” Eventually, he found a job through Facebook at a company that cleans gutters and solar panels. Very different from his previous job at Dutch Railways (NS), but it’s a start.
“Australians are very relaxed, but when it comes to keeping appointments… that takes some getting used to. If they say ‘you’ll hear something this week’, it often just doesn’t happen.”
School, Language and Uniforms
Dex and Naud adjusted to school surprisingly quickly. The first weeks took some getting used to, especially wearing uniforms and switching buildings for every class. But they picked up the English language quickly.
“The schools are very open and accustomed to children who don’t speak the language yet. The support is excellent,” Silvia says. Another big difference: phones are prohibited at school, and the school days are longer than in the Netherlands, from about 9:00 to 15:00.
The Dog Came Along Too
Even the family dog, Senna, moved with them. Silvia handled the entire emigration process for the dog herself, which saved a lot of money. “A dog falls under livestock transport, which makes it complicated. But with the right checklist, it’s doable.”
Senna flew from the Netherlands via Doha to Melbourne, spent ten days in quarantine and then continued on to Brisbane. “She arrived three kilos heavier than we sent her off, so she’s doing great too!”
A New Home
Recently, they celebrated their first King’s Day on Australian soil. The family now feels truly at home and is actively searching for a home to buy. That is proving challenging: “House prices have doubled here in the past two years. We should have emigrated earlier,” Tom says.
“So far, it has worked out incredibly well for us,” Tom says. “We can’t wait to find our own home. Of course, we’ll still face challenges, but it feels right. All the puzzle pieces are slowly falling into place.”
No regrets, only confidence in the future!
