About Us
Starting life in Australia: Our Story
Our Australian Dream: Starting Life in Australia Amidst Hope and Challenges
It all started with a simple question. One afternoon in May 2015, as I chatted with a colleague who was leaving our company, I asked her, “Where are you headed next?” She paused, smiled, and said, “We’re moving to Australia.” Hearing that, the idea of starting life in Australia began to feel possible for me. My heart skipped a beat. I’d always been curious about the idea of living abroad, but hearing her story was different—it made it feel real, possible. She mentioned they worked with a migration agency to navigate the process, and that sparked something in me.
That evening, I couldn’t wait to tell my husband. He had been gently nudging the idea of moving to Australia for years, especially since his sister and her family were already in Melbourne. But he never pushed; he knew how hesitant I was to leave the Philippines, the only home I’d ever known. But something had changed in me. Becoming a mother in 2013 shifted my perspective—I was no longer just thinking of myself. I was thinking about the future of our daughter. With renewed faith, I turned to my husband and said, “Let’s do it. Let’s start our life in Australia together!”
Taking the Leap to Australia
We created Our Australia Life to share our journey of starting life in Australia. As a Filipino family living in Melbourne, we offer practical tips and heartfelt stories to guide new immigrants. Our hope is to encourage and support anyone beginning their own Australian adventure.
Hi, I’m Phoebe, originally from the Philippines, and now a proud part-time working mom in Melbourne. Our journey to Australia officially began in 2016, with our two-year-old daughter in tow. We left behind stable jobs, family, and the familiar comforts of home—all to start fresh in a country where everything was unknown.
Starting over is never easy, but starting over in a completely new country is a different challenge altogether. From job hunting to house hunting, we faced obstacle after obstacle. Some days, it felt like the universe was testing us. I still remember sleepless nights, filled with doubts and whispers of, “Maybe we should just go back home.” But every time we looked at our daughter, we knew we had to keep going. We were doing this for her, for the future we dreamed of giving her.
The Ups and Downs of Starting Life in Australia
The first months were tough. We struggled to find a job, had to make do with a small apartment, and often questioned our decision. There were moments of loneliness and times when we felt utterly lost. Yet, amidst all the challenges, there were also moments of hope—like the first time we took our daughter to a local park, watching her eyes light up as she played with other kids, carefree and happy.
We learned to navigate Australian life bit by bit, finding comfort in small victories. From securing our first jobs to understanding the Aussie slang, every day was a lesson. We weren’t just building a new life; we were building resilience.
Why We Started This Website: Sharing Our Story of Starting Life in Australia
We created this space to share our story—the real, unfiltered ups and downs of starting life in Australia. We’re here to offer practical tips, personal experiences, and a glimpse into what it’s really like to go from immigrants to citizens, renters to homeowners, and savers to investors. We’re not experts, but we are a family that took a leap of faith and made it work.
Our advice isn’t about telling you what to do; it’s about sharing what worked for us. Our path may be different from others, but if our story can inspire even one family to take that first step, then it’s all worth it.
So, join us on this journey. Whether you’re considering moving abroad or curious about starting life in Australia, we hope our experiences provide insight and encouragement. We invite you to join our community— follow us on social media, leave a comment, or subscribe for more tips. Let’s walk this path together! Feel free to share your own stories or questions. We’re excited to hear from fellow immigrants and to help you as you start your life in Australia.