Thousands of Britons move to Australia each year, but many do not stay permanently. Known as 'Boomerang Poms', a significant number return to the UK within five years, citing traffic, high living costs, and difficulty finding work as key reasons.
Jo Williams, who moved from Sutton in London to Sydney, found the reality of Australian life did not match the idyllic images. She describes Sydney's traffic as 'horrendous' and notes that daily living costs, including housing and cars, are much higher than in the UK. Despite Australia's low unemployment rate of 5.7%, she says UK work experience and qualifications are often undervalued, making career progression difficult.
Professor Roger Burrows of Goldsmiths College, who has studied the phenomenon of migrants leaving Australia, points to long working hours, poor public transport, and a lack of social life as common complaints. 'Commuters spend hours on the road and when you eventually get home you're in vast dormitory suburbs with poor-quality housing… watching terrible Australian TV,' he says. Many migrants find it hard to make friends and rarely visit the beaches that attracted them.
More than 7,000 British people leave Australia permanently each year, and nearly half of those on permanent migration visas return within five years. The trend dates back to the 'Ten Pound Poms' scheme of the 1950s, when the Australian government offered subsidised fares to attract British workers. Many stayed only long enough to pay for their return trip.
Even the weather can be a disappointment. Sydney receives nearly double London's annual rainfall, and workers often struggle to take time off to enjoy sunny days. According to Roy Morgan data, the average Australian rolls over 21 days of annual leave. As Professor Burrows notes, 'Australia isn't just a sunny beach.'
