Marek Czarnecki and his wife Hazel had a comfortable life in Ascot in the United Kingdom but were increasingly frustrated by the effort it took. Marek faced a four-hour daily commute to his senior IT job in London with a leading investment bank.

‘You know things are wrong when you see escalator rage on the underground in the city and by the time I got home there wasn’t much family time,’ he said.

The couple were also concerned for the futures of their three young children as the UK grapples with significant social and infrastructure issues.

While they had often talked about living abroad, the tipping point came with controversial tax changes in the UK affecting self-employed IT professionals.

‘It was all getting too hard in the UK,’ Marek said. ‘We decided it was time for a better life.’

Choosing Victoria

The couple chose Australia for the lifestyle and career opportunities it offers. The Australian economy is a star performer riding out the global economic crisis and demand for highly skilled professionals and tradespeople remains strong.

Marek and Hazel did their online research and decided on the southern state of Victoria as a place to investigate. Its healthy economy, temperate climate, modern infrastructure and safe communities were major drawcards.

The family first arrived in 2007 on a ‘scouting trip’. They rented a house in a beach-side suburb and spent a month exploring the capital Melbourne and surrounding regions.

‘We liked Melbourne right from the start,’ Marek said. ‘It’s a big city but everything here works well. It doesn’t have the pressure or chaos of London.’ 

Melbourne is consistently rated one of the world’s most liveable cities by The Economist magazine. With 5 million people from diverse cultural backgrounds, it offers the best of everything with magnificent tree-lined boulevards, a mix of classic and modern architecture, open spaces cosmopolitan cafes and restaurants, world-class shopping and a lifestyle that’s hard to beat.

An easy transition to a better life

After a brief trip back to the UK, the Czarneckis returned to Victoria for good in September 2007. They employed a relocation agent to help them settle.

The couple chose Sanctuary Lakes for their new life, a premium resort-style residential estate set around an 18-hole golf course designed by Australian golfer, Greg Norman.

The gentle beaches of Port Phillip Bay are just minutes away and the estate boasts a huge 150-acre lake. The stunning natural landscape also includes a bird sanctuary and large parklands.

The city is 20 minutes down the freeway (peak-hour public transport takes under an hour) and just 30 minutes in the other direction is Geelong, the state’s major port city and gateway to the spectacular Great Ocean Road region. 

‘We live right on the lake’s edge in a big house and there’s a brand new town centre, a sports centre, good schools and on-site security services,’ Marek said.

It didn’t take long for Hazel and their three children aged 10, 4 and 2 to find their feet.

‘Hazel loves the friendliness of everyone you meet here and has started a local mothers group,’ Marek said.

‘Our eldest daughter is doing well at a Catholic primary school where the headmistress has taken a lot of time with us.’ 

A great career move

Marek arrived on a skilled independent visa without a job but was confident he would find a position at the level he wanted.

Victoria is a major ICT centre with skills demand across many technical areas and the State Government offers advice to help migrants find employment.

Marek found a suitable job in under a month. While he met with local recruitment companies he found the larger international recruitment agencies most effectively understood and marketed his credentials to big companies.

Initially, Marek worked as a senior analyst contractor with the National Australia Bank on a vital foreign exchange trading system for its wholesale banking division.

A promotion into management followed when he took a job with Australia Post where he now works on a major project to streamline its IT systems.

‘My work here is challenging but it doesn’t overwhelm my life,’ Marek said. ‘I’ve cut my commuting time in half and I’ve made the move into management so my career is doing very well here.’

Victoria has everything you want

Victoria has transformed the Czarnecki’s family life. There’s more time to spend together at a more relaxed pace. 

‘We love the availability of outdoor activities, from simple sightseeing to the huge variety of sports,’ Marek said. ‘Plus the great climate means we have no excuse not to participate.’

While Melbourne has a substantial community of UK-expats the Czarneckis have enjoyed making friends with locals who have been welcoming and helpful. The family is still exploring what Victoria offers.

‘Melbourne has an endless choice of social and cultural things to do,’ Marek said.  ‘We’re exploring the great regional areas but there’s so much to see we haven’t really been further than 100 km from Melbourne’s centre yet.’

The best life in Victoria

The Czarneckis became permanent residents in 2008 and plan to become Australian citizens soon.

‘It’s always a big decision to move your family but it’s been worth it for us,’ Marek said. ‘In the UK I worked just to get through life. Here I work to enjoy my life. We couldn’t go back now because our life is much better here.’   

Further information

• Living in Melbourne
• Working as an ICT Professional - check your eligibility for sponsorship and occupation career information.