Australia is a dream destination for many expatriates, with its beaches, relaxed lifestyle and enviable quality of life. But expatriation isn’t always easy, especially when you’re moving with your family and want to continue your professional activity in a specific field. In this new episode of our podcast, we talk to Sarah Berdugo, clinical hypnotherapist and NLP master practitioner, who has been living in Australia for two years with her partner and their two children.
Sarah shares her unique expatriation experience: the challenges of getting her degree recognized, adapting to a new healthcare system, learning the language and integrating her children into a multicultural environment. She also shares her advice on how to make the most of the opportunities offered by expatriation.
Australia: the land of dreams
Living in Australia means choosing an outward-looking lifestyle, in a country rich in cultural diversity, where work-life balance isn’t just a marketing concept. The iconic beaches of Sydney and the Gold Coast, the artistic effervescence of Melbourne, the wide-open spaces of the Outback… The living environment is extraordinary and attracts professionals and families from the four corners of the globe.
The other side of the coin? Yes, everything is expensive. But what you get in return is a truly dynamic job market, impeccable infrastructures and, above all, friendly locals who help you feel at home. It’s a real life project that requires careful preparation in advance, particularly in terms of visas and integration.
When expatriation becomes an opportunity for professional reinvention
Expatriation often means starting from scratch professionally, or almost. The first hurdle many expatriates encounter is the recognition of their diplomas and experience.
In Australia, the Australian Qualification Framework (AQF) applies. In concrete terms, you’ll need to have your qualifications assessed by different bodies depending on your state or profession – such as Professionals Australia for certain trades, or Engineers Australia for engineers. And don’t forget: even if your qualifications are recognized on paper, you’ll generally need to obtain a license or professional registration to be entitled to practice.
Sarah recounts how her move to Australia was a real professional reinvention:
“Initially, my diploma was not recognized in Australia. I had to redo my diploma for a year. In the end, it was a source of great opportunities for me, as I specialized in endometriosis, chronic pain and irritable bowel syndrome, subjects that are not widely treated in France and the French-speaking world.”
This story is a perfect illustration of how expatriation can open new doors, even when you have to start from scratch in your own field.
Pro tip: It’s crucial to start the recognition process before you leave, so you can anticipate any training or further study you may need.
Settling down with children: educational challenges and opportunities
For expatriate families, integrating their children is a crucial issue. In Australia, the school system is highly focused on well-being and participation, with the school year generally running from the end of January to mid-December. Language immersion is rapid and often beneficial, as Sarah testifies.
“My eldest son arrived at the age of one and a half and gradually learned English. Today, he is completely bilingual and lives in a multicultural environment where he hears five different languages around him. It’s an incredible opportunity for his development.”
This early bilingualism is a major advantage of expatriation. Nevertheless, it’s vital to maintain a strong cultural anchorage. Many families rely on associations, French mother-tongue classes (FLAM) or, like Sarah, the Lycée Français (CNED), and family rituals to maintain links with the culture of origin: reading and singing in French, and photo albums to anchor the family.
Health Care Abroad: Preventing Costs and Insuring Yourself
As an expatriate, Sarah had to identify the differences between the French and Australian healthcare systems. While Australia emphasizes prevention, particularly during pregnancy follow-up and post-partum mental health, access to care for foreigners is highly regulated and costly without adequate coverage.
In Australia, the public system is called Medicare, but it is only available to citizens, permanent residents and holders of certain visas. The majority of temporary expatriates, including spouses and students, must take out compulsory private insurance:
- OSHC (Overseas Student Health Cover) for students.
- OVHC (Overseas Visitors Health Cover) for other temporary visitors.
Without such cover, or without supplementary insurance, the cost of treatment is very high (a consultation with a GP, without “Bulk Billing”, costs an average of AUD 80 to 200).
“Health is fragile. You absolutely have to be able to get support if something happens, and money shouldn’t be a hindrance.”
International health insurance is therefore not only recommended, but often essential, especially with children, to cover excess fees, optical and dental care, and repatriation costs. Sarah also points out that support networks for expatriate moms(mums groups, mentors) are essential to breaking the isolation and facilitating integration.
Santexpat.fr, la nouvelle façon de
s’assurer à l’étranger
1. Meilleurs prix
- Sans surcoût sur les tarifs assureurs,
nous comparons + de 300 offres d’assurance
2. Simplicité
- Un parcours simple pour sélectionner votre
solution en quelques clics
3. Accompagnement
- Nos conseillers sont là pour un
accompagnement 100% personnalisé
Growing as a follower: overcoming isolation
Accompanying a spouse abroad can represent an intense professional and personal challenge. The follower spouse is particularly vulnerable to isolation, loss of bearings and, sometimes, an identity crisis due to a career break.
“It’s essential to get support from the outset to think about what you want to do, find your life mission, and create a support network. It completely changes your perception of expatriation.”
For her, psychological support or career coaching can make all the difference. These approaches help to transform the skills acquired in the home country and the expatriation experience into a new, motivating project (retraining, entrepreneurship, etc.). It is important for the couple to define this project together, in advance, to ensure that expatriation is an opportunity for mutual growth.
The little joys and practical advice of expatriation
Despite the challenges, Sarah shares simple but precious moments of happiness:
- Watch your children play in different languages.
- Enjoy nature and the Australian lifestyle.
- Work in a professional environment open to innovation and collaboration.
“I feel like I’m offering my children a life that I couldn’t have offered them in France, both in terms of daily life and opportunities.”
Practical advice for preparing your expatriation
- Create points of contact on arrival: Contact associations, expatriate groups(French-speaking communities) or sports clubs to quickly build a support network.
- Surround yourself with support: a coach, psychologist or mentor can help you adapt and manage the professional and emotional transition of the follower spouse.
- Health insurance: International insurance is essential, especially for children. Check the need for OSHC/OVHC depending on your visa, and take out a complementary expatriate health insurance plan.
- Dare to reinvent yourself: consider expatriation as an opportunity for personal and professional development.
“Even if it’s difficult, daring to go and ask for help completely changes the expatriation experience.”
Family life in Australia
Sarah’s story shows that expatriation is a balance between challenges and opportunities. Between cultural adaptation, integrating children, professional reinvention and taking care of her mental health, she illustrates theimportance of preparation, networking and support.To listen to the full episode and discover all Sarah’s anecdotes, go to our podcast From a successful expatriation. And if you’d like to find out more about her work in hypnotherapy, you can contact her by videoconference from anywhere in the world.
