Finding our New Home

Moving from Dubai to Australia was one of the biggest decisions our family has ever made. Exciting, nerve-wracking, and full of “what now?” moments. We weren’t just looking for a house, we were searching for a home! a new place where our kids could settle, go to school, and where we could start fresh. Here, I’m excited to share our raw, real experiences. Despite all the research and careful planning we did, we quickly learned that sometimes the best results come naturally. This blog will serve as our little memory lane. A place where, one day, when our children grow up and take the time to read it, they can see the care and effort we put into building a bright future for them. It’s our story of home, family, and the journey of starting a new chapter together. From Dubai to Down Under here’s how our family found our new home in Australia! It wasn’t an easy journey, but with research, patience, and a few lessons learned along the way, we finally found the perfect place to start fresh.

Read our full story and discover practical tips if you’re also planning your big move.If you’re also planning to move to Australia or have just arrived, here’s our real story and a few helpful tips on how we finally found our new home.

Step 1: Research, Research, Research!

Before we even packed our bags, we started doing our homework online. Yes! from Dubai we have been spending extra hours already looking for a home to stay. Although it took us a while to fully understand and let everything sink in, all the effort we put into researching in advance was just preparation. The real understanding only came during those first few weeks of actually searching in Australia. Yes, we spent a lot of time and energy visiting places and weighing our options, but what I’m trying to say is this: there’s no way to truly find a home in advance. You only really know it’s the right one when you see it in person “if you know what I mean”.

During our one-month stay in Mascot, where we were temporarily settled, we spent our weekends visiting nearby suburbs to explore, compare, and get a feel for each area. Some weekends were exhausting, hopping from one open house to another, but each visit brought us closer to understanding what we truly wanted for our family. I wanted to stress the “Lesson learned” from this experience: some of our trusted friends and online communities had advised us to find a school first and then choose a suburb to live in. In our case, we did the opposite. With our one-month temporary stay in Mascot running out, we struggled to find schools within the area that suited our needs, mostly because the suburb itself was quite expensive for us. Although there were reputable public and Catholic schools nearby (I’ll explain more about school catchments later in this blog), we had to prioritize our budget and expenses first. Focusing on what we could afford for rent and living costs ultimately led us to explore areas further north-west in Sydney.

We spent nights scrolling through: realestate.com.au and Domain.com.au to check rentals and house prices

We listed our must-haves:
✅ Family-friendly suburb
✅ Good public schools/catholic schools
✅ Safe neighbourhood
✅ Reasonable rent
✅ Access to public transport

💡 Tip: Start your search early. Rental properties in Australia move fast, and good homes can be gone within a day or two!

Step 2: Shortlisting Suburbs

Once we had a clearer idea of what we wanted, we started comparing suburbs. We used Google Maps to check travel times to work, transportations, nearby schools, and shopping centres.

Some areas that caught our attention were Quakers Hill, Kellyville, and The Ponds all known for being quiet, family-friendly, and close to good schools.

We also paid attention to the vibe of each area. Some suburbs were too busy, while others were peaceful but a bit far from public transport.

💡 Tip: Drive or walk around the suburb before you decide, it helps you get a real feel for the neighbourhood.

Step 3: The Open House Adventure

Once we landed in Sydney, weekends became “open house” days. Here, open inspections usually last only 15–30 minutes, so you have to be ready! We quickly learned to prepare our rental application documents ahead of time because of thorough research and asking questions along the way:

Proof of identity (passport, visa, etc.)
Employment letter or payslips
Previous rental history or personal references

There were a few times we got rejected and yes, it was disappointing but we took it as part of the journey.

💡 Tip: Be polite and punctual when meeting real estate agents. They often recommend good tenants to landlords based on first impressions.

Steps You Need to Take Before Renting a Home:

If you’ve already found a suburb (or a few!) that you love, here’s what usually comes next when applying for a rental property in Australia:

Apply for the home you’ve “hearted.”
Once you find a property you like, submit an application online (usually through realestate.com.au or Domain). Most homes here are open for just 15–30 minutes, so it’s best to apply right after your inspection.
Prepare and submit your documentation I have mentioned above.
Yes, you’ll need to be ready with your supporting documents, things like proof of income (salary certificate or payslips), identification, rental history, and references. It’s a good idea to have these prepared before you start applying so you can act fast.
Wait for approval, and be patient! Your approval often depends on the landlord’s decision, which can take a few days. It might sound funny, but yes! sometimes it really comes down to luck and timing!

💡 Tip while waiting for confirmation:
Don’t stop searching! Keep attending open houses and sending applications. We received a few declines, and the reasons weren’t always disclosed, so staying active in your search really helps improve your chances.

Step 4: Finally Moving In

After few weeks of searching and several “sorry, it’s already taken” emails, we finally got approved for our new home! 🥳 It was everything we hoped for quiet, clean, with a nearby school for the kids, transportation of course and parks!

We immediately set up the essentials:

Connect our electricity and internet connections
Start purchasing appliances where we find it easy than to ship all our appliances from Dubai due to cost and electric preferences
Updated our address through Service NSW (Service NSW) is one services in Australia you can apply for everything….I will make a separate blog on this so I wont overwhelmed you.
Registered with our local GP (family doctor)

Before I dig deeper to our next steps I want to share this very important information you shouldn’t miss before enrolling your children in schools in Australia.

Immunisation Records — A Must Before Enrolment!

One important thing to prepare before enrolling your child in any Australian school, whether public, Catholic, or private is their immunisation record. Schools require an Immunisation History Statement from Medicare (or an equivalent international record if you’ve just arrived). If your child was vaccinated overseas, you’ll need to visit a local GP or immunisation clinic to have their records transferred into the Australian system. This step is essential because most schools will only finalise enrolment once your child’s immunisation is marked as “up to date.” Visiting the GP is one of the first priority appointment we have made in Mascot before even moving into our final suburb.

Things You Should Do Before School Enrolment:

Book a GP appointment – In Australia, almost everything health-related starts with your local GP (General Practitioner). They’re your main point of contact for medical checks, referrals, and school-related health requirements.
Bring your child’s immunisation record – During your visit, tell the GP that you need to update your child’s immunisation records for school enrolment. Don’t forget to bring copies of any vaccination records from your home country.
Records entered into the Australian Immunisation Register (AIR) – The GP or practice nurse will review your child’s records and update them into the AIR (Australian Immunisation Register) system.
Get your updated Immunisation History Statement – Once the records are processed, you’ll receive an official Immunisation History Statement. This document will show whether your child’s vaccines are up to date or if any are due — and it’s required for school enrolment.

💡 Tip: Book a GP appointment as soon as possible after arrival so you have time to update your records before enrolment. It’s one of those details that can easily delay the process if left to the last minute.

Step 5: Finding the Right School for Our Kids

One of the biggest priorities for us and probably for most families, was finding the right school for our children. In Australia, schools play a huge part in choosing where you live, because where you live often determines which school your children can attend. I have mentioned it briefly above that in our experience we have done the opposite (means we found where to live first and school next) which is also fine. It really depends on how you will find the place to settled in. What matters is all the checklist you may have was on the spot and you will be ok.

When we started our search, we focused on Catholic schools, as we wanted an environment that aligned with our family’s values and offered a supportive community for our kids. We used the Catholic Education Office website (specific to each state) in our case we search and started via Sydney Catholic Schools as we are living in NSW, Sydney to search for nearby schools, check enrolment details, and even view photos and parent reviews.

💡 Our tip: Don’t hesitate to call the school directly. They’re very approachable and can confirm if you’re within their catchment area or if they still have available spots.

Types of Schools in Australia

Australia has three main types of schools:

Public (Government) Schools – Funded by the government and free to attend, though small voluntary fees may apply. These schools accept students based on catchment zones (the local area where you live).
Catholic Schools – These are faith-based but often affordable, and they welcome both Catholic and non-Catholic students. Some may give enrolment priority to families who are part of the local parish or who can provide baptism certificates.
Private (Independent) Schools – These schools have higher fees but often offer additional programs, smaller class sizes, and specialised facilities.

Now Lets Understand A bit of School Catchments

A school catchment (or zone) is basically the boundary area around a school. If you live inside that zone, your child usually has guaranteed enrolment in that school. For public schools, this rule is quite strict meaning you’ll need to show proof of address (like a lease or utility bill) when applying.

Catholic and private schools are more flexible with boundaries, but many still give preference to families living nearby or attending the local parish.

💡 Tip:
Before signing a lease, check which schools are within your new suburb’s catchment using:

NSW School Finder (for public schools)
Catholic Education Diocese website (for Catholic schools)

And just like that, we started our new chapter in Australia.🇦🇺💛

Stay Tuned for More!

We’ve been getting such lovely feedback from readers who are also starting their new life in Australia, and it truly warms our hearts. This blog is becoming not just our memory lane, but also a space to help others find their way. So stay tuned next, I’ll be sharing some of the best places to visit when you’re new here, how to get around easily, and a few tips on saving money (yes, even getting discounts on groceries!). Don’t forget to subscribe so you’ll be the first to know when our next adventure goes live!

Disclaimer: Everything shared here is based on our own personal experience and journey. Every family’s situation is different, so I always recommend doing your own research and seeking local advice to find what works best for you.💛

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