I moved my entire family to Australia and now earn £400-a-month extra while working fewer hours: British policeman says his children love life Down Under so much they don’t even want to come back to UK on holiday
A British policeman moved his entire family to Australia for work and now does fewer hours but earns £400-a-month more than in the UK and claims his family love their new digs so much they won’t even return home for a holiday.
John MacDonald, 35, worked for Staffordshire police for nine years before taking a leap and moving to Australia – relocating his entire family to Redcliffe, near Perth in August.
Earlier this year, the authorities Down Under stepped up their pitch to hire UK officers – pledging they wouldn’t drag them through years of hell if they shot someone in reference to the furore over a Met policeman charged with the murder of Chris Kaba, who was shot in south London last year.
John was fed up of staff shortages in the UK which meant he was always working alone – and demands for overtime work saw him work shifts of up to 19 hours.
Along with the perks of the sun and sea down under his family have fallen in love with their new lifestyle in the six weeks since they moved.
In August, John MacDonald moved his wife Debbie and kids Neil, nine, Felicity, eight, and Noel, five to Australia
The young family have rented a shiny new three-bed home in Redcliffe, near Perth
John MacDonald pictured in the UK as a Staffordshire Police Officer and now in his Australian police uniform
John, who previously lived in Tean, Staffordshire, said: ‘I absolutely loved my job in the UK and I never wanted to do anything else from the age of 16.
‘But UK policing has been gradually hit by cuts over the years – less staff meant I was working alone and did lots of overtime.
‘Not only is it tiring but it affects your family life – I was missing things at home that I shouldn’t have because I was at work.
‘My wife and I always said if the opportunity came up to move to Australia or New Zealand, we would.
‘When it did last October, we were the first ones knocking on the door.
‘We have only been out here six weeks but I get better pay, extra time with my family, and I get to live here.
‘Now I can see that UK policing needs a total overhaul – and it was time for me to move on.
‘As a family we all love it out here – it’s the best decision we ever made and I can’t see us ever moving back to the UK.’
While in the UK, John recalled once being on duty for 19.5 hours straight to cover staff shortages
John claims he now does fewer hours but earns £400-a-month more than in the UK
The family are so delighted by their new home they say they have no plans to return for a holiday
John has ensured that his three children have all been enrolled a local school
John joined Staffordshire Police aged 25 and loved the job.
But John, dad to Neil, nine, Felicity, eight, and Noel, five, found himself working overtime every week and missing out on time with his family.
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He recalled once being on duty for 19.5 hours straight to cover staff shortages.
John said he’d also often end up working alone which ‘made for a lonely experience’ as well as being ‘potentially dangerous.’
Six years ago, John and wife Debbie, 41, who also worked in policing, first had the idea to migrate to Australia or New Zealand.
The ‘opportunities weren’t there’ at the time, but they vowed if there was ever a system in place for them to move and keep their same roles, they’d move the family Down Under.
So when Western Australia Police opened up a scheme for UK officers to transfer over, they jumped at the chance.
They sold their home in Lower Tean and jetted out to Perth in August this year to begin their long-awaited Aussie dream.
They bought a car and rented a shiny new three-bed home as well as getting their three children enrolled a local school.
They also joined plenty of sports clubs so they could make friends and get outdoors in the mid-thirties degree sun.
Six years ago, John and wife Debbie, 41, who also worked in policing, first had the idea to migrate to Australia or New Zealand
John said they don’t have a large family, and their family will visit them in Australia rather than the family returning to the UK
Since moving the British family have got stuck into Australian BBQ culture
John has also pitched the idea to his retired parents to move out to Australia permanently to join them one day
Police Constable John started his new role with Western Australia Police on September 25 – and within two weeks had concluded they’d made the right call.
He said: ‘Staffing here is double what it is in the UK so there are less long shifts and more people to share the workload.
‘I’m never working on my own here either, because they don’t allow it, so it’s a real comfort blanket.
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‘In terms of attitudes, I would describe UK policing as a bit demoralised – and I certainly don’t see that when I look at faces round Western Australia Police.
‘My take-home pay last year in UK policing was £52k including overtime.
‘To put that into perspective, over here I earn £60k – working LESS hours than in the UK.’
He also works on a tenure system in the force, so he’ll have the opportunity to move to a new area so he never feels ‘stuck’.
Not only is work better for John, but his family are thriving in their new home.
He said: ‘The best thing is the lifestyle, the weather, and the outdoor opportunities.
‘The sport too – my eldest and I have got season tickets for the next cricket season. Where better to be if you enjoy cricket?
‘We’ve not done any surfing yet but we’ve been down to the beach – and the beaches here, you can’t compare to anywhere else.
‘Christmas is going to be very hot – I wouldn’t mind a barbie on the beach. Perhaps not in a Santa suit though!’
The family love it so much that they see Australia as a ‘one-way trip’ and have no plans to return to the UK – not even to visit.
John said they don’t have a large family, and their family will visit them in Australia rather than the family returning to the UK.
They’ve already planned for John’s dad, another keen cricket fan, to fly over when the Ashes are on in November 2025.
John has also pitched the idea to his retired parents to move out to Australia permanently to join them one day.
He added: ‘My only regret is that we didn’t move sooner.
‘Being here is a dream – it really is a dream come true.’
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