A family from Scotland who left Britain to live in Australia less than two years ago is returning to the UK.

Kimberley Lucas moved with her husband and two children to Sydney in 2023, but in a video on TikTok, the mum explained some of the challenges of life Down Under.

Ms Lucas told her followers that one reason she wants to return is the lack of work-life balance. She said: “My husband works crazy hours here compared to the UK.”

She explained how he works in construction for at least 50 hours per week, with early starts and long days.

The young mum said: “His contract hours are 39, but everyone works longer with no overtime, which is just insane.”

Ms Lucas also said childcare is expensive, and because the family isn’t on a permanent resident visa, they’re not entitled to state help to cover the costs.

She explained that daycare three days a week costs AUS$23,700 (£11,984) per year while public school costs AUS$7,000 (£3,539) annually.

Next year’s childcare alone would set the family back AUS$31,000 (£15,675), according to Ms Lucas, who said it would cost as much as that due to the eight to 10 months for a permanent residency application to be processed.

Australia has seen a significant increase in net migration of Brits, with approximately 19,230 more heading to Oz in the last financial year than returning, according to Statista figures.

Rising taxes and the high cost of living in Britain are said to have driven young Brits, particularly to Australia, which offers higher pay and a “laid-back” lifestyle.

But Ms Lucas’s experience appears to suggest it is not always easy making the move. In a separate video on YouTube, Ms Lucas pointed to the fact education is free in Scotland and moving back ticked more of the family’s boxes.

Besides the long hours and childcare costs, Ms Lucas said she was also missing family back in Scotland. She told her TikTok followers: “Some of my best childhood memories were with my grandparents, and I hate that my kids can’t get to experience that.”

Ms Lucas added: “People visit, but it feels so bittersweet as you know they are leaving again, and you won’t see them for another year.”

She explained how her husband’s long working hours also meant she missed quality time together, with no family support nearby, meaning date nights had to be sacrificed.

The mum said it had also been tricky making friends as an ex-pat, to which other TikTok users agreed in comments on Ms Lucas’s video.

On the decision to move back to Blighty, Ms Lucas said: “Ever since we have made that decision we have felt a massive relief and right now I am just happy to go home and set up our lives there, where we have our parents there for support, obviously our friends, we can own our house and I can work, and education is of course free.”

One said on TikTok: “As a Kiwi living in [Australia], I agree with the friends thing. It’s so hard to make friends here.”

Another social media user said they felt sorry living in Oz didn’t work out, but Ms Lucas had given it her best shot, adding: “It’s a shame you didn’t get Aussie citizenship, you could have popped back for a wonderful holiday every few years more easily.”

A third said: “The fact that you feel that you’re going ‘home’ says all you need to say. It’s a pity you couldn’t make Australia home, but it’s always where the heart is.”