Why Aussie parents are quitting their jobs to ‘worldschool’ their kids

For many Australian parents trapped in the relentless cycle of mortgage repayments, nine-to-five office jobs, and the frantic school run, the prospect of packing up and leaving it all behind can feel like an impossible fantasy.

Yet, an increasing number of families are discovering a new way to break free from burnout and exhaustion.

Driven by the rising cost of living and the newfound flexibility of remote work, these families are trading traditional classrooms for airport terminals, opting to “worldschool” their children instead.

Brad and Nicky Mumford, originally from Adelaide, made the transition more than two years ago and say they rarely look back.

Back in 2024, Brad was burnt out from long hours in a demanding executive role, while Nicky was managing a busy household of four young children—including a baby—alongside hosting international students to supplement their income.

“Everyone wants the best of you at work, and my family was getting the worst of me,” Brad said.

“We were becoming just unsatisfied with the normal grind of life. It was turning into a mundane routine.”

Consequently, the family departed for what was initially planned as a gap year traveling around Australia in a caravan.

The journey extended to 18 months before the Mumfords decided to embrace “worldschooling” and relocated overseas.

Currently, the family is based in central Vietnam, with upcoming travel plans for South Korea and Japan.

The couple explains that they are using their travels to bring their children’s education to life—ranging from exploring the history of the Vietnam War on-site to having their nine-year-old daughter organize and facilitate a local mothers-and-bubs group in their village.

Brad and Nicky have also launched their own travel business, which provides group tours for other worldschooling families in various destinations.

However, despite the picturesque social media posts often associated with the digital nomad lifestyle, the Mumfords are quick to dispel the notion that worldschooling is just one long vacation.

“To everyone who says we are living the dream: the dream is not what they think it is,” Nicky said.

“You think, ‘Oh, you’re travelling, it’s like a constant holiday.’ But the dream is simply being able to spend time with your kids. It’s not always roses by any means.

“My biggest drawback is missing my village – we don’t get a break as such.”

Brad agrees that the typical stresses of parenting do not simply vanish when you move abroad.

“It’s exactly the same life as what it is back home, just in a different country,” he said.

“You still have to negotiate rentals, buy your groceries, and earn an income. There are times when you question everything and ask, ‘Should we just go back to Australia?’”

The financial realities of life back home, however, provide the motivation to keep going.

In Australia, the family would struggle to survive on their current $60,000 income, but in Vietnam, they live comfortably in a three-storey home for a fraction of the price.

“We’re currently staying in a six-bedroom, seven-bathroom house in central Vietnam, and we’re paying $250 a week Australian,” Nicky said.

“Including electricity, all utilities, and someone coming over a few times a day to help clean, it comes to about $350 a week. And we can feed our whole family for less than $20 a meal. You can’t even buy a block of cheese in Australia for less than $18,” Brad said.