Emigrating to Australia

pavlovs_dog

is there much difference lifestyle-wise between oz and NZ?

AussieLass

New Zealand is a very evil country where very very evil people live there.:D

Got no idea, I'd say pretty much the same. I've never been over there. They all flock over here so it musn't be that great.;)

Nigel_Dempster

As I said before we are going to New Zealand, although the country is beautifull the wages are bad and a lot of people move for that reason. But we no that before we go because of info we have gleaned from the internet. Has anyone been to NZ?

shane8960

Hi,

My and my oh are looking at moving to oz, I was mainly need advice about a permanent visa. I work as a website/technical assistant at the minute but dont have any qualifications for it (besides an A-Level in IT). I am however doing an MCDST (for technical support) course which is self taught. I have done a few different free assessments and some say I can get through, others day I cant? Has anybody got any accurate sites I can check on? Also If I apply for a visa to migrate, how much is it (just for me and oh) and do I have a set amount of time before I have to move to oz? or can I apply now and move in 2 years? (Not looking at moving till mid-late 2007)? I just dont want to get my hopes up and not be able to get a visa. I have been doing my job for 3 years and im only 21 - should I have a problem? My other half is 18 and has only been working 6 months as a sales assistant, however she does have a few accounting/book keeping qualifications.

Also I read somewhere it can usually take upto 18 months to find work! is this right? I wouldnt mind doing shop/factory work etc when I first arrive as long as its money coming in. Also I have heard good reports about perth? Can anybody else recommend good areas, I would like it to be quite light at night and I have read that brisbane isnt? The sunrise/set times at perth seem pretty constant all year round and not as much or a winter/summer change as in other parts?

The oh is worried about spiders aswell, how common are they? Ie would you expect to see them in your house? how many would you expect to see just walking round your garden? Do many people encounter the funnelweb and redback spiders?

Sorry its a long post - but dont wanna do this with my eyes shut.

Cheers, Shane

Scarlett1

robowen wrote:

Any info regarding areas is great, If anyone has any photos I've been looking at Adelaide and sydney recently. Looking for somewhere near the coast and not far from the city if thats possible. don't tell the kids !!

last week I came back from 3 weeks in oz, I visited my sister for her wedding in sydney, then on to adelaide to see my friend who emigrated 2 years ago.

I was impressed with how much you can get for your money, you can get double out there what you could get here, but did wonder if the wages were half as much as you got over here

I thought sydney was very expensive although I did like it, and I liked adelaide cause it was home from home. The weather was hot one day, and raining the next :rolleyes: I did manage to go without seeing a spider cause my friend had the granny flat sprayed before I come over :j

The only downside about oz is that nothing is free, you have to pay for health care and education, my friend showed me an invoice charging her for books and stationery, it does make you think about how much we get free in this country

I would gladly swap my 2 bedroomed terrace house for a 3 bedroom house with a big back garden and swimming pool :beer:

jaymac_2

Isn't Perth closer to Singapore than to Sidney? You need to remember the size of Australia. I got a postcard today showing the entire continent of Europe inside of Australia - and loads of room to spare!

shane8960

jaymac wrote:

Isn't Perth closer to Singapore than to Sidney? You need to remember the size of Australia. I got a postcard today showing the entire continent of Europe inside of Australia - and loads of room to spare!

Yeah I am aware of the size of australia. However, I do not want to be too far away from the coast (no more than 30 miles or so, I love getting down to the beach). Quite alot of people have recommended perth and brisbane,as being quite nice. However once I tell people that I like the sun and would love it if I could get to the beach every other day, they all recommend perth as it has "longest" days and temperature is pretty much the same all year round and the unemployement rate is quite low and the pay is quite high.

AussieLass

I live about a 3 hour drive from Brisbane and we are now in the midst of selling our house and building one just off Brisbane. I'ts on a little island in Moreton Bay. Paradise. Brisbane can get hot but so can everywhere else. The days would be sunrise around 5 - 6am and sunset 6 - 6.30 pm during summer. Winter the days of course are a bit shorter but not that much. 6 - 7am and 5.30 - 6pm. We definatly have longer winter hours than you do but over summer we don't have the sun out at 9pm etc.

You shouldn't have any trouble finding work in the Brisbane area. I have never been to Perth so can't really advise about over there. Brisbane is close to the Sunshine Coast & the Gold Coast which if your into the beach this is where you would head for the weekends like all the other thousands.:D Hospital care for what it is, is free in this state. Dental care is as well but it's mean tested and has a very very long waiting list. Better to get dental care cover. Primary & Secondary education is free Australia wide. You do have to buy writing pads, pens, etc. Some text books are supplied. Of course there is a choice of private schools that do have fees. Uni is not free.

With the spiders etc sometimes you see them in the house. But generally not the bad ones. Usually Daddy Long Legs which are harmless. The funnel web is usually more down south Sydney way & occassionally I see a redback outside attached high up in the eaves. If you are at all bothered by them you can get someone in each year to spray for spiders, cockroaches etc which does the trick. I don't bother myself as it kills the little gecko's. I don't think many people per capita are bitten by spiders or snakes etc. It's just the hype really.HTH

shazrazmataz

G'day Robowen,

Do it !!! it's a once in a life time chance & so far so good for us.

We have been here 7 weeks now & we are loving every bit. Adelaide is a fab country, we originally wanted to go to Queensland, especially since we'd already been there on holiday but having said that I much prefer Adelaide, sorry AussieLass.

The Aussies are such polite people & very laid back, so much so that they nearly fall over !!!

We haven't seen any snakes yet but as we live close to the city (11 mins away) I doubt that we'll ever see one but have seen lots of spiders including a HUGE huntsman the size of a tennis ball, we've also had a couple of poisonous ones in the house but luckily enough they dont bother us & the kids like to look at them :eek:

I would look at the DIMIA web site & dont bother doing the on-line application you'd be much better paying an agent, we used Ambler Collins & Bridie used Thinking Australia, there's also Go matilda, look them up in google but they are expensive & if you've got a straight forward case you wont need an agent & you can get all the info on the net.

There are a couple of website www.britishexpats.com www.Adelaidebrits.tk are very helpful.

It's along & expensive process but worth every bit.

If you need anything pm me or send me an e-mail. Good luck.:D

Crazy_C

shane8960 wrote:

Hi,

My and my oh are looking at moving to oz, I was mainly need advice about a permanent visa. I work as a website/technical assistant at the minute but dont have any qualifications for it (besides an A-Level in IT). I am however doing an MCDST (for technical support) course which is self taught. I have done a few different free assessments and some say I can get through, others day I cant? Has anybody got any accurate sites I can check on? Also If I apply for a visa to migrate, how much is it (just for me and oh) and do I have a set amount of time before I have to move to oz? or can I apply now and move in 2 years? (Not looking at moving till mid-late 2007)? I just dont want to get my hopes up and not be able to get a visa. I have been doing my job for 3 years and im only 21 - should I have a problem? My other half is 18 and has only been working 6 months as a sales assistant, however she does have a few accounting/book keeping qualifications.


Sorry its a long post - but dont wanna do this with my eyes shut.

Cheers, Shane

Hi Shane,

If you have no formal qualifications in IT you need at least 7 yrs experience and you have to provide RPL which is proof of prior learning basically massive reports on what you do how you do it, its really really difficult but im sure its worth it. Cost if you are going to use a migration agent about £2500 may differ depending on agent, this includes your medicals, police checks, DIMIA fee, migration agents fee, courier delivery of your application etc etc. If you register with a migration agent as long as they are a registered agent they can not legally take you on for visas unless they know you have a good chance of getting in. If you do this it will be about 20 to 30 quid its worth the money and then you know where you stand.

I have lots of websites, etc PM me if you want any more info.

Good Luck

Christine