Hello Yorkshirefolk!
It took the AASW two months to get back to us with a positive assessment on husbands qualification. We included a letter asking them to prioritize our assessment because of my husbands birth date and they did. Had a very patient(!), friendly and helpful lady called Jaipura assessing it. Bombarded her with emails as well as phoning her for updates. Really approachable.
Tom is the main applicant on our visa. Not able to use my skills for extra points because I have had maternity leave and am working part-time so do not meet the specific work experience requirement for visa. However, I am in the process of gathering info to have my DipSW assessed by AASW so that I can work when I get out there.
Tom has the DipSW aswell as the MA in Social work but he has a non-relevant first degree. He has ten years social work experience.
Try this link to the AASW website. Its the Country Assessment guidelines that should give you a guide to what they expect from qualifications and experience. Must warn you, it confused us totally!
AASW - Country Assessment Guidelines - UK
I will keep you posted as to how I get on. I have a relevant first degree, the DipSW, no Masters and ten years experience.
The AASW will pass your application on to the AIWCW for free if they can't give you a positive. AIWCW give same 60 points as AASW.
We had all sorts of trouble with the AIWCW not recognizing Tom's DipSW but we think thats because we had an inexperienced assessor. We would have pursued this with them but we got the positive from the AASW so asked for our money back instead! We know many social workers who have received a positive from the AIWCW with no problems at all.
The IELTS is the International English Language test. You get 15 points for holding a british passport and another 10 points for passing the ielts. We needed the extra 10 points for our 175 visa.
Not sure what the LAFHA is....
We are hoping to go to Melbourne so if thats the area you are looking at, we could end up being colleagues!
Good luck and best wishes to you. Keep us posted as to how you get on
Julie